"OneButtonPIN Increases Security for Blind and Low-Vision Tech Users"
Researchers at the University of Waterloo and the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) have developed a new authentication method to help Blind and Low-Vision (BLV) people access their devices more securely. The method called OneButtonPIN allows BLV users to enter PIN codes using a single large button and haptic vibrations. Existing authentication methods, such as drawing patterns, fingerprint and face scans, and PIN codes, typically frustrate BLV individuals. Without visual data, it is difficult to effectively use some authentication methods. Others are susceptible to privacy attacks. OneButtonPIN addresses these security concerns by using haptic vibrations that are not perceptible to outsiders. When prompted to input a PIN code on a smartphone, the user presses and holds a big button on the screen, activating a series of vibrations separated by pauses. The user then counts the number of vibrations corresponding to the number they wish to enter, releases the button, and repeats the process until all desired numbers have been entered. In a research study, nine BLV participants were instructed to install the OneButtonPIN app on their phones and repeatedly enter randomly generated PINs using the OneButtonPIN method. As part of the study, they were required to use the app at least once daily for one week. The study showed that OneButtonPIN enabled users to enter codes with an average accuracy of 83.6 percent or higher, compared to older techniques' accuracy of 78.1 percent. Additionally, the approach proved to be highly secure. This article continues to discuss the new authentication method aimed at improving security for BLV technology users.