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What is zMantra?

📖 What is zMantra?

zMantra is an accessible, inclusive math learning application for Android designed with an accessibility-first philosophy. The project’s mission is to make mathematics engaging, interactive, and barrier-free for both visually impaired and sighted learners.

Unlike traditional math apps that focus only on visual interaction, zMantra combines audio guidance, gesture-based controls, and multiple interaction modes (e.g., shake, tap, draw, stereo sound) to create an immersive learning environment for users of all abilities.

The app is built entirely in Kotlin with MVVM + Clean Architecture principles, ensuring scalability, testability, and long-term maintainability. It leverages Android accessibility APIs, custom AccessibilityService, and Text-to-Speech (TTS) for fully voice-guided navigation and learning.

🎯 Core Objectives

  • Accessibility-First: Provide a fully navigable math learning experience with TalkBack, haptic cues, and custom gestures.
  • Inclusivity: Equal focus on both visually impaired and sighted learners.
  • Engagement: Learning through playful, interactive game modes rather than passive reading.
  • Extensibility: Designed with clean separation of concerns to support future modes (e.g., Multiplayer, Drawing Recognition).

🛠️ Technical Highlights

  • Language & Frameworks: Kotlin (XML layouts, ViewBinding)
  • Architecture: MVVM + Clean Architecture (presentation, domain, data layers)
  • Accessibility: TalkBack, TTS, custom AccessibilityService, haptic feedback
  • Game Logic: Gesture-based input (tap, shake, draw, compass, stereo sound)
  • Dynamic Content: Excel-based question parsing with Apache POI
  • Animations & Media: Glide (GIFs), Lottie (vector animations)
  • Testing: Espresso (UI), JUnit + Mockito (unit tests)
  • Dependency Management: Gradle Version Catalog (libs.*)

🎮 Interaction Modes

Each learning activity is implemented as a fragment extending a shared BaseGameFragment to enforce consistent game flow (question loading, grading, retries, accessibility feedback).

Examples of modes:

  • Bell Ring Mode: Shake the device to answer.
  • Touch Count Mode: Tap screen to enter numbers.
  • Stereo Sound Mode: Identify numbers based on left/right audio cues.
  • Drawing Mode: Sketch math shapes.
  • Number Line Mode: Navigate along a number line visually + aurally.
  • Quick Play & Game Modes: Short practice sessions or full challenge sessions.

♿ Accessibility Commitment

  • TalkBack-first UI/UX
  • Custom gestures for input without visuals
  • TTS guidance for every action
  • High contrast Dark Mode
  • Consistent layout design for easy mental navigation

🔮 Roadmap for Developers

  • User-Defined Question Sets (Excel/JSON import)
  • Custom Accessible Keyboard
  • Multiplayer Mode
  • AI-powered Drawing Recognition
  • New Spatial Reasoning Modes

📌 Why zMantra Matters

Developers contributing to zMantra are not just building another math app—they are shaping an inclusive educational tool that gives visually impaired learners equal access to mathematics.

By combining modern Android development practices with inclusive design principles, zMantra sets a benchmark for accessible educational technology on mobile platforms.