Empowering visually impaired learners: A voice-assisted mobile exam app for scribe-free exams

This paper delves into the implementation and effectiveness of a mobile application designed as a Voice-Assisted Exam System specifically for visually impaired (partially or fully blind) students in India. Visually Impaired (VI) students depend on scribes to write exams. Such reliance on scribes presents a significant challenge not only for visually impaired students but also for educational institutions. To address this issue, we have developed an innovative mobile application that utilizes recent advancements in natural language understanding and processing, transforming a mobile phone into a powerful Assistive Technology device. The primary objective of the Voice-Assisted Exam Systems app is to minimize or reduce the dependency on scribes, enabling visually impaired students to independently undertake examinations. Our field-testing of the Voice-Assisted Exam System app prototype across four colleges in the state of Maharashtra, India, revealed promising results. The findings indicate that this app holds substantial potential to significantly reduce the need for human assistance. Consequently, it promotes a more inclusive and equitable academic environment. By leveraging this technology, we aim to empower visually impaired students to be independent, enhancing their academic experience and opportunities.