Space Forum / Shuttle / December 2003

This was a bit of a surprise to me:

http://www.tcpalm.com/tcp/local_business/article/0,1651,TCP_1012_2529724,00.html

Jon
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Excerpt:

Getting help from NASA doesn't take rocket science
Space program innovations accessible for down-to-earth uses

By Joel Eskovitz staff writer
December 29, 2003

WASHINGTON -- Engineers had kicked around the idea for years, but a
technical glitch always thwarted their goal of producing a revolutionary
device that would make it easier for the blind to communicate.

Unable to crack the code, Camille and Robert Parrott took a Hail Mary
approach: They called NASA. Not only did the federal agency get back to
them, they arranged for one of their contractors --an engineering consulting
firm --to help them solve the problem.

It took them two days.

All the engineers did was apply existing technology they had used in the
space program. Now the Parrotts' Stuart-based company, Guerilla
Technologies, is anticipating releasing it next winter. The Parrotts are
still working on obtaining a patent, so they cannot detail exactly what the
product will do or look like.

They are the latest Treasure Coast beneficiaries of the National Aeronautics
and Space Administration program that connects companies seeking help with
its contractors for up to 40 hours of free help. Admittedly, even
administrators of the Space Alliance Technology Outreach Program say one of
the biggest hurdles is convincing people they're for real.