The meeting was called to order by Maria Rueters, President at 1:10 p.m. After introductions, there were demonstrations on 3 different products:
Joe Lazarro demonstrated a program called Cdex which can identify a cd and its tracks through a website called gracenote.com. This program is downloadable through the website www.cdex.n3.net.
Next, Tim Cummings demonstrated the features of a digital tape recorder, the Olympus ws100, which has as one of its features a USB port which lets you transfer your recorded files to a computer which has Microsoft Windows ME or higher.
Finally, Maria Rueters demonstrated the features of an MP3 player, The Zen Nanow.
After a short recess, the business portion of the meeting convened at 3:00 p.m. Since the external disk drive wasn't available so that the August minutes could be read on a floppy disk, it was decided to put off the reading of the minutes until the last item when they would be read if time permitted.
The president apologized for the meeting announcement not making it into the Vibug mailbox, or on the MCB taped announcements. It was, however, on the MAB tape.
Jeanette Kutash reread the nominating committee's recommended slate of officers, and once again reminded members that other nominations could be made from the floor during the election. Contested elections would be decided by secret ballot.
Marguerite Bergel from Fidelity Investments made mention of the new Systems Analyst position opening up at fidelity. The incumbent would be working on accessible web designs. Details of the position were e-mailed to all members and members of our list serve. Anyone interested in applying should send their completed résumés to:
Thomas S. Tullis, Ph.D.
Senior Vice President, Human Interface Design
Fidelity Investments
82 Devonshire St., V4A
Boston, MA 02109
Tom.Tullis@fidelity.com.
Lisa Bush volunteered to coordinate the finding of a suitable location for the annual Christmas party to be held on Saturday, December 10th.
The president announced that there is a new release of Zoomtext9 which as one of its new features, a better selection of voices. A 30-day demo version of the new program can be downloaded from the AI Square website. It was also announced that Jaws 7 would be released soon, and that Windoweyes 5.5 is currently in bata. Windoweyes users were advised to watch for further details.
At the October meeting, Evan Silver of the Carroll Center will demonstrate Tivo with the use of adaptive software. Clerks Note: Subsequent information indicated that the demonstration would involve the use of Microsoft's Windows Media Center, a tivo-like operating device. The topic for the November meeting is yet to be determined.
Joe Lazarro indicated that the Mass Information Technology Division decided that by the year 2007, all state agencies would be using an XML based open-source model system for all of its documents. They did this without conducting any kind of a study to determine if such a system is accessible and can be supported by adaptive technology currently used by persons with disabilities. The Mass Commission for the Blind had expressed its concerns as well as the Mass Commission on Disabilities. A motion was made, seconded and passed that Vibug go on record as expressing its concerns about this conversion. Jeanette Kutash volunteered to help draft the letter, which Joe Lazarro would take a look at before it was sent out. Anyone wishing to express their concerns individually on the web should write to Peter.Quinn@ma.state.us.
Dennis Brady provided an update as to the job status of the visually impaired employees at the soon to be closed IRS call site at the JFK building in Boston. Dennis was heading to the Exam division, Planning and Special Programs as a tax specialist. Another employee was placed in the Taxpayer Advocate Service as an analyst, and the other 3 employees took buyouts and early-retirements.
Next came the computer questions which concluded at 4:00 p.m. With that in mind, and to comply with parliamentary procedure, a motion was made seconded and passed to suspend the rules so that the minutes for the August and the September would both be read at the meeting on October 8th. The meeting was then adjourned.
Respectfully Submitted:
Dennis Brady,
Vibug Clerk.