Due to the Covid 19 health crisis, this year’s EBU conference focusing on acoustic systems for information and navigation purposes was held in the form of 3 online events.
The final report related to the 3 webinars is now available (08/12/2020).
You can download the programme for these events here.
The dates were:
Webinars were audio recorded and each one will last approximately 2.5 hours with a short break in between. Audio files of each day (two different files per day, divided by the coffee breaks) are available upon request from the EBU office.
Presentations were in English interpretation was available in French, German and Spanish.
Speakers:
10 November
Prof. Rodolfo Cattani, EBU President
Rodolfo Cattani, born in 1941, has a University degree in Philosophy of Science from the Bologna University. He worked as a school teacher for 13 years and for almost 20 years he was Managing Director of the Italian National Library for the Blind.
From 1992 to 1996 he was Vice-President of the World Blind Union (WBU).
From 1997 to 2019 he was the Chairman of the EBU Commission for Liaising with the EU.
Since 1997, he has been a member of the Board of the European Disability Forum (EDF), since 2005 he has been member of EDF Executive Committee. From 2009 to 2017 he was EDF Secretary General.
In 2019 he was elected President of the European Blind Union.
Markus Wolf, President, Austrian Federation of the Blind and partially sighted (BSVÖ)
Markus Wolf is the President of the Austrian Federation of the Blind and Partially Sighted (BSVÖ) since 2012. He has been a member of the EBU Commission for Liaising with the EU since 2003 and a cabinet member of this commission since 2007. His duties for the BSVÖ he fulfils as a volunteer. He works in the Austrian Federal Ministry of Labour, Family and Youth where he is mainly responsible for issues of the Council of Europe.
Doris Ossberger, Austrian Federation of the Blind and partially sighted (BSVÖ)
Doris Ossberger has been head of the office for accessibility consulting at the Austrian Federation of the Blind and Partially Sighted (BSVÖ) since 2011. She cooperates closely with BSVÖ’s members and experts to incorporate their positions in guidelines on a national, European and international level. Abstract of Doris Ossberger's presentation.
Luciano Butera, Swiss Federation of the Blind and Visually Impaired SFB
Luciano Butera is head of Technology and Innovation at Swiss Federation of the Blind. He and his team are exploring technical innovation to improve daily Life of visually impaired people. With his background in Computer Science and experience in innovation, Luciano Butera supports the developments of accessible products from the Idea-Creation and design to the technical implementation. Abstract of Luciano Butera's first presentation.
Sylvain Denoncin, Okeenea Tech
Sylvain Denoncin is a French expert in universal accessibility and technologies for the mobility of people with disabilities. He runs companies that provide innovative solutions, chairs the French association of accessibility professionnals (72 companies), and participates to CEN standardization. Abstract of Sylvain Denoncin's 1st presentation.
Ing. Josef Sögner, Austrian Federation of the Blind and partially sighted (BSVÖ)
Officer for Accessibility Consulting within Austrian Federation of the Blind and Partially Sighted. Generally sworn and Court-certified Expert for Accessibility & Expert for Wayfinding.
Jan Urbanek, Czech Blind United (SONS)
Jan Urbanek is a computer science and economics graduate. He is an accessibility expert and has been working for SONS Centre for Barrier-Free Environment and International Relations Office for over a decade. He also serves as an EBU link to WBU working group re access to the environment and transport.
18 November
Prof. Ercan Altinsoy, Chair of Acoustic and Haptic Engineering, Technische Universität Dresden
Ercan Altinsoy is Professor of Acoustic and Haptic Engineering at Technische Universität Dresden, Germany. His main research concept is the perception based engineering. Ercan Altinsoy studied mechanical engineering at the Technical University of Istanbul. He completed his Ph.D. thesis in electrical engineering at Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany. He was member of the International Graduate School for Neuroscience at the Ruhr-University Bochum. After his Ph.D., Ercan Altinsoy worked at HEAD acoustics as NVH Consulting Engineer. Since 2006, he is at Technische Universität Dresden. His research interests include vibroacoustics, vehicle acoustics, psychoacoustics, product sound and vibration design, auditory and haptic interfaces for virtual environments and tactile psychophysics. Since several years, his team and he has conducted various investigations regarding AVAS systems, street-crossing decisions based on auditory information and auditory signs for public transportation. Prof. Altinsoy supervised the Informal Group on Quiet Road Transport Vehicles (QRTV) of UNECE and is the chairman of the "Vehicle Acoustics Expert Committee”. He is Lothar-Cremer medalist of the Acoustical Society of Germany, DEGA. Ercan Altinsoy is one of the founding members of the 5G Lab Germany and excellence cluster CeTI of Technische Universität Dresden. Two years ago, he has been awarded a Visiting Professorship from the Tohoku University, Japan. Abstract of Ercan Altinsoy's presentation.
Tim Ontrup, GeoMobile GmbH
Tim Ontrup is responsible for marketing and sales at GeoMobile GmbH. The company was founded in 2008 and it is located in Dortmund, Germany. It offers mobile IT solutions to public transportation companies. A key part of the company's identity is innovation which is fueled by international research projects. Abstract of Tim Ontrup's presentation.
Sylvain Denoncin, Okeenea Digital
Sylvain Denoncin is a French expert in universal accessibility and technologies for the mobility of people with disabilities. He runs companies that provide innovative solutions, chairs the French association of accessibility professionnals (72 companies), and participates to CEN standardization. Abstract of Sylvain Denoncin's 2nd presentation.
27 November
Jan Urbanek, Czech Blind United (SONS)
Jan Urbanek is a computer science and economics graduate. He is an accessibility expert and has been working for SONS Centre for Barrier-Free Environment and International Relations Office for over a decade. He also serves as an EBU link to WBU working group re access to the environment and transport. Abstract of Jan Urbanek's presentation.
Ask Løvbjerg Abildgaard Dansk Blindesamfund (DBS) / Danish Association of the Blind (DAB)
Ask Løvbjerg Abildgaard is Vice-President of the Danish Association of the Blind. In this capacity, he has a particular focus on accessibility for blind and partially sighted people in both the physical and digital domain. Also, Ask is the Chair of the Liaison Commission with the European Union, a commission working on EU matters as an integral part of policy activities of the European Blind Union.
Ask has more than 15 years of experience from disability organisations in Denmark, at European Level and in the Global South. He has worked as a volunteer and in his professional capacity with lobbying and campaigning for the rights of persons with disabilities, not least as former member of the European Economic and Social Committee. Ask has his educational background in philosophy and the social sciences; he holds master’s degrees in political science as well as disability studies. Abstract of Ask Løvbjerg Abildgaard's presentation.
Susanne Buchner-Sabathy, Austrian Federation of the Blind and partially sighted (BSVÖ)
Susanne Buchner-Sabathy, consultant for digital accessibility, accessibility tester (Screenreader), trainer for blind persons (braille, smartphone), translator (main area: psychoanalysis), active as a volunteer for BSVÖ.
Abstract of Susanne Buchner-Sabathy's presentation.