clickworker supports US government sponsored research project on barrier-free web-based work

clickworker, a leading crowdsourcing solutions platform and microtasking expert, is helping develop a Brain-Computer Interface (BCI), leveraging its know-how and technically advanced microtasking platform. The BCI will enable people with disabilities to perform web-based jobs.

The interface will be developed by Quantum Applied Science & Research Inc. (QUASAR) and the National Center for Adaptive Neurotechnologies (NCAN), who received a research grant from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR).

People with disabilities are twice as likely to be unemployed as those without. Therefore, the QUASAR and NCAN project has received a research grant from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research to help alleviate this situation by developing a Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) to enable and support people with disabilities.

BCIs are used to send signals from the brain to a computer, and convert them into control signals or commands, which can then be executed by the computer or computer-controlled devices. Today, they are mainly used to provide adaptability for persons with physical disabilities, enabling them to increase their mobility or to communicate with the outside world. QUASAR and NCAN are now jointly developing a BCI that will make it possible for people with motor or communication disabilities to participate in paid online work.

Clickworker.com Inc, a global microtasking company, was selected as a partner for the project to advise and consult with the BCI developers on structuring and optimizing process flows, and resolving challenges related to online work. The BCI will also be connected with and tested on the clickworker microtasking platform at various stages of development.

“We are constantly optimizing our platform with regard to usability and technology, thus enabling our worldwide crowd to process tasks on our platform in a comfortable and location-independent way. In doing so, we always keep the topic of barrier-free access in mind. However, in addition to special design, operating elements and read-aloud options, we quickly reach the limits of what is feasible. We are therefore very pleased that, as a project partner, we can contribute our many years of experience and our platform to support QUASAR and NCAN. We are enthusiastic about the idea that participation in online work will soon be possible for everyone,” said Christian Rozsenich, Managing Director of clickworker, about the partner project.

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