Project overall objective

The overall objective is to improve accessibility to visual graphics by non-visual means and to allow autonomy of use by the individual in a distance learning environment.

Specific objectives

• To research and evaluate the problems of delivering distance learning materials containing visual graphics to the blind or visually impaired.
• To develop appropriate system improvements to permit autonomy of use of talking tactiles in a distance learning environment.
• To design and produce 3 sets of graphic intensive pilot course materials for use in a distance learning environment; test and evaluate as proof of concept.
• To produce common guidelines for creating talking tactile materials for European transnational standardisation.
• To create an effective dissemination programme to ensure ongoing benefit can be achieved for our target group.
• To deliver a value for money project.

Expected outputs

• The project will produce three sets of pilot or sample lesson content materials for use of proof of concept. The language support to these will be in German, Danish, Italian, English and Romanian.
• The research report will give findings, evaluation and analysis or the problems of teaching/training people who are visually impaired in a distance learning environment.
• The project website will give the project objectives and findings and will give specific advice to distance learning providers on the benefits of this new teaching system and how they can create their own adaptive programmes for our target groups.
• Through the website and supporting paper documentation, there will be produced a set of common standards and guidelines for the design and production of talking tactile materials to promote transnational standardisation.

This project is funded with support from the European Commission and specifically from the Socrates Minerva programme.

This website reflects only the views of the author and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be used of the information contained therein.

Project Number : 227444-CP-1-2006-1-UK-MINERVA-MPP