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Following Historic Footsteps
Blind students can follow the Lewis and Clark Expedition’s trail
because of Jeremy Parker ’s work.
As a senior computer science major, Parker joined a team
of students who developed software that simulates
the explorers’ experiences as they traveled America’s West. Students with visual disabilities
use the software to follow the famous journey, experience
the terrain with a force-feedback joystick, and hear entries
from the historic diaries.
“
Through this and so many other fascinating projects, I've
been exposed to the many realms of my field - computer graphics,
web programming, operating systems, and databases,” Parker says. “Of
course, I really like playing around with head-mounted displays
for three-dimensional imagery. Perhaps my favorite experience has been
developing enabling
technologies for people with disabilities. ”
The native of Pine Hall,
N.C., found a way to turn his interest in computer science
into an education that has prepared him
to solve problems and help people. “When I first started out at
Carolina, I took all of the courses that would prepare me for medicine.
Then I
discovered Carolina's computer science program, which has
one of the best reputations in the country. I can really see why.”
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