[Blindmath] Fwd: GW Micro and Independence Science Make Science and Engineering Accessible to Blind Worldwide

[Jamal Mazrui]

I thought this may be of interest.
Jamal

-------- Forwarded Message --------
Subject: 	GW Micro and Independence Science Make Science and Engineering 
Accessible to Blind Worldwide
Date: 	Thu, 19 Apr 2012 13:12:14 -0400
From: 	marc at gwmicro.com
Reply-To: 	gw-scripting at gwmicro.com
To: 	gw-scripting at gwmicro.com



  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 
<http://www.gwmicro.com>) and Independence Science 
(www.independencescience.com <http://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 at gwmicro.com <mailto:sales at gwmicro.com>
Web: www.gwmicro.com <http://www.gwmicro.com>

Independence Science
Phone: (866) 862-9665
Email: info at independencescience.com <mailto:info at independencescience.com>
Web: www.independencescience.com <http://www.independencescience.com>

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