[gui-talk] Fwd: GW Micro and Independence Science Make Science and Engineering Accessible to Blind Worldwide

[Steve Jacobson]

Many of us know Cary Supalo, and this seems like a good thing.

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Date: Thu, 19 Apr 2012 13:12:14 -0400
Subject: GW Micro and Independence Science Make Science and Engineering Accessible to Blind Worldwide
To: gw-info at gwmicro.com
From: marc at gwmicro.com


GW Micro and Independence Science Make Science and Engineering Accessible to Blind Worldwide



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE



GW Micro and Independence Science Make 
Science and Engineering Accessible to 
Blind Worldwide



Fort Wayne, Indiana (April 19, 2012) - GW Micro, Inc. (www.gwmicro.com) and Independence Science 
(www.independencescience.com) are excited to announce a collaborative effort to make science and 
engineering accessible to  students who are blind around the world.  

A few years ago, the idea of students with visual impairments (VI) accessing scientific laboratory 
equipment and performing advanced data analysis independently was considered impossible, because most 
observations and manipulations of data were presented in a visual way. Students who are blind or 
visually impaired have been underrepresented in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics 
(STEM) fields due to the limitations of access to scientific curricula in the classroom.  The new 
collaborative effort between GW Micro and Independence Science strives to provide a solution that will 
enable more students who are blind and visually impaired to enter the STEM fields. 

Research by Dr. Cary Supalo, Independence Science, and GW Micro has led to the development of a text-to-
speech package that acts as the missing link between the technology and students who are visually 
impaired. 

This comprehensive package is known as the ISci Lab Solution, which includes the following hardware and 
software components: 

Hardware:

Vernier LabQuest (stand-alone data collection interface)


Software:

ISci Voice Plug-in (for LabQuest)
Vernier Logger Pro (data collection and analysis application for PC)
Window-Eyes (an advanced screen reader application for PC)
Window-Eyes app for Logger Pro (enhances Logger Pro accessibility with Window-Eyes)


The ISci Lab Solution enables students who are blind to participate in hands-on learning activities with 
scientific data and curriculum. “We envision a classroom that exhibits the full integration of 
students with VI and reduces teacher anxiety about accommodating students during lab activities," said 
Dr. Supalo, who is himself a blind scientist. “My experience developing these access technologies 
has taught me that blindness need not be a barrier in the pursuit of ones ambitions.” 

With the advanced technology of the Window-Eyes screen reading software, the ISci Lab Solution is now 
available in multiple languages to enable science access to the blind around the globe. This was not 
possible until the release of the ISci Lab Solution package. For customers who already have Window-Eyes 
or one of the other components, each individual component of the ISci Lab Solution can be purchased 
separately. Additionally, various sensors can be purchased from Independence Science that can collect 
various types of data, such as temperature, force, or other information. 

"We are very excited to bring this unique access solution to the market, which will help school systems 
and post-secondary institutions provide accessible science classrooms to the blind and visually 
impaired," said Dan Weirich, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for GW Micro. 

GW Micro has been a trusted pioneer in the adaptive technology industry since 1990, and continues to 
lead with innovative, customer driven solutions. 

Independence Science is the leading developer of accessible technology for students with visual 
impairments in the science laboratory. ISci research is funded by a grant from the National Science 
Foundation. 

To take advantage of special introductory pricing, please contact GW Micro or Independence Science at 
the following: 

GW Micro
Phone: (260) 489-3671 
Email: sales at gwmicro.com 
Web: www.gwmicro.com 

Independence Science
Phone: (866) 862-9665
Email: info at independencescience.com
Web: www.independencescience.com 

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