| "Supporting this link between UW-Madison and industry is something worthwhile." Trace Center Ergonomist Chris Law |
Ergonomist Chris Law (right) and Viking Engineering Manager Bill Heideman make entry systems more accessible. (Photo by Bob Rashid)
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Disabilities exist only because of the way the world is currently designed. The fact that someone is unable to see wouldn't be a burden on them if the products they use were accessible to people who have low vision or no vision."
Trace Center ergonomist Christopher Law's philosophy echoes the purpose of the UW-Madison College of Engineering. To help design a more usable world for all, the Trace Center developed EZ Access, a cross-product solution that makes everyday technology accessible for people who are aging or otherwise have functional limitations.
EZ Access operates on standard products, but adds inexpensive voice technology and enhancements to provide easier use by people who are blind, have low vision or hearing, physical or reading problems. In one application of this technology, the Trace Center is working with telecommunications company Viking Electronics in Hudson, Wisconsin, to build this cross-disability solution into entry systems.
In late 1999, Viking Electronics was invited by the City of San Francisco to discuss how public housing entry systems could be made accessible for individuals with sensory and physical impairments. After connecting with engineers and ergonomists at the Trace Center, Viking Electronics Engineering Manager Bill Heideman set forth to adapt a door entry system to include EZ Access.
"Viking Electronics makes about 100 different products right now, including apartment entry systems that are very simple to use," said Heideman. "In this project, we saw an opportunity to take our present technology and make it work in this new situation. We make apartment entry systems and digital voice announcers, so it was just a matter of marrying the two technologies. The Trace Center has been very helpful in outlining the necessary functions of this accessible product."
At this point in the collaboration, Viking Electronics and the Trace Center are refining and improving the various techniques used in the apartment entry system. "It is still very much a research effort at this point," said Law. "Eventually, we want to focus on production and implementation of this system. The mission of the Trace Center is to get as many products as we can in the public to be accessible for individuals with any type of disability. Working with more products and more companies like Viking Electronics helps us perfect a cross-product solution."
For Viking Electronics, the partnership with the College of Engineering means improved product research and development. "I think it would have gone a totally different direction — probably the wrong direction — if we had not worked with UW-Madison's Trace Center," explained Heideman. "It is very difficult for Viking Electronics to do real-life testing on a product, and I think that is a big advantage of working together."
Law explained that it is vital for university researchers to collaborate with companies, especially those in Wisconsin. "Supporting this link between the College of Engineering and industry is something worthwhile," said Law. "It's been a positive experience and we appreciate what we have learned by working with Viking Electronics. It's helping us meet the mission of UW-Madison's Trace Center."
--By Rebecca Smith--
| For further information, please contact: |
Chris Law, 608/263-8859
law@trace.wisc.edu
© Copyright 2001 The Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System
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Date last modified: Thursday, 31-May-2001 09:06:25 CDT
Date created: 31-May-2001
