[nfb-talk] NASA Software Achieves Breakthrough in Accessibility

[David Andrews]

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>NASA Software Achieves Breakthrough in Accessibility 
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>NASA recently released an innovative Open Source software suite that may forever change how blind and vision-impaired users “see” complex graphs.  
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>The <http://prime.jsc.nasa.gov/>Math Description Engine Software Development Kit (MDE SDK) is a reusable software library that generates text, sound and visual representations of graphs found in both math and science applications.
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>Visually-impaired computer users access these alternative text and sound descriptions through the use of a screen reader and standard computer speakers. 
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>The MDE (Math Description Engine) distinguishes itself from other accessibility software by determining the key characteristics of a graph “on the fly.” Using this determination, it builds natural-language text descriptions that enable visually-impaired users to view spatial relationships through sound alone.
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>Designed with both flexibility and ease-of-use in mind, the SDK (Software Development Kit) allows web and software developers to adapt the MDE's graph descriptions to a variety of applications. Some key audiences who might benefit from the MDE SDK include, but are not limited to: 
>    * developers of education products and support tools 
>    * special needs education researchers 
>    * assistive technology researchers and vendors 
>    * the accessible-web community 
>    * sonification researchers 
>    * organizations with websites containing graphical data displays. 
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>The NASA software program, MathTrax, is one example of how MDE technology serves as a powerful learning tool for sighted users as well. Acting as a virtual math and science assistant, MathTrax engages both the eyes and ears of these students to increase overall comprehension.
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>The MDE software library was created by NASA's Information Accessibility Lab (IAL), under the direction of Dr. Robert O. Shelton, a blind mathematician. The IAL’s mission is to develop technologies that increase accessibility to NASA’s vast library of outreach products and to release these same technologies to the public for further application and development. 
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>The MDE SDK is currently available for download under an Open Source license at <http://prime.jsc.nasa.gov/mde>http://prime.jsc.nasa.gov/mde. Visit the site today to learn more about the program and how you can play an integral role in developing the future of accessible graphing technology. 
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>To learn more about the MDE SDK or MathTrax, please email Terry Hodgson at <mailto:terry.r.hodgson at nasa.gov>terry.r.hodgson at nasa.gov.  
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>The NASA Learning Technologies Team
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>Information Accessibility Lab
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><http://prime.jsc.nasa.gov/>http://prime.jsc.nasa.gov
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><mailto:info at prime.jsc.nasa.gov>info at prime.jsc.nasa.gov