Blind and Visually Impaired Community
↑
33
↓
Summer Research Opportunity for CS Student who is Blind or Visually Impaired (self.Blind)
submitted by SnooStories1525
Hi Folks,
My apologies in advance if there is a more suitable place to post this job opportunity.
I am a professor of Computer Science at Olin College of Engineering (a small, undergraduate-only college in the Boston Area). My research area is in assistive technology for orientation and mobility. As part of this work, my group developed and released the Clew app for route recording and indoor navigation.
This summer I have funding to hire students to work with me on research projects that will use augmented reality technology on smartphones to create assistive technology for people who are blind or visually impaired. My funding is from the National Science Foundation and I specifically carved out part of the budget to hire a student who is blind or visually impaired to work on the project. To be clear, I am hiring this student to work on developing the technology (not as a co-designer or tester). Also, I have experience working with students who are blind or visually impaired (which I mention only to say that I’m familiar with strategies / practices to make the work environment accessible regardless of one’s degree of functional vision).
Students will receive a stipend for their 10 weeks of work (around $5K in total) and housing will be included at no charge. The time frame of the work will be the beginning of June to early August. It seems likely that the work will happen on Olin’s campus, but of course the pandemic could change things. If the work does happen on Olin’s campus, we have a comprehensive testing plan and well-established safety protocols in place.
To participate, students should be proficient in at least one imperative programming language (Java, C++, Python are all good starting points). Experience in mobile app development is a big plus, but is not required. Experience in user-centered design is also a big plus, and a desire to learn and develop such skills over the summer is a requirement (you must be excited to work with end-users as part of the internship).
I’m hoping that there may be someone on this list that would be interested in this opportunity. Alternatively, maybe someone could suggest another venue to post this message?
Thanks in advance for any interest or help finding the right venue for this,
Paul Ruvolo
Olin College of Engineering
Paul.Ruvolo@olin.edu
My apologies in advance if there is a more suitable place to post this job opportunity.
I am a professor of Computer Science at Olin College of Engineering (a small, undergraduate-only college in the Boston Area). My research area is in assistive technology for orientation and mobility. As part of this work, my group developed and released the Clew app for route recording and indoor navigation.
This summer I have funding to hire students to work with me on research projects that will use augmented reality technology on smartphones to create assistive technology for people who are blind or visually impaired. My funding is from the National Science Foundation and I specifically carved out part of the budget to hire a student who is blind or visually impaired to work on the project. To be clear, I am hiring this student to work on developing the technology (not as a co-designer or tester). Also, I have experience working with students who are blind or visually impaired (which I mention only to say that I’m familiar with strategies / practices to make the work environment accessible regardless of one’s degree of functional vision).
Students will receive a stipend for their 10 weeks of work (around $5K in total) and housing will be included at no charge. The time frame of the work will be the beginning of June to early August. It seems likely that the work will happen on Olin’s campus, but of course the pandemic could change things. If the work does happen on Olin’s campus, we have a comprehensive testing plan and well-established safety protocols in place.
To participate, students should be proficient in at least one imperative programming language (Java, C++, Python are all good starting points). Experience in mobile app development is a big plus, but is not required. Experience in user-centered design is also a big plus, and a desire to learn and develop such skills over the summer is a requirement (you must be excited to work with end-users as part of the internship).
I’m hoping that there may be someone on this list that would be interested in this opportunity. Alternatively, maybe someone could suggest another venue to post this message?
Thanks in advance for any interest or help finding the right venue for this,
Paul Ruvolo
Olin College of Engineering
Paul.Ruvolo@olin.edu
[deleted] 8 points 2y ago
[deleted]
SnooStories1525 [OP] 2 points 2y ago
Thanks so much for the kind comment.
1BlindNinja 5 points 2y ago
Hi, wishing I had done coding instead of Psychology!
Can I suggest the “Blind and visually impaired Support Group” as it has a good variety of VIs who have links to others.
Take care and if I may suggest, consideration into development of apps with programmable BT remotes for notes in lecturing, as I am a qualified teacher, and find working off a touch screen device whilst delivering content is a recipe for disaster - as one wrong contact throws the focus off. Especially now for remote delivery through MS Teams/Zoom, to activate different functions involves swiping all over the show to find where you need to tap!
....Please and thank you! All the very best
Can I suggest the “Blind and visually impaired Support Group” as it has a good variety of VIs who have links to others.
Take care and if I may suggest, consideration into development of apps with programmable BT remotes for notes in lecturing, as I am a qualified teacher, and find working off a touch screen device whilst delivering content is a recipe for disaster - as one wrong contact throws the focus off. Especially now for remote delivery through MS Teams/Zoom, to activate different functions involves swiping all over the show to find where you need to tap!
....Please and thank you! All the very best
SnooStories1525 [OP] 2 points 2y ago
Sounds very interesting. I'd love to hear more. Are you saying that someone would use a Bluetooth device to take notes while they are using a touch-screen based device on Zoom?
1BlindNinja 1 points 2y ago
Not exactly. When delivering classes (I taught mathematics to sighted students up to 1 1/2Hrs & now deliver virtual workshops for employability skills to groups of 30+ participants for minimum 2Hrs) it is a form of keeping in sync with your Powerpoint presentation. I remember delivering a seminar to a class of Educational Psychology students with a PP and using my iPhone for my notes. All was going well, but I hit the screen by accident and it reverted to the top of my notes. As I only use key words as a prompt, I had to scroll through my phone to get where I had gotten to. A programmable remote would be fantastic to hit a button to advance to the next line,or keynote slide to keep the flow going. I use either Apple Airpods and/or bone conduction headphones, Trex Air, allowing audio feedback from phone (in ear) and computer (bone conduction).
For virtual workshops, going into breakout rooms, Polls, dropping evaluation links in the chat is all fiddly, as the focus switches as the screen changes (participants videos etc. Currently I use my iPhone for the Zoom/Teams and both inear and bone conduction for the audio feedback from Zoom on phone and slideshow on my laptop.
I am looking to change my career towards delivering Cognitive Therapy Based around meditation, and as I will be delivering globally, I’m after a user-friendly solution!
As a totally blind person, I push the envelope, I designed, managed the build and wired the 3500sq’ chalet house, rebuilt the brake system on a classic car, flaring brake and fuel pipelines, use petrol chainsaws, power tools, etc etc, and try to problem solve where I can. Currently tech is holding a lot of us blind ..(I don’t know what term to use here, ambassadors sounds too grand; trend setters sounds too cliche)... but yes, forward thinking tech would open up a lot of careers which are just not achievable due to the lack of powerful solutions.
So, a small pocket sized remote to have, which could be programmed for several apps, navigation (look around; set beacon, reverse route etc) Zoom (join breakout room/exit, raise/lower hand, chat, etc) Teams (similar to Zoom) and integration to camera mounted glasses with AI like Seeing AI for document, people ID, scene etc. Move up/down page line by line in a Word/Excel doc for delivering lectures/workshops. I know, it is a big wish list, but I am sure the benefits would open up opportunities for many blind/VI individuals. Sorry for the total War & Peace, but this is all something I am passionate about, having supported SEN students at Fe and HE. Take care and if I can assist further, happy to do so.
For virtual workshops, going into breakout rooms, Polls, dropping evaluation links in the chat is all fiddly, as the focus switches as the screen changes (participants videos etc. Currently I use my iPhone for the Zoom/Teams and both inear and bone conduction for the audio feedback from Zoom on phone and slideshow on my laptop.
I am looking to change my career towards delivering Cognitive Therapy Based around meditation, and as I will be delivering globally, I’m after a user-friendly solution!
As a totally blind person, I push the envelope, I designed, managed the build and wired the 3500sq’ chalet house, rebuilt the brake system on a classic car, flaring brake and fuel pipelines, use petrol chainsaws, power tools, etc etc, and try to problem solve where I can. Currently tech is holding a lot of us blind ..(I don’t know what term to use here, ambassadors sounds too grand; trend setters sounds too cliche)... but yes, forward thinking tech would open up a lot of careers which are just not achievable due to the lack of powerful solutions.
So, a small pocket sized remote to have, which could be programmed for several apps, navigation (look around; set beacon, reverse route etc) Zoom (join breakout room/exit, raise/lower hand, chat, etc) Teams (similar to Zoom) and integration to camera mounted glasses with AI like Seeing AI for document, people ID, scene etc. Move up/down page line by line in a Word/Excel doc for delivering lectures/workshops. I know, it is a big wish list, but I am sure the benefits would open up opportunities for many blind/VI individuals. Sorry for the total War & Peace, but this is all something I am passionate about, having supported SEN students at Fe and HE. Take care and if I can assist further, happy to do so.
TheBlindCreative 2 points 2y ago
I am not a tech expert, so you can take my words with a grain of salt. There are various types of remote control devices that people with physical disabilities use to operate computers, tablets and smartphones. I have heard that you can program these devices with custom shortcuts. Could this meet your needs?
1BlindNinja 1 points 2y ago
I will take a look, typically a lot have too much on them and are very expensive. Thanks and I will explore 😊
changeneverhappens 4 points 2y ago
I may have a student who might be interested- I'll email her to see of shes fluent in any programming languages.
SnooStories1525 [OP] 1 points 2y ago
Okay, sounds great.
Rethunker 2 points 2y ago
Hi, Paul. Is there a public link to the internship position that I could share with my network?
Two years ago I met two Olin students who demonstrated the Clew app to me. (I’m sighted, but I work in assistive tech, too.) I’m most keen to learn about further developments!
For those who many not know, Olin is a fantastic engineering school. I hope one day to have the resources to hire a fresh grad.
Two years ago I met two Olin students who demonstrated the Clew app to me. (I’m sighted, but I work in assistive tech, too.) I’m most keen to learn about further developments!
For those who many not know, Olin is a fantastic engineering school. I hope one day to have the resources to hire a fresh grad.
SnooStories1525 [OP] 2 points 2y ago
I don't have one, but I should certainly make one. I had a few people e-mail asking if this was legit! I think having a public website would be best. Let me create that and get back to you. I did hear from those students that they had met you when they visited VIBUG (that's where they met you right?)
Rethunker 1 points 2y ago
Yup, we met at VIBUG.
Once VIBUG meets in person again, the campus building where they meet could be a good test site.
Once VIBUG meets in person again, the campus building where they meet could be a good test site.
ShoshanaLi 2 points 2y ago
This sounds like a great idea! I am an undergrad proficient in Python (more in the realm of physics and astronomy, though), and although I have a position for this summer, I’m excited to hopefully hear more about where this project goes in the future!
If you want, I could reach out to a few VI & blind friends of mine to see if they would be interested?
If you want, I could reach out to a few VI & blind friends of mine to see if they would be interested?
SnooStories1525 [OP] 1 points 2y ago
That would be great! Thank you so much. Congrats on your summer position!
PungentMushrooms 2 points 2y ago
A route recording application sounds like a brilliant idea. I've seen a lot of ill-conceived startups and accessibility gadgets out there but this actually has potential
SnooStories1525 [OP] 1 points 2y ago
There are some definitely interesting possibilities that are starting to open up with the introduction of augmented reality technology. If Apple ever comes out with their AR glasses, then I think the tech will really take off (unlocking many possibilities for increasing access to physical spaces for people who are blind or visually impaired). In the meantime though, I still think there are lots of promising things we can do that will have a positive impact.
codeofdusk 1 points 2y ago
I’m a third year CS student at Swarthmore but have an internship with Microsoft this summer! Would be glad to help remotely though at another time if you need.
Sidenote: I learned Python through Allen Downey’s *Think Python* and often recommend it as a starting point for others learning to program! I self-studied it a few years ago with a blind friend /u/graham87!
Sidenote: I learned Python through Allen Downey’s *Think Python* and often recommend it as a starting point for others learning to program! I self-studied it a few years ago with a blind friend /u/graham87!
SnooStories1525 [OP] 1 points 2y ago
Congrats on the internship! I spent about a year around the TriCo as a teaching post doc at Bryn Mawr. I'd love to get in touch with you directly to chat (even if summer won't work out). I'm kind of a novice with Reddit. Is the best way to connect directly through e-mail?
codeofdusk 1 points 2y ago
Sent you an email.
zersiax 1 points 2y ago
Oh wow ...I'd help, but I'm in the Netherlands and don't really have the chance to disappear for 10 weeks. Let me know if a fully remote arrangement can ever be made, though. Fully blind programmer / eternal student here :)
SnooStories1525 [OP] 1 points 2y ago
It's definitely possible. I need to double check that my funding can cover this.
zersiax 1 points 2y ago
Ok, keep me posted :)
This nonprofit website is run by volunteers.
Please contribute if you can. Thank you!
Our mission is to provide everyone with access to large-
scale community websites for the good of humanity.
Without ads, without tracking, without greed.
scale community websites for the good of humanity.
Without ads, without tracking, without greed.
©2023 HumbleCat Inc • HumbleCat is a 501(c)3 nonprofit based in Michigan, USA.