mallory@cs.utexas.edu (Rich Mallory) (06/27/91)
The Johns Hopkins University, the National Science Foundation, and MCI
Communications Corp. are sponsoring a national contest for hardware,
software, or paper designs of ideas to assist persons with disabilities to use
computers to meet their needs. The grand prize is $10,000 and there are more
than 100 other awards. Separate awards will be made for amateurs,
professionals, and students. The submission deadline is soon --
August 23, 1991.
Also recently posted in newsgroup misc.handicap and in the Fidonet
conference ABLED. My key-in of the contest brochure follows.
--------------------
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.