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Virtual Pencil

The traditional pencil is a problem for people who are blind, or for people with difficulty with grip and control, and even at times for those with learning disabilities. A pencil, or for that any handheld writing device plays a key part in learning Math, and other equation-solving disciplines.

Typically a student uses a pencil to "work through" a math problem, writing down the
intermediate answers and using them to get the final answer. But if there is a problem in operating a pencil then the entire process is halted. And, of course, if you are blind, the pencil doesn't tell you what numbers to add together either.

Recent developments in technology have encouraged a group of computer specialists to develop software to teach mathematics to people who are unable to operate a pencil effectively. That might include someone who is blind or visually impaired, or motor impaired, or learning disabled.

This Virtual Pencil (VP) uses software that does the job of the pencil. It moves to the right spot on the "paper", guided by the user, and inputs the answers that the user selects. When used with a screen reader the numbers and actions are read out loud. The user must navigate the screen and provide the input.

The current product handles addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Future versions will do higher levels of math, like algebra, trigonometry, differential equations, and calculus.

For blind or visually impaired users, additional requirements would be a screen reader to make VP talk or display in Braille. For those with motor-impairments there would be the need for alternative keyboards or switches, or third-party voice input software. For persons with learning disabilities, a screen reader to provide the voice output would be helpful.

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Eyeway intends building a community where people can share and learn from each other. If you would like to share your experiences about Virtual Pencil with others, please send us your write-up at inspiration@eyeway.org. We shall include it as part of our website.

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