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Ecommerce business models: Which is best for you?

Which ecommerce business model is best for your idea? Long-term and short-term strategies for operations, profits, and a successful launch.




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Competitive analysis — What to do before you commit to your next great business idea

Planning a new online business? Conduct a competitive analysis to understand your market, beat your rivals, and position your brand for success.




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Tidy Birds and Neat Bees: on Conscientiousness in Animals

By Mikel Maria Delgado Aeon Human personality theory has long revolved around what we know as the ‘Big Five’ – five dimensions of personality that cover a large swathe of how humans behave across time and contexts. These dimensions are … Continue reading




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A Guide to Accessibility Resources for Global Accessibility Awareness Day

Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) is May 16, 2024! GAAD was created to help bring attention and awareness to digital inclusivity. No matter your role on a project team, digital accessibility should always be a priority from start to finish. Why is accessibility so important?

  • Over 1 billion people worldwide have a disability, and that number is growing every day
  • 15% of people with disabilities say they never go online, compared to 5% of people without disabilities, according to Pew Research Center
  • According to a survey by Click-Away Pound, 71% of disabled users are forced to leave a website if they find it difficult to use

Digital accessibility directly impacts people’s ability to access information, buy products, apply for jobs, engage in discussion, and everything else that people do online that is becoming critical for modern life. Accessible spaces even benefit people without disabilities, as it allows anyone to take in content though their preferred method (reading the captions on a video instead of listening in a noisy environment, for example), and often breeds innovation as engineers work to find the best way to be sure everyone can access information equally.

The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) has developed the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) in an effort to standardize digital accessibility. However, many websites unfortunately fail to meet these standards, leading to a lesser-quality user experience. WebAIM’s yearly report has highlighted some surprising statistics about WCAG across the top 1,000,000 home pages:

  • The most common accessibility failure across home pages is low contrast text
  • 98.1% of home pages have at least one WCAG 2.0 failure
  • On average, there are 56.8 accessibility errors per page (this increased 13.6% from 2023!) 
  • 16.8% of home pages had more than one <h1> tag

As you can see, there is still a lot of work that needs to be done to create a more accessible web for everyone. If you’re interested in learning more about digital accessibility and how to improve accessibility on your own projects, there are plenty of resources and online courses available. Resources range from free, to paid courses, to professional certifications. Below are some courses and resources that we recommend.

Free Courses and Resources

If you’re looking to introduce yourself to digital accessibility, these free resources are a great place to start:  

  • A11ycasts with Rob Dodson - A series of video tutorials on YouTube that highlights topics including semantics, focus, the correct way to use a button, and a11y testing
  • The Beginner’s Guide to Web Accessibility - An article by Dequeue University that summarizes why digital accessibility should be a priority, and how to determine if your website is accessible
  • Common Mistakes with Using Colour in Accessibility - Digital designer Andrée Lange provides insights into how to take color contrast into consideration when designing for the web
  • Deque Accessibility Resources - Dequeue offers a variety of free accessibility resources, including webinars, blog posts, and their accessibility testing browser extension, axe DevTools
  • HTML Semantics and Accessibility Cheat Sheet - WebAIM provides a list of the most common HTML tags that have an impact on digital accessibility
  • MDN Accessibility Tutorials - MDN is an open-source project documenting web technologies, which also includes an informative section on web accessibility documentation and best practices
  • Section 508 ICT Testing Baseline - Outlines minimal accessibility testing requirements for federal agencies subject to Section 508
  • WCAG 2.2 Quick Reference - WCAG are a series of web accessibility guidelines released and maintained by the W3C, with 2.2 being the current version of the guidelines. This page provides a reference to standards that websites should meet in order to meet current accessibility standards
  • Web.dev Learn Accessibility Course - A series of informative articles ranging from beginning a11y topics, to more advanced topics including animation and motion

Deep Dives with Paid Tutorials

If you’re a developer who has experience in accessibility and want to dig more into the topic, these comprehensive tutorials will help you improve your a11y knowledge:

  • Accessible Web Academy - Accessible Web Academy includes more focused a11y courses for designers, developers, content creators, and marketers looking to target specific topics 
  • Inclusive Components - There is a free online summary of Heydon Pickering’s Inclusive Components, but you can also purchase an eBook on the topic. Heydon’s blog provides examples of a pattern library that bakes accessibility into each component
  • Practical Accessibility by Sara Soueidan - Sara Souedien is a prolific front-end developer who specializes in accessibility. Her course, Practical Accessibility, is a comprehensive guide for all developers, from those looking to familiarize themselves with accessibility, to experienced developers looking to expand their a11y knowledge.

Advanced Knowledge with Certifications

As the world’s population and number of disabled users continues to grow, it’s clear that implementing digital accessibility in your products is more important than ever. By implementing the information from these lists, you can help users of all abilities access the content that you share, ensuring a better internet for everyone.




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Founders Welcoming Business Partners

When Viget was founded in 1999, Andy and I used the title “Founding Partner.” We were founders of the business and also committed business partners. Within a couple of years, we switched to more specific titles: Co-Founder and President (Andy) and Co-Founder and CEO (me), but “business partners” was always the key structure.

We divided responsibilities of leadership, delivery, and operations in ways that optimized our different strengths and weaknesses. Key decision making has always been a collaborative process, with healthy debate between the two of us. I know some incredible solo entrepreneurs, but for us, having a partner to lean on, leverage, and grow with has been not only rewarding, it’s been essential to Viget’s longevity and success.

Also key to our success has been a founding principle of hiring incredible people who share our values and vision, value longevity and lasting relationships, and take pride in their work and careers. As they’ve joined, we’ve shared the opportunities and responsibilities that come with running a healthy business. Empowering others to lead key parts of Viget has taken us further than we’d ever gone otherwise.

Being owners and partners in the business has always been a privilege, an honor, and, at times, a stressful burden. When things go well – clients are happy, the team is gelling, the finances are solid – I’m filled with pride, satisfaction, and calm. When things aren’t going well – projects are sideways, turnover seems contagious, and the metrics point in the wrong direction – I’m filled with anxiety, frustration, and self-doubt. In either scenario, having a partner to navigate the waters with has been vital.

In recent years, three key areas of our business have matured thanks to the overall strength of our team and especially strong leadership. Our sales and marketing systems, tools, and strategies have fed a much more predictable revenue engine with great clients. Our client delivery processes and best practices have helped us consistently deliver value for our clients with more clarity, less risk, and better results. Finally, through some very challenging years in our industry, our culture has grown stronger and more adaptable, still centered on meaningful human connections at the core.

These three business areas have been led by Zach Robbins (sales and marketing), Kelly Kenny (delivery), and Emily Bloom (culture). They are the pillars upon which all other aspects of the business are built. These leaders have truly grown up with the business, having joined more than 13, 14, and 17 years ago, respectively. Their impact first as individual contributors, then managers, and eventually strategic leaders has been immeasurable.

Viget is coming up on a major milestone: we’ll soon eclipse 25 years since our founding on December 27, 1999. As Andy and I looked out at the next decade and beyond of our business, expanding our partnership became a clear goal. Embracing additional partners to not just lead their area of the business but to weigh in on all major decisions would help Viget continue to mature into the business we believe it can be. We saw an opportunity to invite others into the deep water of business partnership – the good, bad, and ugly – so that our shared decision making can be sharper, more insightful, and more strategic in the years to come.

At our fall retreat last week, we announced that we're welcoming Emily, Zach, and Kelly as partners at Viget. They’ve each been here for more than half of Viget’s history, each shaping Viget into what it is today. As partners, they’ll have even more influence as we take Viget into our second quarter century and beyond.



  • News & Culture

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4 Business Scaling Strategies to Implement in 2023

Business scaling is setting the stage to support growth in your company. In other words, it means investing in cutting-edge technology, hiring top talent, and executing effective marketing campaigns to successfully grow your business. And while business owners often wish to achieve success overnight, scaling requires a long-term, sustainable strategy.  Scaling a business is often […]




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6 Tactics for Promoting Your Local Business

As a small business proprietor, you must establish connections with local patrons, integrate into the community, and differentiate yourself from your rivals. However, understanding how to market your business locally requires clever marketing techniques. Given the limited pool of potential customers in your vicinity, prioritizing local marketing endeavors is essential, especially when considering that your […]




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A busy busy Wednesday night!

Well, aside from waiting all day for WordPress 2.8 to be released into the wild (public). I left the comfort of my home to get some dinner only to get a message that 2.8 was out. Upon returning home I’ve had a chance to download and install 2.8 on a few site’s I own. BUT!! […]

The post A busy busy Wednesday night! appeared first on WPCult.




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Grow Your Real Estate Business With Pinterest

Pinterest is a social media website where users share their favorite images from around the web with their followers. Rather than using words to express themselves, Pinterest users use images and photographs instead. Like other forms of social media, Pinterest offers a unique opportunity for real estate agents looking to grow their businesses. With so […]

The post Grow Your Real Estate Business With Pinterest appeared first on WPCult.





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Why Anticipatory Design Isn’t Working For Businesses

Anticipatory design, powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine learning (ML), and Big Data (BD), promises to transform user experiences by predicting and fulfilling needs before users even express them. While this proactive approach seems revolutionary, many businesses struggle to meet the high expectations it sets. Joana Cerejo delves into the challenges of anticipatory design, highlights key failures, and offers a framework to help designers and businesses succeed in this complex landscape.




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Designing For Gen Z: Expectations And UX Guidelines

There are many myths revolving around Gen Z and how they use tech. Time to take a look at actual behavior patterns that go beyond heavy use of social media. Part of [Smart Interface Design Patterns](https://smart-interface-design-patterns.com) by yours truly.




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Muscadines, Gloom, and the Healing Power of Sunshine

It’s hard to believe that I’ve been sending my thoughts out here into the void that is the world wide web for a full two decades. But, here I am. Today officially marks the 20th anniversary of this blog. When I wrote those first words, “Welcome to My Site,” all…




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101+ Best AI Tools for Business & Marketing 2024

Looking for the best AI tools & resources? We're actively compiling the ultimate list of the best artificial intelligence tools & resources.




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Crossing Lines


Crossing Lines, originally uploaded by !efatima.




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The Hopeful Work of Turning Appalachia’s Mountaintop Coal Mines Into Farms

By Catherine V. Moore YES! Magazine In the post-coal economy, life-skills training helps employ people and restore the savaged land. On a surface-mine-turned-farm in Mingo County, West Virginia, former coal miner Wilburn Jude plunks down three objects on the bed … Continue reading




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Eight Things to Consider when Building a Business

Building a business is a long and difficult process. It’s a time filled with uncertain ups and downs – so you need all the support and advice you can get, even if it’s not your first time creating a successful money-making business.  So, here are eight things you should consider, which you might not have […]

The post Eight Things to Consider when Building a Business appeared first on Snap2objects.




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How a Business Degree Can Help Business Owners Succeed

Starting a small business is a different kind of career move, since you don’t need to have any educational achievements to get started. Unlike applying for employed job roles, where employers might state the degrees or other qualifications that they expect candidates to have, anybody can start their own small business, even if you dropped […]

The post How a Business Degree Can Help Business Owners Succeed appeared first on Snap2objects.




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How to Build a Stock Photo Business With WordPress

Selling your photography can be a great way to funnel your passion into a business. However, the web is awash in stock photography sites that curate photos from thousands of photographers. To stand out, you might be better off going your own way. And with the right tools—such as WordPress and Sell Media—you can build your own stock photo […]








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NRC Receives Perfect Grade on Small Business Scorecard

NRCgov posted a photo:

The U.S. Small Business Administration hosts an event at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building this week to recognize agencies that received an A+ for fiscal year 2023 for their efforts to contract with small businesses. NRC Chief Acquisition Officer James Corbett celebrates at the event with SBA Administrator Isabel Guzman and others.

Visit the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's website at www.nrc.gov/.
Photo Usage Guidelines: www.flickr.com/people/nrcgov/
Privacy Policy: www.nrc.gov/site-help/privacy.html.
For additional information, or to comment on this photo contact us via e-mail at: OPA.Resource@nrc.gov.




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Harnessing Automated Insulin Delivery: Case Reports from Marathon Runners with Type 1 Diabetes

How can machine learning help individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1D)? This is what a study presented at this year’s Annual Meeting of the European As



  • Cell &amp; Molecular Biology

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Low Manganese Levels Worsen Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Scientists have found a link between manganese deficiency and both inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and increased inflammation and damage in the intestine.



  • Cell &amp; Molecular Biology

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Full guide on drawbacks and benefits of Node.js for making the perfect choice for your business

  Node.js is by far the most popular platform for creating JavaScript applications. According to a recent infographic published by Statista, more than 49% of app developers frequently utilize Node.js, making it the platform of choice for mobile app development. That is because of the Node.js advantages.  This article will discuss the benefits of Node.js […]

The post Full guide on drawbacks and benefits of Node.js for making the perfect choice for your business appeared first on 404 Tech Support.




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Low Manganese Levels Worsen Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Scientists have found a link between manganese deficiency and both inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and increased inflammation and damage in the intestine.




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Harnessing Automated Insulin Delivery: Case Reports from Marathon Runners with Type 1 Diabetes

How can machine learning help individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1D)? This is what a study presented at this year’s Annual Meeting of the European As



  • Genetics &amp; Genomics

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Correlation between sleep hygiene and risk of chronic illness

The connection between sleep patterns and chronic diseases has been an area of increasing interest, particularly as wearable devices like Fitbit become mor



  • Genetics &amp; Genomics

nes

Low Manganese Levels Worsen Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Scientists have found a link between manganese deficiency and both inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and increased inflammation and damage in the intestine.



  • Genetics &amp; Genomics

nes

In-Person Contact Better than Digital for Reducing Loneliness

Researchers found that in-person contact is more effective than phoning, emailing, and texting for reducing loneliness in older adults.




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Correlation between sleep hygiene and risk of chronic illness

The connection between sleep patterns and chronic diseases has been an area of increasing interest, particularly as wearable devices like Fitbit become mor




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Correlation between sleep hygiene and risk of chronic illness

The connection between sleep patterns and chronic diseases has been an area of increasing interest, particularly as wearable devices like Fitbit become mor



  • Health &amp; Medicine

nes

Low Manganese Levels Worsen Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Scientists have found a link between manganese deficiency and both inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and increased inflammation and damage in the intestine.



  • Health &amp; Medicine

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Awareness of an Unusual but Real Diagnosis is Spreading Online

Inability to belch syndrome is real, and doctors have an effective way to treat it.



  • Health &amp; Medicine

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Awareness of Workplace-Related Cancers Can Lead to Preventative Strategies

Today, the United States celebrates Labor Day a holiday honoring American workers and the contributions they make to economic prosperity. President Grover



  • Clinical &amp; Molecular DX

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Harnessing Automated Insulin Delivery: Case Reports from Marathon Runners with Type 1 Diabetes

How can machine learning help individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1D)? This is what a study presented at this year’s Annual Meeting of the European As



  • Clinical &amp; Molecular DX

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Awareness of an Unusual but Real Diagnosis is Spreading Online

Inability to belch syndrome is real, and doctors have an effective way to treat it.



  • Clinical &amp; Molecular DX

nes

Harnessing Automated Insulin Delivery: Case Reports from Marathon Runners with Type 1 Diabetes

How can machine learning help individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1D)? This is what a study presented at this year’s Annual Meeting of the European As




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Awareness of an Unusual but Real Diagnosis is Spreading Online

Inability to belch syndrome is real, and doctors have an effective way to treat it.




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FNESC Education Conference

Organizer: First Nations Education Steering Committee
Location: Vancouver




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Community Emergency Preparedness Fund

Organizer: Union of British Columbia Municipalities
Location: Online




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SMFA Visiting Artist Talk: Chitra Ganesh

Feb 7, 2025, 12pm EST

Please join us at the SMFA for a talk and Q&A by visiting artist Chitra Ganesh!

Across a twenty-year practice, Chitra Ganesh has developed an expansive body of work rooted in drawing and painting, which has evolved to encompass animations, wall drawings, collages, computer generated imagery, video, and sculpture. Through studies in literature, semiotics, social theory, science fiction, and historical and mythic texts, Ganesh attempts to reconcile representations of femininity, sexuality, and power absent from the artistic and literary canons. She often draws on Hindu and Buddhist iconography and South Asian forms such as Kalighat and Madhubani, and is currently negotiating her relationship to these images with the rise of right wing fundamentalism in India.

Open to Tufts university students, faculty, and staff.

BuildingAnderson Auditorium
Campus Location: Boston Fenway campus
City: Boston, MA 02111
Campus: Boston Fenway campus
Location Details: 230 Fenway, Boston, MA 02115 (Anderson Auditorium)
Open to Public: Yes
Event Type: Lecture/Presentation/Seminar/Talk
Event Sponsor Details: Thanks to Robert Nagel, Tufts University Art Galleries, the MFA Graduate Program, and the Department of Graphic Arts for their continued support of the visiting artist series.
Event Contact Name: Sophie Cloherty
Event Contact Emailsophie.cloherty@tufts.edu
Event Admission: Free



  • 2025/02/07 (Fri)

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Sleep for Success: Harnessing the Power of Quality Sleep

Dec 10, 2024, 12pm EST

In today's fast-paced world, a good night's sleep is often the first thing to go. In this webinar, you will learn the science and benefits behind sleep, effects of sleep deprivation, and an understanding of sleep cycles. We will also discuss the relationship between your body's two clocks: circadian rhythm and sleep/wake homeostasis. Most importantly, we will cover what causes sleep deprivation and what you can do to prevent it and remedy it.

Open to Public: No
Primary Audience(s): Faculty, Staff
Event Type: Lecture/Presentation/Seminar/Talk
Subject: Health/Wellness
Event Sponsor: Tufts University
Event Sponsor Details: Tufts University Human Resources
Event Contact Name: Tufts University Human Resources
RSVP Information: Register online at us06web.zoom.us…
More infomy.kgalifeservices.com…



  • 2024/12/10 (Tue)

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Let’s Talk AI: Building Awareness and Understanding Together

Nov 21, 2024, 12pm EST

Tufts AI Literacy Forums Fall 2024


  • Has Perplexity become a secret friend you love to pester? Does ChatGPT feel like an evil robot overlord you’re not sure you can trust?
  • Are you curious about how others at Tufts are using AI? Do you ever wonder if you’re the only one with mixed feelings about it?
Over the past two years, generative AI tools have found their way into the spaces where we learn, teach, and work. This series creates an opportunity to discuss the ethical and effective uses of AI and how we can define AI literacy in a way that supports our shared values.

Join a forum where students, faculty, and staff come together to discuss how generative AI is shaping life at Tufts—both inside and outside the classroom.

Online forum: Thursday, November 21, 2024, 12-1:30 p.m. via Zoom

In-person forum: Friday, November 22, 12-2 p.m. on the Medford/Somerville campus (with a lunch buffet)

Online Location Details: Please register, Zoom information will be shared 48 hour prior to the event
Open to Public: No
Primary Audience(s): Faculty, Postdoctoral Fellows, Staff, Students (Graduate), Students (Postdoctoral), Students (Undergraduate)
Event Type: Conference/Panel Event/Symposium, Lecture/Presentation/Seminar/Talk
Subject: Education
Event Sponsor Details: Tufts University Center for the Enhancement of Learning & Teaching
Event Contact Name: Carie Cardamone
Event Contact EmailCarie.Cardamone@tufts.edu
Event Contact Phone: 6176270562
RSVP Informationforms.gle…
More infoforms.gle…



  • 2024/11/21 (Thu)

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Let’s Talk AI: Building Awareness and Understanding Together

Nov 22, 2024, 12pm EST

Tufts AI Literacy Forums Fall 2024


  • Has Perplexity become a secret friend you love to pester? Does ChatGPT feel like an evil robot overlord you’re not sure you can trust?
  • Are you curious about how others at Tufts are using AI? Do you ever wonder if you’re the only one with mixed feelings about it?
Over the past two years, generative AI tools have found their way into the spaces where we learn, teach, and work. This series creates an opportunity to discuss the ethical and effective uses of AI and how we can define AI literacy in a way that supports our shared values.

Join a forum where students, faculty, and staff come together to discuss how generative AI is shaping life at Tufts—both inside and outside the classroom.

Online forum: Thursday, November 21, 2024, 12-1:30 p.m. via Zoom

In-person forum: Friday, November 22, 12-2 p.m. on the Medford/Somerville campus (with a lunch buffet)

Campus: Medford/Somerville campus
Open to Public: Yes
Primary Audience(s): Faculty, Postdoctoral Fellows, Staff, Students (Graduate), Students (Postdoctoral), Students (Undergraduate)
Event Type: Conference/Panel Event/Symposium, Lecture/Presentation/Seminar/Talk
Subject: Education
Event Sponsor Details: Tufts University
Event Contact Name: Carie Noel Cardamone
Event Contact EmailCarie.Cardamone@tufts.edu
Event Contact Phone: 6176270562
RSVP Informationforms.gle…
More infoforms.gle…



  • 2024/11/22 (Fri)

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B8: Podcasting and iTunes U: Institutional Approaches to Scaleable Service

The Open University and UCL have been pursuing projects to deliver on-demand audio and video podcasting recording and distribution services primarily via Apple's iTunes U service. In this talk, Nicholas and Jeremy will discuss how the different approaches of two very different institutions impacted on the nature of the two projects, how challenges were addressed and how solutions were developed. The session was facilitated by Jeremy Speller, UCL and Nicholas Watson.




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A5: The 'other' Accessibility Guidelines - the Importance of Authoring Tool Accessibility Evaluation in a Web 2.0 World

Web content is increasingly produced by authors without extensive web design skills - whether by staff using CMSs, VLEs and courseware or by students publishing their coursework online. The challenge of making sure this content is as accessible as possible becomes much more significant, and inevitably a burden on the individual or institution. The quality of the authoring tool in supporting accessible content creation becomes critical - however support for the W3C's Authoring Tool Accessibility Guidelines (ATAG) by authoring tool vendors seems to be seen as a specific (and usually low priority) customer request rather than a fundamental quality of the tool. For institutions considering selecting a VLE, CMS or other tool that supports web content publication, how can they best express accessibility requirements so that the tool takes its share of responsibility for accessible output? And if existing tools fall short of ATAG conformance, how can the effect of this on the accessibility of content best be managed? The session was facilitated by David Sloan, University of Dundee.




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A5: Sustainable Services: Solidity based on Openness?

Ross Gardler, OSS Watch, University of Oxford and Andrew Savory, Managing Director, Sourcesense UK will consider what makes a service usable and sustainable? Is it one that offers you a service level agreement (SLA)? Or is it one that has sufficient clients that it is likely to survive long-term? And can a service that is principally a "social" service be sustainable? And how might communities of practice relate to the sustainability of an open service?