Jambu: taking stock and next steps - Jambu

Message from discussion Jambu: taking stock and next steps
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Date: Thu, 3 Apr 2008 10:45:55 -0700 (PDT)
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Subject: Re: Jambu: taking stock and next steps
From: davidb <david.bol...@gmail.com>
To: Jambu <jambu@googlegroups.com>
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I agree with Simon that Jambu is getting clearer. Steve, I'm not sure
it is clear enough yet for people to jump in but perhaps you'll tackle
that in the website :)

I commiserate with Jambu's past goals; of trying to be an open-ended
platform, and still move forward in practical steps. In any event, the
user contact you mention below will serve you well I think... and give
things focus and energy. I'm excited to see what comes out of that.

cheers,
David

On Apr 3, 1:21=A0pm, "Simon Judge" <si.ju...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I think that is a very (much) clearer vision Steve. I think the potential
> for browser-based / web-service AAC/AT is powerful and you have sensibly
> separated these aspects.
>
> Let me know if I can help.
>
> Simon
>
> On Thu, Apr 3, 2008 at 5:04 PM, Steve Lee <st...@fullmeasure.co.uk> wrote:=

>
> > Hi, well everything has been quiet since I completed the last phase so
> > thanks for hanging in there and staying interested. I've had a bit of
> > a break due to personal circumstances and perhaps slightly running out
> > of steam. A big thanks to Eitan for all the nags during this time
> > (your mentoring has been great).
>
> > This is the time start thinking about the Roadmap and I would
> > appreciate contributions. I'll try to keep this brief in the hope you
> > stay with me and get inspired to have your say at this critical point.
>
> > So where are we? Well no one seems quite clear on exactly what Jambu
> > is and that was my fault for being too big and woolly at the start. I
> > had big ideals but not so much focus. What we have at this time is:
>
> > 1) Idealistic ideas about improving all Alt input access
> > 2) In application selection and operation of accessible GTK apps and
> > Firefox on Linux with simple switch access.
> > 3) A GTK app or custom widget and framework that renders SVG UIs like
> > OSKs described in declarative XML-based representation.
>
> > So that is really 3 projects.
>
> > 1) Is really a Meta project and I think too much to chew on at once.
> > It covers basic input devices/drivers, desktop accessibility features
> > like mousekeys/mousetweeks, a11y APIs, ATs, applications, DOM input,
> > WCAG etc.
>
> > Another consideration for alt input is that after seeing and using eye
> > gaze, it seems that this should become the default alt access mode,
> > with switch being used for those who don't get on with gaze. We need a
> > FOSS version that works really well with cheap-o web cams and
> > OpenGazer seems to be running in that direction. We can expect a
> > period of inertia with users getting out of the switch mind set, but I
> > think it will happen. So this encourages me to work in other areas.
>
> > 2) Is unique and addresses those who want to use normal applications
> > without intermediate OSKs (this may be a small user base as we're
> > being speculative). It's rather cool and I think it should be
> > developed more. =A0Intitial work will be ensuring it works with recent
> > changes in FF3 and GAIL regressed a bit. Finding some users is
> > paramount in my mind. It may have other non a11y uses as well for low
> > bandwidth input situations.
>
> > 3) my vision for Jambu has matured to be a tool for achieving
> > communication and control with SVG symbols, simple custom OSKs and
> > possibly multi-media. =A0This is important for both people with physical=

> > and learning difficulties (or both), all of who are currently under
> > represented (note to self of a danger of getting too broad again). I
> > have been seeing a lot of discussion about these needs in education
> > and from Speech and Language therapists. I'm also working on a project
> > that will be an open set of symbols and there is synergy there as well
> > as a chance for more user contact. Several of the OATSoft team are
> > highly experienced in this area which is high profile in the UK in my
> > experience. There is also a semantic web based project called CCF from
> > Dundee University that aims to make translation to/from symbols
> > workable. So I see a need and have many contacts with people working
> > in this area.
>
> > There are several well established proprietary programs in this area
> > as well as an overlap with OSKs so I'm keen to ensure we are not just
> > a 'me too' OSS version but really innovate and enable participation. A
> > key point is it should be easy to create new specific solutions or
> > modify existing ones. =A0Rather like the way the Web provides free
> > access to the source and anyone has easy entry to creating resources
> > and solutions (however messily). We will need a user base for
> > community and creating a library of custom shared resources.
>
> > I'm seriously thinking how this should become a web based solution /
> > service usable standalone or online or as part of another application.
> > It seems clear that IT (and browsers) are moving in that direction
> > anyway and even if it is a while off perhaps a local webserver would
> > be easily installed for offline use. Another attractive possibility is
> > to revisit XUL now it's status and my understanding have moved on. I
> > won't go into all the thinking now but, really do want to thrash this
> > idea out more.
>
> > So if we drop 1) out of Jambu we still have to decide whether to split
> > out 2 & 3 so each is clearly their own project. I think this is
> > probably the way to go, perhaps making it clear they are siblings.
>
> > Finally an exciting possibility is getting Project Possibility
> > students involved and I'm keen to do that. I really need others
> > working on it now and later phases and student energy can be awesome.
> > There should be scope for subprojects in 1 such as porting SUNFlare
> > gesture recognition or filling alt access gaps at the Desktop level.
> > These will involve working with existing projects so offer good
> > experience. 2 will be excellent for students who are happy to take a
> > starting point and run with it. It gives you some python and AT-SPI in
> > your portfolio. 3) will also offer lots of possibilities once it is
> > more clearly defined, I see the possibility for several sub-projects.
>
> > So my immediate next steps are
> > * Create a proper website etc. so Jambu is easily approachable (honest
> > I will Eitan)
> > * Develop the Roadmap and then try to get funding
>
> > Looking forward to any thoughts ideas.
>
> > Cheers
>
> > --
> > Steve Lee
> > --
> > Open Source Assistive Technology Software
> > web: fullmeasure.co.uk
> > blog: eduspaces.net/stevelee/weblog
>