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March 30, 2006
New technology helps students at RU
It's the high tech approach to helping students who are hearing impaired. Radford University student Taylor Walls, is the first on campus to use a special telecommunications system. It lets her know what the professor is saying without having a live interpreter.
The interpreter hears what the professor is saying through a microphone on Taylor's laptop.... and then signs to Taylor via a live web camera. JoAnn Stephens-Forrest, coordinator of the Disabilities Resource office on campus, says full time and part time interpreters are difficult to find, so the school decided to hire an agency; Sign Language Associates to help meet that need.
And it's all very new, this is the first semester the school's tried the new technology.
Along with Taylor, the university is also learning on how to better use the technology, to make it more efficient, for both the student and the professors.
They're even thinking of adding wireless microphones for the professors to use so they can move around in the classroom.
Taylor says she's found the system so helpful, she hopes other students who're hearing impaired can use the new technology.
Radford may soon not be alone when it comes to the new technology. The telecommunications system will be presented to other colleges and universities at the hotel Roanoke and Conference center this Friday.
By Rosa Duarte
http://www.wsls.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=WSLS%2FMGArticle%2FSLS_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1137835030224
Posted by 4HL on March 30, 2006 7:56 AM
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