text:
|Assets: where do we go from here?
|| BIB | Full-Text
|Alan F. Newell
|From assistive technology to a web accessibility service
|| BIBAK | Full-Text
|Peter G. Fairweather; Vicki L. Hanson; Sam R. Detweiler; Richard S. Schwerdtfeger
|This paper considers different ways to enhance access to the World Wide Web
for persons with sensory, cognitive, or motor limitations. Paradoxically, while
complex Web architectures may seem to have inhibited accessibility, they have
broadened the range of points where we can try to improve it. This paper
identifies these points and evaluates the advantages and disadvantages of each.
In particular, it describes a project to develop a strategy to enhance access
that can be distributed across multiple control points and implemented as an
aggregation of Web services.
Keywords: Web services, World Wide Web, accessibility, adaptive interfaces
|Improving the accessibility of aurally rendered HTML tables
|| BIBAK | Full-Text
|Robert Filepp; James Challenger; Daniela Rosu
|Current techniques employed to aurally render HTML tables often result in
output that is very difficult for sight-impaired users to understand. This
paper proposes TTPML, an XML-compliant markup language, which facilitates the
generation of prose descriptions of tabular information. The markup language
enables content creators to specify contextual reinforcement of, and linear
navigation through, tabular information. The markup language may be applied to
pre-existing Web content and is reusable across multiple tables. TTPML may be
interpreted by origin servers, proxy servers, or browsers. We believe that our
approach benefits sight-impaired users by improving accessibility to tabular
Keywords: Web accessibility, XML, aural interfaces, tables
|Web accessibility for low bandwidth input
|| BIBAK | Full-Text
|Jennifer Mankoff; Anind Dey; Udit Batra; Melody Moore
|One of the first, most common, and most useful applications that today's
computer users access is the World Wide Web (web). One population of users for
whom the web is especially important is those with motor disabilities, because
it may enable them to do things that they might not otherwise be able to do:
shopping; getting an education; running a business. This is particularly
important for low bandwidth users: users with such limited motor and speech
that they can only produce one or two signals when communicating with a
computer. We present requirements for low bandwidth web accessibility, and two
tools that address these requirements. The first is a modified web browser, the
second a proxy that modifies HTML. Both work without requiring web page authors
to modify their pages.
Keywords: WWW, low bandwidth input, motor impairment, web proxy
|Navigation of HTML tables, frames, and XML fragments
|| BIBAK | Full-Text
|E. Pontelli; D. Gillan; W. Xiong; E. Saad; G. Gupta; A. I. Karshmer
|In this paper, we provide a progress report on the development of technology
to support the non-visual navigation of complex HTML and XML structures.
Keywords: Web Accessibility, visually impaired users
|Sketching images eyes-free: a grid-based dynamic drawing tool for the blind
|| BIBAK | Full-Text
|Hesham M. Kamel; James A. Landay
|In this paper we describe one method of transforming a mouse-based graphical
user interface into a navigable, grid-based auditory interface. We also report
the results of an experiment that tested the effectiveness of a drawing tool
for the blind called IC2D that uses this interaction style. The experiment
included eight visually impaired participants and eight blindfolded sighted
participants. The results show that auditory interpretation of graphics is an
effective interface technique for visually impaired users. Further, the
experiment demonstrates that visually impaired users can develop meaningful
drawings when given adequate technological support.
Keywords: IC2D, auditory user interfaces, drawing, graphical semantic enhancement, graphics, grid, visually impaired
|Design and implementation of virtual environments training of the visually impaire
|| BIBAK | Full-Text
|D. Tzovaras; G. Nikolakis; G. Fergadis; S. Malasiotis; M. Stavrakis
|This paper presents the virtual reality applications developed for the
feasibility study tests of the EU funded IST project ENORASI. ENORASI aims at
developing a highly interactive and extensible haptic VR training system that
allows visually impaired people, especially those blind from birth, to study
and interact with various virtual objects. A number of custom applications have
been developed based on the interface provided by the CyberGrasp haptic device.
Eight test categories were identified and corresponding tests were developed
for each category. Twenty-six blind persons conducted the tests and the
evaluation results have shown the degree of acceptance of the technology and
the feasibility of the proposed approach.
Keywords: haptics, training, virtual environments, visually impaired
|Multimodal feedback: establishing a performance baseline for improved access by individuals with visual impairments
|| BIBAK | Full-Text
|Holly S. Vitense; Julie A. Jacko; V. Kathlene Emery
|Multimodal interfaces have the potential to enhance a user's overall
performance, especially when one perceptual channel, such as vision, is
compromised. This research investigated how unimodal, bimodal, and trimodal
feedback affected the performance of fully sighted users. Limited research
exists that investigates how fully sighted users react to multimodal feedback
forms, and to-date even less research is available that has investigated how
users with visual impairments respond to multiple forms of feedback. A complex
direct manipulation task, consisting of a series search and selection
drag-and-drop subtasks, was evaluated in this study. The multiple forms of
feedback investigated were auditory, haptic and visual. Each form of feedback
was tested alone and in combination. User performance was assessed through
measures of workload time. Workload was measured objectively and subjectively,
through the physiological measure of pupil diameter and a portion of the NASA
Task Load Index (TLX) workload survey, respectively. Time was captured by a
measure of how long it took to complete a particular element of the task. The
results demonstrate that multimodal feedback improves the performance of fully
sighted users and offers great potential to users with visual impairments. As a
result, this study serves as a baseline to drive the research and development
of effective feedback combinations to enhance performance for individuals with
visual impairments.
Keywords: auditory, feedback, haptic, human-computer interaction, multimodal, visual, visual impairment
|Multimodal virtual reality versus printed medium in visualization for blind people
|| BIBAK | Full-Text
|Wai Yu; Stephen Brewster
|In this paper, we describe a study comparing the strengths of a multimodal
Virtual Reality (VR) interface against traditional tactile diagrams in
conveying information to visually impaired and blind people. The multimodal VR
interface consists of a force feedback device (SensAble PHANTOM), synthesized
speech and non-speech audio. Potential advantages of the VR technology are well
known however its real usability in comparison with the conventional
paper-based medium is seldom investigated. We have addressed this issue in our
evaluation. The experimental results show benefits from using the multimodal
approach in terms of more accurate information about the graphs obtained by
Keywords: assistive technology, haptics, human computer interaction, multimodal interface, virtual reality
|Auditory and tactile interfaces for representing the visual effects on the web
|| BIBAK | Full-Text
|Chieko Asakawa; Hironobu Takagi; Shuichi Ino; Tohru Ifukube
|In this paper, we describe auditory and tactile interfaces to represent
visual effects nonvisually for blind users, allowing intuitive recognition of
visual content that appears on the Web. This research examines how visual
effects could be recognized by blind subjects using the senses of hearing and
touch, aiming at integrating the results into a practical system in the future.
As an initial step, two experiments were performed, one for sonification and
tactilization of a page overview based on color-based fragmented groupings
without speech, and one for sonification and tactilization of emphasized text
based on analyzing rich text information with speech. The subjects could
recognize visual representations presented by auditory and tactile interfaces
throughout the experiment, and were conscious of the importance of the visual
structures. We believe this shows our approach may be practical and available
in the future. We will summarize our results and discuss what kind of
information is suitable for each sense, as well as the next planned experiment
and other future work.
Keywords: auditory interface, blind, nonvisual, sonification, tactile interface, tactilization
|Planning, reasoning, and agents for non-visual navigation of tables and frames
|| BIBAK | Full-Text
|Enrico Pontelli; Tran Cao Son
|In this paper we demonstrate how the DSL for Table navigation [16] can be
reinterpreted in the context of an action theory [8]. We also show how this
generalization provides the ability to carry out more complex tasks such as (i)
allowing the user to describe the objective of his/her navigation as a goal and
let automatic mechanisms (i.e., a planner) develop (part of) the navigation
process; and (ii) allowing the semantic description to predefine not only
complete navigation strategies (as in [16]) but also partial skeletons, making
the remaining part of the navigation dependent on run-time factors, e.g.,
user's goals, specific aspects of the table's content, User's run-time
Keywords: agents, domain specific language, semantics navigation
|Site-wide annotation: reconstructing existing pages to be accessible
|| BIBAK | Full-Text
|Hironobu Takagi; Chieko Asakawa; Kentarou Fukuda; Junji Maeda
|The Web has become a new information resource for the blind. However, Web
accessibility is becoming worse, since page authors tend to care only for the
visual appearance. We have developed an Accessibility Transcoding System to
solve this problem. This system has the ability to transcode complete pages on
annotated sites into totally accessible pages without changing the original
pages. However, site-wide annotation authoring is an extremely tedious and
time-consuming task. This prevented us from applying our transcoding system to
a wide variety of sites. In order to overcome this difficulty, we developed a
new algorithm, "Dynamic Annotation Matching". By utilizing this algorithm, our
transcoding system can automatically determine appropriate annotations based on
each page's layout. We also developed a site-wide annotation-authoring tool,
"Site Pattern Analyzer." We evaluated the feasibility of creating site-wide
annotations by using the algorithm and the tool, and report on our success
Keywords: Web Accessibility, annotation, layout-based annotation matching, transcoding
|Using handhelds to help people with motor impairments
|| BIBAK | Full-Text
|Brad A. Myers; Jacob O. Wobbrock; Sunny Yang; Brian Yeung; Jeffrey Nichols; Robert Miller
|People with Muscular Dystrophy (MD) and certain other muscular and nervous
system disorders lose their gross motor control while retaining fine motor
control. The result is that they lose the ability to move their wrists and
arms, and therefore their ability to operate a mouse and keyboard. However,
they can often still use their fingers to control a pencil or stylus, and thus
can use a handheld computer such as a Palm. We have developed software that
allows the handheld to substitute for the mouse and keyboard of a PC, and
tested it with four people (ages 10, 12, 27 and 53) with MD. The 12-year old
had lost the ability to use a mouse and keyboard, but with our software, he was
able to use the Palm to access email, the web and computer games. The
27-year-old reported that he found the Palm so much better that he was using it
full-time instead of a keyboard and mouse. The other two subjects said that our
software was much less tiring than using the conventional input devices, and
enabled them to use computers for longer periods. We report the results of
these case studies, and the adaptations made to our software for people with
Keywords: Muscular Dystrophy, Palm pilot, Pebbles, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), assistive technologies, disabilities, hand-held computers, handicapped
|Ongoing investigation of the ways in which some of the problems encountered by some dyslexics can be alleviated using computer techniques
|| BIBAK | Full-Text
|Anna Dickinson; Peter Gregor; Alan F. Newell
|This paper describes the ongoing development of a highly configurable word
processing environment developed using a pragmatic, obstacle-by-obstacle
approach to alleviating some of the visual problems encountered by dyslexic
computer users. The paper describes the current version of the software and the
development methodology as well as the results of a pilot study which indicated
that visual environment individually configured using the SeeWord software
improved reading accuracy as well as subjectively rated reading comfort.
Keywords: configuration, dyslexia, user-centred design, word processing
|Virtual environments for social skills training: the importance of scaffolding in practice
|| BIBAK | Full-Text
|Steven J. Kerr; Helen R. Neale; Sue V. G. Cobb
|Virtual Environments (VE's) offer the potential for users to explore social
situations and 'try out' different behaviour responses for a variety of
simulates social interactions. One of the challenges for the VE developer is
how to construct the VE to allow freedom of exploration and flexibility in
interactive behaviour, without the risk of users deliberately or inadvertently
missing important learning goals. Scaffolding embedded within the VE software
can aid the user's learning in different contexts, such as individual, tutored
or group learning situations. This paper describes two single-user VE scenarios
that have been developed within the AS interactive project and presents
observation results from initial trials conducted at a user school.
Keywords: Virtual Environments, autism, scaffolding of learning, social skills training
|Modeling educational software for people with disabilities: theory and practice
|| BIBAK | Full-Text
|Nelson Baloian; Wolfram Luther; Jaime Sanchez
|Interactive multimedia learning systems are not suitable for people with
disabilities. They tend to propose interfaces which are not accessible for
learners with vision or auditory disabilities. Modeling techniques are
necessary to map real world experiences to virtual worlds by using 3D auditory
representations of objects for blind people and visual representations for deaf
people. In this paper we describe common aspects and differences in the process
of modeling the real world for applications involving tests and evaluations of
cognitive tasks with people with reduced visual or auditory cues. To validate
our concepts, we examine two existing systems using them as examples: AudioDoom
and Whisper. AudioDoom allows blind children to explore and interact with
virtual worlds created with spatial sound. Whisper implements a workplace to
help people with impaired auditory abilities to recognize speech errors. The
new common model considers not only the representation of the real world as
proposed by the system but also the modeling of the learner's knowledge about
the virtual world. This can be used by the tutoring system to enable the
learner to receive relevant feedback. Finally, we analyze the most important
characteristics in developing systems by comparing and evaluating them and
proposing some recommendations and guidelines.
Keywords: modeling methodologies, sensory disabilities, tutoring systems, user adapted interfaces
|Zooming interfaces!: enhancing the performance of eye controlled pointing devices
|| BIBAK | Full-Text
|Richard Bates; Howell Istance
|This paper quantifies the benefits and usability problems associated with
eye-based pointing direct interaction on a standard graphical user interface.
It shows where and how, with the addition of a second supporting modality, the
typically poor performance and subjective assessment of eye-based pointing
devices can be improved to match the performance of other assistive technology
devices. It shows that target size is the overriding factor affecting device
performance and that when target sizes are artificially increased by 'zooming
in' on the interface under the control of a supporting modality then eye-based
pointing becomes a viable and usable interaction methodology for people with
high-level motor disabilities.
Keywords: assistive technology, eye-tracking, graphical user interfaces, pointing devices, zoom screen
|HaWCoS: the "hands-free" wheelchair control system
|| BIBAK | Full-Text
|Torsten Felzer; Bernd Freisleben
|A system allowing to control an electrically powered wheelchair without
using the hands is introduced. HaWCoS -- the "Hands-free" Wheelchair Control
System -- relies upon muscle contractions as input signals. The working
principle is as follows. The constant stream of EMG signals associated with any
arbitrary muscle of the wheelchair driver is monitored and reduced to a stream
of contraction events. The reduced stream affects an internal program state
which is translated into appropriate commands understood by the wheelchair
electronics. The feasibility of the proposed approach is illustrated by a
prototypical implementation for a state-of-the-art wheelchair. Operating a
HaWCoS-wheelchair requires extremely little effort, which makes the system
suitable even for people suffering from very severe physical disabilities.
Keywords: EMG signal, electrical wheelchair, muscle control
|Cursor measures for motion-impaired computer users
|| BIBAK | Full-Text
|Simeon Keates; Faustina Hwang; Patrick Langdon; P. John Clarkson; Peter Robinson
|"Point and click" interactions remain one of the key features of graphical
user interfaces (GUIs). People with motion-impairments, however, can often have
difficulty with accurate control of standard pointing devices. This paper
discusses work that aims to reveal the nature of these difficulties through
analyses that consider the cursor's path of movement. A range of potential
cursor measures was applied, and a number of them were found to be significant
in capturing the differences between able-bodied users and motion-impaired
users, as well as the differences between a haptic force feedback condition and
a control condition. cursor measures found in the literature, however, do not
make up a comprehensive list, but provide a starting point for analysing cursor
movements more completely. Six new cursor characteristics for motion-impaired
users are introduced to capture aspects of cursor movement different from those
already proposed.
Keywords: cursor studies, force feedback, motion-impaired users
|An invisible keyguard
|| BIBAK | Full-Text
|Shari Trewin
|Overlap errors, in which two keys are pressed down at once, are a common
typing error for people with motor disabilities. Keyguards are a commonly
suggested means to may reduce overlap errors. However, they are also unpopular
with many users. We present an alternative to the keyguard, a software filter
which targets overlap errors. Basic, keystroke timing-based, and language-based
techniques for identifying and correcting overlap errors are described. Their
performance is compared using a corpus of typing data recorded by keyboard
users with motor disabilities. The best filter performance was obtained by
keystroke timing characteristics to identify and filter out extra characters.
Accuracy of error identification was dependent on the typing style of the user.
The filter accurately corrected 80% of the overlap errors presented. Combining
the identification and correction techniques gave a 50-75% reduction in errors
for the three study participants with the highest error rates.
Keywords: OverlapKeys, accessibility, keyboard, keyguard, motor disabilities, typing errors
|Designing for dynamic diversity: interfaces for older people
|| BIBAK | Full-Text
|Peter Gregor; Alan F. Newell; Mary Zajicek
|In this paper, we describe why designers need to look beyond the twin aims
of designing for the 'typical' user and designing "prostheses". Making
accessible interfaces for older people is a unique but many-faceted challenge.
Effective applications and interface design needs to address the dynamic
diversity of the human species. We introduce a new design paradigm, Design for
Dynamic Diversity, and suggest a methodology to assist its achievement, User
Sensitive Inclusive Design. To support our argument for a new form of design we
report experimentation, which indicates that older people have significantly
different and dynamically changing needs. We also put forward initial solutions
for Designing for Dynamic Diversity, where memory, vision and confidence
provide the parameters for discussion, and illustrate the importance of User
Sensitive Inclusive Design in establishing a framework for the operation of
Design for Dynamic Diversity.
Keywords: Design for Dynamic Diversity, HCI, User Sensitive Inclusive Design, aging, design for all, older people, universal accessibility, usability engineering
|A novel multi-stage approach to the detection of visuo-spatial neglect based on the analysis of figure-copying tasks
|| BIBAK | Full-Text
|R. M. Guest; M. C. Fairhurst
|This paper examines a computer-based technique for the detection of
visuo-spatial neglect from the responses of a simple geometric shape copying
task. Defining pass/fail criteria based on the presence of drawn components,
responses can be accurately and objectively assessed. More importantly, we show
that by analysing novel dynamic performance features detailing timing and
constructional aspects of each response, significant performance deficits can
be noted in drawings made by clinically diagnosed neglect subjects that would
have been classified as 'normal' using conventional static analysis, thus
improving the sensitivity of the assessment.
Keywords: automated diagnosis, drawing analysis, visuo-spatial neglect
|Assistive social interaction for non-speaking people living in the community
|| BIBAK | Full-Text
|Nick Hine; John L. Arnott
|The move from institution to community care has resulted in more disabled
and elderly people receiving care at home. For some, their disability or
frailty prevents them from being involved in social activities outside the
home, resulting in unacceptable social isolation. This problem is compounded if
the person has a speech or language impairment. In general, social interaction
is important for people, and they often use stories, pictures and other media
to present important events to others, In this paper, we will describe a
communication service designed to provide non-speaking people with a means to
interact socially when living independently, based on the sharing of stories
using pictures and other media.
Keywords: Internet, assitive communication, community care, social isolation, videoconferencing
|Older adults' evaluations of speech output
|| BIBAK | Full-Text
|Lorna Lines; Kate S. Hone
|Speech output is frequently used to provide access to interactive systems
for visually impaired users, many of whom are older adults. This paper
considers the use of speech output within the context of an Intelligent Home
System designed to allow older adults to remain living independently for
longer. The importance of user evaluations of the system 'voice' in this
context is discussed and an experiment is reported that investigated the effect
of voice gender and type (natural or synthetic) on older users' evaluations. A
within-subjects factorial design was used with sixteen participants over the
age of 65. The results show that male voices were preferred to female voices
overall and natural voices were preferred to synthetic voices. The implications
of these results for the choice of system voice characteristics for speech
output are discussed.
Keywords: assistive technology, human-computer interaction, intelligent home systems., older adults, speech output, visual impairment
|Speech-based cursor control
|| BIBAK | Full-Text
|Azfar S. Karimullah; Andrew Sears
|Speech recognition can be a powerful tool for individuals with physical
disabilities that hinder their ability to use traditional input devices.
State-of-the-art speech recognition systems typically provide mechanisms for
both data entry and cursor control, but the researchers continue to investigate
methods of improving these interactions. Numerous researchers are investigating
methods to improve the underlying technologies that make speech recognition
possible and others focus on understanding the difficulties users experience
using dictation-oriented applications, but few researchers have investigated
the issues involved in speech-based cursor control. In this article, we
describe a study that investigates the efficacy of two variations of a standard
speech-based cursor control mechanism. One employs the standard mouse cursor
while the second provides a predictive cursor designed to help users compensate
for the delays often associated with speech recognition. As expected, larger
targets and shorter distances resulted in shorter target selection times while
larger targets also resulted in fewer errors. Although there were no
differences between the standard and predictive cursors, a relationship between
the delays associated with spoken input, the speed at which the cursor moves,
and the minimum size for targets that can be reliably selected emerged that can
guide the application of similar speech-based cursor control mechanisms as well
as future research.
Keywords: cursor, mouse cursor, navigation, predictive, speech recognition
|A predictive Blissymbolic to English translation system
|| BIBAK | Full-Text
|Annalu Waller; Kris Jack
|This paper reports on the use of predictive techniques to translate
Blissymbol sentences into grammatically correct English. Evaluations of this
approach show that it is possible to translate short sentences by analysing the
likelihood of word tri-gram occurrences in English source texts. The
translation system is designed to be a component of a Blissymbol word processor
which allows users to convert Blissymbol sentences into grammatically correct
Keywords: AAC, Blissymbolics, natural language translation
|Speech recognition in university classrooms: liberated learning project
|| BIBAK | Full-Text
|Keith Bain; Sara H. Basson; Mike Wald
|The LIBERATED LEARNING PROJECT (LLP) is an applied research project studying
two core questions: 1) Can speech recognition (SR) technology successfully
digitize lectures to display spoken words as text in university classrooms? 2)
Can speech recognition technology be used successfully as an alternative to
traditional classroom notetaking for persons with disabilities? This paper
addresses these intriguing questions and explores the underlying complex
relationship between speech recognition technology, university educational
environments, and disability issues.
Keywords: accessibility, higher education, speech recognition
|Voice over Workplace (VoWP): voice navigation in a complex business GUI
|| BIBAK | Full-Text
|Frankie James; Jeff Roelands
|Voice interfaces can be used to meet some accessibility requirements for
physically disabled users, but only if they address inherent usability
problems, namely, the trade-off between user efficiency and ambiguity handling.
This paper explores usability issues related to voice interfaces for complex
GUIs. We present two user studies on a series of interface designs to support
voice navigation within a complex business GUI, and discuss the findings as
they relate to efficiency and ambiguity handling. We conclude by discussing
future directions for this work, including the addition of data input
capabilities, which will be necessary to provide a truly accessible solution.
Keywords: GUI, accessibility, physical disabilities, user studies, voice interface
|Tessa, a system to aid communication with deaf people
|| BIBAK | Full-Text
|Stephen Cox; Michael Lincoln; Judy Tryggvason; Melanie Nakisa; Mark Wells; Marcus Tutt; Sanja Abbott
|TESSA is an experimental system that aims to aid transactions between a deaf
person and a clerk in a Post Office by translating the clerk's speech to sign
language. A speech recogniser recognises speech from the clerk and the system
then synthesizes the appropriate sequence of signs in British Sign language
(BSL) using a specially-developed avatar. By using a phrase lookup approach to
language translation, which is appropriate for the highly constrained discourse
in a Post Office, we were able to build a working system that we could
evaluate. We summarise the results of this evaluation (undertaken by deaf users
and Post office clerks), and discuss how the findings from the evaluation are
being used in the development of an improved system.
Keywords: Aids for the Deaf, avatars, interactive systems, speech recognition, translation systems
|Capturing phrases for ICU-Talk, a communication aid for intubated intensive care patients
|| BIBAK | Full-Text
|S. Ashraf; A. Judson; I. W. Ricketts; A. Waller; N. Alm; B. Gordon; F. MacAulay; J. K. Brodie; M. Etchels; A. Warden; A. J. Shearer
|The need for intubated patients, within the intensive care setting, to
communicate more effectively led to the development of ICU-Talk, an
augmentative and alternative communication aid. The communication aid contains
a database containing both core and patient-specific vocabulary. Many users of
communication aids can provide direct input into the vocabulary, but intensive
care patients are not in this position. This paper discusses the methods chosen
to gather the vocabulary for an intensive care setting.
Keywords: AAC, ICU, communication, vocabulary
|A new generation of communication aids under the ULYSSES component-based framework
|| BIBAK | Full-Text
|Georgios Kouroupetroglou; Alexandros Pino
|In this paper, we introduce a new generation of computer-based communication
aids, designed and developed using state of the art software engineering models
and architectures. The communicators we present are based on a component-based
framework called ULYSSES that aims to simplify the integration of multi-vendor
components into low cost products and maximizes modularity and reusability.
Following the ULYSSES approach, one can build up powerful and reliable
applications, adaptable to various user needs and requirements. For developers
of AAC components, ULYSSES provides an engineering-for-reuse environment with
guidelines and tools to build software modules, which can operate effectively
and interact with each other transparently, without even being aware of each
other's existence. Furthermore, ULYSSES grants a process of
engineering-with-reuse for AAC system integrators for the selection and
assembly of components on demand to build user-specific robust communicators
out of pre-fabricated software parts. Thus, adding or removing characteristics
and features as needed, is becoming an easy task for system AAC systems
integrators. Three complete Interpersonal Communication Aids are presented as
cases of ULYSSES application in this specific domain.
Keywords: Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), communication aids, communicators, component based development, framework architecture
|ICU-Talk, a communication aid for intubated intensive care patients
|| BIBAK | Full-Text
|F. MacAulay; A. Judson; M. Etchels; S. Ashraf; I. W. Ricketts; A. Waller; J. K. Brodie; N. Alm; A. Warden; A. J. Shearer; B. Gordon
|A Multi-disciplinary project staffed by personnel from nursing, computer
science and speech and language therapy developed a computer based
communication aid called ICU-Talk. This device has been designed specifically
for intubated patients in hospital intensive care units. The ICU-Talk device
was trialled with real patients. This paper reports the challenges faced when
developing a device for this patient group and environment. A description of
the methods used to produce ICU-Talk and results from the trials will be
Keywords: AAC, HCI, ICU, communication, usability


text:
Non-Licensed Collections
Featuring all of our non-licensed collections by our own first-class artists and digitized in-house in the USA. Embroidery designs are in multiple formats for any embroidery machine. Choose from tiling scenes to freestanding lace to quilting and more. All designs are available as an instant download, with many also available on CD and/or USB.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Maggie Little
Maggie Little, B.Phil., PhD, is Director of the Kennedy Institute of Ethics, and a member of the Philosophy Department, at Georgetown University. Her research interests include issues in reproduction, clinical research ethics, and the structure of moral theory. A fellow of the Hastings Center, she has twice served as Visiting Scholar in residence at the National Institutes of Health Department of Bioethics. She is a founding member of The Ob-Gyn Risk Research Group, which brings together experts from medical epidemiology, obstetrics and gynecology, philosophy, bioethics, gender theory, and the medical humanities, for research encompassing a wide variety of issues in reproductive health and clinical research ethics. Together with Ruth Faden and Anne Lyerly, she co-founded The Second Wave Initiative, which works to promote responsible research into the health needs of pregnant women.


text:
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We have have over 8 Commercial Real Estate & Properties for Sale & Lease in joondalup WA. Some of the Close Suburbs are 9 Commercial Properties for Sale & Lease , 7 in CLARKSON, 2 in MERRIWA, 2 in Connolly, 1 in Woodvale, 1 in HEATHRIDGE
8 Commercial Real Estate & Properties in Joondalup are listed in 4 categories. We have 4 Retail ShopsSale & Lease , 3 OfficesSale & Lease , 1 Development LandsSale & Lease and 1 ShowroomsSale & Lease .
Located in the Northern end of Joondalup Business Park sits this 172sqm affordable showroom/office plus warehouse ready for occupancy. With main road exposure surrounded by well known businesses in the area, this is a great opportunity for start up businesses or smaller businesses looking to relocate or get a foothold into the area. Property Features Include: bull; At $162/sqm Great value office showroom on Winton Road bull; 172sqm internal bull; Great signage opportunity bull; Ample parking bull; Rear access to the warehouse bull; Male Female toilets bull; Reverse cycle Air Conditioning bull; Partitioned offices and showrooms (can be changed and moved) Asking Price $28,000 pa + Outgoings + GST Outgoings: Approx $70/sqm approximate For further information or to arrange an inspection, please contact: Lachlan Burrows Ray White Commercial (WA) M: 0499 552 296 E: firstname.lastname@example.com
Located between Joondalup Drive and Mitchell Freeway, this easily accessible 254sqm Showroom/warehouse is now For Lease. The tenancy has air conditioning, large window shop fronts, rear roller door access and two toilets. This Commercial Complex has ample parking with bays at the front and rear of the premises. A 6 month Rent Free period will be offered for a 3 year lease term. Building Area: 254sqm Current Rent: $200/sqm pa + GST Outgoings: $39/sqm + GST Available: Now For more information or to arrange an inspection, please contact Shannon or Jonathan today.
Here is an exceptional opportunity to own a gourmet restaurant and takeaway in the heart of the booming city of Joondalup in Perth. Running successfully for 19 years, our iconic restaurant has been serving a strong base of loyal customers who keep the cash registers ringing. Our prime location and well established reputation in the community has made this business a high income opportunity which is ready to be be leveraged by seasoned investors. Govenders Gourmet is located on prominent Regents Park Road in metropolitan Joondalup in Perth This is the primary urban centre in Perth's outer northern suburbs but Joondalup is just a few kilometres away from the Perth CBD making it a very lively region. We are a short walk from the Shopping Centre, hospital and the Joondalup Centre. The area is always brimming with locals and visitors who love to visit our restaurant for a quick snack or a relaxing meal. The 520 sqm freehold property has a fully equipped restaurant, a spacious 3 bedroom 2 bathroom apartment, and another site which can be used to construct more apartments. Other facilities include a large family area, modern kitchen with stone bench top, quality appliances, large walk in pantry, meal area and much more. This centrally located property comes with a well planned layout including lots of working and storage space, parking and a loading bay for suppliers. The restaurant has a seating capacity for 50 guests inside and 20 guests al fresco. The operating costs have been minimised, and the owner will be providing training and professional advice to the buyer, if required. Also, the property can be re developed and the income can be further grown by a savvy businessman who can exploit its true potential. Features of our café/restaurant: Highly reputable restaurant/ café/takeaway operating for 19 years Ideally located in the bustling metropolis of Joondalup in Perth Massive 520 sqm freehold property with residence and land A wide ranging loyal customer base of locals and visitors Immense potential with fantastic turnover and low operating costs Imagine never having to deal with rent again and building a secure future for your family! This is a rare lifestyle opportunity for hospitality driven entrepreneurs to invest in a freehold property, including a flourishing business, that promises fantastic growth and development opportunities. If you think you can take this local icon to the next level, then please call on the number above TODAY!
Ray White Commercial (WA) is pleased to present units 4,5 6/133 Grand Boulevard, Joondalup for Lease. Unit 4 121sqm Ground floor unit currently being used bu a GP (medical) with pre partitioned consulting rooms, reception/waiting room and male/female toilets. Unit 5 147sqm Open plan suite with partitioned meeting room and kitchenette (Previous tenant Begin Bright Tutoring) Unit 6 115sqm Open plan suite (Previous tenant Fusion Arts and Crafts) Shared property particulars include: First floor locations Reverse cycle ducted air conditioning Filled with natural light Separate water and electrical meters Self contained with kitchenette, male and female toilets Strategically located on Grand Boulevard in the heart of Joondalup sharing a building with a great mix of tenants including Forte School of Music, General Practitioner, Jewellery design studio and DWA Architects to name just a few. Undercover car bays available to lease $25 for open and $35 for undercover (subject to availability) Outgoings estimated at $50sqm For more information and to schedule a viewing, please contact: Tom Jones M: 0478 771 117 E: email@example.com Lachlan Burrows M: 0499 552 296 E: firstname.lastname@example.com approximate
106sqm commercial suite Heaps of onsite parking Extra store rooms available if required Suspended ceilings Lighting Refrigerated ducted air conditioning Own disabled toilet & tea prep area 3 Phase power supply Plumbing and waste available for food & medical use Onsite parking includes: Street level parking Secure basement parking Verge parking Parking station within 50m Lease Price From $23,600p/a Plus GST & Outgoings For more information or to view this Lakeside Drive property, please contact one of our team! Property Code: 1514
Ray White Commercial (WA) is pleased to offer for Sale 15 Burlos Court, Joondalup on behalf of the City of Joondalup. An opportunity beckons for an astute developer to acquire a development site specifically zoned for over 55 living within the City of Joondalup. In accordance with clause 5.1.1 (C1.4) of the Residential Design Codes, a reduced site area concession applies to aged persons dwellings in a grouped dwelling (villa) arrangement. The site is located in the suburb of Joondalup in the quiet cul de sac of Burlos Court. It is strategically positioned adjacent to the Candlewood Village shopping centre, less than 2 kilometres from the Currambine Train Station, Joondalup Health Campus and Joondalup City Centre. It is under a kilometre from the picturesque Joondalup Lake. With an above average portion of population above retirement age, the City of Joondalup has helped facilitate alternative housing options for older people, offering local residents the opportunity to age in place'. Property particulars: bull; Lot 803 (15) Burlos Court, Joondalup bull; 4,040m2 bull; 76.4m to frontage to Burlos Court bull; Zoned "Residential Restricted Uses Aged and Dependent Persons' Dwellings" bull; Density Code: R60 Development opportunities like this do not present themselves often. Please contact Ashley Gibbs, or Stephen Harrison to obtain a copy of the contract and property related information or to discuss this opportunity today. Stephen Harrison M: 0421 622 777 E: firstname.lastname@example.com Ashley Gibbs M: 0477 988 477 E: firstname.lastname@example.com Approximate
Ray White Commercial (WA) is pleased to present 6/133 Grand Boulevard, Joondalup for Lease. This 115sqm property is currently set up as a barber shop, however, could be used for a number of business ventures. Property specifics: First floor location Reverse cycle ducted air conditioning Filled with natural light Separate water and electrical meters Self contained with kitchenette, male and female toilets Modern, nicely presented building with long term tenants Strategically located on Grand Boulevard in the heart of Joondalup Undercover car bay for hire at $25 per week For more information or to arrange a viewing of the property, please contact: Tom Jones M: 0478 771 117 E: firstname.lastname@example.com Ashley Gibbs M: 0477 988 477 E: email@example.com sizes are approximate
Fabulous opportunity to secure a large corner shop/office on the main thorough fare through JOONDALUP! Current fit out is for Food Preparation including large cold room and fridge, Kitchen and Benches etc. all in near new condition. Also well suited to professional offices or a medical practice. Rent $26,000 pa plus Variable Outgoings of approx $6000 pa plus GST. 96sqm Plus 18m2 Outdoor Alfresco Area Dual entrances Includes kitchenette Separate Powder Room with W/C and Disabled W/C 4 Allocated Parking Bays, 4 Shared and plenty of off street parking. For any further enquiries or to arrange and inspection please contact: George Costopoulos M: 0418 929 316 P: 08 9240 6400 firstname.lastname@example.com


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Kephri: O helped mom put the clean sheet's on the bed. I'm a good helper!! MOL.. Kitty Kisses from Seshat and Kephri
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I helped one night last week. First I reminded him it was time to change the sheets by throwing up (combined food and hairball) on the bed.
Then I got in betweeen the sheets as he was trying to make the bed (one of these pics hasn't been rotated yet). He also took a video, but I got out of the frame before I got out from the sheeets.


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Junior Research Fellow For The DBT- Funded Project.
SBST Project Title: DEVELOPMENT OF COMMERCIALLY VIABLE ORGANIC FERTILIZER CUM BIOFUNGICIDE FROM MARINE ALGAE
Qualification: M.Sc in Agricultural Sciences / Biotechnology / Microbiology or other streams of life sciences with CSIR / NET qualification or B. Tech Biotechnology / B.Tech Agriculture with CSIR / NET qualification or M. Tech in Biotechnology/other disciplines of life sciences.
Candidates with experience on plant cultivation / algal biology /microbiology are preferred.
Sponsoring Agency: Department of Biotechnology Fellowship: Rs.25000+10% HRA per month for first two years and Rs.28000 +10% HRA for third year.
Duration: 3 Years
Principal Investigators:
Dr.M.A.Jayasri, Assistant Professor (Senior), School of Biosciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore.
Dr.S.Babu ,Professor & Director, VIT Centre for Agricultural Innovations and Advanced Learning (VAIAL), Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore
Dr. Leo Daniel Amalraj , Research Coordinator, Prof. TNA Innovation Center Varsha Bioscience and Technology India Pvt Ltd, Hyderabad
Send your resume along with relevant documents and latest passport size photo before 20th February 2019 to The Human Resource Office, Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore 632 014, Tamil Nadu by post or email to email@example.com indicate DBT-Jayasri Project on the envelope.
More Info: http://careers.vit.ac.in/job-listings-Junior-Research-Fellow-for-the-DBT-Funded-Project-SBST-Vellore-Institute-of-Technology-Vellore-2-to-3-years-120219004293?xp=5


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The New York Times Real Estate section has a rubric called "What I Love," but it should really be "Where I Live"—but don't get me started on the NYT's rubric issues. In any event, last weekend the focus was on the Tribeca apartment of Lora and JJ Appleton: She's "a founder of the kinder Modern gallery at Broadway near 26th Street, which specializes in vintage and contemporary children's furniture and toys"; he's a musician; and they have a five-year-old son, Willem.
Three years ago, they bought at what appears to be 200 Chambers (but could be 101 Warren, but then would the NYT call it a "glass tower"? Actually, I think it is 101 Warren), quickly deciding to undo the crown molding and chair rails that the previous owner had put in. "Working with Carl Muehleisen, an architect, the couple knocked down a wall between the living room and the original third bedroom. (The other two bedrooms are down a long corridor on the other side of the living area and kitchen.) They replaced the wall with folding floor-to-ceiling glass doors."
Of note:
••• One of Lora Appleton's grandmothers was an abstract painter and sculptor, Barbara Gross, whose work is featured throughout the apartment.
••• Lora is also a professional photographer: ladyappleton.com.
••• Lora and "her friend, gallery partner and decorator, Bachman Brown Clem" considered 500 wallpapers for the powder room before choosing to feature art by her grandmother, son, and others instead.
••• Anyway, Willem's son has the best walls: a hand-printed wallpaper from Flat Vernacular "with hand-drawn hedgehogs, sheep and pigs."
The text is by Dan Shaw, and the photographs are by Nicole Bengiveno—see more (and these larger) in the NYT's slideshow.
Recent Loft Peeping posts:
• Nicole Miller
• Tribeca Gentlemen's Loft
• Inside Tribeca Loft Tour previews: Desbrosses Penthouse, Triplex Mainsonette on Collister, Franklin Street Megaloft
• Scott Bruckner
• Nicole Najafi
• South Tribeca Family
• Steven Harris & Lucien Rees Roberts
• Sasha Bikoff
• Adam & Rebekah Paltrow Newman
• Samia Halaby
101 Warren. Definitely not 200 Chambers.
Yup, 101 Warren. I lived through their renovation. Why doesn't NYTimes get my perspective?


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A 10-storey building housing a hotel and extra offices and studios could create 40 new jobs at MediaCityUK it's been announced today.
MediaCityUK Manchester has submitted plans to Salford City Council that would mark the start of a new phase of development for the burgeoning creative and digital community.
The proposals would see £20 million of investment by The Peel Group to deliver 54,000 sq ft of creative office and studio space as well as a hotel.Acquisitions manager for Whitbread Hotels and Restaurants, Nick Johnston, said the plan create 40 new jobs.
"We are excited to be proposing a new 112-bedroom Premier Inn in MediaCityUK. MediaCityUK is a vibrant and fast-growing digital and media hub and our proposals would drive a further £7m of fresh investment into the area and create 40 new jobs, around half of which would be offered to those who are long-term unemployed.
"Our proposals would provide high-quality and affordable accommodation to business and leisure visitors in this fantastic location. We look forward to Salford City Council's decision."
MediaCityUK MD Stephen Wild, said: "Technology, media and creative is a rapidly growing sector in Greater Manchester, which itself is now considered the second largest creative and digital hub in Europe. MediaCityUK has been a key trigger in the explosion of creative start-ups and national relocations so it's essential that we give these businesses the right type of space and the flexibility to grow organically.
"Equally, as MediaCityUK's business community has thrived and our leisure offering has grown, so has its reputation as a go-to destination. The arrival of a new hotel will service both those here doing business or visiting."
If the plans are approved by Salford City Council, the new building will add to the commercial space of The Greenhouse, The Pie Factory, White, Orange and Blue Towers, The Landing, Quay West, The Victoria and The Alexandra.
Construction would commence at the end of this year and will be due for completion by late 2015 and the hotel will open early 2016.


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An Important Louis XVI Period Russian Giltwood Console or Center Table With A Marble Top
An important Louis XVI period Russian gilt wood console or center table with a yellow marble top. The marble probably Russian.
The Palace in where the Danish Foreign Affairs is situated. This palace was built in 1738 and used to house the Danish East Indian Company "Asiatisk Compagni"
Dimensions: Height 86.0 cm (33.9 inches) x Length 166.5 cm (65.6 inches) x Depth 87.5 cm (34.4 inches)
Price: 225 000 SEK (€20385/$22493)
Object ID: 4861
Contact us if you are interested in this object
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- +46 8 661 20 00
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|Posted by TriqqyBird on March 7, 2012 at 4:47 PM
Triquetra Ep.(1x01) - As Wicca as They Come (link)
Synopsis- In a world where witchcraft is punishable by death, Destiny puts into motion a military experiment's escape from the confines of her creators; a teen boy discovers his ability to look into the future but he may not like what he sees; and an arrogant sword-swinging warrioress learns that she's not the last of her family.
Categories: Script Samples.
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The words you entered did not match the given text. Please try again.


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We are an authorised spares agent for Honda, Suzuki, Hyosung, SWM and Kymco.
Wide range of new and used Honda, Suzuki, Hyosung, SMW, GasGas and Kymco spares always in stock. We also carry the largest range of bike and scooter tyres in Central Sydney. We carry service spares (oil filters, brake pads etc.) for most late model Honda, Kawasaki, Yamaha, Suzuki and Triumph motorcycles.
We also carry accessories for Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha, Kawasaki and Hyosung including performance mufflers, tinted screens, mini blinkers, rear fender eliminators, rim stickers and more.
Full range of aftermarket product either in stock or available to order.
Call us for details. Spares service available from our Redfern location, 8am-5pm Monday to Friday – parts collection only Saturday 10am-3pm.
For genuine HONDA and SUZUKI parts, feel free to use our parts finder here.


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Dirtbike Fun In The Mud
It was a rather lovely day- Chris, Joel, Wolf and I were hanging out when it dawned on us that there were dirtbikes for riding outside. Next thing you know…
I did some riding too… but I wanted to get photos of their hooliganism. Get these two together and well- Chris and Joel had a lot of fun helping me get the photos I want. Joel launched his bike pretty close to me after a wicked slide. Luckily he is a great rider and I am light on my feet.
It was a fun day.
Posted on January 27, 2013 in Blog by Alicia Mariah Elfving


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I've begun to add some web links to my blog that I view as often as I get the chance. Most of what I will add have relevance to photography or video, mostly concerning photojournalism, but ultimately in producing quality work. These are people and websites where one can draw inspiration and insight in how to improve your own work. They are worth a look. Joe McNally has been shooting a long time and is readily known for his work as well as his help in teaching other photographers how to improve themselves. He has published books and DVD's that are worth checking out. David Hobby is also a former photojournalist whose blog and writings are educational and insightful and fun. The other two sites, Finding the Frame, shows work from newspaper photographers around the country who are doing video or other kinds of online work (soundslides) and a place to get feedback from other shooters in the business. The Bombay Flying Club is a collection of people from throughout the world many of whom have a unique vision that inspires one to push yourself to achieve your best. Please check them out and enjoy and be inspired.
Tag Archives: bombay flying club


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Bruhl cotton trousers
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Fit: Montana
98% Cotton, 2% Elastane
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Most people are constantly looking for ways to improve their win-rate in poker and often enough, players think that they have to learn some very advanced concepts in order to do so. Well, unless you are playing highest stakes with the best players in the world, this is far from true. Actually, you can still earn a good amount of money by being a solid player and concentrating on table selection, yes even in 2013. There are still many terrible poker players out there, willing to give you their money. All you need to do is find them.
I like a quote that I once found while browsing around the Internet: ''You can be the 9th best poker player in the world, but you will still lose if you play with the first 8''. This is so spot on and really describes the current poker environment. You see regular players constantly playing against each other, even though the edges are very slim. Why? I don't think it has something to do with edges at all, but rather egos. Poker players tend to be quite selfish, often egocentric. They believe that they are truly elite players and that whenever they lose, all other aspects are to blame, not themselves. You'll hear words unlucky, variance, swings, but what you won't hear or will rarely is something like ''Yes, it was my fault. I was playing with better opponents who outplayed me.'
What's my point? Leave your ego somewhere far from the place you play poker at. You won't be able to buy a new car or provide for your family with ego, but you sure can do both of those things from poker earnings. What I'll concentrate on in this article is table selection and spotting weak players at the table. This is still something many good players are not utilizing, but after you read this article, you will.
What's The Point of Table Selection & How To Do It?
The first and most important reason why you must table select is your win-rate. You will have a chance to face weaker opposition, thus you'll be able to win way more money. That's not all of it though. When you face weaker players and have a large edge against most of your opponents, the amount of variance or standard deviation decreases drastically. What does that mean? It means that once you start to carefully select the tables you play at, the amount of swings that you experience will decrease and by a lot.
So what's a basic way of selecting tables? Well, for one, you can use the lobby. All modern poker sites now display various data and statistics, such as VPIP, PFR and how many hands are being dealt an hour. Some poker rooms will also display the amount of average pot in the currency game is played in. All of this, can help you to determine how many 'good' players are at that particular table.
Other way is color coding your opponents. Again, you can mark your opponents using various colors at most poker rooms. This can help you to instantly spot the weak players you've player before as well as help to avoid the good players that you should also almost always mark with a color.
Most Common Player Types
It's also great to have some awareness in regards to what are the most common player types. Of course, each player is an individual type, but the truth is that we can easily make the most commonly found ones. This should come in handy if you are quite unexperienced yourself.
TAG (Tight Aggressive) – these are the ones you will be looking to avoid. With avoiding I don't mean that you can't join a table where a player of this type is sitting, but rather that you are not looking to play much against them. As a general rule, these players play very and only their best hands, but when they do play, they almost always raise or bet. Unless you are an advanced player, these players will be tough to beat and exploit, so don't get into wars with them.
LAG (Loose Aggressive) – now this is a style that most top world's poker players play in, but luckily for you, there aren't many players at small to medium stakes that are knowledgable enough to pull this style off. You can spot these players easily, as they will play way to many hands before the flop and will be very aggressive overall. How to adjust? Simply play a TAG style and let them give you all their money. Avoid making hero calls and play strong holdings.
Loose passive – these are beloved by me and one of the most profitable and hassle free players to play against. They will always play a ton of hands, but will do so in a passive manner, by calling whenever possible. That might not seem good, but what they do postflop is just about the same – calling. You should valuebet them very thinly and NEVER bluff them.
So that about sums up this basic article about selection of tables, spotting player types and how all of that will help you win more money playing poker. I hope you were able to gather a useful piece of information from reading this.


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10 Newspapers That Do It Right 2019: Honoring Innovative Revenue Strategies, Impactful Journalism and Creative Audience Growth
This year's list of 10 Newspapers That Do It Right recognizes some of the most diverse ideas out there today. From an augmented reality app to a video studio, some of these publications are thinking outside the box, experimenting with strategies and revenue ideas to engage with their audiences. On the other hand, some of them, despite operating with limited staff and resources, are being recognized for doing hard-hitting investigative journalism that produced results and changes in their communities.
Our 10 newspapers, along with the ones listed in our honorable mentions, show that journalism continues to thrive, thanks to bright ideas and bright people. We hope they inspire others to keep up the great work.
Cape Cod Times
Hyannis, Mass.
Circulation: 22,842 daily; 25,323 Sunday
True to their hometown spirit, reporters at the Cape Cod Times aim to "fish where the fish are, not where the fish aren't." That mantra led the newsroom to start creating engaging projects on the digital realm.
These projects included: Life With Gwen, a lifestyle Facebook program and podcast hybrid; CCT Live, also a hybrid and weekly news roundup; Cape League Corner, a podcast that highlights the summer basketball league in the country; Cape Cod Fun Show, a lighthearted show that highlights activities in town; and Curious Cape Cod, a reader engagement program that allows readers to submit questions and topics online for journalists to investigate and report on.
Executive editor Paul Pronovost said creating these programs gave the newsroom two things: "One, you certainly can reach new audiences or at least an audience in a different way, but two—and perhaps of equal importance—you're developing competencies that you wouldn't have had otherwise in the newsroom."
Some of those newfound skills included how to speak properly, have a good presence on camera, and editing video and audio. Although journalists don't always like to leave behind traditional print things, Pronovost stressed that experimenting in the newsroom and developing new skills as multi-disciplined journalists is important for today's industry.
Their success continued in 2018. Life With Gwen saw hits of 13,103 viewers on one episode alone. Pronovost also mentioned that the Cape Cod Fun Show is something that not only residents and tourists can use as a resource to discover great activities, but he's also heard from people all across the country that enjoy it.
Curious Cape Cod was originally a year-long project parent company GateHouse encouraged them to try in the attempt to find a new way to connect with audiences. Since it launched last June, it has received 75,000 page views, 146 submitted questions and 2,258 votes. Since the results exceeded their expectations, the newspaper decided to continue with it.
Overall, this experimentation and journalism method has resulted in about a 20 percent page view growth, which comes out to about 5 million viewers a month; 5.2 percent user growth; 20,000 podcast downloads; and 22 percent Facebook growth.
"(These projects) basically allowed us to not plateau and to continue to trend upward, and that's been pretty exciting," Pronovost said.
Columbus Dispatch
Columbus, Ohio
Circulation: 80,000 daily; 132,000 Sunday
In early 2018, Dispatch reporters "pulled back the curtain" on prescription-drug pricing in an innovative series called Side Effects. Editor Alan Miller said while reporting that series, they were able to find one of the biggest obstacles to understanding how the system worked was the cloak of secrecy around it.
"There is a dearth of information available to consumers about the actual cost of drugs, so consumers have no way of knowing whether they are getting a fair price," he said.
Eventually, after months of reporting and developing the trust of sources within the industry and government agencies, reporters were led to the federal government's National Average Drug Acquisition Cost.
Miller said the bulk of the ongoing series was focused on "pharmacy benefit managers," middlemen who are supposed to hold down or reduce costs, but instead, played both ends against the middle and collected billions of dollars in the process.
In addition to publishing the stories in print, a digital component (dispatch.com/sideeffects) also included a drug price database that is updated monthly. Miller said thousands of people have used the look-up tool and readers have responded positively to it.
"This took a commitment from everyone in the newsroom," he said. "We may be smaller and have other responsibilities, but it was important that we rally together."
With projects like Side Effects, Miller said it shows that the paper doesn't have a readership problem, but a revenue problem.
"At the Dispatch, we have more eyeballs than ever reading the stories we produce," he said. "What we need is more revenue, and we, like all other news organizations, are seeking to do that by making ourselves relevant to readers and advertisers—especially in the digital space."
Some of these newer initiatives include: The Good Life, an occasional series in the paper's Life & Arts feature section highlighting the good things people are doing through volunteerism and community service (in 2018, the paper expanded the label to a section on Dispatch.com); a monthly pet page in the features section with a sponsor and other ads to support it in print and online; "Everyday Heroes" program, where heroes from the community are honored and recognized in a magazine-style special section and a special event (revenue comes from advertising, sponsors and ticket sales); Window on the World stage, where local artists are invited to perform in the front window of the Dispatch building; and podcasts, where the Dispatch saw 295,328 digital audio downloads in 2018.
Herald & Review
Decatur, Ill.
Circulation: 11,835 daily; 18,550 Sunday
Playing detective has paid off for the reporters at the Herald & Review. By scouring through documents of local elected bodies, reporters were able to connect dots and discovered trends that led to important stories. Central Illinois editor Chris Coates admitted the process may be unglamorous and tedious, but this aggressive approach to a simple strategy has delivered big results.
"In a time of shrinking resources and limited bodies to attend meetings, these documents are goldmines of material that, with the right mindset and patience, can spark meaningful watchdog journalism," he said.
A few examples include: a Macon County Jail report showing there were not enough doctors on call and inadequate medical screenings for new inmates, and a failure to track medical data and no training for new employees, which all emerged from reports from a county justice committee meeting; a shortage of court reporters affecting judicial districts in Central Illinois and across the state, which came from comments made by the chief judge during a committee meeting; and the Decatur School District seeking legal solutions and hiring a consultant after ongoing problems with getting grass to grow on a high school football field that was built in 2014, which tipped off reporters after they read through various school board packets.
Coates, who came to the Herald & Review in 2016, said he was skeptical about the process at first when he noticed regional editor Allison Petty spending a lot of her time looking through minutes from various meetings, but he credited Petty's ability "to spot things" that convinced him that taking the time to dig through these documents was worth it.
"Our newsroom values public service and investigative journalism of all kinds, and public documents are a key part of that strategy," he said. "In the case of minutes and reports, the entries can be a jumping-off point to Freedom of Information requests, more digging and gumshoeing. They are the start of the scent trail…It starts with knowing what to look for and creating a newsroom culture that loves searching for a hidden gem."
Even as papers chase after digital traffic, Coates said building brand loyalty through in-depth reporting and analysis is just as important as page views.
"We're going after the audience whether that's in print or digital," he said.
By offering impactful journalism, the Herald & Review can provide a service to the community by leading conversations.
Community engagement is the foundation for every newsroom, Coates said.
Idaho Press
Nampa, Idaho
Circulation: 16,510 Tuesday-Saturday; 19,980 Sunday
In November 2017, the Idaho Press (then called the Idaho Press-Tribune before changing its name last June) was acquired by Adams Publishing Group. Not only did the publication start off 2018 with a new owner, it also lost its biggest printing customer.
"As we began strategy meetings to overcome this challenge, we defined two possible options for us to consider," said president and publisher Matt Davison. "Option one, get smaller quickly. This would likely result in day cuts, section eliminations and significant staff reductions. Option two, get bigger and better."
So, with the support of its new owner, the Press chose option two and aggressively expanded its local news coverage and offered home delivery across the entire Boise City-Nampa metropolitan area. As a result of the expansion, the paper also went on a hiring spree: a new community engagement editor, who relaunched the third section of the paper and reinvigorated the Sunday Life section; a new photo editor; a new sports editor; three new reporters to cover Boise City Hall, Ada County government and Ada County cops and courts; and a government reporter to cover the state capital.
The print product also underwent a transformation. In August 2018, the Press purchased Boise Weekly, a 20,000 alternative weekly and established a Boise bureau. The weekly is inserted into the Press every Thursday as its entertainment section. In addition, the paper added a new Farm and Ranch section every Friday filled with agriculture content from across the state. The paper also added to its local sports coverage, and reimagined its Sunday Comics into a new tabloid publication called Lazy Sunday. The section includes all Sunday comic strips, a collection of several new puzzles and a weekly TV grid—and it has been very popular among readers and advertisers.
All of these efforts have paid off, said Davison. Since March 2018, the circulation has increased 22 percent daily and 31 percent Sunday.
"Our expansion effort was not only motivated by finances," Davison said. "We launched the effort because we saw a need in the community, a need for a printed daily newspaper that provides news of the day all in one place, sports scores, late-night city council decisions, late-breaking news from the night before, along with all of those features that traditional newspaper readers have always appreciated finding in their local newspaper."
Kansas City Star
Kansas City, Mo.
Circulation: 100,000 daily; 135,000 Sunday
One of the most important tasks that a newspaper has is to make sure government officials are being transparent. So when Kansas City Star reporters discovered Kansas is one of the more secretive states in the country, they went to work.
"From the governor's office to state agencies, from police departments to business relationships to health care, on the floors of the House and Senate, a veil has descended over the years and through administrations on both sides of the political aisle," according to its "Why so secret, Kansas?" report.
Editor Michael Fannin said the more they pulled the thread, the more other things started to pop up. "It was like turning over one rock and finding three more rocks underneath it."
Among the stories published in the six-part series: Children known to the state's Department for Children and Families suffered horrific abuse, while the agency cloaked its involvement with their cases; in the past decade, more than 90 percent of the laws passed by the Kansas Legislature came from anonymous authors; and when Kansas police shoot and kill someone, law enforcement agencies often escape scrutiny because they are allowed to provide scant details to the public.
"The work had major impact, prompting four executive orders by the governor and three new laws passed by the legislature that made state government more transparent," said Fannin.
Their work was also honored last year as a Pulitzer Prize finalist for Public Service.
In 2018, the momentum continued. Fannin said the paper was the first to report when Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens and his staff were using a secret messaging app to do government business, which prompted an investigation and Greitens' resignation in summer 2018. In another case, Star reporting showed that Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley allowed campaign consultants to direct state workers in his office soon after he took oath. The Star also revealed how a former county executive used a quadriplegic friend to help him launder campaign donations for personal use; he is currently serving a sentence in federal prison.
Managing editor Greg Farmer said the articles were a result of good sourcing and deep reporting on the ground.
"If we don't do this work, no one else will do it," he said. "We owe it to citizens to look at our government closely, to dig in everyday and shine a light on the state level."
Fannin added, "As long as we're doing ambitious journalism, readers and subscribers will see the quality. Doing great journalism is one of the solutions to help our industry."
Ledger Dispatch
Jackson, Calif.
Circulation: 5,500 (Tuesday and Friday)
For publisher Jack Mitchell, the most famous augmented reality (AR) platform that comes to his mind is Pokémon Go, which, he reminds us, has made $1 billion.
In 2017, Mitchell came across something similar and decided to try it out on his newspaper. When he saw a bottle of wine that utilized AR to tell stories, he was inspired to create an AR app that would put newspapers in control of their digital money.
Partnering with Strata, a developer of AR platforms, Mitchell created what is now called Interactive News (interactivenews.live), software that works with newspapers to create their own AR app and publish augmented reality content over any article or advertisement.
So far, Interactive News has been successful for not only the Ledger Dispatch, which has increased its revenue by 30 percent, but for several other newspapers using the app as well. There are currently 30 apps running with about 50 to 60 products.
To begin improving revenue, Mitchell approached businesses in hopes they would purchase space. The first was an auto dealer that had not run anything in the Ledger Dispatch in about two years. Mitchell presented the idea that they run ads using AR and the dealer "immediately signed on for a full page in every issue."
The next advertiser to sign on was a real estate company, and from there, the app began to really gain traction. Now, the Ledger Dispatch is using Interactive News to promote movie trailers, businesses, political ads, tourism videos, concerts, dinner reservations and more.
"(Interactive News) is really about retaining or regaining advertisers that have left or verticals that have diminished in print as well as finding new ways to bring in advertisers and the new revenue streams from pieces," Mitchell said.
Aside from bringing in advertisers, Mitchell discovered that the app allows for a more diverse audience. By simply using a mobile device to scan, a user can choose to read the paper in Spanish, Portuguese, Korean or French.
To the Ledger Dispatch's surprise, Interactive News unwittingly gained the attention of young readers—something many newspapers aim to achieve. A year ago, Mitchell believed there was no way to attain the younger market but now he says the newspaper is seeing more readers in high school all the way down to five-year olds who all enjoy using the AR app.
Champaign, Ill.
Circulation: 24,654 daily; 27,651 Sunday
In 2017, the News-Gazette underwent a rebranding that included a new logo and name (News Gazette Media), and relocated all of the company's operations under one roof. As a means to unite the operations and utilize skill sets from print and radio, News Gazette Media deemed 2018 the "Year of the Podcast."
The News-Gazette itself released five podcasts last year including: Cold Cases, a conversation with detectives about unsolved crimes; Legally Speaking, a conversation with the headline-makers; Campus Conversation, a conversation with University of Illinois newsmakers; Inside Illini Basketball, a sports podcast; and Tatelines: Unedited, a podcast that takes listeners down memory lane.
However, these projects are more than just creating a few podcasts. Many include several multimedia offerings (at the very least, the podcast will get a teaser in print) so that they may reach the widest possible audience.
Cold Cases, a large traffic-driving podcast for the newspaper, was pitched and crafted into podcast form by longtime radio news director Carol Vorel. It was also made into a partial print product and teased on the company's radio programs.
Podcasts like these showcase the importance of journalism as well as that of community engagement. Editor Jim Rossow said the podcasts have "fired up in the community service kind of way, that by us writing about it and talking about it on a podcast, it actually made a difference and gave (the cases) more purpose than ever."
When creating these podcasts, the newsroom was faced with challenges, but they were embraced as learning experiences. While radio news reporters saw themselves behind the keyboard, veteran print reporters learned to handle themselves in the recording studio.
Rossow said the newsroom benefited in many ways, not just in the studio. "From a social media standpoint, it's great because we ask all our podcasters to promote their own work. Also, I think learning how to interview for a podcast is different than interviewing for a story. You can't stumble around with your word choice."
While there was much to learn for this newsroom, Rossow said that the process is easy enough for any newsroom and it works as another way to branch out and grow audience.
The next big step is to recruit advertisers. This year will also see the release of two new sports podcasts and another titled, Life Remembered, a podcast about those who had a lasting impact on the community during their lifetime.
Spokane, Wash.
Circulation: 58,215 daily; 74,723 Sunday
The idea for a book club started even before editor Rob Curley and senior editor and director of the Northwest Passages Book Club and Community Forum Donna Wares joined the company. The two had previously worked together at another publication, where they had created a limited-run book club.
Every month, the Northwest Passages Book Club invites its readers to share a Common Read. Like most book clubs, there is a discussion. In this case, there is one online as well as an in-person, on-stage conversation with the author.
The events typically have the same program. First, the audience is invited to mingle, enjoy a glass of wine and a few appetizers or dessert. Then a video (created by the paper) plays to introduce the featured guest, which is followed by discussion that lasts roughly 30 minutes to allow time for a Q&A. Lastly, the audience is asked to complete a survey to share what they liked, what the paper could do better and what speakers they would like to suggest.
There are two or three events a month on average and they keep the cost to around $5 a ticket to ensure everyone has the opportunity to attend. The announcements for books and events are made available to readers in the paper's print edition as well as its website, along with articles written about the chosen authors and the live events. In addition, readers can find a link to the book club's Facebook page on the site, where readers can discuss the Common Read of the month.
Wares said speakers are chosen if they are local authors, or based on relevant topics or books that have a connection with the Pacific Northwest. An example is author Rick Steves, a well-known travel writer, who is not from Spokane specifically, but is very popular in the region. According to Wares, his sold out event attracted 750 people.
The book club has also evolved to offer civic and fun events as well, such as debates with Congressional candidates and Super Bowl get-togethers.
"Northwest Passages has changed our relationship with our readers on so many levels," Curley said. "Not only making our journalism much more experiential, but also helping both our community and our newsroom better understand the importance of a local newspaper, especially now."
Wilmington, N.C.
Circulation: 25,000 daily; 27,000 Sunday
When the StarNews learned from a Pew Research study that 79 percent of people ages 55 to 64 received their news via mobile device, they knew that was an audience they had to tap into, especially since their own audiences in the same age bracket on StarNewsOnline.com was ranked low.
A readership initiative was the first part of a multi-pronged approach and, while the 45 to 65 age group was the newspaper's main focus, they spilt their audience into six groups and identified what kind of coverage was important to them. Editor Pam Sander said that every reporter was required to identify which audience they would focus on prior to writing a piece.
Resources were also committed to the project.
"We created a full-time position devoted to the project and $1,000 per month in freelance money for audience-driven content," said Sander. "We developed a food website and restructured the food reporter's position to focus more on this audience segment."
This initiative resulted in the creation of a magazine called Port City Life, which is produced by the paper. The newsroom also began to create more commerce by partnering with businesses and advertisers. For example, if a business purchased a full page ad, the StarNews would host an event at that business, or those businesses could choose to sponsor an event. Some of these events (part of the Port City Life Club) include Mimosas After Dark, a Fine Vines education wine series and a signature cocktail competition.
The StarNews also created a sponsorship program for the Port City Life team. It includes a visual story that combines advertising and a news article leading up to a Port City Life event.
Since the events are free, those wishing to attend only need to sign-up online and that has given their newsletter a huge bump. Events and email blasts supported by business partnerships now have more than 2,000 email subscribers and 800 Facebook followers, said Sander. StarNews also offers readers the opportunity to subscribe to the (now monthly) Port City Life magazine and receive an annual digital subscription, which they hope will help reach their goals.
As a result of this mission, Sander said they have more readers than ever. The 45 to 54 age group has climbed from being the third ranked audience to first place, and the 55 to 64 age group has moved from fourth place to second place. In addition, digital subscriptions have increased more than 35 percent, and revenue directly related to these efforts has reached more than $500,000.
Sumter Item
Sumter, S.C.
Circulation: 10,000 daily; 12,000 Sunday
Although the Sumter Item was already experimenting with video when publisher Vince Johnson joined in September 2017, creating Studio Sumter took their video production to the next level.
Launched in February 2018, Studio Sumter produces local commercials and handles video contracts with the city, county, chamber, economic development board, school system and various other regional groups and businesses. It also produces a daily news show called Sumter Today, hosted by Kayla Robins, the paper's executive editor. The show comes out Monday through Friday, with an occasional video on the weekend.
Studio Sumter resides in a converted Halloween store near the newsroom. Using a green screen, Robins reports stories using a script written by chief digital officer Micah Green. Although Robins is the host, the time commitment really comes from director of video production Ty Cornett who does all the editing.
But all the hard work has paid off.
Sumter residents have embraced the show. Johnson said according to analytics from Facebook and Google, Sumter Today receives more than 500,000 video views, and it's been profitable since day one (their current sponsor just locked in for another year).
"The main thing is getting a sponsor before you produce it," Johnson said.
Videos focus on sharing positive news rather than breaking news or crime stories. "The goal is to build community," Johnson explained.
Recent segments include a career day at a local elementary school, how firefighters train and a tour of the new police headquarters.
One of the benefits of a small video crew is the quick turnaround. According to Green, sometimes it only takes 48 hours to shoot and edit a quick 30-second commercial for a local advertiser. One of their recent productions was a series of video commercials for a local menswear store. Johnson said once people saw the quality and work that went behind the videos, the excitement began to build among sales reps and clients.
For a family-owned newspaper entering its 125th year, their digital growth is a big accomplishment. In the past year, the Item also built its own email database from less than 4,000 to more than 30,000 local email addresses.
"Combined with numerous other engagement and growth initiatives, the results have been staggering—more than 250 percent overall digital revenue growth and more than 40 percent digital audience growth year-over-year," said Johnson.
Honorable Mentions
The E&P staff would like to thank each paper that sent in a submission this year for 10 Newspapers That Do It Right. Every year, it gets more difficult for us to narrow down the list to just 10 papers. Your hard work does not go unnoticed, which is why we still want to recognize the ones that didn't quite make the final cut this time.
Baton Rouge, La.
In April 2018, the Advocate began publishing the findings of a yearlong investigation of the racial impacts of non-unanimous conviction laws. The newspaper reviewed about 3,000 felony trials in courthouses and found that 40 percent of convictions came from jurors who could not agree on a guilty verdict. The paper built an online graphic to illustrate how divided jury verdicts pollute justice and had cartoonist Walt Handelsman create an online animation to help draw attention to the issue. After the Advocate published its findings, both Democrats and Republicans worked together to pass a unanimous jury amendment.
Albany Times Union
Albany, N.Y.
In 2018, the Albany Times Union decided to change their business model to a membership program for subscriptions in order to add value to all print and digital readers. Currently at three levels of gold, silver and bronze, subscribers are automatically enrolled in a level based on the amount they pay. Since the inception, the paper has reduced subscribers churn from 37 percent to a record low 29 percent. Revenue has increased along with retention rates, and a recent survey showed 88 percent of their consumers were aware of their membership, more than 50 percent have taken advantage of at least one benefit, and open rates on certain products via email were more than 50 percent.
Capital Times
Madison, Wis.
In 2017, the Capital Times launched Cap Times Idea Fest, a two-day ideas festival on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus. Since the launch, the festival has brought in more than 150 guest speakers and registered more than 2,500 attendees. Not only did the paper provide readers with a rich experience, the festival also brought in a significant amount of new revenue. The margin of revenue to expenses was more than 40 percent in the first year and almost 150 percent in the second. Ticket sales tripled in the second year, and the paper was able to secure a presenting sponsor for a three-year deal.
County Press
Lapeer, Mich.
Four years ago, View Newspaper Group—the County Press's parent company—launched a brand department, starting first with a craft beer festival called View Brew Fest. While in the process of expanding the company's event lineup and strengthening the company's brand, the department also began taking on outside clients, producing sponsored content pieces for current advertising clients, spec ads, press releases and entire media campaigns. Since its creation, the brand department has grown from one to three team members, and the event lineup has expanded from one to four signature annual events and a quarterly morning networking event. In 2018, the department brought in revenue totaling nearly $200,000 and was able to donate nearly $30,000 to local nonprofits through event partnerships.
Eugene Weekly
Eugene, Ore.
As a smaller news organization, the Eugene Weekly teamed up with the University of Oregon's School of Journalism and Communication to bring together two important disciplines: investigative reporting and solutions journalism. As a result, the Catalyst Journalism Project has helped deliver stories that break news, hold people in power accountable, and shine a light on possible pathways to make the community a better place. Current stories in the works include a look at racial bias in police arrests, crimes committed against the homeless and problems with the city's parking ticket system.
Hot Springs Village Voice
Hot Springs Village, Ark.
In 2018, the Hot Springs Village Voice focused on the 55th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. In February 2018, the paper printed the first article—an interview with former Secret Service agent Mike Howard, who was on the advance team for Kennedy's final trip. Along with the print story, the editor recorded the interview, and the social media correspondent edited the video to create a documentary style feature that was exclusive to the website. The paper continued their JFK coverage throughout the year with interviews from several people who were there that day, and follow-up interviews with Howard. A special edition magazine was also launched. The publication was filled with exclusive photos, new interviews and local remembrances, and it sold almost 5,500 copies.
Journal Star
Peoria, Ill.
In the year leading up to the Illinois Bicentennial (Dec. 3, 2018), nearly two-dozen members of the Illinois Associated Press Media Editors and the Illinois Press Association produced a weekly series of articles featuring key moments, figures, industries and events that help make Illinois unique (200illinois.com). This state-wide project was created and coordinated by Dennis Anderson, executive editor of the Journal Star, and produced and shared by 21 newspapers in Illinois and published by more than 110 newspapers statewide, as well as the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. This project was not only a readership initiative, but it provided newspapers sponsorship and advertising opportunities as well.
Paper of Montgomery County
Crawford, Ind.
Typically printed for six days a week, the Paper of Montgomery County went to seven days a week, 365 days a year more than a year ago, thanks to an online edition. This strategic move away from print began in 2013 when the paper started showing a 75/25 allocation split on all advertising bills (75 for print and 25 percent for internet). Now the equation has changed, and the split is 75 percent internet and 25 percent print. That strategy enabled the paper to start an online edition, which was free at first, and then they started selling subscriptions to it. As a result, print and digital subscriptions have both increased tremendously.
Richmond Times-Dispatch
Richmond, Va.
In 2016, the Richmond Times-Dispatch hired their first-ever staff meteorologist to reinvent a staple of news coverage and deliver a distinction in how newspapers reported on weather. To find the right person, the paper posted the job on JournalismJobs.com, but not under the "newspapers" category, under the "TV/radio" category, believing that was where a traditional TV meteorologist would be searching job listings. The paper found meteorologist John Boyer. Since he joined the paper, weather-content page views have increased from 3.2 million in 2016 to nearly 13 million in 2018. In addition, the advertising department was able to sell a two-year print and digital sponsorship package that generated $260,000 in new revenue.
Smoky Mountain News
Waynesville, N.C.
Since printing its first issue 20 years ago, the Smoky Mountain News has experimented with different revenue streams. Originally, the newsroom published special sections for local nonprofits, while selling ads for them and giving them an annual magazine to use to help them raise money. From there, the paper evolved into a company that is now the leading niche publisher in the region. The company currently produces more than 20 niche magazines each year, in addition to a six-time a year nationally distributed lifestyle magazine and a 12-time per year real estate monthly. In 2018, the company launched another initiative: a digital advertising agency called Mountain South Media.
Tampa Bay Times
Tampa, Fla.
The Tampa Bay Times continues to see success with the 24 consumer events they currently produce annually. Among them are homes shows, boat shows, job fairs, bridal shows and senior expos. Nearly 2,000 local businesses participate in the consumer shows. The events offer one more way for the company to reach out to the local business community, building relationships all year long.
McLean, Va.
To deepen relationships with its audience and improve subscriber engagement and retention, USA TODAY NETWORK launched a new onboarding and engagement program in 2018. Audience insights from the NETWORK's enterprise Voice of the Customer program identified many of the biggest subscriber pain points and drivers of churn, which were then used to drive improvements to the customer experience through product, service, and communications enhancements. As a result, the onboarding and engagement series was designed to improve digital engagement, with a focus on informing customers of benefits such as newsletters, podcasts, mobile apps and a loyalty program. Auto bill pay enrollment increased by 22 percent, and the number of online bill payments increased 19 percent YoY in 2018, with overall self-service usage increasing 10 percent YoY.