Development of DAISY-WIBORD as computer assisted learning facilities for children with visual impairment

Abstract. The objective of research aimed to 1) developing of DAISY-WIBORD audio books
program on Text-to-Speech Synthesis Technology: TTS for visually impaired students 2)
comparing the learning outcomes between the DAISY-WIBORD audio book program and
normal method of social studies subject for visually impaired students Grade 4 of the Bangkok
Blind School 3) studying the satisfaction of visually impaired students Grade 4 of the Bangkok
Blind School to use DAISY-WIBORD audio books. The participants were separated 2
classrooms of 30 tenth genders in each group consisted of 15 students from Bangkok Blind
School’ grade 4. The students were randomly assigned to a classroom as a control group and
experimental group. The students were randomly assigned to a classroom as a control group
and experimental group. The research instruments are 1) quality evaluation DAISY-WIBORD
audio books program 2) the learning achievement 3) student’s questionnaire satisfaction with
DAISY-WIBORD audio books program. Statistics in this research used statistics for data
analysis consisted of average value, Standard Deviation (S.D.), and t-test dependent. The result
reveals that the development of TTS on DAISY-WIBORD audio books for the visually
impaired is divided into 5 modules. The examination of the developed DAISY-WIBORD audio
books was conducted by the researcher following the procedures with the test result. 1) The
finding test of reading errors indicated that an average is 97.47% has the accuracy of reading
Thai words from testing three times, on other sides 2.53% of the errors were caused by
misprints and abbreviations. Moreover, the test of reading errors revealed that an average of
97.55% has accuracy of reading English words from testing three times and approximately
2.45% of the errors were caused by misprints. 2) Audio book creating speed tests displayed
that the average time is approximately 1.50 milliseconds in Thai words and approximately 1.43
milliseconds in English words. 3) The comparing test of domestic and foreign audiobooks with
DAISY-WIBORD audio book program showed that the program has used foreign synthesis
technology, the sound created by the computer has many TTS sounds that is a new technology
with a more natural and clear tone, keeping in html format as easily to find any part of a book,
searching for particular words, and using with all versions of Windows. The comparing
between the DAISY-WIBORD audio book program and normal method of social studies
subject for visually impaired students Grade 4 of the Bangkok Blind School found that mean
score of control group students had 16.67 and the experimental group had 16.53 which were
not statistically significant at the 0.05 level. Studying the satisfaction of visually impaired
students Grade 4 of the Bangkok Blind School to use DAISY-WIBORD audio books revealed
that social studies subject: learning group was the high level, furthermore students had the
highest level of satisfaction with learning content from the DAISY-WIBORD audio books with
convenience, there are a variety of sounds to choose for lessons, and more understanding of
content respectively (Continuous)