Ian Pascoe wrote: > Hi y'all > > Before I ask for Popey's help to put this onto his Ideas Pool, I > thought I'd run it by the list and see what your feed back was. > > Every year the Queen Alexandra College for the Blind in Birmingham > runs an exhibition called Sight Village, which is the "leading" > technology showcase for the bisually impaired and associated > support groups throughout Europe - these groups being both > Government bodies and local / national / international charities.
> What I was thinking of doing was running a stand there for the > three days - starting Tues 15/07/08 I think - demonstrating Ubuntu > together with it's Assistive Technologies in use. Great idea! A background scenario might be of interest: a) RNIB (as a major institution in the scene) is apparently very non Open Source. I have previously contacted them as a potential volunteer helper - for open source (Free) and Linux. I do not think they even knew what I was talking about, even the Computer related person. b) RNIB is said to be a very rich organisation. Saving money may be something they as an institution see in their own special way. c) My contact with RNIB suggested they naturally use a level of bureaucracy you might expect from a vary large well off organisation, who also use many volunteers too. The formality seemed much higher than with Age Concern for example. Associated with the formality and bureaucracy may be a certain inflexibility and resistance to change. d) When on the Microsoft Campus in Berkshire (for Age Concern events, a couple of occasions) I became aware of the AbilityNet organisation http://www.abilitynet.org.uk/ who are -located- in one of the main Microsoft buildings, apparently heavily funded by the company. [extract quote] 'AbilityNet’s links with Microsoft, IBM, Hewlett Packard, BT and other major IT companies put us in a very strong position to make sure the voices of disabled people are heard. We aim to lead the way in providing effective interventions using the latest technology.' Comment: One can easily understand that there is a strong tradition for and also a strong expectation of proprietary software at all levels - organisations and end users. e) Blind people I have come across *are* very keen to save money! And very interested in alternatives. They would obviously need a bit more support that other new Ubuntu users. The Sight Village event would be a major marketing showpiece for us. A very alien territory, with a tradition probably of users being even more reliant that usual upon proprietary companies. Can I remind ourselves that press and media coverage will be important to stimulate and foster? In principle I would like to and be able to attend and or contribute, although the far date will need confirmation closer to the event. (Particularly finding a suitable car park for our small motorhome, and us, to reside unobtrusively for the duration). -- alan cocks Kubuntu user#10391 -- ubuntu-uk@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-uk https://wiki.kubuntu.org/UKTeam/