FW: [bcab] FW: OATS (Open Source Assistive Technology Software)Website launched

[tim.pennick at bt.com]

Hi,

Thought some people on this list might be interested in this web site.
I've had a quick look at it, and didn't find any Linux based Open Source
Software, but perhaps I just missed it.

Regards,

Tim Pennick 

-----Original Message-----
From: bcab-bounce at cs.man.ac.uk [mailto:bcab-bounce at cs.man.ac.uk] 
Sent: 12 May 2006 08:56
To: bcab at cs.man.ac.uk
Subject: [bcab] FW: OATS (Open Source Assistive Technology
Software)Website launched

Received this one from Julie Howell at RNIB

FYI
 
From: BCS [mailto:specgroups at hq.bcs.org.uk]
Sent: Tue 09/05/2006 11:02
Subject: OATS Website Launched!



Hi,

As a close contact of the ACE Centre Advisory Trust with an interest in
Assistive Technology, I thought you would like to know that our OATS
(Open Source Assistive Technology Software) pilot project website,
<www.oatsoft.org>, is now open for public access.

I hope you find the content interesting and placing it all in one
location to be of real help.

I attach a copy of the press release.

The pilot project is coming to the end of a one year evaluation -
designed to investigate the feasibility of such a venture - and is
looking for support and backing to take it further.  Funding,
sponsorship, time donations, hosting, development, programming and any
other general enquiries should be directed to simon.judge at sbpct.nhs.uk
or lysley at ace-centre.org.uk .

Best wishes,

Stephen Druce
Projects Officer
The ACE Centre Advisory Trust
92 Windmill Road
Headington
Oxford OX3 7DR
Tel:   +44 (0)1865 759822
Fax:  +44 (0)1865 759810
E-mail:  druce at ace-centre.org.uk
Website:  <www.ace-centre.org.uk>

Attachment:-

News Release -    10Am 3rd May 2006 - FAO News Editor
Website Offers OATS to People with Disabilities

A consortium headed by internationally renowned charity, The ACE Centre,
this week launches a website that will be a world's first in meeting the
technology needs of the disabled. OATS (Open Source Assistive Technology
Software) will be the first free online 'one stop shop' of open source
software that  enables those with disabilities to access computers. It
also provides a forum  for developers to interact with users and in some
cases, customise software for the very unique and personal needs of
disabled users.

The OATS (www.oatsoft.org <http://www.oatsoft.org/>) project will be a
focal point for developers to provide solutions for people with
disabilities, as demonstrated by an OATS community member recently.
Steve Lee, a volunteer programmer, responded to an appeal by a FORD
employee who was unable to speak but needed to prepare a PowerPoint
presentation. Steve created PowerTalk, a program that speaks and
displays PowerPoint presentations at the push of a button.
This
software is freely available on the OATS website and as well as meeting
the needs of the Ford employee, has found additional uses within the
classroom and for those with visual impairments.

Andrew Lysley, ACE Centre Deputy Director and OATS coordinator said
today "The example of PowerTalk typifies the enormous impact OATS can
have in meeting the needs of disabled users of technology worldwide"



Contact Details
Andrew Lysley - Deputy Director, The ACE Centre Advisory Trust Tel.
01865 759802 - Mobile. 07789 538631  lysley at ace-centre.org.uk
<mailto:lysley at ace-centre.org.uk> Simon Judge- Clinical Scientist Access
to Communication and Technology
(ACT) 0121 627 8235
simon.judge at southbirminghampct.nhs.uk
<mailto:simon.judge at southbirminghampct.nhs.uk>
______________________________________________________________
Notes to Editors.
OATS
The OATS project was created to harness and promote the benefits of open
source software for the assistive technology community.
The project consortium comprises an international group of organisations
and volunteers developing and promoting assistive technology.  The group
includes: The ACE Centre Advisory Trust; Access to Communication
Technology (ACT) West Midlands Rehabilitation Centre, Birmingham;
University of Dundee Applied Computing Dept; Swedish Institute for
Special Needs Education.
What is Open Source?
Generically, open source
<http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/o/open_source.html> refers to a program
in which the source code is available to the general public for use
and/or modification from its original design free of charge, i.e., open.
Open source code is typically created as a collaborative effort in which
programmers improve upon the code and share the changes within the
community. Open source sprouted in the technological community as a
response to proprietary software owned by corporations.
(www.webopedia.com <http://www.webopedia.com/>)

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