StoryBox: Independent Multi-modal Interactive Storytelling for Children with Visual Impairment

Abstract

Storytelling promotes the development of imagination and creativity and facilitates the impregnation of linguistic, emotional and moral skills in children. Limited storytelling media for children with blindness and visual impairment (BVI) confines their access to this unique experience. StoryBox is a multi-modal storytelling agent, facilitating an independent and interactive storytelling experience for children (5-12 years) with BVI. The platform supports audio-based story narration and enables tangible interaction with story elements via sensor-enabled tactile clay figurines. StoryBox takes inspiration from kaavad baanchana' - an oral storytelling tradition from Rajasthan, India. This paper presents the design of the proposed accessible multi-modal storytelling platform and findings from initial user evaluation with blindfolded participants.