The Future of Social Networking? Google Wave...

I am quite a fan of Google; I use Gmail, Reader, Calendar, Documents, etc. So I have been reading about the development of one of its new products - Google Wave, with great interest.

What is Google Wave?

Well, it is quite unlike anything else that we have at the moment. It is billed as a "real time communication platform". But it is a bit like email, IM, blogs, Facebook, Twitter, all rolled into one.

Why am I interested?

I can see some huge benefits for business use, as well as private use. My interest in these new developments is two-fold. I suppose I am a geek wannabee, and I enjoy new technologies, but I also want to see how we can utilise new technologies to allow people with disabilities to better take part in society, and specifically employment. I can see some great ways that Google Wave could be used / developed. Especially for people who, for whatever reason, may be working remotely, but with a team.

So the details, what is it really, what does it look like, and how do you use it?

One of the best sites which explains it is on http://mashable.com/2009/05/28/google-wave-guide/ where they use the system and detail it. They use wave, I think as it can be added to - a Wave is the overall picture, which is made up of wavelets, wavelets are themselves made up of blips, and the blips can contain documents, web pages, messages, pictures, etc.. So you start with a ripple, and anyone can add more and more as you advance. Much of the individual details are methods that many of us are already comfortable with…but it is the way that they are drawn together into one place, is the key here.

• Real Time - like with IM, you see the person typing.
• Wiki - anyone (invited) can add, change, and everyone can see the changes, and who, and when the changes were made.
• Add ons. There are many applications, add-ons, & extensions that can be made to the system, and being open source, I think we can expect many more to be developed in the future.
• Sharing - by merely dragging and dropping, everyone can have access to you documents.

It is also possible to embed the wave into an existing website.

It is going to be interesting to see how this develops after it is launched. But I am sure it is going to be the next big thing…remember, you read it here first!!!

If you want to sign up to the development then go to https://services.google.com/fb/forms/wavesignup/

Trekker - HumanWare assistive technologies for vision

Trekker - HumanWare assistive technologies for vision: "A GPS system for the Blind and visually impaired A revolutionary system that uses GPS and digital maps to help blind persons find their way in urban and rural areas. Trekker users can pinpoint exactly where they are, learn about area attractions, and find out how to get to specific destinations. GPS lets them know their location, anywhere in the world, with continually growing precision. Fitting in the palm of the hand, Trekker offers the visually impaired greater freedom, raising their confidence in their ability to travel near or far, for business or pleasure. It also helps them access and enjoy the most valuable and interesting opportunities their surroundings have to offer."

BBC NEWS | Technology | Technique links words to signing

This is fascinating!

BBC NEWS | Technology | Technique links words to signing: "Technique links words to signing By Geoff Adams-Spink Age & disability correspondent, BBC News website Photo of the signing avatar The avatar was developed by the University of East Anglia Technology that translates spoken or written words into British Sign Language (BSL) has been developed by researchers at IBM. The system, called SiSi (Say It Sign It) was created by a group of students in the UK. SiSi will enable deaf people to have simultaneous sign language interpretations of meetings and presentations. It uses speech recognition to animate a digital character or avatar. IBM says its technology will allow for interpretation in situations where a human interpreter is not available. It could also be used to provide automatic signing for television, radio and telephone calls."

Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan - Pakistan’s first Internet caf� for the blind inaugurated

Why shouldn't we try the same here?

Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan - Pakistan’s first Internet caf� for the blind inaugurated: "Pakistan’s first Internet caf�for the blind inaugurated

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: The country’s first-ever Internet caf�for the visually impaired was inaugurated here on Tuesday. The project was funded by the World Bank and the Pakistan Foundation Fighting Blindness (PFFB).

The WB granted Rs 1.5 million to the facility that promises to help bridge the technological gap between the blind and those blessed with eyesight. The caf�would also link national and international blind communities.

IT Helpline Project Director Zahid Abdullah said the caf�involved the use of the JAWS software that provides voice output for every command given to the computer, enabling the blind to know what their fingers are doing. Aqil Sajjad, the first visually impaired Pakistani pursuing his PhD at Harvard introduced the software in Islamabad in 1999. The software was developed in the US 20 years ago."

BBC NEWS | Technology | Smart hat brings play to disabled

Another interesting use of modern technology... I don't think of myself as a geek...but I do get a kick out of how different new technologies can be used to remove barriers that have in some cases been put there by other (older) technologies.

BBC NEWS | Technology | Smart hat brings play to disabled: "A 'smart' cap that allows disabled children to 'drive' radio-controlled cars and boats, has been launched.

The Dream-Racer device has four motion sensors that detect small movements of the head, which are then fed wirelessly to control the toy's direction.

The UK invention has also been adapted to allow disabled people to play games on Sony's PlayStation consoles."

Noesis: VeeSee

Hmm; a counter point to the previous post, Alison was able to point out some issues with VeeSee. I decided to do some more research (I apologise for posting before doing co earlier!). I think her comment to my previous post is well founded. Perhaps, as I come form a country ahead there is precious little sign language available, that I tend to get excited whenever I see that more may be more accessible to a wider audience...

Noesis: VeeSee: "VeeSee is a website that has been launched in the UK by an interpreter, Susie Grant. The site is operating under the Deafeatures Ltd.

Before I go any further, I really want to be positive about online development, but I'm really struggling here. More about that later. The site has a very strange mix of web 1.0 content and design, mixed with a web 2.0 approach through a social network. On the face of it, the site offers:"

BBC NEWS | Technology | IPTV for deaf people takes off

Another interesting development

BBC NEWS | Technology | IPTV for deaf people takes off: "A new web-based television service, or IPTV, for British Sign Language (BSL) users has recently launched in the UK.

VeeSee TV airs news and other programmes in BSL and is available 24 hours a day.

The channel can be viewed on a computer or via a set-top box and is the brainchild of BSL interpreter Susie Grant."

BBC NEWS | Technology | Motion-sensitive laptop developed

An interesting development of Tablet PC technology (which I am already sold on!)

BBC NEWS | Technology | Motion-sensitive laptop developed: "Motion-sensitive laptop developed

Tilting the laptop moves a cursor

A motion-sensitive laptop which can be controlled much like a Nintendo Wii remote is under development.

The tablet PC laptop has been adapted to respond to a user when moving the machine up or down, side to side, or forwards and backwards.

It is hoped the BT Balance system can help people with disabilities or the elderly, for whom using a keyboard or mouse can be difficult."

BBC NEWS | Technology | Users force Dell to resurrect XP

Wow! I know that Microsoft were aiming for the Wow factor; well, it has worked here! Wow!: how bad is the Vista experience for customers to want to have 'old' software instead of the latest versions? How does Micrsoft hope to get people to convert (at huge cost) to Vista, when this sort of thing happens? There are many aspects of Vista that I think would be useful to my (mostly pen-based) computing, but I am not jumping to change just yet. I am hoping that Mac will bring out their long awaited Tablet PC eventually. That way the competition should improve the experience...

BBC NEWS | Technology | Users force Dell to resurrect XP: "Responding to customer demand Dell has restarted selling new PCs with Windows XP installed on them.

The decision reverses a policy begun in January that meant Windows Vista was the only operating system available on almost all new home machines.

The change came after Dell's feedback site was swamped with calls for the return of the venerable software."

Getting in Touch: Virtual Maps for the Blind: Scientific American

Another take on novel navigation methods for people with sight impairments.

Getting in Touch: Virtual Maps for the Blind: Scientific American: "Researchers in Greece have developed a new system that converts video into virtual, touchable maps for the blind. The three-dimensional maps use force fields to represent walls and roads so the visually impaired can better understand the layout of buildings and cities"

Microsoft Survey of People who may benefit from Accessibility Features

This is a very interesting, large, survey. The results speak for themselves:

Examples: "In 2003 and 2004, Software giant Microsoft commissioned a representative survey of the range of abilities across the working age population and its likely impact on computer technology and usage. The goal was to identify the range of physical and cognitive abilities among working age adults and current computer users in the US, and also to identity the types of difficulties and impairments that limit computer use, their range and degree of severity, and the number of people who could benefit from accessible technology.

The 15,000 people sampled delivered a clear and very powerful message: 57% of them could benefit from accessibility features that are often buried within the operating system, rather than being made evident to the mainstream user. In other words, software developed for what Microsoft regarded as a minority of the population - disabled and older users - offers benefits to the majority. The impact of this research on Microsoft has been significant, pushing accessibility high up the agenda for management and software developers alike."

GPS navigation plan to help blind

This is a very exciting use of new Technologies. I shall be watching this closely.

An Italian technology company is pioneering a GPS satellite system that will give blind people greater independence and mobility.

The Easy Walk service has been developed by Il Village, a firm in Turin in northern Italy.

It is currently being tested by a group of 30 people from the Italian Blind Union who are providing feedback. The plan is for Easy Walk to be launched to blind and partially sighted people in Piedmont in the autumn.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6458005.stm

Beta Blogger Label Cloud

This is an excellent bit of code to make the tag cloud, you see on this blog.

Beta Blogger Label Cloud: "Setup and configuration for Blogger in Beta Label Clouds
Comments and Problems can be reported at the home post for this at
Code for Beta Blogger Label Cloud

Here is the code and setup information to use the Label Cloud in Blogger Beta.
First you obviously have to have a beta blog and be using the layouts templates,
and you must have some posts labeled already. (There needs to be at least ONE label with
more than ONE entry or the scripts hit a bug - so have at least one label with more than one entry before
starting)."

When inaccessiblity becomes institutionalised

This following scenario recently happened with a client of ours. I shall not name the client as I believe that would be unprofessional, but what we found was a staggering example of how an employer can build barriers to accessibility, and therefore to inclusion.

The nameless client wanted us (as part of a bigger job) to look at a specific individual, and to recommend any "reasonable accommodations" that they should make in order to meet their obligations under the terms of the Employment Equity Act. Usually we don't get involved at the personal level like this, but rather we conduct building wide audits, addressing the inaccessibility of the building to all users.

Anyway, in this example I met 'John' (I have changed his name). John is a fairly new employee working for a large employer. John happens to be blind, and is employed as...(can you guess)...(yep, go on have a stab...remembering that John is Blind...)...a telephonist (so no big surprises there, hey?). But still, let's give the employer the benefit of the doubt, after all no one else was looking to employ John in any other capacity. Now, the company gave him a nice office, desk, telephone, and computer. All of the internal messaging is done through the computer; so it is quite essential for his job. John had prepared for employment by learning to use a very common screen reader called JAWS. The employer knew that they had to get John a copy of JAWS. But then the inaccessibility of the institution set in. They could not just provide him with one (as should be the case...after all they provide screens to those people who need to use a screen to access their computer, don't they?). But they had to put an order into Head Office. Head Office then sat on the order...not for a week, or even a month...but for over 3 months!! This had to fit into their purchasing procedures... So John sat with a useless computer for 3 months! Eventually they were able to get a copy, but this had to come through their preferred software supplier. Now JAWS costs +/- R9000 in South Africa. But their software supplier (Siemens) chose to charge them nearly 3 times this price!!! We were staggered, and pointed out this 'anomaly' to our client...who shrugged their collective shoulders...and paid the money. Maybe I should say one more thing - this client is a Government department...so it is not their money, but ours!!

I am angry about this as JAWS should have been provided on the same day that John commenced his employment.

I am angry about this as someone decided to make a killing on selling this software (I once had a client you was charged R80,000 for the same software!!), to the detriment of a disabled person.

I am angry because the client could not see the inequity of his ways.

I don't need to have the reasonable accommodation of providing seating (as I come with my own). But most other people I see in offices appear to require that accommodation. They don't have to stand for 3 months, before someone in head office completes an order for a new seat for them.

In fact I believe that screen readers should be part of the operating system (no; I don't count MS Narrator as a true screen reader). I understand that the newer Mac operating systems have this. Surely the software companies are being discriminatory by only providing a Graphical User Interface (GUI)?

Software / Hardware Systems I use

• I use a Tablet PC for 75% of my work.
• I really like using MS OneNote (2003), I just wish that all this software was not so damn expensive! But I like many of the new functions offered on 2007
  
• TEO 3.0 for Outlook
• Fire Fox, (and Opera on the Desktop).
• Brass, Mime, Outlooker
• then the usual MS office programs
• iPod, iTunes , iPod Agent, Anapod Explorer together with Giffin iTrip to enable me to listen through HiFi & in car
• Does anyone know of a good speed camera detector system, which works in South Africa?
  

Amazing Brass

I an a committed Tablet PC user (and completely mystified that this technology has not had more widespread use!). I stumbled across Amazing Brass - http://www.amazingbrass.co.uk/ Which is a really clever bit of kit for Tablet PC's, but I think that it also lends itself for some interesting uses for disabled people. 2 particular elements are particularly interesting for me: Mime (mouse gestures) and Outlooker (MS Outlook add-on).
I can See that mouse gestures could be useful for people with limited dexterity. And Outlooker could be adapted to provide a customizable, high visibility front end for Outlook, for people with visual impairments.