Receiving the Purpose Prize (AccessComputing News Feb 2009)

Richard Ladner, UW Department of Computer Science & Engineering professor and AccessComputing Co-Director, was one of fifteen recipients of the 2008 Purpose Prize, an award for social innovators over sixty years of age. Ladner has shifted the focus of his research from computer science theory to developing better technologies for people with disabilities. He, along with students and colleagues, have developed such software applications as WebAnywhere that allows individuals who are blind or have low vision to use the Internet on the go, MobileASL that makes it possible for people who are deaf to use video communication on cell phones, and the Tactile Graphics Assistant that efficiently translates visual graphics into tactile form for people who are blind. The Purpose Prize, now in its sixth year, is awarded by Civic Ventures and funded by the Atlantic Philanthropies and the John Templeton Foundation.

For further information about WebAnywhere visit webanywhere.cs.washington.edu, for MobileASL visit mobileasl.cs.washington.edu, and for the Tactile Graphics Project visit tactilegraphics.cs.washington.edu.