Agenda in Chicago
Building on the momentum from the first G3ict Global Forum in March, the "Wireless Internet Opportunity for Disabled Persons: New Horizons for Assistive Technologies" Roundtable in Chicago is an inquiry session to talk about the Initiative to local decision makers and to collect information and data on different aspects of accessibility and ICTs. What is under way at the local-government level? What is known about the Section 508 and 255 guidelines for accessibility? What are the applications available in a municipal context to improve the lives of people with disabilities?
Briefing: Global Initiative for Inclusive ICTs (45').
Summary of findings of the first G3ict Global Forum at UN Headquarters, March 26, 2007
Chair: Axel Leblois, Executive Director, G3ict, Senior Fellow, UNITAR, and co-Founder, W2i
- Objectives of Round Table and expected contribution to the G3ict process
- Input from each participant on areas of interest and sharing of experiences
- Overview of sections 508 of the Rehabilitation Act and 255 of the Telecommunication Act
Brainstorm #1: Establishing a matrix of e-government applications and their usage by persons with different types of disabilities with accessibility recommendations. (60')
Co-Chairs: Karen Tamley, Commissioner, Mayors Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD), City of Chicago, and James Farstad, President, rClient and Advisor to the City of Minneapolis
Group discussion:
- What are the functions of local government affected by accessibility?
- What are the e-Gov applications that are subject to accessibility enhancement?
- Good practices supporting disabled employees access to ICT applications
- Participants will generate a list of opportunities and rank them Web site accessibility
- W3C WAI guidelines
- Can voice access to web site address critical barriers to usability (Edmund Khan, Internet Speech)?
- Making web site more usable with downloadable accessibility tools (Anne-Rivers Forcke, IBM Human Ability and Accessibility Center)
Break (15)
Brainstorm #2: What is the potential of pervasive wireless networks in cities for new services for persons with disabilities? (60')
Co-Chairs: Michael Jones, PhD, Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Mobile Wireless Technologies for Persons with Disabilities, Shepherd Center, Atlanta, GA and Prof. Licia Sbattella, Politecnico di Milano (Milan Polytechnic Institute)
- Leveraging existing low cost wireless technologies: cellular telephony, blue tooth, RFID, Wi-Fi and Wi-Max
- Categories of potential wireless applications for assistive technologies, input from participants and development of a matrix of opportunities
- Discussion, sharing of information and experience:
1. Who does what in wireless applications for disabled persons?
2. Experience and research conducted by the Shepherd Center with Georgia Tech and Politecnico di Milano
3. How to get industry and service providers involved?
4. Current work of standardization bodies (ANSI, ETSI, Universal Remote Console Consortium, etc.); how to accelerate greater involvement from relevant constituents?
Proceedings from the Roundtable will be made available on the W2i and G3ict web sites with RSS to allow other sites to post them.
About W2i and the Digital Cities Convention Series
The Wireless Internet Institute (W2i) is an independent forum bringing together stakeholders around the world to accelerate the adoption of wireless Internet in support of social and economic development and better managed cities, communities and regions. Held annually in three to four regions of the world, the W2i Digital Cities Convention includes a thought-leadership conference exploring the planning and deployment of broadband-wireless infrastructure, applications and services; practical training for local authorities; roundtables for wireless service-provider executives and digital-inclusion stakeholders; the annual Wireless Communities Best-Practices Awards; and a Technology Showcase produced in partnership with the public sector, private sector, and international development institutions. Building on conventions in Philadelphia, Shanghai, San Francisco, Bilbão, Houston, Rio, and Los Angeles, London, and Tempe, Arizona, planning is in final stages for São Paulo (April 12) and Chicago (May 2223).
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