[nabs-l] My Latest Project

Fri Aug 25 23:46:35 UTC 2017

On 8/25/17, Kelly Cusack via NABS-L <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Hi again, Vanna,
>
>      Sorry for the delay; it took a while to reach everyone involved with
> the project.  We all think this is a great opportunity, and we are ready to
> proceed.
>
> Thank you again,
> Kelly
>
> On Aug 23, 2017 3:52 AM, Vanna Song via NABS-L <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>
>> Hi Kelly,
>>
>> The newsletter belongs to World Learning. One of their departments is
>> crafting and implementing a toolkit called TAAP. It stands for
>> Transforming
>> Agency, Access, and Power. The toolkit aims to guide program developers on
>>
>> integrating inclusion in to their programs. The next step, I will put you
>> in contact with my former supervisor. You can give her all the information
>>
>> she and the others need.
>>
>> Vanna
>>
>> On Tue, Aug 22, 2017 at 8:53 PM Kelly via NABS-L <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
>> wrote:
>>
>> > Hello, Vanna,
>> >      My friends and I would be honored to have our project in your
>> > newsletter.  Thank you so much for your support!  Inclusion is what we
>> > are
>> > trying to achieve here, so this is an amazing opportunity.
>> >
>> >      To what organization does the newsletter belong?  What is the next
>> > step?
>> >
>> > Thank you once more for this opportunity!
>> > Kelly
>> >
>> > > On Aug 22, 2017, at 21:43, Vanna Song via NABS-L <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
>> > wrote:
>> > >
>> > > Hi Kelly,
>> > >
>> > > would you like your project to be featured in an issue of a biweekly
>> > > newsletter of one of my former host organizations that deals with
>> > > inclusion of all types including disability?
>> > >
>> > > Vanna
>> > >
>> > >> On 8/21/17, Kelly via NABS-L <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> > >> Chris:
>> > >>     Based on Disney's Wallie, Cozmo is a small robot that resembles a
>> > >>
>> > model
>> > >> car, with tank treads and a tiny, front-mounted forklift.
>> > >>     Although it was originally designed as a STEM toy for young
>> > children,
>> > >> its manufacturer (Anki), has recently expanded the product's
>> > capabilities.
>> > >> Specifically, the Cozmo app now includes a code lab, which is used to
>> > >>
>> > >> program the robot to talk, recognize faces, and search for and
>> > >> interact
>> > with
>> > >> objects.  The code lab offers a simple introduction to programming,
>> > >> but
>> > the
>> > >> real educational value is in Cozmo's SDK (software development kit).
>> > >> Through the combined use of the app and SDK, students can learn and
>> > practice
>> > >> the Python programming language.
>> > >>     Since Cozmo is relatively new, there is not a lot of widespread
>> > >> classroom use as of now.  However, several universities have begun to
>> > >>
>> > >> integrate the robot into their computer science classes.
>> > >>     Personally, I care about this issue because STEM learning robots
>> > >> are
>> > >> the future of computer science education for students of all ages.
>> > >> By
>> > >> working to make this software accessible, we could set an example for
>> > >>
>> > other
>> > >> companies now so that we can all use similar tools in the future.
>> > >> Here is an article about Cozmo's SDK that you may find useful, as
>> > >> well
>> > as
>> > >> Cozmo's home page:
>> > >> 1.
>> > >>
>> > https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.digitaltrends.com/cool-tech/version-1468272030-2/amp/
>> >
>> > >> 2. https://anki.com/en-us/cozmo
>> > >>
>> > >> Thank you very much for your interest!  Please feel free to contact
>> > >> me
>> > again
>> > >> if you have any additional questions.
>> > >> Kelly
>> > >> Sent from my iPhone
>> > >>
>> > >>> On Aug 17, 2017, at 23:02, Chris Nusbaum via NABS-L
>> > >>> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>> > >
>> > >>> wrote:
>> > >>>
>> > >>> Kelly:
>> > >>>
>> > >>> Could you tell us a little more about what this Cosmo Robot does and
>> > >>>
>> > what
>> > >>> it
>> > >>> is used for in the context of STEM education? I would also be
>> > >>> curious
>> > to
>> > >>> know if anyone has actually used this program in the classroom and,
>> > >>> if
>> > >>> so,
>> > >>> what experiences you have had. Perhaps this is something which needs
>> > >>>
>> > >>> attention from NABS or the Federation, but I think we would need to
>> > know
>> > >>> some further information before we get behind a petition or
>> > >>> campaign.
>> > >>>
>> > >>> Thank you for your efforts to increase accessibility in the STEM
>> > fields!
>> > >>>
>> > >>> Chris
>> > >>>
>> > >>> -----Original Message-----
>> > >>> From: NABS-L [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Kelly
>> > >>> via
>> > >>> NABS-L
>> > >>> Sent: Thursday, August 17, 2017 1:30 AM
>> > >>> To: nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>> > >>> Cc: Kelly <yllekann at gmail.com>
>> > >>> Subject: [nabs-l] My Latest Project
>> > >>>
>> > >>>>> Hello, everyone,
>> > >>>>>>>    Recently, one of my friends discovered an amazing computer
>> > >>> programming learning tool developed by Anki, called the Cozmo robot.
>> > >>>
>> > >>>>>>>
>> > >>>>>>>    We were excited of course (the robot is very fun to play with
>> > >>>>>>>
>> > >>> after all, and we have always wanted to learn computer programming),
>> > >>>
>> > but
>> > >>> when we downloaded the app that is used to control it, we were
>> > >>> dismayed
>> > >>> and
>> > >>> frustrated to find that it is totally inaccessible with VoiceOver.
>> > >>>>>>>
>> > >>>>>>>    We then wrote to Anki customer care to inform them of the
>> > >>>>>>> issue,
>> > >>> and received a form letter giving no indication that they had read
>> > >>> or
>> > >>> processed our email.
>> > >>>>>>>
>> > >>>>>>>    So we drafted this petition in hopes that, if we gather
>> > >>>>>>> enough
>> > >>> support, the developers will realize that accessibility is a concern
>> > >>>
>> > >>> which
>> > >>> must be taken seriously.  We did this not just for the many blind
>> > >>> and
>> > >>> visually impaired people who could be enjoying and learning from the
>> > >>>
>> > >>> Cozmo
>> > >>> application and others like it, but also for all app developers, so
>> > that
>> > >>> they may understand the barriers created by inaccessible software.
>> > >>>>>>>
>> > >>>>>>>    If you support STEM education and learning opportunities for
>> > >>>>>>> the
>> > >>> blind, accessible software development, and/or equal opportunities
>> > >>> for
>> > >>> all
>> > >>> children to learn programming, we invite you to sign our petition by
>> > >>>
>> > >>> clicking the link below or simply copying and pasting the URL into
>> > >>> your
>> > >>> address bar, then filling out the form.  Your information will be
>> > >>> kept
>> > >>> private and is only used by change.org .
>> > >>>
>> > https://www.change.org/p/anki-make-stem-education-through-the-cozmo-app-acce
>> >
>> > >>> ssible-to-all
>> > >>>>>>>
>> > >>>>>>> Thank you in advance for your support of our project!
>> > >>>>>>> Kelly
>> > >>> _______________________________________________
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>> >
>> > >>>
>> > >>>
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>> > >>
>> > >
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