Evaluating the usability of positive slate in writing and reading

Abstract

This article concentrates the results of the first stage of an ongoing research and aims to analyze the usability of the positive slate, highlighting aspects related to reading and writing. Ten different tests were performed: measurements obtained from the arrangement of six points, two columns and spacing between cells; dot printing on the sheet; point erasure; fixing the sheet to the ruler; displacement of the ruler on the sheet; ruler handling (open and close); accommodation of the stylus in the hollow space of the cell; access to written text; writing development; reading development. The conventional slate is taken as a parameter for the analyses, considering its use already approved by the educational systems. From the results, we highlight as positive aspects: the non-inverted writing, dispensing the mirroring of the letters and allowing the writing to be carried out in the same direction as the reading, that is, from left to right; better access to text while writing, making it easier for the user to correct the text; greater definition of the contours of the dots in the cell, supporting the stylus work. Two aspects were unfavorable: it is necessary to use more force to print the dots on the sheet, which makes its use uncomfortable for long texts writing; the size of the dot is larger than the one standardized for braille writing, which generates the need for readaptation in tactile reading by people who master braille writing and more space for writing, because in one line fewer characters are produced. It is concluded that the positive slate has characteristics that demand readaptation of users who master braille and that its use may not be suitable for long texts writing, however, its creation represents an advance for writing in the Braille System, both for users who dominate the system and for users in the literacy process, as their positive aspects outweigh the unfavorable ones. It is noteworthy that for children in the literacy process, the positive slate can represent an even greater advance, as the larger size of the dot and the easy access to the text may facilitate learning.