CSUN 2009 Computer lab session
Posted on mars 18th, 2009 par dom
Here are the documents for the session:
This is the sample I created for this session (about from the wikipedia article about eggplants :
Le blog d’un enseignant-chercheur en Informatique
Here are the documents for the session:
This is the sample I created for this session (about from the wikipedia article about eggplants :
There are only 10 types of people in the world. Those who understand binary and those who don’t.
Here are the slides of the presentation I gave together with Dònal Fitzpatrick this morning, at the 5th JEM meeting in Paris (2008-11-27):
Impact of ICT on the Teaching of Maths to VIP (Visually Impaired People)
Abstract: The study of Mathematics has always been particularly difficult for blind individuals. Indeed we can observe that a large majority of blind pupils do not succeed in maths studies, while the average mainstream pupil succeeds more easily. As maths is crucial in most science disciplines, this limits study options and future job opportunities for blind people. We assert that there is no reason that mathematical semantics can not be understood because of blindness; rather the biggest barrier is access to mathematical content, which can only be through speech or Braille.
During the last 2 decades a number of research projects have proposed partial solutions to this problem: projects focusing on access to mathematical literature and preparation of mathematical information, as well as projects trying to improve the presentation of content to the reader.
Today, we need new software tools that support the work of blind users, facilitating their understanding and helping them to carry out calculations, while facilitating inclusion in the mainstream environment. Indeed more and more such pupils attend mainstream schools, so it is important that these tools are usable with teachers who are not particularly familiar with Braille.
odt2dtbook 1.0 was released on October 13, the same day as OOo 3.0 official launch. Version 1.0 is quite improved regarding the previous versions. A lot of new features were included. Current release 1.0.1 corrects a number of bugs andis now rather stable.
The list of supported tags is published on odt2dtbook website. Let us say here the main features.
Odt2dtbook supports obviously structured documents. All headings styles present in the document will be converted to the corresponding DTBook tags. Additionally if no heading is present in the document, a warning box will appear to encourage the user to use styles in order to improve accessibility, when trying to export this document to DTBook.
Page numbering is supported, including advanced management of page numbering:
A number of other advanced features of word processing software are also supported, as for instance: notes (end notes, rear notes), table of contents, multilingual documents. The user has the possibility to choose between automatic generation of DTBook FrontMatter (resp. RearMatter) or advanced Front Matter (the same for RearMatter).
When the source document is ready in OpenOffice.org, it is time to export it to a DTBook file. Launch the “Export as Daisy” command: a dialog box will ask for the Title/Creator/Publisher of the book and allow to set up a few options. A UID is automatically generated (as DTBook requests a unique UID), but the user can change it to any personal UID if needed.
During the processing of the XML output document, the empty headings and paragraphs are removed, and additionally it is correctly indented. A CSS style sheet can be exported with the document, which allows to view the DTBook using a simple browser (like Firefox).
Download odt2dtbook at http://odt2dtbook.sourceforge.net !
Last Monday, October 13, the Region Île-de-France had invited the OpenOffice.org community at party for the launch of OpenOffice.org 3.0. The reception was great and the 3 speeches really interesting, which I was not expecting at this kind of reception. I appreciated especially the speech of Louis Suarez-Potts, Chair of the Community Council for OpenOffice.org. Here is an excerpt (you can read the whole of it on Louis’ blog - as well in English and in French):
“I refer of course to the spectacle of capitalism’s conflagration we have witnessed this last month—that we continue to witness–and to the lesson that we can take from it: That liberty without fraternity produces fierce catastrophe. And into this catastrophe we have been thrust as actors without a script. Equal, fraternal, collaboration gives us that script.
Building something together, of mutual benefit and interest answers the questions raised by the Crisis: What do we do now, in the spectacle of capitalism’s aftermath? We work together locally, with global consciousness, aware that we exist in a community that is not limited by mountains or oceans but only by the reach of our ambition.”
The Open Source model is indeed one response to the current crisis of the capitalist system. Whatever company bankrupts, Open Source software will continue to exist and to grow. I don’t totally agree with Marc Lipinski when he said (in his speech at the Launch party) that Open Source communities members are totally selfless. Some are of course, but the success of Open Source grows essentially because companies understand that they have an interest, a financial interest, in sharing source code. Let us hope that the encouraging progression of OpenOffice.org, of FireFox, and of a lot of very useful and interesting software will make the EU politicians understand that software patents are nonsense.
To completely change subject, I would like to enlighten the fact that OpenSource software is more and more taking into account the needs of people with disabilities. This is due to the strong involvement of big companies who have to face accessibility because of regulations (like the US section 508). This started with Firefox which became fully accessible since a couple of years (if my memory is ok). OOo 3.0 is now accessible and the accessibility is reported on the accessibility page of OOo Wiki. This is the right way of addressing the issue!