Subscribe now

Gamers now have the perfect excuse to sit in front of their computers all day: they can perform a public service.

Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, have designed an online game that aims to harness its players’ brainpower to help make websites more accessible to blind people.

Visually impaired people often use text-to-speech converters called screen readers to listen to the content of web pages spoken by a synthesised voice. The pictures on most websites remain inaccessible, though, because very few have detailed captions to describe them.

The online game “Phetch” is designed to encourage other web…

Sign up to our weekly newsletter

Receive a weekly dose of discovery in your inbox. We'll also keep you up to date with New Scientist events and special offers.

Sign up

To continue reading, subscribe today with our introductory offers

Piano Exit Overlay Banner Mobile Piano Exit Overlay Banner Desktop