Project Grant VC2020SAHAT04

This $274,999 National Science Foundation Project Grant under the Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships program aims to develop a wearable, computer vision-based, real-time Braille-to-speech learning device. Braillewear will receive funding to establish technical feasibility of a device that detects intricate textural patterns in a contactless approach and provides auditory feedback to augment mechanosensory learning. If successful, the technology could unlock the full potential of...

This National Science Foundation (NSF) Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships (CFDA 47.084) Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant for $305,000 awarded to A Cubed Design LLC, a limited liability company in Aurora, IL, aims to develop a novel, cost-effective, and user-repairable refreshable braille device. The project seeks to address the high costs and durability issues associated with existing refreshable braille technology, which limit braille literacy among the 7 million...

This $276,000 National Science Foundation Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships grant funds Objective ED, Inc. to develop a computer-based co-reading prototype for students with reading disabilities. The prototype will use cloud infrastructure and a user application to perform co-reading with students, validating reading accuracy and offering remediation for mistakes. It will allow teachers to customize lessons and monitor student progress using engaging book content. Data captured will...

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) awarded a $197,940 Project Grant on September 21, 2023 to Virtual Collaboration Research Inc. under the agency's Specially Adapted Housing Assistive Technology Grant Program (CFDA 64.051). The grant supports the development of READGPT, an AI-driven document analyzer and virtual assistant to aid blind veterans and servicemembers in living independently in adapted homes. Virtual Collaboration Research Inc. is a small, for-profit organization that...

This $749,685 National Science Foundation project grant under the Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships program (CFDA 47.084) will fund the development of an Automated, Integrated, Multimodal Software (AIMS) system to improve inclusive access to information for persons with disabilities. Saint Louis University leads a consortium that includes software companies Vital, Unar Labs, and Viewplus Technologies to build a unified framework for authoring, converting, and delivering accessible content...

This Project Grant award from the National Eye Institute (NEI), under the Vision Research program (CFDA 93.867), provides $306,462 to Ifocus Imaging LLC to develop a software platform, OCT-ART-DR, that will automate the diagnosis and staging of diabetic retinopathy (DR) using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) imaging and artificial intelligence. The key products to be delivered under this award include: Improved AI-based segmentation of OCTA image features relevant to DR, such as...

The National Eye Institute (NEI) awarded a $295,766 Project Grant (CFDA 93.867 - Vision Research) to Ther-Ai LLC to develop ILIGN, a smartphone application that uses artificial intelligence to perform automated pre-screening for ocular misalignment (strabismus), a leading cause of preventable blindness in children. The project aims to create a rapid, non-invasive, and low-cost tool that can identify strabismus without requiring specialized healthcare professionals or training. The key innovation...

This National Science Foundation (NSF) Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CFDA 47.070) Project Grant award of $140,758 to the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) aims to explore the feasibility of using teleoperated robotics to assist individuals with visual impairments. The key goals of this one-year project are to: 1) conduct surveys and interviews with visually impaired individuals to understand the challenges they face in employment and explore their interest in using...

This seven hundred forty-nine thousand nine hundred sixty dollar National Science Foundation project grant will fund the development of next-generation augmentative and alternative communication technology powered by artificial intelligence. Under the NSF's Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships program, the University of Arkansas will lead a collaborative effort with Temple University to spearhead a new generation of AI-powered AAC devices through December 2023. The project aims to enhance...

This $855,000 Project Grant award from the National Institute on Aging (CFDA 93.866 - Aging Research) supports the development and validation of AVA, an AI-powered, video-based mobile application for fall risk assessment of older adults. The project aims to create a more accessible and affordable solution compared to current technologies, which often require professional supervision and healthcare facility visits. The key objectives are to validate AVA's AI capabilities against motion capture...