[Nfb-science] STEM Accessibility Research

Mon Jun 25 19:49:16 UTC 2012

I was thinking that 3D printing could be good for learning a lot of biology-related things, like anatomy, protein structure, etc.  also

On Jun 25, 2012, at 2:46 PM, cheryl fogle wrote:

> What's the time needed and cost of manufacture for 3-D Proto-typing? Would it be practible for course work?  I'm not familiar with circuts, but I'm wondering if you'd be better off getting wires and creating your own diagrams?
> 
> 
> On 6/25/2012 12:00 PM, David Evans wrote:
>> 
>> Dear Hayden and step,
>> 
>> I have long thought about the use of 3-D Proto-typing to produce tactile models of objects to help a blind person understand the physical shape and layout of things.
>> I even have a adjustable wrench that was made by this process that was made using the process and comes assembled and you can adjust the jaw of the wrench open and closed with the thumb screw, but no one had to assemble it as the process left spaces in the unit, as it was built up layer on layer to the point it was finished, but left the parts so they could move freely.
>> Rapid 3-D Proto-typing is a process where a object is rendered in the computer using a tech drawing, photo or digital image.  Then the software drives a special laser that shines into a vat of special plastic chemicals and where the laser touches, the plastic hardens.
>> Then the object is built up layer by layer.
>> I have also seen objects such as aircraft and other objects made this way.
>> 
>> I also think that a panel , which can present a tactile drawing on it in a manner such as a Braille display could be developed to show such things as electrical schematics, piping layouts and even chemical symbols, or the internal structures of a living cell and these configurations would be very useful.
>> I remember having to use colored gum balls and tooth picks to make the chemical configurations of molecules and compounds to understand the relationships of atoms joined to atoms back in school.
>> We have so much more now than we did back in my college days.
>> 
>> David Evans, NFBF and GD Jack.
>> Former Nuclear/Aerospace Materials Engineer
>> Builder of the Lunar Rovers and the F-117 Stealth Fighter
>> 
>> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Stephanie H. DeLuca" <sjhhirst at gmail.com>
>> To: "NFB Science and Engineering Division List" <nfb-science at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Monday, June 25, 2012 1:05 PM
>> Subject: Re: [Nfb-science] STEM Accessibility Research
>> 
>> 
>> Hi Hayden,
>> 
>> This sounds really interesting.  I was wondering if you know anything about
>> using haptics, such as those used by engineers when they are doing 3D
>> modeling?
>> 
>> Touch-enabled 3D Model Design
>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nLa40-YEDw
>> ArtNova: Touch-Enabled 3D Model Design
>> http://gamma.cs.unc.edu/ARTNOVA/artnova.pdf
>> 
>> Interactive Haptic Rendering of High-Resolution Deformable Objects
>> http://gamma.cs.unc.edu/HAPDEFO/downloads/gotgl-hcii07.pdf
>> 
>> I think there is a lot of potential for using these technologies for
>> teaching things in 3D to people who are blind/VI.  In my opinion, hap tics
>> and 3D printing is really going to change the availability of STEM learning
>> to the blind/VI.  I'm really excited about this!  Let me know how your
>> project goes.  Are you going to write anything up for it?  For example, a
>> paper or poster?
>> 
>> In the field of observation, chance favors only the prepared mind.
>>   ~Louis Pasteur, lecture 1854
>> 
>> 
>> On Sun, Jun 24, 2012 at 11:20 PM, Hayden Dahmm <hwdahmm at live.com> wrote:
>> 
>>> 
>>> Hello everyone,
>>> 
>>> I’m a rising sophomore at Swarthmore College, where I intend to major in
>>> Environmental Engineering.  Although I’ve been legally blind from birth, I
>>> lost all functional vision only a year ago. I’m perfectly fine with this
>>> change, but I’m still developing the techniques for accessing visual
>>> content in my engineering courses.  Currently, assistants take lecture
>>> notes, create tactile diagrams, and serve as scribes for problem sets.
>>> This has worked well enough, but I would appreciate any suggestions on how
>>> I could increase my independence.
>>> 
>>> Also, this summer, I’m researching in the Swarthmore Engineering
>>> Department on ways of making STEM subjects more accessible to the blind,
>>> with potential collaboration with labs at Drexel University and the
>>> University of Pennsylvania.  Our work has three foci…
>>> 
>>> 1.) Developing models specific to my fall classes.  For electrical
>>> Engineering, we will use K’NEX to illustrate circuits.  For Chemistry and
>>> Calc 3, we might use 3-D printing.
>>> 2.) Studying/applying data sonification.  We plan to use quadraphonic
>>> headphones paired with a joystick to interrogate spatial data using ChucK.
>>> 3.) Developing refreshable, tactile displays.  We might try creating
>>> embossed images with new Piezo actuators or a modernized version of the
>>> Optacon.  As a short term solution, we also plan to work on an IOS app that
>>> could take in a diagram and vibrate when the user's finger crosses a line.
>>> 
>>> I would love to hear any thoughts you might have on my research topics.  I
>>> would be glad to give more info if anyone is interested.
>>> 
>>> Best regards,
>>> Hayden
>>> hwdahmm at live.com
>>> 610-405-0098
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