OCCIDENTAL MINDORO STATE COLLEGE 1

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Mamburao, Occidental Mindoro

College of Arts, Sciences, and Technology

Developing Software for the Visually Impaired: The iBlind Application as a

new Platform for Learning

A Project Proposal

Presented to

the Faculty of College of Arts, Sciences, and Technology

by:

Fernandez, Mia Joy J.

Gupilan, Aprilyn V.
Rosasinas, Elyjane
Ucol, Nathaniel R.
Cacait, Weljon Kobe R.

October, 2023
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Table of Contents

1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 Overview of the Current State of the Technology
1.2 Project Rationale

2. PROJECT DESCRIPTION
2.1 Problem Statement
2.2 Proposed Research Project
2.2.1 General Objectives
2.2.3 Scope and Limitations
2.2.4 Flowchart/Hierarchy Chart of the Project

3. PROJECT MANAGEMENT
3.1 Calendar of Activities
3.2 Resources

4. APPENDIX
4.1 References
4.3 Personal Technical Vitae
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INTRODUCTION

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are 285 million people in the

world who havesome form of visual impairment, ranging from low vision to complete blindness.

Between 2009 nd 2014, mobile usage among visually impaired people incread from 12 to 82%.

Touchscreensprovidethe primary means of ineraction with most mobile electronic products,

including smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, etc. Hsinfu Huang explored the accessibility

features of touchscreen interfaces with 32 visully impaired participants. Huang summarized the

design guidelines for accessible touchscreen interfaces for visually impaired people and

suggested that the operational style of these interfaces should be redesigned. Touchscreens

allow direct operation and are an intuitive and effective input device, thus providing a usable and

convenient interface for most users. Modern smartphones provide various accessibility functions

but still pose significant problems for visually impaired people. Rodriguez-Sanchez notes that

despite considerable research on accessible technology and and assessment, visually impaired

people find using smartphones challenging because the features currently available are not

enough to meet users’ expectations and requirements. Since visually impaired people are

increasingly using smartphones and similar devices, usable and responsive interfaces must be

developed to fulfil their needs. Peischl et al.integrate user-centered design in the early stage of

mobile application development.

 Many studies have been conducted regarding accessibility. Oliveira et al. evaluated
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different types of keyboardsMamburao,
for blind users Occidental
to observe andMindoro
evaluate their difficulties: NavTouch,

MultiTap, QWERTY and Braille-Type. Guerreiro et al. investigated the NavTouch and NavTap

for touchscreens that were significantly faster than the button-based system. Yfantidis and

Evreinov developed interactive buttons for touch screens, allowing users to input data by using a

single finger swipe in eight basic directions from any position. Several smartphone-based

applications are also very useful for visually impaired students. Kuribayashi et al. developed a

smartphone-based system for blind people that enables them to identify and avoid obstacles and

thus supports navigation. This system used an RGB camera and a built in infrared depth sensor

to identify the surrounding pedestrians along with their position. This system also provides audio

and vibration feedback to notify the user. EyeMath is a cloud-based smartphone application that

captures images and describes their content. It processes the images by dividing them into

smaller segments, then separates mathematical symbols from plain text and presents them as

an Abstract Syntax Tree (AST).

The goal of the current study was to investigate a number of design-related concerns that

could have an impact on persons who are visually impaired when it comes to touchscreen-based

mobile devices, including the placement of icons, color schemes, auditory feedback, and

vibration feedback. Based on this work, the iBlind application was developed which helps

visually impaired learners to develop essential skills.

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1.1 Overview of the Current State of the Technologies

The use of communication technology spread in the entire country now a day even in rural

areas. According to Rappler blog site there are 119 million mobile phone subscriptions from a

total population of 101 million and 47 million active Facebook accounts. The Philippines is the

fastest growing app market in Southeast Asia and the highest digital population in the world. The

top online activities are social media, videos, online mobile games, location-based search and

online shopping. Staying connected with loved ones, friends, and relatives is a fundamental

need for Filipino. One of the trends in ICT nowadays is the use of assistive technologies where

people with disabilities can use application or software that can be a great help to them

especially when it comes to education.

1.2 Project Rationale

An essential objective that not only aids students with visual impairments on their

educational journey but also promotes their future independence and engagement in society is

the development of essential abilities in these students. However, this demographic frequently

encounters significant challenges when trying to access educational materials and information

that meet their specific needs. This project proposal explains the urgent need for research and

development initiatives targeted on "Developing Software for Visually Impaired: The iBlind

Application as a New Platform for Learning."

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PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The “Developing Software for the Visually Impaired” project aims to create an innovative

and inclusive learning platform for students with visual disabilities through the development of

the iBlind Application. The iBlind application is a mobile app that uses a variety of features,

including text-to-speech, speech-to-text, and tactile feedback, to provide students with access to

information and activities in a way that is accessible and engaging.

2.1 Problem Statement

Due to the challenges provided by conventional learning environments and a lack of

accessible resources, students with visual disabilities encounter significant challenges in

learning fundamental skills and gaining access to a high-quality education. These challenges

include barriers to reading printed texts, a lack of adequate educational tools and platforms, and

insufficient Braille literacy. This leads learners with visual impairments to frequently fall behind

their peers in their development of fundamental skills, limiting both their academic progress and

their prospects for future independence and employment.

Addressing these challenges requires the development of an innovative and accessible

learning platform tailored specifically to the needs of students with visual disabilities. The iBlind

application presents an opportunity to bridge this gap by providing a comprehensive,

customizable, and inclusive digital platform for skill development and education. More

specifically, the following research questions need to be addressed.

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1. How can the iBlind application be used to develop skills in students with visual

disabilities?

2. What are the most effective ways to design and deliver learning activities using

the iBlind application?

3. What are the benefits and challenges of using the iBlind application in the

classroom?

2.2 Proposed Research Project

The proposed research project “Developing Software for Visually Impaired: The iBlind

Application as a new Platform for Learning” it can be used to develop skills in students with

visual disabilities in a number of ways: Literacy, Numeracy, and Technological skills. In addition

to these general skills, iBlind application can also be used to develop specific skills that are

relevant to different academic subjects. For example, students with visual disabilities can use

iBlind application to access and read digital textbooks and articles in a variety of subjects, such

as math, science, and history.

The proposed research project will choose the activities that are appropriate for the iBlind

application it also provides clear instructions and feedback. The iBlind application uses a variety

of features, including text-to-speech, speech-to-text, and tactile feedback, to provide students

with access to information and activities in a way that is accessible and engaging.
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The benefits of using the iBlind application for learners with visual disabilities are being

accessible to people with visual disabilities, learners can use it anywhere they go, can be used

for a variety of learning activities, such as reading, writing and listening and accessing

information online.

2.2.1 General Objectives

The objectives of this proposal are as follows:

 To develop a better understanding of how the iBlind application can be used to develop

skills in students with visual disabilities.

 To provide visually impaired learners the tools and resources they need to access and

interact with educational materials on their own will help them become independent

learners.

 To permit learners to customize their learning processes within the iBlind application by

adjusting the way that content is presented and the ways in which they interact with it to

suit their particular tastes and needs.

 To cater to different learning styles and preferences, provide a range of learning modes,

such as audio, Braille, tactile interfaces, and voice commands.

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2.2.2 Scope and Limitation

The proposed research project has the potential to make a significant contribution to the

field of special education by developing and evaluating a new technology-based platform for

learning for students with visual disabilities. The findings of the research will be used to inform

the development of future versions of the iBlind application and to provide guidance to teachers

on how to use the application effectively in the classroom.

One limitation of the proposed research project is that it will focus on a single technology-based
platform, the iBlind application.
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2.2.3 Flowchart / Hierarchy Chart of the Project

START

SPEAK OUT USER

CREDENTIALS

no
Correct
Credential
yes

Menu 1. Learning Mode

2. Printable Braille Resources
3. Setting
4. Exit

Option
Exit

Start Print Setting

Lesson
End of Program

yes

Done Done yes

Done
lesson Print Setting

yes
no
no no Retain
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2.2.4 Hierarchy Chart

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PROJECT MANAGEMENT

3.1 Calendar of Activities

Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4

Finalized the title of Analyze the Problem Create flow chart Finalize the proposed
the proposal Statement research project

Develop research Make project Make necessary Submit research

plan description revision report

Make introduction and Make general

overview of the objectives
current state of ICT

3.2 Resources

1. Research on Assistive Technology for Students with Visual Disabilities: There is a

growing body of research on the use of assistive technology to support the learning of

students with visual disabilities. A good place to start is to search for research articles in

peer-reviewed journals, such as the Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness and the

Journal of Special Education Technology.

2. National Center for Blind Youth (NCBY): NCBY is a nonprofit organization that provides

resources and support to blind and visually impaired youth and their families. NCBY has

a number of resources on its website related to education, technology, and independent

living.
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APPENDIX
4.1 References

rappler.com, “A Profile of Internet Users in the Philippines”, Accessed January 7, 2019,

https://www.rappler.com/brandrap/profile-internet-users-ph rappler.com, “A Profile of Internet
Users in the Philippines”, Accessed January 7, 2019, https://www.rappler.com/brandrap/profile-
internet-users-ph

Survey of Web Accessibility Practitioners

Results.https://webaim.org/projects/practitionersurvey/ (2014). Accessed 22 Feb 2020

Huang, H.: Blind users’ expectations of touch interfaces: factors affecting interface accessibility
of touchscreen-based smartphones for people with moderate visual impairment. Univ. Access Inf.
Soc. 17(2), 291–304 (2018).

Huang, H.: Blind users’ expectations of touch interfaces: factors affecting interface accessibility
of touchscreen-based smartphones for people with moderate visual impairment. Univ. Access Inf.
Soc. 17(2), 291–304 (2018).

Rust, K., Malu, M., Anthony, L., Findlater, L.: Understanding child defined gestures and
children’s mental models for touchscreen tabletop interaction. In: Proceedings of the 2014
Conference On Interaction Design and children. pp. 201–204. (2014)

Kane, S.K., Bigham, J.P., Wobbrock, J.O.: Slide Rule: making mobile touch screens accessible
to blind people using multi-touch interaction techniques. ASSETS’08, pp. 73–80 (2008)

Peischl, B., Ferk, M., Holzinger, A.: The fine art of user-centered software development.
Software Qual. J. 23(3), 509–536 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11219-014-9239-1

Oliveira, J., Guerreiro, T., Nicolau, H., Jorge, J., Gonc¸alves, D.: Blind people and mobile touch-
based text-entry: acknowledging the need for different flavors. In: Proceedings of ASSETS ‘11,
pp. 179–186 (2011)

Rodriguez-Sanchez, M.C., Moreno-Alvarez, M.A., Martin, E., Borromeo, S., Hernandez-

Tamames, J.A.: Accessible smart- phones for blind users: a case study for a wayfinding system.
Expert Syst. Appl. 41, 7210–7222 (2014)
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4.2 Personal Technical Vitae

Name: Nathanniel Rausa Ucol

Address: Zone 3, Encina St. Barahan, Sta Cruz, Occidental Mindoro

Date of Birth: February 11, 2005

Plce of Birth: Zone 3, Encina St. Barahan, Sta Cruz, Occidental Mindoro

Gender: Male

Civil Status: Single

Religion: Roman Catholic

E-mail Address: sodiuthorium9011@gmail.com

Father’s Name: Jonathan R. Ucol

Occupation: labor

Mother’s Name: Marites R. Ucol

Occupation: Housewife

Name: Kevin Jay M. Sioco

Address: Sitio Igsuso, Paluan, Occidental Mindoro

Date of Birth: February, 25 2005

Place of Birth: Mamburao hospital

Gender:Male

Civil Status: Single

Religion: Born again

E-mail Address: siocokevinjay@gmail.com

Father’s Name: Jacinto M. Joseph

Occupation: Fisherman

Mother’s Name: Mary Ann M. Joseph

Occupation: Laborer
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Name: Cacait,Weljon Kobe R.

Address:Abra de ilog, Occidental mindoro

Date of Birth: May 6,2004

Place of Birth: Mamburao Hospital

Gender: Male

Civil Status: Single

Religion: Born again

E-mail Address: Weljonkobecacait05@gmail.com

Father’s Name: Menardo L.Cacait Jr.

Occupation: None

Mother: Lew-Lewa O. Reyes

Occupation: Housewife

Name: Fernandez, Mia Joy J.

Address: Barangay 2, Mamburao, Occidental Mindoro

Date of Birth: March 06, 2005

Place of Birth: Sitio Toong, Caguray, Magsaysay, Occidental Mindoro

Gender: Female

Civil Status: Single

Religion: Catholic2.9

E-mail Address: miajoyfernandez004@gmail.com

Father’s Name: Fernandez, Jomar S.

Occupation: none

Mother: Jaravata, Merlita T.

Occupation: Housewife
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Name: Aprilyn Gupilan V.

Address:Marikit Paluan Occ. Mindoro

Date of Birth: April 10,2002

Place of Birth: St.Rita, Masinloc, Zambales

Gender: Female

Civil Status: Single

Religion: Born Again

E-mail Address: aprilyngupilan687@gmail.com

Father's Name:Oscar Gupilan Jr.

Occupation: construction workers

Mother's Name: Alma Gupilan

Occupation: Housewife

Name: Elyjane T. Rosasiñas

Address: Barangay Tayamaan

Date of Birth: November 2, 2004

PLACE OF BIRTH:Abra de ilog

GENDER:Female

Civil Status: Single

Religion: Catholic

E-mail Address: elyjanerosasinas875@gmail.com

Father’s Name: Edgar R. Rosasiñas

Occupation: Fisherman

Mother’s Name: Janet T. Rosa's

Occupation: :Housewife