Invisible Touch for Visually Handicapped People with Etisalat Lanka

Abstract

In the world we live, there are lots of people who are having either a physical or mental condition that limits movements, senses, or activities. As we are busy with our routine work, we tend to forget those help-in-needed people while categorizing them as disabled . In this information era, the gap between enabled and disabled people could be minimized by enabling communication channels among those infirm people. This project, Invisible Touch is designed and built for visually handicapped people to use mobile device with android operating system. To increase the accessibility, the application is developed using two types of interfaces called six packs and single pack screens. The application facilitates the intended users with Call Management , Contact Management , Alarm management and Customized Application Settings . This application is built by identifying the capacities and capabilities of visually handicapped people, and it is designed with user friendly and easily accessible interfaces. The most important feature of this application is the specially designed key board which can be easily used by visually handicapped people. For the purpose of localization, the application is designed in three main languages of Sri Lanka( Sinhala, English and Tamil ). The system is developed complying with the Agile System Development methodology to address the user requirements more sensitively while developing more rapid, working, usable system. The language which is used in developing the application is Java and Android Studio is used as the integrated development environment. The application will inherit the existing android databases. Invisible Touch is deployed on AppZone , who is the Sri Lanka s first ever SMS based mobile application platform launched by Etisalat Sri Lanka partnered with hSenid Mobile. This platform allows the users to browse the mobile applications and also gives the opportunity for Sri-Lankan mobile application developers to create, test and sell their own unique applications. Together with hSenid Mobile, Etisalat Sri Lanka has move towards the first step in taking Sri Lanka to the global mobile application development stage. This application can be enriched with the featured of Messaging, Email Handling, File Management, Audio Player, Radio and Internet Browser etc. as further developments, while using the same architectural design.