Accessible Diagram interfaces

To research collaborative interfaces for a blind/sighted pair we pick the application of viewing and editing node-link diagrams, such as UML (Unified Modeling Language) diagrams. Working with diagrams provides two benefits to the blind community. An accessible diagram interface provides blind users with access to the visual information in diagrams. Diagrams are significant for communicating ideas; for example, in software engineering the diagrams are used to document designs of systems. A blind programmer needs access to diagrams of a system to understand the system and to modify, implement, or test the system. Diagrams are also important for collaboration. In designing the system, diagrams can be a main point of discussion. A blind person can participate in the discussion if he has access to and can interact with the diagram.