Wireless RERC News

February 2014 — The Wireless RERC submitted reply comment to the Federal Communication Commission’s (FCC) Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM): In the Matter of Accessibility of User Interfaces, and Programming Guides and Menus and Accessible Emergency Information and Apparatus Requirements for Emergency Information and Video Description: Implementation of the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010. The FNPRM requested input on defining the scope of Sections 204 and 205 of the Twenty First Communications and Video Accessibility Act

February 2014 — Wireless RERC researcher, Jim Mueller, introduced the 5^th annual “Getting Wireless” universal design challenge to 29 second-year Industrial Design students at Virginia Tech (VT).  Along with the VT students, 40 second-year and 19 third-year Industrial Design students at GA Tech will begin the challenge in March.  The theme of the 2014 “Getting Wireless” challenge is wearable technologies.  Hands-on demonstrations of Google Glass will be provided to the students at the beginning of the project to offer them a starting point and encourage them to consider the divers

Today, AT&T Foundation announced a $50,000 contribution to Shepherd Center to assist researchers in the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center for Wireless Technologies (Wireless RERC) in launching a series of seminars to help consumers with disabilities uncover the range of accessibility features found on their mobile devices. Seminars are scheduled for five cities – Atlanta, Ga., Austin and Dallas, Texas, Chicago, Ill., and Washington, D.C. – throughout this spring and summer. 

November 25, 2013 — Each year, the Wireless RERC’s App Factory invites experienced organizations or individual developers based in the U.S. to submit proposals for financial support to develop assistive and/or accessibility apps which can be used to enhance the utility and usability of wireless products and services for customers with and without disabilities. Following a call for proposals earlier this year, the App Factory is proud to announce that five apps have been selected for development during the 2013-2014 grant year.  The apps selected for development include:

Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) can be received on cell phones across the country. These alerts are automatic, provide AMBER alerts, and weather emergency notifications. Unlike text alerts you may receive from your city, county, or institution, you do not have to sign-up to receive WEA messages.

The Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center for Wireless Technologies (Wireless RERC) is interested in your level of awareness of WEA messages. This survey will also help us understand how accessible and useful you think they are.