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Just got this email to check out Rubypython. Does anyone on this list have any experience with it? <br>
<br>
Do take a look at <a href="http://rubypython.railsplayground.net/" target="_blank">rubypython.railsplayground.net</a> -- this is a platform<br>
for open source software development and deployment for children<br>
called skid (special kid).<br>
<br>
The idea is to see if this is a way to get kids with difficulty in<br>
communicating through speech, to start communicating in other<br>
ways.This software seeks to address the pressing communication needs<br>
of children, particularly those with mental challenges by finding an<br>
answer to the questions:<br>
1. how does one take advantage of the unique combination of desires,<br>
abilities and disabilities each child possesses, which change with<br>
age?<br>
2. how do we bring the disabled and their caregivers into the software<br>
development process?<br>
3. how do we make this a focus for volunteer activity?<br>
<br>
The software is envisioned as consisting of a large number of tiny<br>
modules, that are intelligently grouped and combined to solve specific<br>
tasks. Each module performs a simple task, that is easy to comprehend,<br>
such as cropping images, or browsing wikpedia. You can operate it in<br>
many different ways, all involving a small number of inputs, unlike<br>
the 100+ keys of a traditional keyboard.<br>
<br>
You don't have to install all these modules on your computer. They are<br>
available to you via the Internet, so you could be using anything that<br>
runs a web browser to run each module as soon as it is developed. Each<br>
module is only a couple of dozen lines of code (on top of a framework<br>
I have written using Ruby on Rails), so even relative beginners in<br>
programming should feel comfortable adding new modules or editing<br>
existing ones, with our help, of course.<br>
<br>
I would love to see small, rugged laptops installed on the wheelchairs<br>
of kids with cerebral palsy, and in the hands of the autistic,<br>
converting text to speech at their command, as Stephen Hawking is<br>
doing.<br>
<br>
How do we go about exploring the use of the skid software on an XO, by<br>
disabled kids who are very keen to learn how to use computers?<br><br><div>Sincerely,<BR>
S Adhikari<BR></div><br><br> </body>
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