Local R&D Company Included in Celebration of 14th Anniversary of ADA
SILVER SPRING, MARYLAND (July 27, 2004) – AnthroTronix, Inc., a local research and development company, has been invited to attend the U.S. Departments of Commerce and Education’s Assistive Technology Exhibit and Policy Forum on July 27, 2004, in celebration of the 14th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). AnthroTronix will be a featured exhibitor demonstrating its CosmoBot™ system, a rehabilitation and educational tool for children with and without disabilities.
“AnthroTronix is honored to be included in this celebration of the 14th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. We are committed to designing, developing, and providing effective technology to promote functional development in children with and without disabilities,” said Corinna Lathan, President and CEO of AnthroTronix. “It is my hope that AnthroTronix’s participation in the ADA Forum will further highlight the importance of assistive technology in the marketplace. We believe that assistive technology is inclusive technology.”
Featured at the government-sponsored event will be AnthroTronix’s CosmoBot™, a 16” high fully interactive robot. CosmoBot™ is used for play, education, and therapy, with children controlling the robot through body movements, buttons, a joystick, or by voice. The CosmoBot™ system motivates children while collecting data in the clinic, school, or at home, enabling therapists and teachers to focus on developmental goals. Parents no longer need to promise special treats to children to attend therapy sessions or do their homework. AnthroTronix was recently selected as a 2004 Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum and highlighted in the Washington Post and Time magazine.
In commemoration of the 14th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Technology Administration and the U.S. Department of Education are hosting the Assistive Technology Exhibit and Policy Forum on Tuesday, July 27, 2004, from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., at the U.S. Department of Commerce, Herbert C. Hoover Building, located at 14th Street and Constitution Avenue in Washington, D.C. This event will promote assistive technology and highlight advances with exhibits by 40 leading companies, government agencies, and associations advocating for persons with disabilities. It is accessible for people with disabilities and sign language interpreters will be available. For more information, contact Cheryl Mendonsa at (202) 482-8321.
AnthroTronix is currently in the development phase of its first product, Mission Control™, with plans to begin manufacturing in early 2005. Mission Control™ is an accessible computer interface that enables children to access their favorite computer games while working on developmental goals such as receptive and expressive communication skills. A suite of software games designed to encourage interaction captivates children during play, while working on developmental goals, and in therapy. Data is collected and analyzed during use.
Development of the CosmoBot™ system is being supported through grants from the National Science Foundation, The Department of Education, and the National Institutes of Health. Corporate partners include Ingeeni Studios, Inc. AnthroTronix is currently in discussions with potential partners to support the manufacturing of CosmoBot™ in 2006. Products will be marketed to assistive technology practitioners, rehabilitation hospitals and clinics, therapists, special educators, parents of children with disabilities, and the general public.