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R

Dr Ahmed A. Rahman
Qinetiq, Structual Design, Room 2028, A7 Building, Farnborough, Hampshire GU14 0LX, United Kingdom.
Tel: +44 1252 394456
Fax: +44 1252 395077
Email: aarahman@qinetiq.com

Current & recent projects

Development of a dynamic tactile display

Last updated: 26/02/2002

Roope Raisamo, Co-ordinator
University of Tampere, Department of Computer Sciences, Kanslerinrinne 1, FIN-33014, Finland.
Tel: +358 3 215 7056; +358 50 570 2007
Fax: +358 3 215 6070
Email: Roope.Raisamo@cs.uta.fi
Web: www.cs.uta.fi/english/index.php and www.cs.uta.fi/~rr/

Current & recent projects

MICOLE (Multimodal collaboration environment for inclusion of visually impaired children)
The MICOLE project is aimed at developing a system that supports collaboration, data exploration, communication and creativity of visually impaired and sighted children. In addition to the immediate value as a tool the system will have societal implications through improved inclusion of the visually disabled in education, work, and society in general. While the main activity is the construction of the system, several other supporting activities are needed; the most important being empirical research of collaborative and cross-modal haptic interfaces for blind and visually impaired children. Empirical experiments are carried out to find out how to use different senses to partially replace missing visual capabilities, especially in tasks that are central in the system being constructed. Micole is a project within the EU 6th framework programme, priority Information Society Technologies (IST), strategic objective eInclusion (IST-2002-2.3.2.10).
Project start time: 09/2004
Project end time: 09/2007

Last updated: 05/11/2004

Dr-Ing. Dmitri L. Rakov
Russian Academy of Sciences, M. Haritonevskij per. 4, Moscow 101990, Russia.
Tel: +7 095 1356131
Fax: +7 095 1357769
Email: Rakov@mail.com
Web: www.rakov.de
Publications

Current & recent projects

Adaptive Keyboard for the Blind - System "1 dot = 1 letter"
One of the problems for a new keyboard design is the decreasing of trauma caused by overtension in muscles and chords of hands, arms and shoulders. The standard keyboard supports the following sequence: hand moves from the initial position to reach the necessary key; key strike; hand returns to the initial position. It is impossible to shorten the distance between hands and keys (not enough fingers), so the useful work (key strike,) always involves shift of hand position and therefore loss of time. The proposed keyboard "Manus", is to decrease that idle movement. Keys are placed right at the phalanxes of fingers and are stroked by the thumb of the same hand. Keys can be placed either on the glove or on the separated stripes
(mitglied.lycos.de/rakov/Artikel/IntManus/AdaptKeyboard.html).
The device supports the following sequence: thumb moves to the key located on the one of phalanxes, in the same time the key finger also moves to the thumb, so the key reaches the thumb; key strike; return to the initial position. The keyboard could use the standard keyboard layout or braille system layout.
Project start date: 2001

Last updated: 16/11/2004

T. V. Raman
Google Research, Mountain View, California, USA.
Tel: +1 650 253 2853
Email: raman@users.sf.net
Web: emacspeak.sf.net/raman (personal site); emacspeak.sf/net (personal time open source accessibility); almaden.ibm.com/u/tvraman (IBM Alamden research site tracking T. V. Raman's work at IBM Research); labs.google.com/accessible (Accessible Web Search for the Visually Impaired)

Current & recent projects

Developing technologies that drive the future of the Web towards eyes-free, ubiquitous information access. Speech is the next natural dimension in user interfaces, and I am developing products that combine speech technologies with the power of the Web to deliver innovative aplications that are available anytime, anywhere.

Last updated: 31/10/2007

Dr Vincent Ramsey
Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Rehabilitation Research & Development Center, Decatur, Georgia 30033, United States of America.
Email: vrdr@mindspring.com

Current & recent projects

Biomechanical evaluation of visually impaired persons' gait and long cane mechanics.

Advanced Computer Model of Orientation and Mobility used by Visually Impaired Individuals.
Co-worker: Dr Bruce B Blasch
The objective of this three-year study is to develop an advanced computer model of orientation and mobility used by individuals with a visual impairment. This study will build on the previous work known as RoboCane that developed and validated the modeling of symmetrical gait, cane movement, hand positioning and analysis of cane coverage. Specific goals in this research are to develop additional features including 3-dimensional figures, options for asymmetrical gait patterns, abilities to respond to drop-offs, enhanced environmental representations, and the parameters of different commercially available Electronic Travel Aids (ETAs). The resulting program model will be displayed through the use of three-dimensional graphics with the point of view controlled by the user. The final outcome of this research is to produce a computer model that may be used by clinicians and researchers to determine the use of a cane and/or electronic travel aid to provide the greatest safety and usability by the individual with a visual impairment.
Project start date: 01/01/2000
Project end date: 31/12/2002

Last updated: 14/09/2000

Paul G. Randall
PO Box 87287, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, United States of America.
Tel: +1 480 965 8662
Email: paul.randall@asu.edu

Current & recent projects

Digital wayfinding assistance for the blind and visually impaired and the economic issues associated with the development of such systems.

Last updated:

Kirre Rassmus-Gröhn
Certec, Lund University, PO Box 118, S-221 00 Lund, Sweden.
Tel: +46 46 222 03 50
Fax: +46 46 222 44 31
Email: kirre@certec.lth.se
Web: www.english.certec.lth.se/haptics/
Publications

Current & recent projects

The Phantasticon
Co-worker: Calle Sjöström
Combining haptic interfaces and sound interfaces for people with visual impairments. The project is centered around the PHANToM, a haptic computer interface which makes it possible to feel virtual objects.

Last updated: 29/03/2006

Leonard Reiffel
Luxelar Corporation, 602 Deming Place, Chicago, Illinois 60614, United States of America.
Tel/Fax: +1 773 871 0171
Email: lreiffel@aol.com and info@luxelar.com
Web: www.luxelar.com
Publications

Current & recent projects

General Purpose Attentive systems using patented dual spectrum LAR (Locate And React) codes on objects, persons, etc. for multiple purposes and functions. Continuing effort on demo devices and applications including environment ID, tracking, info systems etc.

Luxelar technology employs concepts that physically associate small passive marking codes or tags called LAR-codes with any number of “entities” such as occupants (or their actions such as body movements etc), objects (or their behavior), or even defined characteristics of a “space”. A “space” can be anything from a small region near a personal computer to an entire room or an entire home. The technology involves three basic elements: (1) LAR-codes placed on all entities or objects of interest in the space, (2) Sensor/Pre/processors, (3) Data Processing and Communications Nodes called Attendrons. A space equipped with Luxelar technology becomes something quite new - an intelligent "Attentive Space™" with remarkable powers and unique multi-tasking capabilities. This technology could be used as signage and as a navigation aid for the blind.

Last updated: 31/10/2007

Roman Rener
Institute of Geodesy, Cartography and Photogrammetry, 1000 Ljubljana, Jarnova 2, Slovenia.
Tel: +386 61 200 2900
Fax: +386 61 125 0677
Email: roman.rener@institut-gf.uni-lj.si

Current & recent projects

New Generation of Mobile Maps - Automated Production and Using Digital 3D Data Sources
Research on the automated production of mobile maps with the emphasis on optimal selection of the content that a blind person needs for their orientation. The aims of the research were to develop an automated procedure for the production of mobile maps, to choose the optimal content and to produce a quality editing works, to reduce the time of production and improve its quality, to elaborate on automated multi-purpose data base, to simplify the production and editing processes, to introduce standardized tactile symbols, to make use of the existing analogue and digital spatial data bases used by the sighted, to develop a procedure for mass printing of colours on mobile maps and to use the most contemporary computer and related equipment.

Last updated: 25/09/2001

Mr Simon J. Richardson
Loughborough University, The HUSAT Research Institute, Leicestershire LE11 3TU, United Kingdom.
Tel: +44 1509 611088
Fax: +44 1509 234651
Email: s.j.richardson@lboro.ac.uk
Web: www.lboro.ac.uk/research/husat/frame4.html
Publications

Current & recent projects

Co-workers: Ms. Samantha Campion; Ms. Anne M Clarke; Mrs. Colette Nicolle; Mrs. Kathy Phillips; Dr David F. Poulson; Dr Neil Waddell
Current research activities are mainly, but not exclusively concentrated on the European Union's research and development programmes. Current projects within which the Institute is involved include: USER (TIDE Programme); CASA (TIDE Programme); SCALP (TIDE Programme); ACCESS (TIDE Programme); TWIN (RACE Programme); TELECOMMUNITY (RACE Programme); TelaID (DRIVE Programme); telsCAN (Transport Telematics Programme); VICAID (TIDE Programme).

Last updated:

J. J. Rieser
Vanderbilt University, Department of Psychology and Human Development, Box 512, Peabody College, Nashville, Tennessee 37203, United States of America.
Tel: +1 615 322 8141
Fax: +1 615 343 9494
Email: rieserjj@ctrvax.vanderbilt.edu
Web: www.vanderbilt.edu/kennedy/people/rieser.html

Current & recent projects

Co-workers: D A Ashmead; M M Hill
Vision related variations in perceptual-motor coordination, spatial imagery and science related concepts for children and adults. Spatial orientation and mobility are problematic for many blind and visually impaired persons. Our research is aimed at understanding some of the basic cognitive and perceptual processes that underlie the difficulties.

Last updated:

Dr D. Rigas
Department of Computer Science, University of Hull, Hull HU6 7RX, United Kingdom.
Tel: +44 1482 465038
Fax: +44 1482 466666
Email: d.rigas@dcs.hull.ac.uk
Web: www.hull.ac.uk/

Current & recent projects

Development of auditory interfaces for blind computer users.

Last updated: 01/02/2000

Ms. Brigitte Ringbauer
Fraunhofer Institut, Arbeitswirtschaft und Organisation, Competence Center Human-Computer Interaction, Nobelstraße 12, D-70569 Stuttgart, Germany. Tel: +49 711 970 2317
Email: Brigitte.Ringbauer@iao.fraunhofer.de
Web: www.hci.iao.fraunhofer.de/de/das_team/brigitte_ringbauer/index.html

Current & recent projects

Last updated: 24/10/2007

Lisa Riolo
VA Rehabilitation Research & Development Center, Atlanta, Georgia 30033, United States of America.
Tel: +1 404 728 5064 Ext. 7140
Fax: +1 404 728 4837
Email: lriolo@emory.edu
Web: www.varrd.emory.edu/BIOS/riolo.html
Publications

Current & recent projects

Restricted Useful Field of View as a Risk Factor for Falls in Older Adults
Co-worker: Bruce Blasch
The purpose of this three-year study is to investigate useful field of view as a risk factor for falls in older adults. The proposed research is designed to address the following key questions: Is visual attention (UFOV) an independent predictor of fall occurrence; 2) How does UFOV correlate with measures that have been associated with falls in older individuals (cognition, hip flexor and ankle dorsiflexor muscle strength, static balance measures, dynamic balance measure, contrast sensitivity, and visual fields); and 3) Can UFOV be used to predict frequency of falls?

Last updated: 14/09/2001

John W. Roberts
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 3460, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899-3460, United States of America.
Tel: +1 301 975 5683
Email: john.roberts@nist.gov
Web: www.nist.gov/itl/div895/isis/projects
Publications

Current & recent projects

Tactile Graphic Display
NIST will be working with the NFB to test a prototype technology developed by NIST that allows blind and visually impaired persons to"see" digital images through touch. The device, which has been in the works for more than a year, translates the images from a personal computer to a grid of 3,600 pins. The pins rise from their normal position into a copy of the image, and users can "read" that pattern with their fingertips. Dubbed by its creators a "tactile graphic display," the appliance will now spend another year or so getting road-tested by the National Federation of the Blind, a 50,000-member advocacy group based in Baltimore.

NIST Rotating-Wheel Based Refreshable Braille Display
The NIST Rotating-Wheel Based Braille display (RWB) is part of an ongoing effort to improve accessibility to electronic book readers. The device produces Braille output from an information source such as an electronic book reader, a desktop computer, or a personal digital assistant (PDA). While most other refreshable Braille displays produce a static line of Braille text, which the user reads by scanning a finger along the line and then updates the display to show the next line, the NIST RWB device produces a continuous stream of Braille text, which slides under the fingertip of the user, in effect producing lines of Braille text of any desired length. The purpose of this configuration is to dramatically reduce the number of actuators required to operate the display, from the hundreds used by a conventional linear Braille display, down to 3 to 16 actuators (depending on the specific configuration) for the NIST RWB display. Operating a dynamic Braille display will require a learning process beyond that needed to use a conventional line-type display, but it is believed that the design offers significant cost and reliability improvements that would make it attractive to many potential users, thus expanding the market for Braille displays, and increasing the use of Braille as a pathway to information accessibility.

Last updated: 17/12/2002

RoboBraille Consortium
Synscenter Refsnæs, Kystvejen 112, DK-4400 Kalundborg, Denmark.
Email: contact@robobraille.org
Web: www.robobraille.org

Current & recent projects

RoboBraille
The project is investigating an email based translation service capable of translating email attachments to and from contracted Braille and to synthetic speech. Work has already been done by a Danish company to establish how such a service would work. Users submit documents, including text files, Word documents and HTML pages, as email attachments. The translated results are returned via email, typically within a matter of minutes.
Project start date: 01/10/2006
Project end date: 01/03/2008

Last updated: 19/03/2008

Prof. Dr Brigitte Roeder
University of Hamburg, Psychology Department, Von Melle Park 11, Hamburg 20146, Germany.
Tel: +49 40 42838 3251
Fax: +49 40 42838 6591
Email: brigitte.roeder@uni-hamburg.de
Web: bpn.uni-hamburg.de
Publications

Current & recent projects

Research areas: Neuroplasticity; Cross-modal compensation; Multisensory perception; Developmental vs adult plasticity.

Last updated: 24/02/2006

Ms. Susanne S. Roley
 CHP 133, Department of Occupational Therapy, Independent Health Professions, University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA 90089, United States of America.
Tel: +1 313 442 2850
Email: roley@usc.edu

Current & recent projects

Susanne Smith Roley is an occupational therapist who obtained her BS in OT at Indiana University and her MS in Allied Health Sciences at Boston University. Susanne is on staff at the University of Southern California, Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy as the Project Director for the USC/WPS Comprehensive Program in Sensory Integration. She is the Coordinator of Education and Research at Pediatric Therapy Network and is in private practice in Orange County, CA. She is chair of the Commission on Practice for AOTA; a contributing author of the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework: Domain and Process; and past chair of the Sensory Integration Special Interest Section. She is an internationally recognized author and lecturer on the theory and application of sensory integration. She is co-editor of the books, Understanding the Nature of Sensory Integration with Diverse Populations, and Sensory Integration: Applying Clinical Reasoning to Diverse Populations.

Last updated: 07/09/2006

David Ross
VA Rehabilitation Research & Development Center, Atlanta, Georgia 30033, United States of America.
Tel: +1 404 321 6111 Ext. 6817
Fax: +1 404 728 4837
Email: davidross1@mindspring.com
Publications

Current & recent projects

Integrated Wearable Computer Orientation And Wayfinding Aid
Co-worker: Bruce B. Blasch, Ph.D.
Development of a wearable computer system that integrates information from multiple sources and presents orientation and wayfinding information to the user through a single, seamless interface. Data is currently being obtained from the following technologies: GPS, dead-reckoning, Talking Signs(r), Talking Lights(r), and Relume Pedestrian signals. The accuracy of each data source is determined for a variety of settings and situations. Information from multiple sources is combined using the probably accuracy of each data source to leverage and increase overall accuracy of results when possible. Voice, sonic and tactile output of location and heading information is being tested.

Evaluation of Eye Movement Tracking Systems for Visual Rehabilitation
Co-worker: Ronald Schuchard
The project objective is to characterize and validate the types of eye-trackers that may be most effectively employed to evaluate and assist in the rehabilitation training of people with central macular scotomas.
Project start date: 2000
Project end date: 2002

ElectroChromic (EC) Fast-Darkening Sunwear for People with AMD
Co-worker: Ronald Schuchard
A thin film of electrochromic (EC) material is being developed that can be adhered to the surface of eyeglass lenses. Using small light sensors to monitor the amount of light passing through this EC film, a tiny control circuit will be used to dynamically adjust the light-absorption properties of the film to limit the range of light levels reaching the user's eyes. By limiting the dynamic range of light to which the user's eyes must adjust, a person with AMD should be able to visually perform indoor and outdoor tasks more effectively. Unlike other such technologies (e.g., transition lenses), the EC film will respond to changes in lighting in less than a second, enabling people with AMD to continue to function when they move between very bright and relatively dimly-lit areas. Further, the dynamic range of the EC material will be greater than any other available material, approximated 90% transmission (nearly clear) down to 8% transmission (very dark).
Project start date: 2001
Project end date: 2003

Last updated: 14/09/2001

Dr Patrick Roth
Humboldt Universitdt Berlin, Department for Engineering Psycholgy, Oranienburger Str. 18, Berlin 10178, Germany.
Tel: +49 30 285 165 327
Fax: +49 30 28 29179
Email: rothpatrick@hotmail.com or Patrick.Roth@staff.hu-berlin.de
Web: http://arb1.psychologie.hu-berlin.de/ingpsy/Mitarbeiter/p_roth/Patrick.html
Publications

Current & recent projects

Multimodal Representation of Digital Images in Multimedia Computer Systems for Blind Users
This research contributes to the domain of Human Computer Interaction (HCI). It is to propose to investigate solutions that enable blind computer users to have access of digital pictures from multimedia interfaces. The central concern of this work relies on the creation of a non-visual transformation model allowing the blind user to build a satisfactory mental image. By satisfactory we mean that the encoding must allow the characterization of both the semantic and morphologic properties.

Last updated: 08/02/2003

Madeleine Rothberg
National Centre for Accessible Media, 125 Western Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02134, United States of America.
Tel: +1 617 492 9258
Fax: +1 617 782 2155
Email: madeleine_rothberg@wgbh.org
Web: www.wgbh.org/ncam

Current & recent projects

CD-ROM Access Project
Co-worker: Tom Wlodkowski
For an increasing number of educators CD-ROMs. have revolutionized the classroom. While the ability to combine video, audio, graphics and text into a searchable format is a powerful tool for the classroom, this exciting new technology presents a major roadblock to education for blind and visually impaired students in mainstream classrooms. The goal of the CD-ROM Access Project is to develop design guidelines which, when adopted by software developers, will make CD-ROM based multimedia more user-friendly and educationally enriching for blind and visually impaired students. The project will concentrate its efforts on the most widely used educational multimedia products - science, engineering and mathematics CD-ROMs. which operate in a Macintosh or Windows environment.
Project start date: 01/12/96
Project end date: 31/12/99

Jonathan Rowell
Chair of the International Cartographic Society (ICS) Commission on Maps and Graphics for Blind and Visually Impaired People, Tactile Inkjet Mapping Project, Department of Geography, Anglia Polytechnic University, East Road, Cambridge CB1 1PT, United Kingdom.
Tel: +44 1223 363271 Ext. 2662
Fax: +44 1223 417726
Email: j.rowell@anglia.ac.uk
Web: www.timp.org.uk

Current & recent projects

An integrated user-centred design and manufacture process for tactile maps using innovative print technology
Co-workers: Steve Carey, Helen Petrie, Derek Sheldon, Simon Ungar, Peter Vujakovic.
This ongoing project has the following aims: 1. to establish principles for the design of tactile maps that are grounded in research on tactile perception and non-visual spatial cognition, and that can be generalized to all types of tactile diagram 2. to design a pool of tactile map symbols (point, line and area) that take maximum advantage of the new tactile print technology, consistent with the cognitively based principles, 3. to evaluate the pool of tactile map symbols with a heterogeneous sample of blind and visually impaired people to determine their effectiveness in terms of identification, discriminability, and aesthetic qualities, and to test the tactile maps generated from these symbols in ecologically valid real world tasks. 4. to develop a template using the principles that permits the proposal of a set of standards for sets of map symbols, and their configuration 5. to assess whether it is possible to design materials that are inclusive, being effective for both sighted and visually impaired people. This project is funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. EPSRC Grant GR/R94480/01.
Project start date: 01/01/2003
Project end date: 31/12/2005

Last updated: 05/01/2005

Charity Rowland
Oregon Institute on Disability and Development/UAP, Child Development and Rehabilitaion Center, Oregon Health Sciences University, 3608 SE Powel Boulevard, Portland, Oregon 97202, United States of America.
Tel: +1 503 232 9154 ext. 108
Fax: +1 503-232-6423
Email: design@ohsu.edu
Web: www.designtolearn.com
Publications

Current & recent projects

Assessment and instruction of hands-on problem-solving and object interaction skills in children who are deafblind
Co-worker: Philip Schweigert
This research is designed to develop useful ways to evaluate object interaction and problem solving skills related to the physical environment in children who are deafblind and who have no language.

Last updated: 18/07/2001

Gary S. Rubin PhD, Helen Keller Professor of Ophthalmology
Head of Department, Department of Vision Rehabilitation Research, Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London (UCL), 11 - 43 Bath Street, London EC1V 9EL, United Kingdom.
Tel: +44 20 7608 6989
Fax: +44 20 7608 6983
Email: g.rubin@ucl.ac.uk
Web: www.ucl.ac.uk/ioo/research/rubin.htm
Publications

Current & recent projects

Low Vision Psychophysics Laboratory
This laboratory will be devoted to the study of everyday task performance by people with vision impairment. These tasks include reading, face and object recognition, mobility, and potentially driving.

Vision Impairment Population Laboratory
The primary objective of the population laboratory is to study the impact of vision impairment in the population. Recent work has clearly demonstrated that there are other important dimensions of visual function that cannot be captured by visual acuity or visual field tests, alone. These include the loss of contrast sensitivity, stereovision, and sensitivity to motion. We have also developed methods for objectively measuring the impact of vision loss on the performance of everyday tasks like reading, face recognition, and independent navigation. With advances in vision assessment and performance-based testing we can hope to uncover answers to a range of questions with significant public-health implications.

Clinical Low Vision Research Laboratory
Research carried out through Moorfields Eye Hospital investigating methods for establishing efficacy in low-vision rehabilitation.

Last updated: 29/03/2006

Dr Peter Rutherford
School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Leeds, Worsley Medical and Dental Building, Leeds LS2 9NQ, United Kingdom.
Tel: +44 113 2431751
Web: www.leeds.ac.uk/bms/research.htm

Current & recent projects

The development of an auditory navigation beacon for building emergency egress
Co-worker: Dr Deborah J. Withington
The auditory navigation beacon for the purpose of this project is targeted towards those with visual, hearing or learning impairments, offering them an alternative mode with which to escape. The main objective of this project is to develop such a concept into a workable and marketable solution which will be installed in such spaces world-wide.
Project start date: 01/06/99
Project end date 01/05/2002

Last updated: 02/04/2002

 

 

Last updated: 19.03.2008   © Copyright reserved