No subject

cting the yearly research about Higher=20

education accessibility for disabled.

++09: News from the Netherlands.

+Unified Web Evaluation Methodology version 1.2 ready.

December 2007 - The Web Cluster has just delivered version 1.2 of the Europe=
an instrument for evaluation and=20

benchmarking of websites to the EU. The Unified Web Evaluation Methodology (=
UWEM1.2) is the result of a joint=20

harmonization effort by 23 European organisations in three European projects=
 combined in a cluster called the WAB=20

Cluster. They have developed UWEM to ensure that large scale monitoring and =
local evaluation are compatible and=20

coherent among themselves and with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines =
from W3C/WAI.

The UWEM methodology has already incorporated support for the migration from=
 WCAG 1.0 to WCAG 2.0. Thus,=20

UWEM is the ideal instrument to support evaluation, (self)certification, and=
 benchmarking of web content in Europe=20

and beyond. Within the WAB Cluster we are building an observatory for large =
scale European evaluation and=20

benchmarking of website accessibility. This supports large scale and local e=
valuation.

The UWEM methodology contains a complete methodology including detailed test=
s for the evaluation of websites for=20

WCAG1.0 conformance. The document is separated into a Core document and a Te=
sts document. The UWEM has=20

been developed by the WAB Cluster in order to improve the Tool and Browser I=
ndependence, the Unique=20

Interpretability, Repeatability and Translatability of the WCAG1.0 guideline=
s. It is conformant with the W3C Web=20

Content Accessibility Guidelines and based on an interpretation of WCAG agre=
ed among stakeholders. In this way, it=20

can offer unprecedented guidance for evaluation and benchmarking.

The Methodology can be downloaded from:
http:// www.wabcluster.org .

++10: News from Slovenia.

+Opening of the IRIS Smart Home.

IRIS Smart Home was officially opened on 17th December by the Slovenian mini=
ster of Higher Education, Science and=20

Technology, Mojca Kucler Dolinar. IRIS (Independent Residing enabled by Inte=
lligent Solutions) Smart Home hosts=20

various solutions, ranging from the simplest to high-tech, which enable disa=
bled persons and the elderly to live better=20

and more independently. Activities planned in the smart home are following: =
demonstration, counselling,=20

rehabilitation, R&D, testing etc. IRIS Smart Home is expected to promote e-a=
ccessibility and e-inclusion in Slovenia.=20

The whole project is worth roughly EUR 450,000.

More info (in Slovene, English version to be added shortly):=20
http://www.dom-iris.si .

++11: News from Spain.

Spanish Center for Subtitling and Audiodescription (CESyA)located at Carlos =
III University has developed "Closed=20

Captioning system for hearing impaired people based on glasses including a s=
mall display". This invention was=20

selected by TIME magazine as one of the "The Best Inventions Of The Year 200=
7". The project was carried out by a=20

team headed by Prof. Jos=E9 M. S=E1nchez Pena, head of the Electronics Techn=
ology Department of Carlos III University.

More information in:
http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/article/0,28804,1677329_1678427_16784=
37,00.html.

++12: News from Sweden.

In 2008 the Swedish Institute of Assistive Technology starts two new ICT pro=
jects.

-"IT-support" a new project.

The information society is here to stay and we are all dependent on it in ou=
r lives. The benefit from the information=20

technology and services provided on the Internet from authorities and compan=
ies constitutes that the costumer can=20

make use the computer technique.

Many persons with impairments cannot use all possibilities the IT technique =
can offer without any support and will=20

therefore be at the risk for getting isolated. The possibility to get IT sup=
port is outmost importance for using the=20

computer and internet to many people.=20

The project will focus on clarifying the conditions, not least economic, to =
establish e a national organisation with=20

IT-support for persons with disabilities.
The project is funded by the Swedish Inheritance Fund, the Swedish Institute=
 of Assistive Technology and Microsoft -=20

Sweden.

+Internet project for useable mainstream services .

The Swedish Care Institute in cooperation with t the Swedish Institute of As=
sistive Technology starts an new Internet=20

project for investigate the possibility to develop mainstream Internet servi=
ces useable for elderly and persons with=20

impairments.

A dialogs with the responsible companies for making the Internet services mo=
re usable for elderly and persons with=20

impairments is a important goal for the project.=20

+Testing of 3G telephones.

The second report within the project Testing of 3G telephones being conducte=
d in 2006 and 2007 by the Swedish=20

Institute of Assistive Technology, the Swedish National Post and Telecom Age=
ncy and the Swedish Consumer Agency.=20

The project focuses on deaf, hearing impaired or deaf-blind users of mobile =
video telephony.

It is clear from the test panel's opinions that today's 3G telephones are su=
itable for simple sign language=20

communication. However there are still some problems: the picture quality ex=
perienced is not particularly good, and=20

people are forced to repeat themselves often to make themselves understood.

The test results show that is not possible to use video calls with 3G teleph=
ones for lip reading or cued speech. The=20

most probable reasons for this are lack of synchronisation between sounds an=
d pictures and low picture resolution.

For more information:=20
http://www.hi.se/global/pdf/2007/07375-pdf.pdf .

++13: News from United Kingdom.

+Professional practice - training for eInclusion July 1 2008.
=20http://www.epractice.eu/contribution/event .

We are pleased to announce a half day workshop which celebrates the results =
of a study of training opportunities in=20

design for all in eInclusion throughout Europe.

A series of case studies drawn from Universities and other educational estab=
lishments will reveal the extent to which=20

there are many hidden gems where design for all teaching is integrated in ma=
in stream teaching of ICT. We will=20

discuss differences in learning outcomes and syllabus, best teaching practic=
e and the impact of these courses on=20

professional recognition.

Delegates will be invited to contribute personal experience of teaching eInc=
lusion at all levels and strategies for=20

increasing recognition of this important domain.
This event will be hosted by the Design for All Research Group Middlesex Uni=
versity in London. Information will also=20

be available on-line.
http://www.mdx.ac.uk/schools/cs/research/d4a/edean.asp .

+SME's and web accessibility.

In November we presented to ANEC the results of a study of web accessibility=
 of websites reflecting the more social=20

aspects of life in travel and entertainment provision by small businesses.  =
SME's which have up to 250 employees=20

represent the majority of businesses with some being family run or sole trad=
er businesses. We examined the website=20

code as part of assessing who had developed the site and whether they had ma=
de use of any of the popular do-it=20

yourself on-line services. The final report will include recommendations tha=
t reflect the unique challenges experienced=20

by small businesses with very limited resources or indeed expertise in provi=
ding accessible web information.

+DfA @eInclusion.

In December we met with the work package leaders to present the provisional =
selection of case studies of good=20

practice in design for all in ICT and to discuss progress. We organised a me=
eting in London in January 2008 to discuss=20

our response to the request for a European Masters programme in design for a=
ll in ICT.

+In memoriam.

Sadly we report the death of our former Director of Research Professor Colin=
 Tully in December 2007 aged 71. He had=20

greatly encouraged us to take on a variety of research projects on ageing an=
d disability and the use of ICT, and to set=20

up the Design for All Research Group within the School of Computing Science.=
 Coming from a background in software=20

engineering he promoted the concept of community engineering and was a natur=
al proponent for inclusive design=20

practice. Although he retired at the age of 70 in August 2006, he allowed ne=
ither his age nor his health to act as a=20

barrier to his ambitions to have impact in an interdisciplinary research com=
munity. He continued to champion our=20

activities and was actively working with us on a major research bid, among a=
 wealth of other interests. We shall=20

continue to draw inspiration from his example of active ageing.

=20[end of section one]

+++Section Two: Events, Courses, Conferences, Calls for papers.

++14: Forthcoming Events, Courses, Conferences.

+ Information meeting  on "Total Conversation" and on "E-Accessible Emergenc=
y Services".

On the 30th of January 2008 between 14:00 and 16:00  the ICT for Inclusion u=
nit of the European Commission is=20

organising an  information meeting  on "Total Conversation" and on "E-Access=
ible Emergency Services". This meeting=20

is in the context of the actions of the European e-Inclusion Initiative, nam=
ely:
- the call by the Commission to ICT industry to rapidly commit to putting in=
 place, in the 2008-2010 timeframe,=20

privacy-friendly solutions for persons with sensory, physical, motor and/ or=
 cognitive restrictions to make use of=20

electronic communications ('total conversation') notably to safeguard access=
 to emergency services and=20

interoperability (in line with the proposed revision of the e Communications=
 Directives), building on their current=20

cooperation with users, and;
- the intention of the Commission to co-finance in the 2008 ICT-PSP programm=
e a pilot on 'total conversation'.=20

For the European e-Inclusion Initiative see:
http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/activities/einclusion/index_en.htm .=
=20

For the ICT-PSP programme (part of the Competitiveness and Innovation Progra=
mme), see:
http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/activities/einclusion/impl/index_en.=
htm .

This meeting is relevant for representatives of ICT industry, Emergency Serv=
ices authorities/organisations, leading=20

stakeholders in  accessible multimedia communications solutions, user repres=
entatives,  as well as any other=20

organisations interested in  increasing accessibility  in electronic communi=
cations and  emergency services.=20

Venue: Avenue de Beaulieu 25, room S1, 1160 Brussels.

+Conference on "Vision in Action: Accessibility for All to Next Generation N=
etworks".

7th February 2008, Centre Borschette, Brussels

The conference will address:
- What is the potential of new communication technologies for older and disa=
bled people and how can we help=20

industry deliver this potential? =20
- What are the main concerns, issues and requirements of the industry?
- How can we ensure that older and disabled people are included in the oppor=
tunities offered by network generation=20

services?

This conference may not be able to provide all the answers but through live =
enactments of current and future=20

scenarios, the participants will experience some of the main issues whilst b=
eing able to propose possible solutions to=20

live actors on stage. This interactive session will be an opportunity to exp=
lore potential benefits and engage directly in=20

the debate.=20

The conference is free of charge, and has been organised by COST 219ter (Acc=
essibility for all to services and terminals=20

for next generation mobile networks).
Further information and a registration form is at:
www.tiresias.org/cost219ter/mtgs.htm .

++15: Calls for Papers.

+Education for Web Design.

A Special Thematic Session on Accessibility: Education for Web Design will b=
e held at the 11th International=20

Conference on Computers Helping People with Special Needs (ICCHP). July 9 - =
11, 2008, University of Linz, Austria =20

Pre-Conference July 7 - 8, 2008.

The Call for Papers is open until February 1, 2008.

As part of the ICCHP programme, a Special Thematic Session (STS) on Accessib=
ility: Education for Web Design is=20

proposed and contributions are invited for this STS in order to bring togeth=
er stakeholders such as educators,=20

eLearning providers, researchers and user representatives to share their kno=
wledge and expertise. The STS Chairs=20

invite you to help raise the strategic importance of Accessibility: Educatio=
n for Web Design.=20

Indicative areas of interest should include the following, although other ar=
eas not listed below may also be=20

considered:
- Curriculum and content.
- Didactic approaches: eLearning, blended learning, distance education, asse=
ssment.
- Accessibility and lifelong learning.
- Guidelines, laws and policies.
- Heterogeneity of target groups: teachers, students, managers, service prov=
iders.
- Widening participation: eInclusion, minority and disadvantaged groups.
- Accessible tools: authoring, user agents, eLearning platforms.
- Management: evaluation, quality mechanisms.
- Best practice and demonstrators.
=20-New careers and opportunities.
=20-New ideas and concepts in education for web design.

For further details about this STS please visit:=20
http://www.icchp.org/node/164 .

+Special Session on E-Inclusive Multimedia Systems & Services - EIMSS-2008.

E-Inclusive Multimedia Systems & Services (EIMSS-2008) is a special session =
at the First International Symposium on=20

Intelligent Interactive Multimedia Systems and Services (IIMSS-2008), organi=
sed by Knowledge-Based & Intelligent=20

Engineering Systems (KES) International. It will be held at the University o=
f Piraeus, Greece on 9-11 July 2008.

The deadline for submission of papers to EIMSS-2008 is 18 February. =20

Papers should be in LNCS format and be no longer that 10 pages in length. Th=
e IIMSS-2008 Symposium proceedings=20

will be published by Springer-Verlag (subject to confirmation by Springer).

We plan to publish no more than 5-6 high quality, original, and previously u=
npublished research contributions in=20

intelligent interactive multimedia systems and services that address topic a=
reas in eInclusion.

For more information:
http://ijgj15.infj.ulst.ac.uk/0708/eimss/index.html .

+IADIS International Conference Information Systems  2008.

April 9-11, 2008 - ALGARVE, PORTUGAL

A new paradigm is sweeping the society, organisations and the business envir=
onment.  In fact, society and business=20

world alike are moving from its tangible bases to intangible ones based on k=
nowledge and information systems (IS) to=20

support its management, use and sharing.  In this emerging paradigm, terms l=
ike information, communication,=20

knowledge, and learning have acquired a critical relevance to the understand=
ing of the nature of contemporary=20

business.  This led authors such as Drucker (1993) to state that ""we are en=
tering the knowledge society in which the=20

basic economic resource ... is knowledge".

In fact, since the mid-1980s, there has been a sudden avalanche of a new kin=
d of vocabulary. Corporations, which so=20

far had been economic entities, are being described as 'information-based or=
ganizations', 'learning organizations',=20

'knowledge-creating companies' or knowledge intensive organisations.  Instea=
d of product-market strategies, the=20

fashionable business discourse invokes core competencies, intangible assets,=
 knowledge-based capabilities,=20

intellectual capital, knowledge management etc.  Consequently, in this 21st =
century of ours, terms such as intellectual=20

capital, knowledge management, and knowledge mapping have increasingly becom=
e part of the corporate landscape. =20

However, none of this apparent revolution would be possible without the unde=
rlying technological support provided=20

by IS. The IADIS Information Systems Conference (IS 2008) aims to provide a =
forum for the discussion of IS taking a=20

socio-technological perspective.  It aims to address the issues related to d=
esign, development and use of IS in=20

organisations from a socio-technological perspective, as well as to discuss =
IS professional practice, research and=20

teaching. =20

The conference will comprise invited talks and oral presentations. The proce=
edings of the conference will be published=20

in the form of a book. The best paper authors will be invited to publish ext=
ended versions of their papers in specific=20

journals, and in the IADIS International Journal on Computer Science and Inf=
ormation Systems.

Important Dates:
- Submission deadline (second call): 1 February 2008.
- Notification to Authors: 25 February 2008.
- Final Camera-Ready Submission and Early Registration: Until 17 March 2008.
- Late Registration: After 17 March 2008.
- Conference: Algarve, Portugal, 9 to 11 April 2008.

IADIS INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE INFORMATION SYSTEMS 2008 Secretariat:
Rua Sao Sebastiao da Pedreira, 100, 3, 1050-209 Lisbon, Portugal,
secretariat at is-conf.org,
http://www.is-conf.org/.

[end of section two]

+++Section Three: Other news, information, useful links.

++16: Newsletters.

- Design for All Institute of India Newsletter:
=20http://www.designforall.in/.
- Design for All Foundation:
=20http://www.designforall.org/en/dfa/newsletter.html.
- Journal on Human Technology:
=20http://www.humantechnology.jyu.fi/current/.
- Nordic Forum for Telecommunication and Disability:
=20http://www.nuh.fi/NFTH_eng.htm.

[end of section three]

+++Section Four: About this Newsletter.

EDeAN Newsletter is published four times per year. It is emailed to all EDeA=
N members as well as observers and=20

stakeholders. Newsletter is also posted on www.edean.org  in HTML, word and =
pdf formats.=20

The newsletter is edited by the EDeAN Secretariat (2007) at IFAC -CNR, the I=
nstitute of Applied Physics "Nello Carrara"=20

of the National Research Council, Italy. E-mail: secretariat at edean.org.=20

Please contact us if you wish to subscribe to this newsletter or want to can=
cel your subscription.

EDeAN Secretariat 2007:
Pier Luigi Emiliani, Secretariat Manager, Editor in Chief
p.l.emiliani at ifac.cnr.it

Marco Billi, Secretary
m.billi at ifac.cnr.it

=20[end of section four]





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