[Nfbk] Congressman Mica to Participate in NFB Blind Driver ChallengeT

[Melanie Peskoe]

Thanks for sharing this, it's really great!

Melanie

 

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From: nfbk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
Kevin Pearl
Sent: Thursday, January 27, 2011 5:32 PM
To: NFBK
Subject: [Nfbk] Congressman Mica to Participate in NFB Blind Driver
ChallengeT

 


Congressman Mica to Participate in NFB Blind Driver ChallengeT.  


 

WASHINGTON, Jan. 27, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Federation
of the Blind announced today that Congressman John Mica, who represents
Florida's Seventh Congressional District and chairs the House Transportation
and Infrastructure Committee, will participate in the demonstration of a
vehicle that can be driven by the blind.  The Congressman will be present
along with NFB officials and other dignitaries when a modified Ford Escape
equipped with nonvisual technology allowing a blind person to drive it
independently is demonstrated as part of pre-race activities leading up to
the Rolex 24 at the Daytona International Speedway on January 29.
Congressman Mica will drive the vehicle onto the course and present the keys
to a blind driver, who will then drive the road course alone.  

Congressman Mica said: "I am pleased to participate in this historic moment,
which will shatter misconceptions about blind citizens and show the world
exciting new technologies that will enhance the quality of living for many
Americans.  I have no doubt that this event is a milestone in revolutionary
technological change that will dramatically improve transportation and
safety in the twenty-first century."

Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind, said:
"We are extremely pleased that Congressman Mica is joining us for this
historic occasion.  It is fitting that the Chairman of the House
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will participate in the
demonstration of technology that will ultimately benefit sighted drivers as
well as the blind."

The National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute-the only research
and training facility on blindness operated by the blind-has challenged
universities, technology developers, and other interested innovators to
establish NFB Blind Driver ChallengeT (BDC) teams, in collaboration with the
NFB, to build interface technologies that will empower blind people to drive
a car independently.  The purpose of the NFB Blind Driver ChallengeT is to
stimulate the development of nonvisual interface technology.  The Virginia
Tech/TORC team, under the direction of Dr. Dennis Hong, Director of the
Robotics and Mechanisms Laboratory at Virginia Tech., is the only team that
has accepted the challenge.  The team is currently working with the National
Federation of the Blind on the second-generation prototype vehicle to
integrate new and improved versions of the first-generation nonvisual
interface technologies into a Ford Escape.  

For more information about the NFB, please visit www.nfb.org
<http://www.nfb.org/> .  For our digital news release about the Blind Driver
ChallengeT and the debut of the BDC car at the Rolex 24, including audio and
video clips for television and radio, please visit
www.DigitalNewsRelease.com/?q=NFB_CarKit. 

About the National Federation of the Blind

With more than 50,000 members, the National Federation of the Blind is the
largest and most influential membership organization of blind people in the
United States.  The NFB improves blind people's lives through advocacy,
education, research, technology, and programs encouraging independence and
self-confidence.  It is the leading force in the blindness field today and
the voice of the nation's blind.  In January 2004 the NFB opened the
National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute, the first research and
training center in the United States for the blind led by the blind.

SOURCE National Federation of the Blind.  

This release can be found online at:  

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/congressman-mica-to-participate-in-n
fb-blind-driver-challenge-114713349.html

 

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