[tabi] FW: GW Micro and Independence Science Make Science and Engineering Accessible to Blind Worldwide
- From: "Chip Orange" <Corange@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 19 Apr 2012 13:42:05 -0400
For any students especially, this is very interesting:
From: gw-news@xxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:gw-news@xxxxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Thursday, April 19, 2012 1:12 PM
To: gw-news@xxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: GW Micro and Independence Science Make Science and Engineering
Accessible to Blind Worldwide
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
GW Micro and Independence Science Make Science and Engineering Accessible to
Blind Worldwide
Fort Wayne, Indiana (April 19, 2012) - GW Micro, Inc. (www.gwmicro.com) and
Independence Science (www.independencescience.com) are excited to announce a
collaborative effort to make science and engineering accessible to students
who are blind around the world.
A few years ago, the idea of students with visual impairments (VI) accessing
scientific laboratory equipment and performing advanced data analysis
independently was considered impossible, because most observations and
manipulations of data were presented in a visual way. Students who are blind or
visually impaired have been underrepresented in the Science, Technology,
Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields due to the limitations of access to
scientific curricula in the classroom. The new collaborative effort between GW
Micro and Independence Science strives to provide a solution that will enable
more students who are blind and visually impaired to enter the STEM fields.
Research by Dr. Cary Supalo, Independence Science, and GW Micro has led to the
development of a text-to-speech package that acts as the missing link between
the technology and students who are visually impaired.
This comprehensive package is known as the ISci Lab Solution, which includes
the following hardware and software components:
Hardware:
* Vernier LabQuest (stand-alone data collection interface)
Software:
* ISci Voice Plug-in (for LabQuest)
* Vernier Logger Pro (data collection and analysis application for PC)
* Window-Eyes (an advanced screen reader application for PC)
* Window-Eyes app for Logger Pro (enhances Logger Pro accessibility with
Window-Eyes)
The ISci Lab Solution enables students who are blind to participate in hands-on
learning activities with scientific data and curriculum. “We envision a
classroom that exhibits the full integration of students with VI and reduces
teacher anxiety about accommodating students during lab activities," said Dr.
Supalo, who is himself a blind scientist. “My experience developing these
access technologies has taught me that blindness need not be a barrier in the
pursuit of one’s ambitions.”
With the advanced technology of the Window-Eyes screen reading software, the
ISci Lab Solution is now available in multiple languages to enable science
access to the blind around the globe. This was not possible until the release
of the ISci Lab Solution package. For customers who already have Window-Eyes or
one of the other components, each individual component of the ISci Lab Solution
can be purchased separately. Additionally, various sensors can be purchased
from Independence Science that can collect various types of data, such as
temperature, force, or other information.
"We are very excited to bring this unique access solution to the market, which
will help school systems and post-secondary institutions provide accessible
science classrooms to the blind and visually impaired," said Dan Weirich, Vice
President of Sales and Marketing for GW Micro.
GW Micro has been a trusted pioneer in the adaptive technology industry since
1990, and continues to lead with innovative, customer driven solutions.
Independence Science is the leading developer of accessible technology for
students with visual impairments in the science laboratory. ISci research is
funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation.
To take advantage of special introductory pricing, please contact GW Micro or
Independence Science at the following:
GW Micro
Phone: (260) 489-3671
Email: sales@xxxxxxxxxxx
Web: www.gwmicro.com
Independence Science
Phone: (866) 862-9665
Email: info@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Web: www.independencescience.com
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- » [tabi] FW: GW Micro and Independence Science Make Science and Engineering Accessible to Blind Worldwide - Chip Orange
