CSUN '94 Keynote Address March 17, 1994 Larry Scadden "Roadblocks on the Electronic Information Highway" Larry Scadden, a self-described "information junkie" no braille books when he was growing up now there are reading machines and computers Internet - the information superhighway a part of the National Information Infrastructure - NII Internet - both a toy and a tool E-mail, distribution & discussion groups BBS, databases, gophers books, weather Internet barriers: weather maps - graphical and pictorial (tactile displays coming) graphical user interfaces not accessible by speech synthesizers Needed: Guaranteed universal access Research and development Industry cooperation Multimedia another access challenge a barrier for deaf Access: on-demand (able to turn on/off) most appropriate display for individual Currently the superhighway is a toll road: free for government, industry $20/month for individual user access cost is a consideration for poor, disabled must be accessible for educational use should not be just for affluent schools, people Info California Kiosks are an example of a system which disseminates public services and is now becoming more accessible. Needed: Development and adoption of info access guidelines Continued research and development Information workers need to: Identify new barriers Legislate access, litigate if necessary Insure independent access to information Notes by Dave Jaffe