Research
Researchers listed alphabetically by surname
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Researchers listed by country index
Researchers listed by subject index
W
Dr. Bruce Walker
School of Psychology, Georgia Institute of Technology, 654 Cherry Street,
Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0170, United States of America.
Tel: +1 404 894 8265
Fax: +1 404 894 8905
Email: bruce.walker@psych.gatech.edu
Web: sonify.psych.gatech.edu
Publications
Current & recent projects
Conceptual and Perceptual Foundations of Data Sonification
In order to create effective sonifications (representing scientific data
using non-speech audio), we need to know (1) the best sound parameter
to use to represent a given data dimension; (2) whether an increase or
decrease in the sound parameter best represents an increase in the data
dimension (this is called "polarity"); (3) how much change in the sound
is required to represent a give data change ("scaling"). In addition,
we need to study (4) differences among individuals, such as working memory,
musical training, and listening experience, to determine their impact
on understanding auditory displays. Also, we need to know (5) how best
to train listeners to use auditory displays and (6) the additional "context"
sounds that auditory graphs need to be effective (the equivalent of axes,
tick marks, and labels in a visual graph). We are investigating all of
these issues, with both sighted and visually impaired participants.
We are taking what we have learned, and using it to build software for
creating auditory (and visual) graphs from a data set (The Sonification
Sandbox), and software for displaying exact values using sound (The Audio
Abacus). See more at sonify.psych.gatech.edu/research/index.html
Eventually, sonification software should be able to take into account
the nature of both the data and display dimensions, as well as who is
listening to the resulting sonification. Effective auditory graphs will
have great utility for both sighted and blind scientists, students and
educators.
Project start date: 09/99
Project finish date: Ongoing
SWAN: System for Wearable Audio Navigation
We have developed a wearable system to assist people who cannot see in
navigating from place to place. An auditory display directs the user using
non-intrusive, non-speech audio beacons, and in addition can augment the
listener's environment to label objects, surface transitions, locations,
and personal annotations. See more at: sonify.psych.gatech.edu/research/index.html
Project start date: 09/2002
Project finish date: Ongoing
Last updated: 13/10/2003
Robert Wall Emerson, Assistant Professor
Western Michigan University, College of Health and Human Services, Department of Blindness and Low Vision Studies,
1903 West Michigan Avenue, Mail Stop 5218, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49008,
United States of America.
Tel: +1 269 387 3072
Fax: +1 269 387 3567
Email: robert.wall@wmich.edu
Web: www.wmich.edu/hhs/blvs/
Publications
Current & recent projects
Effect of hybrid and quieter vehicles on O&M task performance of pedestrians with visual impairment
The porject assesses the impact of quieter vehicles on the safety of crossing decisions as well as other navigational and mobility tasks.
Project start date: 2006
Project end date: Ongoing
Access to complex intersections for pedestrians with a visual impairment
This porject investigates accessibility level and solutions for roundabout intersections and other complex intersections. Includes work on accessible pedestrians signals.
Project start date: 2000
Project end date: Ongoing
Alphabetic braille and contracted braille study
A longitudinal study of young blind children, their literacy experiences, and eventual reading performance. Included are, classroom observations, teacher, student and family interviews and annual reading assessments.
Project start date: 2000
Project end date: Ongoing
Biomechanics of long cane use
Series of studies looking into the mechanics of using long canes for travel and navigation. Compares different cane techniques, the effect of environment on cane use, and how use changes over time.
Project start date: 1998
Project end date:
Ongoing
Last updated: 15/11/2007
Gale R. Watson
Rehabilitation Research and Development Center, Department of Veterans Affairs
151-R, 1670 Clairmont Road, Decatur, Georgia 30033, United States of America.
Tel: +1 404 321 6111 Ext. 6495
Fax: +1 404 728 4837
Email: gale.watson@med.va.gov
Web: www.varrd.emory.edu/bios/watson.html
Publications
Current & recent projects
Impact of Low Vision and Rehabilitation on Elder Literacy
Co-worker: Rickilyn M. Mancil
The purpose of this two year project is to evaluate the literacy skills
of visually impaired elderly veterans and non-veterans (primarily women)
who have age-related visual impairment, and to understand the relationship
of literacy skills and abilities to outcomes in visual rehabilitation.
Low vision among elderly persons is expected to increase as the most prevalent
visual impairments are age-related; macular degeneration, severe glaucoma,
diabetic retinopathy and cataract. This project will add to the knowledge
about the reading and writing abilities of this population and will discover
whether current rehabilitation services are restoring literacy skills
for this population. This project will discover whether there is a relationship
between literacy and functional independence and quality of life for this
population.
Project start date: 01/04/99
Project end date: 31/03/2000
Last updated: 19/01/2000
Prof. Dr. Gerhard Weber
Multimedia Campus, Westring 431-451, Kiel 24118, Germany.
Tel: +49 431 7097 621
Fax: +49 431 7097 635
Email: g.weber@mmc-kiel.com
Web: www.hci.mmm-kiel.com
Publications
Current & recent projects
BenToWeb
Co-worker: Kurt Weimann
The BenToWeb Project (www.bentoweb.info)
aims to support the European public sector to implement the recommendations
of the eEurope 2005 Action Plan by providing benchmarking tools that support
the accessibility recommendations of the Web Accessibility Initiative
(WAI) of W3C. The objectives are:
To develop and assess test-suites for benchmarking of evaluation and repair
tools for Web accessibility;
To support WAI in the development of the second generation of the Web
Content Accessibility Guidelines by providing implementations and testing
methodologies for selected technologies, e.g., XHTML2, SVG, SMIL, etc.;
To cross-validate current and future versions of the Web Content Accessibility
Guidelines against user-based evaluation and expert-based testing;
To produce Open Source frameworks and APIs for Evaluation and Repair tools;
To support harmonisation of testing methodologies, especially for large-scale
Web sites and new mobile applications;
To support localisation issues of the accessibility recommendations by
providing common glossaries and research on different policy environments;
To investigate the feasibility of automatic testing procedures that include
issues like colour-contrast, colour-blindness and low-vision;
To include modern language technology from Computer linguistics for controlling
syntactic-semantic properties of documents as required by given guidelines.
Project start date: 09/2004
Project end date: 08/2007
MultiReader
Co-workers: Kurt Weimann, Adam Szczepaniak
The MultiReader Project, a multi-national, multi-disciplinary research
and development project is funded by the European Commission. The Project
is investigating ways of making eBooks and multimedia documents accessible
and usable to both mainstream readers and readers with a range of print
disabilities. The project aims to:
Understand the ways in which mainstream and print disabled readers read
and find their way around both traditional and eFormat information;
Develop a prototype eBook reading system for both mainstream and print
disabled readers;
Have mainstream and print disabled readers test and evaluate these prototypes;
Provide information to publishers, manufacturers and other interested
parties about how to develop eBooks and eBook readers that are accessible
and usable for all readers;
Influencing emerging standards for eBooks and eBook reading systems.
Last updated: 06/01/2005
Dr William R. Weiner
Vice Provost for Research and Dean of the Graduate School, Marquette University,
P.O. Box 1881,
Milwaukee, WI 53201-1881, United States of America.
Tel: +1 414 288 1532
Email: william.wiener@marquette.edu
Web: http://www.marquette.edu/about/leadership/vpresearch.shtml
Publications
Current & recent projects
Research interests:
- Orientation and mobility
- Rehabilitation
- Independent travel
- Accessible environments
- Distance education
Last updated: 19/9/2006
Prof. Patrice L. (Tamar) Weiss
School of Occupational Therapy, Hadassah-Hebrew University, POB 24026,
Mount Scopus, Jerusalem 91240, Israel.
Tel: +972 2 532 5007
Fax: +972 2 532 4985
Email: msweisst@mscc.huji.ac.il
Current & recent projects
Sound display for computer users with visual impairment
Last updated: 30/04/2001
Dr. Darren Wenn
University of Reading, Department of Cybernetics, Whiteknights, Reading
RG6 6AY, United Kingdom.
Tel: +44 1189 318 219
Fax: +44 1189 318 220
Email: d.wenn@reading.ac.uk
Web: www.cyber.reading.ac.uk/
Current & recent projects
ARIADNE - Access, Information and Navigation Support in the Labyrinth
of Large Buildings
Co-worker: Mr. Keith Bright
The Ariadne system will consist of a smart card which will contain individual
user needs for navigation around the building.
Jonathan West
A Helen Hamlyn Research Associates project to create information design guidelines for the prescription blister pack. This design study created a risk management tool to be used in the design and implementation of medical packaging.
Working with pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline, this project aimed to directly improve design practice within the company.
The risk management tool consists of a website which takes the user through the three scenarios of home, ward and pharmacy. For each scenario, the series of tasks involving the pack are described, with an outline of possible errors at each stage. For each error, the causes and effects are listed. Where the cause is poor design, pictorial examples of offending packs are listed, along with recommendations for design improvements. The tool also contains concept packs designed as a response to the outlined medical errors. Two of the concepts were prototyped.
For a more detailed description of the project see www.hhrc.rca.ac.uk/programmes/ra/2005/pX.html
Last updated: 28/04/2006
A.R. Whatham
Geneva University Hospitals, Ophthalmology, Geneva, Switzerland.
Web: www.hug-ge.ch/www/fr/webhug.nsf
Current & recent projects
Relationship between reading strategy and text size in patients with
Central Scotomas and Mulptiple Preferred Retinal Loci (PRL)
Co-workers: A. Deruaz, C. Mermoud, A.B. Safran
Last updated: 08/01/2003
Gill Whitney
The School of Computing Science, Middlesex University, White Hart Lane,
London N17 8HR, United Kingdom.
Tel/Fax: +44 20 8411 6351
Fax: +44 20 8411 1904
Email: G.Whitney@mdx.ac.uk
Web: www.cs.mdx.ac.uk/research/dfa/
Publications
Current & recent projects
The Contextual Design of ICT to Enable Elderly and Disabled People
to Carry Out Daily Living Tasks
Co-workers: Ray Adams, Paul Curzon, Penny Duquenoy, Suzette Keith,
Judy Wilson
Our current research focus is on design in context, investigating
how everyday people actually work with and use information technology.
We are interested in observing people making practical use of information
resources in the context of their daily lives. We are looking at the assumptions
they make, the metaphors they use and how they make sense of this activity.
Our starting point for this programme has been to work with older people
exploring how their life experiences and capabilities affect their use
of technology. The application area we are currently considering is e-government.
Local council services are increasingly being mediated online and the
information concerned is of relevance to everyday life. Older people also
have an increasing need for local government services as a result of changes
in lifestyle.
Start and End dates of project: The project is currently (Autumn 2003)
in it's pilot stage.
Last updated: 08/10/2003
Stephen G. Whittaker
Pennsylvania College of Optometry, 1200 West Godfrey Avenue, Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania 19141, United States of America.
Tel: +1 215 276 6060
Fax: +1 215 276 6081
Email: steve@pco.edu
Web: www.pco.edu/
Current & recent projects
Development of assessment procedures for prescribing computer assistive
devices
Development of an assessment protocol that includes vision, audiological
and performance assessment. This protocol ascertains potential productivity
with different assistive devices, and will enable a client to decide whether
optical devices, screen magnifiers and/or screen readers with speech output
will be necessary for computer use. If visual access is appropriate, the
assessment will determine optimum magnification, lighting and other visual
set-up requirements. The assessment is designed to be completed in 2 hours
and does not require keyboard or computer skills.
Professor William Wiener
Department of Counseling & Educational Psychology, Office 305, Holthusen Hall, Marquette University,
School of Education, P.O. Box 1881, Milwaukee, WI 53201-1881, United States of America.
Tel: +1 414 288 7137
Fax: +1 414 288 6760
Email: william.wiener@marquette.edu
Web: www.marquette.edu/education/pages/programs/people/wiener.shtml
Current & recent projects
Research interests:
- Independent travel for persons with disabilities
- Distance education
- Accessible environments
Last updated: 18/9/2006
Lesley Wierenga
University of Nevada, College of Engineering, Department of Mechanical
Engineering, Reno, Nevada 89557, United States of America.
Tel: +1 775 784 6931
Fax: +1 775 784 1701
Email: wierenga00@aol.com
Web: web.me.unr.edu/
Current & recent projects
GPS System
Design of a GPS system for the blind that would allow the user to input
a desired destination through a Braille keypad and then receive audio
commands on how to get to a specific building.
Last updated: 15/02/2002
Mark E. Wilkinson
Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, Iowa 11290 PFP, United
States of America.
Tel: +1 319 356 8301
Email: mark-wilkinson@uiowa.edu
Web: webeye.ophth.uiowa.edu/dept/BIOGRAPH/wilkins.htm
Current & recent projects
Visually impaired drivers
Last updated: 01/11/2001
Michael D. Williams
VA Rehabilitation Research & Development Center, Atlanta, Georgia 30033, United States of America.
Tel: +1 404 728 5064 Ext. 7981
Fax: +1 404 728 4837
Email: mike.williams2@med.va.gov
Current & recent projects
Outcome Assessment of the Rehabilitation of the Visually Impaired
Outcome Assessment of the Outpatient Rehabilitation of the Visually Impaired
Last updated: 26/06/2000
Roger Wilson-Hinds
7 The Rookery, Orton Wistow, Peterborough, United Kingdom.
Tel: +44 1733 234441
Fax: +44 1733 370391
Email: mail@screenreader.co.uk
Current & recent projects
Big Brother
To produce a prototype camera videolink usable by a person with no sight.
Project start date: 02/2005
Project end date: 12/2005
Last updated: 05/01/2005
Rob Wise
Street address: American Printing House for the Blind, 1839 Frankfort
Avenue, Louisville, Kentucky 40206-0085, United States of America.
Postal address: PO Box 6085, Louisville, Kentucky, United States of America.
Tel: +1 502 895 2405
Fax: +1 502 895 1509
Email: rwise@aph.org
Current & recent projects
Research project to deal with the standards for designing for the visually impaired.
Last updated: 11/06/2001
Tom Wlodkowski, (Manager)
Access to Convergent Media Project , WGBH, Educational Foundation, 125 Western Avenue, Boston Massachusetts 02134, United States of America.
Tel: +1 617 300 3486
Email: tom_wlodkowski@wgbh.org
Web: ncam.wgbh.org/convergence/index.html
Current & recent projects
Access to Convergent Media Project
Co-workers: National Centre for Accessible Media (NCAM); America Online
(AOL)
This project addresses the problems of universal access to the growing
body of programming and related services arising from the convergence
of television, computer, and internet technologies. Because of the highly
visual nature of these media, this project will concentrate on access
solutions for blind and low-vision consumers. Blind and visually impaired
users must be able to easily track available program and service options,
and access solutions must anticipate how these users interact with graphic-rich
user interfaces. The integration of access solutions into this new collection
of media will offer significant gains to all users in homes, schools and
workplaces in the near future .
Project start date: 1999
Last updated: 31/05/2001
Dr. James S. Wolffsohn
School of Life and Health Sciences, Aston University, Aston Triangle, Birmingham, B4 7ET, United Kingdom.
Tel: +44 121 204 4140
Fax: +44 121 333 4220
Email: j.s.w.wolffsohn@aston.ac.uk
Web: www.aston.ac.uk/lhs/staff/
Publications
Current & recent projects
Development of the LVQOL quality of life questionnaire for the evaluation of low vision rehabilitation
Co-workers: Cochrane, A; Watt, N.
Development of one of a validated questionnaire for the evaluation of low vision rehabilitation. Translated into many other languages such as Dutch and Chinese.
Benefits of Electronic Vision Enhancement Systems (CCTVs)
Co-workers: Peterson, RC; Rubinstein, M; Lowe, J.
A systematic review of the proven benefits of CCTV systems and a controlled trial of current systems in a large group of visually impaired.
Evaluation of MacDQoL questionnaire measure of the impact of macular degeneration on quality-of-life
Co-workers: Mitchell, J; Woodcock, A; Anderson, SJ; McMillan, C; Ffytche, T; Rubinstein, M; Amoaku, WM; Browning, A; Willbond, K; Bradley, C.
A
2-year study of approximately 150 visually impaired people with macular degeneration, evaluating the MacDQoL questionnaire and visual function measures such as photostress, colour vision, reading speed and glare.
Image enhancement of real-time Television to Benefit the Visually Impaired
Co-workers: Mukhopadhyay, D; Rubinstein, M.
Real-time enhancement of television pictures achieved improving the quality of television viewing by the visually impaired.
Last updated: 31/10/2007
Dr. J. Margaret Woodhouse
University of Wales College of Cardiff, Department of Optometry and Vision
Sciences, PO Box 905, Redwood Building, Cardiff CF1 3XJ, United Kingdom.
Tel: +44 1222 874 000 Ext. 5075
Fax: +44 1222 874 859
Email: Woodhouse@cardiff.ac.uk
Web: www.cf.ac.uk/
Publications
Current & recent projects
The development of techniques for assessing vision in young children and in people lacking communication. Normal and abnormal visual development in children with learning disabilities. The educational impact of visual impairment.
Last updated: 05/01/2005
Suzette Wright, APH Educational Research,
Early Literacy Consultant
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: swright@aph.org
Web: www.aph.org/
Current & recent projects
Suzette Wright's current research focus is early literacy for blind and visually impaired.
Last updated: 05/01/2005
Dave Wysocki
ForeThought Development LLC, 4315 Hwy F, Blue Mounds, Wisconsin 53517, United States of America.
Tel: +1 608 767 3981
Email: dwysocki@execpc.com
Web: www.forethoughtdevelopment.com
Current & recent projects
VideoTact
Development of the VideoTact, a highly flexible electro-tactile sensory
substitution system. The VideoTact takes visual information from a computer
monitor or camera and transforms it into patterns of small electrical
stimuli that can be felt on the skin. Other types of information such
as audio signals, or pressure transducer signals can be transformed into
patterns of electrical stimulation on the skin, and recognized by the
brain - hence the term tactile sensory substitution. Further research:
1) Appropriately displaying Windows events so that they are most discriminable;
2) Determining a greater number of 'tactile color' regions in the stimulus
space. The tactile colors aare used to help avoid masking effects when
presenting one tactile object in the context of another. 3) Reduction
in the cost and complexity of the system. Research system available for
US$45,000.00 (depending on the array configuration).
Last updated: 06/01/2005
Last updated: 19.02.2008 © Copyright reserved
