The NY Times article stimulated quite a bit of discussion including
questions about research, suggestions for research, wishes for research, on
the topic of accessibility to handwriting, to graphics, etc.  I paste in
below a short press release from ViewPlus Technologies about just such
research.  Honest, the first draft of this release was written some time
ago, well before this discussion started, but it's relevant.  The plan had
been to hold this press release until the new (user and manager-friendly)
ViewPlus web site is finished, because it will have a discussion of these
research projects.  However in view of this discussion, I may as well give
you an early peek.  The new web site should be on-line around Feb. 1.  I'll
post a note on the list when it's on the air.

The two SBIR grants are from the National Eye Institute and the National
Science Foundation and revolve largely, though not completely, around
making Scalable Vector Graphics really accessible.  Extension to this
whiteboard accessibility could be quite straightforward, but in absence of
detailed information, I can't say for sure.

Don't forget, this is research.  The intent of SBIR grants is to stimulate
product development however, so expect products in the future!

John

********
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Source: ViewPlus(r) Technologies, Inc.


NOW YOU CAN "TOUCH" THE WEB
Corvallis - January 10, 2003 - ViewPlus(r) Technologies, Inc., announced
today the acceptance of the second of two federal Small Business Innovative
Research grants geared at making the web more accessible.

ViewPlus(r) Technologies Founder and President, John A. Gardner, is excited
about the impact his company's research will have on the career and
scholastic opportunities of disabled students, "For the first time,
students who cannot interpret the internet visually will have another means
by which to get the information.  Virtually every modern career involves
use of the web.  The tools we are creating at ViewPlus will allow anyone
with computer skills to get those jobs regardless of their disabilities."

ViewPlus' research aims to allow users the ability to literally reach out
and touch the web. Visually impaired users and those with print
disabilities such as dyslexia can benefit from this innovative technology.
This evolving technology may expand to provide multi-sensory (sight, sound,
touch) input for a variety of users assisting them in both comprehension
and retention of graphical information.

Both grants are aimed at developing tools and methods by which the last
frontiers of the web can be opened to those with print disabilities.
Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) is a new graphics web language that can
provide definition to visual images through the use of descriptive labels
in "smart" graphics.  Users of the ViewPlus SVG viewer can feel and hear
descriptions of each part of an SVG graphic. They can also be guided to
selected objects by audio tone feedback as they move their fingers over the
tactile image. This technology and other continuing innovations by ViewPlus
will give all users equal access to the web.

ViewPlus(r) Technologies, Inc., is a research and manufacturing firm
delivering assistive technology tools to the visually impaired community on
an international scale. ViewPlus(r) continues to manufacture the Accessible
Graphing Calculator software, DotsPlus(r) and an enhanced Tiger Embosser
that allows users to produce materials exceeding the limits of tactile
perception.

VP maintains a website at http://www.viewplustech.com
John Gardner
Professor and Director, Science Access Project
Department of Physics
Oregon State University
Corvallis, OR 97331-6507
tel: (541) 737 3278
FAX: (541) 737 1683
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
URL: http://dots.physics.orst.edu