Design of a Tangible Programming Tool for Students with Visual Impairments and Low Vision

This article presents the design of a tangible tool for teaching basic programming concepts to students with visual impairments and low vision. Meeting the preliminary requirements of this ongoing project (Tangible input, cost-efficient, and minimal maintenance), the paper describes the design of the hardware of this prototype with inexpensive materials, such as Lego blocks, 3.5mm stereo audio jack connectors, relays, resistors, and an Arduino Mega microcontroller. To identify the Lego blocks that represent the code instructions, the system provides three different methods of identification; color, 3D printed labels, and braille labels. To acquire feedback and validate this prototype, a preliminary study with nine participants with Visual Impairment and Low Vision has been carried out. All participants completed the task successfully, provided feedback about the prototype, and all recommended this prototype to teach basic programming concepts. Currently, the project is focused on the implementation of music as an output method of programs created by users. The objective is to create a programming tool completely independent of visual graphics or information.