Skip to Content

Visually impaired computer society - Annual General Meeting 2008

Draft Minutes

1 Date, Time and Location

Saturday, May 24th, 2008 at 2 PM

National Council for the Blind of Ireland, 45 Whitworth Road, Drumcondra, Dublin 9.

2.0 Present

  • Tony Murray, Chairperson
  • Tim Culhane, Deputy Chairperson
  • Gerry Ellis, Secretary
  • Joan Kearns, Treasurer
  • Brian Dalton, P.R.O.
  • Ciaran Ferry, Committee Member
  • Eamonn O'Connor
  • Ulla Quayle
  • Derbhile Dromey
  • Willie FitzGerald
  • Jenny O'Brien
  • Maureen Newall
  • Esmond Walsh
  • Declan Meenagh
  • Maureen Murray
  • Nicky Kealy
  • Louise Taylor
  • Philip Doyle

2.1 In attendance via Skype

  • Claude Saulnier
  • Bob Murphy
  • Joan Anne Brosnan
  • Flor Lynch

2.2 Apologies

  • Natasha Miskella, Committee Member
  • Michael Lavin
  • Stuart lawler
  • Cearbhall O Meadhra
  • Gus Dorrrington
  • Paula Dorrington
  • Paul Griffith
  • Paul Dromey
  • Tony Scanlon
  • Albert Browne
  • Ann Green

3 Agenda

The Chairperson, Mr. Tony Murray, read the Agenda.

He welcomed members and noted apologies which were read out by Secretary, Gerry Ellis.

Tony said that this is the first year that VICS has embraced the new technology of Skype at its AGM by allowing members to be treated as if they were present at the meeting by being part of a Skype conference call. Tony especially welcomed those who did so.

4 Minutes

The draft Minutes of the 2007 AGM were proposed by Jenny O'Brien and seconded byEamonn O'Connor. They were adopted unanimously.

5 Chairperson's report

Tony Murray said that he has been Chairperson for 3 years now. He mentioned some highlights over that time.

The VICS web site has become a major asset and will continue to develop
-Tony thanked Natasha Miskella.

VICS Open days have changed from just being exhibitions to a seminar in the morning followed by an exhibition in the afternoon.

VICS held a successful 20th Anniversary event in 2006.

VICS launched its White Paper on the future of Information and Communications Technologies at this 20th Anniversary event

Stuart Lawler took over as editor of InfoVICS and it is now available on both CD and as a podcast - Tony thanked Stuart.

Training days were organised in Dublin, Cork and Kilkenny and plans are in train to include training information on the VICS web site
- Tony thanked Brian Dalton and the others who helped as trainers.

VICS has promoted the installation of talking ATMs, particularly with National irish Bank
- Tony thanked Tim Culhane.

An Assistive Technology Acquisition Grant has been introduced in conjunction with the National Council for the Blind
- Tony thanked Tim Culhane and the NCBI.

Gerry Ellis and Ciaran Ferry organised a very well attended lunchtime seminar in February in conjunction with the Irish Computer Society
- Tony thanked Gerry and Ciaran.

Tony thanked all VICS members, the NCBI, the Irish Computer Society and everyone else who supported VICS over the 3 years of his chairpersonship. It has been hard and sometimes stressful, but it has also been fun and rewarding.

6 Treasurer’s Report

Treasurer, Joan Kearns, said that the opening balance at the end of the 2007 AGM was EURO 1,581.16.

Total lodgements during the year amounted to EURO1,042.76, giving a total of EURO 2,623.92.

Total withdrawals were EURO 435, giving a closing balance of EURO 2,188.92.

Joan said that VICS has 99 members, of whom 19 are lifetime members.

The Treasurer's Report was proposed by Maureen Murray and Seconded by Tony Murray. It was adopted unanimously.

Tony Murray thanked Joan as she is also standing down after 3 years as Treasurer.

7 Reports from Working Groups

7.1 Lobbying Group

Tim Culhane reported.

Tim said that progress on talking ATMs has slowed, but that this issue is still being pursued. There are still only 2 talking ATMs in the Republic of Ireland, one in Baggot Street, Dublin and one in Eyre Square, Balway, both operated by national Irish Bank. Neither of these is actually talking at the moment but we are assured that they will soon be back in full operation. VICS continues to pursue other institutions. AIB are reviewing their ATMs at the moment and have said that they will consider including speech in new ATMs.

Tim said that VICS continues to lobby Irish Rail and Dublin Bus to make their web sites accessible. We at least feel that they are now listening to our concerns.

Tim said that the Assistive Technology Acquisition Grant has been launched as a pilot. 26 people have received over €17,000 to date. NCBI and VICS are reviewing the scheme and it will be re-launched again in June of this year (2008).

Tim thanked the committee members for their support during the year.
Maureen Newall queried why she could get support for purchasing screen reading software (JAWS), but not a PC. Tim explained that the grant only covers assistive technologies, not mainstream technologies. Tim also explained that a person can only apply once in a year so as to maximise the number of people who can benefit.

Tony Murray thanked Tim for his contribution over the last 3 years.

7.2 Research Group

Brian Dalton reported.

Brian Dalton reported.

Brian said that the group investigates the accessibility of both hardware and software, be this assistive or mainstream technologies.

Brian said it has been a busy 3 years and outlined some of the technologies that they have investigated:

  • IAudio MP3 Player with RockBox software
  • Apple MAC computer which has voice output built into it as standard.
  • Skype which allows users to communicate using computers instead of phones.
  • AVAST Anti-Virus

Further products that they investigated is available on the VICS web site.

They will shortly investigate new software which claims to make the IPod accessible.

Brian thanked everyone who contributed to the group over the last 3 years.

Bob Murphy commented that AVG anti-virus version 8 is now accessible.

Willie FitzGerald asked why does AVAST seem to be more popular with visually impaired users than AVG. Brian said that when they investigated it, they found AVAST to be quite accessible.

Tony Murray thanked Brian for his contribution over the last 3 years.

Eamonn O'Connor said that people should be aware that information on accessible products and services is also available on the NCBI and CFIT web sites.

7.3 Digital Television

Ciaran Ferry reported.

Ciaran said that digital TV has been around for a while but is growing more important as analogue will soon be phased out. Digital TV allows broadcasters to transmit a lot more information much more easily than would have been possible in the past. There is also no quality degradation when the information is transmitted over long distances.

Ciaran said that information supporting accessibility such as described audio and subtitles can also be transmitted. The entire experience for the watcher can also be made much more interactive than with traditional analogue.
The digital signal can be received using an arial, cable or a set-top box via satellite. All analogue signals are due to be shut down in Ireland by the end of 2012.

There has been a trial of digital services in Ireland over the last two years. There will eventually be 4 digital transmitters, one for free to air channels and 3 for pay-tv services (including information / interactive services).

CFIT have been doing some work on the accessibility of set-top boxes. RNIB have also been doing this type of work and will demonstrate a potential solution in Dublin in June.

Ciaran said that quite a large number of programs transmitted on the Sky platform include Audio Description and this can be turned on or off using the standard remote control. UPC (formally NTL and Corus) do not currently offer any Audio Description.

Gerry Ellis said that he has also done some work in this area in conjunction with the National Disability Authority. Gerry was part of the group of people representing people with disabilities who met several times with the Department of Communications when the Department was defining its requirements under the Disability Act (i.e. its Sectoral Plan). Nicky Kealy asked how much authority the Department has over television stations in Ireland. Gerry said they have some authority over RTE but not the privately funded ones. Hopefully this will improve as a result of the introduction of a new Broadcasting Authority as a result of the Broadcasting Bill when it finally comes into force.

Claude Saulnier commented that they can receive digital TV in Belgium via the Internet. He also commented that even if the software in a set-top box is not currently accessible, the software can be updated at a later date.

Tony Murray thanked Ciaran for his work during his first year on the VICS Committee.

8 Motions

Gerry Ellis said that no motions had been received.

9 Elections

9.1 Chairperson

Ciaran Ferry was proposed by Tim Culhane and seconded by Bob Murphy. Elected unopposed.

9.2 Deputy Chairperson

Stuart Lawler was proposed by Tony Murray and seconded by Brian Dalton. Elected unopposed.

9.3 Secretary

Tim Culhane was proposed by Gerry Ellis and seconded byCiaran Ferry. Elected unopposed.

9.4 Treasurer

Declan Meenagh was proposed by Tony Murray and seconded byPhilip Doyle. Elected unopposed.

9.5 P R O

Derbhile Dromey was proposed by Brian Dalton and seconded by Tim Culhane. Elected unopposed.

9.6 Ordinary Members

Claude Saulnier was proposed by Gerry Ellis and seconded by Declan Meenagh.

Esmond Walshe was proposed by Ciaran Ferry and seconded byTim Culhane.

Both were elected unopposed.

Gerry Ellis thanked everyone on the committee for their support as he is also standing down from the Committee.

10 Any Other Business

Paul Traynor will no longer be the moderator of the VICS discussion list so the new committee needs to find a new moderator.

Willie FitzGerald said that he thought that the sound was better at the previous AGM in the Irish Computer Society's HQ. He and others suggested that a Public Address system be used next year. Other possible venues for the AGM were suggested as Wynns Hotel and the National League for the Blind. Tim Culhane pointed out the need for a venue where facilities were available to let guide dogs relieve themselves.

Tony Murray thanked several people who helped VICS and himself personally during his 3 years as Chairperson. These included:

All VICS Committee members

Des Kenny and Stuart Lawler of the NCBI.

Everyone who came along to the AGM

All trainers on Training days

He wished the new committee luck with their work in the next year.

Willie asked why the meeting is held so early in the day. Tony said it is to facilitate those who need to catch trains after the meeting.

Gerry Ellis said that Guss Dorrington asked him to raise the issue of the DAISY format at the AGM. Gus wished that the incoming committee continue to support the spread of the format.

Tony Murray said that Alan Davis of Humanware told him that Humanware will soon release a cheaper GPS device than the Trekker device they currently sell

Ciaran Ferry said that Code Factory are currently looking for testers of their new GPS product - Mobile Geo, which runs on mobile phones.

Jenny O'Brien asked if a Training Day could be held in the midlands. Tim Culhane said that the new committee would look into this.

Ciaran Ferry informed the meeting that a new Masters course on Assistive Technology has been introduced by the Dublin Institute of Technology.

Bob Murphy thanked those who set up the Skype access to the AGM.