Virtual cubarithms – innovative assistive technology for teaching the blind and visually impaired students traditional columnar layout operations

Abstract

Blind students face significant barriers in their mathematical education. Despite currently available computer technologies they are not able to perform some simple operations, for instance, traditional columnar layout calculations, using a sheet of paper like their sighted peers. They have to use a traditional tool, namely, a cubarithm slate. In this paper a solution has been proposed to help blind students to learn and perform basic mathematical calculations with the help of a mobile device with touch screen. It is a Virtual Cubarithm application developed as a part of a larger research project called PlatMat. PlatMat is a special mobile platform supporting sighted teachers and their visually impaired
students mathematical and physical education. Virtual cubarithm is a tool for learning traditional columnar layout calculations by visually impaired students. It is meant to replace traditional cubarithm slates, which are still in use.