[Promotion-technology] Tutor to be Modified

[David Andrews]

>
>PR WEB
>Thursday, April 05, 2007
>
>Quantum Awarded $750,000 from the National Eye Institute for Accessible
>Artificial Intelligence Tutoring Software for the Blind and Visually
>Impaired
>
>Pittsburgh, PA (PRWEB) April 5, 2007 -- Quantum Simulations, Inc., a
>developer of artificial intelligence (AI) tutoring, assessment and
>professional development software, has received $750,000 from the National
>Eye Institute (NEI), a division of the National Institutes of Health (NIH),
>to integrate accessibility into Quantum's tutoring software for chemistry.
>
>The two-year project involves the integration of an accessible interface
>that supports synthesized speech screen-reader technologies such as JAWS and
>Window-Eyes with the Quantum Tutors. Equally important, the pedagogy of the
>software will ensure that student feedback and examples provided by the
>Tutors are pedagogically relevant for the blind and help provide a clear
>mental picture of key concepts needed to improve performance and
>comprehension.
>
>"Quantum is raising the standard for leveraging technologies to better
>prepare all students in science and math," said Mark Riccobono, Director of
>Education for the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute. "This
>company has taken a leadership role in the field of education technology;
>instead of avoiding the question of creating tutoring applications that are
>accessible to the blind, Quantum's designers consulted directly with the
>blind to produce innovative tools that will benefit all students."
>
>Because the Quantum Tutors are Internet-based and equipped with a unique
>dialogue-driven capability that converses with students, the software is
>well-suited for use with screen-reader technologies and refreshable Braille
>display systems already familiar to blind students who navigate web sites
>and access e-mail. As part of prior feasibility studies, two of Quantum's
>tutoring modules, Equation Balancing and Measurement, have already been
>certified by the National Federation of the Blind's (NFB) Nonvisual
>Accessibility Web Application Certification Program. This historical
>achievement marks the first-ever artificial intelligence tutoring software
>available for the blind and visually impaired.
>
>"Quantum addresses the challenges of equity for the blind by providing
>real-time personal tutoring help in the sciences, an area where accessible
>learning software is virtually non-existent," commented Dr. Benny Johnson,
>President and CEO of Quantum Simulations, Inc.
>
>"Boston Public School students who are blind and visually impaired have
>successfully used the accessible sections of the Quantum Chemistry Tutors,"
>added Theresa M. Maggiore, M.Ed. and Teacher of the Visually Impaired at
>Boston Public Schools in Boston, Massachusetts. "Having access to a full
>curriculum of Tutors will open new opportunities in the field of science
>exploration and education for students with special needs."
>
>In addition to the blind and visually impaired, other special-needs groups
>will benefit from the integration of voice output technologies with the
>Quantum Tutors including low-ability readers, students whose primary
>language is not English and individuals with other print-related
>disabilities such as dyslexia.
>
>ABOUT QUANTUM
>
>Quantum Simulations, Inc. develops artificial intelligence (AI) tutoring,
>assessment and professional development software that empowers teachers and
>inspires students from middle school through college to improve their
>knowledge and appreciation for the sciences. Teacher tested and approved by
>educators across the United States, Quantum's AI software is proven in
>research studies to improve comprehension, problem solving skills and test
>scores by as much as 50%. Quantum's intelligent tutoring engines are
>integrated with existing web-based learning products, providing a strong
>competitive edge for distributing partners. A "technology think tank,"
>Quantum is funded and supported by the U.S. Department of Education, the
>National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health. For more
>information, visit 
><http://www.quantumsimulations.com.>http://www.quantumsimulations.com.
>
>ABOUT THE NATIONAL EYE INSTITUTE
>NEI is the Federal government's lead agency for vision research that leads
>to sight-saving treatments and plays a key role in reducing visual
>impairment and blindness. NIH is an agency of the U.S. Department of Health
>and Human Services. For more information, visit 
><http://www.nei.nih.gov.>http://www.nei.nih.gov.
>
>###

David Andrews and white cane Harry.