Independence Science announces new device for visually impaired students

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Independence Science, a Purdue Research Park-based company, announces the availability of Sci-Voice Talking LabQuest 2, a new device that allows visually impaired students to take science courses and perform independently in the laboratory without sighted assistance.

"This technology is a data collection device that gathers data from over 70 Vernier scientific sensors and uses text-to-speech technology to speak the results," said Ron Supalo, chief operations officer for Independence Science. "The goal is to help people without sight or with limited sight to become more fully engaged in laboratory research and activities."

Cary Supalo, a Purdue alumnus who is blind, founded the company.

Independence Science develops products and services to improve access to STEM curricula and adapts mainstream technologies to create a more inclusive environment. The company serves clients from school districts at the elementary and high school levels, colleges and universities and state rehabilitation agencies.

The Sci-Voice Talking LabQuest 2, or TLQ2, includes the periodic table of elements and speaks more than 20 characteristics of each element. It also offers wireless connectivity, a larger hard drive, a faster processor and other improvements over its predecessor, the TLQ1.

Upgrade options from the original TLQ1 are also available.

For more information, visit  www.independencescience.com or call 866-862-9665.

About Independence Science

Researchers at Independence Science are making their expertise available to help school districts, colleges, universities and state rehabilitation agencies across the country meet Americans with Disabilities Act requirements in the science curriculum. The company received the American Foundation for the Blind's Access Award at the organization's 2014 Leadership Conference.

About Purdue Research Park

The Purdue Research Park is the largest university-affiliated business incubation complex in the country. The park is managed by the Purdue Research Foundation, which received the 2014 Incubator Network of the Year by the National Business Incubation Association for its work in entrepreneurship. For more information about funding and investment opportunities in startups based on a Purdue innovation, contact the Purdue Foundry at foundry@prf.org 

Purdue Research Foundation contact: Curt Slyder, 765-588-3342, caslyder@prf.org

Source: Ronald Supalo, 866-862-9665, rdsupalo@cs.com