Trace Research & Development Center
Director: Gregg C. Vanderheiden
The Trace Research & Development Center, founded in 1971 by a group of students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, has been a pioneer in the field of technology and disability, known for high-impact research and development. The center applies engineering, computer science, disability studies, public policy, and information science to reduce barriers experienced by populations with disabilities to current and emerging technologies and to create new solutions. The Trace Center became a part of the iSchool in 2016.
Our mission is to capitalize on the potential that technologies hold for people experiencing barriers due to disability, aging, or digital literacy, and to prevent emerging technologies from creating new barriers for these individuals. In doing this, we bring together disciplines such as information science, computer science, engineering, disability studies, law, and public policy. We engage in research, development, tech transfer, education, policy, and advocacy.
Faculty
Recent News
The Maryland State House in Annapolis
New Law Ensures Equivalent Access to Digital Tools for All of Maryland’s K-12 Students
May 5, 2022 | Liz ZogbyTrace Center Director and iSchool professor Jonathan Lazar contributed to and testified in support of the bill to bring an accessibility requirem …
Dual video conferencing in the proposed remote study design. While interacting with a testbed on a smartphone, a blind participant wearing smart glasses communicates with the experimenter through dual video conferencing. Two video streams are being sent to the experimenter: one from the participant’s smart glasses (a pair of Vuzix blade with the camera located on the top right corner) and the other from a laptop camera facing the participant on the same Zoom call.
Covid-19 Pandemic Moves Research on Assistive Technologies From the Lab to People’s Homes
April 26, 2022 | Liz ZogbyTrace Center Director and iSchool professor Jonathan Lazar contributed to and testified in support of the bill to bring an accessibility requirem …
Photo by Proxyclick Visitor Management System on Unsplash
Online-Only Services Offer Safety, But May Limit Access
April 20, 2022 | Liz ZogbyTrace Center Director and iSchool professor Jonathan Lazar contributed to and testified in support of the bill to bring an accessibility requirem …