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Research

Research Areas

eAccessibility covers a very broad spectrum. For this reason, two subject areas from this area that the institute is currently working on are listed by way of example:

WebAccessibility

The basic goal of improving the accessibility of websites is aimed at through a variety of channels, e.g .:

  • Conducting evaluations and advice
  • Development of training and further education offers (courses, seminars, university courses)
  • Development of a Europe-wide quality brand for barrier-free websites
  • Harmonization of methods, guidelines and quality brands in Europe

Virtual Libraries

We have three main goals in the area of virtual libraries:

  • Improve the accessibility of eBooks
  • Improve accessibility to virtual libraries
  • Expansion of the stock of virtual libraries

The area of ​​social integration is the link between research and development that takes place at the institute and daily work in the support of students.

The activities required for the individual students depend on their level of development and range from activities before or at the beginning of their studies to the integration into the world of work.

With regard to "research and development", the area of ​​social integration:

  • Research and development in the areas:
    • Focus on (social) integration
    • Higher education and disability
    • Framework conditions, structures and preparation of materials for the study support of students with disabilities
    • Vocational education and training for people with disabilities
    • Evaluation of social measures
    • Societal impact of assistive technologies
  • Project application and project handling on the topic at national and international level
  • Announcement and support of diploma theses at the institute
  • Networking and cooperation with the representatives of the other universities participating in the field of social integration
  • Design and development of a "Competence Network for Social Integration" at the JKU Linz

The research area "Mathematics & Games" focuses on the problem of blind people's access to mathematics, because mathematics is essential if blind people want to be given equal educational opportunities. Blind people have problems in dealing with mathematics because mathematical formulas cannot be represented as text and therefore require special consideration. The task of the research area is to provide contributions to international research in the field outlined here. Research subjects were and are brought to the research area by teachers, pupils and students. The problems can be summarized in the following categories:

  • Access to mathematical literature
  • Cooperation between sighted and blind / visually impaired people, especially teacher communication: The different mathematical notations used by blind and sighted people represent an essential communication barrier.
  • Navigation in mathematical expressions: Mathematical formulas are of a complexity that is often difficult to grasp even for sighted people. This makes it all the more difficult for people who are less able to see a structure due to the lack of sight.
  • Execution of mathematical tasks (arithmetic): Possibilities should be created to keep the overview by software even in a very complex mathematical calculation; Especially with the problem of jumping back and forth within a calculation process, the blind student should be supported by efficient procedures.

The second part of the research area shows that classic computer games are usually visually overloaded and therefore not suitable for blind and visually impaired people. For this reason, research into methods is necessary so that adaptations or new developments in the games sector are possible.