Transcript Document

- OATS Open-Source Assistive
Technology
- only one way forward! Andrew Lysley
ACE R&D Co-ordinator
Stephen Druce
ACE Projects Officer
An overview
What is “Open-source software”?
What is “Open-source Assistive Technology
Software”?
Why this project and who might benefit?
Where next and how you can help?
What is open-source software (OSS)?
• Open-source Software (OSS) is computer software
written for any operating system (Windows, Macintosh,
Linux, etc.)
• Under a license anyone can change and/or share the
software freely
• Open-source software must make its source or
programming code freely available
• End-users have the right to modify and redistribute
the software
• Open-source software is well established with a large
amount of established software available.
Source Forge – biggest OSS website
with over 110,000 projects
- SCHOOL FORGE an OSS website for UK Schools
What is the “OATS” Project?
• First web-based open-source software
Repository (library) and Forge (dating
agency) dedicated to Assistive Technology
• “One-stop shop” for users, clinicians, &
developers
• Pilot project to assess service desirability
The OATS Repository
- A Library -
The OATS Repository
- A Library • Listing software in a central web-based
database
• Offering simple and easy methods to find
appropriate AT software
• Standardising in one place downloading
and installation of AT software
• Providing a level of quality assurance to
guide potential end users
OATS Repository
- SAW 5 -
OATS Repository
- Dasher -
The OATS Forge
- A Dating Agency -
The OATS Forge
- A Dating Agency • To attract volunteer software developers
• To develop new AT software based on
specific end user needs
• To provide a dynamic discussion forum
for end users and open-source developers
Other OATS Services
• Symbol and picture libraries
• Software resources - such as free selection
sets and user configurations
• AT software that is not open-source but is
free will also be included (eg ZenKeys)
OATS Website Structure
What next?
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Pilot website launch in December ‘05
Six-month “live” evaluation
Final report on pilot
Exit strategy…….
How you can help & participate?
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Spread the word!
Send examples of OATS
Send examples of free AT software
Join the OATS SIG NOW!
[email protected]
www.oatsoft.org
OATS Project Consortium
• The ACE Centre, Oxford (Project Coordinator)
• ACT, Birmingham
• Dpt. Of Applied Computing, University
of Dundee
• Swedish Institute for Special Needs
Education, Gothenberg
OATS Contact details
Andrew Lysley
OATS Project Co-ordinator
The ACE Centre
92 Windmill Road
Headington
Oxford OX3 7DR
Tel: 01865 759802
Email: [email protected]
OATS SIG: [email protected]
Website: www.oatsoft.org
(going live in December 2005)