Hi Folks,
I'm new to
your listserv. I wanted to first introduce myself and then tell you about
a very exciting project that will interest you if you are visually
impaired or work with people who are visually impaired. I'm a low
vision person myself who prepares teachers of visually impaired children
at the University of Arizona. About 2 years ago I met a man named
Steve Landau who owns Touch Graphics Company.
Touch Graphics has begun work on a
sophisticated Authoring Tool that will allow teachers of blind and
visually impaired students to create their own talking tactile pictures
for the talking tactile tablet, a new computer peripheral device.
The Talking Tactile Tablet, better known as the TTT, is an innovative
device that plugs into the USB port of a computer. With the
Authoring Tool software package simple to complex graphics with audio
capabilities can be created in just a matter of minutes.
Under a 2
year grant from the National Institute for Disability and Rehabilitation
Research, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services of the
United States Department of Education Touch Graphics Company will be
giving away 75 TTTs and the Authoring Tool software package. A
contest is being held April 1 to July 31, 2004. To learn more about
the TTT and to enter the contest visit the web site:
http://www.ttt-at.com/
We have a demo. of the TTT and Authoring Tool that will show you the
power of this new and exciting tool.
As a
person with a visual impairment myself and as someone who prepares
teachers, I think the TTT is really going to enhance access to tactile
graphics for children and adults with visual impairments. I'd be
happy to share more information with any of you. Please feel free
to contact me at [log in to unmask]
Penny
L. Penny Rosenblum
University of Arizona
520-621-1223 (office)
520-621-3821 (fax)
Visit my web page at
http://www.ed.arizona.edu/rosenblum