Eureka! Institutional Repository

Introducing innovations to the education sector is a complex process, since all those factors that could affect the final result, should be taken into account. Especially when it comes to the technology solutions suggested, which has definitely entered to everyday activities including education, a designed innovation has to meet numerous standards in order to be successful and contribute to the educational work. In the present study, the innovation described has to do with the exploitation of possibilities offered by the modern technology and is also related to the creation of a software, capable to translate the Greek or English language, to Braille writing, for the education of the visually impaired persons. The “Translation-Learn Greek & English writing to Braille writing” software helps its users to the conversion process from every Greek or English text, to Braille writing, whether it is lean or multi-tone. Users can print the translated Braille texts through special typewriters. It is also possible to type Braille combinations and let the software display Greek words. The two “Translation-Learn Greek & English writing to Braille writing” software can be a powerful educational tool during the effort of faster improvement, for visually impaired people. Thus, this dissertation explores - in addition to the usability and effectiveness of the above software - the support generally offered by this kind of software, to a social group which doesn’t have many educational choices or those existed considered being of a past time. It also explores the different corresponding software in Greece, as well as their capabilities, reviewing a few references. In the research part of the dissertation, a structured questionnaire is used to gather the necessary data and was given to a sample of teachers or administrative personnel who had sufficient Braille writing and translation from a language to Braille writing, knowledge. The software does not only appeal to those who already have a high knowledge of the above. It also appeals to those that desire to practice every day and improve them. These software, mainly, appeal to persons already know quite good this Braille writing part, since they will be able to identify possible mistakes. However, they consist an excellent educational tool, since they give users the chance of a fast response, compared to the slow and noisy typewriters. In general, the software is also suggested as a self-teaching method of the Braille code. Finally, the research conclusions were particularly interesting, since the vast majority of those participated believe that the software consist an excellent solution, which will help students with visibility problems, to educate faster than usually. The responders also showed great satisfaction by the software’s functions, as well as the translation correctness, while the research was characterized by high levels of reliability, a fact that actually means the results could be generalized to a larger population.