Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center
The Center's research goal is to develop and apply new scientific knowledge and practical, cost-effective devices to better understand and address the real-world problems of blind, visually impaired, and deaf-blind consumers. The RERC has many ongoing R&D projects and collaborative relationships, both internal and external to Smith-Kettlewell. Primary funding for the RERC comes from the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, with other important sources of support, including the National Eye Institute, and The Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute.
Please check out the latest news about the RERC on Twitter.
Tabs
Journal Articles
. (2023). VR Training to Facilitate Blind Photography for Navigation. Journal On Technology And Persons With Disabilities.
. (2023). A Lightweight Approach to Localization for Blind and Visually Impaired Travelers. Sensors, 23(5). http://doi.org/10.3390/s23052701
. (2023). You Described, We Archived: A Rich Audio Description Dataset. Journal On Technology And Persons With Disabilities, 11.
. (2022). Getting in Touch with Tactile Map Automated Production: Evaluating Impact and Areas for Improvement. Journal On Technology And Persons With Disabilities, 10.
. (2021). Higher Visual Function Deficits in Children With Cerebral Visual Impairment and Good Visual Acuity. Frontiers In Human Neuroscience , 15. http://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2021.711873
. (2021). Motion processing deficits in children with Cerebral Visual Impairment and good visual acuity. presented at the 09/2021.
. (2020). Simple Vision Function Tests that Distinguish Eyes with Early to Intermediate Age-related Macular Degeneration. Ophthalmic Epidemiology, 10, 1-12. http://doi.org/10.1080/09286586.2020.1793371
. (2018). Vision Function in Early to Intermediate AMD: Progression to Advanced AMD. Investigative Ophthalmology Vis. Sci., 59(9).
. (2017). Mind your crossings: Mining GIS imagery for crosswalk localization. Acm Transactions On Accessible Computing (Taccess), 9(4). http://doi.org/10.1145/3046790
. (2017). Vision function differs with retinal characteristics in AMD: large drusen with and without pigment abnormalities. Investigative Ophthalmology Vis. Sci., 58(8), 4708.
Conference Papers
. (2022). Evaluation of a Non-Visual Auditory Choropleth and Travel Map Viewer. In International Conference on Auditory Display (ICAD) 2022. Virtual: Virtual. Retrieved from PMCID: PMC10010675
. (2022). Non-Visual Access to an Interactive 3D Map. In Joint International Conference on Digital Inclusion, Assistive Technology & Accessibility (ICCHP-AAATE '22).
. (2021). Point and Listen: Bringing a 3D Map to Life with Audio-Based AR. In 6th Annual Frameless XR Symposium.
. (2021). A Tangible Block Editor for the Scratch Programming Language. In CHI 2021. ACM: Yokohama, Japan.
. (2020). Indoor Localization for Visually Impaired Travelers Using Computer Vision on a Smartphone. In 17th International Web for All Conference: Automation for Accessibility.
. (2019). Modeling echo-target acquisition in blind humans. In Conference on Cognitive Computational Neuroscience. Conference on Cognitive Computational Neuroscience: Berlin, Germany.
. (2019). Design and Evaluation of an Audio Game-Inspired Auditory Map Interface. In The 25th International Conference on Auditory Display (ICAD 2019). Northumbria University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK: Northumbria University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK.
. (2017). JustPoint: Identifying Colors with a Natural User Interface. In 19th Int’l ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2017). ACM: Baltimore, MD.
. (2017). Evaluating Author and User Experience for an Audio-Haptic System for Annotation of Physical Models. In 19th Int’l ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2017). ACM: Baltimore, MD.
. (2017). AR4VI: AR as an Accessibility Tool for People with Visual Impairments. In AR for Good, part of ISMAR 2017. IEEE: Nantes, France.
Presentations/Posters
. (2023). Reading styles modulate perceptual roles of the hands in bimanual braille reading. presented at the 05/2023, Vision Sciences Society Annual Meeting.
. (2023). Neural and behavioral correlates of evidence accumulation in human click-based echolocation. presented at the 05/2023, Vision Sciences Society Annual Meeting.
. (2022). Audiom: an Auditory Web-Based Geographic Map Viewer Showing COVID-19 State Data and a Travel Map. International Conference on Auditory Display (ICAD) 2022.
. (2021). Making remote studies accessible during COVID: A SKERI case study on web-based psychophysical research with blind participants. presented at the 07/2021, Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA) Annual Meeting: Virtual.
. (2021). Visual experience modulates sensitivity to statistics of reverberation. presented at the 05/2021, Vision Sciences Society Annual Meeting: Virtual.
. (2021). Assessment and management of cerebral visual impairment (CVI). . presented at the 04/2021, CTEBVI.
. (2021). The spectrum of reading difficulties in children with Cerebral Visual Impairment (CVI): a qualitative study. presented at the 05/2021, ARVO.
. (2021). Characterization of Higher Visual Function Deficits (HVFDs) with a Question Inventory in children with Cerebral Visual Impairment (CVI) and good visual acuity (VA). presented at the 05/2021, ARVO.
. (2021). Neural representations of temporal and spectral regularities of reverberant environments. presented at the 11/2021, 50th Society of Neuroscience Annual Meeting: Chicago/ Virtual.
Other Publications
. (2022). Remote Co-Design in the Digital Age. In Handbook of Disability.
. (2021). The Unstoppable Utility of YouDescribe. Wireless RERC 2021 State of Technology Forum Proceedings. presented at the 09/2021.
. (2012). Towards a real-time system for finding and reading signs for visually impaired users. In Computers Helping People with Special Needs (pp. 41–47). Springer Berlin Heidelberg.
. (2010). Assistive Technologies for the Blind. In Sage Encyclopedia of Perception (pp. 64-67). Goldstein, B. (Ed.) Sage Publications: Thousand Oaks, CA.
. (2010). Sensory Rehabilitation. In Sage Encyclopedia of Perception (pp. 881-883). Goldstein, B. (Ed) Sage Publications: Thousand Oaks, CA.
. (2008). Vision. In Lange, M (Ed.) Fundamentals in Assistive Technology: An Introduction in Assistiave Technology Implementation in the Lives of People with Disabilities (4th ed., pp. 293-311). Resna Press: Arlington, VA.
. (2007). Aids for people who are blind or visually impaired. In Cooper, RA, Ohnabe H, Hobson D, (Eds.) An Introduction to Rehabilitation Engineering (pp. 287-313). Taylor & Francis: New York.
. (2006). Sensory Aids. In Akay, M. (Ed), Wiley Encyclopedia of Biomedical Engineering. John Wiley & Sons: New Jersey.
. (2000). Signage and wayfinding. In Silverstone, Lang, Rosenthal & Faye (Eds), The Lighthouse Handbook on Visual Impairment and Vision Rehabilitation (Vol. 1–2). Oxford University Press: New York.
. Visual Impairment: Ergonomic Considerations in Blind and Low Vision Rehabilitation. In Kumar, S. (Ed.), Perspectives in Rehabilitation Ergonomics (Vol. 1). Taylor & Francis: London.
Upcoming Events
There are no Upcoming Events at this time
Past Events
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A State of the Science Virtual Conference on Rehabilitation Technology and Methods in Blindness and Low Vision
Past Event Date:
The goal of this conference is to identify needs for future research in rehabilitation technology, methods for the blind and visually impaired population, and those with dual sensory loss.
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A State of the Science Conference On Rehabilitation Technology & Methods For a Changing Population
Past Event Date:
The goal of this invitation-only conference is to identify needs for future research in rehabilitation technology, methods for the blind and visually impaired population, and those with dual sensory loss.
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Chandna Lab (SEELAB)
We use rigorous scientific research with the goal to improve detection and treatment outcomes for individuals with strabismus, amblyopia, and cerebral visual impairment.
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Shanidze Lab
Our laboratory is interested in the mechanisms of eye and head movement and coordination and how those mechanisms are altered when visual or vestibular inputs are compromised.
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Teng Lab
We aim to better understand how people perceive, interact with, and move through the world, especially when vision is unavailable. To this end, the lab studies perception and sensory processing in multiple sensory modalities, with particular interests in echolocation and braille reading in blind persons. We are also interested in mobility and navigation, including assistive technology using nonvisual cues. These are wide-ranging topics, which we approach using a combination of psychophysical, neurophysiological, engineering, and computational tools.
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Verghese Lab
Our laboratory studies the mechanisms of healthy vision and action, as well as the basis of attention and visual adaptation in clinical populations.
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Active
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Activet-Scratch: Tangible Programming Environment
tScratch: Tangible Programming Environment Targeted for Students who are Blind or Visually Impaired
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ActiveCerebral Visual Impairment (CVI): An in-depth study of visual functioning in everyday life
The purpose of this research study is to learn about how cerebral visual impairment affects everyday visually guided behaviours and determine interventions to treat the difficulties. This study is conducted remotely through telephone or video link and also in person at the laboratory.
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ActiveA Computer Vision-Based Indoor Wayfinding Tool
The ability to navigate safely and confidently is a fundamental requirement for independent travel and access to many settings such as work, school, shopping, transit and healthcare. Navigation is particularly challenging for people with visual impairments, who have limited ability to see signs, landmarks or maps posted in the environment.
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ActiveSign Finder
This project seeks to develop a computer vision-based system that allows a visually impaired traveler to find and read informational signs, such as signs labeling office doors, streets, restrooms a
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ActiveYouDescribe
YouDescribe is a free, web-based platform for adding audio description to YouTube content.
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ActiveThe 3 Ps of 3D: Perception, Pedagogy, and Practice for 3D Printing
3D printing is increasingly used in STEM education. How can it be made accessible to students who are blind or visually impaired?
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ActiveComputer Vision Journal Club
The Computer Vision Journal Club meets periodically to discuss papers on topics in computer vision, machine learning and other topics of interest such as assistive technologies for persons who are
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ActiveTactile Graphics Helper (TGH)
Tactile graphics use raised lines, textures, and elevations to provide individuals with visual impairments access to graphical materials through touch.
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ActiveAcoustic Cues for Wayfinding
This project aims to do a detailed analysis of the environmental acoustic cues that help some blind navigate successfully.
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Active
Reading in mTBI
People with mTBI often complain about dificulty in reading in spite of normal results in usual eye exams.
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ActiveHuman Echolocation
What is echolocation? Sometimes, the surrounding world is too dark and silent for typical vision and hearing.
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Active
Investigating Reading in Individuals with Cerebral Visual Impairment (CVI)
In this project, we aim to understand (i) how CVI affects reading, (ii) how current rehabilitation techniques or assistive technologies help improve reading in CVI and (iii) what more can be done to assist those individuals with CVI
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ActiveCamIO
CamIO (short for “Camera Input-Output”) is a system to make physical objects (such as documents, maps, devices and 3D models) accessible to blind and visually impaired persons, by providing real-ti
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CompletedAudio/Tactile Graphics Using LiveScribe Smartpen
Active from 2007 to 2010, this project was the first exploration of using a digital smartpen as a platform for creating and presenting audio/tactile graphics – a system of using touch-based audio t
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CompletedTactile Map Automated Production (TMAP)
Smith-Kettlewell's Tactile Map Automated Production (TMAP) Project was initiated with the goal of developing the first web-based software tool for rapid production of highly specific, tactile street maps of any location in the USA.
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CompletedAudio/Tactile BART Station Maps
This collaborative project between Smith-Kettlewell and the San Francisco LightHouse applies Smartpen-Based audio/tactile graphics tools to improve orientation and wayfinding by travelers with visual disabilities in and around unfamiliar transit stations.
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CompletedTalking Signs
Created by William Loughborough in 1979, Talking Lights was a system of infrared transmitters and receivers allowing blind and visually impaired travelers to quickly and easily "read signs" at a distance.
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CompletedHearing Aid for Blind Travelers with Hearing Loss
Blind travelers rely on subtle acoustic cues for independent mobility. When hearing becomes impaired, as in the normal aging process, a special type of hearing aid may be needed to enhance these cues.
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Completed
Assessment of Speechreading with Dual Sensory Loss: Visual and Hearing Impairments
The purpose of this research study is to test subjects who have various hearing and vision problems on their lipreading, visual and auditory skills in order to understand the relationships between
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CompletedRegressions in Braille Reading
This project explores regressions (movements to re-read text) in braille reading.
The image on the right plots the braille reading finger movements in blue and regressions in black.
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CompletedThe Smith-Kettlewell Haptics Symposium
The Smith-Kettlewell Haptics Symposium was held on March 29, 2018 to honor and remember Dr. Val Morash and her research.
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Completed
Video-Based Speech Enhancement for Persons with Hearing and Vision Loss
Observing the visual cues from a speaker such as the shape of the lips and facial expression can greatly improve the speech comprehension capabilities of a person with hearing loss. However, concurrent vision loss can lead to a significant loss in speech perception. We propose developing a prototype device that utilizes a video camera in addition to audio input to enhance the speech signal from a target speaker in everyday situations.
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CompletedCrosswatch
Crosswatch is a smartphone-based system developed for providing real-time guidance to blind and visually impaired travelers at traffic intersections.
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CompletedBLaDE
BLaDE (Barcode Localization and Decoding Engine) is an Android smartphone app designed to enable a blind or visually impaired user find and read product barcodes.
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CompletedDisplay Reader
The goal of the Display Reader project is to develop a computer vision system that runs on smartphones and tablets to enable blind and visually impaired persons to read appliance displays.
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InactiveFunctional Assessment - Visual Fields
Most patients are unaware of their visual field defects and scotomata, be it from AMD, from glaucoma, from RP, or from other causes. Dr. Colenbrander developed an improved functional scoring system for visual fields, as part of the Functional Vision Score system (see Guidelines)
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InactiveBlind Arduino Project
The Blind Arduino Project grew out of a community effort led by Dr.
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Inactive
Wearabraille
WearaBraille is a research project into wearable computing, and the use of MEMS sensors as novel input technology to mobile devices such as laptops, PDAs and smartphones. Our prototype device funct
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InactiveoverTHERE
overTHERE is a virtual Talking Signs iPhone app for blind and visually-impaired pedestrians that demonstrates a powerful audio/haptic interface to location information about businesses and other points of interest.
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InactiveRERC Center Grant
The RERC Center Grant funds a number of projects for blind and visually impaired persons. The projects broadly fall into the categories of Functional Assessment, Access to Spatial and Graphic Information, and STEM Education.
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InactiveDescribeathon 2019 Announced!
Join Describeathon 2019! Help make YouTube videos more accessible to blind viewers by adding your voice to this day of description.
Use YouDescribe, our free web-based description tool, to describe the visuals of your favorite YouTube videos and have fun doing it!
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InactiveLow Vision Computer Access
Dr. Deborah Gilden wants to ensure that people who work with low vision students, clients, or patients, or have a visually impaired friend or family member, know that many features built into the Windows OS, MS Office applications, and the Internet, often can serve as tools for low vision computer access.
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InactiveRobotic Fingerspelling Hand for Communicating with Deaf-Blind People
A robotic fingerspelling hand would give anyone who can type the ability to communicate with deaf-blind people who know tactile fingerspelling. It also would have the potential to provide computer access to deaf-blind people who do not read Braille.
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InactiveBraille, Assistive Technology, and Reading Comprehension
This project explores the impact of presentation mode (braille vs.
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InactiveClassification and Coding Projects
One of Dr Colenbrander's persistent interests has been in classification and coding. In the 1960’s he participated in the development of a new ophthalmic coding system in the Netherlands.
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InactiveFunctional Assessment - Guidelines and Reports
Combining his interests in classification and in vision rehabilitation, Dr. Colenbrander has promoted a better understanding of the various aspects of vision loss, their causes, and above all their consequences for the person.
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InactiveLow Vision Support Group
Join Dr. Don Fletcher, one of the world’s leading authorities on Low Vision Rehabilitation, to share experiences and learn about the things that help you maintain a full and happy life while living with low vision.
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InactiveFunctional Assessment - Book Chapters
Categorization of visual functioning requires appropriate measurement methods. Dr.
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InactiveFunctional Assessment - Contrast Sensitivity
For eye doctors measuring contrast sensitivity loss during routine eye exams is not a priority, since contrast losses are n
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InactiveFunctional Assessment - Reading
Difficulty reading is the most common complaint of low vision patients. It is the Activity of Daily Living that is most closely
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Inactive
Current
- Al Lotze - Research Assistant
- Anca Velisar - Research Associate
- Arvind Chandna - Senior Clinical Researcher
- Charity Pitcher-Cooper - Project Coordinator
- Gunilla Haegerstrom-Portnoy - Affiliate Senior Scientist
- Helen J. Simon - Scientist
- Huiying Shen - Senior Programmer Analyst
- James Coughlan - Senior Scientist, Director: Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center
- John Brabyn - Executive Director
- Natela Shanidze - Scientist
- Preeti Verghese - Senior Scientist
- Santani Teng - Associate Scientist
- Sile O'Modhrain - Affiliate Scientist
- William Good - Senior Scientist (Clinical)
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SKERI Receives Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center (RERC) grant on...
Smith-Kettlewell is proud to announce the newly awarded Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center (RERC) grant on Blindness and Low Vision. This is a five-year grant from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research, establishing Smith-Kettlewell as a center promoting the independence and well-being of people with visual impairments through research and development to improve the understanding of, and provide solutions for, challenges facing the blind and low-vision community.
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Joshua Miele is a 2021 MacArthur Fellow
Smith-Kettlewell is proud and honored to announce that one of our alumni, Dr. Joshua Miele, has received a 2021 MacArthur Fellowship for his work in developing devices to enable blind and visually impaired people to access everyday technologies and digital information. Widely known as a “Genius Grant,” this prestigious award reflects Josh's achievements while he was a scientist at SKERI as well as his present work begun in 2019 at Amazon Lab126.
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Haydée García-Lázaro receives FoVea Award 2021 from Vision Sciences Society
The FoVea Travel and Networking Award has the mission to advance the visibility, impact, and success of women in vision science. It is open to female members of the Vision Science Society (VSS) in pre-doctoral, post-doctoral, pre-tenure faculty, or research scientist positions. Haydée García-Lázaro, a postdoctoral fellow at SKERI working with Dr Satani Teng, received the FoVea Travel and Networking Award 2021 from Females of Vision et al., & Vision Sciences Society.
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SKERI Engineer Featured on the Blind Abilities Podcast
SKERI engineer, Brandon Biggs, was featured on the Blind Abilities podcast to discuss Audiom - a SKERI Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center
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Haydée García-Lázaro receives the Elsevier/Vision Research Virtual Travel...
Haydée García-Lázaro, a postdoctoral fellow at SKERI working at TengLab received the Elsevier/Vision Research Virtual Travel Award 2021 from the Vision Sciences Society
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Audiom allows for accessible, virtual visits to the Magical Bridge...
The Magical Bridge Foundation mission is to bring inclusive, accessive playgrounds that can be enjoyed by all children. For the first time, it is now possible for blind and visually impaired visitors to view a nonvisual map of the Magical Bridge Playground in Palo Alto, at home, directly from their web browser using Audiom. Audiom was developed by Smith-Kettlewell researcher, Brandon Biggs, is a map viewing tool for the visually impaired. It allows non-visual access to route, landmark, and survey knowledge -- critical information needed for navigation.
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SKERI Researcher talks Indoor Navigation & Mapping on Blind Bargains
The work of Dr. James Coughlan and Brandon Biggs was again recognized at the annual CSUN conference, where Brandon was interviewed for a podcast on Blind Bargains, a source for news and resources for the blind community.
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SKERI Research Recognized with the Dr. Arthur I. Karshmer Award for...
We congratulate Dr. James Coughlan, Dr. Huiying Shen and Brandon Biggs, MDes on winning the Dr. Arthur I.
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Brandon Biggs brings his ideas for accessibility to SKERI
We’re excited to welcome Brandon Biggs to the Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute. Brandon arrived in August to collaborate with Dr. Coughlan, Dr. Shen and Dr. Fusco to work on accessibility research and development. This collaboration started last year, when Brandon met Dr. Coughlan at the Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AER) International Conference in Reno, Nevada. Brandon was then enrolled in a Master’s program in Inclusive Design at OCAD University in Toronto, Canada, which he completed in June.
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