Developing Mathematics Skills through Audio Interfaces

Diverse views have highlighted the use of audio to foster learning and cognition in blind children. The idea is to use computer sound and voice to explore audio senses as vehicles for knowing and thinking. Most studies have explored the impact of audio on general domain cognitive processes. A few studies have explored specific domains such as mathematics. This study presents the design, development, and usability evaluation of an audio-based virtual environment to enhance learning of mathematics knowledge in blind children. After interacting with the software we found that blind children were highly motivated and enjoyed the experience. We also observed that they solved problems and learned basic mathematics knowledge such as addition, subtraction, and cardinality. Our preliminary results indicate that audio-based virtual environments can help to ameliorate the complexity of blind children learning mathematics.