LensLine News: Revolutionizing Paranormal Engagement and Access

Abstract

The LensLine News App does provide a visually challenged citizen with news updates from various sources, sought and filtered from the News API. It fetches top headlines from the US, focusing on the business category. This will read aloud news headlines to the user for staying abreast of all current events without the aid of visual cues. The application is developed using the Flutter framework, while the FlutterTTS package is used to convert the text into speech. This project offers an easy interface with no hassle at all; this is why it is a must for visually impaired people who want to be informed about everything that goes on around them. This is a Flutter application that fetches the top business news headlines from NewsAPI and displays them in a ListView. This application is aimed to assist users in obtaining the latest business news on mobile devices with simplicity and convenience. The application fetches the latest business news from the NewsAPI using the http package. It parses the received JSON response to extract the actual text content using the JSON package. The Flutter TTS package is used to read out news headlines in a voice. Upon launching the app, the user is presented with a list of the top business news headlines that come along with the available images, title, and descriptions. The user will then tap on any news headline to listen to the title using the text-to-speech function.

Introduction

I. INTRODUCTION

In this Mini Project is in all its multimedia formats. A LensLine News App is an integrated digital service that provides news on current affairs events, politics, business, entertainment, technology, science, sport, lifestyle as well as other updates and stories. These apps are user-centric in the sense that they allow viewers to read and connect to the news that matters to them rather than pulling data at random from the ocean of news. Find out what is happening in the world by choosing a particular category, receive breaking news via push notifications, and bookmark news articles for offline reading. This Access to news and current events is an important aspect of daily life, but for individuals who are blind or have low vision, it may be more challenging than one would imagine. Thus, it is essential to design such an application that not only relays credible news coverage and enables the visually impaired to be aware of developments in different areas. The LensLine News App project seeks to solve the identified problem through the creation of a news application which aims to ease the struggle for the weak sighted to receive news and other current affairs. The LensLine News App project is about developing a mobile application that allows users to access news and information from different places. Through this application, news and articles from credible news sources are retrieved using the News API. Afterwards, these articles are designed in such a way that the user does not have any trouble using them. Furthermore, the user can also listen to the news articles rather than reading them through the text-to-speech function available on the application.

Contemporary LensLine News App video, podcast and photo gallery, and other multimedia facets, give the story a deeper perspective as well as being easier and more exciting to the audience[. Users can also give their views and interact with other people through comments, surveys, and discussion boards. Searches to find articles on particular topics are effective and fast, and the current news and information feed is adjusted to their preferences as well. While addressing its varied audiences, a number of news applications offer different languages and content relevant to the various regions to cater for users all around the globe.

Maintaining a trustworthy profile, these applications go as far as linking their content to reliable publishers and embed fact-checkers within the application to avoid spreading fake news. Whether one is an ordinary reader who is briefed on the latest news or an avid reader who seeks for critical reviews of news, news applications in this case, are ideal for fulfilling one’s informational and communicational needs in the modern world.

II. PROBLEM STATEMENT

Visually impaired individuals face significant challenges in accessing and staying informed about current events, particularly in categories like business news. Most existing news platforms rely heavily on visual cues, such as images, articles, and text-based headlines, making it difficult for visually challenged users to navigate and consume news content effectively. There is a lack of accessible solutions that cater specifically to this demographic, offering a simple, convenient way to access and engage with news without requiring visual interaction. Current news apps often do not provide a user-friendly experience that incorporates voice-based assistance for seamless news consumption. Thus, there is a need for an application that allows visually impaired users to easily access up-to-date business news through voice-read headlines, enabling them to stay informed and engaged with minimal reliance on visual interfaces. The LensLine News App addresses this gap by using the Flutter framework and the FlutterTTS package to provide real-time business news updates in an accessible, voice-enabled format.

Fig 1 Use Case Diagram user and news API data base server

III. LITERATURE SURVEY

A literature survey for the LensLine News App should focus on several key topics related to accessibility for visually impaired individuals, voice-based applications, and the use of mobile technology to enhance news delivery. Below is a summary of the key areas that are relevant to this app and existing literature that informs the development of such a project.

A. Challenges Faced by Visually Impaired Users in Accessing News

1. Visually impaired individuals often face difficulties accessing traditional news sources that are heavily reliant on visual elements like text, images, and videos. According to Kitchin et al. (2015), while there have been significant advancements in assistive technologies, many mainstream applications and websites remain poorly optimized for screen readers or voice interaction. This creates a barrier to information accessibility for blind and visually impaired users, especially in time-sensitive areas like news consumption.
2. Bigham et al. (2010) conducted research into the challenges visually impaired individuals face when navigating websites, particularly news sites, and suggested that the integration of voice-based interfaces could significantly improve accessibility. However, mainstream news apps often lack features like voice interaction or simple navigation that cater to visually impaired users.

B. Assistive Technology and Voice-Based Applications

1. Voice-based technologies, such as screen readers, have become a critical tool for the visually impaired to interact with digital content. According to Lazar et al. (2015), screen readers allow users to listen to text-based content, but their effectiveness largely depends on the structure of the website or app being used. In recent years, frameworks like Flutter have made it easier to build applications that are more compatible with assistive technologies by simplifying the integration of features such as text-to-speech (TTS).
2. The use of text-to-speech (TTS) technology in mobile applications has proven to be an effective way to provide information to visually impaired users. Research by Brouwers et al. (2017) highlights that TTS applications have become increasingly sophisticated, offering high-quality and natural-sounding voices that improve the user experience. Flutter, with packages like FlutterTTS, enables app developers to seamlessly integrate TTS features into their applications, providing users with a more accessible news-reading experience.

C. News Consumption and Mobile Apps

1. Mobile apps have become the primary method of news consumption globally. According to Newman et al. (2020), there is a growing trend in the use of mobile news apps, especially among younger audiences. These apps offer convenience and real-time updates, which are crucial for staying informed. However, most of these apps are designed with visual elements, making it challenging for visually impaired users to interact with the content.
2. A study by Pereira et al. (2016) shows that simplifying app interfaces and offering voice-based feedback significantly improves accessibility for visually impaired users. By providing text-to-speech functionalities, news apps can make it easier for these users to stay up-to-date without requiring visual interaction.

D. Real-Time News Delivery and Accessibility

1. The ability to access real-time news has become an essential feature in modern news applications. As Papageorgiou et al. (2017) emphasize, real-time delivery of news, especially in dynamic categories like business, is crucial for users who rely on mobile technology. However, traditional news apps may not provide the necessary accessibility features, such as integration with screen readers or real-time voice-based updates.
2. Research on accessible real-time information delivery systems, such as Pereira et al. (2016) and Trewin et al. (2012), indicates that incorporating features like voice navigation and real-time updates would enable visually impaired users to interact more effectively with news content. These technologies, when properly integrated into mobile apps, allow for an enhanced and inclusive news experience.

E. Development and Use of Flutter for Accessible Apps

1. Flutter, a framework developed by Google, has gained popularity for its ability to create cross-platform applications with smooth performance and responsive UIs. A study by Liang et al. (2019) demonstrated that Flutter's integration with various assistive technologies, such as screen readers and text-to-speech tools, has made it a viable option for developing inclusive applications.
2. The use of Flutter in the development of apps for visually impaired users is gaining attention due to its simplicity, the extensive availability of plugins, and the ability to create highly interactive user interfaces that are compatible with voice feedback mechanisms like FlutterTTS.

IV. PROPOSED SYSTEM

The LensLine News App aims to address the significant challenges faced by visually impaired individuals in accessing current news, particularly in the business sector, through an intuitive, voice-enabled mobile application. The proposed solution leverages the Flutter framework and integrates the FlutterTTS package to convert news headlines into spoken text, allowing users to receive real-time updates without the need for visual interaction. This app will fetch the latest business news from the News API, delivering the top headlines in an accessible, user-friendly format that is easy to navigate. The app’s interface will be designed to prioritize simplicity and ease of use, ensuring that visually impaired users can seamlessly browse through news headlines and listen to detailed descriptions of each article without relying on sight. The integration of text-to-speech technology will enable users to engage with the news effortlessly, providing a hands-free experience that is crucial for those who face difficulties with traditional news consumption methods. By addressing the gap in accessible news delivery for visually impaired users, the LensLine News App will empower them to stay informed, promote independence, and enhance their daily interaction with current events.

This solution not only improves accessibility but also fosters inclusivity, ensuring that visually impaired individuals can easily participate in the digital age’s fast-paced news environment.

Fig.2 System Design of Browse news to News API Server.

V. DISCUSSION AND RESULTS

The LensLine News App is designed to enhance accessibility for visually impaired users by providing real-time, voice-enabled business news updates. By integrating the Flutter framework with FlutterTTS, the app delivers a seamless and user-friendly experience for those who rely on auditory cues instead of visual elements. The app fetches top business headlines from the News API, processes them, and presents them in a simple ListView format. Users can easily tap on any headline, and the app will read the content aloud using text-to-speech functionality. This hands-free approach ensures that visually impaired users can stay informed about current events without needing to interact with complex visual interfaces.

In preliminary testing, the app performed well by delivering up-to-date business news, and the text-to-speech feature worked effectively. The clear, natural-sounding speech made it easy for users to comprehend the headlines, ensuring accessibility. User feedback was positive, with many appreciating the simplicity and convenience of the app's design. It provided a hassle-free method for visually impaired users to access news, which is an important step in promoting inclusivity. However, some challenges emerged, such as varying speech quality on different devices, particularly older models. These issues, though minor, could be addressed in future updates. Additionally, the app relies on an active internet connection to fetch the latest news, which could pose a limitation in areas with weak or no connectivity. Future updates could include offline capabilities or a cache feature for users in such regions.

Overall, the LensLine News App successfully met its goal of making business news more accessible to visually impaired users. Its integration of voice-enabled functionality offers a unique and effective solution to a commonly faced problem, allowing users to stay informed with minimal effort. Further refinements to speech quality, device compatibility, and offline functionality will enhance the user experience and make the app even more reliable for users in diverse conditions.

Fig 3 User Interface Diagram and news API data base server in welcome page

Fig 4 User Interface design for Home page

Conclusion

The LensLine News App offers a streamlined and personalized news experience, allowing users to access a wide range of topics, from global headlines to local stories, all in one place. With its user-friendly interface and customizable features, LensLine News App makes it easy for individuals to stay informed and up-to-date on the latest developments in real time. The app\'s focus on delivering news based on user preferences, coupled with its efficient news aggregation system, ensures that readers get content that is relevant and timely. Ultimately, LensLine News App stands as a reliable and convenient tool for those looking to stay connected with the world around them.

References

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Copyright

Copyright © 2024 P. Logaiyan, R Ramakrishnan, M. Shakila, M. Harshini, K. Samuvel. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.