ASSISTIVE LEARNING TECHNOLOGIES (ALT) FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS WITH EMPHASIS ON USER INTERFACE DESIGN: A CRITICAL REVIEW

• Published in: I-Manager's Journal on Software Engineering Vol. 15; no. 1; p. 40
• Main Authors: ANURAJ, MALAV, SHIV, SINGH
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Nagercoil iManager Publications 01.07.2020
• Subjects: Learning; Literature reviews; Older people; Rehabilitation; Touch; Universal design; User groups; User interface; User interfaces
• ISSN: 0973-5151; 2230-7168
• DOI: 10.26634/jse.15.1.17796

Research has shown that Assistive Learning Technology (ALT) support learning for individuals with special needs (disability rehabilitation, elderly people, intellectually disabled, development disabled). The authors of this review examined user interface design (UID) for various types of ALT aiming at effective support for people with special needs. For compilation of related work in this review, digital databases, conference proceeding, research articles and some other related sources were sorted out. The significant data found from these sources has been then analyzed under two general subjects: 1) the applications of ALT for special needs; 2) the importance of UID in ALT for an individual with special needs. This research focuses on UID of ALT for the individuals with special needs. The UI of these ALT should be designed in such a way that learners with special needs feel very comfortable when interacting with the application. ALT is essentially a particular class of hardware/tool which has been comprehensively designed with an individual learner's population in mind and touch user interfaces (TUIs) are a supportive medium for the designing of ALT. We start by talking about the ideas of inclusive design and universal design and how these design methods of insight identify with the design of ALT. Next, clarify how touch user interface (TUI) can be successful in accomplishing universal and inclusive design objectives, and how these can be helpful when designing ALT for an individual user group - the special needs. Finally, a literature review is presented in which physical interfaces, particularly touch, have been shown to be effective in helping this user population.