Accessibility-Focused LEGO Modelling
Current LEGO and CAD-style building tools are largely mouse-centric. While some products claim accessibility through keyboard shortcuts or assistive technology compatibility, this does not necessarily make them usable for designers with significant motor impairments.
The goal is to explore a workflow where model creation, editing and viewing can be performed without relying on fine mouse control.
- Models are represented in LDraw.
- Brick placement is command-driven rather than pointer-driven.
- Viewing uses fixed camera perspectives.
LDraw as a Foundation
Open text-based model format. Models can be generated programmatically. Parts, positions and orientations are explicitly represented.
Potential workflow: Accessible Interface ↓ LDraw Model ↓ Rendering/Viewing Layer
Renderer Evaluation
LeoCAD
Pros: Open source. Native LDraw support. GPL licensed.
Cons: More editor than renderer. Heavier than needed if only viewing is required.
LDView
Pros: Lightweight. Excellent LDraw support. Fast loading. Suitable for predefined camera views.
LDCad
Pros: Mature LDraw tooling. Advanced snapping and connection systems.
Cons: Not open source.
BrickNet Render
It converts LDraw assemblies into Blender scenes using rendering methods adapted from Eyesight.
Advantages: Accepts LDraw directly. Provides programmatic rendering. Supports fixed camera generation. Suitable for automation. Based on an Apache 2.0 licence.
Cons: Requires python 3.13+ and headless blender.