ACS News

Prestigious prize for disability and telecommunications gets "second life"

In conjunction with Telstra and the Telecommunications Journal of Australia (TJA), the Hon. Bill Shorten MP, Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities, today announced Dr Denise Wood, researcher and senior lecturer in the School of Communication, International Studies and Languages at the University of South Australia, as the winner of the inaugural Telstra-TJA Christopher Newell Prize for Disability and Telecommunications.

In accepting the prize for her paper “Communicating in Virtual Worlds through an Accessible Web 2.0 Solution,” Dr Wood said that her research has identified the benefits of Web 2.0 and 3D Virtual Worlds such as Second Life for people with disabilities, as well as the potential of such environments for providing flexible and engaging simulated learning environments.

“There are a large number of groups in Second Life that provide opportunities for people who identify as disabled, or who have an interest in disability, to socialise, share information or receive support services. However, for these benefits to be realised, there is an urgent need for developers to address the identified accessibility challenges posed by such dynamic, media rich environments,” said Dr Wood.

The $20 000 Prize, sponsored by Telstra, is awarded for the best original paper offered for publication by the TJA that demonstrates the tangible benefits that an innovative use of telecommunications technology can deliver in assisting individuals with disabilities. The prize recognises and commemorates the ground-breaking work that the late Revd Canon Dr Christopher Newell AM undertook within the telecommunications industry from 1990 to 2008 in representing the needs of people with disability.

Mr Phil Sportin, Executive Director, Telstra Services, said that Telstra is pleased the inaugural award has attracted a high level of interest, which provides evidence of the benefits of modern communications technologies for people with disability.

“At Telstra we know that technology innovation and access, combined with exceptional customer service, is fundamentally important for us and our industry – priorities that Christopher taught us so much about for people with disability in particular. With four important papers being published, I am sure Christopher would also be pleased with this contribution to the literature on disability and telecommunications,” said Mr Sportin.

Telstra has agreed to again sponsor the prize with the TJA in 2011. Details for entry can be obtained by visiting www.acs.org.au/acstsa. The 2010 winning paper, and other accepted papers can be accessed in the May edition of the Telecommunications Journal of Australia by visiting http://publications.epress.monash.edu/loi/tja.

Contacts

Robert Morsillo, Telstra Corporation Ltd, Tel: 0439 648 002
Peter Gerrand, Telecommunications Journal of Australia, Tel: 0411 129 469
TJA is a publication of the Australian Computer Society.