World wide web inventor Tim Berners-Lee takes part in a
high-profile conference this week to help raise awareness of the
role of technology in helping disabled people to take an active
part in business and social life.
He speaks tomorrow (Wednesday) at IT: the Universal Enabler, hosted
by the Worshipful Company of Information Technologists and the Lord
Mayor of London.
Berners-Lee has consistently pushed for a social dimension to the
development of the web. He is likely to draw attention to the role
of W3C's Web Accessibility Initiative.
The conference, part of the European Year of People with
Disabilities, aims to influence an invited group of corporate
delegates to ensure that their organisations develop inclusive
policies and practices which recognise the potential contribution
of people with disabilities as both employees and consumers.
The core message is that technology has the power to transform the
lives of disabled people and that this enablement means employers
will retain precious skills and experience if staff become
disabled.
"The potential for using technology to support people with even
severe disabilities is well proven," said the organisers. "The
issue is to focus attention on what is already possible for
disabled people and to replicate success."
Other speakers include IT minister Stephen Timms, Roger Davis,
chief executive officer of Barclay's Business Banking, James
Strachan, Audit Commission chairman, and directors from IBM and
Microsoft.
www.wcit.org.uk/news/subindex.htm
Web Accessibility Initiative
This World Wide Web Consortium initiative takes technical account
of the design needs for people with visual, auditory, physical,
speech, cognitive and neurological disabilities, which can affect
access to the web.
www.w3.org/wai