Juliana Bueno

Three-Dimensional Tactile Images for Blind People: A Proposition for a Translating Model of Static Two-Dimensional Images

This study aims to propose a model to translate static two-dimensional images into three-dimensional tactile images, to be 3D printed, as a way of transmitting information to blind people. The translating model was created from an exploratory method of the literature, which was divided in three steps: 1. Bibliographical review about tactile images, 3D printed tactile images, 3D printing and a search for an analysis model of static two-dimensional images; 2. Tabulation of data found in the bibliographical review and; 3. Model proposition from data crossing. The result is a proposed translating model divided in 4 levels, containing information from recommendations for the creation of tactile images, and a graphic analysis framework.

The Use of Computational Artifacts to Support Deaf Learning: An Approach Based on the Direct Way Methodology

Deaf users face various difficulties accessing the Web. These difficulties are frequently due to low skills on written language, which is a consequence of approaches that do not favor appropriate methods such as bilingual literacy. This method make use of sign language skills to teach a second written language. In this paper, we present studies with deaf students that explore the direct way methodology articulated with computational artifacts aiming to promote the bilingual literacy. This article presents 10 meetings where we performed learning activities with 3 teachers and 12 deaf students. The objective was to apply our approach to improve the reading and writing skills on Portuguese language, as a second language. The studies point out positive results, and the possibility of exploring this approach from the early years of child literacy.

The Open University of the Unified Health System in Brazil (UNA-SUS/UFMA): Identification and Hierarchization of Problems in Distance Learning Courses

This article reports a study of heuristic evaluation and hierarchization of the problems found on four distance learning courses offered by the Open University of the Unified Health System in Brazil (UNA-SUS/UFMA). It is part of a broader research on information architecture, interaction design and information design on e-learning courses. The sample was assessed through 88 heuristics and recommendations, followed by the FIP (Frequency, Impact and Persistence) technique to establish the severity of the problems found. The results showed that the sample did not meet (a) the information design principles of consistency, proximity, and hierarchy; and (b) the interaction design criteria of adaptability, explicit control and consistency. The sample also presented weaknesses in the information architecture systems of navigation, labeling and search. The heuristic evaluation followed by the hierarchization of problems have proved to be advantageous at the beginning of the evaluative research project. Recommendations were proposed to improve the distance learning courses.

Using Computational Resources on Bilingual Deaf Literacy: An Analysis of Benefits, Perspectives and Challenges

Various educational strategies have been explored on deaf literacy education. In bilingual deaf literacy, students learn two languages: first a sign language followed by a written language. This paper investigates the use of computational resources to improve bilingual deaf literacy. A study was performed in the context of the Literacy Project of the Baptist Church in Santana, Amapa, Brazil. It explored the use of technological resources in four activities with students from public schools. Results highlight the difficulties that arise from a lack of knowledge of written language. The article also presents design recommendations for Web projects that focus on learning activities and discusses perspectives and challenges.

Action Research to Generate Requirements for a Computational Environment Supporting Bilingual Literacy of Deaf Children

Having as premises the user-centered design and the necessity for a greater knowledge about the real context of teaching and learning a second language to Deaf children, this study makes use of action research to get requirements for the conceptual model of a computational environment supporting bilingual literacy of Deaf children. This paper describes the activities of a particular action research process, together with its stages, performed with four Deaf children within a Brazilian public bilingual school. The process lasted three months and achieved the following results: a significant improvement in the interest of participating children in written Portuguese – qualitative, measured by their motivation in not stopping their learning process - and a set of functional and non functional requirements for the conceptual model to be developed.

A user-interface environment solution for an online educational Chess server

This paper describes an interface and interaction environment for a public online Chess server, on the web, as an educational tool. The main purpose of the environment is to improve Chess teaching in Brazilian public schools. The vast majority of such Chess online servers consider and take for granted that users are specialists rather than learners. The solution described in this paper is inserted in an education environment, aiming at providing users with direct access to the contextually significant actions by means of strategic and operational help.

A Tangible Interaction Platform as Concrete Support for Blind Children Literacy in Braille

The supposition that the Literacy through the Direct Way Methodology (LDWM) will also fit the blind children’s context led us to take advantage of a PhD thesis that built a set of requirements for an application to help teachers and deaf students in this method’s activities. Our main objective was to investigate how a tangible interaction for blind children’s literacy should be. This goal was pursued mapping the set of requirements elicited for deaf children to the context of blind ones, through conceptual readings, a working process continuously close to a blind teacher - also a national reference in Braille literacy, and the searching for proper interface elements and interaction techniques for blind students placed in the reading and writing acquisition process. This paper describes the research path and the results achieved up to date.

Early Interaction Experiences of Deaf Children and Teachers with the OLPC Educational Laptop

The adoption of computing technologies in the schools has the potential for supporting the digital and social inclusion. However, whether such technologies are not accessible they can deepen the exclusion of students with disabilities, and other minorities. This work investigated questions regarding the use of the laptops from OLPC by deaf children between 7 and 12 years old and by teachers from a bilingual school. The results indicate that children were excited due the use of the device; even they behaved reticent during the interaction. The study also identified interaction problems regarding both hardware and software in the use of the laptop.

Visual perception of deaf children to inform interaction of tools for literacy

The Deaf community has its own culture, a term applied to the social movement that holds Deafness to be a difference in human experience, rather than a disability. The disability view of Deafness has deprived the Deaf of natural language acquisition, which is crucial for intellectual development. Human-Computer Interaction should be held accountable to better understand the needs of the Deaf community to inform design. There is a lack of tools for visual literacy of the Deaf (i.e. a learning process for teaching to read based on image interpretations). This research proposes an online environment that educators and designers could use to evaluate visual characteristics of the Deaf. The environment contains four tests designed to assess visual perception and subjective preference. The case study within a classroom context validated the environment. Designers could use the results of their testing to inform design.