Editor: R. Vollmar, R. Wagner(eds.)

 

ATS 812,-/609,- € 59,00/44,25

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Abstract

Pascal Couchepin, a Swiss politician, stated recently that the situation of persons with special needs is characterized - among others - by the decreasing role of the family, by the turning away of help not explicitly asked for and by overwhelming technological innovations. We think it is widely undisputed that just information and communication technology opens possibilities which were unforeseeable only a few years ago. But possibilities are not equal to realizations, and the apparently obvious ways are not always the right ones. Rather aspects from different scientific disciplines - and not only technical ones - should be taken into consideration. This is also the main raison d'être for such a conference, the seventh in series about this topic, and in our opinion it is reflected by the following papers. To concentrate the experts at one place resp. their articles in one volume should allow for an integral view, an aim which is symbolized by the cube designed for this conference. Our main goal is to foster a holistic approach, therefore we decided not to arrange the papers into standardized sections. The integration of persons and facets from various scientific fields is to help generate a climate in which synergetic effects will emerge to reach at last a situation like the one that is described in the PITAC report: " ...access to the benefits of the information infrastructure are (sic!) available to everyone [...]: to those living in small towns and rural areas as well as in big cities [...] and those who face daily challenges from disabilities. We should use information technology to bridge the gaps in our society ...". Roland Vollmar