Wireless Inclusive RERC| Georgia Institute of Technology | Atlanta, GA - Training and Dissemination

Re:Wireless Newsletter - 2019/05/22

blippincott4 — Fri, 24 May 2019 17:16:14 +0000

Date of Publication:

2019 May

The file below is a PDF of the Wireless RERC's 05/22/2018 Re:Wireless Newsletter for consumers. If you have trouble accessing the file or need it in an alternate accessible format, please contact Ben Lippincott at 678-992-9309 or ben@imtc.gatech.edu.

You can also view the newsletter at this web address: https://conta.cc/2HLb8g6

This is a PDF version of the consumer-focused Re:Wireless newsletter.

Re:Wireless Newsletter - 2019/03/15

blippincott4 — Fri, 24 May 2019 17:07:23 +0000

Date of Publication:

2019 March

The file below is a PDF of the Wireless RERC's 03/15/2019 Re:Wireless Newsletter for consumers. If you have trouble accessing the file or need it in an alternate accessible format, please contact Ben Lippincott at 678-992-9309 or ben@imtc.gatech.edu.

You can also view the newsletter at this web address: https://conta.cc/2F7y4ol

This is a PDF version of the consumer-focused Re:Wireless newsletter.

Re:Wireless Newsletter - 12/31/2018

blippincott4 — Fri, 11 Jan 2019 16:39:57 +0000

Date of Publication:

2018 December

The file below is a PDF of the Wireless RERC's 12/31/2018 Re:Wireless Newsletter for consumers. If you have trouble accessing the file or need it in an alternate accessible format, please contact Ben Lippincott at 678-992-9309 or ben@imtc.gatech.edu.

You can also view the newsletter at this web address: https://conta.cc/2EWMDNf

A PDF version of the Re:Wireless Newsletter for 12/31/2018

Re:Wireless Newsletter - 10/08/2018

blippincott4 — Fri, 11 Jan 2019 16:36:29 +0000

Date of Publication:

2018 October

The file below is a PDF of the Wireless RERC's 10/08/2018 Re:Wireless Newsletter for consumers. If you have trouble accessing the file or need it in an alternate accessible format, please contact Ben Lippincott at 678-992-9309 or ben@imtc.gatech.edu.

You can also view the newsletter at this web address: https://conta.cc/2yAqBex

A PDF version of the Re:Wireless Newsletter for 10/08/2018

Re:Wireless Newsletter - 2018/08/03

blippincott4 — Mon, 01 Oct 2018 17:15:39 +0000

Date of Publication:

2018 August

The file below is a PDF of the Wireless RERC's 08/03/2018 Re:Wireless Newsletter for consumers. If you have trouble accessing the file or need it in an alternate accessible format, please contact Ben Lippincott at 678-992-9309 or ben@imtc.gatech.edu.

You can also view the newsletter at this web address: https://conta.cc/2ONVWS3

A PDF version of the 08/03/2018 issue of Re:Wireless, the Wireless RERC's consumer newsletter

Re:Wireless Newsletter - 2018/04/05

blippincott4 — Mon, 01 Oct 2018 17:08:24 +0000

Date of Publication:

2018 April

The file below is a PDF of the Wireless RERC's 04/05/2018 Re:Wireless Newsletter for consumers. If you have trouble accessing the file or need it in an alternate accessible format, please contact Ben Lippincott at 678-992-9309 or ben@imtc.gatech.edu.

You can also view the newsletter at this web address: https://conta.cc/2EmLGd0

A PDF version of 04/05/2018 issue of Re:Wireless, the Wireless RERC's consumer newsletter: 04/05/2018

Technology and Disability Policy Highlights - May 2018

kgoughnour3 — Wed, 06 Jun 2018 19:10:24 +0000

Date of Publication:

2018 June

In May, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) granted several waivers related to emergency communications. In a Memorandum Opinion and Order [12-107], the FCC’s Media Bureau granted requests for waivers of the audible crawl rule, permanently exempting analog-only cable systems, and temporarily waiving requirements for television broadcasters to audibly describe visual, non-textual emergency information. The FCC also granted a limited waiver of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) protocol to allow for an end-to-end test to be conducted in the State of Minnesota on June 18, 2018. The waiver was required because the rules allowing for end-to-end testing of WEA are not effective until May 2019. However, Minnesota emergency communications officials want to move up that timeline and requested temporary waiver in light of the recent large-scale emergencies.

In Wireless RERC news, comments were submitted to the FCC in response to a Public Notice In the Matter of The Accessibility of Communications Technologies for the 2018 Biennial Report Required by the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act [CG Docket No. 10-213]. In anticipation of this Public Notice, we conducted a 2017 Mobile Phone Accessibility Review, preliminary results of which were reported in the submission. Additionally, the comments were informed by recently conducted focus groups on the use of “new communications technologies” by people with disabilities. The comments highlighted a perennial barrier to full access, device setup, which quite literally allows the user to gain entry to the device. This initial process needs addressing to move the needle forward on people with disabilities’ independently accessing advanced communications technologies and services.

This issue also includes news about a smart cane, National Disability Employment Awareness Month, Global Accessibility Awareness Day activities, a Mobile Accommodations Solution app, the BeMyEyes app, and more.

technology_and_disability_policy_highlight_tdph_may_2018.docx

Technology and Disability Policy Highlights - April 2018

kgoughnour3 — Tue, 08 May 2018 15:34:34 +0000

Date of Publication:

2018 May

In April, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Public Notice inviting stakeholder input to Refresh the Record on Facilitating Multimedia Content in Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) [PS Docket Nos. 15-91 and 15-94] was published in the Federal Register, setting the comment and reply comment deadlines as May 29, 2018, and June 11, 2018, respectively. Keeping a laser-like focus on emergency communications, the FCC also released their final report of the 2017 Nationwide Test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS). On the EAS participant side (television and radio broadcasters) of the continuum, the test was considered successful as the equipment and software worked to deliver the test message across the nation. However, on the public end of the continuum, some accessibility issues were reported including poor audio quality, instances where the text crawl was overlapped with other captioning or text on the screen, or its speed made it unreadable, among others. The purpose of the test was to identify areas for improvement, and the FCC report outlines measures that will be taken to advance the accessibility of EAS messages.

In Wireless RERC news, on April 24, 2018, we hosted academics, practitioners, and service organizations at the Using Technology R&D to Effect Policy Change Leadership Workshop. The morning panel, moderated by Dr. Helena Mitchell, addressed the importance of stakeholder engagement in policymaking, and attendees heard the perspectives of Robert Knotts, Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech), Office of Government and Community Relations; Donna Platt, North Carolina Division of Services for Deaf and Hard of Hearing; and Hamish Caldwell, Wireless Insiders Network. In the afternoon, the attendees had three small group discussions and were tasked with distilling each discussion into three takeaways to share with the whole group. Inside the newsletter, you can read a teaser of the nine takeaways. A more comprehensive report detailing the small group discussions that led to the above takeaways will be produced this summer.

Recruitment for the Survey of User Needs is ongoing. To inform the inclusive development of wireless technologies and services, we are collecting data on people with disabilities’ user experiences and expectations. Take the survey online at http://bit.ly/2018UserNeedsSurvey.

This issue also includes news about a tool for accessible travel, a hands-free drumming machine, a silent user interface that understands nonverbal prompts, and more.

technology_and_disability_policy_highlight_tdph_april_2018.docx

Technology and Disability Highlights - March 2018

kgoughnour3 — Fri, 06 Apr 2018 18:31:34 +0000

Date of Publication:

2018 April

In March, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released a Public Notice seeking comment on a Joint Petition for Extension of Waiver of Accessible Emergency Information Requirements [12-107]. The American Council of the Blind, American Foundation for the Blind, and the National Association of Broadcasters filed the petition jointly requesting additional time (five years) to develop a technical solution that enables the automatic recognition, tagging, and describing of non-textual emergency information such as maps be video described. Despite concerted efforts to research and develop a technically feasible solution, the petitioners assert that the current state of the broadcasting system is not capable of capitalizing on advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) or application programming interfaces (APIs) that could facilitate compliance with the accessible emergency information requirement. The deadline for initial comments is April 13, 2018, and April 30, 2018, for reply comments. Prepared comments for docket number 12-107 can be uploaded via the FCC’s Electronic Comment Filing System at https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/filings.

In Wireless RERC news, the slide decks for Wireless RERC Presentations at the 2018 CSUN Assistive Technology Conference are available for download. Getting on the Record with the FCC: Public Input Process How To’s, was presented by Dr. Helena Mitchell and Salimah LaForce, and provided tips on how to submit comments to the FCC and contribute to disability stakeholder representation in the public input process. Brianna J. Tomlinson presented Supporting Simulation Use for Students with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, detailing a study that explored how enhancing interactive science simulations with sonifications can scaffold interaction and learning for students with cognitive impairments. Recruitment for the Survey of User Needs is ongoing. To inform the inclusive development of wireless technologies and services, we are collecting data on the user experiences and expectations of people with disabilities. Take the survey online at http://bit.ly/2018UserNeedsSurvey.

This issue also includes news about, Breaking Down Barriers, Dr. Stephen Hawking, emojis, accessible gaming, hands-free switch access, and more.

technology_and_disability_policy_highlight_tdph_march_2018.docx

Technology and Disability Highlights - February 2018

kgoughnour3 — Wed, 07 Mar 2018 17:04:47 +0000

Date of Publication:

2018 March

In legislative news, the Steve Gleason Enduring Voices Act of 2017 [H.R.2465] was passed in the House as part of the bill to temporarily increase the federal government’s budget. The legislation allows for those that purchased voice-generating devices, also referred to as Alternative and Augmentative Communications (AAC), to be reimbursed through Medicaid and Medicare. Originally passed in 2015, this new version would make the Steve Gleason Act of 2015 permanent. The much-debated ADA Education and Reform Act of 2017 [H.R.620] passed by a House vote of 225-192. H.R. 620, intended to prevent the need to file a complaint with Department of Justice (DoJ) or to pursue a private civil lawsuit, proposes to require a person/persons with a disability alleging ADA violations first to notify the entity in writing, allowing them the opportunity to remedy alleged ADA violations.

Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) regulations regarding Hearing Aid Compatibility (HAC), Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA), and next-generation television were published in the Federal Register as Final Rules. The revised HAC regulations include a new volume control standard for more precise audio processing and amplification on wireline and wireless telephones, with a compliance deadline of February 28, 2020, and March 1, 2021(respectively). The WEA Final Rule addresses geo-targeting of alert messages, consumer disclosure of the device‘s geo-targeting capabilities, alert message preservation on the mobile device, the definition of “WEA participation,” and Spanish-language alert implementation. The compliance deadline for the new geotargeting rules is November 30, 2019. Finally, the FCC final rule, Authorizing Permissive Use of the “Next Generation'' Broadcast Television Standard Report & Order [GN Docket No. 16-142], advances efforts to transition from legacy systems to support advanced technologies.

In Wireless RERC news, Ex Parte comments were submitted to the FCC replying to the Hurricane Response Public Notice [PS Docket # 17-344], and on February 27, 2018, Dr. Helena Mitchell presented the comments at an Ex Parte meeting at the FCC. The meeting was attended by representatives from the Office of the Chairman, the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau, and the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau. The intent of the comments was to supply unbiased considerations to help ensure that individuals with disabilities and other populations disproportionately impacted by disasters have alternative and accessible means to receive emergency information when cell coverage is disrupted and access to power is limited.

This issue also includes news about a flying display, accessible transit via sensor technology and virtual assistance, and more.

technology_and_disability_policy_highlight_tdph_february_2018.docx