Open Source Assistive
Technology Software
OATS
Simon Judge & Steve Lee
15th July 2005
FLOSSIE Conference
Today’s OATS
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About the OATS Project
FLOSS software and the OATS project
Assistive Technology
Why OATS?
What will the OATS project deliver?
Some examples
15th July 2005
FLOSSIE Conference
OATS::Project Details
• Who are we?
– Consortium
ACT
– Volunteers
• Project History
15th July 2005
FLOSSIE Conference
OATS::Project Concepts
• FLOSS - Open Source Software
– FORGE
• New OATS (developing FLOSS)
– Repository
• Wild OATS (existing FLOSS)
• Assistive Technology
– Special Needs (AAC, EC, SEN etc)
– Computer access
– General good Human Computer Interaction
(HCI)
• Users!!!!!!
15th July 2005
FLOSSIE Conference
OATS::FLOSS
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Hackers scratching a personal ‘itch‘
Cool generic technology
Can be removed from users and design
Users often need to be technical
Recreate existing tools, not new needs
Fragmented into many projects
15th July 2005
FLOSSIE Conference
OATS::FLOSS
• Many projects like OpenOffice and
Firefox now meet users needs with
excellent features and support
• Ideal for innovation and customising to
individual needs
• Community and user participation
• Rapid development and prototyping
• Did anyone mention low cost?
15th July 2005
FLOSSIE Conference
OATS::FLOSS & Users
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Good design and Innovation
Transparency
Reliability
Individual solutions to sometimes complex
needs (even with universal design)
• Low Cost
• All software not just AT
• Ask for what they want and get involved
15th July 2005
FLOSSIE Conference
OATS::FLOSS & Developers
• Enable developers to 'scratch another's
itch’
• Could soon be their itch too
• Easily available and usable to more
users
• Innovate and share innovations.
15th July 2005
FLOSSIE Conference
OATS::Assistive Technology
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AT software market is growing
However it is ‘specialised’
Small Market
Innovation limited
Box fitting – not enough tools
Lots of interested individuals across
sectors
15th July 2005
FLOSSIE Conference
OATS::Benefits
• Open Source offers an alternative
model for developing AT software
• Well suited to encourage:
– Strong collaboration with users
– Innovation
– Customisation
15th July 2005
FLOSSIE Conference
OATS::Benefits
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An AT focus for all FLOSS development
Individual projects and shared
Interested parties contributing together
Many skills solving user requirements
Focussed, flexible and custom solutions
More users with transparent access
Transport AT to new horizons
15th July 2005
FLOSSIE Conference
OATS::Outcomes
• Website!
– ‘All’ Open Source AT software in ONE place
– Easy to use searching and browsing for
software
– Links between developers and users
(forums)
– Technology transfer from research
– Full range of development tools in Forge
15th July 2005
FLOSSIE Conference
OATS::Outcomes
• Software!
– Home grown OATS and existing OATS
– Resources (e.g. Meldreth Manor?)
• Standards
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Usability
Installers
Structure of software
Data transfer
Resources
15th July 2005
FLOSSIE Conference
OATS::Example->Dasher
• Innovative On Screen Keyboard
• ‘Emerged’ from research into other
topics
• Development team of PostDoc students
• Variants on a theme being developed…
• http://www.inference.phy.cam.ac.uk/dasher/
DEMO
15th July 2005
FLOSSIE Conference
OATS::Example->AutoHotKey
• Existing OATS…
• Designed for automating tasks
• Allows you to remap the keyboard, run
a sequence of events
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Alternative Mouse Keys
Customisable & Free ABC keyboard!
Customisable & Free Joystick to Mouse
Link with SHOOT for free voice commands
Lots of potential for new resources
15th July 2005
FLOSSIE Conference
Sound Check
Counting by PowerTalk http://fullmeasure.co.uk
Source: http://yngwie.org/gallery/Japan%202001/7-14-soundcheck.jpg
15th July 2005
FLOSSIE Conference
OATS::Example::PowerTalk
•Lucky moment when ‘scratch’ met ‘itch’.
•Code simplified with FLOSS tools.
•Significant effort on non-code extras.
•Requirements and solution guessed.
•Popular but needs community input.
•Unexpected educational uses.
•OATS Project will help PowerTalk grow.
http://fullmeasure.co.uk
15th July 2005
FLOSSIE Conference
OATS::Summary
• OATS – providing a new model for
software development in the AT field
• Encouraging innovation
• Allowing users to be heard
• Single place to go for OATS software
and resources
(one more example of free resources that
could be OATS… PLAY)
15th July 2005
FLOSSIE Conference