Sent: Thursday, December 06, 2007 8:45 PM Subject: [Blindtlk] Fwd: Visually Impaired Students Study Math Using Innovative Software
> >> >>04 December 2007 >> >> >> >>Visually Impaired Students Study Math Using Innovative Software >> >>Sighted kids also benefit from hearing equations via MathTrax program >>math graph >> >>MathTrax allows visually impaired students to >>"hear" complex math graphs like this one. (Courtesy NASA) >> >>By Jeffrey Thomas >>USINFO Staff Writer >> >>Washington * Until recently, blind and visually >>impaired students found it extremely difficult to >>study certain subjects and pursue careers in >>science and technology because they could not see >>graphs and other visual representations. But now, >>a team at NASA has created easy-to-use software >>that allows students to graph equations, interact >>with the data and understand it all through text, tones and spoken >>language. >> >>The program, MathTrax, transforms graphs and >>equations in real-time into words, so students >>have multiple ways to process complex >>information. "For blind and low vision kids ... >>MathTrax provides a tool for them to work along >>with their sighted peers in their math and >>science classes," says Robert Shelton, a blind >>NASA mathematician who worked with Terry Hodgson >>and Stephanie Smith on the development of MathTrax. >> >>Shelton realized that "even now, when modern >>assistive technology should be opening doors to >>STEM [science, technology, engineering and math] >>careers, many otherwise capable blind students >>are steered away from the math and science >>courses which could provide the basis for further >>education, employment and independence." >> >>His team at NASA had "a long history of >>developing innovative educational technology >>applications such as games, simulations and >>knowledge discovery tools, and we saw the >>development of an accessible math tool as a way >>that our efforts could make a large difference >>for an otherwise underserved population." >> >>NASA management "absolutely loved the idea" when >>Shelton's team proposed it, he said. "NASA's core >>business is very different from what we do, but >>it is generally understood that enlarging the >>STEM pipeline is critical, not only to NASA's >>mission, but to the long-term security and prosperity of our >>civilization." >> >>"Like all other educational technology projects >>at NASA, we have to compete for resources and we >>operate on a shoestring [budget], but NASA has a >>proud history of trying innovative ideas that >>work, and MathTrax is definitely one of those," Shelton said. >> >>At a NASA science camp for students with vision >>impairments called "Rocket On," students used >>MathTrax for dealing with rocketry for mission >>planning, trajectory planning and data analysis. >> >>"There was no other tool on the planet that would >>have let them do that rocket camp without an >>engineer helping them," Shelton said in a NASA >>article on the camp. "And this year the kids did it [on their own]." >> >>Besides analyzing rocket launches, kids also can >>use MathTrax to do things like study ozone >>change, illustrate air and sea interactions, >>study rainfall distribution, forecast ecosystem >>changes, investigate the nature of black holes, >>explore the expansion of space, estimate solar >>activity, model solar wind, compare body >>adaptations to microgravity, track the effects of >>space radiation and represent and model scientific information. >> >>MathTrax received an education award from the >>Tech Museum of Innovation at a ceremony November >>7 in San Jose, California. The award was based on >>the recommendation of an international panel of >>judges. In 2006, MathTrax was the runner-up for NASA Software of the Year. >> >>MATHTRAX ALSO VALUABLE FOR SIGHTED STUDENTS >> >>MathTrax can be helpful to, and deepen the >>mathematical understanding of, all types of >>students. In fact, "we have a wealth of anecdotal >>evidence that the majority of our users are >>sighted," Shelton told USINFO. "We are over >>100,000 downloads now, and I'm pretty sure that >>most of those people can see. Failure to complete >>basic algebra is a multibillion a year problem in >>the United States and a tool like MathTrax can >>make a difference to anyone who has issues with graphical concepts." >> >>Most math students are familiar with graphing >>calculators, which turn mathematical equations >>into visual forms. MathTrax presents the equation >>in additional ways, providing a text description >>and an audio version of the graph, with sounds >>that correlate to the visual image. >> >>One of the most fascinating aspects of the >>software is that a student actually can hear the >>music of certain equations. "They'll see how >>equations look if they're looking at it," >>according to Shelton. "They'll hear how they sound if they're >>listening to it." >> >>"MathTrax demonstrates how graphing software can >>be made more accessible to everyone. We've made >>the technology available, worldwide, with the >>Open Source release of the Math Description >>Engine Software Development Kit. We hope that >>industry and researchers will build on the >>technology and apply it as widely as possible." >> >>There is a proposal pending to produce a >>Spanish-language version of MathTrax, Shelton said. >> >>< http://prime.jsc.nasa.gov/mathtrax >MathTrax can >>be downloaded for free from the NASA Web site. >> >>(USINFO is produced by the Bureau of >>International Information Programs, U.S. >>Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov) >> > > David Andrews and white cane Harry. > To unsubscribe send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the subject unsubscribe. 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