Forum Proceedings

A primary goal of the T²RERC is to gather information on current technologies and to identify the needs for additional technology for a given disability area. The process involves a multi-step approach to gathering and consolidating market information to ensure that a systematic process is created for data collection. For each technology area, there are three distinct sections: the White Paper, Forum Data, and Problem Statements. A description of each section follows.

White Papers provide an introduction to the state of the current practice in visual impairment. They include information on unmet customer needs, market information, business opportunities, and technology state-of-the-practice for products now in the market. White Papers compliment the Industry Profile. The White Papers were provided to all participants prior to the Forum in order to establish a common knowledge base.

Forum Data is a summary of the statements obtained from group participants. Forum Data includes: priority customer needs, technology "state-of-the-practice" for products currently in the marketplace, requirements and performance specifications for sought-after technology and barriers that might prevent the development or transfer of the sought-after technology. Forum Data was derived from group transcripts, observer notes, and group summaries developed by the participants. Comments are logically grouped and paraphrased. Care has been taken to avoid distortion while providing information in a format that is clear, concise and unambiguous. A more complete description of Forum Protocols can be found in the Pre-Forum section of these Proceedings.

Problem Statements provide a brief introduction to the market and customer needs, the state-of-the-practice for technology in the marketplace and technology requirements. Technology requirements are disseminated to technology developers in the public (federal laboratories, research universities) and private (advanced technology manufacturers) sectors. Dissemination vehicles include: the T²RERC website (http://cosmos.buffalo.edu/aac), Federal Laboratory Locator Service, Federal Laboratory website (http://www.federallabs.org), Federal Laboratory newsletter (FLC NEWSLink) and NASA Technical Briefs (Readers Forum).

The pages that follow are an accounting of the information gathered during the Stakeholder Forum on Visual Impairment that was held in San Francisco, CA in 2003. The technology for visual impairment has been divided into four access areas that include consumer electronics, graphics, text, and wayfinding. Each technology area includes a White Paper, the forum data, and problem statements based on needs identified by the focus group participants.

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