Digital Government: Information Technology Accomodation Research: Open a Door to Universal Access

Stanford University, Stanford CA

Investigators

Abstract

EIA-0071126 Nass, Clifford Stanford University Digital Government: Information Technology Accommodation Research: Open a Door to Universal Access This proposal describes a collaborative research project involving: Stanford University, Social Security Administration, Census Bureau, and General Services Administration (GSA). The goal of this research is to enable the partner agencies to better accommodate blind and visually impaired computer users, and to permit development of newer, smaller accessor systems for use with the Total Access System, a technology under development at Stanford. The long-term goal of this project is to create enabling technology that supports disabled members of the workforce at the Census Bureau and other Federal agencies and to transfer these technologies to the private sector. The research will be conducted over a three-year period. Year one will focus on the research to select and evaluate appropriate technologies and develop a prototype access system for the blind and to document its usability. During year two, the prototype will be improved based on usability test results and the Total Access System technology will be upgraded. Key technologies necessary for development (multi-modal input and miniaturization) will be developed and prototyped. The third year will bring these technologies together in a kiosk prototype.