How cloud computing can support on-demand assistive services

Abstract

This paper investigates how Cloud computing can meet the demands of people with disabilities who occasionally use a shared computer. In this situation, customized assistive software can not be available to the user since security policies prevent from having enough privileges to change local system preferences. In order to address such issue, we discuss an open source software architecture combining a web-based remote desktop management solution with virtualization technology. This system allows disabled users to access a virtual desktop running personal assistive software solutions. Hence, the disabled user can interact with the same virtual environment from any networked physical computer via a standard web browser. In the end, we discuss the major technological issue for the achievement of such a scenario.