RESEARCH ON COMPUTER PROGRAMMING EDUCATION IN BRAILLE

该项目计划在使用Braille的基础上，为盲人建立一个高效有效的计算机编程教育体系。日本有几门针对视障人士的计算机编程教育课程。虽然所有这些学校都接受了盲生和弱视学生，但在盲人教育过程中仍有许多问题需要解决。问题如下：(I)盲人在编程练习的早期阶段，没有办法与计算机系统进行可靠和流畅的交流。(2)盲人不容易获得足够的计算机编程知识和操作计算机系统的技能，因为供学习和参考的盲文材料不足。造成这些问题的原因之一是盲文编码系统的不完善。为了改善这种情况，本研究做了以下工作：1.盲文编码系统的分类：对盲文编码系统进行了逻辑上的重新定义，以便能够在盲文编码和通用字符代码之间正确地转换文本，如节目单。2.软件开发：开发了一个软件系统，可根据上述1中的定义将程序清单等输入/输出文本在盲文代码和一般字符代码之间自动转换。3.盲文材料的开发：按照上述1中所述的规则将一本计算机编程教科书转录成盲文，然后以电子数据的形式存储。盲文数据可以通过盲文显示终端访问。下一个目标是开发一个高性能的盲文编辑、阅读和参考系统。

This project was planned to establish an efficient and effective education system of computer programming for the blind on the basis of using Braille.There are several courses of computer programming education for the visually impaired in Japan. Though all of them have been accepting not only partially sighted students but also blind ones, there are still many problems to be solved in the education process for the blind. The problems are following : (i) There exists no way for the blind to communicate with computer systems surely and smoothly enough in the early stages of programming exercises. (ii) It is not easy for the blind to get enough knowledge about computer programming and enough skills to operate computer systems because of the inadequacy of Braille materials for learning and reference. One of the causes of these problems is imperfection of the Braille code system.The following have been done by the research to improve the situation.1.Clarification of the Braille Code System : the Braille code system was redefined logically to enable text such as program lists to be converted correctly between Braille code and general character code. And new rules of Braille notation were established so that the materials related to computer programming could be transcribed into Braille properly.2.Development of Software : A software system was developed to convert input/output text such as program lists automatically between Braille code and general character code in accordance with the definition noted in 1.above.3.Development of Braille Material : A textbook on computer programming was transcribed into Braille in accordance with the rules noted in 1.above, and then stored as electronic data. The Braille data are accessible via Braille display terminals.A high-performance Braille system for editting, reading and referencing should be developed as the next goal.