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

Wed Mar 24 22:58:25 UTC 2010

Yes, I would like to be more involved in this if research is going to be 
coordinated as I am involved locally and have some contacts that also might 
be interested.
Chuck
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bryan Bashin" <bashin at calweb.com>
To: "NFB of California List" <nfbc-info at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, March 24, 2010 10:05 AM
Subject: Re: [Nfbc-info] Only 10 days left to race!


> 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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