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Rodrigo,<br>
Web 2.0 is tending to exclude the Deaf. I'm not sure what information
loss would be represented by that. Also, nearly every online video
that provides information is not captioned - in any language,
SignWriting included. So I'm not sure if the divide is purely from
lack of access to the internet. Once on the internet, there are
further divides.<br>
<br>
However, I believe there may be a larger issue in the use of the
internet than lack of information. Lack of information presumes that
the information and the act of obtaining that information are
beneficial, when, in truth, it may prevent an individual from
developing themselves properly. As in anything, it may be an
individual determination as to whether or not internet access is
beneficial, partially beneficial, or detrimental. As in the general
population, benefits may be derived at different ages on different
subjects and there are problems when there is access to information
that isn't appropriate.<br>
<br>
Because of that and other considerations, such as a blurring of
cultural identities, a preference to internet access over local
responsibilities, etc, it may be overly presumptuous to always
attribute a negative viewpoint to lack of access to internet
information.<br>
<br>
On the other hand, communication access presented by the internet is
definitely useful. Unfortunately, as you are aware, it requires either
a knowledge of the spoken language to be able to communicate through
typing or sign language interpreters when using visual communication.
Signwriting could possibly be a bridge when it's capable of being used
in machine translations.<br>
<br>
Bill<br>
<br>
<br>
Rodrigo Ferreira Bagni wrote:
<blockquote
cite="mid:aab15d4d0709170742xd2c4a07p85c7a82373be78ca@mail.gmail.com"
type="cite">Hello,<br>
I would like some help and I thought I could ask some questions here.
:-)<br>
<br>
Currently I am trying to define a topic of studying to my master of
science research on computer science, that is computers :-)<br>
I have two main corcerns with which I would like to work. The first one
is the problems the Deaf faces today in the society and the second one
is digital divide.<br>
<br>
Thus I'm trying to combine them. Among the Deaf there are many
different personalities, needs, goals, abilities etc; so I don't want
to exclude anybody or consider the broader set as possible.
<br>
Digital divide for me is the constraint imposed to someone preventing
them from having access to information technology, mainly the internet.
Because of it those people cannot, as we can, develop themselves
learning with the content available on the internet and most important,
they cannot act to change the situation in which they live, using what
the internet offers. For exemple, what would have happend with
SignWrinting if we didn't have the internet?
<br clear="all">
<br>
So, based on this I wanted to know, if someone want to help, please :-)<br>
<br>
What problems do you think there are that prevent the Deaf from
effectively using the internet, if there is any?<br>
<br>
Do you think SignWriting is the solution? If it is, is it the only one?
<br>
<br>
What about those ones that do not know any sign language and poorly
learnt a spoken language (English, French, German, Portuguese, etc).
Can the internet help them or they should learn a language first to use
the internet?
<br>
<br>
If the internet had something more or were somehow different, I am sure
the Deaf could use it much better. What would be something more or
different?<br>
<br>
Do you think there is anything else that could be done besides working
with the internet? Regarding computers, please.
<br>
<br>
<br>
Thank you very much. :-)<br>
Best<br>
-- <br>
Rodrigo Ferreira Bagni
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