Researchers at the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center for Wireless Inclusive Technologies (Wireless RERC) have conducted a review of representative applications and examples of currently available wearable and connected technologies. Drawing on the findings, the research brief explores the potential impact of inclusive design principles on future device development for users with disabilities – a critical approach to ensuring that these technologies truly meet the needs of this target population.

Paul M.A. Baker was an invited Visiting Scholar at the School of Economics and Management at Beihang University, in Beijing China. He worked with faculty and doctoral students in several areas: policy approaches to broadening participation in STEM disciplines including people with disabilities, workforce innovation and postsecondary education, and technology and the “Future of Work." Beihang University, focused on engineering science and technology, is one of the ten highest ranking engineering universities in China.

Paul M.A. Baker was a panelist on the "How Fiber Broadband Drives Education, Skill and Workforce Requirements… And How It Helps Meet Those Needs” panel, at the "Fiber for a New Economy” 2017 Economic Development Conference, Atlanta, GA, November 8, 2017.

CACP researchers Helena Mitchell, Nathan Moon and Salimah LaForce presented papers at the 2016 CSUN Conference.  The 2016 CSUN Conference was held in San Diego, CA from March 21 to March 26, 2016 at the Manchester Grand Hyatt Hotel.  (In photo above, Helena met with Charles McCobb (FEMA) and Richard Ray (NENA) at CSUN.)

CACP researchers presented at three different sessions.

Nathan Moon presented, "Virtual Worlds for Supporting STEM Education and Workforce Development," for the Education session,

February 9, 2016 - In 2014, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Science and Technology (S&T) Directorate funded the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech), Center for Advanced Communications Policy to examine and report on how to optimize Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) message receipt by people with disabilities. Reaching people with disabilities, including the deaf and hard of hearing, with WEA messages is critical, in part because people with disabilities utilize and depend on wireless devices, including mobile phones at more than 96 percent.

Christina Touzet traveled to New Orleans, LA to present a poster, EAS & WEA: Does the new alerting technology improve accessibility? at RES/CON 2016 (formerly the International Disaster Conference and Expo (IDCE) March 1-3, 2016.  Christina presented the results of research activities which were conducted to examine the effectiveness of EAS and WEA to provide alerts to people with disabilities.  Specifically, the Wireless RERC conducted comparative analyses of the awareness of EAS and WEA messages, the accessibility of the two systems, as well as the types of protective actions

Paul M.A. Baker moderated the "What Works: Dimensions of Accessibility and Participation” panel at the Symposium on the Science of Broadening Participation (SoBP), sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF), February 25 - 26 in Arlington, Virginia. The symposium addressed development of a qualified science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workforce in the U.S., with particular attention to the under-representation of minorities, women, and persons with disabilities.

Helena Mitchell attended the 61st Annual Convention & 14th Annual Festival of Media Arts Conference (NAB/BEA) in Las Vegas on April 17-20, 2016.  She also visited FEMA team at the convention.

Dalton Nechanicky, Research Assistant at CACP, presented his senior project on redesigning a commercial products warehouse for UPS Supply Chain Solutions at the Senior Design Expo on Tuesday, April 26, 2016 at Georgia Tech's McCamish.  There was also other Senior Design projects from the Mechanical, Electrical, Aerospace and Biomedical engineering schools where cool robots and new airplane designs were displayed.

CACP researchers, Salimah LaForce and Christina Touzet, presented a poster on Emergency Alert System (EAS) vs.