Source code editor using voice commands to support people with motor disabilities

This article presents the process of design, construction, application and lessons learned regarding a software tool that aims to be a support for programming activities, which is intended to support educational activities in areas of programming for people with motor disabilities, particularly with paresis (partial paralysis or weakening of muscle contractility), localized paralysis in arms, wrists or quadriplegia. The software functions are based on a set of instructions entered through voice commands, identified by reserved words, which allows the tool to differentiate language instructions and commands. The prototype of the tool was built and called Mancodev, in its first version with support for the JavaScript programming language. It was subjected to two tests: the first consisted of validating the software using disabled users. Five beginner’s level programming participants completed a practice session and contributed their opinions, weaknesses and strengths. Subsequently, Mancodev was subjected to a second test, this time with the participation of ten university students from careers related to the programming area; in order to obtain feedback on the functionality of the tool from the point of view of an experienced programmer, the benefits and disadvantages detected were taken into account. In conclusion, the tests were considered positive because they allowed knowing the behavior of the tool, revealing some failures and opportunities, allowing to strengthen the prototype in future updates.