Innovative methods for accessing mathematics by visually impaired users

Abstract

Blind people have always considered the study of Mathematics as a difficult problem, hindering the chance to approach scientific studies for generations of visually impaired people. At present computer use is very widespread among blind students, who appreciate more and more its advantages (speed, efficiency, access to almost limitless papers), yet in the field of Mathematics, there are still few benefits, due to its complex symbols and because notation is graphical, whereas Braille notation is linear, to suit characteristics of the sense of touch. The LAMBDA-project team designed a system based on the functional integration of a linear mathematical code and an editor for the visualization, writing and manipulation of texts. © 2010 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.