[WSIS CS-Plenary] Collaboration software debate

[Derrick L.Cogburn]

Tracey,

I have promised myself to stay out of these discussions, but again, a 
comment has drawn me out.  Surely the deciding factor could not have 
been the linguistic/translation issues.  As you know, I had already 
promised to take up the offer from ICV who provided simultaneous and 
sequential translation for the Cape Town meeting that we would explore 
how to provide translation in an online session (in fact, I was quite 
excited about confronting this challenge).  The translators were also 
excited about this possibility and I clearly articulated that we would 
be exploring immediately how to handle this.  I also provided examples 
of how I have handled the "disability" issue in some of my advanced 
graduate seminars, where we have had, for example, deaf students 
participate actively using this type of software.  Also, everyone 
should know that I tried for over a year, expending my own resources, 
to try to assist both the CS in general, and the CSB in particular with 
its distributed collaboration practices.  My first proposal was to the 
CSB at PrepCom III for WSIS Geneva.  Since that time, I believe that I 
addressed every issue/challenge, save one, raised by the participants.  
If that remaining issue could be addressed at this time, I would.

Cheers,
Derrick

Derrick L. Cogburn, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
School of Information Studies
and Senior Research Associate
Moynihan Institute of Global Affairs
Maxwell School of Citizenship & Public Affairs
Syracuse University
311 Hinds Hall
Syracuse, NY 13244-4100
Phone: +1.315.443.5441
Fax: +1.315.443.6886
http://cotelco.net/~dcogburn
http://istweb.syr.edu/~dcogburn
http://cove.cotelco.net


On Apr 11, 2005, at 11:56 PM, Tracey Naughton wrote:

> Milton
>
> For clarification purposes, the main reason the CSB decided not to use 
> the collaboration tool for on-line meetings, is linguistic. Whilst 
> there were other issues, if this barrier did not exist I believe that 
> most of the CSB would willingly use the tool. Perhaps you could deploy 
> some of your time in developing a translation solution.
>
> regards
>
> Tracey Naughton
>
>
> Tracey Naughton
> NYAKA
> Communication for Development Consultant
> 201 Somerset hall
> 239 Oxford Road
> Illovo     2196
> South Africa
>
>