NASA releases Math Description Engine Software Development Kit

>
> NASA recently released an innovative Open Source software suite  
> that may
> forever change how blind and vision-impaired users "see" complex  
> graphs.
>
>
>
>
> The Math Description Engine Software Development Kit
> <http://prime.jsc.nasa.gov/>  (MDE SDK) is a reusable software library
> that generates text, sound and visual representations of graphs  
> found in
> both math and science applications.
>
>
>
> Visually-impaired computer users access these alternative text and  
> sound
> descriptions through the use of a screen reader and standard computer
> speakers.
>
>
>
> The MDE (Math Description Engine) distinguishes itself from other
> accessibility software by determining the key characteristics of a  
> graph
> "on the fly." Using this determination, it builds natural-language  
> text
> descriptions that enable visually-impaired users to view spatial
> relationships through sound alone.
>
>
>
> Designed with both flexibility and ease-of-use in mind, the SDK
> (Software Development Kit) allows web and software developers to adapt
> the MDE's graph descriptions to a variety of applications. Some key
> audiences who might benefit from the MDE SDK include, but are not
> limited to:
>
> *       developers of education products and support tools
> *       special needs education researchers
> *       assistive technology researchers and vendors
> *       the accessible-web community
> *       sonification researchers
> *       organizations with websites containing graphical data  
> displays.
>
>
>
> The NASA software program, MathTrax, is one example of how MDE
> technology serves as a powerful learning tool for sighted users as  
> well.
> Acting as a virtual math and science assistant, MathTrax engages both
> the eyes and ears of these students to increase overall comprehension.
>
>
>
> The MDE software library was created by NASA's Information  
> Accessibility
> Lab (IAL), under the direction of Dr. Robert O. Shelton, a blind
> mathematician. The IAL's mission is to develop technologies that
> increase accessibility to NASA's vast library of outreach products and
> to release these same technologies to the public for further  
> application
> and development.
>
>
>
> The MDE SDK is currently available for download under an Open Source
> license at http://prime.jsc.nasa.gov/mde. Visit the site today to  
> learn
> more about the program and how you can play an integral role in
> developing the future of accessible graphing technology.
>
>
>
> To learn more about the MDE SDK or MathTrax, please email Terry  
> Hodgson
> at terry.r.hodgson@nasa.gov.
>
>
>
> The NASA Learning Technologies Team
>
> Information Accessibility Lab
>
> http://prime.jsc.nasa.gov <http://prime.jsc.nasa.gov/>
>
> info@prime.jsc.nasa.gov
>
>
>
>
>
> ________________________________________

Received on Wednesday, 30 August 2006 20:20:18 UTC