[nfbmi-talk] pr congressman mica

[Georgia Kitchen]

Hi Joe,

Did you get that I phone yet?
I do not think I really need one yet. They are real cool though.

Thanks for sending this article, I asked the volunteer to put it on 
Newsline.

I want to create a a section on articles about technology. Baltimore is 
encouraging all the states to beef up their local channel. The good thing 
about most of these sort of articles that they do not need much editing.

Anyone else that has contributions please send to me at
gakitchen at gfn.org or  to the nfbmi list.

 See you later,\
Georgia

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "joe harcz Comcast" <joeharcz at comcast.net>
To: <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, January 27, 2011 9:18 AM
Subject: [nfbmi-talk] pr congressman mica


Congressman Mica to Participate in NFB Blind Driver Challenge™

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 Challenge™ (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 Challenge™ 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.
For our digital news release about the Blind Driver Challenge™ 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.
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