Partner projects and networks
Cooperation - a key for success
Inventing the wheel multiple times at several locations is an avoidable waste of ressources.
Therefore ECO4VIP cooperates with projects and networks, which are affilated to the subject of ICT supported learning for people with visual handicaps. The exchange of experiences and project results will finally result in an improvement of the achieved products. This form of networking offers also the opportunity to promote those projects to a broader audience and increase the popularity of those activities.
SEE-ViP
Selected eLearning Education for Visually Impaired People
The Aim of this project is to improve the accessibility and available product portfolio of e-learning products for people with visual handicaps.
The following activities and products are carried out and developed during the project:
- Needs analysis of vocational qualifications for people who are blind or visually impaired
- Creation of accessible eLearning opportunities for people who are blind or visually impaired
- Creation of an accessible interactive web-based learning platform
- Establishment of an interpreter/translator network
- Development of information management skills
- Feasibility studies in respect of countries interested in eLearning opportunities for people who are blind or visually impaired
SEE-VIP started in October 2005 and ends in September 2007
Official SEE-ViP Website
Further information can be found on the multilingual homepage of SEE-ViPLink: http://www.seevip.net
eYES
Creation of an e-learning interface for the blind and the visually impaired
E-YES project aims at reducing the ”digital divide”, between European citizens who can benefit from IT technologies (applied to education), and European citizens who cannot access the same technologies because of their disability. Specifically, the project aims at innovating national vocational training systems and practices addressed to VIPs.
In order to achieve this objective, the partners will:
- identify training and accessibility needs of visually impaired people in order to define the didactic methodology to be used for developing the new tools
- develop two tools especially designed for VIPs: the ”E-YES Platform”, which is a software system for administering and providing online courses and the ”E-YES Course Builder”, which is an authoring tool for creating multimedia courses which are fully accessible to VIPs and can be installed within the Platform and provided online to remotely located VIP learners
- distribute the results on a European level, raising the awareness about the needs of this group of citizens, and promoting the diffusion of e-learning among visually impaired people.
eYes started in October 2006 and ends in September 2008
Official eYes Website
Further information about this project are soon available on the project-homepage:Link: http://www.eyesproject.eu/
AHVIIT-ACCESS
Audio Haptics for Visually Impaired Information Technology
This project seeks to improve the inclusion of workers or trainees who are blind or visually impaired in vocational training programmes using visual materials, by delivering these in a non visual format, that is touch and sound. The project will design, produce and test pilot learning materials as well as create an online training programme for teachers.
The need is identified by the low employment levels and specialist training facilities available for this group. Unless facilities and systems are devised and introduced now, the acceptance of e-learning as an essential feature for modernisation and adaptation of training systems across the EU may continue with the substantial exclusion of this group.
The aims and objectives are to produce three pilot training courses that contain a significant element of visual graphics, in the form of ‘Talking Tactiles’. Initial activities by the partners will be the compilation of 3 sets of lesson content materials, then by association with a specialist SME business, a series of associated tactile diagrams will be designed and produced. These tactile diagrams will then undergo a process that essentially ‘copies & pastes’ audio files into the graphics files.
By this innovative methodology we will improve accessibility to visual graphics for the visually impaired. With the use of a specific piece of computer peripheral hardware (previously developed), as the user touches any part of the tactile overlay, associated sound files will deliver lesson content material in support of the tactile user surface navigation / interface.
Concerning ICT-supported learning this technology offers access for visually impaired people to graphical dominated subjects.
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Official AHVIIT-ACCESS website
Link: http://www.ahviit.org/index.php
DIgitalCOMPetence Screenreader-NETwork
The access to assistive devices is an essential prerequisite for people with disabillities considering the realization of Life-Long-Learning (abbrev.:LLL).
Because the regulation about subsidies and funding of assistive devices enjoys no unique regulation throughout the member countries of the EC, visually impaired people might not being appropriately supplied with this essential technology to access the digital world.
Especially for the personal use at home, the subsidies for devices are restricted or even non-existent. But LLL takes also place at home or at mobile locations.
In this project a screenreader will be developed, which is easy-to-use and free of charge for the utilization at home. The project partners also cooperate in the development of tutorials and CBT for user and trainer and the promotion of this product. This screenreader will be at the ed available in several languages.
This screenreader will be a great leap forward concerning digital literacy for blind Computer users who don't enjoy the funding of devices. E-Learning at home will be possible without spending thousands of Euros only for a technology which enables the access to the required ICT.
This screenreader "Thunder" will be as the T3 board a subject to our course in the chapter "Assistive Technology".
Already now you can download the English version of this screenreader named "Thunder" from:
Link: http://www.screenreader4free.eu
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DICOMP-S.NET Homepage
Homepage of the project in English and GermanLink: http://www.screenreader4free.eu
