# Challenge 1 - Word processor for blind people

| Name | Matr. Nr. |
| ----------------------- | --------- |
| Daniela Eberhard | 12006661 |
| Adrian Vinojcic | 11904250 |
| Sebastian Hollersbacher | 12015864 |
| Simon Meßner | 12005230 |

## Input Devices

### Keyboard + Braille ASCII on the keys:

Put braille letters on key-caps of normal keyboard (Additionally to normal keys), so blind people can feel which key they are typing. This allows both blind and non-blind users to interact with the word-processor.

| Pro | Con |
| ----------------------------- | ----------------------------------------- |
| Cheap | Learning curve for blind people |
| Familiarity for Braille Users | no space for complex caracters in braille |

### Braille-display/keyboard:

Blind people can read the text with a spezialized braille keyboard-display-hybrid and the keyboard as an additional assitive input.

| Pro | Con |
| -------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------- |
| Read and edit text in Braille | Expensive |
| Integration with Screen Readers | Learning curve for non-braille user |
| Effective for Editing and Proofreading | Variabillity of the keyboards |

### Voice Recognition Software + Microphone:

The Microphone and the software allows us to dictate text. With this input-method users that are not comfortable with the keyboard can also easily input text. This will also increase productivity for all users.

| Pro | Con |
| ----------------------------- | ---------------- |
| Microphone present everywhere | Learning Curve |
| Hands-Free Operation | Backround Noises |
| Increased Productivity | Privacy Concerns |

## Output Devices

### Braille-display/keyboard
[See Input devices](#Keyboard-+-Braille-ASCII-on-the-keys)
### Text-to-Speech Software + Audio Output
By using a Text-to-Speech software, text which has been written in the editor can be heard through the built-in speakers. Blind users will not be limited to the braille-display, which can only display one line at the time, vastly increasing productivity.

| Pro | Con |
| ----------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------- |
| Works for both blind and non-blind people | Not suitable for noisy environment |
| | Does not consider deaf-blind people |
### Braille Display
A small display (can show 1 line at a time), which reveals braille letters that can then be felt when moving a finger over it. Blind users will not be forced to only the TTS system as an output.

| Pro | Con |
| -------------------------- | ------------------------------------- |
| Intuitive for blind people | Only for people that can read braille |
| | Will increase product-cost |
### Optional (Phone-)Display
Non-blind users will be able to connect their phone (or tablet) via bluetooth and then display the word-processor with an app. This way these users can also to use the word-processor. Developers will be able to debug the system this way too.
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## Bad I/O-devices
Devices that are not suitable for blind people are:
* Mouse and other Pointing-devices, as blind people wouldnt know where the current cursor location is
* Computer Monitor
* Eye-tracker

## Suitable Combination
An optimal combination of devices for both seeing people and blind people, would be to use a usual laptop, with adapted keyboard. i. e.:
* Put braille letters on the keycaps
* Add an additional row above the keyboard as braille display
* Replace the keypad with special input for blind people
* Highlight which text is displayed in the braille display on the Monitor