Accessible Modeling on the Web: A Case Study

Abstract

With the growth of software engineering disciplines and visual languages like the UML (Unified Modeling Language) and consequently increase of modeling activities that use this visual languages, the access of the visually impaired is harmed and they need the assistance of other people both for reading and editing this models. In this paper we present a case study conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of a prototype tool developed by the authors and was designed to allow users to model using UML class diagrams using two distinct views: a traditional graphical view that sighted users are used to work with and an equivalent textual view where blind or visually impaired users can read, create models and also collaborate on models created by the graphical view. The study was conducted with one totally blind subject and counted with a previous pilot with a visually impaired subject to validate the study design. Results indicate that the AWMo approach was successful and well accepted by the users while they see potential that it could actually be used on professional environments.