Today, people with visual impairments still face numerous challenges in accessing and producing information. These challenges are particularly pronounced when documents contain tables, charts, or equations.

Although various tools exist—speech-to-text software, Braille-to-print transcribers, and digital assistants—their use has limitations. These devices do not always allow for a thorough understanding of the content or accurate verification of the information.

COOBRA is part of an initiative aimed at improving cooperation between sighted individuals and visually impaired Braille users. The project explores the interplay between various methods of accessing information:

• Braille, which ensures accuracy and reliability
• speech synthesis, which is fast and flexible
• artificial intelligence, a tool for exploration and content creation
• human collaboration, which is essential for content validation

The goal is to combine these approaches to facilitate the reading, writing, and co-creation of complex documents.

COOBRA is based on a participatory research approach that directly involves the people affected. The project brings together people who are blind or visually impaired, Braille experts, students, teachers, researchers, and developers.

Together, they identify needs, design solutions, test them, and refine them.

To enable the co-creation, co-publishing, and shared use of complex documents between sighted individuals and those with visual impairments, in order to promote access to education, employment, and knowledge creation.