Hello folks,
The following NASA press release was sent out this morning. It might be of
interest.
Bryan Bashin
>Marta Metelko
>Headquarters, Washington October 24, 2003
>(Phone: 202/358-1642)
>
>RELEASE: 03-343
>
>NASA SCIENTIST MAKES SCIENCE AND MATH ACCESSIBLE
>
> NASA math whiz and computer software designer Robert O.
>Shelton considers himself lucky, even though he lost his
>sight when he was 11-years-old. He felt lucky to have parents
>and teachers who spotted his talent in mathematics and
>science, encouraged him, and provided tools that helped him
>pursue his interest.
>
>Shelton was born with congenital glaucoma, a disease that is
>usually treatable with today's laser surgery technology but
>was hard to cure in the 1950s, when Shelton was a child.
>After suffering through 40 operations, he said, "It was
>almost a relief to lose my sight and have it over with."
>
>"Before I lost my sight, I was a smart kid, but rather
>sloppy," Shelton said. "My mother told me, 'you're going to
>have to use different muscles now -- the ones between your
>ears.' She was tough on me. She said I could do whatever I
>wanted, but I would have to work even harder because I was
>blind," Shelton added.
>
>As a child in Houston, Shelton enjoyed working with his
>father, an electrical engineer, tinkering in the family
>garage, building things and tearing them apart to see how
>they worked. After losing his sight, he continued that trend
>in a new way -- learning mathematical equations and
>scientific laws that explain why things work. His teachers
>helped him study advanced mathematics and science and taught
>him to visualize concepts in his mind.
>
>Shelton earned bachelor's, master's and doctorate degrees in
>mathematics from Rice University in Houston in 1971, 1973 and
>1975, respectively. While at Rice, he was a graduate intern
>at the Johnson Space Center (JSC), Houston. He worked with
>computer scientists and engineers designing the navigation
>system for the Space Shuttle.
>
>"NASA has always been committed to hiring individuals with
>disabilities," Shelton said. "They provided me with the help
>and technology I needed to do the job, and made it seem
>simple."
>
>When NASA offered him a job working on artificial
>intelligence systems in 1987, Shelton, his wife and four
>children returned to Texas. He joined the JSC Software
>Technology Branch, designing computer technology used to
>analyze data sent from the Space Shuttle to the Mission
>Control Center in Houston.
>
>Shelton uses his math and computer expertise to head up JSC's
>contributions to NASA's Learning Technologies Project. He
>works on technology tools for teachers and students in
>kindergarten through 12th grade. The tools are available
>through Web sites, and Shelton's leadership has ensured sites
>are accessible to students with disabilities.
>
>"I want blind and sighted students who use the site to find
>out what they can do," Shelton said. "I want teachers to have
>easy-to-use, cutting-edge technology tools that make math and
>science accessible to all students. Most importantly, I want
>employers to emulate NASA by hiring blind people and using
>their talents, " he added.
>
>Shelton believes using NASA technology and know-how to reach
>people with disabilities is a natural match. Improved
>technology, such as synthetic speech software that reads
>content, has helped him be more independent as he works.
>
>The Web site is filled with appealing activities: students
>can build, test and run a remotely controlled rover in
>simulated environments and compete in skill-based games
>against other students around the country. The site also
>offers software tools that make it easier for teachers to
>manage information related to their science and math
>curricula. Shelton's creative team is working on a new
>product that will be available soon: a graphing tool to make
>NASA science and math activities accessible to people who
>can't see. It uses tones to help blind people visualize
>graphs and mathematic concepts.
>
>According to Shelton the unemployment rate for blind people
>is high and many who are employed are not working at jobs
>that fully use their education or potential. He hopes the
>NASA Web site will help students learn valuable skills to
>improve employment prospects.
>
>Media organizations interested in interviewing Shelton should
>contact John Ira Petty, JSC Public Affairs at: 281/483-5111.
>
>To access the NASA Learning Technologies Project on the
>Internet, visit:
>
>http://prime.jsc.nasa.gov
>
>
>-end-
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