Drawing for Blind Learners: Assistive Technology for Graphical Design

Abstract

One of the main problems faced by blind learners is a lack of drawing technologies that support images and diagram drawing without the help of a sighted support worker. Even though some technologies have been experimented with in the past, blind learners have not been keen on tactile drawing due to: the difficulty of the drawing task, the length of time taken to complete a simple task, and the inefficiency of the drawing experience. This paper presents a set of grammar tools that can be used by blind people to find spatial orientation, as well as knowledge and representation of the interactive drawing environment, to improve the understanding of a concept or a subject matter. The grammar can be adopted and personalised in education and learning when presenting technical diagrams. The grammar enables users to present graphics by mapping the cognitive visualisation of blind people into spatial information on a computer screen. This technique promotes an interactive and easy drawing environment to build objects, associations, and layout information by zooming, navigation, and grouping. It will lead to future possibilities such as 3D world modelling, printing, and multisensory integration of inputs and output methods.