Date: February 17, 1999

To: Dr. Paul Hunt
Vice Provost for Libraries, Computing and Technology
Room 400 Computer Center
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48824-1042

The Accommodating Technology Committee of CCSAC is pleased to present in this document its 1999/2000 APP&R Recommendations. The recommendations are summarized on this page in the table below. The following pages supply, for each section, further explanatory and supporting information.

Sincerely,

John Eulenberg,
Chair, Accommodating Technology Committee

Item	Requesting Unit	Description	Amount	Total by Unit
1.	MSU Libraries	CCTV system, scanner, Kurzweil 3000 software	10,000	$ 10,000
2.	Computer Laboratory	Portables Loan Program	7,000	7,000
3.	OPHS/DRC
	3a	Electronic Text Production	11,000
	3b	Site license upgrades	6,300
	3c	Realtime Captioning	5,030	22,330
4.	Broadcasting Services	Closed Captioning Equipment	10,000	10,000
5.	Accommodating Technology Committee of CCSAC	Talking Sign Demonstration Project	14,896	14,896
	Total, All ATC Recommendations:			$ 64,226

Section 1: MSU Libraries Accommodating Technology Request

In a continuing effort to provide library access to persons with disabilities, the MSU Libraries would like to request the following items:

The hand-held CCTV would enable patrons with certain visual impairments to read call numbers on books in the stacks. In addition, the patrons would be able to read titles, introductory material and contents of the books independent of the assistance of a human reader. The small flat screen would be mounted to a library cart to provide easy use of the equipment. The system and the cart would be available by check-out.

The purchase of a scanner and document feeder for the Libraries' Assistive Technology Center would allow two users the opportunity to run the Kurzweil 1000 reading software at the same time. In addition, this scanner will act as a back-up to the original equipment.

The Kurzweil 3000 software will assist users with learning disabilities to follow along when reading books and other documents using speech output and word highlighting for auditory and visual representation. The software also includes a talking dictionary and a study skill feature.

These items will improve access to Main Library materials by persons with disabilities.

Section 2: Computer Laboratory ATC Request

The Portables Loan Program, (http://www.msu.edu/~portable/) a service of Michigan State University, is responsible for providing short-term loans of portable computers to MSU faculty, staff, and students.

To assure that this program is accessible to employees and students with disabilities we are requesting the purchase of two new notebook computers for the Portables Loan Program. These notebooks will have sufficient speed and memory to run the latest accessibility software. These systems will provide the users with the opportunity to experience this special technology in their offices, classrooms and conferences. It will enable them to make intelligent decisions in choosing the right software and hardware combinations for their own systems. It will also serve as a temporary backup means for those dependent on this technology.

The OPHS/DRC currently has site licenses for disability related software. The DRC will maintain and install this software on these machines. Staff from the OPHS/DRC will also be available to train and support the portable loan program staff in its use.

Section 3: OPHS/DRC ATC Request

Sub-Section 3a: Electronic Text Production

For years the Office of Programs for Handicapper Students in cooperation with the Tower Guard sophomore honorary organization has produced audio texts for students who are blind or who have other disabilities that restrict access to printed material. This program has served students by producing the audio materials on a special 4-track cassette format which is played back using a proprietary cassette player. During the fall '98 semester, OPHS/DRC began work on a new process for making textbooks more accessible for students with visual impairments, physical disabilities, and learning disabilities. Not only will the new process improve the usability of texts for students; it should also dramatically reduce production times and make for easier delivery to students in remote settings such as foreign study. The office is presently using a conventional scanner with Optical Character Recognition software connected to a Windows-based PC to scan, recognize and process printed materials. Once the materials are scanned, converted to machine readable format, and edited, a student with a disability can use needed assistive technology to independently read and use the text.

Presently, the equipment at the OPHS/DRC Adaptive Technology Center has been used for this new process. However, the conventional scanners and PCs in this setting do not offer the throughput needed to make the new e-text production plans as efficient as possible. Additionally, usage of this facility's limited number of computers forces e-text producers to compete for time with students requiring the adaptive equipment found in that facility. OPHS/DRC therefore requests funding for two systems to be used for e-text production. The first system is a high-end PC equipped with a high-volume (45 PPM) scanner and OCR software. This system would also serve as the main host for books in production. It would contain both a CD writer, enabling the production of electronic text CDs, and a network connection allowing networked access to books in progress. Additionally, this computer will be helpful as a database server for allowing students and staff to search out books that are already available in the present audio library. A second system (without scanner) is requested to enable e-text producers to work on the editing, formatting and cleanup phase after scanning is finished on the first system. This combination of two workstations will enable OPHS/DRC to move ahead into a new era of electronic text production.

Sub-Section 3b: Campus-Wide Adaptive Software Site Licenses and Upgrades

Through the past few years, the ATC has requested and received funding for several adaptive software packages. These packages afford students with disabilities access to alternative input/output methods for microcomputers across campus. During the past three years, adaptive software requests from the committee have taken the form of site licenses for easier software distribution and maintenance.

ATC requests funding for software upgrades and version maintenance to the existing packages listed below. These packages will be installed and used in many campus locations including the OPHS/DRC Adaptive Technology Center, Main Library Assistive Technology Center, Clara Bell Smith Student-Athlete Academic Center, and a variety of campus computer labs.

Section 3c: OPHS Realtime Captioning Equipment

OPHS/DRC has added a second staff realtime reporter to serve the MSU deaf and hard of hearing community. Currently, this individual is using personally owned equipment and is in need of updating to provide screen clarity for the recipients of the services.

In order to provide consistent quality of services to deaf and hard of hearing students, staff and faculty, we are requesting funding for the following equipment:

1.	One Active Matrix Laptop Computer	$ 2,300.00
2.	One SRT 400 Stenograph writer to interface with the computer.	1,330.00
3.	Two copies of Open Write 32 Gigatron software to convert a reporter's steno dictionary and allows a reporter to write in any Windows 95 and 98 program	1,400.00
	Subtotal 3c -- Realtime Captioning Equipment:	$ 5,030.00

Section 4: Broadcasting Services ATC Request

For television programming, closed captioning has become the preferred method of accommodating individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Broadcasting Services does have captioning equipment, however the system was designed for non-live, non-realtime captioning, and thus requires a substantial amount of production time to create and insert captions in a master tape. Most of the time delay is in the creation of the transcript of a program.

Broadcast Services therefore requests a live-capable closed caption encoder, to be used in association with the realtime captioning capabilities existing on campus at the OPHS/DRC or commercial organizations such as CCS of Grand Rapids. This will allow programming to be captioned live when needed.

Section 5: Accommodating Technology Committee of CCSAC Request

Talking Sign Demonstration Project

Background Information

In last year's APP&R proposal, the ATC suggested that a recommendation would be forth coming for the 1999/2000 funding year for the purchase and installation of Talking Sign technology. The signs would be installed on selected campus buildings for exploring the use of such technology in accommodating and facilitating individuals with visual disabilities in accessing campus facilities.

What Is A Talking Sign?

A Talking Sign is an infrared wireless communication system that provides remote directional human voice messages that make independent travel easier for visually impaired and print-handicapped individuals. This technology was pioneered and developed at the Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute, Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center in San Francisco, CA [http://www.talkingsigns.com/].

The Talking Sign system consists of audio signals sent by invisible infrared light beams from an installed transmitter to a handheld receiver that decodes the signal and delivers the voice message through its speaker or earphone. The signals are directional, and the beam width and distance can be adjusted. The system works effectively in both interior and exterior applications. The transmitter can be powered by a household adapter, which will transmit 130 feet, or powered by a 9-volt battery, which will transmit 30 feet and last about 30 hours.

Talking signs may be used wherever landmark identification and way-finding assistance are needed. When using the Talking Sign system, the user scans the environment with the hand-held receiver. As individual signals are encountered, the user hears the messages. The messages can be repeated as needed. The message is programmable by the user and the transmitter itself can be attached to a wall.

Why Do We Need Talking Signs on Campus?

For most average-sighted people, effective mobility depends upon proper orientation to the environment using printed signs for locating places or taking route directions, such as finding where the reference desk is in a library environment. For people with visual impairment, printed signs are not accessible; therefore they need to use other forms of orientation such as soliciting aid or memory. Traveling in a relatively small, simply laid out environment on a regular basis does not pose much difficulty for visually impaired people to comfortably navigate around. However, traveling on a university campus such as MSU and in most of the MSU buildings requires a better "way-finding" system to independently, effectively, efficiently, and comfortably access the environment.

Talking Sign technology has been specifically developed to address this navigational need for people with visual impairments. The size of the MSU campus is known to be large; in addition, most of the buildings are large with "complicated" layout designs for visually impaired travelers. Michael Hudson, specialist in the MSU OPHS/DRC, is responsible for providing accommodative support to individuals with visual disabilities. He states that most MSU students with visual impairments have limited their travel to certain buildings; they will travel to a new building only when it is absolutely necessary, because traveling in an unfamiliar building can be physically and emotionally exhausting.

As a result of this travel difficulty, many University resources are underutilized by visually impaired people. With the development and availability of Talking Sign technology, complexity in traveling in a complicated environment can be greatly reduced and thus become user-friendly for visually impaired individuals. The Accommodating Technology Committee (ATC), in the spirit of accommodating individuals with visual disabilities toward accessing campus resources and making the MSU campus a friendly accessible environment, proposes to purchase and install talking signs on campus. As a starting point in the use of this technology, the Committee recommends placing the signs in a number of sites in the main library first floor and in the food court/bookstore area at the International Center.

With guidance from the ATC, the effectiveness, usefulness and other related factors for installing and using the Talking Sign technology will be jointly assessed by these individuals. Future development will be evaluated during the first year of its use and reported by the Accommodating Technology Committee of CCSAC.

Michael Hudson, MSU OPHS/DRC

Dr. Tom Hwang, Director of Orientation and Mobility Teacher Preparation Program, College of Education

Dr. John B. Eulenberg, Professor, Audiology and Speech Sciences

Stephen Blosser, Rehabiliation Engineer, OPHS/DRC and Artificial Language Lab

The Proposed Location for Demonstration Talking Signs

The transmitters would be tentatively located in the International Center and Main Library. These locations represent areas where, because of large open areas, blind students find special difficulty in navigation.

Proposed Funding for Talking Sign Demonstration Project

1.	Twenty-three Transmitters and 8 Receivers	$ 9,410.00
2.	Twenty-seven Rechargeable 9-volt Batteries @ $6	162.00
3.	Twenty-four Rechargeable 9-volt Batteries @ $1	24.00
4.	Four Battery Chargers @25	100.00
5.	Supplies	200.00
6.	Rehabilitation Engineering	4,000.00
7.	Physical Plant installation & maintenance	1,000.00
	Total, ATC Talking Sign Demonstration Project	$14,896.00