About us
The Emergent Institute
The Emergent Institute (“TEI”) is a 501(c)3 founded in 2006 by Don Whittecar, himself an artist and to persons with disabilities (PWD). TEI's mission is to support other PWDs in pursuit of their literary, visual, and performing arts aspirations. Given Don's leadership, and background in both Psychology and Fine Arts, TEI is infused with unique insights, understandings and applications in these endeavors.
In addition to its artistic pursuits, TEI serves as a business incubator by fostering the creation of affiliate organizations developing and providing adaptive / assistive technologies for PWDs. TEI is currently developing The Emergent Voices and The Emergent Access.
The Emergent Voices
The Emergent Voices ("TEV") is the only one-on-one certificed training partner for Nuance Communications' Dragon Naturally Speaking and Dragon Dictate voice recognition software products. TEV provides this specific individual training on a global basis. Currently, TEV is also developing webinar and DVD training options for these voice recognition programs.
The Emergent Access
The Emergent Access (“TEA”), in conjunction with TEV, is currently writing voice command modules for many graphic arts, photography and cinematography software programs. By utilizing voice command modules to control these computer programs, rather than requiring their keyboard and mouse manipulation by hand, substantially more PWDs’ will be able to compete with their non-disabled peers on a more level “playing field” for employment in the arts and graphic arts professions.
Recently, both TEI and TEA have joined in a cooperative venture with the New Directions Program, and its Director Dr. James Laskin, in the School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science at the University of Montana. This joint venture seeks to design, develop, produce and distribute a wheelchair that will be economical, require little if any maintenance and allow its users to safely move off of the usual hard flat surfaces. This is intended to impact users, not only in the USA, but perhaps more significantly, those in third world countries.
Over the past 2 years TEI has been actively involved with VRD Products in its development of a safe, low-cost wheelchair for students grades K through 16 pursuing participation in wheelchair basketball. TEI provided the resources for the prior art search in the patent process and the construction of the proof of concept prototype.
Location
The Emergent Instutute is located in the MonTec building at 1121 East Broadway Street, Suite #107 in Missoula, Montana.
