Novita Research Report - 2004 to 2007 - Novita Children's Services

Project summaries61Products and technology for communicationNovita staff contributors highlighted in boldProject titleContributorsFundingSummaryThe NovitaTech Snowy Hydro Telecommunications Road Show: Promotingaccessible telecommunications optionsToan Nguyen, David Hobbs• Snowy Hydro Ltd• Engineers Australia’s College of Biomedical Engineers• Nokia• Telstra Disability Services• MotorolaThe idea for a national Telecommunications Road Show was developed in response to oneof the outcomes of a clinical trial research project conducted by Toan Nguyen in 2003. Theresearch highlighted that people with a disability can and want to use a mobile or homephone, despite limited functionality due to their impairment, but that they aren’t aware ofthe range of technological solutions that exist, or how to use a particular device to its fullestextent. This was identified as a ‘technology gap’ – and one solution for bridging this gap wasto conduct a national educational workshop series.The aim of the NovitaTech Snowy Hydro Telecommunications Road Show was to conduct aseries of 10 workshops around Australia to promote how someone with a physical disabilitycan use a home or mobile phone effectively and efficiently. The workshop provided anopportunity to highlight and demonstrate solutions that involve matching the person with adisability with a specific piece of telecommunications technology – solutions that are knownto work based on knowledge and experience from clinical trials and direct client feedback.MethodThe workshop was purposefully structured to provide a forum for discussion onimportant telecommunications issues, such as the involvement and participation of thetelecommunications industry in the area of accessible information. The day was alsostructured so it incorporated a mix of lecture-style presentation and a hands-on session inthe afternoon, involving a demonstration of the equipment as it would be set up in a real lifesituation.Attendees were encouraged to ask questions and discuss individual case studies orpotentially difficult solutions they were aware of based on clients they were working with. Aone-page feedback form was distributed at each workshop and attendees were asked tocomment on the quality of the material presented, whether or not their expectations of the daywere met, and to provide an overall score out of 10 for the workshop for future improvements.