[Accessibility] Accessibility Conference 1/28/05 - Future Issues
john goldthwaite
jgoldthwaite at yahoo.com
Wed Feb 16 14:57:49 PST 2005
Future Issues
Neil Scott
1. Future Issues
What is missing?
Presented by Neil Scott
2. Outline of Presentation
Future Issues
Whats Missing from the big picture
Why Archimedes is in Hawaii
Embedded Linux
Fitting the pieces together
3. Future Issues
Decline in number of students studying Science,
Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM)
Low numbers of minorities in STEM <active in this
Off shoring < undermining confidence of people going
into technology
Battles of the giants < oligopoly
Obsolescence and coercion < no MS security patches
except for registered users
Rebellion against a certain large U.S. Company < Open
Software in developing countries creating their own
versions of Word for Linux. Still waiting for a
compeling set of apps that are easy to use, efficient
Openly critical of Microsoft.
4. What is Missing?
Clear business models for Open Source
Compelling applications for Linux PCs and thin
clients
A full repertoire of access tools
Funding for R&D
Meaningful/enforceable standards
Funding hard to get funding if its not new research,
cant fund porting to x or upgrading to XP. Many
groups doing standards, how to overcome tendency to
create proprietary products that cant interoperate.
5. Why We Left Silicon Valley
Most of Silicon Valley really doesnt care about
disability and aging issues
Many Silicon Valley products have a short shelf life
Solutions designed for smaller markets cant compete
for funding
6. Why We Chose Hawaii
Hawaii has many problems that could benefit from
innovative uses of technology
U.H. is researching long-term solutions to problems
faced by ordinary people
Hawaii needs to grow small high tech businesses
Hawaii is at the center of the Pacific Rim
Solutions can be exported
7. The People we work with
People with disabilities
Aging People
Illiterate People
Students
8. Common Problems
Inaccessible User Interfaces
Complexity
Inconsistencies
High costs
Lack of resources
Obsolescence
Drivers
Computer interfaces are just incomprehensible to most
people. Deep menus, lots of choises needed for simple
task. People should not have to learn lots of
interfaces. V2 grew out of presentation grew out of
presentation Neil did to INCITS. Pulled out because
the computer companies and electronics companies do
want anything that adds costs or reduces their ability
to differentiate products.
Computers are now a razor blade business. Toner costs
as much as the printer. Disabled people dont have
the money to upgrade computers all the time. How to
override obsolescence? No such thing as a standard
driver, loose features on upgating drivers. There are
tons of AT equipment that cant be used because they
dont have drivers.
9. Linux in the Emerging World
Countries want to be Independent of Microsoft
Trying to build an economy based on Linux
Searching for the economic model
Each country is writing their own version of word to
run on Linux
10 Embedded Linux
China Mobilesoft
Sherline CNC Milling Machine
Gameboy
ITASK
Friend of Neils set up China Mobilesoft. Focuses on
end to end small business systems. Has systems that
run on all mobile phones in China. Bought by Palm One.
They do it end to end because third party drivers
will cause things to break.
Sherline built a complete CNC interface for $500. Use
real time Linux, tried Windows but latency was too
great. They use Linux as a means to an end, cheap
controller. They dont care that its Linux. Most
uses of Embedded Linux will be like this- just need an
OS that works and is free.
Neil is working on iTask. URC but external to the
products. Credit card sized Linux systems. Want to
use in a wide range of application including
disability. Cant build the business on just the
disability markets. Use aging market to drive
products for people with disability.
11. Disability Issues
Multiple input modalities
Multiple output modalities
Every user has different requirements
Some disabilities have received much attention while
others have been ignored
Lack of funding
Every disabled person has different functional
limitation. Putting access features into products is
difficult because of the range of problems.
Blindness has received a lot of attention, have lead
the thrust to get things done. There are other groups
that have wherewithal to do this, e.g. cognitive
disabilities.
12. Aging Issues
Many of the same issues that face people with
disabilities
Many are frightened or confused by technology
Lack of young people to look after aging people
While many elderly people can afford assistive
technology, there are few suitable products available
13. Literacy Issues
Most of the emerging countries have very low literacy
for both language and IT
When complex products are imported into emerging
countries, there is no one to maintain them
Illiteracy is not linked to intelligence
There is no one to read stories to many kids in
places like Hawaii
Illiterate are not stupid, just missed out on getting
education for some reason. Problem in using modern
equipment if you have to read a manual. Need ways to
increase Language and IT literacy. Many remain
illiterate because parents are and cant read to them.
How to use technologies to engage children?
14. Educational Issues
Computers have not delivered promised gains in
general learning
Students are not taking science and mathematics in
high school
Many students are floundering when they get to
college
Educational software not very good. Many take up too
much of the teachers time. Need system that support
teachers. In Japan, changed computers too often,
teachers gave up on learning to use them.
15. What can we do about these problems?
Create and promote standards that enable many
companies to create and market building blocks
that fit together to form solutions
Create an environment in which small companies can
collaborate on connectivity but compete
like hell on performance
Establish realistic cost structures that reward
people fairly for their efforts
Companies need to create products that are compatible
but compete on performance and features. We need to
keep it simple so small companies can do it.
If you are going to have Open Source, you have to
figure out how small companies can make money on it.
Need to help companies figure out the model to make
money.
16. Responsibilities of
Large Companies?
Dont monopolize the market
Actively support and adhere to standards that provide
a stable interface for accessibility
products that may be provided in house or by other
specialized companies.
17. The Archimedes Philosophy
Stay out of other peoples business
Adhere to applicable standards
Differentiate between what should be provided as part
of the infrastructure (e.g. Phone system)
and what belongs to the individual (e.g. cell phone)
Let the user choose, and be responsible for, the
interface they prefer
Eliminate the distinctions between different types of
users.
18. Summary
Linux is important for making computers ubiquitous
Accessibility is not just for people with
disabilities
Remember that there are several billion people who
dont want Windows products
Your work for the FSG is vital and important Keep
it up!
19. Aloha and Mahalo
Have a safe trip home.
Neil, Sandy and Kevin
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