This category honors products with features or designs that help or complement the quality of life for the physically challenged and provide them with access to the full functionality of consumer electronics products. Tor Alden Vice President of Industrial Design, Logica Product Development Tor is responsible for the direction of design research, user driven strategy, planning and formulation of long term design policy. He is also responsible for the management of day-to-day operations in the Industrial Design Department. Frank Barr President, Advanced Product Evaluation Laboratory (APEL) Mr. Barr founded APEL in 1986 after CBS Inc., which he joined in 1964, closed down its R&D facility. During the last three decades, he had been responsible for hundreds of test reports, primarily in consumer electronic products. Ivan Berger Technical Editor, Audio Magazine & Columnist for Car Stereo Review Ivan Berger has been writing about electronics since 1962, when he began a 16-year stretch as audio columnist for Saturday Review. He was soon writing for all the major hi-fi magazines of the day (Stereo Review, High Fidelity, and Audio). Over the years, he has written for Popular Science and Popular Mechanics, The New York Times, Video, and more than a hundred other publications. Most of his writing has been on audio, but much of it has covered other aspects of consumer technology, including photography, automobiles, video and home computers. He was once, in fact, fired from a job because of his delusion that home computers had a future; this was the year before the Commodore Pet, Apple II, and Radio Shack TRS-80 made their appearance. Lance Braithwaite Technical Editor, Sound & Vision (formerly Video Magazine) Lance became technical editor of Video in 1978. Before that he was an audio reviewer for CB World in 1966. Lance has over 20 years experience reviewing video products. Jill Canuso Industrial Designer, Advent Design Corporation Jill's responsibilities at Advent include the design and development of a wide range of products, including an under table adjustable keyboard support, an international coffee vending machine and user interfaces for custom automated machinery. Richard Doherty ENVISIONEERING Dan Doorley Principal, EDGE Product Design Dan is Principal and founding member of EDGE. Dan has 20 years industrial design and program management experience. Product design experience includes five years at N.V. Philips in the Netherlands concentrating on international product design for consumer, medical and professional technology products and thirteen years with EDGE. Dan holds multiple patents and design awards for various products and applications. John Galante Editor, EH Publishing's Custom Electronic Professional (CE Pro Magazine) With the support of EH Publishing, Inc., Galante also serves as administrator of the Consortium for Electronic Home & Building Systems Installation Training, an alliance of associations developing training for entry-level electronic systems technicians. Prior to joining EH Publishing, Galante was with the Electronic Industries Alliance's Consumer Electronics Manufacturers Association, where he handled membership and program development for the Integrated Home Systems, Video and Accessories Divisions of the association. Galante has also served the Security Industry Association as executive director; Reed Exhibition Companies in a variety of event management, marketing and business development positions; and Spiegel, Inc. as a creative services staff member and manager. Tom Hardy Design Strategist Tom has over 25 years of experience in product development, corporate identity, design management and strategy. His consulting work focuses on developing/revitalizing comprehensive corporate design programs to support business strategy, provide continuous product innovation and ensure coherent brand personality. Mark Harrington Editor-in-Chief, Computer Retail Week Stu Johnson Volan Design, LLC As a mechanical engineer, Stu has been involved in product development working for companies varying in size from aerospace giants to small R&D firms. He spent many years as a consultant implementing and supporting CAE systems for hundreds of companies in varied industries. David W. Kaiser Principal, Anderson Design, Inc. David is the recipient of over 20 design and utility patents for industrial and consumer products. Photographs and descriptions of products designed by Mr. Kaiser have appeared in many publications such as Machine Design, Metropolitan Home, Medical Diagnostics, Innovation, ID Magazine Wire and Popular Mechanics. Stuart M. Leslie President, 4sight, Inc. Mr. Leslie has been a practicing industrial designer in design consultancies for over 14 years. As a founder and president of 4sight inc., a rapidly expanding New York City product design and development consultancy, he has pioneered the development of a new design methodology, which incorporates focused research with the latest computer technology. This methodology has helped guide clients through new product development in a shorter time than previously possible. Robert L. Marvin, Jr. Director, Velocity Design Group (a division of Anderson Design, Inc.) Robert is the recipient of over 20 design and utility patents for medical and consumer products. Photographs and descriptions of products designed by Mr. Marvin have appeared in many publications such as The Los Angeles Times, The Oregonian, The Wall Street Journal and Machine Design. Martha McDonald Senior Editor, TWICE Martha specializes in telecommunications and accessories. An industry veteran, she has been with TWICE for eight years and before that was managing editor of Consumer Electronics Monthly. She is a graduate of the University of Texas in Austin, with a major in journalism. Mike McGann, Executive Editor, Home Theater Magazine Mike has covered the electronics industry for nearly four years after a decade of state and local political writing in New Jersey, including work as the owner of a community newspaper. A self-admitted video junkie, he started out with ambitions in the broadcast business before switching to print journalism for good in 1984. In recent years, Mike has focused on the development and deployment of two new digital technologies - DVD and Digital TV - and has written extensively on both. Tom Mock Director of Engineering, Consumer Electronics Manufacturers Association (CEMA) Tom has been with CEMA since 1981. Duties include staffing of technical committees in the areas of product safety and compliance, vehicular electronics other than entertainment products, and liaison with other associations and consortiums. Tom is a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). Devin Moore President & Design Director, Big Design With a Bachelor of Industrial Design degree from Auburn University, Devin has been in product development consulting for over 15 years. His creative experience includes housewares, power tools, industrial equipment, medical devices, and consumer electronics. As Founder/Design Director for Big Design, he has been an instrumental part of the form and function of numerous inventive products. When not playing "Big Design God," Devin is the family man with Shari, Zachary and Chloe, or getting a rare, isolated moment on either his mountain or road bike. Brian Nadel Editor-in-Chief, Mobile Computing & Communications (MCC) MCC is a monthly publication devoted to exploring the latest trends in notebooks, modems, cellular phones, software and wireless technologies. MCC each month reviews, evaluates and advises its readers on what to buy and what's coming on the horizon. Prior to that, Nadel assigned, edited and supervised the production of the first third of every issue of PC. In addition, he has worked for several publications in his 12 year career in technology journalism, including Business Tokyo (associate editor), Popular Science (automotive editor), and NBC Radio News (news writer). Michael Paciello President, WebABLE! Solutions Mike Paciello is an internationally recognized consultant in the area of emerging technologies, consumer electronics and telecommunications. Joseph Palenchar Senior Editor, TWICE Joe covered consumer electronics retailing for 16 years and the wireless industry, from a retail perspective, since the first cellular network went into commercial operation. He was also editor of consumer electronics trade publications Autosound & Communications and CARS and has contributed to consumer publications, including Stereo Review and Four-Wheel/Off-Road. David Ranada Technical Editor, Sound & Vision (formerly Stereo Review) Javier Verdura Sr. Design Director, Product Ventures Design Consultants Javier's background includes design consulting and project management with inno in Atlanta, Group Four Designs in Connecticut, as well as a professorship at Georgia Institute of Technology College of Architecture and Industrial Design. With numerous patents in the areas of product design and packaging to his credit, Javier has designed a variety of products from car alarm transmitters to award-winning industrial tools. Brian L. Vogel Senior Vice President, Product Genesis, Inc. Brian is responsible for most of the business aspects of the Product Genesis operation and is a key contact regarding current projects as well as new business opportunities. Brian joined Product Genesis in 1988 after 15 years of engineering and management in new product development within General Electric's Aerospace Business Group. He led the GE development program in active matrix flat-panel liquid-crystal display systems for the United States Air Force Advanced Tactical Fighter just prior to joining Product Genesis. Brian received his B.S. in mechanical engineering from Pennsylvania State University and his M.B.A. from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He is also a former officer in the US Navy. Kenneth P. Wacks, Ph.D., Management & Engineering Consultant