[Nfbaz-talk] Braille reader research

[David Andrews]

>
>  Braille reader research
>
> > This message is being sent on behalf of Dr. Terri Hedhpeth, Arizona State
> > University.
>
> > Hello all,
>
> > Terri Hedgpeth here. We have a visiting professor from New Zealand who is
> > doing some exciting research on how Braille readers read Braille.
> > This is exciting
> > because there is the potential for this research to inform the manner in
> > which Braille is taught, and how Braille literacy can be improved. I hope
> > you will participate in his study. It isn't very often we have a chance to
> > be a part in such exciting research. Feel free to share this with other
> > Braille readers. Also if interested, please be sure to contact Dr. Hughes
> > in
> > the next week or so, so he can schedule you in. Please read Dr. Hughes's
> > message below.
>
>
> > Research on Braille reading
> >
> > I am Dr Barry Hughes, a research scholar in the Department of Kinesiology
> > at
> > Arizona State University visiting from the University of Auckland in New
> > Zealand.
> > I have done research in collaboration with blind people for over 20 years,
> > both in US and in New Zealand. I am working with two experienced
> > scientists
> > here: Professor George Stelmach and Associate Research Professor Arend Van
> > Gemmert.
> >
> > We are conducting a research study to investigate some important aspects
> > how
> > your fingers and brain work together during Braille reading. We are
> > planning
> > a series of studies to study this coordination between fingers and brain
> > in
> > the hope of better understanding how it works and then developing ideas
> > for
> > how to improve its teaching and learning.
> >
> > I am recruiting individuals to take part in one or more studies (up to 6
> > maximum) which will take no more than 90 minutes per study. In
> > compensation
> > for your time, we will pay you $25 cash per study. We will arrange for
> > transportation to and from the university's main Tempe campus if you
> > require
> > it.
> >
> >
> > The research will involve you reading sample Braille text of various
> > lengths
> > comprising words of greater or lesser familiarity. We will be measuring
> > the
> > position of your dominant reading finger and its speed as you read.
> > This is all. Later we will do some math on these recordings and see if we
> > can learn something new about how your brain interprets the patterns at
> > your
> > fingerpad and controls how your reading finger moves.
> >
> > Your participation in this study is completely voluntary.
> >
> > There are several important criteria for participation:
> >
> > . You SHOULD BE 21 years or older
> > . You SHOULD be a good reader of Braille in English . You SHOULD NOT have
> > any residual vision that permits you to read even large size text . You
> > SHOULD NOT have any impairments or disabilities other than a visual one
> >
> > These criteria are important for scientific purposes. If you fit these
> > criteria, we would like you to consider participating.
> >
> > If you are interested and would like more information concerning any
> > aspect
> > the research study, please contact me by either: emailing me at
> > barry.hughes at asu.edu or calling me anytime on my cell: (480) 334-5374
> >
> > Dr. Terri Hedgpeth
> >
> > Academic Research Professional
> >
> > Cubic, iCare box 87-8309
> >
> > Arizona State University
> >
> > Tempe, AZ 85287-8309
> >
> > (480) 727-8133 (voice)
> >
> > (480) 965-2751 (fax)
> >
> > http://cubic.asu.edu