No Cost Extension (NCE) Projects

No Cost Extension (NCE) Projects

The Wireless RERC has received an NCE to complete work that was in progress and delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The NCE covers the time period from the official end of the RERC grant (Sept. 30th, 2021) and is in effect until Sept. 30th 2022. Project activities under the NCE are detailed below.

Research Projects

  • User Experience and Expectations Research (R1) is designed to give consumers with disabilities a mechanism to directly inform research and development efforts.
    • Employment and Community Living Research, (T2) –  focused on the dissemination of the data collected from the focus groups and surveys regarding knowledge about and use of wireless technologies to support integrated, competitive employment and to enhance community participation for individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) and relevant stakeholder groups.
  • Social and Cultural Design Research (R2) Social and Cultural Design Research examines emerging factors of inclusive design as they impact the range of wireless based technologies and services, including wearable computing devices, robotics, sensors, emergency communications, and the underlying IoT ecosystem.
    • Augmented Reality for Design Research, (T3) – investigates the use of augmented reality (AR) as a platform for performing usability evaluations for socially inclusive awareness of wirelessly connected technologies. The project focuses on developing accessible remote control prototyping, and involves user-intensive interaction with participants.

Development Projects

  • Inclusive Emergency Lifelines (D1) develops devices to ensure emergency systems are timely and responsive to people with disabilities.
    • Emergency Alerts in Many Formats Allow Access for All.

      This research brief reports on developing a software app that demonstrates the technical feasibility of providing WEA messages in multiple formats, namely text-based messages, spoken messages, symbology, and ASL video with captions, to improve the accessibility of the messages for all receivers. The results of a usability study examining how people who are Deaf understand emergency messages in multiple formats are also described. 

    • Signal Notification Optimization project  (T1) – focused on optimizing emergency notification and evacuation via wireless communications and alert systems. A quantitative analysis of signal response rates and times, which demonstrated statistically significant results, was conducted based on selected signal types and disability types.
    • Battery Optimization Study (T2) – A qualitative analysis of the transcripts of the focus group usability study for people with sensory impairments was completed. Themes and concepts identified by the testing, combined with lessons learned by testing of mobile phones under a variety of operating conditions, will be used to recommend battery capacities and operating system functionality for optimizing wireless devices that most benefit people with disabilities in emergencies.
      • Research Brief: Battery Extension Tool: A study of smartphone battery demand and conservation modes. The project surveyed power controls that currently exist within current mobile operating systems and evaluated the battery demand of wireless devices, comparing typical operation with optimal battery operation while various accessibility apps are in use. These data were analyzed to develop recommendations for best practices for battery charge extension of wireless devices. A proof-of-concept, customizable user interface prototype app, the Battery Extension Tool (BET), was developed to allow users with disabilities to implement these best practices while retaining access to their accessibility software. 
    • First Responder Support about People with Disabilities FirstNet  (T3)– First Responder Network.

Training and Dissemination Projects

Disclaimer

The contents of this website were developed under a grant from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR grant number 90RE5025-01-00). NIDILRR is a Center within the Administration for Community Living (ACL), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The contents of this website do not necessarily represent the policy of NIDILRR, ACL, HHS, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.