AccessScope project: Independent microscope operation for students with mobility and visual impairments

项目摘要在这个项目中，一个自动化的显微镜工作站将专门为有行动能力和视觉障碍的学生设计，以独立操作光学显微镜的所有功能.在以前的一个项目中，开发了一个无障碍显微镜工作站，称为显微镜，使行动不便的人能够通过个人电脑在没有帮助的情况下控制研究光学显微镜，包括装载载玻片。PC成为控制显微镜硬件和通过摄像机在实时预览窗口中显示载玻片图像的用户界面。因此，PC取代了物理操作显微镜工作站和通过显微镜目镜观察的需要。智能显微镜项目表明，独立控制显微镜是可能的，并有助于残疾学生积极参与这项实验室技术。智力优势技术的进步可以为智能显微镜提供更大的功能和能力，使视力障碍的学生能够独立操作。一个独立的软件应用程序来控制scope和查看幻灯片将在这个拟议的项目。这一新的软件应用程序将提供其他商业应用程序（包括以前的ESCope项目中使用的应用程序）所不具备的功能。更好的载物台移动，实时幻灯片图像的theta旋转，以及通过互联网远程控制的显微镜工作站将是可用的。使用PC的残疾学生将能够从几乎任何地方远程控制公共共享的研究级光学显微镜。将设计内窥镜应用程序的图形用户界面，以适应有低视力和上肢运动障碍的用户。用户界面的设计功能将包括用户可定义的快捷键、直观的图形按钮和模拟控件、颜色过滤以及更改用户界面颜色、大小和对比度的能力。对于有行动障碍的用户，ESCope应用程序将兼容不同的辅助技术输入设备，对于有视觉障碍的用户，则兼容屏幕放大器、放大镜和阅读器。该项目的目标是让有行动障碍或低视力的学生能够独立使用光学显微镜，并能够积极参与到与健全同龄人相同的学习体验中。显微镜是许多STEM领域的重要工具。不仅显微镜允许残疾学生参加实验室课程，但实践经验提供了一个更好的理解组织标本的特点，如何组织学幻灯片创建，以及显微镜光学的物理学，包括其局限性。基于活动的学习是追求本科科学教育，研究生水平的研究，以及许多科学和工程方面的职业。该显微镜软件程序将允许残疾学生完全控制商业上可用的显微镜设备。该程序将免费分发给中学和中学后教育机构的学生和教师，从而减少开发一个可扩展范围工作站的费用。此外，还将提供该应用程序的演示版本，允许用户在不承担任何责任的情况下评估TMS320C.Scope。

PROJECT SUMMARYIn this project an automated microscope workstation will be specifically designed forstudents with mobility and visual impairments to independently operate all features of lightmicroscopy. In a previous project an accessible microscopy workstation, called AccessScope,was developed to allow persons with mobility impairments to control a research light microscopewithout assistance through a personal computer, including loading slides. The PC became theuser interface for controlling the microscope hardware and for displaying slide images in a livepreview window via a video camera. Thus, the PC replaced the need to physically operate themicroscopy workstation and view through microscope eyepieces. The AccessScope projectdemonstrated that independent control of microscopy was possible and useful for students withdisabilities to actively participate in this laboratory technique.Intellectual MeritTechnical advancements can provide AccessScope with even greater functionality andthe capability to be independently operated by students with visual impairments. A standalonesoftware application to control AccessScope and view slides will be developed in this proposedproject. 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 workstationthrough the internet will be available. Disabled students using a PC will be able to remotelycontrol a publicly shared research-level light microscope from virtually anywhere. The graphicaluser interface of the AccessScope application will be designed to accommodate users with lowvision and upper limb motor impairments. Design features of the user interface will include userdefinable shortcut keys, intuitive graphical buttons and analog controls, color filtering, and theability to alter the user interface's color, size, and contrast. The AccessScope application will becompliant with different assistive technology input devices for users with mobility impairmentsand screen enlargers, magnifiers, and readers for users with visual impairments. TheAccessScope application will be simple enough in design to be used by secondary andpostsecondary students with disabilities yet powerful enough to be valuable for scientists.Broad ImpactThe goal of the AccessScope project is to allow students with mobility impairments orlow vision to independently use a light microscope and be able to actively participate in the samelearning experiences as their able-bodied peers. Microscopy is an essential tool in many STEMfields. Not only does microscopy allow disabled students to participate in laboratory courses, butthe 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, graduatelevel research, and many careers in science and engineering.The AccessScope software program will allow students with disabilities to have completecontrol of commercially available microscope equipment. This program will be freely distributedto students and teachers in secondary and postsecondary institutions, thus decreasing the expenseof developing an AccessScope workstation. In addition, a demonstration version of theapplication will also be available to allow users to evaluate AccessScope without commitment.