Digital competence screenreader network

Article about DICOMP-S.net in the magazine of the "Hilfsgemeinschaft Österreich", promoting Thunder (October 2008)

The Hilfsgemeinschaft (Relief Organization for Austria’s Blind and Visually Impaired) has existed since 1935 as a non political, confession independent, non-profit association. Our goal is the improvement of the living condition of visually impaired and blind persons in Austria. At present the Hilfsgemeinschaft cares for and counsel approx. 4200 members all over Austria. The Hilfsgemeinschaft finances its activities almost from private donations. Serious and transparent donations management is a matter of course for the organisation. Since 2002 the Hilfsgemeinschaft has been holding the donations management quality seal.

Detailed information about the organisation can be found here>>

Download Article about DICOMP-S.net>>

bfi Steiermark, public presentation of the project at various transnational meetings (Jan 07 - June 08)

bfi Steiermark takes over the role of a project leader and a project partner in numerous EU projects. Since the bfi Steiermark started EU activities it has participated in more than 45 projects. Following internal testing, a lot of measures, findings and publications developed in EU projects are integrated into the seminars offered at bfi Steiermark. That way, bfi Steiermark guarantees education and training on a high international level. The outcomes of DICOMP-S.net will be integrated into the seminar offer of bfi Steiermark.

See an overview of public presentations during the project attached:

Download overview >>

Press conference at the Landeskrankenhaus Graz (one of the leading hospitals in Austria) - July 2008

At the press conference initiated by the Landeskrankenhaus Graz the bfi Steiermark had the chance to present all the EU-Projects currently working in. The main aim of EU-projects is always the sustainability and innovation transfer.

Walerich Berger and Michaela Meier took the opportunity to present the bfi Steiermark in context to EU-projects and got good feedback regarding DICOMP-S.net.

Presentation of the project at EBU´s general assembly in Saint Etienne (14th June 2008)

During the FAF (Fédération des Aveugles et Handicapés Visuels de France) General Assembly in Saint Etienne on June 14th 08, delegates of the EBU had the opportunity to present the EU-Project DICOMP-S.net as well as the products developed.

EBU disseminated the THUNDER product in some of its more important meetings; the last one was held in Saint Etienne,where 108 blind persons (young and less young) were present.

Public presentation at ENVITER meeting (12th - 13th June 2008)

From 12th - 13th of June 08 the ENVITER meeting (The European Network for Visually Impaired Training Education & Research) took place in Helsinki. The organisation of the meeting was in the hands of the ARLA institute. EFVI participated in the group of directors - BFW Düren, Jürgen Hüllen, participated in the staff meeting. Both partner organisations had the possibiltity to present the product in their individual language.

Download Agenda >>

MonAMI Workshop - presentation of DICOMP-S.net by EFVI (9th June 2008)

On the 9th of June 08, EFVI had the possibility to present DICOMP-S.net at a workshop for ICT and e-Inclusion Experts from New EU countrys, hosted by the Technical University of Kosice (Slovakia).

MonAMI is funded by the EU 6th framework programme IST (Information Society Technologies) and deals with the growing age of the European society.
Information from the webpage:
”Year 2050 – a high percent of the population in the EU is 80 years or older. The largest group is women 80 years plus. The elderly are active, computer literate and want to age well in the information society, maintaining their quality of life. The large number of elderly implies a large cost for the society, a real challenges.  
Technology can make empowered and autonomous living possible by providing help in daily life, safety and security at home, contacts with others, social integration and fun.
The MonAMI project will demonstrate that accessible, useful services for elderly persons and persons with disabilities living at home can be delivered in mainstream systems and platforms. This will be done in close cooperation with users and by involving key mainstream actors throughout the whole process.”

As Thunder will also be a innovative product, especially for elderly persons. Erik Loide and Ülle Lepp of EFVI presented the project and it´s outcomes to the interested audience. MonAMI attracted 50 participants from 13 European countries and USA. EFVI shared information about the project website and promoted the possibility to download Thunder and Atutor materials. As in all the other partner organisations, EFVI made the experience that the interest in the project is extremely high.

Please find attached the agenda of the conference:

Download the agenda of the workshop MonAMI >>

bfi Steiermark presentation of the project at the MSTG (Management for Social and Technical Guidance) - June 2008

The bfi Steiermark course “Management for Social and Technical Guidance” deals with the work with different target groups of people with disabilities and their inclusion in the working life. The participants of this course are being trained as specialists in the work with different disability target groups. Mr. Didi Ogris one of the lecturer and blind, introduced DICOMP-S.net and its products to the participants of this years course. Especially the eLearning space was from huge interest to the listening audience.

Information about the seminar MSTG and impressions of the workshop:

Download the folder with information about the seminar MSTG >>

EFVI training on Thunder with blind and visually impaired students (June 2008)

Erik Loide of the EFVI (Estonian Foundation for the Visually Impaired) is the nominated tutor of Estonia and has been training blind and visually impaired students on the usage of Thunder as well as the ATutor platform.

DICOMP-S.net presentation at the University Graz, Ringvorlesungen (27th May 2008)

Michaela Meier as well as Didi Ogris were delighted to be a guest keynote speaker at the University Graz on the 27th of May 2008. The topic of the “Ringvorlesungen”, which are lectures on a special main subject, was working with people with disabilities. The bfi Steiermark has been an active employer for people with disabilities within the national project ISIS for years. Moreover numerous EU-projects formed a basis of wide knowledge and expertise in this field. The project DICOMP-S.net was introduced at the lecture itself as well as in the special edition book, published by the University.

Download Folder >>

Download an abstract of the script "Menschen mit Behinderungen" - People with Disabilities >>

NCBI presentation of DICOMP-S.net at KINDLY VICS (25th May 2008)

Kindly VICS, the vision impairment computer society were hosting a conference and offered NCBI a place to present DICOMP-S.net. VICS is a multi-faceted group with members nationwide and in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

VICS organises open days, training, a regular CD-based audio magazine and an email-based support list for its members.  It is also a special interest subgroup of the Irish Computer Society (ICS).

Some of the work that VICS is involved includes: Web Testing and Standards, Lobbying, Research etc.  Presenting DICOMP-S.net at their annual conference was, indeed, a very good alternative to "Seeing better Ireland", which was unfortunately cancelled. At VICS NCBI had the chance talking directly to vision impaired computer users and people who aim to increase the usage of IT among the vision impaired community and accessibility to the world of IT for people with vision impairments.

Many of the people attending this conference work for government departments work in third level institutes and many other influential areas of the Irish workforce. NCBI had a captive audience who can take back the information about Thunder to their workplace and disseminate further the information among those who would find it beneficial.

More information about VICS can be found on the website http://www.vicsireland.org/

NCBI had planned to use a major exhibition in June 08 as the national dissemination vehicle. SEEING BETTER IRELAND - an Exhibition of Information Technology, Resources, Equipment and Services for people with sight loss in Ireland is a biennial event and NCBI chooses a theme to focus on at each event.

This year NCBI had chosen Thunder and the eLearning project DICOMP-S.net.  Unfortunately, due to circumstances outside control, the event was cancelled with very little notice owing to difficulties with a hosting organisation.

Because of the short notice of the cancellation and the fact that the project was
an end NCBI couldn’t  arrange a separate event.

Download the agenda >>

Austrian-Hungarian labour market conference, focusing new ways of employment for disabled persons (May 2008)

From the 15th – 16th of May 08, the Austrian-Hungarian labour market conference took place in Szombathely, Hungary.

The conference focused on the labour market situation for disabled persons in Europe especially in Austria and Hungary. Numerous experts from Austria and Hungary reported on their experiences, projects and innovations. The bfi Steiermark used this conference for information and knowledge exchange and had the chance to present the EU-project DICOMP-S.net.

More information about the conference can be found here >>

Download the Programm of the Conference >>

Seminario Accessibilitá - Presentation of the outcomes of DICOMP-S.net (8th May 2008)

At the "Seminario Accessibilità" organized by the State University Tor Vergata in Rome on May 8th 2008, Thunder was presented by Franco Frascollo of ANS. The theme of the seminar "e-inclusion" represented an occasion for showing in detail the use of the screen reader and the e-Learning platform. The seminar was attended by University operators and students, in general people interested in ICT. Detailed information can be found on http://websenzabarriere.uniroma2.it/

Download information about the event >>

Presentation of DICOMP-S.net at SightCity Fair (7th - 9th May 2008)

The SightCity Frankfurt is the biggest exhibition for aids for the blind and visually impaired in Germany. From 07th - 09th of May 2008 it took place the 6th time and attracted visitors from all over Europe. This platform has been used from the BFW Düren gGmbH project team to introduce the product in the different languages to an interested audience at the company´s booth.

SightCity Frankfurt visitors were asked during SightCity in 2005 for their opinion about the exhibition.
* 89 % found everything they were looking for
* 74 % found that the booths were clearly arranged
* 93 % enjoyed a pleasant atmosphere and 76% confirmed that they don´t need to go to another exhibition after having visited SightCity.

Download Flyer >>

Impressions of SightCity 08:

Press release of EFVI to Vikerraadio, Raadio KUKU and the Estonian TV (March 2008 and May 2008)

EFVI has put forward press releases about the DICOMP-S.net project to the largest radio stations as well as the Estonian TV.
(Vikerraadio is the largest national broadcasting company in Estonia, Raadio KUKU the largest private radio station)

The press articles can be found attached:

Download press article - March 2008 >>
Download press article - May 2008 >>

The London Times- newspaper article about DICOMP-S.net (May 2008):

"Roger and Margaret Wilson-Hinds's disregard for traditional business practice is a shining example of the blind leading the blind".

Link to the full article:http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/entrepreneur/article3930347.ece

Download Atrikel in pdf-Format >>

Swedish delegation visited the bfi Steiermark (May 2008).

The Odilien-Institute Graz, an organisation working with around 400 visually impaired and blind persons in Graz, welcomed a Swedish delegation in Austria and showed them around in Graz. Also the bfi Steiermark, who has been working with the Odilien-Institute for years was one of the agenda-points of the Swedish colleagues. Especially the national project ISIS as well as the numerous EU-projects the bfi Steiermark is currently working in, rose huge interest. The visitors were very interested getting in touch with the project partners of DICOMP-S.net.

bfi Steiermark newsletter (May 2008)

Congratulation! The EU-project DICOMP-S.net is in it´s final phase - dissemination about the project to the employees of the bfi Steiermark.

Download newsletter >>

Presentation of DICOMP-S.net at the RuralNet Collaborate day in Rugby (10th April 2008)

“Sharing ideas, inspiration and information for a creative connected countryside” – this is the slogan of RuralNet UK.
ruralnet|uk is a rural regeneration charity which promotes a living and working countryside and finds new and effective ways to help rural communities improve and strengthen their local economies. It supports agencies working on the ground to alleviate disadvantage, to enable social inclusion and social enterprise. It works through promoting and enabling collaboration, research, consultancy and knowledge and information transfer. With local partners, it supports projects which put ideas into practice at the local level. It has specialist skills in Information, Communications and Collaboration Technologies (ICCTs) and wide experience covering their potential and their appropriate use for rural areas.
It uses ICCTs to make connections between people, to ensure that information reaches those that need it, that networks are developed and supported, and that project partnerships achieve their full potential.
ruralnet|uk is equally at home in the business, public, community and voluntary sectors. It works at local, sub-regional, regional, national and European levels.
Roger Wilson-Hinds took the opportunity to present the project and its outcomes at the RuralNet Collaborate day, where experiences were shared and delegates had the chance to learn about new technologies and make new contacts.

For more information about RuralNet Collaborate day, please visit http://collaborate2008.ruralnet.org.uk/about/

Turkish delegation visits Graz (April 2008)

The bfi Steiermark hosted guests from Turkey from the 17th – 18th of April. The Turkish colleagues are working with the Labour Market Service as well as the prime ministery of Turkey and were very interested in the project DICOMP-S.net.

Implementing Thunder into the E-Learning Coach Tutorial and WBT of the LdV Project E-COVIP by BFW Dürgen gGmbH (March 2008)

The EU-Project E-COVIP E-Learning Coach for Visually Impaired People, coordinated by BFW Düren deals with the target group blind and visually impaired. The project will establish a network for e-learning coaches who educate persons with visual impairement. Within this framework Jürgen Hüllen presented DICOMP-S.net on the eLearning platform and supports inquiries.

You can learn more about E-COVIP on http://www.e-covip.eu/

Article of Luca Liberali in the ANS news "Il Subvedente" (March 2008).

The quarterly "Il Subvedente" is published by ANS and reaches 3000 people throughout Italy. This is an excellent vehicle for dissemination and a medium for recruiting testers and users for the screenreader.

Download atricle >>

Presentation of DICOMP-S.net at the Birmingham Focus on Blindness (March 2008)

The Birmingham Focus on Blindness (BRIB) provides services and support to those with sight impairment, their families and carers. Their aim is to enhance the quality of life for those that live with sight impairment. The purpose is to provide effective support for visually impaired people across Birmingham and the West Midlands. To do this BRIB aims to provide a broad range of services that continues to change and grow in line with user needs. Stephanie Sergeant had the chance to present DICOMP-S.net

ANS visited the Convention of FISH - National Federation of Handicapped persons (14th March 2008)

The platform offered was used to talk about DICOMP-S.net and it´s aims. People are usually very interested in learning about the free screen reader and the possibility to test it. For the partner involved it is a way to collect suggestions for improvements, highlights and weak points about the software.

download certificate of participation>>

EBU presentation at the Blind Computer Users Group of the German speaking Countries (ISCB) / (29th February – 1st March 2008)

On behalf of EBU Mr. Peter Brass presented the DICOMP-S.net project and the thunder screenreader at the annual general meeting of the Blind Computer Users Group of the German speaking Countries (ISCB) in Timmendorf.

The meeting took place from the 29th of February to the 1st of March 2008.

30 participants and a few guests were present at the presentation.
Demonstration CDs with the current version of Thunder wee distributed.
A short project description and also a demonstration copy of Thunder were distributed with issue no.2 of the organization's bimonthly magazine on CD-ROM in April 2008.

Presentation in Rome at the assembly of ADV, Association of visually disabled persons (9th November 2007 )

The interest shown by the participants in relation to the innovation represented by a free screen reader was very encouraging. More information can be found on the ADV website http://www.provinciabile.it/news.php?id=685

Presentation of Thunder during the General Meeting of the ENVITER Network by BFW Düren gGmbH (25th October 2007)

Jürgen Hüllen of BFW Düren gGmbH presented the project, its objects and expected outcomes at the general meeting of the ENVITER network on the 25th of October 2007. Dissemination of Thunder amongst Directors and section managers of European training centers for VIP was the main aim of the public presentation.

Detailed information about ENVITER can be found on http://www.enviter.eu

ANS presentation at the Milan Polytechnic State University ( 12th October 2007)

ANS was offered a booth to present Thunder - Dicomp.S-net to the speakers and participants of the "G3ict International Forum". The G3ict International Forum is addressed to leaders overseeing accessibility standards issues, representatives from the industry, SDOs, NGOs representing persons with disabilities, research institutions, assistive technology developers, governments and academia. The response to this innovative project was good.

Download information:
G3icT International Forum >>
Technologie per Lautonomia >>

Public presentation of the project within the expert group on accessibility in Trieste by EBU (22nd - 23rd September 2007)

From 22nd till 23rd of September an EBU expert group met on discussions regarding accessibility. According to this topic, DICOMP-S.net was introduced as well.

See the Report of the expert group attached:

Download Report of the expert group >>

NCBI interview about DICOMP-S.net for Focus Audio Magazine (July 2007)

Download Article in *.mp3 Format (763KB)>>

Download Article in *.wma Format (6,98MB)>>

Information about the project at the SightCity FAIR (07th - 09th May 2007)

The SightCity Frankfurt is the biggest exhibition for aids for the blind and visually impaired in Germany. From 09th - 11th of May 2007 it took place the 5th time and attracted 3200 visitors from all over Europe. Statistics prove that SightCity is well accepted by visitors as well as exhibitors. Amongst the 93 exhibitors the BFW Düren gGmbH had a company booth, where the EU-project DICOMP-S.net was introduced to a big audience.

Attached you can find the mediainformation about SightCITY Frankfurt 2007

Download Mediainformation >>