In this project an automated microscope workstation will be specifically designed for students with mobility and visual impairments to independently operate all features of light microscopy. In a previous project an accessible microscopy workstation, called AccessScope, was developed to allow persons with mobility impairments to control a research light microscope without assistance through a personal computer, including loading slides. The PC became the user interface for controlling the microscope hardware and for displaying slide images in a live preview window via a video camera. Thus, the PC replaced the need to physically operate the microscopy workstation and view through microscope eyepieces. The AccessScope project demonstrated that independent control of microscopy was possible and useful for students with disabilities to actively participate in this laboratory technique. Intellectual Merit Technical advancements can provide AccessScope with even greater functionality and the capability to be independently operated by students with visual impairments. A standalone software application to control AccessScope and view slides will be developed in this proposed project. This new software application will provide features that other commercial applications, including the one used in the previous AccessScope project, do not offer. Better stage movement, theta rotation of slide images in real-time, and remote control of the AccessScope workstation through the internet will be available. Disabled students using a PC will be able to remotely control a publicly shared research-level light microscope from virtually anywhere. The graphical user interface of the AccessScope application will be designed to accommodate users with low vision and upper limb motor impairments. Design features of the user interface will include user definable shortcut keys, intuitive graphical buttons and analog controls, color filtering, and the ability to alter the user interface's color, size, and contrast. The AccessScope application will be compliant with different assistive technology input devices for users with mobility impairments and screen enlargers, magnifiers, and readers for users with visual impairments. The AccessScope application will be simple enough in design to be used by secondary and postsecondary students with disabilities yet powerful enough to be valuable for scientists. Broad Impact The goal of the AccessScope project is to allow students with mobility impairments or low vision to independently use a light microscope and be able to actively participate in the same learning experiences as their able-bodied peers. Microscopy is an essential tool in many STEM fields. Not only does microscopy allow disabled students to participate in laboratory courses, but the hands-on experience provides a greater understanding of the character of tissue specimens, how histology slides are created, and the physics of microscope optics including its limitations. Activity-based learning is critical for pursuing an undergraduate science education, graduate level research, and many careers in science and engineering. The AccessScope software program will allow students with disabilities to have complete control of commercially available microscope equipment. This program will be freely distributed to students and teachers in secondary and postsecondary institutions, thus decreasing the expense of developing an AccessScope workstation. In addition, a demonstration version of the application will also be available to allow users to evaluate AccessScope without commitment.
