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A Computing Education for the Vision Impaired
Iain MurrayCurtin University of Technology Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering
Rehabilitation Engineering Research Laboratory
Introduction
ObjectivesLearning environments What is the Cisco Network Academy
Program?
Rehabilitation Engineering is the systematic application of engineering sciences to design, develop, adapt, test, evaluate, apply, and distribute technological solutions to problems confronted by individuals with disabilities in functional areas, such as mobility, communications, hearing, vision, and cognition, and in activities associated with employment, independent living, education, and integration into the community.
(US Rehabilitation Act of 1973)
Objective
Develop systems and methodologies to assist people with sensory disabilities to gain access to education and technology
Resources
Rehabilitation Engineering Research Laboratory
Researchers3 academic staff1 technical staff6 Postgraduate students
2 Masters and 4 PhD
Over 30 Honours students (4th & 5th year engineering)
Industry & consumer advisors
Changing Learning Environment
Educational content delivery is changingOn-line eLearning
Instructor ledDistance learningSupplemental material
People with disabilities (particularly vision)Being left behind
Reliance on visiocentric materialMultimedia
E.g. Click and drag
Changing Learning Environment
This requires a change in thinkingEnsure effective content delivery to ALL
students irrespective of learning style or physical ability
Cisco Access for the Vision Impaired (CAVI)
Cisco Network Academy Program
The Networking Academy program is an e-learning model that delivers Web-based educational content, online testing, student performance tracking, and instructor training and support, as well as hands-on labs. (Cisco,2002)
Cisco Network Academy Program (CNAP)
10,312 Academies 162 Countries494,063 Students278,005 Graduates14 vision impaired students
All in Perth
Cisco Network Academy Program (CNAP)
Several programsCCNA, CCNP, FNS, FWN, ITE, UNIX etcCAVI covers IT Essentials and CCNA only
The CNAP is a comprehensive program designed to teach students computer, Internet & networking technology skills.
Why CNAP?
Router/switch configuration is text basedNetwork topologies are logical not
physicalNetwork administration does not require
mobilityOrientation and mobility training is time
consuming and expensiveNew employment opportunities
The StudentsAge range from 18 to 55Range of technical ability/experience14 Legally blind in total
5 have no useful visionLight perception or less
3 require screen reader accessCannot read a monitor
5 can access a computer with screen enhancementMay just require contrast or specific colour schemes
1 deaf/blind Has limited tunnel vision and profoundly deafCommunicates through Auslan and whiteboard
Cisco Network Academy Program
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Cisco Network Academy Program
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Current Access Methods
For low vision users.Screen enlargement.
Zoomtext, Magic.Screen review programs.
Jaws, Slimware, Artic.Two output methods - speech and Braille displays.
Screen review software must rely on text output.Tactile Graphics
PIAFPrinted Braille and Audio recordings
Access Methods
Other DisabilitiesQuadriplegics.
Morse, Eye tracking, scan boards.Emphasis on keyboard/mouse replacement
issues.Deaf.
Subtitles, visual alerts, transcription of conferences/video.
Many others.
CAVI Project Description
Develop a method of course delivery to vision impaired studentsStandard CurriculumExisting lab bundlesCCNA & IT Essentials initially
Long term aim to include other academy programs
Create a “bridge” between the curriculum and assistive technology
Includes instructor training
Curriculum Access
Use text documentsExplain diagramsStress important but uniquely difficult points
The OSI modelLayer 2 technologies
Tactile objectsNetwork dominoesPipe cleanersFunction Generator
CAVI Describe the difficulties that vision impaired
students faceInvestigate how students with severe vision
impairment can utilize cognitive and perceptual properties of non-visual sensory modalities to learn (as compared to sighted students)
Develop new visualisation techniquesDevelop a novel multimodal user interface
Explicitly designed to deliver technology and engineering skills to vision impaired students
Investigate how these new technologies may be incorporated into future systems
Haptic Displays
Mouse-type Devices
Earcons
Earcons were first proposed by Meera Blattner in 1989.
They are abstract, musical tones that can be used in structured combinations to create auditory messages.
"non-verbal audio messages that are used in the computer/user interface to provide information to the user about some computer object, operation or interaction"
They are based on musical sounds.
AsTeR
Audio System For Technical ReadingsA computing system for rendering technical
documents in audio Developed by T.V. Raman
Number Systems & Subnetting
The OSI Model
Network Dominoes
Other Props
Braille Display
Diagrams
Host A sends SYN (seq =x)Host B receives SYN (seq=x) and sends SYN(seq=y, ack=x+1)Host A Receives SYN (seq=y, ack = x+1) and sends ACK (ack = y+1)Host B Receives ACK (ack = y+1)
Other CAVI Applications
Speech Friendly Packet SnifferBraille Transcription SoftwareRouter SimulatorXML to Descriptive Text
Progress
First ClassMid way through CCNA 2Improved self confidenceModifications to the course are being
finalisedSecond Class
Progressing much more rapidlyModified curriculum is working
Conclusion
Cavi Project is a test benchIncludes most of the devices/techniques
currently being researchedFinal outcome
Deliver an “Academy in a Box”For Academies that wish to teach vision impaired
students
Two of the first students are now qualified as instructors in the Academy Program
Questions?
http://www.ece.curtin.edu.au/~iain/accessibility http://cisco.netacad.net http://www.avcc.edu.au/content.asp?page=/policies_progr
ams/equity/index.htm www.tiresias.org (John Gill)
Some of the Students
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Current Research Projects Cisco Access for the Vision Impaired (CAVI) Curtin University Brailler (CUB) Wireless Stereo Headset Parakeet -Apple OS X Accessibility iView - Classroom Aid for Low Vision Students Dasher Auslan to Text Currency Identifier for the Blind Braille Scanner Ultrasonic White Cane/Seeing with Sound 7 Segment reader and colour sensor
The Target Demographic
In Western Australia8,800 legally blindNearly 2,400 under 65
The Association for the Blind75 new clients each month411 clients per year in technology training
(ABWA annual report 2001)
Extrapolate to the world marketThird world countries have higher rates of vision
impairment
Disability Discrimination Act
DDA is administered by the Human rights and Equal Opportunities Commission (HREOC).
Accepts that some differential treatment is unavoidable.
Commonwealth Departments and Agencies must develop action plans.
Emerging DDA standards on “Electronic Communication”.
Curtin University Brailler (CUB)
Perkins BraillerMechanical only
Mountbatten BraillerElectronic, very old technology
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Braille Scanner
Aimed at Sighted non-Braille ReadersConverts Braille to Expanded Text in
real time
A Secure Dual Channel Wireless Headset for Multi-
user EnvironmentsFunded by Dept. of Training
Science & Technology GrantJoint Project
Association for the Blind WARAC (WA)
Proof of Concept PrototypeDual channel, two-
way, high quality, low power infrared headset prototype which has been field tested by the ABWA and certified.
DSP based systemUpgradeable, flexibleUltra Low Power
Secure comm’sCurrent BOM < $150
…IR TxRx’s < $3Cellular Architecture
Current Form Ideal Form
The Future
Infrared / 802.1x HybridKeep low power, security, and bandwidth
benefits of infrared, but combine with 802.11g to overcome infrared mobility issue.
CommercialisationPackaging
Alternative marketsNavy
ParakeetThe project involves designing, building and
testing a screen reader application for Mac OS X operating system.A screen reader is an application that allows a
vision-impaired person to use a graphical user interface by providing audible feedback in the form of speech.
The screen reader interrogates the actions of the user via the Accessibility APIs and produces speech output using the text-to-speech (TTS) APIs. Both of these APIs are provided by Apple as part of
Mac OS X.
Dasher
Information-efficient text-entry interfacedriven by natural continuous pointing gestures.
operating a computer one-handedwith zero hands (i.e., by head-mouse or by
eyetracker).
The eyetracking version of Dasher allows an experienced user to write text as fast as normal handwriting - 25 words per minute; using a mouse, experienced users can write at 39 words per minute.
Auslan to Text
Auslan to Text
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Currency Identifier
Australian Polymer notes are of a similar sizeHard to distinguish denomination if totally blind
Utilises the unique pattern in the clear window
Ultrasonic White Cane
Augments the standard long caneWarns of
Head height obstructionsDrop off (e.g. Stairs)
Simple user interface
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