Abstract:

The challenge to include disabled students was initially directed to elementary schools, but today even the higher distance education institutions have been called to resize the teaching materials, the mediation and its virtual learning environments in order to improve access for all. Thus, this article relates how it was designed a mobile application called ‘Quick Voice’ in order to ensure equal opportunity and accessibility barriers to free read for users who attend the distance learning courses at the Universidade Federal do Reconcavo da Bahia (UFRB). The theoretical framework includes both methods and concepts of Concurrent Engineering, Universal Design and Accessibility. The ‘Quick Voice” application has an image capture device (camera) and an electronic circuit (microprocessor) for recognition and transcription in order to help people with sensory limitations, such as the visually impaired. This mobile application performs scanning of the QR bar code in two dimensions, through mobile phone and computer resources, and transcribed for audible signals. In this way, the visually impaired are able to access all the printed materials and books pages converted into QR codes, turning them into sound signals in the language desired. This study concludes emphasizing the real urgency to continue designing disabled students tools in order to promote the education for all people.

Keywords:

Distance Education, Mobile application, Accessibility, Visually impaired.