Building Accessible Web Experiences with AI: The BrowseAble Story

Accessibility in web development is often an afterthought, but it shouldn't be. When we set out to build BrowseAble, our goal was to create a tool that would make the web more accessible for neurodivergent users through the power of AI.

The Problem

Many users face challenges when consuming web content:

• Reading difficulties
• Attention disorders
• Visual impairments
• Information overload

Traditional accessibility tools often fall short, especially for users with neurodivergent conditions who need more than just screen readers or high contrast modes.

The Solution: BrowseAble

BrowseAble is a Chrome extension that leverages AI to transform how users interact with web content. It provides:

1. Text-to-Speech: Natural-sounding voice narration
2. Intelligent Summarization: AI-powered content condensation
3. Smart Navigation: Context-aware content discovery
4. Customizable Settings: Personalized experience for each user

Technical Architecture

Frontend: React + TypeScript

The extension UI is built with React and TypeScript, providing:

• Type safety
• Component reusability
• Modern development experience

AI Integration: Google Gemini

We integrated Google Gemini AI for:

• Content understanding
• Summarization
• Context extraction

Backend: Firebase

Firebase provides:

• User authentication
• Settings synchronization
• Usage analytics

Key Features

1. Intelligent Text-to-Speech

Not just a simple TTS engine, but one that:

• Understands context
• Adjusts reading speed based on content complexity
• Highlights text as it reads
• Supports multiple voices

2. Smart Summarization

The AI doesn't just shorten text—it:

• Preserves key information
• Maintains context
• Adapts to user preferences
• Handles different content types

3. Accessibility-First Design

Every feature was designed with accessibility in mind:

• Keyboard navigation
• Screen reader compatibility
• High contrast modes
• Customizable font sizes

Development Challenges

Challenge 1: Real-time Processing

Processing entire web pages in real-time required:

• Efficient content extraction
• Streaming AI responses
• Progressive rendering

Challenge 2: Privacy Concerns

Users were concerned about data privacy. We addressed this by:

• Processing content locally when possible
• Clear privacy policy
• Optional cloud features
• Data encryption

Challenge 3: Performance

Chrome extensions need to be lightweight. We optimized by:

• Lazy loading components
• Efficient state management
• Minimal external dependencies

User Impact

The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive:

BrowseAble has changed how I consume content online. The summarization feature helps me focus on what matters. - User testimonial

As someone with ADHD, the text-to-speech feature with highlighting has been a game-changer. - User testimonial

Lessons Learned

1. User Research is Critical

We spent significant time understanding user needs before building features. This saved us from building the wrong things.

2. AI is a Tool, Not a Solution

AI enhances the experience but doesn't replace good design. The best features combine AI capabilities with thoughtful UX.

3. Accessibility Benefits Everyone

Features designed for accessibility often improve the experience for all users, not just those with specific needs.

Future Enhancements

We're continuously improving BrowseAble:

1. Multi-language Support: Extending to more languages
2. Advanced Customization: More personalization options
3. Community Features: Sharing settings and preferences
4. Mobile Support: Bringing accessibility to mobile browsers

Conclusion

Building BrowseAble has been a journey in understanding that technology should serve everyone. By combining AI capabilities with accessibility-first design, we've created a tool that makes the web more inclusive.

The key lesson is that accessibility isn't a constraint—it's an opportunity to build better products. When we design for the edges, we create solutions that work better for everyone.

If you're building web applications, consider accessibility from day one. Your users will thank you, and you'll likely discover that accessible design leads to better products overall.