Hello all,
Many of you may be interested in the growing push at Stanford to develop
novel methods of information access. here's a current press release about
an upcoming summer program some of us may be interested in attending.
Bryan Bashin
From: Stanford News Service <stanford.report@forsythe.stanford.edu>
To: BRIANJAY BASHIN <bashin@calweb.com>
Date: Mon, 10 Jun 2002 10:08:08
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Subject: STANFORD NEWS: Archimedes Project launches summer session to
improve access to information for people with disabilities
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6/10/02
CONTACT: Anne Knight (650) 852-0810
knightwrite@pacbell.net
Relevant Web URLs:
http://archimedes.stanford.edu/
Archimedes Project launches summer session to improve access to information
for people with disabilities
The Archimedes Project, a research organization at Stanford University`s
Center for the Study of Language and Information (CSLI), announced today
the launch of a summer program in which graduate students use breakthrough
technology in completing prototypes that give persons with disabilities
alternative ways to access computers and information appliances. The
rigorous 10-week curriculum is designed to enable completion of an
Archimedes Demonstration Suite and Test Bed that has been requested by
universities and industry to facilitate their own research, design and
testing of accessible user interfaces.
``The global need for timely information is enormous and urgent,`` says
Neil Scott, director and co-founder of the Archimedes Project. ``One of the
most strategic initiatives the Archimedes Project can undertake is making
our approach for creating universal access technology available to other
universities and companies worldwide to facilitate their own research and
development efforts. We see the Archimedes Access Factory as a `triple-win`
enterprise: outstanding students are guided in identifying and solving
problems by leaders in the field; students` work completes tools that
improve productivity for our academic and industrial affiliates worldwide;
and, ultimately, people with disabilities benefit from improved access to
information and control of their environment.``
Today, people who cannot use computers and information appliances such as
ATMs or kiosks are at a disadvantage in both the workplace and,
increasingly, almost everywhere else, considering the ubiquity of
information appliances. The many people worldwide who are disadvantaged
because their disabilities deny them access to the wealth of digital
information include not only those with limited vision or mobility but the
four-fifths of the world`s population who cannot read. ``Since it`s
logistically impossible as well as prohibitively expensive to adapt
existing technology to meet such disparate needs, the Archimedes Project
focuses on equipping individuals with a single device, an `accessor,` that
allows them to use all the computers and computer-based appliances without
requiring additional specialized hardware or software,`` says Scott.
The Archimedes Access Factory 2002, operating June 18 through August 30 on
the Stanford University campus, is the first of annual summer sessions
planned for exceptional graduate students worldwide to work with Stanford
faculty and visiting Silicon Valley scholars, engineers and entrepreneurs
to identify and solve problems that pose barriers to information access.
Says Scott, ``Our student workers will work hard, with real-life objectives
and deadlines. But we`re also planning to have a good time: It`s summer,
it`s California, and we hope students will want to return or will inspire
other outstanding students to spend summers in a factory making
cutting-edge products that do truly benefit mankind.``
About the Archimedes Project
Established in 1992 at the Center for the Study of Language and Information
(CSLI), Stanford University, the Archimedes Project is a multidisciplinary
group of researchers and product developers whose mission is to advance
universal access to information and optimize the user experience with
computer-based technology. Through its alliances with leading academic
research centers and its own affiliates worldwide, it develops and brings
to market innovative products designed to remove barriers to information
access. Visit the Archimedes Project at http://archimedes.stanford.edu
About the Center for the Study of Language and Information (CSLI), Stanford
University
CSLI, one of Stanford University`s premier research institutes, conducts
interdisciplinary research on ways that people and technology acquire,
develop and use language and information. The center brings together
Stanford`s leading scientists, scholars and students from computer science,
psychology, philosophy, electrical and mechanical engineering, linguistics,
communication and education. CSLI`s multidisciplinary nature enables
problems to be addressed from many perspectives, resulting in unique
solutions to theoretical and practical problems. Visit CSLI at
www-csli.stanford.edu/.
-30-
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