RERC on Universal Access to ICT
The goal of this Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center (RERC) grant is to directly impact the lives of people with disabilities by addressing key accessibility gaps that inhibit or prevent their use of existing and emerging information and communication technology (ICT). The objectives of this multi-project program include: (1) Exploring and developing strategies to individualize generative artificial intelligence (AI) systems to make them provide better results tailored to each individual with a disability (starting with AI systems for visual question answering for blind people); (2) identifying and more deeply understanding the failures in technology use by people who are older and developing design strategies to allow more seniors to understand products out of the box — especially those technologies that are critical to independent living and engagement; (3) developing cross-disability access strategies that can work with new small-form-factor self-service terminals; (4) replacing the proprietary and failing photosensitive epilepsy analysis hazard screening tool with an open-source version that can handle new video technologies; and (5) creating and improving accessibility standards around public access, safety, and general ICT accessibility. The RERC partners with Raising the Floor, people with disabilities, advocacy groups, industry, and other stakeholders, using an integrated program of research, developing new technologies, improving standards, and disseminating knowledge and best practices.
Duration:
September 1, 2023 - August 31, 2028
- Other - HHS / ACL / National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research
Total Award Amount:
$4,625,000