Re: Anyone going to SIGCSE 2009 this year?

Hello Andreas --
I'm just poking my head in too after a short absence and noticed your post.  I 
applaud your efforts at creating blind accessible tools and environment, but I 
also hesitate to put too much emphasis to software that is separate from the 
mainstream programs out there, like visual studio and the like.  I think while 
your solution would always be more accessible and easier to use than VS, VS is 
the platform on the cutting edge as far as new technology development is 
concerned, and any other solution would unavoidably lag behind.
Another unrelated thought in favor of your platform is that if you have an 
environment that is so tailored to be accessible, you probably put smarts into 
it to create accessible apps as well -- is that right? If so, I'd certainly egg 
Microsoft a bit about its accessibility and point them to your very useful 
environment. Who knows, they might work something out with you to put some of 
its ideas into their software.
Have a great month.
--le



  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Andreas Stefik 
  To: programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
  Sent: Saturday, February 28, 2009 2:14 AM
  Subject: Anyone going to SIGCSE 2009 this year?


  Hello list,

  It's been some time since I've poked my head in. This year, Sun Microsystems 
has invited me out to speak at SIGCSE 2009, regarding some tools a team of 
undergraduates and I are building here at Central Washington University for 
blind computer programmers. Our tool, nicknamed SODBeans, is a custom compiler, 
debugger, and auditory cue architecture for NetBeans 6.5 specifically designed 
to be more accessible to the blind. Our tool is a very early stage prototype 
and is not feature complete. The ultimate goal is to release an open source 
version of the tool within a few years. However, an early version is working 
and I will be showing a demo at the conference.

  Anyway, if anyone on this list is at all interested in seeing what the 
research community is working on in regards to tools for the blind, and happens 
to be going to SIGCSE 2009 (in Chattanooga, TN this year), feel free to stop by 
my presentation on Friday.

  Andreas Stefik

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