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

[David Andrews]

I don't know if this will make you feel any better, but one major 
benefit of this effort is that methods are being developed that will 
allow a blind person -- or anyone else for that matter, to take in 
different streams of data, in different ways, all at the same 
time.  Audio is limited, and we need to find other ways to get info 
at the same time.

Also, nothing is all black and white.  We do lots of things at the 
same time, that is lots of projects.  All resources don't just go 
into one thing or another.  It all is striking a balance.

Dave

At 01:42 PM 3/22/2010, you wrote:
>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