Neil Scott Named Award Finalist by the Tech Museum of Innovation.

Business/News Editors and High-Tech/Lifestyle Writers

STANFORD, CALIF.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 26, 2002

Director of Archimedes at Stanford to be Honored for Work Equalizing

Access to Information for People with Disabilities and Limitations

Associated with Aging

Archimedes at Stanford, a research organization based at Stanford University's Center for the Study of Language and Information that advances universal access to information, announced today that its director, Neil Scott, has been named one of 25 finalists in the annual awards program sponsored by The Tech Museum of Innovation in San Jose, California. Presented in partnership with the American Council for the United Nations University and Santa Clara University's Center for Science, Technology, and Society, this program honors innovators and visionaries who are applying technology to improve the human condition in the areas of education, equality, environment, health, and economic development. The winner in each category will receive a $50,000 cash honorarium.

Scott is one of five finalists, known as Tech Laureates, nominated in the category of equality for his efforts over the past three decades to develop technology that gives people with disabilities and other limitations access to information technology, including computers, that equals, or exceeds, access and functionality available to people without disabilities. In addition to creating countless customized solutions that have enabled individuals with a broad range of disabilities to use computers to access and use information and help control their environment, Scott patented technology for an Intelligent Total Access System (ITAS) that simplifies complex access problems by breaking them into two parts: an accessor provides individuals with their preferred interface, and an Intelligent Total Access Port (ITAP) provides a universal connection to any type of information technology or appliance. The preferred interface for a blind person, for example, might involve voice output, whereas a person who is paraplegic or quadraplegic may prefer using speech recognition to enter text and a head-tracking system instead of a hand-manipulated mouse to interact with a GUI. "While my truest reward is the smiles on peoples' faces when they can use computers as well, or better than, people without disabilities, I am deeply honored by this recognition from The Tech Museum, especially since it couldn't have come at a better time," says Scott. "After a decade of being based at Stanford but currently receiving no university funding, Archimedes is at a critical crossroads. Our team recently completed seven accessors that hold the promise of significantly improving access for people with different types of disability, and The Tech provides a splendid platform for our achievements that I hope will lead to contributions from individuals and organizations to the Archimedes Foundation that help enable our innovative technology reach the people it is designed to benefit."

The Tech Museum Awards seek to "inspire scientists, technologists, and dreamers to harness the power and promise of technology to solve the challenges that confront us at the dawn of the 21st century." Nominations for the awards are accepted year round, with validated candidates invited to submit an application. Each summer, applications are reviewed by a distinguished international panel of judges. This summer 460 nominations received from 59 nations were winnowed to 25 Laureates who will be feted on November 7 at a black-tie gala and introduced the following day to Silicon Valley luminaries and global leaders. The equality category, for which Neil Scott is a Laureate, recognizes technology achievements that "can enable people with special needs to participate fully in employment opportunities, housing, cultural events, sports, and recreation."

Born in New Zealand, Neil Scott received a B.E. with First Class Honours in Electrical Engineering from Canterbury University, Christchurch, NZ. After working in broadcasting, he joined the faculty of Wellington Polytechnic Institute, becoming its dean in 1977. In 1986, he came to the United States and for five years directed the Computer Lab at California State University/Northridge. Since 1992, he has directed Archimedes at Stanford, served on White House blue-ribbon committees, and shaped interface standards for disability access.

About Archimedes at Stanford

Established in 1992 at the Center for the Study of Language and Information (CSLI), Stanford University, Archimedes is a multidisciplinary group of researchers and product developers whose mission is to advance universal access to information and optimize the user experience with computer-based technology. Through alliances with leading academic research centers and affiliates worldwide, it develops and brings to market innovative products designed to remove barriers to information access, including for people with disabilities, limitations associated with aging, and limited literacy. Visit Archimedes at http://.archimedes.stanford.edu//.html.

About The Tech Museum of Innovation

Located in the heart of downtown San Jose, Silicon Valley, Calif., The Tech, a non-profit organization, engages people of all ages and backgrounds in exploring and experiencing the technologies affecting their lives and aims to inspire the innovator in everyone. For more information, visit www.thetech.org or call 408/294-TECH.