[Nfb-science] Blind Engineering Student in Utah

[David Andrews]

>
>
>Eric Carillo
>
>STUDENT PROFILE:
>
>Eric Carillo
>
>Eric Carrillo is a typical first year electrical and computer engineering
>major in
>
>almost every way. He's completed his general education classes, taken all
>the prerequisite
>
>math and science courses and is ready to tackle the higher level engineering
>classes.
>
>Eric can't wait for some hands on research experience in his area of
>interest, technology
>
>for the blind. That's because he'll be helping himself. Eric Carrillo is the
>first
>
>blind electrical and computer engineering student at the University of Utah.
>
>Q:  How did you lose your sight?
>
>A.   I was four years old and playing tag with some friends.  I was being
>chased
>
>and accidentally ran into a cement pole, permanently damaging my optic
>nerves.  Now
>
>I can see changes in light, shadows, and most big objects.  The only problem
>is distinguishing
>
>shadows from things that are actually there, so I can't rely on my eyes at
>all.
>
>Q:  What or who got you interested in Electrical Engineering?
>
>A.  My first frustrating experience with technology for the blind was in
>high school.
>
>I was in an advanced math class.  The theoretical information was reasonably
>accessible,
>
>but when my class was learning how to use their graphing calculators, I felt
>left
>
>out.  My talking calculator would only perform basic trig functions, so I
>had to
>
>sit out and learn how to graph the functions on my own time.
>
>Using the latest technology for the blind every day, it quickly becomes
>apparent
>
>how cumbersome and outrageously expensive it is.  For instance, a brail
>display with
>
>an 18 character keyboard costs $3,200, only holds 8MB of memory and is 12
>inches
>
>by 6 inches and almost three inches thick.  Not to mention that you can only
>retrieve
>
>information 18 letters at a time.  The latest PDA's can hold Gigabytes of
>information,
>
>have multiple functions including calendars, address books, can synch to a
>PC, and
>
>fit in the palm of you hand.  There's just no comparison.  If you want a
>cellular
>
>telephone equipped with voice technologies for the blind it will run about
>$1,000.
>
>Technology is great, but it has to be accessible and affordable for
>everyone.  That's
>
>the reason I want to become an electrical engineer, so I can help bring the
>technology
>
>to the people who need it.
>
>Part of the problem is that people with sight disabilities make up about 1%
>of the
>
>population, and companies argue that the market isn't large enough for them
>to make
>
>a profit, so the blind end up with outdated and overly expensive technology.
>I want
>
>to change that and make current technology accessible to the blind
>community.  It's
>
>frustrating when you know the technology is available but not implemented
>simply
>
>because the market is too small.
>
>Q:  What are some of the challenges you face as the first blind electrical
>engineering
>
>student as compared to other students?
>
>A.  The only thing that slows us down is the rate at which information is
>delivered
>
>to us.  All of my textbooks must be recorded or scanned which takes about
>3-8 weeks
>
>depending on the length of the text.  The disabilities center provided
>readers, but
>
>that takes about two weeks per tape.  The time lag makes it tough on me, by
>the time
>
>I get access to the text, the class is already on chapter 5 and I'm a month
>or two
>
>behind.
>
>The other tough thing is that Electrical Engineering is heavily dependant on
>circuitry.
>
>Since I cannot see the patterns, I have a special kind of transparency paper
>that
>
>when drawn on creates a small ridge that I am able to feel.  It's like if
>you took
>
>your fingernail and dragged it across plastic wrap, it leaves a mark behind
>where
>
>your fingernail was.  But again, every image must be redrawn on this special
>paper
>
>before I can visualize the circuit.
>
>Q:  What are some of the advantages you have over other EE students?
>
>A.  We are making a motor in one of my classes.  I've got it here with me.
>The two
>
>coils are supposed to intersect at 90 degrees.  How do you think I did? I
>can feel
>
>that the space between the coils is the same on all sides, where other
>students depend
>
>on their eyes.  I showed my professor, and he said I was the closest to 90
>degrees
>
>that he'd seen so far.
>
>I also have an advantage visualizing concepts.  Especially when dealing with
>complex
>
>mathematical scenarios.  I do a lot of complicated mental math and end up
>being ahead
>
>of the group sometimes.
>
>Q:  How has the disabilities center helped you in your studies?
>
>A.   They are helpful in having my texts read onto tape, getting texts in
>brail when
>
>they are available.  They have truly done their best, but I am a tough case
>since
>
>there haven't been any blind engineering students before.  It is difficult
>to imagine
>
>what types of tools you might need before you are faced with completely new
>situation,
>
>so I'd say they've done an outstanding job.
>
>The state vocational rehabilitation program is also a great help in getting
>the equipment
>
>I need. If they can find it, they can get it for us.  I'm currently looking
>for a
>
>talking voltmeter that I will be able to use in my advanced classes.  That
>should
>
>help me a lot next year.
>
>Q:  Do you have any role models to look to for advice?  Are there any other
>blind
>
>electrical engineers or students? Do you see yourself as a role model for
>others?
>
>A.   I've looked on the internet for blind engineering students and blind
>engineers.
>
>The only people I've met lost their sight after becoming an engineer and
>just kept
>
>working in the field.  It's been helpful talking to them and hearing their
>stories,
>
>but there hasn't been too much advice as to how to complete my degree.
>
>I don't see myself as a role model, but I'd like to make the process easier
>for the
>
>next blind engineering student.  There's no reason anyone should have to
>reinvent
>
>the wheel.
>
>Q:  What are you long term career goals?
>
>A.  One day in the future I'd like to own my own company that makes
>affordable technology
>
>for the blind.  Before that I'd like to work for a large, established
>company like
>
>Microsoft or Adobe, helping them create better and more affordable
>technology for
>
>the blind.
>
>Q:   What extra curricular activities do you participate in at the U?
>
>A.  I'm pretty focused on schoolwork, but I did take a bowling class a while
>back.
>
>It was a lot of fun.  I even got pretty good at it.  I also ski when I can
>get some
>
>friends to go with me.  Basically I'm willing to try anything that sounds
>like fun.
>
>Q:  What is your biggest accomplishment?
>
>A.  I don't think I've accomplished much yet, once I get my degree in
>electrical
>
>engineering come talk to me again.  My engineering lab has been a big
>challenge,
>
>but I'm getting through it thanks to the help of Dr. Cotter and my TAs.
>
>Q:  What is your biggest failure?
>
>A.  I would have to say my biggest failure is trigonometry.  I had to take a
>semester
>
>off just to improve my basic math skills and fully understand the formulas.
>I was
>
>really upset with myself, but I decided to turn things around.  After six
>months
>
>of tutoring from my high school math teacher I came back to school and
>jumped right
>
>into calculus and haven't looked back since.
>
>See Other Profiles
>
>ericandneil.jpg
>
>Eric Carillo and Dr. Neil Cotter work on some math problems in the Union.
>
>Freshman
>
>Electrical Engineering
>
>The University of Utah
>
>    College of Engineering  .  1495 E 100 S, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112  .
>Phone
>
>801.581.6911  .  Fax 801.581.8692  .
>

David Andrews and white cane Harry.