Adam Bowker and I are having this great ongoing dialogue about the application of a host of new tools that will be become available in the future. Recently Dr. Light sent us information about Sixth Sense, a MIT Media Lab’s new Fluid Interfaces Group project led by Pattie Maes and Pranav Mistry . The basic concept is that your portable computer, in this case a cell phone, combined with a video camera and portable projector create a system that allows you to access relevant information about the environment and interact with that information. This has created a paradigm shift for me and I think you should check out this talk by Pattie Maes from this past February’s TED. What do you think about this type of technology tool in relation to AAC, Literacy, Universal Design for Learning?
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I work to transition, or observe the transition(either way you want to look at it), from the comfortable and familiar yet always challenging classroom teaching and technology specialist practice, into doing a hybrid of that same teaching practice combined with research. Not that I didn’t research before, it is just the level, scope, and goals are shifted. During this time of productive change and rebirth of sorts, I am trying to focus on fundamentals. Lately, from many different places I have been learning from a great teacher and basketball coach, John Wooden. Here is his TED talk for you to enjoy. It would be terrific to hear your impressions of it.
I thought about Montreal and ISAAC this evening and remembered how truly awesome it was. Meeting new people was one of the most important parts of the experience. A couple people in particular I really hope to see again either in Barcelona or somewhere around. They were part of this group in the UK, called 1Voice. They made this neat video a while back and while I have posted about it previously,
1 Voice Crew, I really want to share it again.
Everyone Means Everyone Talk @ PSU
Everyone can communicate, so let’s empower everyone to communicate.
Here is the template for the activity for today
Here are the resource links:
http://www.slatersoftware.com/PixLibrary.html
Richard Lavoie has posted a terrific resource: 20 Tips to Promote Positive Self-esteem.
There are a few teachers in this world that resonate with me in a way that is hard to describe. Linda Burkhart, Karen Erickson, David Koppenhaver, Caroline Ramsey Musselwhite, Madalaine Pugliese, David McNaughton, Janice Light, Karen Janowski, Patty Cassidy, Stella Pierce and Dale Gardner Fox are just a few of the people who have inspired me to be a better teacher. About two years ago, I heard Rick Lavoie speak at Gordon College, where I did my undergraduate work in elementary education, special education, and history. I had known the F.A.T. city workshop from my beginnings in a community college course I took, back when I was a part of the Michael Carter Lisnow Respite Center. I remember the paradigm shift it created in me. I had always meant to contact Dr. Lavoie after that. I had always meant to visit his school on the Cape. Yet, I didn’t. Hearing him speak that day at Gordon brought tears to my eyes. As he spoke about his students and the work, both his heart and his humor came through. Yet, it was not until today that I realized what it is. It is that people like Rick Lavoie do two things, they care a great deal and they work hard to help people. That is why I admire Rick Lavoie and a host of other teachers to whom I am forever grateful for their example.
There are times when you realize that the dreams you have been experiencing are not just dreams. Siftables, among other things made me feel that way today. It has been terrific to join Dr. Light and crew on the beginning communicators project here at Penn State. We have been in a brainstorm cycle and I look forward to sharing this. Siftables, simply brilliant. Also, these are the same people bringing you Sixth Sense, presented in another TED Talk.
In AAC, we are ever more realizing that pictures and videos can be worth an exponential amount of words. It is very hard to describe what I am experiencing in my life right now, so I’ll let this video that Greg sent to me help explain. The music is by the Belgium artist Sylver.
All I can say is that I am so thankful for this ride, especially the voyage that began in January and the one that is about to take off…
Check out this contest my friend Adam told me about.
VSA arts and Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., are seeking artwork from artists with disabilities, ages 16-25. This year’s event, entitled Accelerate, is the largest award program in the country for emerging artists and will give a total of $60,000 to 15 finalists at a reception on Capitol Hill in the fall of 2009. Artwork will be displayed at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C, before beginning a nationwide tour.
Theme: Starting from zero, ideas take shape, momentum builds, creativity gathers speed, and a new work of art is created. How does art propel your success and provide you freedom of expression? As an artist, what sets you in motion—and how do you fuel your imagination?
Deadline: June 19, 2009, midnight (MST)
http://www.vsarts.org/PreBuilt/showcase/gallery/exhibits/vw/current/index.html
Grand Prize: $20,000
First Award: $10,000
Second Award: $6,000
12 Awards of Excellence: $2,000
VSA arts is an international nonprofit organization founded in 1974 by Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith. For 35 years, we have been creating a society where people with disabilities learn through, participate in, and enjoy the arts. VSA arts provides educators, parents, and artists with resources and the tools to support arts programming in schools and communities. VSA arts showcases the accomplishments of artists with disabilities and promotes increased access to the arts for people with disabilities. Each year millions of people participate in VSA arts programs through a nationwide network of affiliates and in 55 countries around the world. VSA arts is an affiliate of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
There will be much to share in the upcoming weeks and months. The Ph.D. program is going really well and while I feel like Gumby being pulled in all directions, I very much realize it is because I am growing. I just finished a terrific course on assessment and just started a behavior analysis seminar. The Stats and the independent study are going well. I have been visiting area schools with a classmate of mine and it is so exciting to consider the research and teaching that can happen here in Central Pennsylvania. Odd to call that and Penn State home, but I am loving it. I have been getting an occasional pining for Plum Island or my 18 month summer in South Florida. Yet, every day, I wake up thankful for this opportunity to learn what I might not choose to learn on my own, rigorous research methods. CSUN is rapidly approaching and I am excited to be attending my first one. Okay, while the guilt of not posting as frequently started to kick in, I realize that my plate is pretty full right now. Nonetheless, it would be nice to share about a couple things that I thought others would pick up, but haven’t. I miss posting more frequently, but trust me, the stuff I have been working on is worth it.
Eye Gaze Technology
Mid Tech Eye Gaze Communication (ya, you heard it right)
You have to check out this eye gaze frame. It is so simple and so powerful. http://www.megabee.net
and here is an online simulation, http://www.e2l.uk.com/megabee/megabee_simulation.html
and a picture of me doing the demo at ATIA
High Tech Eye Gaze Technology
PRC announced the ECOPoint, which utilizes Tobii’s eye gaze technology.
TobiiAti
I loved seeing all the new C-Series devices at ATIA, wow, now a month back. These are the replacements for the popular Mercury Series. They have a nice slick new design. Check them out here.
Don’t Forget All the Classic Lowtech Eye Gaze Frames!
While I totally missed seeing the The knfbReader Mobile at ATIA, I am so excited about it. Basically, using the Nokia Cell phone it runs off, you take pictures of text and it will speak that text.
Last but not least, please check out Adam Bowker’s coverage of the Kindle Controversy. If you have not heard, there has been questions of whether text to speech on the Kindle is breaking copyright.
Text-to-speech under attack and
Amazon caves to buggy whip manufacturers
So, I hope to do some more indepth reviews of the tools described in this post. Right after I finish my homework!
