Re: [school-discuss] A significant assistive technology project (fwd)

[mike eschman <meschman@engima.com>]

hello,

sign me up.

mike eschman, etc ...
http://www.etc-edu.com
"Not just an afterthought ...


On Sunday 01 December 2002 10:57 am, Doug Loss wrote:
> This isn't exactly educationally oriented, but I thought some of us might
> be interested in assisting:
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> Date: 2002-12-01 11:26:40 -0500
> From: LaGiannina@aol.com
> Subject: A significant assistive technology project
>
> Dear Mr. Doug Loss, Executive
> You may be interested in participating in a
> significant and important assistive technology
> research project built on an end-to-end Linux-
> based collaborative system.
>
> NIH and ED grants are available for research
> covering the above-mentioned topics. DARPA
> and NIST type grants are also atainable.
>
> Many of the non-profit foundations will be
> interested in such research since it affects
> half the population of the world: the disabled
> and the people who help them. Also corporate
> participation is anticipated to provide the needed
> assistive technology (AT) hardware and software
> platforms.
>
> It should be noted that most of the software
> components needed for collaborative systems
> is available from a small software company in the
> Bay Area who has made the commitment to
> provide such software as well as to administer
> the project of integration and grant management.
>
> If interested, I will link you up with this group
> since they will be in charge of integration, while
> I am doing the investigation in clinical study style.
>
> Janine M. Lodato
> LaGiannina@aol.com
>
>
>
>
>
>               Needy People of the World Unite
>          (Linux, Lindows to rescue the needy)
>                   by  Janine M. Lodato
>                    LaGiannina@aol.com
>
> Some of the most criminal and immoral aspects of the
> monopolistic practices of Microsoft, which for all
> practical purposes eliminated or curtailed competition,
> are the facts that PCs today are...
> ...much too expensive,
> ...insanely unreliable,
> ...maddeningly complex.
>
> These negative attributes of the Windows world
> make the PCs of today useless for the truly needy:
> ....the aging population,
> ....the physically disabled,
> ....the learning disabled,
> ....and the professionals working with all the above.
> The sum of these people accounts for more than half
> the population of the world. They are in need of a
> collaborative assistive technology (AT) system which
> operates with telephone style simplicity. An end-to-end
> AT-based collaborative system connected via the Web
> will allow the professionals to provide support group
> style assistance in the form of a simple virtual community.
>
> Now that Linux is available, it is feasible to approach
> this very large market using a low-cost, rugged and simple
> client system. Linux-based client systems connected
> to Linux servers are perfect for such end-to-end
> AT systems offering. The reliable and simple features
> of Linux coupled with low cost Linux based hardware
> and platforms and applications are the only solution
> for these end users who need AT capabilities.
>
> A very significant upgrade of self-supported health
> improvement can be achieved using assistive
> technologies (AT) connected via the Web.
> Recent scientific studies by major universities
> in the field of behavioral medicine including
> psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) indicate that getting
> involved with collaborative group activities
> has significant rehabilitation potential. In fact
> behavioral medicine can prevent disease, and
> improve quality of life and rehabilitate.
> Of course it does not replace the pharmaceuticals,
> but it does improve their effectiveness.
>
> It is suggested that the collaborative virtual community
> systems, based on Web connected AT clients and servers,
> supporting the disabled and the aging can also be used for
> the able-bodied eyes-busy, hands-busy professionals to
> improve their productivity. Also learning disabled children
> can make very good use of AT. This low cost set of AT
> platforms and associated Web connectivity could be
> very useful in many government and commercial employment
> arenas. This dual-use type approach will significantly lower
> the cost of the needed technologies for all groups.
>
> Of course there is still work to be done. Applications for
> AT platforms must be developed or perfected to allow collaboration between
> the health service professionals
> or social worker professionals and the many people in need.
> Web connected AT oriented software components running on Linux client
> machines connected to Linux servers have to be created such as...
> ....simple and application specific user interface,
> ....voice based interaction via computer/telephone,
> ....always on and always available systems,
> ....a collaborative virtual community systems.
>
> Through such systems the professionals can monitor,
> mentor and moderate and even medicate the members
> of the collaborative community. For a good example:
> Dealing with students who have learning disabilities, it is
> important to get their attention, to bolster their behavior
> and finally to improve their cognitive productivity.  With
> assistive technology people can prevent further destruction
> of their faculties, improve their quality of life and can even be
> rehabilitated somewhat.  Just the idea of being productive
> adds to a person's self-esteem enormously.
>
> I have many years of personal experience using AT and found
> it very helpful in SPMS (secondary progressive multiple sclerosis)
> conditions as described below in a brief review of my
> personal experiences.
>
> In addition to my extensive experience with AT I also have
> related graduate credentials from both California State
> Univ at Northridge  (the center for AT corporate interactions)
> as well as CSU in Sacramento and UOP in Stockton.
>
>      In spite of my handicap, I find it gratifying and fulfilling to
> concentrate my efforts on projects worthwhile to a very deserving
> community. Involvement such as this has proved to have healing powers for
> me.  I am living proof of the powers of PNI based on personal involvement.
>      Having relied on AT in order to survive my wheelchair imprisonment,
> specifically voice recognition for writing, I see dual value: one for the
> hands-busy, eyes-busy professionals increasing their productivity through
> ease of use, and the other, of course, for use by the physically disabled.
>      Being disabled with MS, I use IBM ViaVoice on a MAC to write. It
> allows me to verbally communicate by email with my friends as well as
> giving me the opportunity to express myself and get involved with
> worthwhile projects in the AT arena.
>      Typically voice recognition systems spell very well but now and then
> some of them do make typos which really take the cake:
>         -- eat March for ´emergeĦ
>            -- in edit a bowl for ´inevitableĦ
>            -- not see for ´NaziĦ
>            -- multiple skull roses for Ħmultiple sclerosis´
>            -- HBO sink receives for "idiosyncrasies"
>       A loud sneeze from my husband nearby inspires the computer to type
> aha.
>
>
>      I receive enduring fulfillment from developing my intellectual
> strengths and putting them to positive use. I learn from my negative
> experiences which have been many in my 54 years of existence and I savor my
> positive experiences  to learn optimism.
>      The best way to use these intellectual strengths is to get involved
> with collaborative teamwork and personal communications within the disabled
> community and with companies who provide assistive technologies for this
> community.
>      It is important for me to maintain what little health I have and
> to become involved in something I hold great faith in.  So I have decided
> to become involved in the latest AT systems available to people with
> disabilities.  I am especially interested in technologies that help the
> disabled express themselves, such as voice recognition for writing and
> voice-activated telephone service for talking.
>      There are many AT type technologies that focus on, and make good use
> of the physical abilities a disabled person may still have such as voice,
> lip movement, eye motion and brain waves. These capabilities can be used
> with brain-actuated computer systems and voice recognition software, to
> name a few.  Integrating these already-existing technologies into something
> usable by disabled clients so they can express themselves will offer them
> freedom in spite of their handicap.
>      Understanding that there are companies already seeking to address this
> market makes my involvement in the area that much easier and completely
> natural.  Finding companies geared toward brain-actuated computer control
> systems is my next assignment.
>      As a handicapped woman who still has control of her mental faculties
> and voice, I have something to offer by connecting the right people so that
> I can integrate systems through the Internet to develop a mutually
> beneficial virtual community.
>      Personal communications and collaborative teamwork need assistive
> technologies to further the self-esteem of the disabled.
>      In short, involvement allows disabled people not only a distraction
> from their problems, but also a constructive way to spend their time while
> helping a cause they believe in.
>      The positive rehabilitative effects of Behavioral Medicine is my
> method of surviving and thriving until a final cure for MS is developed.
>
>
> Janine M. Lodato
> P.O.Box 838
> SAN ANDREAS, CA.
> 95249-838
>
> Voice Mail: 866-484-2371
> Voice Mail Box #: 184905
>    ~|__
>      ( o )\_
> Voice Recognition Technology
> http://www.e-bility.com/articles/voice_recognition.shtml
> The Assistive Technology Journal, Article #05
> http://atnet.org/news/sept02/090105.html
> FunList.com - Original Stories
> http://www.funlist.com/www/coke/lib/symbol.html
>
>
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