TOPIC 1.
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Project Title: |
Print and Graph (GAP)
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Firm Name: |
Automated Functions, Inc. |
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Principal Investigator: |
Ronald Morford |
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Award: |
$49,922 |
Abstract:
Visually impaired math and science students do not have access to the widely used graphing scientific calculators, which are used by sighted students. This is important since it hinders the visually impaired student from obtaining the information provided on their graphic display. The objective of the Graph And Print (GAP)
project is to provide better access to the graphs which may greatly assist the blind or low vision student in comprehending math and science equations. Custom software will be combined with sensory modalities of synthetic speech, stereo sound, and a haptic (force feedback) mouse to create a system which enables a visually impaired student to independently analyze and print graphs of equations.
This research and development project is being conducted by Automated Functions, Inc., which is a leader in the field of adaptive aid technology. The research team consists of highly skilled professionals who are expert in the design, development, and testing of systems to assist visually impaired people. GAP will enable all or part of graphs to be printed and therefore available for the sighted teacher and the visually impaired student. GAP will enable visually impaired students to equally compete with their sighted peers in math and science courses.
Summary of Anticipated Results and Implications:
It is important to provide technology that enables visually impaired students to compete in technical courses such as math and science. The Graph And Print (GAP) project will enable visually impaired students to independently print all or part of graphs of equations. The ink print copy of the graphs and equations is useful for the sighted teacher. The Braille print copy is useful for the visually impaired student.
GAP will be marketed throughout the world so thousands of visually impaired student's can have access to this useful technology. Visually impaired people are under represented in math and science fields and GAP will provide a tool to enable more blind and low vision people to succeed in our ever-increasing technical world.
Project Title: |
Gesture Recognition System for Personal Computing Applications
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Firm Name: |
Future of Technology and Health, LC |
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Principal Investigator: |
Jeffrey B. Bishop, Ph.D. |
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Award: |
$50,000 |
Abstract:
Many people use alternative input devices (other than standard keyboard and mouse) to access computers due to mobility impairments or other disabilities including cerebral palsy, ALS, stroke, spinal cord injury, or repetitive stress injury. The ready availability of powerful personal computers and inexpensive digital video cameras create the opportunity to develop a new type of practical computer interface: gesture recognition. This project focuses on recognition of multiple head and face gestures. The system is designed to use standard low cost digital video cameras (under $100) and standard personal computers. Face and head gestures are used to generate mouse or keyboard actions to control the computer. For example, one application to be developed is the capability to "surf the web" hands-free using head gestures to navigate web pages, including selecting and activating desired links. Gestures recognition can be used to replace or augment existing switches (such as head, foot, or hand activated switches) to interact with a computer. This has the potential to greatly improve speed of computer access. Gesture recognition is expected to fill an important gap between switches, speech recognition (which has a number of disadvantages in work and school settings) and expensive head tracking systems for computer control.
Summary of Anticipated Results and Implications:
The goal of this project is to develop an interface to control a computer through gestures, for example winking, nodding, or shaking your head. While it is anticipated that this type of interface would be convenient and simple for all computer users, early adopters are likely to be those who would benefit most users with mobility impairments who have difficulty using standard keyboard and mouse input devices. Anticipated results of this project include development of a low cost gesture recognition system that uses existing PC hardware and digital camera hardware to recognize head gestures. The system is likely to have early applications for people with disabilities to replace or augment switch activated systems, and to act as an alternative to a pointing device for individuals with upper limb repetitive stress disabilities. Other commercial applications include use by people with repetitive stress injury to alleviate symptoms by reducing repetitive upper limb motion through use of head gestures. Future applications may include use with handheld electronics that are expected to have an inexpensive integrated digital video camera (cell phones, personal digital assistants, etc.) to provide convenient navigation and control of complex functions since these devices have only a few small buttons.
Project Title: |
An American Sign Language Clip-Art CD-ROM
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Firm Name: |
The Institute for Disabilities Research and Training, Inc. (IDRT) |
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Principal Investigator: |
Corinne K. Vinopol, Ph.D. |
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Award: |
$49,999 |
Abstract:
Teachers of the deaf are at a disadvantage in developing sign language materials for their students because signs have no symbolic representation as does speech (i.e., text); they can be represented only by pictures. Teachers who cannot draw have difficulty developing instructional materials containing pictures of signs. This project will create a CD-ROM that contains clip-art of approximately 100 American Sign Language (ASL) signs; graphics and English text that relates to those signs; instructional activities that afford deaf children the opportunity of using the clip-art creatively, while learning valuable linguistic and developmental skills; and templates for handouts that teachers can customize and print to support vocabulary and concepts. Deaf and hearing children can use it to make original materials, such as word banks, for themselves. The clip-art also can be used by teachers of deaf children, and hearing children and adults who wish to learn ASL to create their own instructional materials, such as "theme" dictionaries. IDRT will build upon drawings of signs generated in another SBIR project (i.e., an ASL dictionary) to launch this project.
Summary of Anticipated Results and Implications:
Phase I of this project will result in a CD-ROM that demonstrates the feasibility of producing a CD-ROM series of clip-art that can be used by teachers to design instructional materials with pictures of ASL signs or by children to make their own products and play educational games that reinforce linguistic and developmental concepts related to the signs. One hundred signs, four instructional activities, and 10 instructional handouts will be developed in Phase I to demonstrate feasibility of this concept. In Phase II, a CD-ROM will be developed that includes 2,000 signs, 15 instructional activities, and 30 handouts. IDRT will market the CD-ROM series through our catalog and retail distributors, conduct direct mailings, present the information at conventions, place press releases and articles in journals, distribute samples to resource centers and libraries, and issue information through the Internet. It is anticipated that each CD-ROM will be sold for no more than $19.95.
Project Title: |
A Computerized Worker-Job Assessment to Access Assistive Technology Information for the Workplace
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Firm Name: |
Lifease, Inc. |
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Principal Investigator: |
Barbara A. Larson, MA, OTR, FAOTA |
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Award: |
$49,987 |
Abstract:
This is a proposal to produce a limited but working feasibility demonstration of a computer program, to be called WORKEASE, that will help a user to identify specific work-site problems and to solve them through the use of assistive technology. For each identified problem of job requirement that exceeds worker capacity, the program will retrieve solutions that enable adaptation of the job to the individual. The worker's limitations may be due to aging in the workforce, to disability, or to hazard. Appropriate ability and demand characteristics will be defined and a demonstration database of job-adapting assistive technology will be built. The program will draw upon its database for technologies that are pertinent to the problems that have been identified. It will produce electronic and hard-copy reports. The program will be modeled on an existing program (Ease? 3.0) which is proprietary to the proposing firm. The feasibility to be demonstrated is that of adapting this model to application in the workplace.
Summary of Anticipated Results and Implications:
The six-month project is expected to produce a computer program that will demonstrate essential features of the anticipated final product. The program will be limited in scope and content to what is necessary to demonstrate feasibility. After successful demonstration, the marketable program will be built in Phase II. The completed program will allow decision-makers (worker, employer, professional) to have an efficient and effective instrument for drawing upon the state-of-the-art in workplace adaptation.
A program such as this provides decision-makers with tools for checklisting the worker and job characteristics that are directly comparable in criterion-referenced terms. Like its model, Ease? 3.0, WORKEASE will be unique in being a single instrument that records both job demand and worker ability in directly comparable terms, allows them to be compared, and presents targeted potential solutions. This instrument is particularly timely in regard to the need for workplace accommodation to disability, the aging workforce with their subtle impairments, and the need for prevention of work injuries. The tight labor market, with the necessity of using workers who were formerly overlooked, is a further impetus for this proposal. The worker, the employer, and society will benefit.
Purchasers of the rollout program that will follow Phase II will include employers, vocational rehabilitation counselors and work adjustment specialists, together with practitioners of workplace accommodation and of work injury prevention and management. There is a market to be developed among those who are responsible for accommodating workers with any kind of limitation, and for prevention of injury. The product is internationally applicable with the addition of specific country products. Potential customers will be motivated by increased profit from better worker-job fit and by the increasing necessity to meet worker needs and to document attention to those needs.
Project Title: |
Memory and Organization Devices - Use, Simulation, Exploration
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Firm Name: |
ORCCA Technology, Inc. |
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Principal Investigator: |
Jo Fleming, Ph.D. |
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Award: |
$49,974 |
Abstract:
This project will develop an interactive multimedia program to provide to children and youth a decision support system for selection and implementation of assistive technology for memory and organization tasks. It will incorporate a questioning procedure employing responses from the user to guide the decision making process to match assistive technology products with characteristics of the task, environment and user. From a list of potentially useful products, the user can interact with age-appropriate case scenarios depicting real people using devices; and interact with the products in a simulated environment to determine appropriateness. The program will provide strategies for implementation of the devices and will print tips and techniques. Innovative features include:
The final product will be distributed on CD- or DVD-ROM with a World Wide Web component. During Phase I, eight specific objectives will be accomplished:
Summary of Anticipated Results and Implications:
The program is intended to provide information and training on the topic of Assistive Technology for Memory and Organization to four main audiences:
Approximately 5-10% of the U.S. school-aged population experiences some type of problem with memory and organization due to a disability or medical condition. Many other students without an identified condition also could be assisted in improving their organizational and management skills. Professional users would come from the following groups: teachers, special educators, guidance counselors, colleges with departments of education and allied health professions, speech language pathologists, social workers, personal coaches, occupational therapists, psychologists, neuropsychologists, psychiatrists, vocational rehabilitation counselors, assistive technology specialists, children's hospitals, and clinics and other centers for children with disabilities.
Project Title: |
Personal Scanner: A Hand-held Device That Speaks the Information Displayed on Common Office Equipment
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Firm Name: |
SMS Consulting |
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Principal Investigator: |
Stephen M. Sutter |
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Award: |
$50,000 |
Abstract:
This project will demonstrate the technical merit, feasibility and cost efficiency of a portable electronic device to assist a visually impaired person in the use of common office equipment. The specific application area to be tested in this project is providing a device that reads the digital display of common office equipment and speaks what is displayed in English. Recent breakthroughs in image acquisition, pattern recognition and speech synthesis provides the basic building blocks for this technology to be applied to this area. Specific aims for Phase I are to:
During the usability testing, the success of the user will be measured and compared with the success when a job coach is used.
Summary of Anticipated Results and Implications:
Successful use of this device will enable a person who is visually impaired to be more self-sufficient and increase the job opportunities available to them. Not only will this also foster independence, but we expect that our pilot study will prove that this system will be more cost effective than a job coach.
The potential commercial applications of a digital display reader for common office equipment are substantial as digital displays rapidly replace devices with tactile feedback, such as knobs, buttons and dials. In addition to reading the displays in the workplace, the Personal Scanner concept can enhance in independent living by reading point-of-sale terminals, ATMs and common household items with digital displays such as microwaves, VCRs, and phones.
Project Title: |
QwikClick - An Intelligent Scanning Keyboard that Maximizes the Capability of Single-Switch Users
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Firm Name: |
SMS Consulting |
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Principal Investigator: |
Stephen M. Sutter |
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Award: |
$50,000 |
Abstract:
This research will demonstrate the technical merit, feasibility and cost efficiency of developing a highly flexible and intelligent scanning keyboard technology that can help single switch users optimize their performance and enjoyment. The specific application area to be demonstrated and tested in this project is to provide a faster alternative to existing scanning keyboard technologies.
Specific aims for Phase I are to:
In addition, a cost and time comparison will be made between this system and conventional scanning keyboard systems.
Summary of Anticipated Results and Implications:
Successful use of this device will enable a supervisor, therapist or care giver to make informed choices when customizing the system for a single switch user, maximizing the users ability to more quickly navigate, control and enter data into their computing environment.
This project targets a population that has been under-served by existing technology. There is significant demand for a flexible system that covers a wide range of users, and yet is easy to configure to an individual's capability. The ability to express themselves more quickly due to the superior prediction capability will also appeal to users as well.
Project Title: |
Conception, Design and Implementation of an Audio/Tactile Atlas of the World for Use by Students Who are Blind or Visually Impaired and Others
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Firm Name: |
Touch Graphics |
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Principal Investigator: |
Steven Landau |
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Award: |
$49,917 |
Abstract:
The project team will test the feasibility of a new and innovative Atlas of World Maps that is fully accessible to readers who are blind or visually impaired. The Atlas will be developed as an accessory application for the Talking Tactile Tablet, an inexpensive computer device created by Touch Graphics, on which a user will mount raised-line and textured (tactile) plastic map overlays. By pressing, regions, shapes, objects and icons on the tactile map, the user will instigate interactions with a human-voice narrator as a means of exploring and learning about world geography. The user will select from a number of operational modes to gain access to a database of socio-political and geographical information that corresponds to regions and places depicted on the maps. National Geographic Society's Map Division will supply base maps and associated information, as well as provide cartographic expertise to ensure that the product meets current standards for print Atlases.
Summary of Anticipated Results and Implications:
The project will lead to the development of three components of a single product:
The Talking Tactile Atlas will be marketed to schools, universities, public libraries, and to individuals. By adding to the catalog of software titles available for use with the Talking Tactile Tablet, the Atlas will enhance the marketability of the entire system, which already includes several effective and appealing applications. The success of all of these products depends on generating a critical mass of software titles, to offset the purchase cost of the device itself, since a single unit serves as a platform for all applications.
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[Topic 2]
