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Thanks Aejaz, I will contact you off the list to take up your offer of involvement... To answer your questions: 1 - Open Source Software (OSS), you are right, is never really complete - but that's the great thing about it - it can evolve, develop and improve with the user's needs... The way around the problem of non-completeness is two fold: firstly, the software will be developed around a core 'framework' - additional modules that are developed latter are simply plugged into this framework. Secondly, you release 'versions' of the software - that are complete at the release date - just like Microsoft does (e.g. Windows 95, 98, 98se, 2000, ME, XP etc...). 2 - I don't think there is a precedent for the MDA in this field? The GNU license makes it implicit that there is no warranty (although under the consumer protection act, liability could still be inferred?). Is other access software classed as a medical device? If used as a communication aid, then it could be interpreted that the onus lies with the person supplying the device to the client - and that since the device would have to be customised, that it could be considered custom made? Any help on this area would be appreciated! 3 - I wasn't aware of GOK, and would be interested in any other links that anyone might have. Again, the advantage of Open Source is that it is possible to incorporate other Open Source software into the software - for example GOK (though it is for a different operating system), or maybe DASHER? Anyway, thanks for the interest/comments. Simon > -----Original Message----- > From: Aejaz Zahid [mailto:[log in to unmask]] > Sent: 23 August 2002 12:32 > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: Re: Speechmakers Project - Free software! > > > Hi Simon, > > I think this is a brilliant idea. One is always finding > shortcomings in accessibility and communication software when > it comes to customising the system for individual needs. A > flexible open source system may just be the answer. However, > is an open source system ever complete? And if not, how would > that relate to the medical devices directive (wrt > Communication Aid side of the software)? (My guess is that it > would perpetually be a custom made device(?)). I would very > much like to be involved in varying degrees (or atleast have > my two pennys worth) on all three aspects of the project > (especially the input side of things). Do you know of the GOK > (GNOME Onscreen Keyboard) project (may also be of interest to > others on Assistech)? Also an open source project, set up to > create a multimodal accessible user interface for the Linux > open source GUI. That project is nearing 'completion' now and > you may be able to borrow a few ideas from it (mainly > relating to alternative input strategies). > > Regards, > > Aejaz > > P.S. You may also want to post the info about speechmaker to > the Tech-Dis and RESNA lists. Tech-Dis mainly appears to > consist of accessibility advisors at various educational > institutions. http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/TECH-DIS.html. > www.resna.org > > PPS. GOK project: www.gok.ca > > _____________________________________________________ > Aejaz Zahid > Clinical Scientist (Assistive Technology) > Department of Medical Physics & Clinical Engineering > Barnsley DGH NHS Trust, Barnsley S75 2EP > [T] 01226 730000 x2159 > [F] 01226 208159 > > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: p=NHS NATIONAL > INT;a=NHS;c=GB;dda:RFC-822=ASSISTECH(a)JISCMAIL.AC.UK; > Sent: Thursday, August 22, 2002 6:41 PM > To: p=NHS NATIONAL > INT;a=NHS;c=GB;dda:RFC-822=ASSISTECH(a)JISCMAIL.AC.UK; > Subject: Speechmakers Project - Free software! > > > Hi. > > We have recently started a project called Speechmakers - with > the objective of designing software to enable communication > and computer access. The project is an 'open-source' > project and the software is to be released under a 'free > software' license - in non techno-babble this means that the > software will be developed by volunteers over the internet, > be free to redistribute and free to download. > > This isn't pie in the sky - we have just released our first > bit of software (free to download now). This software > provides automatic narration of PowerPoint presentations and > may be of use to those who have difficulty communicating or > for visually impaired users. You can get it by following the > link at the bottom of this email. > > This is very much a fledgling project - although we are now > applying for funding to employ a coder to develop a core set > of software which can be built upon by the volunteers. > > One of the core values of the project (and of the organisation I work > for) is that the software will be designed for specific needs > - and this is one of the great things about Open Source > Software - it allows innovation, experimentation and also a > very straight line from the client to the designer. We have > also obtained agreement from a prominent organisation to > obtain feedback and advice on the software from their students. > > The software would be in three sections - input (e.g. > on-screen-keyboards etc...), processing (e.g. prediction) and > output (e.g. Speech synthesis)... this leaves massive scope > for innovation and application of current technologies and research. > > Anyway, i'd be interested in opinions, criticisms, abuse, > enthusiasm, offers of support, money, Nobel prizes, or any > other comments... either to the list or direct email. > > Sorry for the long mail, hope y'all stuck with it and I have > made sense. > > Best Regards, > > Simon > > Links: > Speechmakers: www.speechmakers.org > Download page: www.meru.org.uk/speechmakers/downloads.html > Discussion page: > http://www.meru.org.uk/twiki/bin/view/Speechma> kers/WebHome > > > Interesting Speech Synthesis Demos: > http://www.cstr.ed.ac.uk/projects/festival/demos.html (some > of these are a great improvement (?) on conventional windows > SAPI or DECTalk - and implementing the code for these is > probably on of the next parts of the project). > > P.S. This is a great mailing list, are there any others > anyone knows of on similar subjects? > > Simon Judge > Electronic Engineer MEng > > [log in to unmask] > 020 8770 8283 > http://www.meru.org.uk MERU 8 Damson Way Orchard Hill Carshalton Surrey SM5 4NR 020 8770 8398 (fax) Registered Charity Number: 269804 Company Limited by Guarantee Number: 1214125