E-learning for all
The visually impaired can be at a disadvantage when it comes to accessing the information society. Therefore a voice-based technology has been designed in order to assist visually impaired people with obtaining access to the information society. In so doing, information can be provided via voice as well as a graphic interface. Furthermore, VoiceXML technology is employed to guarantee that the information will reach the user independently of the graphic interface and without any time lost. The Extensible Markup Language (XML) technology was used to store Question and Test Interoperability (QTI) examples in a portal, which has a forum option that centres on e-learning and accessibility topics. The e-learning portal was designed as a means by which to capitalise on the benefits of the e-learning method, as well as the technology created by VISUAL. As a result, multilingual educative content was offered that can be accessed by any citizen of the European Community. Essentially the VISUAL portal attempts to distribute VISUAL research and results in a broad manner and it provides technical information about how to make web sites accessible. As of its final review the portal has been modified and advanced through the inclusion of news concerning accessibility, receiving questions at the forum, having new subscriptions and so on. While the portal is orientated toward visually impaired people, the development may be used for everyone.