[vendtalk] FW: Congressman Mica to Participate in NFB Blind Driver Challenge(tm)

[Kevan Worley]

FYI

 

From: Freeh, Jessica [mailto:JFreeh at nfb.org] 
Sent: Thursday, January 27, 2011 6:20 AM
To: Undisclosed recipients:
Subject: Congressman Mica to Participate in NFB Blind Driver Challenge(tm)

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

CONTACT:

Chris Danielsen

Director of Public Relations

National Federation of the Blind

(410) 659-9314, extension 2330

(410) 262-1281 (Cell)

 <mailto:cdanielsen at nfb.org> cdanielsen at nfb.org

 


Congressman Mica to Participate in NFB Blind Driver ChallengeT


 

Washington, D.C. (January 27, 2011): 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  <http://www.nfb.org/>
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
<http://www.digitalnewsrelease.com/?q=NFB_CarKit>
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.

 

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