THE UNIVERSITY of NORTH CAROLINA at CHAPEL HILL Gary Bishop Enabling Technology

THE UNIVERSITY of NORTH CAROLINA at CHAPEL HILL Enabling Technology ● Technology that mitigates a disability ● Geeks making the world a bit better

THE UNIVERSITY of NORTH CAROLINA at CHAPEL HILL Who needs it? ● 10 million blind and visually impaired in the U.S. (>50% older than 65) ● 552,000 profoundly deaf ● 25 million have difficulty hearing ● 1.6 million wheelchair users ● 800,000 switch users ● 300,000 severely learning disabled ● 1.75 million mildly learning disabled ● 3 million stutters

THE UNIVERSITY of NORTH CAROLINA at CHAPEL HILL How does it impact you? ● Your parents, grandparents, and kids ● Your employees, co-workers, and students ● Your friends ● You: “A minority you can join at any time”

THE UNIVERSITY of NORTH CAROLINA at CHAPEL HILL Kids and computers ● Q: What do many visually impaired children do while their sighted peers go to computer lab?

THE UNIVERSITY of NORTH CAROLINA at CHAPEL HILL Kids and computers ● Q: What do many visually impaired children do while their sighted peers go to computer lab? ● A: Nothing! But why?!

THE UNIVERSITY of NORTH CAROLINA at CHAPEL HILL Hark the Sound (of Tar Heel Voices)

THE UNIVERSITY of NORTH CAROLINA at CHAPEL HILL Braille Twister

THE UNIVERSITY of NORTH CAROLINA at CHAPEL HILL Sonic Zoom

THE UNIVERSITY of NORTH CAROLINA at CHAPEL HILL More Games ● Whack-It ● Pad Play ● Typing Tutor ● Mazes ● Street Crossing ● DDR

THE UNIVERSITY of NORTH CAROLINA at CHAPEL HILL Computer access ● Q: How do many blind people use modern computer software?

THE UNIVERSITY of NORTH CAROLINA at CHAPEL HILL Computer access ● Q: How do many blind people use modern computer software? ● A: With a screen reader. But is that good enough?

THE UNIVERSITY of NORTH CAROLINA at CHAPEL HILL Screen reader problems ● Where am I? ● Where can I go from here? ● How do I get there from here? ● What's under my cursor? ● What just happened?

THE UNIVERSITY of NORTH CAROLINA at CHAPEL HILL Clique ● Conversation ● Non-speech sounds ● Multiple voices ● 3D audio

THE UNIVERSITY of NORTH CAROLINA at CHAPEL HILL Stuttering ● Q: What does computer technology have to do with stuttering?

THE UNIVERSITY of NORTH CAROLINA at CHAPEL HILL Stuttering ● Q: What does computer technology have to do with stuttering? ● A: Check out this amazing work at ECU!

THE UNIVERSITY of NORTH CAROLINA at CHAPEL HILL Accessible Maps

THE UNIVERSITY of NORTH CAROLINA at CHAPEL HILL Accessible Maps ● Previous work display WHERE things are – Passively listen as map is scanned – Move a cursor, hear what is nearby – User discovers RELATIONSHIPS ● Suppose we display RELATIONSHIPS? – One web-page for each place – Links to pages for nearby places

THE UNIVERSITY of NORTH CAROLINA at CHAPEL HILL How about this? Sitterson Hall: Home of the department of computer science. You are facing west on the west side of Sitterson near the bus stop on Columbia street. Links: ● Carolina Inn is west across Columbia. ● Turning right, Peabody hall is north on Columbia. ● Phillips hall behind you to the north east across a parking lot. ● Turning left, ROTC is south on Columbia.

THE UNIVERSITY of NORTH CAROLINA at CHAPEL HILL How can I help? ● Ideas ● Content: Art / Music / Maps ● Accessible web pages ● Community education ● User studies

THE UNIVERSITY of NORTH CAROLINA at CHAPEL HILL Why at the University? Commercial assistive technology is expensive Low volume All the prices are high Agencies often pay ~80% don’t get AT because of $ Students are motivated by projects that matter We’re supposed to do “public service” If not the University, then who?