Human Computer Interaction and Usability Engineering of Thai Word Search Keyboard Application for Students with Learning Disabilities

Human-Computer Interaction is a study of focusing on the design of computer technology, in particular, the interaction between the users and computers. Consequently, it is important especially when designing and developing a tool such as assistive technology tool for students with learning disabilities. Assistive technology is a tool that helps increase potential or improve capability of exceptional students, so that they will have more learning potential and hence they can study effectively. In addition, assistive technology can be used as a tool by teachers to facilitate learning management and provide learning opportunity to students. A Thai Word Search Keyboard Application was developed to help students with writing and spelling disabilities to be able to select the right vocabularies. Thai Word Search Keyboard Application, which was still a lab prototype, was tested for performance with teachers and related persons who had ever worked with students with learning disabilities. The researchers use a heuristic evaluation in this study. The evaluation result from functional requirement and usability tests was at a high level, while the result from functional tests was at a moderate level. Those results would be a guideline for improving the next version of Thai Word Search Keyboard Application.