This is just an unorganized list of images, ideas, things of possible interest from the Northwest Wayfinding seminar.

Bruce Blasch (Atlanta VA) introduced the term "seamless wayfinding" to describe the combination of technologies under consideration and/or development at the Veteran's Administration. This is also the term used by Mike May (HumanWare) and the Western Michigan team (Richard Long, Dave Guth, and other university staff) in their federal grant. Seamless wayfinding implies that a blind traveler would never be out of contact with orientation technologies, indoors and out, underground or in a high rise, on a boat, plane, or on any kind of transportation (etc.), in any country, at any time, day or night.

Bruce also mentioned a bone conduction unit that was part of a wearable computing system. He did not elaborate. Also, he mentioned a tracking (monitoring) system using light fixtures for indoor orientation.

Alan Garrels, (Pacific AER President) suggested that we hold other regional navigation seminars specifically for blind students. This would be a very practical, hands on experience for young people. Doug (IIBN Director) suggested we combine this technology event with a music appreciation fair called the O'Carolan Festival. Turlough O' Carolan was a blind Irish composer and harpist (1670 to 1738). He traveled around Ireland for 45 years in the traditional of the wandering bards, the legendary Celtic poets and story tellers. The music fest could be a separate event, but there is something nice about the image of a singing, wayfinding blind bard as a symbol of the festival.

Bill Crandall (Smith Kettlewell) suggested that we not try to invent new terminology when we are lobbying to change the accessibility laws. The ADA speaks of "equal facilitation." This term can be the umbrella for discussing smart spaces and the associated intelligent (layers) of orientation information embedded in virtual space (like GPS data bases). We need to put together a team (or join with existing political action groups) to advocate for equal facilitation to orientation information.

Mark Uslan (AFB) urged everyone to subscribe to AFB's "Access World" magazine. This publication is the consumers report vehicle for the blind rehab community. They do evaluations of information technologies and wayfinding technologies. Recent issues will cover GPS comparisons and on line web games for the blind. You can subscribe to "Access World' directly from AFB's web site.

We made a special effort in these seminars to encourage consumer organizations to not only offer insights as members of the presentation team, but to take a leadership position in the evolution of these new wayfinding technologies. Curtis Chong (technology specialist from NFB) was encouraging and supportive, but was unable to participate in the first two seminars. Charles Crawford from ACB was also supportive and suggested that we invite Jim Eccles as ACB's technology representative. Jim is a very gracious and knowledge man and was a perfect choice for the first two seminars. Brcue Blasch reminded us that the blinded veterans association is an important consumer group that should not be left out. This was good advice that Doug promised to follow up on.