International Day of Persons with Disabilities: EU shows the way on e-inclusion – EIS – 3 Dec 2010

Source: http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/activities/einclusion/policy/accessibility/disability_day/index_en.htm

EU-funded high-tech research makes a reality of legal requirements and policy initiatives that aim at unlocking truly equal opportunities and rights for disabled citizens

Besides offering smart solutions to empower persons with disabilities, digital technologies are becoming the more and more necessary, when not the default channel, to access services and exercise one’s basic rights. That is why giving to the 80 million Europeans with a disability the same access to ICT as all other citizens is imperative to counter the emergence of new digital divides and fully realise the EU’s commitment to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which is celebrated today across the world.

The recent Digital Agenda for Europe and European Disability Strategy embrace a vision of ICT as the key to making the living environment, services and products personalised and adaptable to the abilities of people with disabilities, and not vice-versa. In addition, EU legislation on electronic communications and audiovisual media already stipulates equal rights for persons with disabilities when it comes to access and quality.

One of the first Digital Agenda actions that we can tick as 'complete' is the signature, on 14 September, of a Memorandum of Understanding on access to works by persons with print disabilities, for example dyslexia and visual impairment. The Memorandum will spur the production and facilitate the cross-border distribution of works published in alternative formats, like audio-books and Braille for example.

Policies and legislation are only one side of the European Union's commitment to the rights of people with disability. The European Union is also supporting research and development activities aimed at delivering e-accessibility, i.e. making sure that ICT is an opportunity and not a barrier.

Since 2007, the European Commission has earmarked more than 110 million euro for research into accessible and inclusive ICT. Thanks to such funding, pan-European teams of researchers, public authorities, disabled users and industry work together to deliver meaningful technology for disabled people in all life environments.

Research into accessible and inclusive ICT – some examples

Since 2002, EU telecom rules have required that the 112 emergency number is available free-of-charge everywhere in the EU. However, disabilities like for example hearing or speech impairments, can make access to the emergency services via the traditional voice telephony impossible, thus putting more lives at risk. The EU-funded pilot project REACH112 is validating – over several Member States - alternative modes of communication, may it be real-time text, sign language, lip reading, voice or any simultaneous combination of these modes, as per the Total Conversation concept, both for calling the emergency services but also for any telephone call. View a short (2:13) video with Gunnar Hellstrom from the leading Swedish pilot site.

The large-scale pilot project DTV4ALL aims at ensuring that everybody enjoys the benefits of the switch-over from analogue to digital television taking place in Europe and to be completed by 2012. It is estimated that 15% of Europeans have difficulties in accessing digital TV for various impairments reasons. At the same time, the switch-over, although theoretically offering more access possibilities, poses also technical challenges to the delivery of such access services as subtitling, deaf signing or audio description, that are valued by users with disabilities. The project aims at validating solutions and issuing recommendations to the electronic industry, broadcasters, and possibly standardisation bodies.

The award-winning Robobraille project was supported by the European Commission to test and adapt in various European countries a service developed in Denmark to translate digital documents into Braille or synthetic speech. It does so through simple e-mail and is today available in various languages and free of charge to non-commercial users and licensed to companies and organisations.

Comcast Celebrates Digital Connectors Program’s Success – Thaindian News – 30 Nov 2010

By Madhuri Dey

Nov 30, (THAINDIAN NEWS) Comcast along with One Economy is celebrating the success of a significant technology learning and service project that deals with teaching youngsters about the broadband Internet technologies and the ways to implement their expertise while catering the Philadelphia community. The initiative named Comcast Digital Connectors started at 2009 at People’s Emergency Center and Project H.O.M.E. Now it is held after school hours all over the year. In this program, 43 high school students hailing from diverse low income category backgrounds work at Philadelphia’s Comcast Technology Labs and Honickman Learning Center of Project H.O.M.E. They learn the basics of digital literacy skills. They try spreading awareness about digital technology even in their neighborhoods.

Some U.S. politicians have lauded the effort. Comcast Corporation’s Executive Vice President David L. Cohen said that it is a really challenging and unique initiative that has been undertaken by the company. One Economy’s mission is enhancing the potential of technology in urban areas across the United States. So far, 35000 young people got involved in this initiative. The Comcast One Economy partnership is aimed at doubling this number and the hour of service they can put in. The Digital Connectors program as well as curriculum was set up by One Economy in the year 2003.

Digital Connectors is meant for empowering needy students and enabling them to use technology to lead a better life. People’s Emergency Center’s President and CEO Farah M. Jimenez said that PED is happy to collaborate with Comcast and One Economy “to bring Digital Connectors to our West Philadelphia community.” The students get to learn ways to connect computer labs, create video documentaries and connect to wireless access points in this project.

Source: http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/tech-news/comcast-celebrates-digital-connectors-programs-success_100467524.html

Countries Bridge Digital Divide With New Ultra Low Cost Computer -

Calgary, AB – Dec 7, 2010 – Userful Corporation, the global leader in Linux desktop virtualization, today released Userful MultiSeat Linux 2011™. The software turns 1 PC into 11, enabling up to 11 students to use different applications at the same time from one host computer. Each student is equipped with their own monitor, keyboard, and mouse. Userful MultiSeat enables schools to quickly deploy large numbers of computer stations for a very low cost, whether in the classroom, computer lab, or school library. With Userful MultiSeat, Ministries of Education, governments and NGOs can deploy twice as many computers for the same budget dollars using familiar and flexible, standard PC hardware accompanied by a simple low-cost USB device. On a global scale that means millions of additional children can now gain computer access for the first time, using money already set aside by governments and NGOs for digital inclusion.

More than 50,000 schools worldwide are already using Userful to provide millions of students with computer access. Userful has proven to be the computer solution of choice for governments with digital inclusion mandates to provide school age children with computer access, on limited budgets. Countries such as Brazil, who have already successfully deployed over 350,000 Userful computer stations to schools in every municipality, have shown that with the combined cost savings of Userful MultiSeat, Linux, and open source software, it is feasible to provide every student with a comprehensive education using computers, regardless of whether they live in a city or a remote indigenous village with little infrastructure. The Brazilian Ministry of Education has reported saving 60% in up-front costs, and 80% in annual power savings as compared to their previous PC-per-station solutions. To date, Userful has sold more than 750,000 seats.

"Userful MultiSeat software and HP multiseat USB thin client hardware are an ideal solution for regions such as India, where schools need to deploy large numbers of full featured computers for minimal cost, using minimal infrastructure," said Rajat Mehta, Country Manager PSG, HP India. "Userful is a professional and responsive company that enables schools to leverage Linux and open source software for a very professional, and high performance user experience."

"Userful and DisplayLink have worked closely together to build support for DisplayLink USB virtual graphics enabled devices with the market leading Userful Linux solution." said Dennis Crespo, DisplayLink Executive VP, Marketing and Business Development. "The performance and ease of use of the Userful MultiSeat software running on DisplayLink technology enabled devices is outstanding. As the leader in USB virtual graphics, DisplayLink is excited to be a part of the super easy way to set-up and run computer sharing."

It is easy to set up, use and maintain. Unlike traditional approaches to desktop virtualization, Userful require no servers, no server rooms and minimal demands on IT. If you can unbox a computer, you can deploy a computer lab of virtual desktops with Userful. To set up, simply plug USB MultiSeat devices such as the HP t100, Wyse E01, MCT MWS 8820, DisplayLink based docking-stations or USB video devices, into the host PC. Then plug a monitor, keyboard, and mouse into each USB MultiSeat device, install Userful software, and the system is ready to support multiple students using different applications at the same time from one computer, each with their own monitor, keyboard, and mouse. With Userful's performance optimized software, the students feel like they each have their own dedicated PC, but in reality they are all sharing a single host computer.

Userful MultiSeat reduces hardware costs by up to 80%, and reduces required infrastructure (power plugs, cabling, etc.) by a factor of 10 as compared to a traditional PC-per-seat solution. It also reduces energy costs by up to 90%, enabling schools to recover the cost of their computers through electricity cost savings over a few years. The low cost and robustness of Userful MultiSeat makes it an ideal solution for schools in rural and developing regions where infrastructure is minimal, electricity is unreliable, and there is little physical space.

Userful MultiSeat is Linux based, and is available as an all-in-one install DVD, or as a stand-alone package to use on your own Linux installation. The install DVD includes a wide variety of no cost applications such as: Edubuntu operating system, iTALC classroom computer management tool, OpenOffice.org office suite, Firefox web browser, and subject based applications for astronomy, chemistry, languages, mathematics, planning, and more. Hundreds more applications can be installed at no charge with a single click through the Software Center -- a centralized repository of free Linux based applications. Teachers can use additional free open source software to further lower costs, easily tailor curricula to individual students, and monitor and control the classroom computers. Students can develop digital skills that will help them with their school work and prepare them for jobs in the future.


"Digital inclusion is a very important," said Tim Griffin, President of Userful. "Userful MultiSeat bridges the digital divide by enabling governments to deploy hundreds of thousands of school computers for costs so low, they were impossible before this release."

With the included classroom computer management software teachers can centrally manage and monitor the computer stations with ease. For instance teachers can see what each student is doing on their station, send students messages, remotely take control of a student's station, share files with and between students, create or delete student accounts/change passwords, and add a new application to all computer stations by installing it only once on the host computer, among other control features.


Userful offers any Ministry of Education worldwide a 90 day licensing pilot to test drive our solution on 1 system, up to 11 stations. To learn more and to download, visit http://userful.com/products/userful-multiseat-linux, email getstarted@userful.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or phone +1.403.289.2177 ext.795.

About Userful:
Userful Corporation is the world's leading Linux desktop virtualization company with millions of users in over 100 countries. The company's software which turns 1 computer into 11 lowers desktop computing costs, improves manageability, and reduces both electricity consumption and e-waste. Userful's software is sold through a partner network of resellers and OEMs worldwide. Privately held and founded in 1999, Userful launched their flagship product in 2002, and has since sold over 750,000 seats. To learn more about Userful, visit: http://www.userful.com


Trademark notice: Userful MultiSeat Linux 2011™, and Userful MultiSeat™ are trademarks of Userful Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Note to editors: For more information, news, and photos from Userful, please visit the Userful press kit at: http://userful.com/company/news-and-reviews/press-kit
A video to embed is available here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cfu5GSS664Q

Source URL: http://userful.com/press/bridging-digital-divide

The Digital World of Young Children: Impact on Emergent Literacy

By Jay Blanchard, Terry Moore, Arizona State UniversityCollege of Teacher Education and Leadership, Research Presented by the Pearson Foundation - March 1, 2010

This white paper takes a first look at the everyday world of digital tools and media in the lives of three- to five-year-old children, with a particular focus on non-intentional learning opportunities in developing and least-developed nations. It begins a discussion about how digital media learning opportunities, including non-intentional opportunities such as cell phones and video games, when combined with intentional learning opportunities such as educational television or computers, may be affecting emergent literacy skills development (Anderson & Pempek, 2005). An understanding of this phenomenon is important, because when new digital tools and media, as well as novel combinations of old and new media, become available and commonplace, “the media that children use and create [will be] integral to their growing sense of themselves, of the world, and of how they should interact with it” (Center for Media and Child Health at Children’s Hospital, 2008, np).

"...Young children are not only immersed in a sea of digital media—up to two hours per day—they are also using it. Many have computers and can access age-appropriate web sites (e.g., Webkinz Jr., JumpStart World, MyNoggin). Several computers designed for preschoolers are currently available, including PeeWeePC, 2goE10, Disney Netpal by ASUS, Intel Classmate (see Appendix E), and OLPC’s XO (see Appendix F), offering USB ports, wireless capacities, and fully functional operating systems. All are designed to be user-friendly for young children. All but Aspire One have touch screens (for a more comprehensive evaluation, see Children Technology Review, May 2009). Clearly, many young children are developing digital media fluency..."


Download full white paper from here.

Children's Role in home-school relationships and the role of digital technologies

A literature review by Lyndsay Grant, August 2009

Digital technologies are an integral part of many families’ home environments and communication strategies, and are increasingly used by schools to support learning, communicate with parents and provide access to school resources from the home and so may offer opportunities to facilitate communication and the building of relationships between home and school.

This review provides an overview of the key debates and current practice and research into home-school
relationships, with a particular focus on children’s role and the opportunities offered by digital technologies to
facilitate home-school relationships.

In order to explore children’s role in home-school relationships, the role of parents in home-school relationships will first be discussed, focusing on parental engagement and parent-school partnerships.

The review will then move on from looking at parents relationships with schools to looking more broadly at
connections between learning in the different contexts of home and school. It then goes on to explore how children  themselves make transitions and connections between home and school, focusing on children’s agency in and perspective on this relationship. The use and potential of technologies to support the home-school relationship is discussed within these main sections.

This review is intended to serve as an introduction to the broader context of this topic, discussing key issues raised research and practice, to inform professionals and practitioners with an interest in the field. Relationships between home and school have been the subject of many years’ research, and this review does not intend to provide a comprehensive academic analysis of the entire field, to make claims about the ‘effectiveness’ of different approaches, or to provide recommendations for policymakers or practitioners.

For full report, go to this url - http://www.futurelab.org.uk/resources/documents/lit_reviews/HomeSchool.pdf
 
Source: Future Lab