Re: [AI] Police remove visually challenged protesters
Somehow, I am not for these protests. Energy spent for such activities can be channelised for something better. We don't gain much attention from politicians as our votes are not going to decisively change the way politics is run in this country. And unless we hold that decisive position in the group of voters, I don't think much can be achieved through these protests, except bad treatment by police. Subramani -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of anilkumar k.r. Sent: Saturday, September 29, 2007 11:59 AM To: accessindia@accessindia.org.in Subject: [AI] Police remove visually challenged protesters Police remove visually challenged protesters Ananth Krishnan - Photo: S.S. Kumar Voicing demands: A visually challenged person being forced to get into a bus at the Kodambakkam bridge in Chennai on Friday. CHENNAI: The police forcibly removed blind protesters in three different areas of the city and detained them for several hours on Friday, as student groups and activists for the visually challenged continued their agitation urging the State Government to consider their '15-point charter of demands.' Their demands include increased financial assistance for graduate and postgraduate students and reservation of five seats in government and government-aided colleges. Protesters at the Kottivakkam overbridge said that police had "slapped" them and used lathis to load them in buses while breaking up the protest. Police officials, however, denied the charges, saying that they only removed the protesters, with traffic being disrupted for more than one hour. Sixteen fasting students were taken to the Government Royapettah hospital, but they refused the intravenous treatment offered to them. Around 200 protesters gathered in Kottivakkam, and several others in Mylapore and Triplicane. Student groups for the visually challenged have been protesting and organising fasts across Tamil Nadu for three days. The groups have also asked the authorities to relax the norms for pension eligibility for visually challenged employees, as well as extend the special vehicle allowance provided for physically handicapped persons to the visually challenged. Murugesan, a member of the College Students and Graduate Association of the Blind, told The Hindu that they would call off their protest if they were allowed to convey their demands directly to the Chief Minister. Copyright: 1995 - 2006 The Hindu Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the consent of The Hindu - Tonight's top picks. What will you watch tonight? Preview the hottest shows on Yahoo! TV. To unsubscribe send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.i n To unsubscribe send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in
[AI] India to ratify UN convention on rights of disabled
The Hindu News Update Service News Update Service Sunday, September 30, 2007 : 1435 Hrs Top Stories India to ratify UN convention on rights of disabled New York, Sept. 30 (PTI): Home to an estimated 70 million disabled people, India will ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities tomorrow. External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee would submit the instruments of ratification for the convention, the world body said today. The Convention, termed first human rights treaty of the 21st century, provides the States ratifying it to enact laws and other measures to improve disability rights, and also abolish legislation, customs and practices that discriminate against persons with disabilities. So far, 115 countries have signed the convention, which was adopted unanimously by the General Assembly on December 13, 2006 and opened for signature on March 30, 2007. Twenty ratifications or accessions are necessary for the treaty to come into force, and so far five countries have ratified it -- Jamaica, Hungary, Panama, Croatia and Cuba. The Optional Protocol to the Convention has been signed by 64 countries. The Protocol will come into force when the Convention does, and after 10 ratifications or accessions. Ahead of the ratification, Mukherjee, is scheduled to have discussions with Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on international issues as also on the matters before the United Nations including expansion of the Security Council. To unsubscribe send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in
[AI] New facility for Aurolab
The Hindu News Update Service News Update Service Sunday, September 30, 2007 : 0315 Hrs Business New facility for Aurolab Madurai, Sept. 30 (PTI): Aravind Eye Hospital's Aurolab which produces Intra Ocular lens(IOL) and other surgical instruments, would have a new manufacturing facility in 1,10,000 sq ft area at Veerapanchan near here. The new facility of Aurolab would be conformed to the international standards set by United States Food and Drug Administration. It would help Aurolab increase its production capacity by five times, G Srinivasan, President and Dr P Balakrishnan, Managing Director, told reporters here on Saturday. Aurolab which had received ISO 1999 and CE certification for its high-quality products, would continue to provide its products to eye care institutions at cheaper rates, they said. About 60 per cent of its IOL produced was used by eye care hospitals across the world. It was also keen to introduce new technology in the manufacturing process while ensuring quality products. The new facility would bring the manufacturing of various products under one roof and help faster growth of the organisation. To unsubscribe send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in
Re: [AI] Police remove visually challenged protesters
Hello, As you know that unless we protest, Government do not fulfil our demands or needs. College Students and Graduates Association of the Blind, Chennai, every year, organises agitations and they achieve their demands. This year too, they have got appointment with the Chief Minister of the State today, through their strong protests only. Let us pray for their demands to be fulfilled. Wherever such strikes and agitations are organised, we all have to extend our support as far as possible. Unless you knock the door, you cannot get anything from the government. Let us hope for the best! With regards, Gopalakrishnan - Original Message - From: "Subramani L" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Sent: Sunday, September 30, 2007 2:06 PM Subject: Re: [AI] Police remove visually challenged protesters > Somehow, I am not for these protests. Energy spent for such activities > can be channelised for something better. We don't gain much attention > from politicians as our votes are not going to decisively change the way > politics is run in this country. And unless we hold that decisive > position in the group of voters, I don't think much can be achieved > through these protests, except bad treatment by police. > > Subramani > > -Original Message- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of anilkumar > k.r. > Sent: Saturday, September 29, 2007 11:59 AM > To: accessindia@accessindia.org.in > Subject: [AI] Police remove visually challenged protesters > > Police remove visually challenged protesters > > Ananth Krishnan > > - Photo: S.S. Kumar > > Voicing demands: A visually challenged person being forced to get into a > bus at the Kodambakkam bridge in Chennai on Friday. > > > CHENNAI: The police forcibly removed blind protesters in three different > areas of the city and detained them for several hours on Friday, as > student groups and activists for the visually challenged continued their > agitation urging the State Government to consider their '15-point > charter of demands.' > Their demands include increased financial assistance for graduate and > postgraduate students and reservation of five seats in government and > government-aided colleges. > Protesters at the Kottivakkam overbridge said that police had "slapped" > them and used lathis to load them in buses while breaking up the > protest. Police officials, however, denied the charges, saying that they > only removed the protesters, with traffic being disrupted for more than > one hour. > Sixteen fasting students were taken to the Government Royapettah > hospital, but they refused the intravenous treatment offered to them. > Around 200 protesters gathered in Kottivakkam, and several others in > Mylapore and Triplicane. > Student groups for the visually challenged have been protesting and > organising fasts across Tamil Nadu for three days. > The groups have also asked the authorities to relax the norms for > pension eligibility for visually challenged employees, as well as extend > the special vehicle allowance provided for physically handicapped > persons to the visually challenged. > Murugesan, a member of the College Students and Graduate Association of > the Blind, told The Hindu that they would call off their protest if they > were allowed to convey their demands directly to the Chief Minister. > > > > > > > > > > > > > Copyright: 1995 - 2006 The Hindu > > Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are > expressly > prohibited without the consent of The Hindu > > > > > - > Tonight's top picks. What will you watch tonight? Preview the hottest > shows on Yahoo! TV. > To unsubscribe send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > with the subject unsubscribe. > > To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, > please visit the list home page at > > http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.i > n > > To unsubscribe send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > with the subject unsubscribe. > > To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, > please visit the list home page at > http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in To unsubscribe send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in
[AI] Apple iPhone warning proves true
Sometimes updates could become disastrous. Apple iPhone warning proves true The iPhone Users may not be able to add Apple features to an unlocked phone An Apple software update is disabling iPhones that have been unlocked by owners who wanted to choose which mobile network to use. Earlier this week Apple said a planned update would leave the device "permanently inoperable". Thousands of iPhone owners hacked their expensive gadget in order to unlock it for use with other mobile carriers and to run a host of unsupported programs. There are also reports of the update causing issues with unaltered iPhones. On Monday Apple issued a statement in which it said many of the unauthorised iPhone unlocking programs caused "irreparable damage" to the device's software. The company said this would "likely result in the modified iPhone becoming permanently inoperable when a future Apple-supplied iPhone software update is installed". That warning has now proved correct as many owners are reporting their phones no longer work following installation of the update. Apple requires iPhone owners to take out a lengthy contract with ATT in the United States but there are a number of programs on the net that unlock the device for use with other networks. Some owners are reporting on technology blogs and Apple's own forums that the update is deleting contacts information, as well as photos and music, on iPhones that have not been modified in any way. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7017660.stm Vikas Kapoor, MSN Id:[EMAIL PROTECTED], Yahoo&Skype Id: dl_vikas, Mobile: (+91) 9891098137. To unsubscribe send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in
[AI] Microsoft bows to pressure on XP
Microsoft bows to pressure on XP Windows Vista on shelf, PA The consumer versions of Vista were launched in January 2007 Customer demand has forced Microsoft to extend the shelf life of Windows XP by five months. Microsoft was scheduled to stop selling the six-year-old operating system on 30 January 2008 to leave the field clear for Vista. Now the date on which many sellers of XP will no longer be able to offer it has been lengthened to 30 June 2008. Microsoft said the change was to help those customers that needed more time to make the switch to Vista. Sales profile In a statement Mike Nash, Microsoft's Windows product manager, said: "...maybe we were a little ambitious to think that we would need to make Windows XP available for only a year after the release of Windows Vista." He added that most of the other operating systems that Microsoft has produced were available for about two years after a new version shipped. The newest Microsoft operating system, Windows Vista, had a staged release between November 2006 and late January 2007. In some quarters Vista had a lukewarm response and in April 2007 PC maker Dell was forced by customers to re-start sales of computers with XP installed. In January of that year the computer firm switched to Vista on almost all of the machines aimed at home users. Software giant Microsoft does run a scheme that lets people rollback installation of Vista business and ultimate edition to Windows XP by ringing a customer support centre and getting an activation code. Microsoft denied that the policy change was due to slow demand for Vista. Mr Nash said that up to the summer of 2007 Microsoft had sold more than 60 million licences for Vista. This put it on track to be the fastest selling operating system in Microsoft's history. The XP date change applies to retailers and other manufacturers who sell Microsoft products. Independent firms that use Windows XP when installing and maintaining computers and networks for businesses can continue to offer it as an option until 30 January 2009. Microsoft is also extending the availability of the cut-down version of XP, called Starter Edition, until 30 June 2010. It said this was because it was seeing increased demand for the software to run on low-powered devices made specifically for the developing world. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7017624.stm Vikas Kapoor, MSN Id:[EMAIL PROTECTED], Yahoo&Skype Id: dl_vikas, Mobile: (+91) 9891098137. To unsubscribe send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in
[AI] Should I migrate to the new opporating system?
Hi everyone, I am shopping for new laptop and exploring various possibilities. My main concern is the windows operating system. All of you in India are lucky since windows XP is still made available there, but most laptops here in US are migrating to Windows vista. I have been told by a couple of my friends that Vista even with 1 GB memory is extremely slow. At the same time, there are very few computers available in the market with XP. So is it really worth switching to the new operating system? Or should I go for the XP even if it is a bit expensive? Thanks in advance for your valuable inputs. Vetri. To unsubscribe send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in
[AI] how to chat in slow net connection
Hello Friends, I am using a slow internet connection. Is it possible for me to have voice chat without voice breaks, which occur in slow connection. If anyone has some ideas please let me know. I'll be highly obliged. Expecting a solution, Abdul To unsubscribe send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in
[AI] info regarding spell well
Hi all, One day I came to know about a software name, spell well. Basically, its work is to enhancement of spelling study of visually challenged. Can anybody know more about it? Has anyone used it? Please let me know, that from where can I get it. MR. Dinesh kaushal has given me an email, I've written to them but got no response. Waiting for positive and quick response, akhilesh. To unsubscribe send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in
[AI] Some demands of visually challenged conceded
Some demands of visually challenged conceded Staff Reporter Chief Minister promises to consider others - Photo: K.V. Srinivasan LENDING AN EAR: Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi with representatives of visually challenged persons at the Secretariat in Chennai on Sunday. CHENNAI: The State Government has agreed to reserve 35 B. Ed seats in seven government colleges for visually impaired from the next academic year. This was announced after representatives of College Students and Graduate Association of the Blind (CSGAB) met Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi at the Secretariat here on Sunday. The other demands, conceded by the Government, include increase in educational and readers' scholarship, waiver of tuition and examination fee and providing an additional hour for visually challenged students in examinations. The Chief Minister will ask universities to follow the Government Order issued to this effect. According to a press release, the Chief Minister told the representatives that the demand for two per cent reservation in graduate teachers' vacancies would be considered after consultations with the School Education department. Travel concession in government buses across the State would also be considered after consultation with the Transport department. The State Government agreed to consider the other demands after scrutiny in a phased manner. After the meeting, R. Muniappan CSGAB president thanked the Chief Minister for considering their demands favourably. He said the Chief Minister had agreed to look in to other demands in a month. "In the hope that the Government will fulfil all assurances, we have decided to call off the stir," Mr. Muniappan said. Student groups and activists for the visually impaired have been urging the State government to consider their 15-point charter of demands for the past five days through demonstrations across the State. On Saturday, Social Welfare Minister Poongothai Aladi Aruna met association representatives and agreed to arrange a meeting with the Chief Minister. Regards, Vishal Jain. Ph: 080-41140564 Website: http://vishal.hello.googlepages.com To unsubscribe send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in
Re: [AI] Should I migrate to the new opporating system?
Hi Vetri 1 Check if suitable drivers are available for XP, even if you go Vista. You can consider duel boot in the interem. 2 What is the period you intend to use the new laptop. 3 In Vista, you can make it a part of your RAM, any, pen drive you plug in. So, enhancing memory is no hassel. 3 It makes sense buying current than picking out dated technology. It may hurt in the future. 4 Christmas is not far, where you can get better deals out there. It will give you opportunity to check on the Jaws 9 beta. This of course, if you can wait all that long. Harish. - Original Message - From: "Adhimoolam Vetrivel Murugan" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Sent: Monday, October 01, 2007 1:27 AM Subject: [AI] Should I migrate to the new opporating system? > Hi everyone, > > I am shopping for new laptop and exploring various possibilities. My > main concern is the windows operating system. All of you in India are > lucky since windows XP is still made available there, but most laptops > here in US are migrating to Windows vista. I have been told by a > couple of my friends that Vista even with 1 GB memory is extremely > slow. At the same time, there are very few computers available in the > market with XP. So is it really worth switching to the new operating > system? Or should I go for the XP even if it is a bit expensive? > > Thanks in advance for your valuable inputs. > > Vetri. > > To unsubscribe send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > with the subject unsubscribe. > > To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, > please visit the list home page at > http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in > To unsubscribe send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in
Re: [AI] how to chat in slow net connection
Hi You can get reasonable quality even if you get about 36kbps. Harish. - Original Message - From: "Abdul Razique Khan" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Sent: Monday, October 01, 2007 1:50 AM Subject: [AI] how to chat in slow net connection > Hello Friends, > I am using a slow internet connection. Is it possible for me to have voice > chat without voice breaks, which occur in slow connection. If anyone has > some ideas please let me know. I'll be highly obliged. > > Expecting a solution, >Abdul > To unsubscribe send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > with the subject unsubscribe. > > To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, > please visit the list home page at > http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in > To unsubscribe send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in
[AI] some books on the site
hello friends, my website is up and running again, I changed my web host so the site was down for some period, now it is up, I have placed some older books on it so please go and download them, they are under "download requested books here", now a request, I have got some extra space for my website so at this time I am facing no trouble about space so please give me some suggestions how to improve the site, but do not post them here, please post them to me, take care, regards, ashish To unsubscribe send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in
Re: [AI] Refreshable Braille displays
Hi Manish, I cannot comment on Braille display is. However, the company you mention is definitely still in business. One person who may be able to help you is Terry Clasper of Tandt Consultancy. I shall send you his e-mail address privately. As regards dragon naturally speaking, programming using Dragon NaturallySpeaking is still something under development. Do a search for "voice code" and check out that initiative. You can of course carry out other related tasks in visual studio using Dragon NaturallySpeaking. I use the program every day so let me know if I can help. Pranav -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Manish Agrawal Sent: Sunday, September 30, 2007 8:34 AM To: accessindia@accessindia.org.in Subject: [AI] Refreshable Braille displays Hi, I am looking for information on 80 cell refreshable Braille displays: 1. Do you know of the most popular/commonly used displays (I am currently going by the list of displays supported in jaws)? 2. Have you been on a forum that has recently discussed Braille displays and which one to buy etc.? A Google search gave me a few useful articles from AFB but not a group discussion. 3. What is a 2D display? The only one that seems to be out there is the braillex 2d from Papenmeier. However this company's website doesn't seem to have been updated since 2005. Are they still in business? If you are curious to know why I am even looking at these ridiculously priced gadgets, read on: I recently had an audiology test done because of some kind of ear problem. What came out as a result was pretty bad damage to my ears a part of which, the doctor says, is because of noise pollution caused due to continuously listening to my computer's robotic output for hours on end. I need to reduce listening but cannot reduce my work, so, am looking for alternate means to access a computer. Do you think a Braille display is a feasible alternative? given that I need to start from learning Braille in the first place. I am also considering the dragon naturally speaking as an input mechanism in conjunction with the Braille display to compensate for the loss of speed because my hands will be off the keyboard. I'll be trying the combination at home first, so the problem of interference from others in office will not be there. If it works out well, I'll think of translating it into an office solution. I'll put my thoughts about "ear care" in another thread to avoid digressing from this topic. Thanks, Manish To unsubscribe send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in To unsubscribe send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in
[AI] ABILITY is the only true qualification
What counts is the ability to do a job well, say disabled people. Heeru Chandnani and Nevy George ABILITY is the only true qualification. Wishful thinking, this, you might say, but it's happening. eWorld chatted up people employed with IBM whose talents are more evident than physical disabilities. Here's what they say about coping with workplace challenges. But first, Martin Appel, Vice-President, Human Resources, IBM India, puts his company's policy in perspective. He says, "The IBM leadership understands that winning in the global marketplace requires us to advance talented people with disabilities throughout our company. Being a leader in diversity underscores our commitment to an inclusive work environment where ideas and contributions are welcome, regardless of where you're from, how you look, limitations in your physical capabilities or what personal beliefs you hold." `No curse but challenge' Jyotindra Mehta Congenital blindness due to Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) took away Jyotindra Mehta's power of sight at a very young age. Emigration to the US on scholarship, coupled with a readiness to take up any challenge, resulted in Jyotindra's quick success there. Today he is India's only visually-disabled software programmer. Far from feeling disabled, Joe, as he is better known, prefers to say, `enabled', to use the IT terminology to advantage. He believes, "Disability is not a curse, but a challenge and no challenge is insurmountable." Contrary to accepted beliefs, he says, "Even though the West is technologically advanced, the attitude of the people towards the disabled is not any better than in India." He has conducted training classes on mainframes, participated in engagements and has managed the S/390 mainframe ever since it was received in Bangalore. "I find the S/390 Systems Administrator role to be very interesting and challenging," says Joe. "It was my career goal when I was based in the US. I also enjoy my role as senior IT specialist and teaching S/390 training courses, such as DB2 Database Administration, and participation in customer engagements." He worked as a technical advisor for India's National Association for the Blind, Karnataka Branch (NAB KB) and with the National Institute of Information Technology (NIIT) where he helped to launch one of India's first computer training programmes for the visually-impaired. Joe uses a voice synthesiser adaptive aid, which is designed to work on a Win95/98 workstation. It takes a normal keyboard input and produces speech output through a combination of voice synthesiser. It enables him to hear the text displayed on the computer screen. He was awarded the Helen Keller Award in 2004. Joe says, "I refer to online documentation using the screen reader as needed to research the problem and its resolution. All of the IBM product documentation is now available online which is immensely helpful to me. I also have developed my memory to an extent that I do know a good bit of stuff on commonly occurring problems by heart." Facing workplace challenges Heeru Chandnani, born visually-disabled, grew up hearing her parents both of whom sing beautifully. Today, at 25, Heeru works with the BTO (Business Technology Optimisation) HR, which handles employee-related queries within the organisation. Nevy George was born with cerebral paralysis, which affected his leg. Armed with an MBA from the School of Communication & Management Studies, Kochi, he has been with IBM since April 2004. Both have tips for the disabled facing their first interview and dealing with different organisational issues. Heeru says, "People with a disability about to face their first interview should ensure that they are prepared for it, have their knowledge and facts straight. They must not go in with the attitude that since they are specially challenged they will, or should be, treated differently. Also, it is up to them to convince interviewers that they have the capabilities and can do the job that they have come for. People are still ignorant about the capabilities of the disabled and it is up to us to convince them." Nevy says, "I work as an HR co-ordinator. Most work today is intellect-driven, so physical challenges should not stop any person from achieving personal and institutional goals. I face various challenges in reaching office but once I am in office I am no different than any other. Positions in Finance, HR, and Software development are ideal for PwD (people with disabilities). The reason you are called for interview is because your skill sets and experience match at least 60 per cent of the job requirement. Candidates may be asked about the disability and the willingness to travel or relocate. Focus on your abilities and don't let any disability hamper confidence." The pay is the same as for any other employee in the same position. If PwD are on a lower salary bracket, then it won't be a bad idea for corporates to pay a little extra for conveyance as most face pro
[AI] Say It, and Program Signs It
Say It, and Program Signs It By: Tracy Staedter, Converting speech into sign language is normally a job for a human translator. But now an animated character is up to the task. The "Say It Sign It" system translates spoken words into sign language and then engages an avatar to communicate using gestures. The onscreen translator could work as a pop-up on a television, personal computer, mobile phone or auditorium screen, giving the hearing impaired wider access to television, radio and education. "It was inspired by a vision that a deaf colleague on my team had of seeing, not words being brought up on his phone, but an animated character signing in British Sign Language," said Andy Stanford-Clark, master inventor at IBM Hursley in the U.K. The colleague was Ben Fletcher who, at the time, was an intern for Extreme Blue program. Fletcher is deaf and British Sign Language is his first language. "He was able to give feedback and keep us honest," said Stanford-Clark. After returning to school and completing his degree, Fletcher became a permanent member of the team, which also includes researchers from the Universities of Oxford, Durham, Glasgow and East Anglia. The program has about three main components. First a voice recognition system takes words spoken into a microphone and converts those into a stream of text. The text is then sent through a translation program that looks for patterns in the words and applies different rules based on those patterns. For example, if someone said "My name is Andy," a rule would transform that to the phrase in British Sign Language, which is "Name me Andy." Once the word order is worked out, the program refers to a dictionary of gestures supplied by the Royal National Institute for Deaf People . These are used to direct the computer-animated character. Tying it all together is a piece of software, or middleware, that allows different applications and computers to link together without being in the same building or even the same country. Although the system is still in the prototype phase, the team envisions a couple of different scenarios for its use. The program could be hosted by a service Web site. A speaker would sign in on one end, while the recipient would sign in on the other end. As the person speaks, the words would be converted on a central server and then animated on the end-user's screen. The system could also work from a converter box atop a television, or it could be sold individually as a program that speakers and receivers would install on their own computers. "The model is quite different from the things that I have seen in the past," said Guido Gybels, director of new technologies at the Royal National Institute for Deaf People in London. "It's built in a way that, in principle, can be applied to other foreign languages." But, said Gybels, "There are significant technical and scientific challenges, in addition to cultural ones, that need to be addressed before we can see this as an off-the-shelf product." For starters, the speech recognition technology is still a long way off from capturing free-flowing unconstrained human dialogue. Furthermore, while the English language (as well as other languages) has been studied in great depth, sign language has not, said Gybels. If scientists are going to accurately convert speech into sign language they will need that understanding. And lastly, he points out the notion of using virtual humans and animated characters doesn't always fly with people you're asking to use these kind of services. Not all humans are going to accept a replacement, especially one that may not have the natural, subtle motions the finger, lip and movements of the real thing. Currently Say It Sign It translates spoken English into British Sign Language but Stanford-Clark said that it would not be a big leap to translate between other spoken languages and forms of sign language. Now you can chat without downloading messenger. Go to http://in.messenger.yahoo.com/webmessengerpromo.php To unsubscribe send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in
[AI] New technology to replace internet protocol
New technology to replace internet protocol AFP TOKYO: A research group will be set up in Japan to develop optical technology that will replace the Internet Protocol as the global standard in communications, a report said on Sunday. The group will be established in November by the government-affiliated National Institute of Information and Communications Technology and private companies, the leading business daily Nikkei said. It will aim to develop and commercialise in around 2015 a network that can transfer data at 10 gigabits per second, 10 times faster than the next-generation network due to be launched in Japan this year, the report said. The group will be joined by such companies as Nippon Telegraph and Telephone, Fujitsu, KDDI, Hitachi, Toshiba and NEC. It will spend some 30 billion yen (260 million dollars) on the research project over the next five years, the report said. Similar projects are already been under way in the US and Europe. The optical network would allow as many as 100 billion devices to access it simultaneously and still enjoy extremely fast data-transfer speeds, the report said. Such features are important in the future when not only personal computers and mobile phones but also surveillance cameras, medical sensors and a range of other electronic devices are also likely to be connected to online networks. The technology would also offer stable, high-speed wireless access even on moving high-speed trains, the report said. Now you can chat without downloading messenger. Go to http://in.messenger.yahoo.com/webmessengerpromo.php To unsubscribe send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in
[AI] Some demands of visually challenged conceded
[EMAIL PROTECTED] Front Page Some demands of visually challenged conceded Staff Reporter Chief Minister promises to consider others Photo: K.V. Srinivasan LENDING AN EAR: Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi with representatives of visually challenged persons at the Secretariat in Chennai on Sunday. CHENNAI: The State Government has agreed to reserve 35 B. Ed seats in seven government colleges for visually impaired from the next academic year. This was announced after representatives of College Students and Graduate Association of the Blind (CSGAB) met Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi at the Secretariat here on Sunday. The other demands, conceded by the Government, include increase in educational and readers scholarship, waiver of tuition and examination fee and providing an additional hour for visually challenged students in examinations. The Chief Minister will ask universities to follow the Government Order issued to this effect. According to a press release, the Chief Minister told the representatives that the demand for two per cent reservation in graduate teachers vacancies would be considered after consultations with the School Education department. Travel concession in government buses across the State would also be considered after consultation with the Transport department. The State Government agreed to consider the other demands after scrutiny in a phased manner. After the meeting, R. Muniappan CSGAB president thanked the Chief Minister for considering their demands favourably. He said the Chief Minister had agreed to look in to other demands in a month. In the hope that the Government will fulfil all assurances, we have decided to call off the stir, Mr. Muniappan said. Student groups and activists for the visually impaired have been urging the State government to consider their 15-point charter of demands for the past five days through demonstrations across the State. On Saturday, Social Welfare Minister Poongothai Aladi Aruna met association representatives and agreed to arrange a meeting with the Chief Minister. Copyright: 1995 - 2006 The Hindu Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the consent of The Hindu - Take the Internet to Go: Yahoo!Go puts the Internet in your pocket: mail, news, photos & more. To unsubscribe send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in
[AI] NAB India elections
In the elections held on 29 September 2007 2 of our current members have been elected 1. Vice President Atul Sahay 2. Hon. Secretary Suhas Karnik I am not sure if Dharmarajan and Shyam Sayanekar are still members. They have been elected to the Executive Committee. Former member K. Ramkrishnan has been elected as Hon. Secretary Please congratulate them directly and not on this list. Kanchan Pamnani Advocate & Solicitor 9, Suleman Chambers, Battery Street, Colaba, Mumbai - 400 039. To unsubscribe send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in
