Research
Researchers listed alphabetically by surname
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E
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Researchers listed by country index
Researchers listed by subject index
T
Mr. Herwarth Talkenberg
Institut fuer Flugfuehrung, Hans-Sommer-Str. 66, Braunschweig 38106, Germany.
Tel: +49 531 391 3719
Fax: +49 531 391 5954
Email: h.talkenberg@tu-bs.de
Web: www.tu-bs.de/institute/iffl/
Current & recent projects
Electronic sign post IDEFIX
Co-worker: Mr. Helge Bruenger
The system displays two features: navigation and communication. The navigation
module determines actual position with a mean accuracy of some 10 metres
outside buildings. The position is derived from DGPS, dead-reckoning (compass
and pedometer) and matching of this data with a digital map. If used off
the mapped area the accuracy reduces to 10 to 100 metres. Autonomous functions:
output of information like street name, distance to next crossing (map
data); guidance information, distance from/to home or office (routing
algorithm); input of new map information (learning map). By pressing a
button, position data is transmitted to the service station (cellular
phone GSM) and displayed on the operator's screen. The operator can provide
a variety of services. The system is supposed to have all it's complexity
in the service station and provide the user with information with three
or four buttons. Central station functions: taxi call, ambulance call,
spoken travel information (oral guidance), directions to the closest bus
station of a designated line and the appropriate time-table information
(Telematic, as well for underground etc).
Last updated:
Judith H. Tamburlin
Main Street, 16 Cary Hall, State University of New York, Buffalo, New
York 14260-0001, United States of America.
Tel: +1 716 898 5196
Fax: +1 716 898 5114
Email: jtamburl@acsu.buffalo.edu
Web: wings.buffalo.edu/hrp/cls/fac-tamburlin.html
Publications
Current & recent projects
Research into the development of innovative educational materials for the blind and visually impaired.
Last updated:
Mary Taylor
Institute of Educational Technology, The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA, United Kingdom.
Tel: +44 1908 652088
Email: m.e.taylor@open.ac.uk
Current & recent projects
Alternative to Print for Visually Impaired Students
This is ongoing work to maximize the amount of printed Open University
material which can be made available in accessible formats for visually
impaired and other print disabled students. The current focus is on conversion
of source documents from a variety of electronic publishing systems for
delivery in accessible formats. Other issues are widening the scope to
include subject areas with non text elements such as maths and science.
Last updated: 03/09/2003
K. Tema
Linköpings Universitet, 581 83 Linköping, Sweden.
Tel: +46 13 28 1000
Current & recent projects
Interpretation of Tactile Images
Last updated: 31/05/2001
Terrie Terlau, APH Educational Research, Adult Life
Project Leader
The American Printing House for the Blind Inc, 1839 Frankfort Avenue,
PO Box 6085, Louisville, Kentucky 40206-0085, United States America.
Tel: +1 502 895 2405; Toll-Free Customer Service: 800 223 1839 (US and
Canada)
Fax: +1 502 899 2274
Email: tterlau@aph.org
Web: www.aph.org/
Current & recent projects
As the Adult Life Project Leader, her work is focused on expanding communication networks between APH and adults who are visually impaired and on developing products that address specific occupational, recreational, social, Orientation and mobility, and daily living needs. Her current research includes product need focus groups with: adults who are blind or visually impaired; Orientation and Mobility Specialists; and Rehabilitation Teachers. She is currently working on product development in the areas of personal management and record-keeping, financial organization, marking and labeling, and parenting.
Last updated: 05/01/2005
Mr. Graham Thomas
Portset Systems Ltd, Shield House, Brook Street, Bishops Waltham, Southampton
SO32 1AX, United Kingdom.
Tel: +44 1489 893919
Fax: +44 1489 893320
Email: admin@portset.co.uk
Web: www.portset.co.uk
Current & recent projects
Development and manufacture of specialist equipment for visually impaired people; Talking Teletext; Text to speech; OCR systems; AudeTel: (EEC Television background description project); Messenger - Sensor operated messages (Movement activated); Nicam - Easy to operate stand alone system; Digital record & playback systems; Speech encoding system - Speech display systems; Speech activated systems - specialist software; specialist time delay speaking units.
Last updated:
Ms. Leanne Thompson
Lancaster University, Lancaster, Lancashire, United Kingdom.
Tel: +44 1524 65201 Ext. 93560
Email: l.thompson@lancaster.ac.uk
Current & recent projects
Investigation of the design of tactile diagrams and graphics for blind people. This project includes both standard tactile diagrams and computer-based designs, as well as three-dimensional virtual reality graphics and diagrams.
Last updated: 31/10/2000
Professor David Thomson
Department of Optometry and Visual Science, City University, London,
Northampton Square,
London
EC1V 0HB, United Kingdom.
Tel: +44 20 7040 0181
Fax: +44 20 7040 8355
Email: w.d.thomson@city.ac.uk
Web: http://www.city.ac.uk/optometry/html/david_thomson.html
Publications
Current & recent projects
Research interests include development of computer software for visual assessment and screening. The stimulus for this work has been the development of high quality visual displays which open up new opportunites for vision assessment.
Other interests include:
- Eye problems associated with using computers
- Occupational vision standards
- Vision and driving
- Eye movements
Products that emerged from previous research projects:
Test chart 2000 turns a standard PC into a powerful test chart for use by optometrists, ophthalmologists, orthoptists and other eye care professionals. The program contains a wide range of tests including LogMAR, Snellen and Single letter charts, Fan and Block, Cross cyl targets, Maddox rod test, Fixation disparity test, Fixation targets, Number plate test and Contrast sensitivity. The program is currently used in the clinics at City and in over 400 practices and clinics.
The City Hess Screen uses a PC to assess ocular motility. This program is in use in over 200 hospitals and optometric practices.
The Ocular Adverse Reactions to Drugs database is a unique compilation of information about the ocular reactions of over 3000 ophthalmic and systemic drugs. The program was compiled in conjunction with Dr John Lawrenson and runs on a standard PC. The list of drugs and their adverse reactions is updateable over the internet.
The City Vision Screener for schools provides a new solution to providing high quality vision screening for children of all ages. The program manages the entire process from obtaining parental consent, performing the vision tests on screen, to producing customised reports for parents, teachers and optometrists. The program is in use in over 200 schools and colleges.
The City Coloured Overlay Screener is designed to determine if an individual if likely to benefit from the use of a coloured overlay or coloured spectacles for reading. The program is based on the Intuitive Overlay system developed by Professor Wilkins.
The Optometric Toolkit for Computer Users is a program designed to be used by eye care professional for assessing the vision of computer users.
The City Vision Screener for VDU Users is a complete screening package designed to help employers comply with the DSE Regulations. The program manages the whole screening process from determing the nature of any problems experience by the DSE user, assessing their vision to generating a wide variety of reports. This was our first program and is currently used by many hundreds of companies.
Last updated: 11/9/2006
Professor Michael J. Tobin
University of Birmingham, Research Centre for the Education of the Visually
Handicapped, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, United Kingdom.
Tel: +44 121 414 6733
Fax: +44 121 414 4865
Email: M.J.Tobin@bham.ac.uk
Publications
Current & recent projects
Co-workers: Dr. Graeme Douglas;
Mrs. E Hill
Development of software: Elderly visually handicapped people - large print,
synthetic speech, and Braille outputs; Younger visually handicapped children,
students, and adults of working age - visual stimulation and training
(using touch-sensitive screens, joysticks, concept keyboards), pre-reading
and reading skills, mathematics, word-processing (large print, synthetic
speech, Braille outputs). Development of orientation and navigation systems
for blind pedestrians (TIDE - MoBIC project); The development of blind
neonates and other very young blind infants; The development of a new
test of Braille reading skills; Assessment procedures.
Last updated: 10/12/1999
Shinichi Torihara
Adaptive Technologies, Japan.
Tel/Fax: +81 46 264 9321
Email: shinichi@adaptive-techs.com
Web: www.adaptive-techs.com/
Current & recent projects
An "Oblique" Listening Method for the Blind and Visually
Impaired
Normally, sighted people can increase their scanning and reading ability
by a method known as "diagonal" reading. Blind and visually
impaired people however must rely on a conversion of written text to speech.
The problem with this is that speech sounds generated from text are sequential
and linear. If you listen to speech sounds at a faster than normal speed
you will not be able to understand them well. In this study we propose
a rapid "oblique" listening method for blind and visually impaired
people by controlling speed based upon the linguistic information (syntax
new and old information), of any given text. Verbs, nouns and negative
adverbs and new information will be played at relatively slower speed,
the remaining parts at a much faster speed. Visually impaired people obviously
feel the recent need for improving access to widespread interdisciplinary
knowledge. The proposed method will help them share the advantages of
"diagonal" reading currently available only to the fully sighted.
Last updated: 13/01/2005
Dr. Joaquín Trapero, Project Coordinator
Dirección General de Mercados y Tecnología, Soluziona Telecommunicaciones,
C/ Infanta Mercedes 31, 2 Planta, 28020 Madrid, Spain.
Tel: +34 91 579 30 00
Fax: +34 91 579 07 08
Email: trapero@sztele.com
Web: www.sztele.com/visual/
Current & recent projects
VISUAL Project
VISUAL (voice for information society universal access learning) is an
international project with financial support of the Information Society
Technologies Programme the European Commission to develop voice based
technology in order to improve the access of visually impaired people
to the information society. VISUAL intends to provide a system for designing
web sites entirely accessible to visually impaired people by means of
voice. The main objectives of the project are: To facilitate to visually
impaired people both the access to Internet and the design of accessible
pages; To provide Web developers with a tool which facilitates the creation
of accessible pages (both in the accomplishment of the specifications
and in the integration of spoken navigation). The authoring tool could
be ultimately integrated in any existing well-known Web authoring package
or at least be compatible; To integrate speech in the navigation as an
alternative form for interaction. What travels via Web are light text
documents which are interpreted by the client; Development of an accessible
portal (which can be browsed by means of speech and with contents stored
in VoiceXML documents).
Last updated: 27/06/2003
Oleg & Andree Tretiakoff
9500 S.Ocean Drive, Jensen Beach, Florida 34957, United States of America.
Phone: +1 561 229 9080
Fax: +1 561 229 9858
Email: oleg@catechnology.net
Web: www.catechnology.net/
Current & recent projects
New and Improved Print Reading Machine for the Blind
For more than two years this project has been in progression, and
now the results of these efforts, the Portable Print Reading Device, P2RD
is in its final design phase, and expected to be available during the
second quarter of 2003.
Project start date: 2000
Last updated: 17/12/2002
Dr. Nicole Trudeau
Université du Québec a Montréal, C/O Colette Dubuisson,
CP 8888, Succ. Centre-Ville, Montréal, Québec H3C 3P8, Canada.
Tel: +1 450 672 7859
Fax: +1 450 672 0948
Email: trudeau.nicole@uqam.ca
Current & recent projects
Tactile Graphics - its? Normalization - Visual image analysis in
approved textbooks
The final objective of the present phase of our research is to develop,
test and ideally implant an approach and tools to help the analysis of
textbooks before their Braille transcription and tactile image adaptation
by a structural, systematic and synthetic manner.
Project start date : 06/2000
Project end date : 2005
Last updated: 31/10/2000
Dr. Philippe Truillet
DIAMANT Team, IRIT UMA CNRS 5505, 118 Route de Narbonne, 31062 Toulouse
Cedex, France.
Tel: +33 561 556 314
Fax: +33 561 556 258
Email: truillet@irit.fr
Web: www.irit.fr/~Philippe.Truillet
Publications
Current & recent projects
Cognitive effects of an aural presentation of structured electronic
documents
Co-workers: Julie Lemarié, Fabrice Maurel, Dr. Nadine Vigouroux
This research deals with the development of an evaluation methodology
suitable for use with the new method of presentation which are based on
the speech modality or on multimodality (speech and visual -little screen
as PDA screens-). The work hypothesis of the study relies on the fact
that both structure and typographic attributes increase the comprehension
process in visual presentation. Based on this constant, the Human Computer
Interaction (HCI) question is to find alternative sounds or prosodic variants
to display the typographic attributes i.e. bold, italic. Speech synthesis
technologies offer functions which allows to display both the layout and
the content with different variants The purpose is to describe a methodology
used to evaluate the comprehension-memorisation processes in a reading
of words marked bold.
After the study of the salient effect in an aural presentation subsequently
presented for two groups: visually and non visually impaired persons,
work takes into account text presentation with new peripherals such as
PDA. The goal is to provide readers with maximum information (both text
and
material layout wise) against minimum cognitive effort on their part.
Start and End dates of project: 1998 - 2001 and 2001 - 2004
CLAPOTI: an assistive technology designed for speech and motor disorders
Co-workers: Frédéric Vella, Dr. Nadine Vigouroux
CLAPOTI, a voice communication assistive technology designed for speech
and motor disorders aims to offer a communication support system allowing
better communication, adaptable to users and strongly varying in needs.
CLAPOTI uses an user-centered design process.
Project start date: 2001
Project end date: 2004
Last updated: 16/09/2003
Prof. Charles Trullemans
DICE, Université Catholique de Louvain, 1 Place de l'Universite,
Louvain-la-Neuve 1348, Belgium.
Tel: +32 10 472567
Fax: +32 10 472598
Email: ctrullemans@dice.ucl.ac.be
Web: www.dice.ucl.ac.be/optivip
Publications
Current & recent projects
OPTIVIP (Optimisation of a Visual Implantable Prosthesis)
Co-workers: Mr Philippe Rizo (CEA-DTA-LETI-Departement Systemes - France);
Ms Yvon Patissier (Department Etudes - France); Mr Michel Troosters (Neurotech
Sa - Belgium).
A fully designed, implantable, visual prosthesis has recently been planted
in a volunteer who has retinitis pigmentosa. The prosthesis sends a signal
from a miniature artificial eye - that is attached to the volunteers spectacles
- to an implanted stimulator via an external processor and a transcutaneous
link. The OPTIVIP project will optimize the prosthetic system and its
related rehabilitation protocol.
Project start date: 01/01/2001
Project end date: 31/12/2004
Last updated: 02/03/2004
Louis Tubman
Troubadour Enterprises Inc, 2301 Cherry Street, 3J Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania 19103, United States of America.
Tel: +1 215 563 5435
Email: lousandyt@aol.com
Current & recent projects
Acoustically-Prompted Karaoke for the Blind and the Visually-Impaired
This project tests the efficiency of the Acoustiprompter system and the
feasibility of its commercial development. Acoustiprompter is a recording
method and play-system for acoustically-prompted karaoke. Conventional
karaoke uses visual prompting to enable spontaneous sing-along without
prior memorization of lyrics. People who are blind or visually impaired
are largely excluded from participation. Through a four-track play system
with headphones, the Acoustiprompter provides stereo music, optional lead-guide
vocal, and optional, user-controlled acoustical prompting of the lyrics.
Words, rapidly spoken and appropriately phrased, are delivered just before
they are needed so the user can easily, naturally, and enjoyably participate
in an otherwise unavailable recreational activity. Studies of volunteers
using a singing booth set up to simulate the Acoustiprompter experience
are carried out with the cooperation of the Overbrook School for the Blind,
in Philadelphia, to measure learning curve, ease of use, acceptability
and participant satisfaction.
Last updated: 07/01/2005
Kathleen A. Turano
The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Wilmer Eye Institute Lions
Vision Center 550 N. Broadway, 6th floor Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United
States of America.
Tel: +1 410 550 6434
Fax: +1 410 955 1829
Email: kathy@lions.med.jhu.edu
Current & recent projects
Vision Control of Mobility in Low Vision.
Studies have shown that vision impairment can have serious adverse
effects on orientation/mobility (O/M). The long-term goal of this research
program is to understand how vision impairment cause functional limitation
in O/M. Research over the past several years has cataloged the effects
of vision impairments on mobility and has identified the visual function
measures that are predictive of mobility performance and effort. However,
an understanding of how vision impairments affect the mechanisms underlying
mobility is lacking. The visual control of mobility is complex, involving
the processing of visual information such as the visual motion patterns
generated by a moving (optic flow), as well as the planning, execution,
and integration of eye, head, and body movements. The overall aim of the
proposed research is to understand the contributions of perception of
heading direction and scanning eye/head movements to mobility performance
and effort.
Project start date: 01/12/88
Project end date: 30/06/2001
Last updated: 29/09/2000
Prof. Nick Tyler
Department of Civil Engineering, University College London, Gower Street,
London, WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom.
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7679 1562
Email: n.tyler@ucl.ac.uk
Publications
Current & recent projects
AUNT-SUE (Accessibility and User Needs in Transport for Sustainable
Urban Environments)
Co-workers: Prof. Roger Mackett, Rana Imam, Shepley Orr, Helena Titheridge.
Partners: London Metropolitan University - Prof. Graeme Evans, Steve Shaw,
Juliet Solomon, Dr Peter Lugosi, Nastaran Azmin-Fouladi. Loughborough
University - Prof. Mark Porter, Prof. Keith Case, Dr Ruth Sims, Dr Diane
Gyi, Dr Russ Marshall.
Recent research has highlighted the ways in which poor transport and
urban design may reinforce the isolation of people who already suffer
various forms of disadvantage, and who may be literally as well as metaphorically
cut off from the social mainstream. The purpose of AUNT-SUE is to develop
a comprehensive 'tool-kit' that can be used at different scales, from
city-regions down to the micro-level of streets, vehicles and facilities
such as bus stops, signage and ticket machines. Central to its approach
is the integration of policy, design and operations throughout whole journey
environment. As a preliminary to the main research programme now underway
between Autumn 2004 and Spring 2007, a Scoping Study has been completed
to explore the diverse and often complex problems of exclusion and disadvantage
that are reinforced by poor access to places of work, learning, healthcare,
food shops, leisure and other destinations, and to review the methodologies
available to generate inclusive solutions. The main research programme
is working in testbed locations in London and Hertfordshire, with a wide
network of local transport authorities in other towns and cities, and
design and policy experts in the transport and urban design fields. In
particular, the project will develop decision-support tools that will
establish benchmarks and incorporate inclusion into policies, and the
design and operation of sustainable journey environments. Real-world but
controlled testbed facilities in the London Borough of Camden and Hertfordshire
County Council will allow these to be piloted, tested and transferred
to other case study areas and sites.
For further information see www.aunt-sue.org.uk
Project start date:
Project end date:
PAMELA (Pedestrian Accessibility and Movement Environment LAboratory)
Co-workers: Derrick Boampong, Ian Brown, Dr Elvezia Cepolina, Dr Craig
Childs, Taku Fujiyama, Arletta Hodge, Harry Rostron.
PAMELA is a research project, where a reconfigurable laboratory is used
to simulate existing and proposed pedestrian environments, being carried
out by the Accessibility Research Group at University College London.
Current work includes verification of a microscopic pedestrian simulation
model, simulation and modification of the physical environment in which
pedestrian activities can be tested, investigation and development of
capability profiles for a wide range of people under a number of different
physical and sensory conditions, dissemination of good practice in pedestrian
accessibility and promoting disability awareness by means of a controlled
experimental environment.
For further information see www.cts.ucl.ac.uk/arg/pamela2/index.asp
Project start date:
Project end date:
Last updated: 02/06/2005
Dr. Dimitrios Tzovaras
Informatics and Telematics Institute (ITI), 1st Km Thermi-Panorama Road,
Thermi-Thessaloniki
GR-57001, Greece
Tel: +30 31 4641602 (ext. 177)
Fax: +30 31 464164
Email: Dimitrios.Tzovaras@iti.gr
Web: www.iti.gr/db.php/en/people/Dimitrios_Tzovaras.html
Publications
Current & recent projects
ENORASI: Virtual Environments for the Training of Visually Impaired
The ENORASI project aims at developing a highly interactive and extensible
haptic virtual reality (VR) system that will allow visually impaired people,
especially those blind from birth, to study and interact with various
virtual objects. ENORASI will not only introduce techniques for the training
of blind people based on their haptic interaction with virtual objects,
but will also provide case studies for their training through interaction,
manipulation and modification of objects of complex shapes. For further
information see www.iti.gr/db.php/en/projects/ENORASI.html
Project start date: 01/01/2001
Project end date:31/12/2003
Last updated: 16/04/2002
Last updated: 19.02.2008 © Copyright reserved
