[Nfbc-info] Only 10 days left to race!

[Bryan Bashin]

Chuck,

Just wanted you to know that during this January's Research and 
Development committee meeting at the NFB we were treated to several 
presentations by the President and a board member from the Advanced 
Transit Association, with particular interest in making sure such 
upcoming systems are accessible to us.  You can bet that NFB is 
keenly aware and supportive of personal Rapid Transit and we may be 
participating in the 2011 international conference on it in San 
Jose.  Let me know if you want to e more involved with this.

Best,

Bryan

At 11:24 AM 3/23/2010, you wrote:
>Hi Joy,
>I'm actually not against this but I am concerned about priorities. I 
>also wonder if it might be better for NFB to team up with 
>organizations working on this technology to address these issues. 
>They are actually designing and testing personal rapid transit 
>vehicles in Europe to address this issue and I am told that they 
>would work for blind people.
>Chuck
>----- Original Message ----- From: "Joy Stigile" <jstigile at sbcglobal.net>
>To: "NFB of California List" <nfbc-info at nfbnet.org>
>Sent: Monday, March 22, 2010 6:35 PM
>Subject: Re: [Nfbc-info] Only 10 days left to race!
>
>
>Dear Chuck,
>
>I feel that you are not seeing the full picture.  This car will not only
>help blind people.  This new technology will help seniors, stroke survivors
>and many others.
>
>Most equipment these days came to be because of another invention.
>
>Please due not keep your mind closed to other opportunities.
>
>Joy
>----- Original Message ----- From: <ckrugman at sbcglobal.net>
>To: "NFB of California List" <nfbc-info at nfbnet.org>
>Sent: Monday, March 22, 2010 4:42 PM
>Subject: Re: [Nfbc-info] Only 10 days left to race!
>
>
>While I have a duty to support all projects of the Federation as a chapter
>president for the purposes of discussion I still need to raise the question
>of the appropriateness of this particular project and its viability at this
>point and time. I guess my main concern is that ideally blind people would
>obviously want the freedom to drive vehicles but we are facing major cuts in
>funding for more necessary services such as education, health care in-home
>supportive services and the like. How can or should we justify futuristic
>research that has a little known possibility of real success when we are
>facing the loss of many basic services. While I know on a long range stage
>there are studies occurring regarding personal rapid transit in Europe and
>other places, I'm feeling a bit uncomfortable soliciting donations for this
>when basic needed services are potentially being cut or lost.
>Chuck
>----- Original Message ----- From: "Mary Willows" <mwillows at sbcglobal.net>
>To: "NFB of California List" <nfbc-info at nfbnet.org>
>Cc: "karen j steele" <karenjsteele at yahoo.com>; "Ever Lee Hairston"
><ever.hairston at gmail.com>; "jana d littrell" <janadlittrell at sbcglobal.net>;
>"tiffany manosh" <tmanosh at sbcglobal.net>; "geraldine croom"
><tgedwards47 at aol.com>; "Lisamaria Martinez" <lmartinez217 at gmail.com>
>Sent: Sunday, March 21, 2010 3:50 PM
>Subject: [Nfbc-info] Only 10 days left to race!
>
>
>Hi All:
>
>There are only 10 days left in the March challenge.  Register for the "Race
>for Independence" by March 31 and the California affiliate may win $250.00.
>We only need 20 Immaginaters to enter the drawing.  If every chapter
>president and vice-president registered we would surpass this goal.
>
>What is the "Race for Independence"?
>In 2010, the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute is
>collaborating with students at the Robotics and Mechanisms Laboratory at
>Virginia Tech University's Mechanical Engineering Department to develop a
>road-ready vehicle that can be operated by a blind driver without sighted
>assistance.
>
>This vehicle is not merely equipped with an audio guidance system designed
>to tell the driver where to go, but it is also being fitted with technology
>that describes the environment through tactile imaging.  This way, the
>driver can make informed decisions about how to navigate the vehicle as
>opposed to simply following spoken instructions.
>
>
>
>Help to make this race for independence come true.
>
>
>
>Go to the website at:
>
>www.raceforindependence.org
>
>and register today.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>Mary Willows, President
>National Federation of the Blind of California
>mwillows at sbcglobal.net
>
>
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