[oats-sig] FW: Open Source AAC (was RE: recommendations for AACtablet devices)

Margaret Cotts wrote:

It's true that an appropriate assessment is needed for AAC...  I think,
however, that there are a couple of groups that are/could be empowered by
more FLOSS offerings - 1) empowered users who want to find their own stuff
2) users who don't fall into the 'specialist' bracket that would get an
assessment(if they were lucky!) (e.g. the 'ageing population') and that just
want some simple tools. 3)People outside the western world...

It's also true that a new generation of more computer literate
therapists/professionals will be more demanding (rightly) in being able to
access tools they can use with clients...  

Anyway, that's my humble opinion, at least!

Cheers.

Simon

-----Original Message-----
From: oats-sig-bounces at lists.becta.org.uk
[mailto:oats-sig-bounces at lists.becta.org.uk] On Behalf Of stephen emslie
Sent: Friday, October 05, 2007 12:56 PM
To: OATs Project Special Interest Group
Subject: Re: [oats-sig] FW: Open Source AAC (was RE: recommendations for
AACtablet devices)

I really like the idea of an Ubuntu accessibility build, portable or not. Is
the idea to keep your accessibility software on a usb drive that you take
around with you and use in whatever pc you need to use?

Its a great idea, though obviously not as useful for those that are immobile
and unlikely to use more than one machine.

I agree whole-heartedly with what Margaret said about AAC assessment.
One piece of software/hardware wont meet everyone's needs, though it seems
that there is a shortage of low cost software resources for therapists to
put together AAC solutions that suit a patient.

Now we're well into that familiar area of hypothesis, but perhaps an
accessibility build of Ubuntu with appropriate software could be thought of
as a tool for therapists to configure to the needs of their patient. Once
configured appropriately it becomes a powerful starting point that has the
benefit of being tailored suitable.

Now I seem to have drifted well off the map, but my girlfriend is a speech
therapist and she's always complaining about a lack of good tools in this
sort of vein.

Stephen Emslie

> Margaret Cotts wrote:
>> I wanted to echo what Carrie said about providing the needs 
>> assessment first. When I provide an AAC evaluation, I provide an 
>> extensive needs evaluation before I even think about what device to 
>> show

On 10/5/07, Simon Judge <simon.judge at nhs.net> wrote:
> See below for a response from RESNA (and my reply).  Seems an 
> interesting point - having a pendrive/live CD accessibility suite... 
> Or an liveUbuntu build just for accessibility. Henrik?! (-;
>
> Cheers.
>
> Simon
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Simon Judge
> Sent: Friday, October 05, 2007 9:03 AM
> To: RESNA's Assistive Technology Forum
> Subject: RE: Open Source AAC (was RE: recommendations for AAC tablet
> devices)
>
> It would be great to have an 'accessibility suite on a memory stick'
> definitely!  Linux (e.g. Ubuntu) already do 'live CDs' where you can 
> run the OS off a CD.. And there are a range of good AT software 
> solutions emerging and avaliable for linux, so a 'live accessibility CD
(or memory stick)'
> which you could give someone for the PC for specific AT needs is not 
> impossible and would be useful I think.
>
> I'll have a look at portableapps and feedback your comments to the 
> OATS group, thanks.
>
> Cheers.
>
> Simon
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: RESNA's Assistive Technology Forum 
> [mailto:AT-FORUM at LIST.RESNA.ORG] On Behalf Of Kocsis
> Sent: Friday, October 05, 2007 12:05 AM
> To: AT-FORUM at LIST.RESNA.ORG
> Subject: Re: Open Source AAC (was RE: recommendations for AAC tablet
> devices)
>
> Thanks Simon,
>  I also believe that open source and portability are both as a big 
> part of the "next big thing" whatever it may be. Have you seen portable
apps yet?
> It's the open source version of U3 technology, which allows programs 
> to be stored & run from a USB drive to run on any PC without leaving a 
> footprint on the PC itself.
>
> This is great for the portability of accessibility software and Win 
> accessibility settings, allowing a person to make any computer "their own"
> without mucking things up for the next person. It originated as a way 
> to securely use a public machine without leaving any personal info 
> behind, such as passwords, browsing history or cache. Check out 
> www.portableapps.com for more info.
>
> Thanks for the oatsoft info!
>
> Best regards,
> Ron
>
> Ron Kocsis, OTR/L, ATP
> Kocsis Assistive Technology Services
>
> V-Karma Books
> on Amazon http://tinyurl.com/y56mom
> on eBay  http://myworld.ebay.com/v-karmabooks
>
> Home long distance for as low as 2.3 cents/minute?
> New mobile phone service with a FREE phone & up to $80 cash after rebates?
> Check here!: http://grkocsis.ld.net/
>
>
>
> Simon Judge wrote:
> > RE an open source AAC system - Steve Lee is developing something 
> > along these lines, it is in early stages at the moment and is funded 
> > by a Mozilla grant, however initial info is at:
> >
> > http://www.oatsoft.org/Software/jambu/
> >
> > >From Steve:
> > ------
> > That definitely overlaps with Jambu's goals.
> > Jambu is SVG based rather than HTML (both w3c standards) so is 
> > better at graphics than text for now. Flexible input is a central 
> > long term goal. as is portability (Im just starting on linux ). I 
> > would love to see it running on a variety of devices.
> > -----
> >
> > SAW is another open source product that can be used for AAC:
> >
> > http://www.oatsoft.org/Software/SpecialAccessToWindows/
> >
> > I, and a few others, believe that Open Source is the future... And 
> > hopefully AT will get on board... If you are interested check out 
> > www.oatsoft.org and join the mailing list. (-;
> >
> > Cheers.
> >
> > Simon
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: RESNA's Assistive Technology Forum 
> > [mailto:AT-FORUM at LIST.RESNA.ORG] On Behalf Of Kocsis
> > Sent: Wednesday, October 03, 2007 12:59 AM
> > To: AT-FORUM at LIST.RESNA.ORG
> > Subject: Re: recommendations for AAC tablet devices
> >
> > Just a random thought here, but wouldn't it be interesting to see 
> > some type of open source program for an HTML-based comm device using 
> > cascading style sheets & variety of access options (USB ports,etc) 
> > and platforms (pc, handheld, tablet, etc)?
> >
> > What would it take to really make such a device "universal" - at 
> > least as far as dynamic display devices go? perhaps a program that 
> > allows folks to choose between text-based or icon based pages, vs 
> > text (a la
> > Words+), though I think something as unique as dasher would be tough 
> > Words+to
> > incorporate...
> >
> > What do you think should go into an all-inclusive aug comm box? How 
> > about a clear silicone raised button overlay that you can see the 
> > screen icons through but still have button "feel appeal"? That might 
> > be a nice little product to design & manufacture, kind of a reverse 
> > keyguard. :) Any other fun ideas?
> >
> >
> >  From out in left field - Spokane, to be exact, Ron
> >
> > Ron Kocsis, OTR/L, ATP
> > Kocsis Assistive Technology Services
> >
> > V-Karma Books
> > on Amazon http://tinyurl.com/y56mom
> > on eBay  http://myworld.ebay.com/v-karmabooks
> >
> > Home long distance for as low as 2.3 cents/minute?
> > New mobile phone service with a FREE phone & up to $80 cash after 
> > rebates? Check here!: http://grkocsis.ld.net/
> >
> >
> >
> > Margaret Cotts wrote:
> >
> >> Hi Geoff-
> >> I think part of what was making me nervous about this question is 
> >> it
> >>
> > sounds
> >
> >> like the school district wants to have a hardware/software combo 
> >> that they can hand out to students.
> >>
> >> I wanted to echo what Carrie said about providing the needs 
> >> assessment first. When I provide an AAC evaluation, I provide an 
> >> extensive needs evaluation before I even think about what device to 
> >> show
> the individual.
> >> There are lots of different kinds of software which are 
> >> "well-designed" in certain aspects, but don't necessarily meet the 
> >> needs
> of the individual.
> >> Does the student need to use email and have internet access? Can 
> >> the
> >>
> > student
> >
> >> use a core vocabulary program? Which core vocabulary program works 
> >> best
> >>
> > for
> >
> >> the student? Do they need a symbol based program? Does the student 
> >> do best using an eye gaze based system? Do they need a smaller, 
> >> more portable system?
> >>
> >> I don't honestly believe you can find one piece of software that 
> >> will meet the needs of the school district.
> >>
> >> Margaret Cotts, MA, ATP
> >> The ALS Center at UCSF
> >>
> >>
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: RESNA's Assistive Technology Forum 
> >> [mailto:AT-FORUM at LIST.RESNA.ORG]
> >>
> > On
> >
> >> Behalf Of Geoff Sittler
> >> Sent: Tuesday, October 02, 2007 8:30 AM
> >> To: AT-FORUM at LIST.RESNA.ORG
> >> Subject: recommendations for AAC tablet devices
> >>
> >>   I'm an OT working in the school system in Oregon and am looking 
> >> at tablet/slate PCs that can be used as communication devices as 
> >> alternatives to specialty built devices like the Mercury or DynaVox.
> >> In an effort to decrease costs, I'm hoping that we could use 
> >> hardware that is designed for the the general public and then 
> >> install software for
> communication.
> >>
> >>   I was wondering if anyone had recommendations on 
> >> hardware/software that are well-designed and affordable (I know 
> >> those things don't always go together, but I'm hoping someone might 
> >> be able to help on
> this).
> >>
> >>
> >>   Thanks,
> >>
> >>   Geoff Sittler
> >>   Occupational Therapist - NWRESD, Columbia County
> >>   Office: (503) 366-1715, x-236
> >>   Cell: (971) 678-6793
> >>   Fax: (503) 397-0796
> >>   800 Port Avenue
> >>   St. Helens, OR 97051
> >>   gsittler at nwresd.k12.or.us
> >>   www.nwresd.k12.or.us
> >>
> >>
> >>
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