Current as of 29 April 1999

Log of 13 April Text Chat Session

Session Open: Tue Apr 13 11:19:03 1999

[11:23] matt-b> I was especially interested in live interaction...
[11:23] matt-b> text chat and video conferencing.
[11:23] matt-b> Let me outline today's objectives:

[11:24] *** LeoV has joined #unaccess

[11:24] matt-b> 1. I would like each participant to give a self introduction...
[11:25] matt-b> including a brief statement about expectations about this session and the other three sessions
[11:25] matt-b> 2. I would like to describe my expectations about this session.
[11:25] matt-b> 3. I would like to discuss today's assignment.
[11:26] matt-b> 4. I would like to talk about deadlines and how to contact me.
[11:27] matt-b> 5. I will ask John Mathiason, the Seminar leader to give some idea about the next session.
[11:27] matt-b>Elaine, since you were the first person to join us, why don't you begin...
[11:27] matt-b> Welcome!
[11:28] matt-b> Please tell us a little bit about yourself...
[11:28] matt-b> and what your expectations are.

[11:28] elaineos> Good morning. I am the founding director of the Adaptive Environments Center, Boston.
[11:29] elaineos> I am most expereinced in the universal desogn of built environments. My current project involves planning
[11:29] elaineos> a certificate program in distance learning in universal deign at NC State U. The course will help both in the content and process decisions we must make, OK!

[11:30] matt-b> That's very good...
[11:30] matt-b> so you are interested in both distance learning and planning--
[11:30] matt-b> what are your expections about today's session?

[11:31] elaineos> I want to know more about collaboration online - I hope to apply this immediately to a global network I coordinate.

[11:32] matt-b> Great. Well, this will be an experiment on global collaboration.

[11:32] elaineos> I also am curious about the real time plusses and obstacle in CHAT! OK.

[11:32] matt-b> MC, why don't you introduce yourself?

[11:32] MariaCris> My name is Maria Cristina Mathiason. I am a person with a mobility disability and have become interested in distance collaboration and the other sessions to be able to work from upstate New York through the Internet. I have discovered this kind of communication is very effective to be able to communicate with my colleagues around the world. It has made me very independent but I still need some improvements in the technology especially the newest.
[11:33] MariaCris> I have two hats, I am the representative of Disabled People's International to the UN, an NGO and I am president of AIMS.

[11:33] matt-b> Good. What are your expectations about today?
[11:34] matt-b> What are your expectations while wearing the first hat?

[11:34] MariaCris> I hope to be able to see both the possibilities and limits of distance learning for my work, which is to promote global policies on disability issues and to develop training in this area.

[11:34] matt-b> Very good.
[11:35] matt-b> Now, I would like to go on to Clint, who is participating under the nick, ChuckieK

[11:35] MariaCris> Matt, just to add. With distance techniques, I can get together with my colleagues in other countries to plan our strategies on a global basis. I have been doing it, but only through e-mail and have been successful but additional interactive means would be better.

[11:36] matt-b> Yes, I agree that the interaction creates a different quality of interaction.

[11:37] ChuckieK> hello all. our main concern is with the accessibility side of internet-based services. so this session is part self-learning and an experiment for un, which is sponsoring this activity. at un we cannot participate on line due to certain info services security factors so we must go outside the firewall.
[11:37] ChuckieK> for un dl has a lot of benefits, given its global office network and many constituencies.

[11:38] matt-b> Yes, I can see what you mean...

[11:38] MariaCris> Can I say it is another case of the UN having accessibility problems for the disabled, as they have for the staff. Something should be done about it.

[11:39] ChuckieK> dl as we are doing today is sort of accessible. but we have problems with data entry, which is slow & we have problems with display of data out per "ability" and her isp

[11:38] matt-b> The firewall is an access problem for you.
[11:39] matt-b> Now, I would like to talk about my expectations.
[11:39] matt-b> I have only three expectations for this session...
[11:40] matt-b> 1. Participation in the chat session...
[11:41] matt-b> Through participation I hope that you will gain a better understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of this medium...
[11:41]matt-b> 2. I would like each of you to create a static Web page which will supplement what we have done on line...
[11:42] matt-b> We can post the Web page on our site and gradually build a resource of Web pages to promote information sharing and further collaboration.
[11:43] matt-b> 3. I would like to get your feedback on the session and the Seminar.
[11:43] matt-b> Does anyone have any reactions or comments at this point...
[11:44] matt-b> let's open up the floor for a few minutes.

[11:44] MariaCris> How much time do we have to create the web page

[11:44] ChuckieK> eye like the web exercise
[11:44] ChuckieK> internet time

[11:44] matt-b> The deadline is May 1, but I will give extensions!
[11:45] matt-b> I will describe the assignment in more detail.

[11:45] ChuckieK> eye think rapid prototyping is better than a lot of thought

[11:45] MariaCris> OK, I can do something by then..

[11:45] elaineos> my webpage will focus on my interests, more on universal design, not info technology pers er, is this OK?

[11:45] matt-b> At this point, does any one what to say any thing about what others have said?
[11:46] matt-b> Yes, elaine, that would be perfect.

[11:46] MariaCris> What does rapid prototyping mean?

[11:46] ChuckieK> eye like it ; eye can post some of my "speaking points" that can see the light of day for greater exchange of ideas and fierce comments (on flames allowed).

[11:46] elaineos> eye'd like to do the web page sooner and get feedback sooner - rapid prototyping feels better to me.

[11:46] ChuckieK> this course is an example of rapid prototyping

[11:47] matt-b>I agree on the rapid prototyping, but some of the participants are not here today.

[11:47] elaineos> smile :) when you say that, Clint

[11:47] matt-b> I can post the log of today's chat almost as soon as we are done!

[11:48] MariaCris> It will take me a little longer to do mine, because I don't type very quickly and have to fit it in with my schedule but I'll do the best I can.

[11:48] matt-b> Let's go to the assignment.
[11:49] matt-b> The assignment is described in the Web site

[11:49] ChuckieK> rapid prototyping means let us try, see if it works and get some feedback and go for continuous improvements dynamically. computer time is cheap: machines work people think. quick feedback will stimulate more to come into the tent and walk around and try out the stuff themselves.

[11:49] matt-b> There are three options:
[11:50] matt-b> If you have MS Word 97 or something similar, then just make a Word document, save it as HTML and send it to me via e-mail.
[11:51] matt-b> If you have and can use an HTML editor like Frontpage 98, then make your page and send it to me.
[11:52] matt-b> If you are using a text editor like WordPad or Notepad, then the process is more complicated...
[11:53] matt-b> In that case, you have to add tags to the text...I have described simple but important ones on the April 13 Web page.
[11:53] matt-b> Now, where do all of you stand with respect to creating a Web page...

[11:53] elaineos> I assume that this will this be as an attachment? I might try both; I always wondered what the Composer on my Netscape Communicator can do, as well as the Word 95.

[11:53] matt-b> MS Word97?

[11:54] MariaCris> I will do mine on Word 98 for Mac and send it by e-mail when it's ready

[11:54] matt-b> Yes, please send it to me as an attachment.
[11:54] matt-b> I may add a background for purposes of continuity

[11:54] elaineos> No, I have word for windows 95 - but it has the HTML option to save as.

[11:55] matt-b> Will any one be using a text editor?
[11:55] matt-b> Elaine--great--that is the easiest method

[11:55] ChuckieK> matt - we need to identify an html standard, eye suggest html 3.2 - clint
[11:55] ChuckieK> otherwise we will have compatibility pro=b'

[11:56] elaineos> how do I determine my html standard? where is it noted?

[11:56] matt-b> Well, clint--it should work anyway, because I will do some editing.

[11:56] ChuckieK> ok

[11:56] matt-b> I prefer to keep this rather straight forward.
[11:57] matt-b> Let me give you my schedule for the next few weeks.
[11:58] matt-b> I will be here until April 21st...then I am travelling until April 29th.
[11:59] matt-b> Does any one have any questions before i turn it over to John?

[12:00] MariaCris> No questions

[12:00] *** MariaCris is now known as john-m

[12:00] elaineos> no questions

[12:00] matt-b> Great!
[12:01] matt-b> John, do you have any closing remarks?

[12:01] john-m> Yes, thanks. Next week's session deals with the next stage in using the Internet: planning
[12:02] john-m> We should discuss some of the major issues like determining objectives and outcomes, as well as intended beneficiaries.
[12:02] john-m> On the web page, there is an exercise that I'd like as many as possible to complete. It should focus on the issue that you are most interested in.
[12:02] john-m> Elaine, for example, might want to look at how to organize distance training in universal design.
[12:03] john-m> Maria Cristina might want to look at how to organize through the Net a regular lobbying group.
[12:03] john-m> I hope that everyone will be able to sit in. If you can get me the filled out exercises, I will post them and we can use them as material.

[12:03] matt-b> I woul like to thank everyone for participating. I am looking forward to receiving your assignments. I will post the log of this session on our Web site this afternoon.

[12:03] john-m> The on-line session should basically be about questions and answers.

[12:04] matt-b> John (or any one) any thing else?

[12:04] elaineos> John, If you have the assignment by Monday is this OK or do you ant it sooner?

[12:05] matt-b> I really enjoyed the session and I hope that you did as well.

[12:05] ChuckieK> leo - anything?

[12:05] john-m> Monday is early enough

[12:05] matt-b> I hope all of you have a good lunch.

[12:05] john-m> I suggest that everyone try to get on-line by 10:45, so that we can start promptly at 11. We can do informal chat in advance
[12:06] john-m> Buen provecho y ciao

[12:06] LeoV> Just to let everyone know that what you're going to do, the basic HTML, is in itself accessible. We'll talk about that more in later sessions.

[12:06] elaineos> I like the live quality; having an assignment completed before hand will be a plus. bye.

[12:06] matt-b> Bye bye

[12:06] ChuckieK> & eye think that we may want to email to reinforce the message
[12:06] ChuckieK> adios

[12:06] LeoV> Best regards to all. Have a good lunch. (I'm having breakfast).

[12:06] matt-b> Cheers, Leo.

Session Close: Tue Apr 13 12:16:32 1999

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