[nabs-l] My Latest Project

Fri Aug 25 23:48:35 UTC 2017

Hi Kelly,

I have forwarded your email to her, however, she is out of the office
until next Tuesday. If you would like to reach her yourself, her email
is amy.ried at worldlearning.org.

Vanna

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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