Location
Holiday Inn, Manatee Rooms A & B
Start Date
25-4-1996 1:00 PM
End Date
25-4-1996 4:00 PM
Description
There are approximately 2 million people in the United States who cannot function normally in society due to vision impairment. Yet, most of these people retain some sight. Until recently available treatments were essentially unchanged from those available 50 years ago. Options included various hand magnifiers, colored lenses, and telescopes mounted to glasses. The one recent innovation was the development of a stand-mounted, closed-circuit television. Collectively, these aids were often of limited utility. For example a hand lens is of little value when walking, watching television or shopping.
As the result of a conscience decision the Wilmer Eye Institute, a part of The Johns Hopkins University, contacted NASA. They wished to learn if NASA had new technology that could help low vision patients. As a result in 1985 the two parties began working together, developing an aid for the vision handicapped.
Their efforts, along with that of many other organizations that subsequently joined, have created a system of technology that will have impact far beyond the original target population.
Paper Session III-C - The Low Vision Enhancement System: A Decade Long Technology Transfer Project
Holiday Inn, Manatee Rooms A & B
There are approximately 2 million people in the United States who cannot function normally in society due to vision impairment. Yet, most of these people retain some sight. Until recently available treatments were essentially unchanged from those available 50 years ago. Options included various hand magnifiers, colored lenses, and telescopes mounted to glasses. The one recent innovation was the development of a stand-mounted, closed-circuit television. Collectively, these aids were often of limited utility. For example a hand lens is of little value when walking, watching television or shopping.
As the result of a conscience decision the Wilmer Eye Institute, a part of The Johns Hopkins University, contacted NASA. They wished to learn if NASA had new technology that could help low vision patients. As a result in 1985 the two parties began working together, developing an aid for the vision handicapped.
Their efforts, along with that of many other organizations that subsequently joined, have created a system of technology that will have impact far beyond the original target population.
Comments
Transfer of Government Technology for Public Use
Session Chairman: Robert S. Cox, USAF, Director of Space Policy, Planning and Strategy, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Space
Session Organizer: Vickie Neal