[accessibleimage] NASA Software

NASA Software Achieves Breakthrough in Accessibility 



NASA recently released an innovative Open Source software suite that may
forever change how blind and vision-impaired users "see" complex graphs.




The Math Description Engine Software Development Kit
<http://prime.jsc.nasa.gov/>  (MDE SDK) is a reusable software library
that generates text, sound and visual representations of graphs found in
both math and science applications.



Visually-impaired computer users access these alternative text and sound
descriptions through the use of a screen reader and standard computer
speakers.



The MDE (Math Description Engine) distinguishes itself from other
accessibility software by determining the key characteristics of a graph
"on the fly." Using this determination, it builds natural-language text
descriptions that enable visually-impaired users to view spatial
relationships through sound alone.



Designed with both flexibility and ease-of-use in mind, the SDK
(Software Development Kit) allows web and software developers to adapt
the MDE's graph descriptions to a variety of applications. Some key
audiences who might benefit from the MDE SDK include, but are not
limited to:

*       developers of education products and support tools
*       special needs education researchers
*       assistive technology researchers and vendors
*       the accessible-web community
*       sonification researchers
*       organizations with websites containing graphical data displays.



The NASA software program, MathTrax, is one example of how MDE
technology serves as a powerful learning tool for sighted users as well.
Acting as a virtual math and science assistant, MathTrax engages both
the eyes and ears of these students to increase overall comprehension.



The MDE software library was created by NASA's Information Accessibility
Lab (IAL), under the direction of Dr. Robert O. Shelton, a blind
mathematician. The IAL's mission is to develop technologies that
increase accessibility to NASA's vast library of outreach products and
to release these same technologies to the public for further application
and development.



The MDE SDK is currently available for download under an Open Source
license at http://prime.jsc.nasa.gov/mde. Visit the site today to learn
more about the program and how you can play an integral role in
developing the future of accessible graphing technology.



To learn more about the MDE SDK or MathTrax, please email Terry Hodgson
at terry.r.hodgson@xxxxxxxxx



The NASA Learning Technologies Team

Information Accessibility Lab

http://prime.jsc.nasa.gov <http://prime.jsc.nasa.gov/>

info@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx





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