Research on Computer Programming for GUI System by the Blind

这个项目计划为Windows系统开发一种非可视化的计算机编程方法。Windows的普及使盲人编写计算机程序变得困难，因为Windows采用了图形用户界面。对于盲人来说，这是一个严重的问题，因为他们必须失去自己找到一份计算机专家的工作或开发辅助软件的可能性。为此，我们做了以下工作。(1)调查调查旨在澄清盲人计算机专家在使用Windows和编写程序时遇到的问题和困难。结果表明，尽管屏幕阅读器软件的发展和进步逐步提高了Windows的可及性，但Windows的使用仍存在许多问题和困难。通过调查，也详细地反映了编程中的实际问题和困难。(2)教材的开发编写了教材，教盲人Windows的工作原理和操作方法。材料包括盲文书籍和触觉人物。(3)方法论的发展为盲人开发Windows下的程序提供了一种方法。该方法是基于非视觉手段的。非可视化手段包括盲文显示设备和语音输出功能等。通过使用能够按照字符串定义资源的技术，解决了在屏幕上排列Windows资源的困难。通过该方案，可以开发出一种非可视化的Windows编程方法。但在该方法的实施过程中还存在许多问题。因此，必须继续进行研究，以解决这些问题。

This project was planned to develop a nonvisual method of computer programming for the Windows system. The spread of Windows has made it difficult for the blind to write computer programs because of Windows adopting GUI. It is a serious problem for the blind, because the possibilities of getting a job as a computer specialist or producing assistive software by themselves have to be lost.The following have been done for the purpose.(1) InvestigationThe investigation aimed at clarifying the problems and difficulties with which blind computer specialists were confronted in using Windows and in writing programs. The results indicated that there existed many problems and difficulties in the use of Windows, although the development and advancement of screen reader software has gradually improved the accessibility to Windows. Actual problems and difficulties in programming were also shown in detail by the investigation.(2) Development of Teaching MaterialsMaterials were developed to teach the blind how Windows works and how to operate it. The materials include Braille books and tactile figures. The validity of them was examined through test use.(3) Development of MethodologyA method was developed for the blind to write programs for Windows. The method is based on using nonvisual means. The nonvisual means include a Braille display device and voice output functions, etc. The difficulty in arranging Windows' resources on a screen was solved by making use of a technique which enables the resources to be defined in terms of character strings. The Optacon was used for the blind to check the arrangement on a screen by themselves.Through the project a nonvisual method of Windows programming could be developed. But there still remain many problems in the process of the method. So the research must be continued to solve them.