🚀 go-pugleaf

Bob

Good to see someone using the aus.org.hisa newsgroup. :-)

Mate, please fix your signature so it gives real e-mail address, if
you post stuff you want to be actioned by others, in a context where
people may wish to respond via e-mail.  My understanding is your real
e-mail address is:
bobb@acslink.aone.net.au
I am familiar with the desire to avoid spam - but that does not excuse
defective signature, in my not so humble opinion. :-)
If your new signature is a real e-mail address, with a spam filtering
option on it, I apologise in advance for this paragraph. :-))

I bcc: your message to Joan Edgecumbe, Executive Officer, HISA, for
possible on-passing to anyone in HISA that might have an interest in
the issues your raise.

You make some interesting suggestion. I know in Canberra the PC Users
Group has program in public libraries whereby they teach elderly
people to use the internet. Many state governments are funding
internet connections in public libraries which one can use for free
for such things as Web searching, or e-mail (with aid of sites like
Hotmail). These generally use Windows interface/software. 

I have read of at least one nursing home in ACT with internet
connection, which is supported by a local ISP, I think.

I know that the NSW Branch of the ACS already has strong connections
with Technical Aid for the Disabled (TAD), in providing computers to
disabled persons. I bcc:  your message to John Ridge, NSW Branch
Chair, who I have found to be extremely proactive on community service
type initiatives - I suggest you contact him to discuss options. 

Regards

Andrew

On Sat, 04 Apr 1998 11:45:39 GMT, bobb@alt.net (Bob Bain) wrote in
aus.org.acs:

>
> I work in the Nursing Home and health care industry, although not in
>a health care role as such, I recently visited my elderly mother in
>the United Kingdom following the death of my father.
> 
> Sometimes communication is difficult with the elderly, especially
>over long distances.
> 
> I noticed in the nursing home that one of the prime recreations was
>watching television.
> 
> I recently suggested in a message to my boss ( but only banter,
>rather than serious discussion ) that it might be useful for
>institutions such as nursing homes to investigate the use of the
>Internet:-
> 
> a) so that elderly residents can communicate with their relatives,
>     where they are able.
> 
> b) to provide an alternate means of entertainment, possibly via
>     mailing lists to other nusing homes, or perhaps perusing the
>     many useful and informative sites the Internet has to offer.
>
> Those who lack the ability to type, but aren't disabled by eyesight
>or other ailments could learn the necessary skills.
> 
> It was recently suggested at a Linux user group meeting that Linux
>was an appropriate operating system in various institutions in that
>there was an abundance of old hardware which few people wanted, and
>limited facilites to purchase the older copies of operating system
>software such as MS-DOS or Windows 3.1 that it requries to run on.
> 
> Linux is free, and runs on a variety of platforms.  As much of Linux
>software is also free, and Linux loves older machines where it has
>oftren been tested extensively there may be arguments for development
>teams working on Linux programs for the elderly, especially via the
>Internet, which Linux ( being natively a networking operating system)
>loves...
> 
> Who knows within five years the inhabitants of nusing homes could be
>running Linux on the Internet, communicating with their relatives on
>old "unwanted" ( unwanted at least by those who love shoot up games
>requiring 3d graphics) macines, with community support from Linux
>development teams.
> 
>                                                         Bob
>
>---------------------
>Bob Bain. Terra Firma
>bobb@alt.net
>


Regards

Andrew R. Freeman, FACS           Location: Belconnen Canberra ACT Australia
Key e-mail: afreeman@pcug.org.au    Web URL http://www.pcug.org.au/~afreeman
Director,  Community Affairs Board,  Australian Computer Society   (1996/99)
ACS CAB World Wide Web URL:    http://www.pcug.org.au/~afreeman/cabtr.html

afreeman@pcug.org.au (Andrew Freeman) wrote:

>Mate, please fix your signature so it gives real e-mail address, if
>you post stuff you want to be actioned by others, in a context where
>people may wish to respond via e-mail.  My understanding is your real
>e-mail address is: bobb@acslink.aone.net.au

 My legitimate e-mail addresses are :-
 
 bobb@acslink.aone.net.au
 bobb@alt.net

     and 

 bobb@synflux.com.au


>I am familiar with the desire to avoid spam - but that does not excuse
>defective signature, in my not so humble opinion. :-)

 Defective Signature ?  ????????????????????????? !! 

 Why the assumption of a defective signature, when I have a number of
e-mail accounts ?  bobb@acslink.aone.net.au is the mail box of the
ACSLINK service.

 bobb@alt.net is an alternative and quite legitimate e-mail address in
the United States used when I access the alt.net news and mail server.
It bears not relation to spam.  It isn't defective.  It's REAL  It
isn't phony.  I use the alt.net news-server, which as part of it's
networking services also offers e-mail accounts.  It belongs to me.
It isn't pretend - it's real..

 I chose not to change this signature. The choice as to ISP, mail
server and the news-server I use is a choice I make. I chose to
exercise freedom of choice and chose the ACSLINK Access One server for
fast web connections, and Synflux for cheaper slow chat services.
There was considerable doubt about the fate of the Access One service
for ACSLINK at the beginning of this year.

 I use and pay for a number of Internet and network services.  My
alt.net mail box is accessible from anywhere on the Internet.  While
I'm logged on to Synflux as I am now ( I've run out of time on Access
One ) I'm able to receve mail from the Access One server, but since
Access One blocked various services and as the news-feed is better on
alt.net I _chose_ ( given the fact I have freedom of choice !) to use
my legitimate e-mail address of bobb@alt.net when utilising this
server.  It's also necessary given the configuration on this news/mail
server.
 
 It isn't illegal, nor is it deceptive as far as I know. 

 I would appreciate an apology as the words used could be construed as
meaning I'm usinng a fake address, which isn't true !

 The signature doesn't need to be fixed.  It's mine by choice as is
the use of ISP and mail server.  The choice of location when using
this server denotes my belief in a global rather than a restrictive
local outlook towards the world in which we live.  I have dual
nationality and have lived in at least four different countries.
 
 I remain bobb@acslink.aone.net.au and bobb@alt.net when accessing
news and mail from this server in the United States.  No change is
necessary, nor contemplated !

 I'll respond to the health care aspects at the core of the message
when I've recovered my composure.  I find the opening sentences as to
the suggestion I'm using a fake e-mail address grossly offensive. :-(

                                                           Bob

---------------------
Bob Bain. Terra Firma
bobb@alt.net

On Sun, 05 Apr 1998 01:24:44 GMT, afreeman@pcug.org.au (Andrew
Freeman) wrote in aus.org.acs:
...
>Mate, please fix your signature so it gives real e-mail address, if
>you post stuff you want to be actioned by others, in a context where
>people may wish to respond via e-mail.  My understanding is your real
>e-mail address is:
>bobb@acslink.aone.net.au
>I am familiar with the desire to avoid spam - but that does not excuse
>defective signature, in my not so humble opinion. :-)
>If your new signature is a real e-mail address, with a spam filtering
>option on it, I apologise in advance for this paragraph. :-))
>
I should not have apologised in advance, I should have checked. I have
now been advised it is a valid e-mail address. I apologise
unreservedly, and will be more careful in future about making
assumptions. 

Regards

Andrew R. Freeman, FACS           Location: Belconnen Canberra ACT Australia
Key e-mail: afreeman@pcug.org.au    Web URL http://www.pcug.org.au/~afreeman
Director,  Community Affairs Board,  Australian Computer Society   (1996/99)
ACS CAB World Wide Web URL:    http://www.pcug.org.au/~afreeman/cabtr.html

Yes Andrew, 
           open mouth, insert foot & echo internationally!

Tut tut


Andrew Freeman wrote:
> 
> On Sun, 05 Apr 1998 01:24:44 GMT, afreeman@pcug.org.au (Andrew
> Freeman) wrote in aus.org.acs:
> ...
> >Mate, please fix your signature so it gives real e-mail address, if
> >you post stuff you want to be actioned by others, in a context where
> >people may wish to respond via e-mail.  My understanding is your real
> >e-mail address is:
> >bobb@acslink.aone.net.au
> >I am familiar with the desire to avoid spam - but that does not excuse
> >defective signature, in my not so humble opinion. :-)
> >If your new signature is a real e-mail address, with a spam filtering
> >option on it, I apologise in advance for this paragraph. :-))
> >
> I should not have apologised in advance, I should have checked. I have
> now been advised it is a valid e-mail address. I apologise
> unreservedly, and will be more careful in future about making
> assumptions.
> 
> Regards
> 
> Andrew R. Freeman, FACS           Location: Belconnen Canberra ACT Australia
> Key e-mail: afreeman@pcug.org.au    Web URL http://www.pcug.org.au/~afreeman
> Director,  Community Affairs Board,  Australian Computer Society   (1996/99)
> ACS CAB World Wide Web URL:    http://www.pcug.org.au/~afreeman/cabtr.html

afreeman@pcug.org.au (Andrew Freeman) wrote:

>I have read of at least one nursing home in ACT with internet
>connection, which is supported by a local ISP, I think.

 Is this a government, privately owned or community sponsored nursing
home ?  It's difficult to judge if this is a service that would be
welcomed by nursing home residents, or patients in hospitals although
given their circumstances I would imagine that contact with friends and
relatives is an important part of life in such institutions.
 
 A simple e-mail type service is perhaps all that's needed.  I have
trouble communicating with my mother now in a nursing home in the United
Kingdom, and phoned and asked the staff if I could utilise their fax
machine to send messages, as my mother has/had trouble hearing me when I
rang via voice.
 
 The arrangement at the moment is that I produce faxes with extra large
fonts, and the staff read the message out, if the text is illegible as
it probably would be.  However my mother's hearing has become better in
recent weeks and I was able to hold a telephone conversation with her on
her birthday.

 She would not be in a position to read small fonts on a screen.  One
wonders if nursing staff could perhaps communicate via the Internet on
behalf of residents, who can neither type nor read computer screens.

>I know that the NSW Branch of the ACS already has strong connections
>with Technical Aid for the Disabled (TAD), in providing computers to
>disabled persons.

 I am aware of this, and note the contributions the ACS has made in this
area.

> I bcc:  your message to John Ridge, NSW Branch
>Chair, who I have found to be extremely proactive on community service
>type initiatives - I suggest you contact him to discuss options. 

 My message was directed to anyone with an interest in this area,
including perhaps AUUG members, or those who mentioned Linux as an
operating system that can be used with older technology, or those
perhaps with an engineering background.  No doubt "voice synthesis"
devices would be useful in this area.
 
 Perhaps the devices needed haven't been invented yet.

                                                           Bob
--
Bob Bain, Sydney, Australia   
bobb@acslink.aone.net.au

On Wed, 08 Apr 1998 09:39:20 GMT, bobb@acslink.aone.net.au (Bob Bain)
wrote in aus.org.acs:

>afreeman@pcug.org.au (Andrew Freeman) wrote:
>
>>I have read of at least one nursing home in ACT with internet
>>connection, which is supported by a local ISP, I think.
>
> Is this a government, privately owned or community sponsored nursing
>home ?  

I am not sure. I read of it in a magazine for retirees some time ago.
My impression was it was either privately owned, or community
sponsored nursing home, but as I say, I am unsure.

It's difficult to judge if this is a service that would be
>welcomed by nursing home residents, or patients in hospitals although
>given their circumstances I would imagine that contact with friends and
>relatives is an important part of life in such institutions.
>
Well, I imagine some would have no interest in - there was certainly
no pressure for anyone to use the service. 
 
> A simple e-mail type service is perhaps all that's needed.  

Well, maybe maybe not. I think usual approach is to offer access to
Web, and then people who want e-mail can do via Hotmail or suchlike
other free e-mail service.

I have
>trouble communicating with my mother now in a nursing home in the United
>Kingdom, and phoned and asked the staff if I could utilise their fax
>machine to send messages, as my mother has/had trouble hearing me when I
>rang via voice.
> 
> The arrangement at the moment is that I produce faxes with extra large
>fonts, and the staff read the message out, if the text is illegible as
>it probably would be.  However my mother's hearing has become better in
>recent weeks and I was able to hold a telephone conversation with her on
>her birthday.
>
> She would not be in a position to read small fonts on a screen.  

You can adjust size of font on screen - I do it, to minimise eye
strain.

One
>wonders if nursing staff could perhaps communicate via the Internet on
>behalf of residents, who can neither type nor read computer screens.
>
Well, interesting point. PowWow
http://www.tribal.com
software offers a telephone like interface, if both machines have that
software on it, but it works a little like CB radio (that is,
asychonous, not synchronous). Another option, your talk to your
mother, and nurse type words back to you - very inexpensive, as
Telstra charges 20 cents per megabyte received, but nothing per
megabyte sent - voice very data intensive, typing not so. :-)

>>I know that the NSW Branch of the ACS already has strong connections
>>with Technical Aid for the Disabled (TAD), in providing computers to
>>disabled persons.
>
> I am aware of this, and note the contributions the ACS has made in this
>area.
>
>> I bcc:  your message to John Ridge, NSW Branch
>>Chair, who I have found to be extremely proactive on community service
>>type initiatives - I suggest you contact him to discuss options. 
>
> My message was directed to anyone with an interest in this area,
>including perhaps AUUG members, or those who mentioned Linux as an
>operating system that can be used with older technology, or those
>perhaps with an engineering background.  No doubt "voice synthesis"
>devices would be useful in this area.
> 
No doubt they would be.

> Perhaps the devices needed haven't been invented yet.
>
I think they have - PowWow is free software, and has some of the
features you want, but I guess not perfect. I have it on my machine -
page me sometime if you install it on yours and want to experiment
with it.



Regards

Andrew R. Freeman, FACS           Location: Belconnen Canberra ACT Australia
Key e-mail: afreeman@pcug.org.au    Web URL http://www.pcug.org.au/~afreeman
Director,  Community Affairs Board,  Australian Computer Society   (1996/99)
ACS CAB World Wide Web URL:    http://www.pcug.org.au/~afreeman/cabtr.html