- From: David Poehlman <david.poehlman@handsontechnologeyes.com>
- Date: Sun, 31 Jul 2005 04:22:56 -0400
- To: wai-ig list <w3c-wai-ig@w3.org>
> > Visually-challenged computer users can now explore technical drawings > IST Results, Belgium, July 26, 2005 > > A well-received innovative, accessible system offers blind and > visually-challenged computer users the chance to work on a range of > digitised technical drawings and soon other drawings will be added. > > Digitised technical drawings are typically presented and edited on > standard > PCs with appropriate software installed. However, blind and > visually-challenged persons must access a user interface and > presentation > tool specially tailored for them. > > The IST programme-funded TeDUB project has overcome the limitations of > existing technologies by creating an innovative, accessible system. > The > Image Interpreter analyses drawings semi-automatically or > automatically > using image processing and knowledge processing techniques. > > Project coordinator George Ioannidis explains that the system is > capable of > analysing and presenting diagrams from a number of formally defined > technical drawing domains, primarily electronic circuits, floor > plans and > software (UML) engineering drawings. > > Diagrams enter the system, are processed and transformed to the > internal > format of the TeDUB system and accessed by the Diagram Navigator, > which > allows users to interact via a number of devices, including an > ordinary > keyboard for input and textual output, either accessed through a > Braille > device or a screen reader. > > The system also offers navigation using a joystick and sound > notifications. > Users can choose between interfaces. For example, the 3D sound > interface > provides spatial information relating to the user's current > position, which > allows them to 'walk' around the diagram. > > An evaluation took place in Ireland, Italy, The Netherlands and the UK > involving 35 blind or partially-sighted participants, including > students > aged 16 to 30 following courses on computer science or informatics, > and > professionals aged 21 to 60, working as programmers, software > consultants > and university lecturers. > > "They were positive about how easy the system can be learned," says > Ioannidis. "They also liked the simple operation of the interface > when using > keyboard commands and the combination of different interfaces to > operate the > system, as well as how to access information." > > TeDUB can be integrated into available screen readers, avoiding the > need to > recreate completely new software environments. It also solves a > problem that > has traditionally demanded the more laborious solution of manually > creating > tactile diagrams. > > Project partners are extending the number of types of drawings the > system > can handle and plan to include business bar and pie charts found in > standard > business communications. > > "We are incorporating TeDUB processing and presentation technology > into > mainstream applications for creating technical drawings and enhancing > accessibility," he says. Future plans include focusing on the > educational > domain, specifically e-learning content." > > Contact: > Dr George Ioannidis > Centre for Computing Studies > University of Bremen > D-28359 Bremen > Germany > Tel: +49 421 2187090 > Fax: +49-421-2187196 > Email: george.ioannidis@tzi.de > > Source: Based on information from TeDUB > > http://istresults.cordis.lu/index.cfm/section/news/tpl/article/ > BrowsingType/ > Features/ID/77845 >
Received on Sunday, 31 July 2005 08:23:05 UTC