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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: GR/M70353/01
Title: DEAFNESS,DESIGN AND COMMUNICATION IN THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT
Principal Investigator: Bright, Professor KT
Other Investigators:
Sinka, Ms I Cook, Dr G
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
AFM Access Consultancy Centre for Accessible Environments (The) Royal Nat'l Inst for The Blind
Royal National Inst for Deaf People University of Reading
Department: Construction Management and Engineering
Organisation: University of Reading
Scheme: Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts: 01 October 1999 Ends: 30 September 2001 Value (£): 201,033
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Building Ops & Management
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
No relevance to Underpinning Sectors
Related Grants:
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
To date, no research has been carried out to establish from deaf and hearing imparied people, the problems they experience when using the built environment. It is known that the provision of colour and liminance contrast, lighting and surface finishes within buildings have played an important role in the effectiveness with which deaf and hearing impaired people can understand communicated information. Recent work has identified an urgent need for research into the extent of the role these factors play in allowing effective communication. This project will measure the performance of deaf and hard of hearing people when carrying out communication tasks within 'real world' building interiors, including subjective measurement. A questionnaire survey of 750 deaf and hearing impaired people will be carried out supported by semi-structured group session interviews of at least 36 people. The results will provide design guidance for those involved in recommending good and bad pracrice for construction professionals and in the formulation of regulations and standards. Comparison of this work with recent research work into the problems visually impaired people have when interacting with the built environment will allow general guidance to be given based on the needs of sensory impaired people.
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Organisation Website: http://www.rdg.ac.uk