Industry

The Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) system is a free, opt-out, national emergency alerting service that was deployed in 2012 as one component of the Integrated Public Alert and Warning Systems (IPAWS). Since 2012 over 10,000 WEA messages have been transmitted to mobile phones in the U.S. In 2015, a national online survey on WEAs (2015 WEA Survey) was conducted to understand the effectiveness of WEA messages for people with disabilities. The survey collected data on availability, awareness and...

The rapidly expanding market for wearable computing devices (wearables), driven by the confluence of information and communication technology and public acceptance of a design aesthetic, suggests nearly limitless potential for consumer uses. As adoption of wearables spreads, there are cultural and social impacts that represent both barriers and opportunities, with subsequent public policy ramifications. All too often designers, technologists, and policymakers operate independently;...

 Designers and engineers utilize personas and user profiles to give life and substance to user research findings. The pace of development and diffusion of mobile wireless technologies make modeling of consumer profiles ever more critical, especially for people with disabilities, for whom mobile technology can be either empowering or disenfranchising. Fueled by global competition and government policy in the US and elsewhere, inclusive design has become a priority for wireless device...

People with disabilities have benefited from the use of assistive technologies that compensate for, or augment functioning.  Socially assistive robots (SAR) both assist with functioning, and engage users socially, often as service, co- robots and companions.  Trends in networked learning communities suggest that membership and rules of exchange will define function, engagement and experiences.  Future communities will likely be...

Advancements in wireless technology (e.g. cell phones and tablets) have opened new communication opportunities and environments for individuals with severe communication disabilities. The advancement of these technologies poses challenges to ensuring that these individuals enjoy equal access to this increasingly essential technology. However, a paucity of research exists.   These wireless devices offer substantial benefits and opportunities to individuals with disabilities who rely on...

This article describes a flexible and effective approach to research and development in an era of rapid technological advancement. The approach relies on secondary dispersal of grant funds to commercial developers through a competitive selection process. This “App Factory” model balances the practical reliance on multi-year funding needed to sustain a rehabilitation engineering research center (RERC), with the need for agility and adaptability of development efforts undertaken in a rapidly-...

This spring, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) moved the needle forward on several large communications issues that impact access by people with disabilities.  In April, the FCC Order concerning the Lifeline and Linkup programs [WC Docket No.11-42] took a variety of actions to create an affordable Lifeline broadband program.  The Order discusses the minimum service standards for Lifeline Services, asserting that functional Internet access is...

In November, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) took several actions to improve communications access for people with disabilities. Regarding emergency communications, in efforts to implement the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 (CVAA), they announced that beginning November 30, 2015, video programming distributors must provide emergency information television text crawls to people with vision loss by sounding an aural tone...

In October, the FCC released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to update Hearing Aid Compatibility Rules for wireline, wireless and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telecommunications equipment. Among other things, the proposed amendments address concerns and request stakeholder input on developing an industry standard for wireline handsets and their volume controls, and extending volume control standards to Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) equipment and wireless handsets. ...

In September, there was a lot of activity to gear up for National Disability Employment Awareness Month. To kick off this year’s Disability Employment Awareness Month, on September 30, 2015, President Obama issued a Presidential Proclamation marking October 2015 as National Disability Employment Awareness Month.  The President called for the nation to promote inclusion in the workplace by tearing down barriers for Americans with disabilities to acquire the stable jobs they deserve....