Research on Braille-Based Method of Software Development for Internet and on Skill Teaching of Software Development in Braille

这项研究的目的是为了让盲人能够安全、顺利地自己开发与互联网相关的软件。为此，需要建立一种非可视化的方法来使用PC上的开发环境，并准备工具以提高开发的效率和准确性。(1)访问开发环境为此选择了Java作为编程语言。2001年和2002年，使用Windows屏幕阅读器软件建立了一个环境，在这个环境中，可以使用Java进行盲文输出和语音输出。在2003年，另一个屏幕阅读器也被用来检查它的脚本功能是否可以扩展对Java的非可视化访问的可能性。因此，盲人可以通过盲文输出和语音输出来开发与互联网相关的基础软件。(2)软件开发工具2001和2002年，开发了一个文本编辑软件。该编辑器被设计为根据选定的代码将当前聚焦的文本部分输出到盲文显示终端上。实验表明，盲文输出能力对于提高程序源代码等文本数据的输入和编辑效率是非常有用的。2003年，为增强盲文输出能力和提高可操作性，对文本编辑器进行了现场测试。为盲人制作了盲文材料，帮助盲人了解互联网和Java语言。制作时考虑到了触觉阅读等方面的特点。视障学生使用这些材料进行实际学习。事实证明，这些材料对获得有关Internet的知识和Java编程的基本技能很有用。

This research was planned for the purpose of enabling the blind to develop Internet-related software by themselves surely and smoothly. The purpose required the establishment of a non-visual method to use the development environment on PC and the preparation of tools for raising the efficiency and accuracy of development.(1)Access to Development EnvironmentJava was selected as the programming language for the purpose. In 2001 and 2002, a screen reader software for Windows was used to set up the environment in which Java is accessible in terms of Braille output and speech output. In 2003, another screen reader was also used to examine whether its script function could expand the possibility of non-visual access to Java. As a result, it became possible for the blind to develop fundamental software relating to Internet by the assistance of Braille output and speech output.(2)Tool for Software DevelopmentIn 2001 and 2002, a text editor software was developed. The editor was designed to output the currently focused portion of text onto the Braille display terminal in terms of selected code. An experiment showed that the Braille output capability was useful enough for the improvement in efficiency of input and edit of text data such as program source code and so on. In 2003, the field test of the text editor was performed with aiming at strengthening of the Braille output capability and improvement in operativity. As a result, an useful text editor was completed for the blind.(3)Learning MaterialsBraille materials were produced for the blind to learn about the Internet and Java language. The production was performed in consideration about the characteristics of tactile reading and so on. Visually impaired students used those materials for actual learning. The materials were proved to be useful to get the knowledge about the Internet and the basic skills of Java programming.