SBIR Phase II: Artificial Intelligence Software to Tutor Literary Braille to the Blind and Visually Impaired

这个小型企业创新研究（SBIR）第二阶段项目的重点是开发第一个人工智能（AI）教育软件，以指导盲人/视障学生的盲文。盲文是盲人书面交流的主要媒介，盲文识字率急剧下降，对学习成绩、日常生活能力和就业机会产生了负面影响。将经过验证的有效人工智能技术带到桌面上的能力，在特殊教育领域是前所未有的，将在为所有学生提供公平的教育机会方面产生有意义的影响，因为该项目直接涉及基本识字问题。拟议的干预措施是一个基于互联网的适应性学习系统，在学校和家庭的普通教育和特殊教育期间按需提供专家指导。该软件是对现有课程的补充，使用标准的无障碍技术，并直接与现有课程相结合。除了改善学生的学习成果外，该项目还包括支持主流教师和视障教师。为了确保该产品在现实世界中的有效性，将与教师/TVIs进行持续的形成性评估，并将在第二年的实地研究中衡量学生的成果。该项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力将是有史以来第一个基于人工智能的盲文教育软件，通过互联网按需提供。预期的影响是，学生实现识字，并能够在更高的水平上表现（如学术、日常生活、就业），从而提高生活质量和增加社会贡献。为了产生影响，该产品必须是负担得起的，对不同学习环境中的不同人群有效，易于使用，在非正式和正式教育环境中方便的时间和地点容易获得。在NIH支持的SBIR研究中，Quantum成功创建了有史以来第一个基于AI的教育软件，可供盲人使用（化学和数学）。此外，Quantum还使用企业对企业的许可模式，将化学和会计领域的独特人工智能技术申请专利并商业化，为教育公司提供了率先上市和强大的可持续优势。这种模式吸引了整个教育供应商，提供了突破性的技术，可以增加客户的市场份额，并快速传播给最终用户。在这个项目中，Quantum将与拥有既定渠道的组织合作，这些组织将软件作为在线服务分发，例如该项目的合作伙伴美国盲人印刷所。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project focuses on developing the first artificial intelligence (AI) educational software to tutor literary Braille to blind/visually impaired students. Braille is the primary medium for written communication for persons who are blind and there has been a dramatic decline in Braille literacy, negatively impacting academic performance, ability to navigate the everyday world and employment opportunities. The ability to bring proven effective AI technology to the table, which is unprecedented in this area of special education, will make a meaningful difference in providing equitable education opportunities to all students, as this project speaks directly to issues of basic literacy. The proposed intervention is an Internet-based adaptive learning system that provides expert instruction on demand during general and special education at school and at home. The software is supplemental to existing curricula, uses standard accessibility technology and integrates directly with existing lessons. In addition to improving learning outcomes for students, this project also includes support for mainstream teachers and teachers of the visually impaired (TVIs). To ensure the product is effective in real-world settings, ongoing formative evaluations with teachers/TVIs will be conducted and student outcomes will be measured during a year two field study.The broader impact/commercial potential of this project will be the first-ever Braille education software based on AI, delivered on-demand through the Internet. The anticipated impact is that students achieve literacy and are able to perform at a higher level (e.g. academics, daily living, employment) resulting in improved quality of life and increased societal contributions. To have an impact, the product must be affordable, effective for a heterogeneous population in diverse learning environments, easy to use and easily accessed at convenient times and locations in informal and formal educational settings. In SBIR research supported by NIH, Quantum has successfully created the first-ever AI-based educational software that is accessible to the blind (in chemistry and mathematics). Furthermore, Quantum has patented and commercialized unique AI technologies in chemistry and accounting using a business-to-business licensing model that provides educational companies with first-to-market and strong sustainable advantages. This model engages the entire spectrum of educational vendors, offering breakthrough technology that permits increased market share for customers and rapid dissemination to end users. For this project, Quantum will partner with organizations with established channels, who distribute the software as an online service, such as the American Printing House for the Blind, a partner on this project.