[Irl-dean] Centre for Excellence

[Joshue O Connor]

I feel that the Centre could have a very "real" contribution to make but 
I am concerned that it doesn't duplicate work already being done. As 
Mark already suggested, through looking for a "gap" and attempting to 
fill it, we can thereby improve and compliment existing services.

I attended a meeting in the NDA with Scientific Generics and they asked 
what "we" would like "them" to do for "us".  I found this rather broad 
question difficult to answer without prior time for reflection and 
discussion, but one suggestion I made was research into areas that "we" 
(the collective), are not in a position to do. One example would be a 
study of the high degree of Assistive Technology device abandonment, why 
does it happen? what can be done to reduce it etc? Many of us are not in 
a position to look at this area so maybe they could undertake this and 
other similar research, which would hopefully have a practical 
application and help all of us, in the long run, provide a better service.

The development of this centre is certainly food for thought, as it's 
not every day we are given carte-blanche, so we do need to discuss it in 
depth and come up with come coherent suggestions.

I like your idea Henry about the development of a "virtual library" 
where developers could access accessible code for web/software 
applications. Also

> research on the accessibility
>implications of new technologies before they are introduced. Currently there
>is no commercial incentive to this kind of thing.
>
your suggestion is similar to my previous one. Research into these, and 
other related areas, would be valuable and many of us are not in a 
position to undertake it. The better the ground work that we do at this 
point in order to point them in the right direction, the greater 
possibility for success. So, in many ways this is a great opportunity 
and we should put it on the agenda for the next Irl-Dean meeting. What 
do you think Hugh?

Josh




Henry Poskitt wrote:

>It would be good to give some practical suggestions OK.
>
>How about developing generic accessible templates for common interactive
>components used on public sector sites would be a quick way of making a real
>difference. I'm thinking searches and list returns, contact forms,
>publications lists or an accessibility page template. They would be tested
>and checked by people like CFIT and then made freely available online. It
>would also allow smaller agencies to get access to top notch code.
>
>The other thing that would be good is research on the accessibility
>implications of new technologies before they are introduced. Currently there
>is no commercial incentive to this kind of thing.
>
>Henry
>
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>Irl-dean mailing list
>Irl-dean at list.eeng.dcu.ie
>http://list.eeng.dcu.ie/mailman/listinfo/irl-dean
>
>
>  
>