Multimedia Literacy Software for Deaf, Hard-of-Hearing and Visual Learners
Award Information
Agency: Department of Education
Branch: N/A
Contract: H133S050137
Agency Tracking Number: H133S040099
Amount:
$74,907.00
Phase:
Phase I
Program:
SBIR
Awards Year:
2004
Solicitation Year:
2004
Solicitation Topic Code:
N/A
Solicitation Number:
84.133S1
Small Business Information
3452 Lake Lynda Drive, Suite 260, Orlando, FL, 32817
DUNS:
N/A
HUBZone Owned:
Y
Woman Owned:
N
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged:
Y
Principal Investigator
Name: Roush Daniel
Phone: (407) 737-7310
Email: DannyR@vcom3d.com
Phone: (407) 737-7310
Email: DannyR@vcom3d.com
Business Contact
Name: Edward Sims
Title: PD
Phone: (407) 737-7310
Email: DannyR@vcom3d.com
Title: PD
Phone: (407) 737-7310
Email: DannyR@vcom3d.com
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract
It is a well-documented fact that persons who are Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing (D/HH) have difficulty learning to read and write proficiently. The average Deaf high school graduate reads at only a third to fourth-grade level. Over the last decade, several software screen readers and literacy tools have been developed for persons with blindness and learning disabilities. However, to date, none of these tools has incorporated features and functions that specifically target the needs of the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing population. We envision a multimedia module that presents a highly detailed representation of an animated human that can: speak selected words and text segments, while demonstrating correct mouth movement to form speech sounds; translate selected words and phrases into American Sign Language (ASL) and/or Signed English; provide ASL definitions of selected English words and, assist students in vocabulary development by suggesting semantically related English words that are found via a sign description look-up search. Such a tool could extend to DIHH students many of the benefits of similar software currently available to other groups who have print disabilities. These benefits could, in turn, contribute significantly to closing the literacy and communication gap that leaves so many D/HH students behind. * Information listed above is at the time of submission. *