Usability is a key factor to ensure computer systems can be used in an efficient and pleasing way. Accessibility is part of this, but creating accessible software does not necessarily mean that usability is reached to its maximum. In the specific context of adult education in IT, people with a visual impairment (VI) use screen magnifiers. These magnify the screen in different ways, but the computer system is still controlled using a mouse and keyboard. Even more specifically, people with multiple disabilities and visual impairment (MDVI) very often are not able to use the mouse and keyboard and need to rely on special hardware. In addition, people with a cortical visual impairment (CVI) are struggling to use computer hardware for different reasons. (e.g.: hand-eye coordination). Since eye-tracking systems have become more accurate and affordable, computer systems can be used and controlled using these systems. However, they are developed for people without any special needs. This project tackles this issue by selecting one or more eye tracking systems which are commercially available. The different partners select these using different criteria, and the adjust them to be used by people with VI, MDVI and CVI. After adjusting the eye-tracking system to the specific needs, applications that are specifically intended to be used by an eye-tracking system for people with MDVI and CVI are developed. (e.g. communication software with bigger buttons). Even though these are developed for people with MDVI, multiple disabled people without a visual impairment will also be able to use this software using an eye-tracking system. These applications will help the target audience to increase their use of computer systems and help them in their daily tasks. In addition, since professionals working with the target audience, the application will also include aspects which will help them to deliver a better quality of work for their clients and students.The participants organisations in this project all work in the field of visual impairment. Slovenia an Italy are experts in the field of VI, MDVI and CVI. Luxembourg and Spain provide the experts in developing the applications and adjusting the eye-tracking solutions to the specific needs. In addition to the application, a survey about eye-tracking solutions with their advantages and disadvantages, in regards with VI, are stated. In addition a user documentation for the use of the software will be elaborated as well as a developer documentation for software developers who want to adapt the applications to their specific needs.At the first meeting, the milestones will be established and then divided into several minor milestones which again will be divided into individual tasks. Each task is assigned to one ore more persons, and a GANTT chart is created in order to visualize the different tasks with their according milestones and deadlines.The team is managed by a modern agile approach, which allows to swift adaptations during the development process.In total, there will be 5 transnational meetings, in which the major milestones will be discussed and evaluated. In addition to these, each month will be an online meeting in order to track process and to receive feedback on the different tasks. This will ensure that a quick response to all the different issues that have arisen will be given by common agreement of all the partners.The results will be published on different platforms, among which is the project's website, e-Twinning platform and GitHub. GitHub is a open source development platform for software applications.

For several years now, attempts have been made in various countries to create models and teaching tools using 3D printing technology and new tactile media to help visually impaired and blind students in their everyday school life. The visualization of 3D models in schoolbooks or specifically developed aids for the visually impaired are just two examples of the benefits using the recently affordable 3D printing technology and tactile media. However, there are currently some problems around this subject for visually impaired and blind students: - There are no homogeneous guidelines on how to create 3D prints for the blind; - There are no reference books for specialised schools which would help entering the field of these new medias; - There are almost no guidelines for special needs educational staff on using these media in the classroom; - There is no specialised website which offers 3D models for the visually impaired free to download on the internet. The main goal of the UBIS project is to focus on these 4 aspects. The following paragraphs describe how these problems will be solved. Through an international exchange of experts in both pedagogical and technical fields, guidelines will be developed on how to design and produce 3D models for blind and visually impaired students. All blind schools and their staff could benefit from these guidelines. Unfortunately, many schools for visually impaired and blind children are not yet implementing the use of 3D printing, because of their inexperience in this field. As a result, many visually impaired and blind students are disadvantaged. For this reason, UBIS will produce a guidebook, which is intended to simplify the introduction into the topic and the production of 3D models for special needs schools. A further objective of UBIS is to develop a handbook for staff. This handbook will help implementing new tactile media in education for visually impaired and blind students. Not only will this handbook illustrate the possibilities of 3D printing, but also show by using practical examples the implementation in an inclusive environment in addition to special needs schools. Finally, UBIS will create a freely accessible database on the Internet which will offer universal information containers free to download. A universal information container includes one or more 3D models, a detailed description of how to use them in the classroom and accompanying texts and additional information that can be shared with students and teachers. A guideline on how to create such containers and the possibility to share by uploading them into the database will be added. This allows other schools to benefit and contribute to the database.

The accessibility barriers for people with MDVI prevents them from an ideal interaction with computers.In the concrete context of adult education in IT, people with shortsightedness use screen magnifiers. These enlarge parts of the screen using the mouse cursor as guide. This inhibits a fluent lecture of text in many situations. The main reason for this is that the mouse must be moved along the text. View-centric magnification, in this case, can tremendously improve the quality of access to computers. An initial analysis of the solutions available has led to the idea that a software library should exist that solves most of the eye-motion-tracking problem. But a survey of openly available software libraries lead to disillusioning results. Solutions were either imprecise, too slow, too expensive or simply did not provide all the required features.Based on this, the idea for this project emerged. The precise objectives are the following: 1) Create a survey of available software libraries. Evaluate them in detail with respect the special needs for people with MDVI. 2) Create a consolidated library that is optimally applicable. The library must therefore be fast, precise and platform independent. 3) Create the initially anticipated view-centric magnification application.The whole process depends on stakeholders from various areas of operations. The precise requirements for people with MDVI must come from experts of the field.These experts together with MDVI people will define goals, evaluate results and give feedback for an iterative improvement.Eye-tracking is usable in other fields as well. Scholars in the domain of physical disabilities will be able to formulate the requirements and evaluate the library with respect to their area.Software engineers and developers will ensure the correct implementation of all the requirements in the form of a software library and an application.The team is managed using a modern agile approach. This assures a swift adaptation to the reality of the project at any moment of time. Before kickoff, a set of rigid major-milestones and an initial set of activities respectively tasks are defined, estimated and agreed upon. Between these major-milestones monthly sprint meetings will take place. Here the progress is evaluated and the next tasks are defined and assigned. The goal is to optimally share workload between the stakeholders in order to achieve the goals declared for the milestones. Major milestones evaluations take place in the context of proper meetings. All other meetings will be online video conferences.The produced results will be distributed through platforms that are open for everybody. The reason for this is to promote new projects based on the results of this research.