Grant Closed

Rocket Reader: A Simplified PDA-based Portable Reading System for Enabling Access to Audio Books and Electronic Documents for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities

NCSER

Program: Small Business Innovation Research

Award amount: $500,000

Principal investigator: Daniel Davies

Awardee:

AbleLink Technologies

Year: 2005

Award period: 2 years (07/01/2005 - 06/30/2007)

Project type:

Phase II Development

Award number: R305S050070

Purpose

Many students with disabilities have difficulty reading and thus cannot independently access texts that serve as the basis for instruction and for engagement. The purpose of this project is to develop Rocket Reader, a set of accessible palmtop and desktop computer based reading programs to enable self-directed access to electronic materials in a variety of formats, including audio books, text documents, and documents created in the NIMAS and DAISY XML formats.

Project Activities

Technological development includes identifying system requirements, developing a prototype, and producing the final platform. The research team will conduct an initial evaluation of the product in Kansas and Missouri middle schools.

People and institutions involved

IES program contact(s)

Edward Metz

Education Research Analyst

NCER

Products and publications

Products: Products will include two versions of the Rocket Reader program, one for use on desktop, tablet, and ultra-mobile computers and a second version for use on Pocket PC computers to enable access to resources from nearly any location. Additional software tools include Book Builder for creating accessible multimedia books and Library Builder for managing personal libraries of reading materials. The "Whose Future is it Anyway?" curriculum, which provides transition training, will be made available on Rocket Reader.