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Title:

Open Source Disability Gadgets: DIY for PWD

Your vote:
Yes No
Organizer:
Liz Henry, BlogHer
Description:
Gear and software for people with disabilities is usually provided through charity or from medical supply companies. It's hard or impossible to repair it, or get anyone to repair it. We need to hack the model for accessibility tools! With a culture of open source designs, Instructables, wikis, and blogs, we can start an international movement.
Questions
Answered:
  1. How can we bridge the digital divide for people with disabilities?
  2. What technologies can we use to spread design and how-to information for accessibility gadgets?
  3. How do people with disabilities usually get their physical gear, like wheelchairs and crutches?
  4. How is innovation and access stifled by patents and medical supply companies?
  5. How can we change people's minds about the charity vs. the consumer model of disability?
  6. How might the hardware/robotics tech crowd participate in this movement?
  7. What licenses, hardware or software or intellectual property, can we use for access hacks and designs?
  8. What sites already exist that might be used for the free and open sharing of access hacks?
  9. What tools can we use to empower people with disabilities and their allies?
  10. What effect might this have internationally, especially in developing nations?
Level:
Intermediate
Category:
Human / Social Issues
Type:
Panel
Event:
SXSW Interactive 2009
Rachel Chalmers
on 8/8/08
Seriously great idea.
leah norling
on 10/8/08
fabulous idea. we can't wait for the "official" crap to get installed or the expensive stuff to become affordable.
Brian Rowe
on 12/8/08
Great idea, accessibility often takes a back seat in software design. Open Source does allow for a lot of customization and niche development.
christine brumback
on 17/8/08
Great great great topic

Another factor is the cost of assisstive tech/tools - can be insanely high ( which is driven by the manufacturing approach). If they were more modular as your proposing the cost could end up being lower as well.
Jessica McFadden
on 22/8/08
Awesome.
Nike Air Force One
on 7/4/09
Awesome.
Nike Air Force 1
on 28/4/09
Great information
Nike Air Force 1 White lows
on 5/9/09
Awesome
cialis online
on 30/10/09
If they were more modular as your proposing the cost could end up being lower as well.
iphone ringtone maker
on 7/11/09
Love it! Look forward to seeing this in the mix of options when I arrive in Austin!
Art Directory
on 7/11/09
We can bridge the digital divide for disabled people by promoting open source designs and creating our own open source models.
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on 22/11/09
Great idea, accessibility often takes a back seat in software design. Open Source does allow for a lot of customization and niche development.
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on 28/11/09
Very nice...
Rip Blu Ray
on 29/11/09
This sounds like a wonderful, timely topic.
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Developed for SXSW by Lindsey Simon