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Rapidly changing methodology in traditional campus-based education and in distance learning has resulted in video and interactive technology being used in individual and group work to access primary sources of information. Although traditional video material has been used extensively in school, college and university courses, the problems it poses for students with visual impairment (VI) - for instance lack of control over contrast and speed of image and text - have not been addressed. This project identifies factors both in adapting existing video and in designing new material which could facilitate access for students with VI.
This paper will discuss the results of a project to investigate how existing and future video material can be made more accessible to students with visual impairment in post-school education.
The project, by means of a questionnaire/survey (with follow up interviews) of VI student and their lecturers/teachers addresses the following issues:
(i) How students access current video material in their courses.
- how/where/when it is used
(e.g. for individual versus group work, in specific subject areas)
- its perceived disadvantages/benefits
- the practical difficulties
experienced
- students' suggestions
for easier accessibility (e.g. viewing distance, text considerations, role
of supplementary audio).
(ii) Ophthalmologically relevant
information (student sample)
- eye conditions, (e.g.
information on preferred viewing distance, lighting levels, colour perception
difficulties, field loss, current use of low vision aids).
(iii) Exploration of methods
of giving more choice and control to students over:
- speed
- level of magnification
- aspects within a frame
on which to focus
- video description sound
track
- contrast of foreground/background
for figure and text
- colour of foreground/background
for figure and text
- luminance
The outcomes will be discussed under the following headings:
1) establishment of criteria for increasing effectiveness of use of existing video with VI students;
2) identification of production feature which could facilitate access of VI student to new i/active technologies.