# "Customization is Key": Reconfigurable Content Tokens for Accessible Data Visualizations

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2307.08773 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2307.08773/

## Key facts

- Cited by 2 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- First posted on arXiv 17 Jul 2023.

## Built on by (most cited first, 2 of 2)

- [Long-Form Answers to Visual Questions from Blind and Low Vision People](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2408.06303/) (2024)
- [Skeleton: Visual Authoring of Non-visual Data Experiences](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2607.14579/) (2026)

## Abstract (arXiv)

Customization is crucial for making visualizations accessible to blind and low-vision (BLV) people with widely-varying needs. But what makes for usable or useful customization? We identify four design goals for how BLV people should be able to customize screen-reader-accessible visualizations: presence, or what content is included; verbosity, or how concisely content is presented; ordering, or how content is sequenced; and, duration, or how long customizations are active. To meet these goals, we model a customization as a sequence of content tokens, each with a set of adjustable properties. We instantiate our model by extending Olli, an open-source accessible visualization toolkit, with a settings menu and command box for persistent and ephemeral customization respectively. Through a study with 13 BLV participants, we find that customization increases the ease of identifying and remembering information. However, customization also introduces additional complexity, making it more helpful for users familiar with similar tools.