Unified (Federated) Listing validation procedure

This page is used to work at the "validation procedure" that will be followed to store information on AT product in the Unified Listing database (also known as Solution Registry). The figure below shows where the validation procedure fits in the connection scheme between EASTIN and the GPII Unified Listing.

Error creating thumbnail: Unable to save thumbnail to destination

.

1. Who will do the validation

validation is not completely automatic, it must be done by a human aided by automatic functions. He/she must be an expert in ICT assistive technology products; he/she should have a deep knowledge of the AT products available on the market (ideally have used most of them or have the possibility to test them in a Laboratory)

2. Steps of the validation procedure

the results of the query (i.e. the data retrieved form EASTIN) are analized by the validator that has to:

1. decide what products are of interest for GPII unified listing (according to Inclusion/exclusion criteria described below)
2. find out duplicated products (aided by automatic functions)
3. information of duplicates is merged into one record (automatic procedure) that will include:
   • all the commercial names (alias)
   • all the manufacturer names (In principle only one manufacturer name should be present for a product. Anyway there might be the case of products whose manufacturer is not easily identifiable (in case of open source software for example)).
   • all the ISO codes
   • all the images
   • all the text descriptions
   • the sum of the detailed information
4. Validator reads the merged information and, if needed, completes the data
5. Validator adds settings for the product (automatically if the product is Cloud4all compliant??)

3. Inclusion/exclusion criteria

In the GPII Unified Listing only part of the product records coming from the EASTIN databases will be included. A proposal for the general inclusion criteria could be the following: ICT based Assistive Technology products that enable accessibility and usability of mainstream ICT products and services by addressing and overcoming deficiencies in the design of ICT that pose barriers for people with a disability. This definition, taken from the EU study: "Deloitte (2010): Inception-Internal market for inclusive and assistive ICT, targeted market analysis and legislative aspects. European Commission  Directorate General for Information Society and Media (Study SMART 2008/0067)", excludes the following AT products:

1. ICT based AT products for independence in daily life activities not connected to the use of ICT products and services (e.g. a voice output communication aid, an electronic memory aid, a bar code reader with voice output, …)
2. ICT Products for training in skills (e.g. software for training in reading or writing).
3. "low tech" accessories (e.g. a mounting system for fixing a push button on a wheelchair) or products (e.g. a mouth stick used to type on a keyboard)

It must be noticed anyway that some products can have multiple functionalities and purposes (e.g. the software “the grid 2” manufactured by “sensory software” is an Augmentative and Alternative Communication software that can also be used to simplify access to some of the functions of the computer). Since we want the Unified Listing to be as comprehensive as possible, all products that can also be used as solutions for accessing ICT products and services (even if their main function is different) will be included in the Unified Listing.

The first filter for retrieving only ICT assistive products from the EASTIN databases (that also includes other kinds of assistive technology products such as products for personal mobility, products for personal care, …) will be based on the ISO 9999 classification. The following table is a proposal for ISO 9999 codes to be retrieved:

ISO code	Title	Definition
221224	Word processing software	Software for writing, organizing and storing text, including mathematical and scientific notation, e.g. desktop publishing software, word processing software made for alternative control or accessories for word processors; Included are, e.g., software for using Braille. Included EASTIN subdivisions: Word-processing software; Desktop publishing software
221821	Decoders for videotext and text television	Devices for translating videotext into artificial speech and decoding spoken output to provide video captions; Excluded are speech recognition systems. Included EASTIN subdivisions:Real time captioning systems; Delayed captioning systems; Captioning services
222112	Face-to-face communication software	Software for producing messages for direct communication; Included is, e.g., embedded software that facilitates face-to-face communication.
222406	Telephones for mobile networks	Included are, e.g., car telephones and portable short-range telephones and hands-free models and camera-equipped models.
222424	Telecommunication and telematics software	Software for verbal and visual communication between computers via the computer network; Included are, e.g., Internet Protocol (IP) or Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephony (IP) software. Included EASTIN subdivisions: Telecommunication and telematics software; Voice over IP Services
222715	Calendars and timetables	Devices for storing and organizing data on planned activities; Included are, e.g., special calendar software. Included EASTIN subdivisions: Calendar software; Electronic Calendar
222724	Monitoring and positioning systems	Devices for observing the status or location of a specific situation or a person; Included are, e.g., global positioning systems (GPS) Included EASTIN subdivisions: Registration of persons without identification; Remote video monitoring systems; Satellite navigation systems
223003	Reading materials with audible output	Media for storing written data to present it in spoken form Digital documents readers; Digital document reading (text to speech) service
223021	Character-reading machines	Devices for reading and transforming written text into alternative forms of visual, auditory and tactile communication Included EASTIN subdivisions: Paper documents reading devices; OCR software; Portable scanner with electronic dictionary
223306	Portable computers and personal digital assistants (PDA)	Computers that can be powered with batteries and thus can be used anywhere; Included are, e.g., computers in combination with mobile phones such as smartphones.
223312	Operating software	Included EASTIN subdivisions: Software interfaces for computers and mobile devices; Operating systems
223315	Browser software and communication software	Included are, e.g., software for SMS, WAP and e-mail.;
223603	Keyboards	Included are, e.g., Braille keyboards.; Included EASTIN subdivisions: Keyboards with a special design; Programmable (concept) Keyboards; Keyboard shields and keyboard gloves; Programmable keyboard configuration tool
223612	Alternate input devices	Included are, e.g., optical scanners, speech recognition units, touch sensitive boards, data gloves and brain-computer interfaces. Included EASTIN subdivisions: Software for accessing the computer in scanning mode; Eyegaze system; Speech recognition software; Optical scanner, stationary; Optical scanner, hand held; Datagloves; EEG, EOG or EMG controlled input devices
223615	Input accessories	Devices for linking the input systems with the computer; Included are, e.g., stand-alone word banks and word lists, multiports, cables and boards. Included EASTIN subdivisions: Switch interfaces; Accessories for input devices
223618	Input software	Included are, e.g., one-finger drivers and screen keyboards.; Included EASTIN subdivisions: On screen keyboard; Mouse control software; Word prediction and word termination software; Software for adjusting input devices response; Software based electronic dictionaries; Computer based sound collections
223621	Assistive products to position screen pointer and to select items on computer display	Devices used as an alternative to a computer mouse; Included are, e.g., touch pads and computer joysticks. Included EASTIN subdivisions:Touch screens; Trackballs, mousetrappers and touchpads; Traditional mouse devices and pen mouse devices; Joystick mouse device; Switch operated computer mice; Computer and console joysticks; Body movement controlled mice
223904	Visual computer displays and accessories	Devices that display information from a computer visually and accessories that enlarge or otherwise enhance text and images on a computer monitor; Included are, e.g., large print displays, screen magnifiers and glare reduction screens.
223905	Tactile computer displays	Devices that display information from a computer tactilely; Included are, e.g., Braille displays and tactile graphic displays.
223907	Audible computer displays	Devices that display information from a computer audibly through speech or other sound; Included are, e.g., speech synthesizers.
223912	Special output software	Included are, e.g., software that enlarges the text and graphics displayed on a computer screen, software that reads the display and converts it to speech (screen reader). Included EASTIN subdivisions: Magnifying software; Screen reader software; Software for adjusting color combination and text size; Software to modify the pointer appearance
240918	Switches (on/off or other functions)	Devices that activate or deactivate an electrical circuit. Included are, e.g., push-buttons for electrical devices.
241303	Environmental control systems	Systems for operating devices from a distance Included EASTIN subdivisions: remote controller; Receiver unit for environmental control; Switch latches and timers
241306	Personal environmental control software

as described above, the validator will then be responsible of deciding what product should be included in the Unified Listing

Example of validation procedure

The following is just an example ment to generate discussion.

EASTIN sends a set of records each including the following details:

• commercial Name
• image
• ISO codes
• Manufacturer name and country
• insert date
• last update
• Source database
• provider country
• text description
• technical details (multiple fields)

The validator goes through the product  list. For each product he/she:

1. decides if it should be included in the Unified Listing (according to the inclusion/exclusion criteria).
2. If the product is to be included then he/she activates the “similarity function”. Result list is sorted according to the similarity with the selected product (see figure below). The validator then decides on records that represent the same product. Also product records already stored in the Unified Listing must be compared with the list of results.

commercial Name	image	ISO codes	Manufacturer name	…	Evaluate similarity
ACE CENTRE - SAW 5	<image displayed here>	22.36.18	ACE CENTRE		select as base for comparison?
ASSISTIVEWARE - SWITCH XS	<image displayed here>	22.36.18	ASSISTIVEWARE B.V.		select as base for comparison?
SAW 5	<image displayed here>	22.36.18	ACE Centre Advisory Trust		select as base for comparison?
…

When the "Select as base for comparison" function is activated the list is sorted according to similarity

commercial Name	image	ISO codes	Manufacturer name	…	Automatically evaluated similarity	Same product?
ACE CENTRE - SAW 5	<image displayed here>	22.36.18	ACE CENTRE		BASE for comparison	BASE for comparison
SAW 5	<image displayed here>	22.36.18	ACE Centre Advisory Trust		>90%	YES/NO
ASSISTIVEWARE - SWITCH XS	<image displayed here>	22.36.18	ASSISTIVEWARE B.V.		90%<similarity<70%	YES/NO
…	…	…	…	…	…	…

3. Merged detailed information on records representing the same product are shown for a final validation. If any relevant information is missing (e.g. a supported operating system for a software) the validator may decide to add the information. If this is done an alert will be sent automatically (by mail) to the information provider(s) that do not have this information included in their record. When the info is complete he/she press “save the record”.

Source: database + country	SIVA (IT)	Vlibank (BE)	DLF (UK)	Merged information
Names	ACE CENTRE - SAW 5	SAW 5	Saw5 Lite	ACE CENTRE - SAW 5; SAW 5; Saw5 Lite Add a name
Images	<image displayed here>	<image displayed here>	<image displayed here>	<All images are shown>   Add an image
ISO codes	22.36.18	22.36.15	22.36.18	22.36.18; 22.36.15; Add an ISO code
manufacturer names + country	ACE Centre Advisory Trust (UK)	ACE CENTRE (UK)	Ace Centre (UK)	Ace center; ACE Centre Advisory Trust; Add a manufact.
insert date	21/10/2011	21/10/2011	21/10/2011	<the oldest date is reported >
last update	21/09/2012	21/09/2012	21/09/2012	<the most recent date is reported, if any change is done then current date is reported>
text description	Software for computers running Windows, enabling control by switches, joystick, trackerball or a headpointer….	Software for computers running Windows, enabling control by switches, joystick, trackerball or a headpointer….	Software for computers running Windows and Mac OS, enabling control by switches, joystick, trackerball or a headpointer….	<all description are reported> Add a description
technical details (multiple fields)	INPUT DEVICES Mouse; Double switch; Single Switch INPUT ADJUSTMENTS Scanning speed adjustable; Size of controls (or keys) adjustable; Number of controls (or keys) configuable; Font size adjustable; Colour of controls (or keys) can be changed OUTPUT DEVICES/SOFTWARE Screen OPERATING SYSTEMS Windows LANGUAGES English FUNCTIONALITIES Allows creation of Macro function PRICE Free of charge	INPUT ADJUSTMENTS Scanning speed adjustable; Size of controls (or keys) adjustable; Number of controls (or keys) configuable; Font size adjustable; Colour of controls (or keys) can be changed OUTPUT DEVICES/SOFTWARE Screen OPERATING SYSTEMS Windows	-	<The sum of technical details is reported> Add technical details
SAVE the Record

Steps 1, 2, 3 are repeated for the next product.

In the first stage this procedure might require some time because many products need to be stored in the Unified Listing. After that initial “bulk storing” the following queries will only return new product records or products that have been updated.

1. Detailed settings for the specific product are added….<DRAFT clarification are still needed for this part>
2. if the product is somehow available to the validator and is “cloud4all” compliant, he/she can retrieve the product settings from the product itself.
3. if it is not available….  download the user manual (if any) and add setting manually
4. if the user manual is not available….