Hidden design: An inquiry into the design of inclusive building environments and digital interface design for the vision impaired

Abstract

This study aims to answer the question of what can architects and electronic and computer engineers offer to people with vision impairment? This research project is being undertaken jointly at the Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Visual Arts—University of Western Australia and the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Curtin University of Technology. The study demonstrates the processes of architects and electronic computer engineers' work with vision impaired people. This research will examine how architects and electronic computer engineers meet the needs of the vision impaired within the area of learning environments. By being involved in a project for the creation of a revolutionary new building at the Association for the Blind of Western Australia and working under the supervision of an architect who has had over thirty years experience in the areas of aging and sensory loss, will assist in the study of how to meet the needs of vision impaired people in their building environments. Participation in the Cisco Network Academy Program with the vision impaired students at Curtin University will be vital and explain the different ways of learning and the interaction of vision impaired students with their educational technology. This will become a good source to experts in a variety of fields, who work with the vision impaired so as to be able to study their reaction to new technology.