Handsfree for Web

A Google Chrome extension to browse the web via voice commands

Javier Perez

May 13, 2019

A litle about me

Javier Perez

Argentina

Frontend software engineer

A web accessibility problem

Almost all websites on the internet present their content in a visual format and make the user interact through manual devices.

Who is affected by these restrictions?

The idea

When browsing the web, everything that can be done using a keyboard or mouse could be done just by talking to a computer.

Existent hands-free tools

:: Few hands-free tools are web-specific

:: They bring a limited set of supported actions

:: They require to buy a commercial license

:: They are not easy to install and require some training

:: They require expensive hardware to work properly

The solution

Handsfree for Web

A Google Chrome extension that lets the user browse the web just by invoking voice commands.

:: Web specific
:: Free
:: Lightway and easy to install
:: User customized
:: Multilanguage

The implementation

What actions do people do within the browser?

Browser actions

Generic website

actions

Custom website

actions

53 actions

89 actions

 ∞

actions

Everything that can be done using a keyboard or mouse could be done just by talking to a computer.

Conclusions

Handsfree for web is a browser extension that provides an alternative to the currently required manual interaction.

 

The extension is mainly useful for people that can't use their hands when browsing, or for some reason, they don't have access to a manual device.

 

The development of applications using speech recognition technologies can shape a true paradigm shift in the relationship between the web and the user, who will start to ask for being understood instead of tring to understand the computer. 

handsfreeforweb.com

Handsfree for Web

Available in Chrome Store