Intelligent System for Document Retrieval and Access to Scientific Documents for Visually Deficient Users

Visually deficient persons have particular difficulties to access to scientific documents in virtual libraries situated on Web, or on specialised documentary bases. These difficulties are shown not only for scientific document access and Man-Machine Interface communication, but also during the document retrieval process. Thus, the proposed intelligent system, includes these different constraint layers, and has as principal functionalities: • Document retrieval with high precision and personalised document filtering • Restitution of only the most significant paragraphs to the final user • Adapted Man-Machine Interface to Braille terminals and vocal synthesis restrictions, and -at the same time-ergonomic for sighted users in order to allow co-operative work between both user categories. • User profile creation depending on his "behavioural preferences" and the retrieved information type, in order to have an adapted restitution with Braille or Vocal transcribing. • Integration of specific translator of scientific documents, allowing French Braille transcribing of non textual components (as mathematical formulas) This research work is carried out within a regional project where collaborate specialists in different fields (cognitive psychology, Braille accessibility, vocal synthesis/recognition, document retrieval). This project development would open new perspectives for sight handicapped persons, specially in scientific fields.