Development of DAISY-WIBORD as computer assisted learning facilities for children with visual impairment

Abstract

The objective of research aimed to 1) developing of DAISY-WIBORD audio books program on Text-to-Speech Synthesis Technology: TTS for visually impaired students 2) comparing the learning outcomes between the DAISY-WIBORD audio book program and normal method of social studies subject for visually impaired students Grade 4 of the Bangkok Blind School 3) studying the satisfaction of visually impaired students Grade 4 of the Bangkok Blind School to use DAISY-WIBORD audio books. The participants were separated 2 classrooms of 30 tenth genders in each group consisted of 15 students from Bangkok Blind School’ grade 4. The students were randomly assigned to a classroom as a control group and experimental group. The students were randomly assigned to a classroom as a control group and experimental group. The research instruments are 1) quality evaluation DAISY-WIBORD audio books program 2) the learning achievement 3) student’s questionnaire satisfaction with DAISY-WIBORD audio books program. Statistics in this research used statistics for data analysis consisted of average value, Standard Deviation (S.D.), and t-test dependent. The result reveals that the development of TTS on DAISY-WIBORD audio books for the visually impaired is divided into 5 modules. The examination of the developed DAISY-WIBORD audio books was conducted by the researcher following the procedures with the test result. 1) The finding test of reading errors indicated that an average is 97.47% has the accuracy of reading Thai words from testing three times, on other sides 2.53% of the errors were caused by misprints and abbreviations. Moreover, the test of reading errors revealed that an average of 97.55% has accuracy of reading English words from testing three times and approximately 2.45% of the errors were caused by misprints. 2) Audio book creating speed tests displayed that the average time is approximately 1.50 milliseconds in Thai words and approximately 1.43 milliseconds in English words. 3) The comparing test of domestic and foreign audiobooks with DAISY-WIBORD audio book program showed that the program has used foreign synthesis technology, the sound created by the computer has many TTS sounds that is a new technology with a more natural and clear tone, keeping in html format as easily to find any part of a book, searching for particular words, and using with all versions of Windows. The comparing between the DAISY-WIBORD audio book program and normal method of social studies subject for visually impaired students Grade 4 of the Bangkok Blind School found that mean score of control group students had 16.67 and the experimental group had 16.53 which were not statistically significant at the 0.05 level. Studying the satisfaction of visually impaired students Grade 4 of the Bangkok Blind School to use DAISY-WIBORD audio books revealed that social studies subject: learning group was the high level, furthermore students had the highest level of satisfaction with learning content from the DAISY-WIBORD audio books with convenience, there are a variety of sounds to choose for lessons, and more understanding of content respectively.