2012, ICCHP co-operated with the network eAccess+ (supported by the European Commission through its ICTPSP Programme) and with the initiative Project:Possibility to set up a students competition in coding for open source AT and eAccessibilitysolutions for people with disabilities.

A first competition in Europe was held in 2011/2012 with a final taking place at ICCHP 2012 in Linz, Austria.

To promote this important idea in Europe, ICCHP further supports Project:Possibility and the SS12 Coding competitions.

The next events and finals will take place:

• 2013: Within the framework of AAATE conference in Vilamoura, Portugal and with substantial support from  Oracle^(R), Google^TM and accessible media
• 2014: Within the framework of ICCHP 2014 in Paris St.Denis, France.

Aim

Project:Possibility

• introduces the power and the need of eAccessibility to the next generation of software engineers
• brings students in contact with the eAccessiblity and AT field and in particular with end users
• contributes to easy and fast solutions of pressing AT and eAccessibility problems outlined and defined by users
• releases code as open source which should facilitate an easier path towards products and services.

Target Groups

1. University and college students in computer science/engineering with a strong background in software engineering willing to take part in such a competition.
2. Faculty staff teaching software engineering and related courses willing to involve students in the Project:Possibility competition.
3. End users and experts willing to define pressing AT and eAccessibility problems to be solved.
4. AT and eAccessibility experts willing to support and consult student groups - eg Mentors.
5. Facilitators and sponsors supporting the coding events and finals.
6. University representatives who are willing to support this competition.

We call for expression of interest: If you belong to one of the above groups, please get in contact with

• Steve Lee (OpenDirective, http://opendirective.com , eAccess+ partner)
• Klaus Miesenberger (ICCHP, www.icchp.org, programme committee, eAccess+ co-ordinator)

Format and Invitation

For detailed information on how a Project:Possibility event is organised and what the roles of the different groups are, please refer to the SS12 Website. SS12 is a US based software development competition running since 2007. The toolkit will be expanded over the next months.

eAccess+ together with ICCHP intend to put a Project:Possibility event 2013 within the framework of AAATE 2013 conference in place.

Timeline 2013 (AAATE - Event)

• Call for Expression of Interest: Till December 15, 2012
• List of universities which will be involved: January, 2013
• Call for students open till February 2013
• List of projects and consulting end users groups and experts: March 2013
• National Coding activities: March - End of May 2013
• Selection of national finalists: June 2013.
• Refinement of national winner projects, preparing presentation and travel: July / August 2013
• European P:P final and judging panel: September 19 - 20 2013, within the framework of AAATE conference
• Awarding the European P:P winner: September 22, 2013 on the occasion of AAATE plenary session.