Out to lunch at Kiva Han. From right to left, this is me with Meghan Nahass and Hanae Timouli, this year's Pittsburgh-based iSTEP interns (Sarah and Ermine are behind the camera).
by Anna Kasunic, NavPal Research Intern
No, don’t worry. The lab I normally work in may not have windows, but electricity is thus far operating just fine. What I mean to say is: since joining TechBridgeWorld this summer as a research intern for the NavPal project, I’ve realized how many things I’ve been in “the dark” about, and how much I still have to learn.
NavPal, a TBW project currently in the development and needs assessment stages, is a smartphone-based navigation tool for blind and deafblind users. I’m very excited to be a part of this cutting-edge project because I fully support its mission, and the tool itself has so many neat potential features and applications. Happily, I recently received my official Institutional Review Board approval as a co-investigator, so I’ve been able to start conducting needs assessment interviews.
So the first thing I’ve been in the dark about? All the technological tools available to individuals who are blind and deafblind. There are some really cool tools out there that allow people with hearing and vision impairments to access information and navigate their environments in ways I hadn’t even imagined; I’ve learned so much from the interviews. I encourage anyone interested to do a little googling on the subject.
Darkness #2: Technology, broadly speaking. In fact, technology in general is an area I’ve been—and still am—very much “in the dark” about. In my education, I tend to flit between different subjects. I was a language major in undergrad, and have just completed my first year of CMU’s Heinz College Public Policy and Management Program. But I’ve shied away from robotics, computer science, and those other more “technical” fields of study, because I erroneously associated technology with… boring. But as I learn about new technologies through some of my NavPal research and our project meetings, I’m discovering that the tech world is really quite fascinating. I’m especially interested in the human-computer interaction (HCI) aspects of technology development. Maybe I can squeeze in an HCI class or two before I graduate from Heinz next spring…
And the last thing I’ve been in the dark about? How awesome CMU is. As a native Pittsburgher, I made a conscious decision to do my undergrad away from the black and gold (or yellow, for Khalifa fans). But a true home-buddy, I ended up coming back in the ‘Burgh for grad school. Now I am kicking myself for not applying to CMU for undergrad. At least based on my experience at Heinz, the people here are likeable, welcoming, and fun, and the academic atmosphere is superb; exactly the type of learning-focused environment I would have enjoyed as an undergrad. Well, I guess no use crying over spilt milk, but if someone at CMU ever invents a time machine, I am definitely re-doing my undergrad apps, and putting Carnegie Mellon at the top of the list.
Beginning to see the light? (Thought I’d leave you with an extra bit of cheese to round off the post). My internship here at TechBridgeWorld is allowing me to explore new frontiers—new ideas, new perspectives, new skill sets. It’s been a rich experience, but it’s also flying by; only about a month left. But I hope to stay informed and connected to TBW during my remaining time at CMU and beyond. I’d also like to try out NavPal once the design is finalized. Since I notoriously lose my way pretty much everywhere I go, I can definitely use all the extra help I can get!
