**1. Introduction**

18 E-Learning – Organizational Infrastructure and Tools for Specific Areas

Weinert, F. E. (2008).Concept of Competence: a conceptual definition. In: D. S. Rychen & L.

Hogrefe &Huber). 2001.

H. Salganik (Eds.). Defining and Selecting Key Competencies, p46. Seattle, WA:

The World Health Organization defines Disability as follows: "Disabilities is an umbrella term, covering impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions. Impairment is a problem in body function or structure; an activity limitation is a difficulty encountered by an individual in executing a task or action; while a participation restriction is a problem experienced by an individual in involvement in life situations. Thus disability is a complex phenomenon, reflecting an interaction between features of a person's body and features of the society in which he or she lives[1]." Disabilities could be natural or could happen due to accidents. Technology could be used to create new software/hardware tools to help the disabled to participate in a creative collaborative educational environment.

In this chapter, we introduce two economically feasible solutions to aid physically challenged young students. They want they do (TWTD) is a simple system to help young students with hand disabilities interact with computers using web-camera and set of markers. The solution has been tested in some local schools and the results are promising [9]. Section 3 will introduce more details about version 2 of TWTD.

Autistic Touchless Board (ATB) is a system to help autistic children interact with computers with their hands. The system teaches autistic kids basic math and skills by projecting the problems on any surface (walls could be used) and the students interact by pointing to the wall without the need for extra tools. Section 4 will introduce more details about the design of ATB.

The rest of the chapter will be organized as follows:

	- Problem
	- Solution

<sup>\*</sup> Sarah S. Sakit, Noor A. Al-AbdulRazzaq, Mariam M. Al-Tattan, Fatima S. Sakit, Abrar Amin, Mariam Al-Najdi and Aisha Al-Rowaished

*American University of Kuwait, Kuwait*

Towards Economical E-Learning Educational Environments for Physically Challenged Students 21

They want they do (TWTD) is educational software that uses markers and web-camera as a method of interacting with computers (to replace the mouse). The markers are defined according to the level of disability. The users then get educated using computers in different subjects. The aim of this solution is to help physically challenged students who were not able to use computers to get educated in a creative way. Also the solution is economically feasible since it only requires a web-cam and a layer of software for interactions. There are several products that target the same problem. TWTD (since it used touchless SDK) remains

We implemented TWTD [9] as a proof of concept that creative solutions may help in educating physically challenged students with minimal resources. We already tried TWTD at special purposes schools in Kuwait to test the first version of the software. What we are

TWTD was developed mainly for people who suffer different kinds of hand disabilities. After survying special needs schools in Kuwait, we identified the following problems: Students with hand disabilities are facing many difficulties to access computers.

In Kuwait, there are many schools for the disabled. However, most students with hand

The only other option to dedicate teachers or helpers to help students use the computers.

We developed TWTD which is an economical educational tool with the following features: TWTD provides educational tools for Basic Mathematics, Science, Shapes, Colors and

TWTD is an educational software that uses markers and web-cam as a method of

Figure 2 depicts the main users of TWTD. Students can view tutorials and solve tests and

Figure 3 depicts the main layers of TWTD. In TWTD version 2, the databases were hosted on the cloud using Microsoft Azure cloud to accommodate larger databases and more

We modified touchless SDK to comply with hand disabilities. The original library has 3

disabilities are exempted from activities that involve computer usage.

TWTD adopts the curriculum of Ministry of Education in Kuwait

exercises. Teachers can add and edit subjects, tutorials and exercises.

markers. We customized the library to use two markers instead [9].

Our proposed solutions could be categorized as alternative to pointing devices.

 Speech input and output. Word prediction software.

by far more economically feasible [9].

**3.1 Problem in details** 

Basic English.

interacting with computers.

**How touchless SDK was modified?** 

**3.2 Solution** 

**3.3 Use cases** 

**3.4 TWTD design** 

subjects.

presenting in this chapter is version 2 of TWTD.

**3. TWTD** 

