Metaverse4Deaf: Assistive Technology for Inclusion of People with Hearing Impairment in Distance Education Through a Metaverse-Based Environment

Context. Given the need for digital transformation in education during the pandemic, this study focused on the Dell Accessible Learning (DAL) platform and its adaptation to the metaverse environment to improve learning for People with Disabilities (PwD). Goal. To analyze the viability of the metaverse environment in providing collaborative and accessible interaction for DAL students. Method: We conducted a prior literature review to align requirements with the State of the Art, considering collaborative learning and accessibility. Interviews and usability analysis were conducted with 9 PwD, DELL employees, corroborating the information in the literature. After usability evaluations and interviews, it was found that the third-party metaverse environment did not fully meet the accessibility criteria and usability. In response, DALverse was developed, a proof of concept integrated with DAL. Result. The results indicate benefits, including increased resources, multimodal interactions, and student retention. Future research should explore the use of DALverse in parallel with DAL courses, aiming to measure changes in indicators such as interaction, engagement, and performance. Furthermore, we provide an architectural model used in DAL and DALverse and implications for education, researchers, industry professionals, students and tutors.