The primary objective of this project is to design and fabricate three-dimensional models that illustrate key structures and relations in biology and chemistry for use by visually-impaired students and scientists. The principal subject areas of focus are cellular physiological properties and biochemical/molecular processes of the cell. Ten stand-alone physical models representing key processes will be created and evaluated during the course of the project. An eleventh model that combines the periodic table of the elements and the chart of the nuclides into a three-dimensional tactile array will introduce students to fundamental principles in chemistry and physics and thus give a context for understanding more complex biological processes. The models created will be used as central study aids for visually-impaired students in beginning and intermediate level courses in general biology, cell biology, biochemistry, molecular biology, genetics, biophysics, and chemistry. Model design and fabrication will be carried out by a team of individuals from the scientific disciplines and specialists from the Department of Design and Industry. Audio tape descriptions and a research guide for each model will be developed to introduce the student both to the model and to its broader scientific implications. In addition, a speech recognition program that runs on a PC will be used to access and retrieve spoken information about individual model components. Prototype models will be fabricated, and a strategy will be developed to reproduce them inexpensively to enable blind students and scientists to acquire these models without significant financial hardship.

Agency
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Institute
Division of Human Resource Development (HRD)
Application #
9800281
Program Officer
Arthur Karshmer
Project Start
Project End
Budget Start
1998-06-01
Budget End
2003-05-31
Support Year
Fiscal Year
1998
Total Cost
$388,698
Indirect Cost
Name
San Francisco State University
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
San Francisco
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
94132