Programmers often favor Integrated Development Environments (IDEs) like Visual Studio (VS) Code, Eclipse, NetBeans, or IntelliJ IDEA over simple text editors due to their ability to integrate key features and functionalities. Generally, visually impaired (VI) programmers encounter difficulties in using these IDEs because of their complex interfaces. These difficulties can impede blind professionals from completing their work. This paper focus on the accessibility challenges faced by VI individuals in programming, where tools designed for sighted users do not fit to the requirements of VI programmer. In this paper, we will present the solution to one specific difficulty faced by VI programmers at the time of using IDE is reading error messages from the output terminal window. To address this problem, a custom NVDA extension called “Error Insight Narrator” has been created. This extension improves the comprehension and interpretation of error messages and integrates into VS Code, supporting a wide range of coding languages. The primary goal of this solution is to improve accessibility and inclusivity in programming targeting VI users, allowing them to participate more efficiently in programming activities. Feedback provided by VI programmers verifies the effectiveness of the Error Insight Narrator plugin. A comparative evaluation with the NVDA Screen Reader reveals notable advancements in understanding error messages and navigating for users with visual impairments. This innovation represents a step forward in making programming tools more accessible and user-friendly for all individuals, regardless of visual ability.

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Enhancing Error Insight Accessibility for Visually Impaired Programmers

  • K. M. Kajal,
  • Vivekanand Jha

摘要

Programmers often favor Integrated Development Environments (IDEs) like Visual Studio (VS) Code, Eclipse, NetBeans, or IntelliJ IDEA over simple text editors due to their ability to integrate key features and functionalities. Generally, visually impaired (VI) programmers encounter difficulties in using these IDEs because of their complex interfaces. These difficulties can impede blind professionals from completing their work. This paper focus on the accessibility challenges faced by VI individuals in programming, where tools designed for sighted users do not fit to the requirements of VI programmer. In this paper, we will present the solution to one specific difficulty faced by VI programmers at the time of using IDE is reading error messages from the output terminal window. To address this problem, a custom NVDA extension called “Error Insight Narrator” has been created. This extension improves the comprehension and interpretation of error messages and integrates into VS Code, supporting a wide range of coding languages. The primary goal of this solution is to improve accessibility and inclusivity in programming targeting VI users, allowing them to participate more efficiently in programming activities. Feedback provided by VI programmers verifies the effectiveness of the Error Insight Narrator plugin. A comparative evaluation with the NVDA Screen Reader reveals notable advancements in understanding error messages and navigating for users with visual impairments. This innovation represents a step forward in making programming tools more accessible and user-friendly for all individuals, regardless of visual ability.