Using Markup Languages for Accessible Scientific, Technical, and Scholarly Document Creation

In using software to write a scientific, technical, or other scholarly document, authors have essentially two options. They can either write it in a ‘what you see is what you get’ (WYSIWYG) editor such as a word processor, or write it in a text editor using a markup language such as HTML, LaTeX, Markdown, or AsciiDoc. This paper gives an overview of the latter approach, focusing on both the non-visual accessibility of the writing process, and that of the documents produced. Currently popular markup languages and established tools associated with them are introduced. Support for mathematical notation is considered. In addition, domain-specific programming languages for constructing various types of diagrams can be well integrated into the document production process. These languages offer interesting potential to facilitate the non-visual creation of graphical content, while raising insufficiently explored research questions. The flexibility with which documents written in current markup languages can be converted to different output formats is emphasized. These formats include HTML, EPUB, and PDF, as well as file formats used by contemporary word processors. Such conversion facilities can serve as means of enhancing the accessibility of a document both for the author (during the editing and proofreading process) and for those among the document’s recipients who use assistive technologies, such as screen readers and screen magnifiers. Current developments associated with markup languages and the accessibility of scientific or technical documents are described. The paper concludes with general commentary, together with a summary of opportunities for further research and software development

Toward 2^W beyond Web 2.0

From its inception as a global hypertext system, the Web has evolved into a universal platform for deploying loosely coupled distributed applications. 2^W is a result of the exponentially growing Web building on itself to move from a Web of content to a Web of applications

Current Perspectives on Linux Accessibility Tools for Visually Impaired Users

The development of user-oriented technologies is related not only to compliance with standards, rules and good practices for their usability but also to their accessibility. For people with special needs, assistive technologies have been developed to ensure the use of modern information and communication technologies. The choice of a particular tool depends mostly on the user's operating system. The aim of this research paper is to study the current state of the accessibility software tools designed for an operating system Linux and especially used by visually impaired people. The specific context of the considering of the study’s objective is the possibility of using such technologies by Bulgarian users. The applied approach of the research is content analysis of scientific publications, official documentation of Linux accessibility tools, and legal provisions and classifiers of international organizations. The results of the study are useful to other researchers who work in the area of accessibility of software technologies, including software companies that develop solutions for visually impaired people. For the purpose of the article several tests are performed with the studied tools, on the basis of which the conclusions of the study are made. On the base of the comparative study of assistive software tools the main conclusion of the paper is made: Bulgarian visually impaired users are limited to work with Linux operating system because of the lack of the Bulgarian language support

The free software as an alternative for digital cohesion of visually impaired people

Orientador: Luiz Cesar MartiniDissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia Eletrica e de ComputaçãoResumo: A acelerada difusão do software "livre", tanto no Brasil como no exterior, vem se mostrando cada vez mais evidente nos mais diversos âmbitos (governo, empresas, escolas, etc.). A principal motivação para a transição do software "proprietário" para o "livre" é a redução de custos, mas para efetivar essa migração é necessário que ferramentas compatíveis estejam disponíveis para a manutenção da usabilidade do sistema. Essa é ainda uma barreira para a migração do usuário deficiente visual brasileiro, pois até este momento, nenhuma das tecnologias assistivas desenvolvidas para sistemas operacionais "livres" encontram-se disponíveis no idioma português. Como solução para esse problema, esta dissertação apresenta uma alternativa que efetivará essa migração, habilitando usuários cegos para realização de tarefas como edição de texto, acesso à internet, gerenciamento de arquivos, entre outras. O trabalho baseia-se na implementação de um sintetizador de voz para o português do Brasil e na tradução de uma tecnologia assistiva desenvolvida para sistemas operacionais "livres". Como parte integrante estão documentados também o desenvolvimento de um modelo compacto de computador pessoal e os resultados de testes realizados com usuários voluntáriosAbstract: The accelerated diffusion of the "free" software, as much in Brazil as in the foreign, has beem shown more and more evident in the most diverse scopes (government, companies, schools, etc) The main motivation to the transition from "proprietary" software to the "free" one is the costs reduction, but to accomplish this migration compatible tools need to be available for the maintenance of the system usability. This is still a barrier for the migration of the brazilian visually impaired user, because up to this moment, none of the assistive technologies developed to "free" operating systems are available in portuguese language. As solution for this problem, this dissertation presents an alternative that will accomplish this migration, enabling blind users to carrying out tasks like text edition, internet access, file management, among others. The work is based on the implementation of a voice synthesizer for the portuguese from Brazil and on the translation of an assistive technology developed to "free" operating systems. As integrated part are also documented the development of a compact model of personal computer and the results of tests carried out with voluntary usersMestradoTelecomunicações e TelemáticaMestre em Engenharia Elétric

WebVoice: Speech Access to Traditional Web Content for Blind Users

Traditional web content and navigation features are made available to blind users by converting a webpage into a speech enabled X+V application, which allows blind users to follow the links present in a web page via speech commands. Also the application can read the different paragraphs and search for a word. This X+V application runs on the Opera browser

The Accessibility of Mathematical Notation on the Web and Beyond

This paper serves two purposes. First, it offers an overview of the role of the Mathematical Markup Language (MathML) in representing mathematical notation on the Web, and its significance for accessibility. To orient the discussion, hypotheses are advanced regarding users’ needs in connection with the accessibility of mathematical notation. Second, current developments in the evolution of MathML are reviewed, noting their consequences for accessibility, and commenting on prospects for future improvement in the concrete experiences of users of assistive technologies. Recommendations are advanced for further research and development activities, emphasizing the cognitive aspects of user interface design

Unconventional computation and teaching: Proposal for MUSIC, a tone-based scripting language for accessibility, computation and education

This paper provides a proposal for a tone-based programming/scripting language called MUSIC (the name is an acronym for Music-Utilizing Script Input Code). In a MUSIC program input and output consists entirely of musical tones. Computation can be done through musical transformations of notes and melodies. MUSIC can be used for teaching the basics of script-based programming, computer-aided composition, and provided programming access to those with limitations in sight or physical accessibility. As a result of MUSIC's approach to tone-based programming and computation, it also allows for a development environment that utilizes computer expressive performance for highlighting structure, and emotional transformation to highlight bugs. © 2014 Old City Publishing, Inc

A conceptual multi-model HCI model for the blind

The ability for blind people to read and write Braille aids literacy development. A good level of literacy enables a person to function well in society in terms of employment, education and daily living. The learning of Braille has traditionally been done with hard copy Braille produced by manual and more recently electronic Braille writers and printers. Curtin University is developing an electronic Braille writer and the research on an interface for Braille keyboard devices, presented in this thesis, forms part of the Curtin University Brailler project.The Design Science approach was the research method chosen for this research because of the flexibility of the approach and because it focuses upon the building of artefacts and theory development. The small sample size meant that both individual interviews and a focus group were employed to gather relevant data from respondents. The literature review covers a variety of areas related to computer interfaces and Braille keyboard devices. A key finding is that the interaction paradigm for Braille keyboard devices needs to differ to interfaces for sighted individuals because of the audio, tactile and serial nature of the information gathering strategies employed by blind people as compared with the visual and spatial information gathering strategies employed by sighted individuals. In terms of usability attributes designed to evaluate the interface consistency was found to be a key factor because of its importance to learning and memory retention.However, two main functions carried out on a computer system are navigating and editing. Thus the model of interface for Braille keyboard devices presented in this thesis focuses upon navigation support and editing support.Feedback was sort from by interviews with individuals and a focus group. Individual interviews were conducted face to face and via the telephone and the focus group was conducted via Skype conference call to enable participants from all over the world to provide feedback on the model.The model was evaluated using usability attributes. Usability was important to the respondents, in particular consistency, learnability, simplicity and ease of use were important. The concept of rich navigation and infinitely definable key maps were understood by respondents and supported. Braille output is essential including the ability to show formatting information in Braille.The limitations of the research included the few respondents to the interviews and the choice to focus upon a theoretical model rather than implementing the model on an actual device. Future research opportunities include implementing the interface concepts from the model on to touch screen devices to aid further development of the interface and implementing the interface on a physical device such as the Curtin University Brailler

An exploratory study of screen-reader users navigating the web

textResearchers have learned much about how sighted individuals seek information on Web sites - for example, users follow "information scent" as they move from page to page, and individual differences may impact successful information seeking on the Web. While it is possible that individuals with disabilities, especially those with severe visual impairments, perform information-seeking activities in a similar manner, little is known about how individuals who use screen readers to navigate actually seek information on the Web. In this study, we used both qualitative and quantitative measures to investigate the Web navigation techniques of four screen-reader users and how a user’s experience affects these navigation techniques and his or her ability to successfully complete an information-finding task. We compared metrics for between-page and within-page navigation to studies of sighted users. We also considered how a Web site’s compliance with Section 508 guidelines affects the overall information-finding experience of a visually-impaired individual. We discovered that among the four individuals in this study, user experience was not necessarily indicative of a successful information-finding experience. As individuals, the participants' navigation techniques varied widely; as a group, they generally searched more frequently and used the back button less frequently than has been reported for sighted individuals. Screen-reader users in this study followed a more flimsy, linear navigation style and generally used scrolling actions rather than searching actions. When using a Web site that has a Section 508 compliant home page, we found that the screen-reader users in this study completed information-finding tasks significantly more quickly, used significantly fewer actions, and reported a more satisfying information-finding experience. They were also more successful at finding the information goal and encountered fewer impasses. Using both quantitative and qualitative measures was critical in this study. The quantitative metrics allowed us to compare values and the qualitative data provided additional insight into individual differences as well as allowing a deeper understanding of the quantitative data. The information from this study contributes to the growing body of research knowledge about screen-reader users. It also contributes a new understanding of screen-reader users that can be used by the worldwide community of Web developers, designers, and users.Informatio

Designing a computational construction kit for the blind and visually impaired

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, School of Architecture and Planning, Program in Media Arts and Sciences, 2002.Includes bibliographical references (p. 67-68).This thesis documents the adaptation and extension of an existing computational construction kit, and its use by a community of learners previously unaddressed - blind and visually impaired children. This community has an intimate relationship with the digital and assistive technologies that they rely on for carrying out their everyday tasks, but have no tools for designing and creating their own devices. Using a computational construction kit, created around the latest Programmable Brick (the Cricket), children can write programs to interact with the world around them using sensors, speech synthesis, and numerous other actuators. The Cricket system was extended with a number of specific modules, and redesigned to better suit touch and sound-based interaction patterns. This thesis documents an initial technology implementation and presents case studies of activities carried out with a small group of visually impaired teenagers. These case studies serve to highlight specific domains of knowledge that were discovered to be especially relevant for this community. Much of this work impacts approaches, technologies, and activities for sighted users of the Programmable Brick.by Rahul Bhargava.S.M