QUIMIVOX MOBILE 2.0: application for helping visually impaired people in learning periodic table and electron configuration

Abstract

Technological advancement has helped in the integration of visually impaired people by increasing access to education. With regard to the teaching of chemistry, much still needs to be done in order to include people with visual limitations, because the teaching of this science requires the use of many visual resources. In this sense, this work introduces the new version of the application Quimivox Mobile 2.0, developed for Android devices, which presents accessible information about the periodic table and the electronic configuration of the chemical elements. The application was redesigned in order to improve accessibility for the visually impaired (blind and low vision) and meet the difficulties related to color blindness. The interaction is performed on the basis of vocal commands and simple gestures, and the information is provided both graphically and via voice synthesis. Comparative assessments were performed between the two versions of the application, from the second version with usual tools of access to information for psychics, and automated tests to evaluate the resilience to color blindness. The application proved to be an efficient and entertaining tool favoring inclusive education.