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Contenido archivado el 2022-11-15

Mathematical Access for Technology and Science for Visually Disabled Users

Objetivo

The Maths project is concerned with the development of a software/hardware platform to enable blind and visually impaired individuals to input, manipulate and output mathematical expressions using a combination of auditory and braille techniques.

With the advent of Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs) it has become increasingly difficult for visually disabled users to access computer technology on an equal level with sighted users. There is work which enables users to access text-based interfaces and an increasing level of general support for GUI features such as menus and windows.

The use of mathematics (reading, creating and manipulating mathematical expressions) is one area where there is still a major gap between sighted users and visually disabled users, since there are no tools to allow mathematical expressions to be used in this way without an auditory interface.

MATHS is developing a mathematical workstation for visually disabled users which permits them to interact with the mathematics via auditory and tactile interfaces, using new combinations of interface entities to provide equivalent access to mathematics. It is based upon standardised text notations and therefore has wide applicability. Not only are mathematicians and students potential users of the system, but also many others who are precluded access to certain workplaces by the lack of access to mathematics.

Technical Approach : The core of the system is an SGML-based Desk-top publishing environment. This environment is extended with a set of auditory facilities and braille facilities to enable the visually disabled user to interact with it. In particular, the project is innovative in the development of systems to trade-off the effect of detailed mathematical manipulations and quick glances at an expression of mathematics, which convey different information to the sighted user. Non-speech audio is important in providing the latter access.

Impact and Expected Results : The major outcome of the project is the MATHS workstation itself, which is a software environment (together with hardware extensions) intended for use in a PC-compatible/Microsoft Windows environment. In addition to this, it is expected that the project will result in spin-off technologies which can be added to other software systems to provide mathematical access to visually disabled users. The commercial partners are preparing exploitation plans examining the impact on users in such fields as education and the office environment, where the increase in access is expected to create more educational and job opportunities for users. R&D implications include the advancement of the use of audio interfaces and a contribution to wards developing radically new ways for orienting users in navigating complex structures.

Convocatoria de propuestas

Data not available

Régimen de financiación

CSC - Cost-sharing contracts

Coordinador

Electric Brain Company Ltd
Aportación de la UE
Sin datos
Dirección
13 Queen Square
LS2 8AJ Leeds
Reino Unido

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Coste total
Sin datos

Participantes (6)