Network Investigator: Deborah Fels

Contact Information

Ryerson University Block Captain

• Professor, Ryerson University
• 1.416.979.5000 ext. 7619 (voice)
• 1.416.979.5249 (fax)
• mailto:[email protected]
• http://www.ryerson.ca/clt

GRAND Projects

• Accessibility of New Media for Disabled, Elderly, and Vulnerable Individuals
• Digital Infrastructures: Access and Use in the Networked Society
• Aesthetics and Visualization

Biography

Currently employed as a professor in the Ted Rogers School of Information Technology Management, and the Director of the Centre for Learning Technologies at Ryerson University. Her research interests include access to multi-media computer applications for people with disabilities, inclusive media, web-based applications, entertainment and religious interfaces. Current research projects include: 1) emotive captioning and music visualization including software application, EnACT for adding animation to text; 2) descriptive audio (live and post production) including software tool, LiveDescribe, and associated description wiki for amateur describers; 3) SignLink Studio co-creator for creating online sign language web pages see www.signlinkstudio.com; 4) sensory substitution techniques for access to sound and visual information contained in film and television content for people with disabilities (ASID project) – including creation of a vibrotactile system called the Emoti-chair; and 5) accessible, ambient religious interfaces. She received one of Canada’s Top 40 Under 40 awards for the year 2001. She is also a professional engineer.