Desarrollo de un catálogo digital de software para personas con discapacidad visual utilizando prototipado y user experience

Abstract

With the use of ICT in education, many institutions have developed an interest in using the Internet for improving their services. However, most of the services come as applications which most of the time are difficult to find and get, are not well indexed and categorized; moreover, there are no catalogs offering these applications in Ecuador. The objective of this project is to develop a digital software catalog for the visually impaired that is accessible, user-friendly and brings all these applications closer to users. A preliminary research was made in order to identify web and mobile applications and catalogs that deal with visual impairment using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews (PRISMA) directives. These web and mobile catalogs were analyzed in order to determine which features and needs the digital software catalog should comply with. After that, the mobile and web applications were evaluated using the Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS). The five planes of User Experience were used during the development of each prototype according to its fidelity level (low, medium and high-fidelity). To achieve a fully functional application, the “Instituto Mariana de Jesús” helped during the development of the application giving rich and valuable feedback, as well as, helping to test every prototype. This way, the digital software catalog complies with the needs of the visually impaired and supports their educational and life development. In conclusion, even though we live in a constantly changing world with new technologies emerging every day, these technologies are not always accessible to the impaired, that is why it is important to bring these technologies closer to the impaired, making the digital breach narrow.