Universal Access

The Universal Access (UA) program supports fundamental research and related education activities in computer science that advance computer systems technology so that all people can possess the skills needed to fully harness the power of computing. The program's mission is to empower people with disabilities, young children, seniors, and members of other traditionally under-represented groups, so that they are able to participate as first-class citizens in the new information society. UA research topics derive from all aspects of human-computer interaction, but topics of special interest include: development of new models, architectures, and programming languages that emphasize interface speed and usability by all; definition of semantic structures for multimedia information to support cross-modal I/O; development of specific solutions to address the special needs of communities such as those enumerated above; and experimental studies to evaluate the success of attempts to provide access in all its varied forms.