An interactive workspace for helping the visually impaired learn linear Algebra

Abstract

In this paper an interactive workspace designed to help visually impaired students practice the fundamentals of linear algebra is introduced. Unlike most of the approaches, this interactive workspace aims at enhancing math manipulation abilities for students who are visually impaired, mainly dealing with linear algebra expression that requires more complicated techniques in accessing. Read-expression, Hide-Row/Column, and Text-Tools are examples of techniques that the workspace implements. Such techniques are invoked by hot access keys which in turn with audio feedback allow the user to navigate and edit the linear algebra expression, access its elements especially matrices, find the solution and save it for further review and edit. The methodology followed is to list all the operations required in Linear Algebra. Then the tasks which require visual abilities were isolated and implemented in the framework. © 2014 Springer International Publishing.