Research
Researchers listed alphabetically by surname
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
Researchers listed by country index
Researchers listed by subject index
F
Prof. Eduardo Fernandez
Instituto de Bioingeniería, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Miguel Hernández, 03550 San Juan (Alicante),
Spain.
Tel: +34 965 91 9439
Fax: +34 965 91 9434
Email: e.fernandez@umh.es
Web: www.cse.fau.edu/
Current & recent projects
CORTIVIS
This project aimed to develop prototypes in the field of visual rehabilitation and to demonstrate the feasibility of a cortical neuroprosthesis, interfaced with the visual cortex, as a means through which a limited but useful visual sense may be restored to profoundly blind people. While the full restoration of vision seems to be impossible, the discrimination of shape and location of objects could allow blind subjects to 'navigate' in a familiar environment and to read enlarged text, resulting in a substantial improvement in the standard of living of blind and visually impaired persons.
Project start date: 1/1/2002
Project end date: 31/3/2005 - research is still ongoing
Last updated: 09/12/2007
Dr Catherine S. Fichten
Dawson College, Psychology Department and Adaptech Research Network, 3040 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, Québec H3Z 1A4, Canada.
Tel: +1 514 931 8731 Ext. 1546
Fax: +1 514 340 7507
Email: catherine.fichten@mcgill.ca
Web: http://adaptech.dawsoncollege.qc.ca/
Current & recent projects
Accessibility of eLearning in Postsecondary Education
Co-worker(s): Jennison Asuncion
This three-year canadian study will examine the accessibility for students with disabilities of the various forms of eLearning now used in Canadian colleges and universities. By investigating current and forecasted eLearning trends in Canadian higher education, we will: (1) identify facilitators and barriers for students with disabilities and (2) generate and disseminate best practices for both the higher education and postsecondary ePublishing communities. The research will involve: postsecondary students with disabilities (including learning disabilities) who have used some form of eLearning; professionals who provide disability-related supports on campus; individuals who lead and/or support eLearning initiatives in their institutions; faculty who have taught students with disabilities using some form of eLearning; and publishing industry executives responsible for postsecondary ePacks and eCourses.
Project start date: 2007
Project end date: 2010
Last updated: 10/01/2008
Associate Prof. Kerry C. Fitzmaurice
La Trobe University, Faculty of Health Science, Department of Clinical Vision Sciences,
Room 310, Health Sciences 2, Bundoora campus, Victoria 3086, Australia.
Tel: +61 3 9479 1914
Fax: +61 3 9479 3692
Email: k.fitzmaurice@latrobe.edu.au
Web: www.latrobe.edu.au/
Publications
Current & recent projects
Vision rehabilitation strategies suitable for children with vision impairment
Co-worker(s): Linda Malesic, Norliza Fadzil
The study is examining the accuracy of saccadic eye movements in response
to tactile stimuli delivered to the fingers. The clinical application
of tactile stimuli as an adjunct to refixation training for persons with
loss of centre field or hemianopia is also being studied.
Ongoing
Visual fatigue associated with low vision.
Co-worker(s): Gillian Gale; Deb Lewis; Lyn Robinson
The aim of this project is to identify the symptoms and causes of visual
fatigue experienced by persons with low vision, particularly in a study
environment. This information will be used to develop a tool for identifying
risk factors and strategies for ameliorating the impact of visual fatigue.
Ongoing
Last updated: 18/12/2007
Dr Donald C. Fletcher
Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute, 2318 Fillmore Street,
San Francisco, CA 94115, United States of America.
Tel: +1 415 600 3901
Fax: +1 415 600 3949
Email: floridafletch@msn.com
Web: http://www.ski.org/
Current & recent projects
Macular scotoma influence on low vision rehabilitation strategy and treatments.
Ongoing
Central visual field and reading performance of patients post Photo
Dynamic Therapy.
It is funded by Novartis Opthalmics.
Project start date: 2003
Project end date: 2006
Last updated: 31/10/2007
Geoff Freed
CPB/WGBH National Center for Accessible Media, One Guest Street
Boston, MA 02135, United States of America.
Tel: +1 617 300 3400
Fax: +1 617 300 1035
Email: geoff_freed@wgbh.org
Web: http://ncam.wgbh.org/
Current & recent projects
Access to Locally Televised On-Screen Information
Co-worker(s): Gerry Field
NCAM's Access to Locally Televised On-Screen Information project will explore and prototype DTV solutions that enable local television stations to send messages, warnings and alerts that meet the communication needs of people with sensory disabilities. Project activities include:
- Create metadata schemes for linking text with graphics, and for exporting text to speech synthesizers.
- Develop prototype software utilities that import data from various sources, then extract, transform and prepare it for prioritized text display or for speech output.
- Create demonstration models within newsroom facilities of partner television stations.
- Publish accessibility guidelines for local television stations which suggest implementation schemes for various equipment configurations, and provide recommendations for further study.
Project start date: 10/2005
Project end date: 09/2008
Effective Practices for Description of Science Content within Digital Talking Books
Co-worker(s): Bryan Gould
This project to develop recommended practices for audio descriptions of science images within digital talking books (DTBs). The work is undertaken by leading organizations that have pioneered description for visually impaired users and are currently shaping national policy and practices for provision of accessible materials in the electronic formats. Research results will contribute to both the theory and practice of how best to use descriptive language to communicate the meaning of science content presented as images within books and journals.
Project start date: 01/2005
Project end date: 12/2007
Access to Online Education Project
Co-worker(s): Larry Goldberg; Andrew Kirkpatrick
The CPB/WGBH National Center for Accessible Media (NCAM) and the League for Innovation in the Community College are working together to promote the creation and use of accessible digital content by faculty, content specialists or students. Activities focus on disseminating and institutionalizing use of math and science solutions developed through NSF-funded research and development efforts. The project also encourages information technology specialists throughout the community college system to make use of work underway within industry standards organizations to create specifications for accessible learning platforms.
Project start date: 01/2003
Project end date: 07/2004
Last updated: 18/12/2007
Rebecca Fuller
RAF Models Inc., 111 Cascade Avenue, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27127, USA.
Tel: +1 336 722 4250
Fax: +1 336 777 1155
Email: rfuller@rafmodels.com
Web: www.rafmodels.com
Publications
Current & recent projects
Universal Design of Tactile Exhibits with Touch Activated Audio Descriptive
The purpose of this project is to develop strategies and technologies that enhance the learning opportunities at aquariums for the blind and partially sighted audience. The project will identify and develop universal design (UD) best practice strategies and methodologies to enhance social integration and access to exhibit interpretive information for the blind and partially sighted. The project will also develop cost effective technologies to couple a user directed tactile experience with audio descriptive information for aquariums, without the use of electromechanical switches. The long term beneficial performance outcome of this project will be:
1) the creation of a framework for managing technical requirements, exhibit performance, and practice outcomes; 2) the adoption of UD best practice standards and technology design in exhibit and interpretive planning; and
3) establishment of standards for evaluating audience response that include the blind and partially sighted user in other Informal Learning Environments.
Start Date: 10/2006
End Date: 10/2009
Last updated: 18/12/2007
Prof. Thomas A. Furness III
HITLab, University of Washington, PO Box 352142, Seattle, Washington 98195-2142,
United States of America.
Tel: +1 206 685 8626
Fax: +1 206 543 5380
Email: tfurness@hitl.washington.edu
Web: www.hitl.washington.edu/
Publications
Current & recent projects
Virtual Retinal Display (VRD)
Co-worker(s): Eric J. Seibel; Suzanne Weghorst;
Ron Merryman
Research focused on developing a VRD.
Instead of using the eye to focus on a video screen or a computer screen, the VRD scanner technologies converts these electronic messages and "paints" images such as pictures and print directly onto the retina. The VRD uses a very narrow beam of scanned light to enter the eye. If the optics of one's eye are impaired or otherwise create distortions, the VRD laser beam can be passed through many of these problem areas and onto the retina.
Ongoing
Wearable low vision aid
Persons that are visually impaired have great difficulty navigating and avoiding obstacles as they walk even when using a cane or seeing eye dog and especially under low light levels. Creating a portable, low-cost, assistive device to aid the visually impaired is the goal of the NSF-sponsored Wearable Low-Vision Aid (WLVA) project. The prototype WLVA uses machine vision to identify walking hazards and a see-through head-mounted scanning fiber display to present icons indicating the location of potential hazards. The scanning fiber display projects laser light through a vibrating optical fiber in order to project an image onto the retina.
Ongoing
Last updated: 18/12/2007
Last updated: 19.02.2008 © Copyright reserved
