Accessible Coconut

Zendalona's Accessible Coconut tackles the critical issue of digital exclusion faced by visually impaired individuals globally. Here's a breakdown of the problem, its scale, and how our solution addresses it:

Problem:

• Limitations of Operating Systems: Standard operating systems often lack built-in accessibility features, creating significant barriers for visually impaired users. These barriers can include difficulties navigating the interface, using features, and accessing information through screen readers or text-to-speech tools.
• Inconsistent Accessibility Tools: Even with accessibility tools available, inconsistencies across different operating systems and applications create a fragmented experience. This forces users to constantly adapt and re-learn, hindering their productivity and digital fluency.

Scale:

• Global Impact: According to the World Health Organization (WHO), at least 2.2 billion people globally have a vision impairment, with near-sightedness being the most common. Of these, an estimated 39 million are blind. Our solution can help anyone with a laptop.
• Digital Divide: A significant portion of visually impaired individuals struggle to access and utilize technology due to the lack of accessible interfaces. This creates a digital divide, limiting their educational opportunities, employment prospects, and overall access to information.

Factors Addressed by Accessible Coconut:

• Pre-installed Accessibility Features: Accessible Coconut has been packaged with accessibility features like screen readers, text-to-speech conversion, and customizable keyboard shortcuts. This provides seamless single window solution for users rather than installing multiple packages and trying to get support for the issues they face. 
• Open-Source Development: By building on an open-source platform like Accessible Coconut, we leverage the contributions of a global developer community. This fosters continuous improvement and adaptation of accessibility features to cater to diverse needs.
• Standardized Accessibility: Zendalona will actively contribute to the development of accessibility standards within the Accessible Coconut framework. This promotes consistency across applications built on the platform, simplifying navigation and interaction for visually impaired users.

Impact of Accessible Coconut:

• Increased Digital Inclusion: By providing a user-friendly and accessible operating system, Accessible Coconut empowers visually impaired individuals to actively participate in the digital world. This opens doors to education, employment opportunities, and a wider range of information resources.
• Community Building: The open-source nature of Accessible Coconut fosters a collaborative environment where developers and users with visual impairments can work together. This ongoing collaboration leads to a richer set of accessibility features and a more inclusive digital ecosystem.

Conclusion:

Zendalona's Accessible Coconut addresses a critical barrier to digital inclusion for a vast global population. By providing a user-friendly and adaptable operating system, we empower visually impaired individuals to bridge the digital divide and reach their full potential.

Imagine a user-friendly operating system that "talks" to you, guiding you through your digital world. That's the essence of Accessible Coconut, developed by Zendalona.

Here's how it works:

• Built on a familiar base: Accessible Coconut is built upon Ubuntu based GNU/Linux, making it a user-friendly and lightweight operating system. This familiarity makes it easy to learn and navigate, even for those new to computers.
• Accessibility Features Out-of-the-Box: Unlike standard operating systems, Accessible Coconut comes pre-loaded with accessibility features. These features don't require separate downloads or installations, making it ready to use right away.
• Screen Reader Magic: A built-in screen reader transforms on-screen text into high-quality speech. This allows users to navigate menus, read documents, and interact with applications – all through audio cues.
• Text-to-Speech Customization: Accessible Coconut lets users adjust the speech rate and voice options of the screen reader. This ensures a comfortable listening experience tailored to individual preferences.
• Keyboard Shortcuts for Easy Navigation: Forget complex mouse maneuvers! Accessible Coconut offers customizable keyboard shortcuts, allowing users to navigate the system and access functions with ease.
• Open-Source Advantage: By using an open-source platform, Accessible Coconut benefits from the collective knowledge of a global developer community. This fosters continuous improvement and adaptation of accessibility features to cater to diverse needs.

The technology behind it:

Accessible Coconut leverages a combination of existing technologies:

• Screen Reader Software: The operating system comes with a built-in screen reader called Orca. This tool reads out the text on the screen, allowing visually impaired users to understand what’s displayed on their computer screen. It converts on-screen text into speech using text-to-speech (TTS) engines.
• Optical Character Recognition (OCR): This feature allows the operating system to recognize text within images or scanned documents, converting it into readable text that can be read out by the screen reader.
• Six-Key Input: This feature allows users to input text using just six keys, mimicking the input method used in Braille. This makes it easier for those who are familiar with Braille to use the computer.
• Speech Engine: The eSpeak speech engine is used to convert text into speech. This allows visually impaired users to hear the text that is displayed on their screen.
• Accessibility APIs: The operating system utilizes built-in accessibility APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) to ensure compatibility with various assistive technologies.
• Open-Source Development Tools: The open-source nature of Accessible Coconut allows developers to utilize and contribute code for improved accessibility features and wider compatibility. Accessible Coconut is not just an operating system, but a gateway to digital inclusivity. 

Zendalona's Accessible Coconut, along with its suite of integrated and compatible accessibility tools, directly serves individuals experiencing visual impairments. 

Current Underservice:

Visually impaired individuals often face significant barriers when interacting with technology due to the lack of user-friendly interfaces and operating systems designed with their needs in mind. This digital exclusion limits their opportunities in various aspects of life, including:

• Education: Difficulty accessing educational materials and online learning platforms can hinder academic achievement and career prospects.
• Employment: Inability to navigate productivity tools and software can create challenges in the job market.
• Social Interaction: Limited access to social media and online communication platforms can lead to isolation and reduced social connectedness.
• Information Access: Difficulty accessing information online restricts opportunities for independent learning, employment exploration, and staying informed.

Addressing Needs through a Comprehensive Solution:

• Accessible Coconut: This core offering provides a user-friendly and accessible operating system with built-in features like screen readers, keyboard navigation, and text-to-speech customization.
• Sharada-Braille-Writer (SBW): This text editor allows users to efficiently input text in over 40 languages using a braille keyboard, similar to a Perkins Brailler.
• Linux-Intelligent-OCR-Solution (Lios): This tool empowers users to convert physical documents and images into digital text using a scanner or camera, making them accessible for reading with screen readers.
• IBus-Braille: This keyboard driver allows users to type text directly in applications using a standard keyboard with braille input methods, similar to Perkins Brailler.

Additional Tools for Education and Leisure:

• Accessibility extensions for TuxMath and TuxTyping: These educational games become accessible for visually impaired users, allowing them to practice math skills and typing in a fun and engaging environment.
• XBoard: This chess game features speech support and keyboard navigation, enabling visually impaired users to play and enjoy the game.
• Online six key(braille) input: This web-based tool allows users to type in braille directly within a web browser on any device, eliminating software installation requirements.
• Braille Translator GUI: This offline tool provides Braille translation functionalities with various customization options and screen reader compatibility, empowering users to convert text into Braille format for further use.
• Accessible Maths-Tutor: This interactive math game offers an accessible interface with audio cues and feedback, making it a valuable tool for visually impaired users to learn and improve their math skills.

Overall Impact:

By providing a comprehensive suite of tools within a user-friendly operating system, Zendalona's solution empowers visually impaired individuals to:

• Increase Digital Literacy: Gain essential computer skills and navigate various digital resources, opening doors to lifelong learning and independent living.
• Improve Educational Opportunities: Access educational materials, online learning platforms, and educational games, fostering academic success and career advancement.
• Enhance Employment Prospects: Utilize technology effectively for work purposes, becoming more competitive candidates in the job market.
• Greater Social Inclusion: Participate in online communities and communication platforms, reducing isolation and fostering social connections.
• Access Information: Independently access and convert information online, empowering informed decision-making and improving overall quality of life.
• Engage in Learning and Entertainment: Utilize accessible educational games and leisure applications, enriching their learning and recreational experiences.

Our team at Zendalona is uniquely positioned to deliver the Accessible Coconut solution because of our deep roots in the communities we aim to serve. Our team members, including our Team Lead, are not just representatives of these communities, but active participants in them. We live, work, and engage daily with the people who will be using our solution.

Our proximity to the community is not just geographical but also cultural and emotional. We understand the unique challenges and needs of our community because we experience them firsthand. This intimate knowledge guides every decision we make, from design to implementation.

The design and implementation of our solution are not just guided by the community’s input, ideas, and agendas, but are actually driven by them. We have established feedback loops that allow us to continually learn from the community and adjust our solution accordingly. We believe that the people who face the problems every day are the ones who hold the key to their solutions.

We are not just designing a solution for our community, we are designing it with them. This co-creation process ensures that our Accessible Coconut is not just accessible and useful, but also culturally appropriate and community approved. We believe this approach sets us apart and positions us well to deliver a solution that truly serves the needs of our community.

What Zendalona has built and tested so far:

• Accessible-Coconut: Zendalona has developed this custom-built, accessible operating system that provides visually impaired users with the ability to access content and use technology independently.
• Braille Writer and Braille Translator: Zendalona has built tools that enable users to produce text in different languages using Braille.
• Accessible computer games: Zendalona has developed free and open-source accessible games (leisure and educational) for the visually impaired community.

Customers and beneficiaries served so far:

Zendalona's operating system has been downloaded over 3,000 times across 95 countries in the past year.

Zendalona is applying to Solve not just for funding, but to access a valuable network of resources and expertise to overcome critical barriers on our path to global impact. Here's how Solve can empower our mission:

Financial Barriers:

• Scaling User Base: Expanding access to Accessible Coconut requires resources for device acquisition, distribution logistics, and potential user training programs. Solve's network could connect us with potential donors or impact investors who share our vision.

Technical Barriers:

• Multilingual Support: Localization efforts for different languages involve complex technical considerations. Solve can connect us with developers experienced in accessibility features across diverse language scripts.

Market Barriers:

• Reaching New Communities: Building partnerships with organizations serving visually impaired individuals globally can be challenging. Solve's network could introduce us to relevant NGOs, educational institutions, and assistive technology providers in new regions.

Cultural Barriers:

• Accessibility Norms: Accessibility standards and user preferences can vary across cultures. Solve can connect us with user advocacy groups and accessibility experts in different regions to ensure our solution remains culturally relevant and effective.

How Solve Can Help:

• Funding and Investment Connections: Solve can connect us with potential funders or impact investors who understand the social impact of our work and are aligned with our mission.
• Technical Expertise: The Solve network might house developers with experience in creating accessible interfaces for diverse language scripts. This collaboration can accelerate our multilingual support efforts.
• Partnership Facilitation: Solve can introduce us to relevant organizations working with the visually impaired community in different countries. This can expedite market entry and user adoption in new regions.
• Cultural Sensitivity Guidance: Collaboration with user advocacy groups and accessibility experts within the Solve network can provide invaluable insights into cultural nuances related to accessibility. This ensures our solution remains culturally appropriate and meets the specific needs of diverse user groups.

Beyond Funding:

Zendalona seeks a holistic partnership through Solve. While financial support is crucial, access to Solve's network of experts, potential partners, and cultural guidance will be instrumental in overcoming critical barriers and scaling our impact. By collaborating with the Solve community, Zendalona can ensure Accessible Coconut empowers visually impaired individuals globally, fostering a more inclusive digital world.