[Nfb-science] STEM Accessibility Research

[Stephanie H. DeLuca]

Hi Hayden,

This sounds really interesting.  I was wondering if you know anything about
using haptics, such as those used by engineers when they are doing 3D
modeling?

Touch-enabled 3D Model Design
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nLa40-YEDw
ArtNova: Touch-Enabled 3D Model Design
http://gamma.cs.unc.edu/ARTNOVA/artnova.pdf

Interactive Haptic Rendering of High-Resolution Deformable Objects
http://gamma.cs.unc.edu/HAPDEFO/downloads/gotgl-hcii07.pdf

I think there is a lot of potential for using these technologies for
teaching things in 3D to people who are blind/VI.  In my opinion, hap tics
and 3D printing is really going to change the availability of STEM learning
to the blind/VI.  I'm really excited about this!  Let me know how your
project goes.  Are you going to write anything up for it?  For example, a
paper or poster?

In the field of observation, chance favors only the prepared mind.
    ~Louis Pasteur, lecture 1854


On Sun, Jun 24, 2012 at 11:20 PM, Hayden Dahmm <hwdahmm at live.com> wrote:

>
> Hello everyone,
>
> I’m a rising sophomore at Swarthmore College, where I intend to major in
> Environmental Engineering.  Although I’ve been legally blind from birth, I
> lost all functional vision only a year ago. I’m perfectly fine with this
> change, but I’m still developing the techniques for accessing visual
> content in my engineering courses.  Currently, assistants take lecture
> notes, create tactile diagrams, and serve as scribes for problem sets.
>  This has worked well enough, but I would appreciate any suggestions on how
> I could increase my independence.
>
> Also, this summer, I’m researching in the Swarthmore Engineering
> Department on ways of making STEM subjects more accessible to the blind,
> with potential collaboration with labs at Drexel University and the
> University of Pennsylvania.  Our work has three foci…
>
> 1.) Developing models specific to my fall classes.  For electrical
> Engineering, we will use K’NEX to illustrate circuits.  For Chemistry and
> Calc 3, we might use 3-D printing.
> 2.) Studying/applying data sonification.  We plan to use quadraphonic
> headphones paired with a joystick to interrogate spatial data using ChucK.
> 3.) Developing refreshable, tactile displays.  We might try creating
> embossed images with new Piezo actuators or a modernized version of the
> Optacon.  As a short term solution, we also plan to work on an IOS app that
> could take in a diagram and vibrate when the user's finger crosses a line.
>
> I would love to hear any thoughts you might have on my research topics.  I
> would be glad to give more info if anyone is interested.
>
> Best regards,
> Hayden
> hwdahmm at live.com
> 610-405-0098
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