Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!yale!bunker!hcap!hnews!157!3!Butch.Walker
From: Butch.Walker@f3.n157.z1.fidonet.org (Butch Walker)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Re: who is this guy?
Message-ID: <13101@bunker.UUCP>
Date: 25 Jul 90 02:13:50 GMT
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Index Number: 9471

[This is from the Silent Talk Conference]

>Well Butch, there is AbleData which has quite a collection of
>manufacturer-related assistive device info.  But, coming from
>the groves of academia, they chose to put it all on GUI.  This
>kinda locks out most of the real world, and creates a serious
>problem for the folks using synthesizers to read.  I understand
>they may eventually support high-end MS-DOS systems, but most
>probably under Windows.

That, like many things coming out of the ivy halls makes a great deal of 
sense. [frown]

>Maybe we should start thinking about writing a grant proposal to
>develop such an ESG Network and DataBase.  It would be worth
>more than a lot of the garbage that gets funded.
>

       We're working on that, but are in limbo until the 501c(3) is  
approved.  I guess I should say we're in limbo on funding, as you can  
tell development is certainly not in limbo. [grin]

 BW>   I'd also like to promote less fragmentation of support
 BW>  groups.. It seems silly to me that the various BBS Networks
 BW>  all have different ABLED Conferences for example.
>
>I agree conceptually, Butch.  But the activity on FidoNet's 'Abled
>has reached such a level that it's tough to even read all of it.
>McGarry and some others try to gateway the most significant posts
>between Networks when possible.  I think it's the sheer volume of
>traffic on 'Abled that inspired spinoffs like SilentTalk and
>BlinkLink.  That and escaping from GSK :-)

I guess clarification is in order.  I am an extremely strong supporter  
of narrow topic, specific support groups.  And will continue to create  
conferences for those groups and establish distribution chains.  The  
fragmentation that I was refering to is seperate unconnected support  
groups existing on FidoNet, AlterNet, RelayNet, SmartNet, InterLink,  
etc...etc...  In my opinion all those do is stroke the ego's of those  
who found the groups in those Networks, while further limiting the  
potential support available to the population you are supposedly trying 
to serve. 
 ~ Via ProEdit 3.2R 

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