EASI Webcast: Listening to a Graphing "Calculator
Dr. John Gardner demonstrates his audible graphing calculator which was
designed for students who are blind but which also has value for many
students with learning disabilities:
http://www.rit.edu/~easi

For decades, students who are blind have been shut out of significant parts
of math and science class work or had to find other more difficult ways to
obtain the information because graphing calculators had become so central
to many basic activities.  John has now created a software graphing
calculator with auditory output.  A musical note changes pitch as it moves
up and down and also moves from left to right between stereo speakers.
While developing the program may have been complex, using the calculator is
relatively simple.  John is a physicist at Oregon State University.  When
he lost his sight in mid career, he began several research projects to
facilitate his continuing work as a scientist and to further open the
fields of math and science to future students and researchers with
disabilities.  Science and math teachers will want to learn about this tool
to assist them in including students with disabilities in their courses.


Note: EASI's online courses for December are:
Barrier-free Information Technology http://easi.cc/workshops/adaptit.htm
Advanced Barrier-free Web Design http://easi.cc/workshops/advwbsyl.htm
Learning Disabilities and Information Technology
http://easi.cc/workshops/ld.htm

Five of EASI's courses will earn the Certificate in Accessible Information
Technology

Norm Coombs [log in to unmask]