Technology for Visually Impaired
From: NASA Tech Briefs - 10/30/2007

By adding features to commonly used chemical-engineering software packages,
researchers at the University of Arkansas, the University of Akron, and
Chemstations Inc. have developed adaptive technology that allows blind or
visually impaired students and working professionals to perform the essential
functions of chemical engineering process design. 

The research team, led by Bob Beitle, professor of chemical engineering in
the College of Engineering at the University of Arkansas, created a system
that combines tactile, Braille-like representations that can be "read" by
visually impaired chemical engineers. The system also includes an audio,
screen-reading component and audible indicators of certain software
functions. To facilitate the drag-and-drop function, the researchers utilized
a tablet computer with a customized overlay, a tablet pen functioning as a
computer mouse, and alignment holes mapped to the tactile objects. 

The system has been extensively tested at a process-engineering firm by Noel
Romey, a graduate student at the University of Arkansas' Ralph E. Martin
Department of Chemical Engineering. Romey, who has been blind since birth,
came to the university to study chemical engineering. Since May, he has
tested the system by simulating and designing various chemical facilities. 

Read the entire article at:
http://dailyheadlines.uark.edu/11589.htm

Links:
Chemstations
http://www.chemstations.net/

Adaptive Technology Developed for Visually Impaired Engineers
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071012095826.htm

Breaking Down the Barriers of Science and Engineering using Adaptive Technology
http://www.csun.edu/cod/conf/2006/proceedings/2894.htm

Bob Beitle
http://www.engr.uark.edu/34.htm
http://www.cheg.uark.edu/faculty.asp?id=4
