User:Per B./Open letter initiative

NEWS:
 * On February, 06 the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) released their annual study Information Economy Report 2007-2008 (PDF). UNCTAD said mobile phone subscribers have almost tripled in developing countries over the last five years, and now make up some 58 percent of mobile subscribers worldwide. The report said mobile phones were the main communication tool for small businesses in developing countries, reducing costs and increasing the speed of transactions. "In Africa, where the increase in terms of the number of mobile phone subscribers and penetration has been greatest, this technology can improve the economic life of the population as a whole." UNCTAD said the revolution in information and communication technology was spreading to the developing world - this should be a chance for the many disabled persons in Asia, Africa and Latin America as well.
 * On January, 15 Forum Nokia released the first part of the Loadstone story (PDF).

New technologies open new chances for blind people
The following could be interesting for the Corporate Responsibility and the Public Relations of the Open Handset Alliance and all the other companies & organisations with enough goodwill and power of imagination. Please excuse my english, it's not my mother tongue.

At the moment a lot of blind people around the world are using Nokia devices because since a few years there are two professional - albeit expensive - screen reader software products for the S60  Symbian platform: Talks from Nuance Communications and Mobile Speak from Code Factory,  which make these cell phones accessible by output of synthetic speech and also allow the use of third party software such as Loadstone-GPS, web browser, audio player or DAISY book reader.

It would be desirable to have a screen reader software for Google's open Android platform too; the best solution would be an open source or non-profit development such that blind people from the developing and newly industrializing regions of our world will have access to it as well, perhaps including the offer of an affordable, accessible and optimized mobile hardware with components from mass market. This device would need to have good tactile keys and a high-quality loudspeaker and should be protected against moisture and dust. Although a display would not really be necessary, there should be a connection port for a screen. An optimized receiver of satellite signals for pedestrian use, an electronic compass and perhaps an accelerometer or a gyroscope could be offered in a wearable Bluetooth box. Additional hardware like a PC keyboard, a headset, a small remote control, a portable Braille display, loudspeaker or a large display for people with low vision could also be connected via cable or Bluetooth. A built in camera would enable light detection, color recognition, optical character recognition (OCR) and is useful in situations when seeing help from distance is needed. Though a camera might be too expensive for the basic device it could be offered as an accessory. Built-in RFID technology for several purposes is imaginable as well But it's important to minimize the production costs of the main units to keep them affordable.

"Through Android, developers, wireless operators and handset manufacturers will be better positioned to bring to market innovative new products faster and at a much lower cost. The end result will be an unprecedented mobile platform that will enable wireless operators and manufacturers to give their customers better, more personal and more flexible mobile experiences." Source: Open Handset Alliance

Nokia, Google and other companies from the mobile tech sector could help to quicken the evolution of accessible satellite navigation and mobile internet access for the 37 million blind and 124 million visually impaired people around the world, especially for the 1.4 million blind children below the age of 15.

"Speaking" mobile technology is a great chance for them to obtain access to this will open new opportunities for the job market and for participation in social networks and in society, especially for those from countries, where access to fixed phones or landline internet is rarely available but cellular radio networks are common. Talking technology could be helpful for textually non-literate seeing persons as well. 
 * Navigation tools and map data,
 * Communication (phone calls, sms, e-mail),
 * Information, Education and Learning,
 * helpful applications and web based applications,
 * Mobile Banking
 * Health and Safety Services, Disease Prevention,
 * Location based services.

The intentions of the OLPC-project (one laptop per child) could perhaps be a kind of model for this idea and Android could open the door for the blind & visually impaired people. Then they would be more independent of trading policies and the mostly expensive prices of the few global vendors of assistive technology. Some of the members of the Open Handset Alliance perhaps have the knowledge and goodwill to program a free Android Screen Reader or providing support/resources for that. Google's $10 Million Android Developer Challenge could also be an incentive for other developing teams.

Loadstone-GPS
The main programmer of the Loadstone project, Shawn Kirkpatrick, and all the members of the Loadstone-team are developers of a free and open source navigation software for blind pedestrians like me. At present, this program runs on Nokia S60 Symbian devices and is a great solution for increasing the mobility of blind persons, thereby making their lives easier and more independent. Since for large rural regions of our world nearly no exactly map data is available in common map databases, the Loadstone software provides users with the option to create, store, and share their own navigation waypoints with others. Although satellite navigation can not replace a white cane or guide dog, it complement perfectly.

There is a growing community of Loadstone users, testers and developers. This kind of self-help and collaboration on a global scale is a very new and unique approach - especially given the fact that the software is free and open source.

Here is what the Loadstone team wrote me, when I asked them for details about their story:

"The Loadstone project was started in 2004 by Monty Lilburn and Shawn Kirkpatrick, both blind. Monty, Canadian and recently moved to Glasgow, Scotland, explains:

"Ever since first finding out about the GPS satellite network in the early 90's I knew this was something that was going to in time complement my mobility skills.  It was just a case of waiting for the technology to be available.  Of course the late 90's and early 2000's brought us GPS for the blind from the Sendaro group, then Visuaide and Humanware/pulse-data came out with solutions.  The problem with all of these solutions was (and still is) cost.

In 2004 I purchased my first speech-enabled mobile phone (Nokia 6600 with Talks) and immediately saw the potential of having a portable device which could interface with a bluetooth GPS receiver. I communicated this idea with my good friend and excellent programmer Shawn who was back in Vancouver."

After two years of development a navigation program existed that was able to inform the user about marked points in the nearby environment. Using the joystick on the mobile phone the environment could be scanned and provided sufficient information to serve as a navigational aid. In May 2006 the duo decided to put the program at the disposal of other blind and visually impaired people with a need for a cheap, lightweight device that could inform them about their whereabouts. A good friend came up with the name Loadstone, a magnetic iron ore that had served as a compassneedle around 1000 AD.

In the summer of 2006 Shane Wegner and Rob Melchers joined the project, Shane as the webmaster of the Point Share Exchange, a web site that serves as the central deposit for navigational points and Rob from Amsterdam as the writer of the documentation and developer of the online-tools that compliment the use of the Loadstone program. Shane and Rob are also blind and have, like Monty and Shawn, long-time experience in programming and web development.

Where the initial development costs have been carried by Monty and Shawn, the future of the project relies on donations and eventually sponsorship.

Loadstone is free software under the GPL and the Loadstone team has the intention to keep it that way. Next to the further development of the program the most important thing is 'getting the word out', so that blind and visually impaired people from all over the world have access to an affordable and portable means of orientation."

Forum Nokia: Story about the Loadstone developers

What you could do for the Loadstone project?

 * Symbian programmers could download the Loadstone source code, become familiar with it and after that they could make concrete suggestions & contributions for improvements. There is a large to do list.
 * What the Loadstone team would need most is a Symbian publisher id and the financial support to maintain this. This would enable them to sign the program and hence offer the user an easy to install package. Currently all users of modern devices (Symbian 3rd Edition) first have to solve the problems of the inaccessible and difficult signing process at Symbiansigned before they can install Loadstone.
 * A sponsor could invest in licenses for map data from companies like Navteq (bought by Nokia) or Tele Atlas (bought by TomTom). The licenses must allow for the distribution of the data, at least to blind and visually impaired users. Any form of data is useful and can be converted to the Loadstone format. If any technical information about this data is needed the Loadstone team will be glad to provide it.
 * You could loan test phones with built in GPS receiver to the Loadstone team (e.g. Nokia N95 or 6110 Navigator) so they can develop a Loadstone version for this devices as well.
 * You could help to translate the software user interface, documentation and release notes into other languages. Maybe this could happen in a free & hosted BlindWiki or LoadstoneWiki. You could help to find volunteers and promoters for that work as well. Many blind people worldwide are not able to understand English and so they can't use Loadstone.
 * You could help to convince vendors of Bluetooth GPS receivers like Holux, Royaltec or their supplier SIRF. Blind persons are pedestrians and need optimized receivers with best accuracy at low or no speed. Therefore the firmware of standard products must be modified and a waterproof receiver box which could be fixed to clothes or e.g. the white cane would be fine too. Such a receiver would be ideal for blind users of commercial assestive GPS solutions and seeing customers with special needs as well.
 * You could help to get the software integrated into mobility training programs by blindness institutions and guidedog schools. Promotion in that direction would be appreciated.
 * Qualified programmers could try to port Loadstone to the Windows Mobile platform.
 * There are many other imaginable ways to help. Please ask the Loadstone team.

What Nokia could do for their blind customers?

 * Nokia could support the Loadstone project.
 * Nokia could improve the accessibility of their service software such as PC Suite or Software Updater.
 * Nokia could offer their manuals in several languages in alternative formats like HTML instead of only PDF.
 * Nokia could build an accessible version of Nokia Maps(almost free), add some features for blind users and offer it almost for free as well. The Swedish company Wayfinder Systems did the same with their product Navigator (99 Euro) and created Wayfinder Access (400 Euro).
 * Satellite navigation and access to map data is a very important aid for blind customers and should not depend on the income.
 * Nokia could join the Nav4Blind project (German site) in Soest. This city is near bochum.
 * For a blind person a device without a screen reader software is like a device without display for a seeing person.
 * Nokia could develop a screen reader and offer it for free or they could try to buy a solution such as Talks from Nuance. (The two main developers of Talks probably live near Bochum.)
 * Nokia could purchase other helpful solutions such as kfnbReader ($1600) and offer it for less money. The knfbReader OCR software could be very useful for seeing illiterates as well.
 * Nokia could donate used S60 devices to blind pupils in developing countries, e.g. . This cell phones can have broken or scratched displays. Nuance and Code Factory could donate licenses for their screen reader products. Blind children are also disseminators and could turn into customers of tomorrow.
 * Nokia could start a small temporary research project to improve the accessibility and usability of S60 applications and of a few hardware components; thereby they could collect interesting knowledge about the needs of disabled customers for future developments.
 * Nokia could join the AIA (Accessibility Interoperability Alliance) for collaboration as well. Please see also: The future of mobile accessibility.

In summer of 2008 many qualified Nokia researchers and developers in Bochum (Germany) will perhaps loose their jobs and need new tasks and employment. Because of nonsensitive behaviour/communication Nokia currently have a huge image crisis in Germany. This facts could be a reason for the suggested research project. Some employees could keep their jobs or get new ones and Nokia would be able to show responsibility for society and goodwill to their many blind or otherwise handicaped customers. Bochum could become the worldwide first stand with a research center for mobile accessibility.

As it seems, the Nokia Accessibility department in Dallas (USA) isn't interested in the above mentioned topics as yet. Please have a look at the official Accessibility site. You won't find anything about sat nav solutions such as Loadstone-GPS or Wayfinder Access and of course nothing about accessibility problems of their service software and the Nokia.Com site. Maybe this department just exists because of legal constraints by US law.

Common brands with many customers are vulnerable for sudden image desasters such as Nokia has today and probably they will have this risk tomorrow as well. Future mobile devices will provide companies such as Nokia or mobile network operators with masses of data about location, behaviour, interests and social networks of their customers. This will make the user privacy transparent for these companies and could be perceived as a risk for potential abuse. Microsoft and Google already have similar problems. The motto "Don't be evil, Don't be neutral, be good" should be an imaginable part of Nokia's further strategy for PR-work. 

Don't be evil, don't be neutral, be accessible!

Links
The World Health Organisation (WHO) about the magnitude and causes of blindness and visual impairment.

ShareIdeas.org is an online community and a wiki for sharing ideas on how to use mobile communications for social and environmental benefits. It was created with support from Nokia and Vodafone.

EPROM, entrepreneurial programming and research On mobiles (Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Universities of Nairobi and Addis Ababa)

G3ict, the global initiative for inclusive ICTs.

Benetech.Org has the philanthropic goal to create new technology solutions that serve humanity.

Nokia program helping hands, Nokia Maps, Nokia Accessibility (CR report 2006)

Google sponsors summer of code, Google.Org, the philanthropic arm of Google, about Philanthropy, Google Accessibility, Cell phone accessibility project from the American Foundation for the Blind,

Android Screen Reader
The open source project OpenIntents has perhaps already found interest in developing a screen reader for the Android platform. OpenIntents is a common effort to define and implement standard interfaces such that Android applications can work more closely together. Please ask Peli. Android should have an Accessibility API for assistive tools, thereby making applications accessible for all. Android should have a free speech engine (tts) as well. Nuance as a member of the OHA could donate a simple multilangual speech synthesizer such as ETI-Eloquence to the Android platform; keeping their high-quality voices for sale. For a long time The ETI-Eloquence was and still is a very popular speech synthesis solution in the blind community. L1GHTM4N already tries to port the FreeTTS Java code to Android. See also:   More projects will hopefully become public after the end of the first part of the Google challenge (May 5). Good solutions could be submitted to other challenges such as the 4th R&D Award from ONCE.

It would be fantastic if some professionals with knowledge in non-profit project management would start an initiative, so that volunteers and sponsors could join them for collaboration.

Examples:
 * Orca is an open source screen reader for Linux. It would be fine if this software would run on the XO from the OLPC project.
 * NVDA is an open source screen reader for Windows. The Mozilla Foundation support this great project with a grant of US$80,000 which allow to hire a full-time professional developer.
 * Fire Vox is an open source talking browser extension for the Firefox web browser.

See also at Wikipedia
screen reader software, speech synthesizer, GPS for the visually impaired, DAISY (digital talking books), T.V. Raman (blind software engineer at Google), Sabriye Tenberken (blind social development aid volunteer), Limo Foundation, Open Source Movement, Wearable technology

Questions? Suggestions? Comments?
If you want more info, please contact me or the Loadstone team or community. My name is Per Busch, I am 39 years old. I live in Germany and since 14 years I am blind. If you are able to understand german you can find mor info & links on my user page at Wikipedia.

You can comment or discuss this letter on the discuss page or you can contact me via mail to Reisender at Online dot De. (By the way: Per is a male first name.)