Update

I have been out of action since having a heart operation, but I am now recovered such that I can answer emails and take telephone calls.

Accessible Self-service Terminals

A new European project has started which will address some of the accessibility problems of self-service terminals such as ATMs and ticket vending machines at railway stations. For further information see http://www.apsis4all.eu/

SNAPI

The Technology Strategy Board are funding LASSeO (www.lasseo.org.uk) in collaboration with Unicard (www.unicard-uk.com) to implement two pilots on adaptable user interfaces using Snapi (www.snapi.org.uk). If you would like to be kept informed about this project, please contact Mick Davies (mickdavies4ictco@btopenworld.com).

Technical Developments

A paper on “Technical Developments for People with Visual Disabilities” has been added to the Snapi website at http://www.snapi.org.uk/info/reports/milan11.htm It was produced for the ETNA project.

ETNA

The ETNA (European Thematic Network on Assistive Information and Communication Technologies) started on 1st January and is scheduled to run for 3 years. The project aims to establish a European web portal able to provide information on assistive products based on ICT and e-accessibility solutions which are available in Europe, and on related organisations and services. Further information is at www.etna-project.eu

Technology Transfer

I have written an introduction to technology transfer for assistive and accessible information and communication technology systems which can be found on the Cardiac website at http://www.cardiac-eu.org/tech_transfer/index.htm

Research Project Acronyms

I have added an index by acronym to the Cardiac list of recent and current ICT projects for disabled and elderly people. It is at http://www.cardiac-eu.org/projects/acronyms.htm

PAS 92

The draft of PAS 92 “Code of practice for the planning, implementation and operation of a biometric system” has been issued for public consultation. It is available for comment on the BSI Draft Review System http://drafts.bsigroup.com/ until 5pm Tue 5 Oct 2010. It addresses a number of aspects related to accessibility of biometric systems by disabled and elderly people.

Smart Living Seminar

A summary of the presentations is now available at http://www.phoneability.org.uk/seminars/smart_living/

Te full transcripts are at http://www.phoneability.org.uk/seminars/smart_living/agenda.htm

If you want to be involved in any of the follow-on activities, please let me know.

International Directory of Agencies

At long last I have completed updating my list of organisations serving blind and partially sighted throughout the world – it is at http://www.snapi.org.uk/info/agencies/index.htm If you know of more up-to-date information on any organisation, please let me know so that I can update the website.