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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#467886" vlink="#96607D" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Good Afternoon Everyone,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>The below research study is targeting individuals who live in the Pittsburgh area. If you fit this demographic, please see below.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Thank you,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Lynn<o:p></o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ligatures:none'>Research Study Approved for Pittsburgh Area<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Below you will find a request for participants in a research study that the NFB’s Research Advisory Council has approved for dissemination to the Pittsburgh area only. If you could please disseminate the study information below with the folks in the Pittsburgh area, that would be wonderful. If you feel there are folks are close to the Pittsburgh area and who might want to participate, you can include them as well. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Thanks so much for your help.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><span style='color:black;mso-ligatures:none'>Jenivieve White</span><span style='mso-ligatures:none'><br>Program Specialist<br>National Federation of the Blind<br>200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230<br>410-659-9314, extension 2236 | <a href="mailto:jwhite@nfb.org"><span style='color:blue'>jwhite@nfb.org</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Name of Study - <a name="OLE_LINK1">Techniques to augment spatial awareness</a></span><span style='mso-bookmark:OLE_LINK1'></span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Name of Institution</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>ForSight Assistive Devices LLC</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Purpose of the Study</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Participants will be asked to evaluate wearable haptics that convey in moderate detail the presence of all obstacles and trip hazards in their vicinity. The objective is to optimize the amount and format of the information conveyed to maximize utility while avoiding cognitive overload.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Proposed Alignment with NFB Research Mission </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>This research provides a plausible means to greatly improve spatial awareness while navigating unfamiliar or dynamically changing environments to improve confidence and enhance mobility independence.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Inclusion Criteria</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Ideal participants are the visually impaired in the Pittsburgh PA area (to facilitate 1:1) who are ambulatory but unable to visually perceive the locations of nearby bump and trip hazards.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Role of the Participants and Anticipated Length of the Study </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>In Phase 1 the participants will be interviewed by phone to assess their current navigation techniques and their suitability for evaluation of aids.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>In Phase 2 the participants will initially utilize navigation aids of various configurations in an interior space for a total time of approximately one hour. Phase 3, the participants will be provided refined devices to use as they see fit for approximately one week.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Proposed Participant Compensation</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Yes, Phase 1 interview will be $20.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Phase 2 $25 per hour. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Phase 3 will $50/day.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Institutional Review Board (IRB) or other Ethics Group Approval</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Yes, the study has been approved by an ethics board at my organization.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Link or Instructions for Participants to Enter the Study </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Email <a href="mailto:drlyman@forsightassist.com">drlyman@forsightassist.com</a></span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Please include name, phone number, city, age, and level of visual impairment.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Researcher Contact Information</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Lyman Petrosky</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>7248587473</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'><a href="mailto:drlyman@forsightassist.com">drlyman@forsightassist.com</a></span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Principal Investigator (PI) or Study Leader Contact Information</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Lyman Petrosky</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>7248587473</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'><a href="mailto:drlyman@forsightassist.com">drlyman@forsightassist.com</a></span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Who Should Participants Contact? </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Lyman Petrosky</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>7248587473</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'><a href="mailto:drlyman@forsightassist.com">drlyman@forsightassist.com</a></span><o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>