Fw: Sao Mai program 05 -06
- From: "Phuong Thom" <phuongthom@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <saomai@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 4 Aug 2005 07:40:17 +0700
----- Original Message -----
From: Carlo Pizzato
To: Tran Ha Nam ; okvcm@xxxxxxxxx ; phuong thom ; Dang Hoai Phuc
Cc: thuyphuong@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ; bao vu
Sent: Wednesday, August 03, 2005 3:20 PM
Subject: Sao Mai program 05 -06
Dear friends,
I am sending you my ideas and proposals for the Sao Mai computer center.
Please feel free to send me your comments and your proposals so that this
document may be improved. If you write in Vietnamese I will ask Em Thom to help
me translate.
Non-profit activities
1.. to upgrade the Sao Mai technology, such as laptops with built-in Braille
display, wireless LAN, Bluetooth technology and some Symbian cellulars.
2.. to complete development of Sao Mai Browser
3.. to add Vietnamese language to Jaws in collaboration with Freedom
Scientific (see Sao Mai – Freedom Scientific cooperation agreement)
4.. to coordinate computer know-how and computer resources available to the
blind in HCM (first thing to do is a survey among organizations and charities
for the blind, then discuss priorities and common tasks with them). The first
objective is to evaluate the level of know-how, the number of blind who can be
considered independent users and the kind of technology that is available
(=computers, embossers, specialized software, etc.), plus how many instructors
and whether they are sighted or blind. It is also important to know about the
technicians who assist the computer rooms.
The second step may be to call for a meeting to discuss common needs and how to
improve the situation.
5.. to establish a legal Network of non-profit associations among the former
partners of Samsung Project, define common objectives, learn how to work
together and submit applications for projects as a single entity. Networks have
better choices to receive funds than a single association.
6.. to specialize the four Centers.
For example: one may become a Computer based Music Center, another a Braille
printing Center, another one a Center specialized in educating children and the
last one an Education Material Center (=download education material in
Vietnamese from the Internet and make it available on CD for the blind to be
read by SM Browser)
7.. to create a group of blind women computer experts.
8.. to increase staff salary by 30-50 per cent.
9.. Donate your old computer CAMPAIGN.
The idea is to send out (to companies, banks, institutions and other
organizations) a request to donate their old Pentium computers to improve
education and general knowledge of the blind. Sao Mai will receive them, check
them, reconfigure them and then distribute them to individuals, blind school
students, blind organizations and charities or place them in schools attended
by blind students. If necessary the recipients will receive basic training at
Sao Mai.
10.. to evaluate the possibility of introducing the echo-location method
(http://www.worldaccessfortheblind.org/Echolocation.htm) and technology
(http://www.worldaccessfortheblind.org/Technology.htm ) in Vietnam.
11.. to appoint another computer-skilled blind member to the managing board
(URGENT!!!) and give him/her some responsibility.
12.. to make the SM technology and experience available to University
students of different disciplines (informatics, sociology, psychology, foreign
languages, etc.) in order for them to be able to write theses and researches on
assistive technology and related topics. It is enough to write a presentation
letter to university professors and heads of departments and appoint a Sao Mai
person for further contacts.
13.. to formally assign a job profile inside Sao Mai to Em Phuong (for
example in charge of training women and of downloading education and
information material from the internet in Vietnamese to make it available
off-line). She should also be asked to collaborate in some other programs (for
example she could play a role in the Donate your old computer Campaign).
14.. to ask one of the advisors (or a third person) to search regularly on
the internet (and in Vietnamese society) all calls for applications to finance
projects (or awards) that may be submitted by Sao Mai or by the Network.
Profit oriented activities.
This will probably require the establishment of an umbrella entity to operate
business. It is necessary to have funds for the initial investment
(pre-payments, publicity, etc.), to have a dedicated website and banking
facilities to operate international transactions. Sao Mai may sign a
collaboration agreement with this entity but in fact run the business.
a) development and marketing of e-books in Vietnamese (and MP3?) for PCs
and Symbian cellular phones.
b) Computer shop
The idea is to offer for example a brand new pre-configured computer at a
convenient price (but still with a profit margin) that people can check on
site, pay and take away with them. Let’s say that we choose one Acer (or
Samsung) configuration (only one) and gadgets of the same company such as MP3
players, flash drives or memory cards. We make an agreement with the producer
to let us sell a limited number of selected products at a competitive price.
By choosing hardware with a brand name we do not need to provide costumer
service.
The slogan may be: If you buy it at Sao Mai you save X% of market price and
help computer education for the blind.
Carlo Pizzato
please visit: http://www.bungsang.org
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