RERC Technology Development

Over the past five years, the Wireless RERC has become a recognized leader on issues and solutions related to the accessibility and usability of wireless products and services by people with disabilities. We continue our research and development of accessible wireless technologies through our work on the projects summarized below:

• Advanced Auditory Interfaces for Wireless Technology:
  This exploratory research and development effort will establish and validate guidelines for the design of auditory interfaces for cell phones and other handheld electronic devices.
• Alternative Interfaces for Mobile Wireless Technologies:
  This development project will continue our work on the V2 standards for universal remote consoles and promote industry adoption of alternative interfaces to consumer electronic products--including mobile wireless devices.

• Development of Wireless Emergency Communications:
  This development effort will determine what is needed to ensure the next-generation, digitally-based emergency alerts system affords full access to people with disabilities, particularly as emergency alerts move from conventional broadcast media (radio and TV) to wireless networks and devices.

• Ensuring Access to Emergency Assistance:
  People need to be alerted to pending threats, such as tornadoes, chemical spills, and terrorist alerts, but they also need to be able to summon assistance when needed. This development project will explore technology solutions to provide a means for summoning assistance by individuals who may have significant communication limitations (e.g., deaf person who uses a text messager but not a cell phone) or limited dexterity to use a cell phone (e.g., person with tetraplegia).

• Real-time Location-based Information Services:
  This project expands on previous work by RERC investigators on the Communication Assistant personal captioning system for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. The project addresses location-based and individual-specific information needs of patrons with hearing or vision impairments in three different venues--exhibit spaces, airports, and medical facilities.