Table of Contents
Introduce the reader to the concept of blind software engineering
The term “blind software engineer” is an oxymoron – software engineers are supposed to be able to see and analyze the code that they write. However, there are now some blind individuals who have been able to navigate the daunting field of coding without any help. Some have even become successful entrepreneurs, bosses of their own startups.
This is a very interesting development because it shows us that blind people can be trained to do anything they are capable of doing. For example, becoming a programmer has never been considered a “cognitive disability” in the past as people always claimed that blind people have no talent in terms of understanding codes. However with the advent of technology, that argument is not quite accurate. Blind programmers write their own programs and do everything else themselves using their own hands or special software like screen readers.
The concept of blind software engineering is just a recent development, it did not exist before 2003. Almost all recent programmers are blind, but could not have been able to deal with the difficulties of software programming without the help of technology. In order to understand what makes “blind software engineers” so capable, we should first know what exactly a blind person is using today. This article aims to introduce the reader and explore this issue from different angles.
Most technology available today is built upon open source software, so one must be able to look at the code of a program before using it.
Discuss why it is important for blind people to be involved in the software engineering process
The challenges faced by blind people are different from those faced by the sighted. For example, they often resort to using screen readers, text-to-speech software that reads aloud what is displayed on the computer screen. This software is essential for who want to use computers as efficiently as possible. Blind people, with the help of screen readers, are able to create websites, use Photoshop and other graphic design software. Some blind people have even become software engineers.
The importance of blind people working in the software engineering process is paramount. The blind are the first to start with a computer. They develop the software. Screen reading and text-to-speech software is used by millions of blind people every day, and this is a very important part of online accessibility (to be able to use a computer easily).
If all information regarding the importance of blind people working in the software engineering process is included with computer software, then blind people are able to make the most efficient use of computers. The blind develop software that is accessible by blind people and others that are not so. In addition to accessibility features, it is important for blind people to be involved in the software engineering process because it provides a good environment for them to share their experiences of challenges they face when developing computer software. Many people do not understand the challenges blind people face, and this information is helpful for providing insight.
Describe some of the challenges and unique perspectives that blind software engineers bring to the table
One challenge is that the screen reader might misinterpret a certain piece of code, which would lead to a wrong output. For example, if a “swap” command was interpreted as “jump,” the output would be incorrect. Another challenge for blind software engineers is that they might not be able to see what their software looks like on mobile devices or other platforms that their program could be used on. While doing this, they will also have to rely on the expertise of sighted software engineers in order to make their programs compatible with different platforms and devices.
Blind software engineers can also help the sighted community in the software industry understand what blind people really want. Some of the tools and functionality for blind people are advertised as if they were built for ease of use, but it ended up being extremely confusing and/or difficult to use. To make sure that their programs are easy to use, blind developers can test their programs with other blind people in order to get a better idea of how they would improve their programs or fix problems with them. In order for a screen reader to be compatible with certain programs, it will need some kind of compatibility in order to work with that program. Therefore, blind software engineers can help the sighted community by sharing what they know about screen readers and accessibility tools.
Offer a few examples of how blind software engineers have made a positive impact on the industry
Many blind people have become successful entrepreneurs, in the technology and software industries. In 2014, a blind woman named Becca Stevens founded a startup called Blind, which is both an agency and an app that helps blind and visually impaired people to navigate their smartphones. The app is designed specifically for users who are using screen readers to navigate their smartphones in certain situations like crossing roads or airports. Stevens grew up in a family of musicians, and has been blind since she was two years old. Her experience programming Apple II computers when she was growing up inspired her to pursue a career in software engineering, which is why she ended up becoming one of the most successful blind software engineers.
In the same year, a blind software engineer named Sarrah Ahn founded a startup called Blindlight. Blindlight was a startup that specialized in creating accessible applications for Apple devices. It was a program that could help blind people learn to code through its series of tutorials. The start up developed apps for its users with accessibility features. It was the first program to provide a scalable solution for blind developers in the U.S.
Encourage more blind people to pursue careers in software engineering
The software engineering industry is the fastest growing one in the world. Therefore, it is important that more people from different races, religions and places are welcomed so as to create an inclusive environment. This way, the industry can achieve better diversity and more interesting products. There are many blind people who are very talented in programming, however they find it difficult to pursue a career in this field as they often encounter certain barriers. Simply put, the workplace is not very suitable for them; they don’t have the software engineering background and skills required by software companies. Therefore, it creates a barrier to entry.
Blind software engineers are hard to come across in today’s market and there is no existing support structure that can help them progress. Therefore, we as a research team have decided to conduct a survey on this issue, gather results and make recommendations for the software engineering industry.
