mallory@cs.utexas.edu (Rich Mallory) (06/25/91)
Index Number: 16388 [Note from Bill McGarry: This has been mentioned several times here but not with the entire brochure. Thank, Rich!] I recently received a brochure on this subject which I have typed in below. I don't read any of the handicap news groups but thought I would try to see that it got distributed to interested people. If this has not already been posted, could you post it to appropriate BBS's, newsgroups, etc., or tell me where I might post it? If you do post it, could you please tell me where, so I don't duplicate your posting. Thanks. I would appreciate any help you can give me. Note that the August 23, 1991, deadline is fast approaching. -- Rich Mallory Computer Science Department University of Texas, Austin TX 78712-1188 (512) 471-9575 mallory@cs.utexas.edu ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ THE JOHNS HOPKINS NATIONAL SEARCH FOR COMPUTING TO ASSIST PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES $10,000 GRAND PRIZE More than 100 other Awards: * Cash Prizes * Personal Computers * Certificates of Achievement STUDENTS - AMATEURS - PROFESSIONALS * Challenge Your Creativity * Put Your Innovative Ideas to Work * Help Millions of Persons with Disabilities Live More Productive and Rewarding Lives This Program is Made Possible by Grants from THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION and MCI COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION THE COMPETITION People with disabilities number in the tens of millions in the United States alone. COMPUTING TO ASSIST PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES (CAPD) is a national search to discover existing inventions and to inspire new ideas for the application of computing to meet the needs of children and adults with physical or learning disabilities. The potential applications are virtually unlimited. The creative individual has a unique opportunity to participate in this exciting program conducted by The Johns Hopkins University. This competition is supported by grants from the National Science Foundation and MCI Communications Corporation. APPROACH People interested or involved in the field of computing are encouraged to apply their imagination to ways and means by which these powerful tools may help in education; vocational training; special education; work; home and community environments; and leisure. Individual participants will be provided with an entry information kit specifying the submission format required for evaluation and judging. CLASS OF PARTICIPANTS To encourage submission of ideas from everyone who has access to a computer, judging categories will include Professionals; Amateurs (who may be professionals in any field other than computer science, engineering or programming); and Full-Time Students. Entrants may place themselves in the appropriate category, subject to validation by the judges on the basis of personal data submitted with each entry and personal interviews if the entry is a winner. CATEGORIES OF SUBMISSIONS Personal computing innovation may come in many different forms. The competition will attempt to categorize entries as: * Computer Based Devices -- Hardware invented or modified for the purpose, or working hardware and software that can demonstrate a new application. * Software Only -- Specialized software programs for standard computers. * Paper Design -- Written descriptions of ideas not yet implemented. Except for minor hardware introduction, it is desirable that off-the-shelf standard hardware and appropriate software be the basis for competition entries. DISABILITIES TO BE CONSIDERED Generally recognized disabilities are those related to vision, hearing and language, mental retardation, learning disabilities, neuromuscular or neurological disorders, and limitations of movement. However, in the broad sense, a disability can be any single or combination of limitations of functional capabilities including mobility, communications, self-care, and self-direction. EVALUATION AND JUDGING OF ENTRIES Highly qualified people form technical organizations, from groups devoted to education, research, and advocacy of persons with disabilities, and people who, themselves, have disabilities will evaluate entries on the basis of technical merit and functional promise. The decision of the judges will be final in all cases. AWARDS There will be over 100 awards including a $10,000 grand prize and many additional awards. A number of awards will be reserved for each of the 10 Federal regions of the United States. Contestants submitting the 10 best entries selected for the national awards will be invited to exhibit their entry at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., on an expense paid basis to receive their prizes, and participate in ceremonies and a workshop. GENERAL CONDITIONS * The Johns Hopkins National Search is limited to residents of the United States. * All invention rights will remain with the contestant. * The Johns Hopkins University and the sponsors of the competition will not be responsible for the confidentiality of the entries. * Each entrant must certify to the origination of the invention, i.e., that it is his or her own concept and is not known to infringe any patent or be the rightful property of any other person or organization. * Abstracts describing the winning entries will be published in the Competition Proceedings. * Entries must conform completely to instructions provided in the "Entry Information Kit." * Faculty, students and employees of The Johns Hopkins University and Hospital may participate in the competition but are not eligible for any of the competition prizes. ENTRY DEADLINE Entries must be received by AUGUST 23, 1991 to be considered. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ [Send this form to: Computing to Assist Persons with Disabilities P.O. Box 1200 Laurel, Maryland 20723] Please send Information Entry Kit to: (Please enclose a check or money order in the amount of $2.00 to cover the cost of the Entry Kit, mailing, and handling.) Name _______________________________________________________________________ Street _______________________________________________________________________ City ________________________________________ State _____ Zip ____________ Telephone ______________________________ (Check appropriate boxes [blanks]) DISABILITY AREA OF INTEREST ____ Vision ____ Learning Disabilities ____ Neurological ____ Movement ____ Hearing & Language ____ Mental Retardation ____ Other (describe:) ______________________________________________________ ENTRY DESCRIPTION ____ Device ____ Software only ____ Paper Design Please write two lines describing the entry you intend to submit. ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ INTENDED COMPETITION LEVEL 1 ____ Individual Computer Professional(s) (Organization Supported)* 2 ____ Individual Computer Professional(s) (Private) 3 ____ Amateur 4 ____ Full-Time Student 5 ____ Other (describe:) ____________________________________________________ * Inventor(s) and/or author(s) supported by an organization having rights to their intellectual property may enter their patented inventions and copyrighted creations, such as software, and other intellectual property if the submission has been approved by the organization.