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MessiahAndrw wrote:@onlyonemac - What sort of feedback would your ideal structure editor give you? Could you write out an example of what you'd like to hear as you're editing and navigating your code?

int main(int argc, char *argv[])
{
if (argc == 1 && strcmp("parameter", argv[1])
{
printf("Parameter was given, name is %s.\n", argv[0]);
exit(1);
}
else
{
printf("No parameter, or different parameter, given.\n");
}
exit(0);
}

<press key to go to next line>
"collapsed block, if"
<press key to enter block>
"function printf with 2 parameters"
<press key to enter parameters>
"parameter 1 of 2, string"
<press key to read parameter value>
"Parameter was given comma name is percent s dot backslash n"
(at this point one may press a key to edit the parameter, which would behave like a single-line text editor)
<press key to exit block>
"collapsed block, if"
<press key to enter parameters>
"parameter 1, conditional"
(at this point one may press a key to edit the condition of the if statement, which would behave like a single-line text editor)
...and so it goes on...

iansjack wrote:What about pictures. How do you convert them to audio so that a blind person can recognize them?

Pictures are not usable to say the least

iansjack wrote:I must have misunderstood you as I know that you are able to interpret pictures on this website.

MessiahAndrw wrote:Just out of curiousity? Have you ever used a refreshable braille display? They are very expensive, but I wonder if blind programmers would be more productive if they were able to read a line of code in braille than it spoken to them. Is reading braille relatively fast or slow?

MessiahAndrw wrote:I also think there would be a huge market for video games for the blind.

embryo2 wrote:Are there some kinds of a "blind screen" with rods pushed and pulled at a grid crossings? [...]

onlyonemac wrote:

embryo2 wrote:Are there some kinds of a "blind screen" with rods pushed and pulled at a grid crossings? [...]

That is a good idea that I have considered before as well; it has not been done. The main issue, I believe, is that the technology is not quite there yet. For example, a multi-lline braille display is already pushing the limits of the available "resolution", and such a device is a bulky, heavy and expensive piece of equipment due to the number of moving parts. So while the idea is very good, practically we don't quite have the technology yet for a nifty little tablet-like device with a tactile screen.

onlyonemac wrote:One interesting that you have pointed out though which I had not considered before is the idea of a "zoomable interface" whereby one can switch from skimming over the lines of code to actually reading the code in braille. Of course this improves useability greatly not only for code but also for other tasks involving text, even reading a college textbook.

onlyonemac wrote:And, of course, the mention of video games for the blind ties in nicely as well, as many games benefit from some sort of spacial layout

onlyonemac wrote:Needless to say, the device could be complemented with audible output, and with a user-switchable option one could even have a system whereby selecting a line of code (by double-tapping it or something, I guess, as is the standard gesture for selecting something on a normal touchscreen device using a screenreader) would not switch to reading or editing it in braille but in fact reading it out audibly and allowing the person to edit it audibly. That would provide a lot of flexibility in how the user interacts with the device and the content, as some blind people prefer audible information and some (myself included) prefer tactile information.

embryo2 wrote:I have googled a bit and found "affordable" 40 cell display for 2700$. Roughly 70$ per cell. But the traditional keyboard also includes a lot of moving parts and it's price is about 10$ (9c per key). Something is wrong with this market. May be there actually is no viable demand for such devices? Because audible output is cheap. Else the price just should go down and mechanical complexity here is not a limiting factor.

embryo2 wrote:Yes, "blind games" with moving waves under your fingers can attract even non-blind people. All smartphones now have haptic motor, so why they can't have a small blind screen? The smartphone's big market can decrease the price greatly.

MessiahAndrw wrote:I'm thinking of the feasibility of a low cost braille display. At 6 dots per character, with 80 characters that's 480 dots. Each dot could be powered by an electromagnet that pushes it up, and when unpowered, gravity causes it to drop. Maybe one day we will see it cheaper than $100.

onlyonemac wrote:In short, the problem is that the manufacturers exploit the fact that there are not a lot of people who need braille displays

onlyonemac wrote:I - and, I believe, other people - have considered the use of a smartphone's vibration functionality

embryo2 wrote:

onlyonemac wrote:I - and, I believe, other people - have considered the use of a smartphone's vibration functionality

Actually I was talking about tactile screen, when the surface can be changed. It can add more entertainment capability to smartphones for non-blind people and the ability to read in a much more convenient manner for blind people.

Rusky wrote:There is at least one existing product for pressable buttons on touch screen keyboard keys: http://tactustechnology.com/technology/, http://www.getphorm.com/. I don't know how well it would handle braille in its current state- it probably has "button" size and number limitations since it uses a fluid to raise parts of the screen.