[wsfii-discuss] worries and list membership

Wed Mar 23 00:26:27 UTC 2005

Hi Arun,

I really must get on with that invite.. apologies for nit picking.. 

> I know plenty of disabled persons, whose views on technology are very
> open, see for instance http://www.dawn.com/weekly/science/science3.htm
> -- we could seek those out.
> 
> Maybe this is a diversion, and not suitable for London, I'm happy to
> go along with what has been proposed. I think, though, that we would
> do well to reach out to other interest groups,  in whose lives we see
> the possibility of significant improvement through wireless

I think it's more to do with cultural difference and the possibility of state
intervention in urban environments. My friend Shekhar Krishnan from crit.org.in
(who is on this list) - I think you know each other, was describing to me,
during a visit to London, how he has someone to iron his shirts for him, and
someone to do washing etc. I have washing machine (and I have never worn an
ironed shirt in my life :).

The costs of manual labour in the UK prohibit this kind of thing for everyone
but the wealthy - whereas labour costs in India are obviously far far lower.

I think my position - from the privilege of wealthy UK citizenship - is that
the state should pay to adapt all the traffic lights to have audible signals or
under-foot tactile blocks (which is has been done in many places in the uk)
which makes it non-problematic for people with visual impairments to cross the
road without them needing to carry or use technology.  Obviously, in India it's
more expensive and unfeasible to do that kind of intervention on a nationwide
basis than to use cheap labour to route around these problems in innovative
ways you describe.

Anyway, I think it will be great to meet again - in London, or in India next
year and have this kind of debate!

I'll try get that invite out now.. or tomorrow morning if I fall asleep on my
keyboard.

Cheers,

Saul.