The assignments for the IBM Corporate Service Corps Brazil 2 team have come out. I found out yesterday that I will be on a team with Sandhosh for the organization called Instituto Rodrigo Mendes. It's going to be fantastic! This organization was started in 1994 by Mr. Mendes after he'd become a noted artist despite a handicap from an accident. His artwork gave him identity, hope and a means to support himself and he wants to give that opportunity to others who are challenged. He's created a school that caters to the physically handicapped and our job, I still need to ask ALOT of questions and listen hard, will be to research and create a plan to introduce new technology that will expand this school's ability to serve their community.
Phew, it will be a challenge, but can you think of a better organization to consult with?? My first thoughts are to google search the Denver area. I think that it will be helpful if I understand the "industry" around the arts and the physically challenged, the lingo, the challenges, and especially the finances. None of the projects that my bigger IBM team is consulting with will involve large financing. Being non-profits, we have to always keep in mind that our clients are working with an extremely tight budget. So, if I visit some schools near me that offer programs for the handicapped, I can see what they are doing. I know that IBM has a tool that's in my field of expertise (Voice) called Via Voice. Via Voice can do text-to-speech and help those who are visually impaired "hear" a webpage, or to use their computer for word processing. Also, Via Voice has voice recognition so that a user can dictate what they want to be entered into a program. I'm not sure that this is helpful for an arts program. I would think that electronic pads with a fancy mouse might work better for those who have less dexterity? I wonder if braces for limbs and just plain old paint and canvas might be the best? Oh well, I cannot get bogged down in specifics until I speak to my client and see what they are really asking for. It might be that me and Sandhosh will just be making their website more friendly, maybe adding sound for the visually impaired?
http://www.institutorodrigomendes.org.br/english.htm
So? Anyone out there know anything about cool technology tools that help with artistic expression?
And, in other news, my daughter Lexie graduated last Friday night. 'Twas pretty cool, she wore her giant heels under her dress and gown. They specifically told the class to wear walking friendly shoes because the steps down to the floor at the event Center are steep and narrow, but not my daughter.... she loves her fashion statements. But she didn't take a digger and embarass herself or skin her nose. Well done.
Family was in town for 5 days and we had every bed in the house full; that was nice also. I'm not sure if my mom and dad enjoyed themselves, but they are always good sports. We had fantastic food and drink at the party Saturday morning and I got to see alot of old friends. People from high school, oh my!
Alright, need to get back to researching art institutes.
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