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<title>Handicapped People of the World, Unite! LG #85</title>
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<IMG ALT="" SRC="../gx/navbar/left.jpg" WIDTH="14" HEIGHT="45" BORDER="0" ALIGN="bottom"><A HREF="johnson.html"><IMG ALT="[ Prev ]" SRC="../gx/navbar/prev.jpg" WIDTH="16" HEIGHT="45" BORDER="0" ALIGN="bottom"></A><A HREF="index.html"><IMG ALT="[ Table of Contents ]" SRC="../gx/navbar/toc.jpg" WIDTH="220" HEIGHT="45" BORDER="0" ALIGN="bottom" ></A><A HREF="../index.html"><IMG ALT="[ Front Page ]" SRC="../gx/navbar/frontpage.jpg" WIDTH="137" HEIGHT="45" BORDER="0" ALIGN="bottom"></A><A HREF="http://www.linuxgazette.com/cgi-bin/talkback/all.py?site=LG&article=http://www.linuxgazette.com/issue85/lodato.html"><IMG ALT="[ Talkback ]" SRC="../gx/navbar/talkback.jpg" WIDTH="121" HEIGHT="45" BORDER="0" ALIGN="bottom" ></A><A HREF="../lg_faq.html"><IMG ALT="[ FAQ ]" SRC="./../gx/navbar/faq.jpg"WIDTH="62" HEIGHT="45" BORDER="0" ALIGN="bottom"></A><A HREF="mahoney.html"><IMG ALT="[ Next ]" SRC="../gx/navbar/next.jpg" WIDTH="15" HEIGHT="45" BORDER="0" ALIGN="bottom" ></A><IMG ALT="" SRC="../gx/navbar/right.jpg" WIDTH="15" HEIGHT="45" ALIGN="bottom">
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<A HREF="http://www.linuxgazette.com/">
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<SMALL>...<I>making Linux just a little more fun!</I></SMALL>
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<BIG><BIG><STRONG><FONT COLOR="maroon">Handicapped People of the World, Unite!</FONT></STRONG></BIG></BIG>
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<BR>
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<STRONG>By <A HREF="../authors/lodato.html">Janine M Lodato</A></STRONG>
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<EM>This article explores Linux's potential role in assistive technology
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(AT). AT allows those living with multiple schlerosis, other handicaps or
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the affects of aging to take greater control in maintaining their health and
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living independently.
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</EM>
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<H2>Introduction</H2>
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<P> Some of the most criminal and immoral aspects of the
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monopolistic practices of Microsoft, which for all
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practical purposes eliminated or curtailed competition,
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is the fact that PCs today are
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<UL>
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<LI> much too expensive.
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<LI> insanely unreliable.
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<LI> maddeningly complex.
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</UL>
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<P> These negative attributes of the Windows world
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makes the PCs of today useless for the truly needy:
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<UL>
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<LI> the aging population.
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<LI> the physically disabled.
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<LI> the learning disabled.
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<LI> and the professionals working with all the above.
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</UL>
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The sum of these people account for more than half
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the population of the world. They are in need of a
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collaborative assistive technology (AT) system which
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operates with telephone-style simplicity. An end-to-end
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AT-based collaborative system connected via the Web
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will allow the professionals to provide support group-style
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assistance in the form of a simple virtual community.
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<P> Now that Linux is available, it is feasible to approach
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this very large market using a low-cost, rugged and simple
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client system. Linux-based client systems connected
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to Linux servers are perfect for such end-to-end
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AT systems offering. The reliable and simple features
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of Linux coupled with low cost Linux based hardware
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and platforms and applications are the only solution
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for these end users who need AT capabilities.
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<H2>The work to be done</H2>
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<P> A very significant upgrade of self-supported health
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improvement can be achieved using assistive
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technologies (AT) connected via the Web.
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Recent scientific studies by major universities
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in the field of behavioral medicine including
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psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) indicate that getting
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involved with collaborative group activities
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has significant rehabilitation potential. In fact
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behavioral medicine can prevent disease, and
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improve quality of life and rehabilitate.
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Of course it does not replace the pharmaceuticals,
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but it does improve their effectiveness.
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<P> It is suggested that the collaborative virtual community
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systems, based on Web-connected AT clients and servers,
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supporting the disabled and the aging can also be used for
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the able-bodied eyes-busy, hands-busy professionals to
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improve their productivity. Also learning-disabled children
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can make very good use of AT. This low cost set of AT
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platforms and associated Web connectivity could be
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very useful in many government and commercial employment
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arenas. This dual-use type approach will significantly lower
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the cost of the needed technologies for all groups.
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<P> Of course there is still work to be done. Applications for AT technologies
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must be developed or perfected to allow collaboration between the health
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service professionals
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or social worker professionals and the many people in need.
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Web connected AT oriented software components running on Linux client
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machines connected to Linux servers have to be created such as
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<UL>
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<LI> simple and application specific user interface.
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<LI> voice based interaction via computer/telephone.
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<LI> always-on and always-available systems.
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<LI> a collaborative virtual community systems.
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</UL>
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<P> Through such systems the professionals can monitor,
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mentor and moderate and even medicate the members
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of the collaborative community. For a good example:
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when dealing with students with learning disabilities, it is
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important to get their attention, to bolster their behavior
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and finally to improve their cognitive productivity. With
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assistive technology people can prevent further destruction
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of their faculties, improve their quality of life and can even be
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rehabilitated somewhat. Just the idea of being productive
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adds to a person's self-esteem enormously.
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<H2>A personal example</H2>
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<P> I have many years of personal experience using AT and found
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it very helpful in SPMS (secondary progressive multiple sclerosis)
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conditions as described below in a brief review of my
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personal experiences.
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<P> In addition to my extensive experience with AT I also have
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related graduate credentials from both California State
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Univ at Northridge (the center for AT corporate interactions)
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as well as CSU in Sacramento and UOP in Stockton.
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<P> In spite of my handicap, I find it gratifying and fulfilling to
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concentrate my efforts on projects worthwhile to a very deserving community.
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Involvement such as this has proved to have healing powers for me. I am
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living proof of the powers of PNI based on personal involvement.
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<P> Having relied on AT in order to survive my wheelchair imprisonment,
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specifically voice recognition for writing, I see dual value: one for the
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hands-busy, eyes-busy professionals increasing their productivity through
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ease of use, and the other, of course, for use by the physically disabled.
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<P> Being disabled with MS, I use IBM ViaVoice on a MAC to write. It allows
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me to verbally communicate by email with my friends as well as giving me the
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opportunity to express myself and get involved with worthwhile projects in
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the AT arena.
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<P> Typically voice recognition systems spell very well but now and then
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some of them do make typos which really take the cake:
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<UL>
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<LI> emerge -> eat March
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<LI> inevitable -> in edit a bowl
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<LI> Nazi -> not see
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<LI> multiple schlerosis -> multiple skull roses
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<LI> idiosyncracies -> HBO sink receives
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<LI> A loud sneeze from my husband nearby inspires the computer to type
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"aha".
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</UL>
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<P> I receive enduring fulfillment from developing my intellectual strengths
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and putting them to positive use. I learn from my negative experiences which
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have been many in my 54 years of existence and I savor my positive
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experiences to learn optimism.
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<P> The best way to use these intellectual strengths is to get involved with
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collaborative teamwork and personal communications within the disabled
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community and with companies who provide assistive technologies for this
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community.
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<P> It is important for me to maintain what little health I have and
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to become involved in something I hold great faith in. So I have decided to
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become involved in the latest AT systems available to people with
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disabilities. I am especially interested in technologies that help the
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disabled express themselves, such as voice recognition for writing and
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voice-activated telephone service for talking.
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<P> There are many AT type technologies that focus on, and make good use of
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the physical abilities a disabled person may still have such as voice, lip
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movement, eye motion and brain waves. These capabilities can be used with
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brain-actuated computer systems and voice recognition software, to name a
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few. Integrating these already-existing technologies into something usable
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by disabled clients so they can express themselves will offer them freedom in
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spite of their handicap.
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<P> Understanding that there are companies already seeking to address this
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market makes my involvement in the area that much easier and completely
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natural. Finding companies geared toward brain-actuated computer control
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systems is my next assignment.
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<P> As a handicapped woman who still has control of her mental faculties and
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voice, I have something to offer by connecting the right people so that I can
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integrate systems through the Internet to develop a mutually beneficial
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virtual community.
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<H2>Conclusion</H2>
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<P> Personal communications and collaborative teamwork need assistive
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technologies to further the self-esteem of the disabled. Linux, due to its
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low cost, open architecture and international development, provides an ideal
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platform for building these technologies. Those living with handicaps
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(and their relatives and friends) can make a unique contribution to this
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effort because they know firsthand what benefits AT can provide.
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<P> Involvement in AT projects can help disabled people in another way too.
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Not only does it provide a distraction from their problems, but it's also a
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constructive way to spend their time while furthering a cause they believe in.
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<P> The positive rehabilitative effects of Behavioral Medicine is my method
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of surviving and thriving until a final cure for MS is developed.
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<BLOCKQUOTE><EM>
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[LG would like to see additional articles and Mailbag letters
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about Linux's applicability in assistive technology. If you have any
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ideas, let us know. -Ed.]
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</EM></BLOCKQUOTE>
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<!-- *** BEGIN copyright *** -->
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<hr>
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<CENTER><SMALL><STRONG>
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Copyright © 2002, Janine M Lodato.
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Copying license <A HREF="../copying.html">http://www.linuxgazette.com/copying.html</A><BR>
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Published in Issue 85 of <i>Linux Gazette</i>, December 2002
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</STRONG></SMALL></CENTER>
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<IMG ALT="" SRC="../gx/navbar/left.jpg" WIDTH="14" HEIGHT="45" BORDER="0" ALIGN="bottom"><A HREF="johnson.html"><IMG ALT="[ Prev ]" SRC="../gx/navbar/prev.jpg" WIDTH="16" HEIGHT="45" BORDER="0" ALIGN="bottom"></A><A HREF="index.html"><IMG ALT="[ Table of Contents ]" SRC="../gx/navbar/toc.jpg" WIDTH="220" HEIGHT="45" BORDER="0" ALIGN="bottom" ></A><A HREF="../index.html"><IMG ALT="[ Front Page ]" SRC="../gx/navbar/frontpage.jpg" WIDTH="137" HEIGHT="45" BORDER="0" ALIGN="bottom"></A><A HREF="http://www.linuxgazette.com/cgi-bin/talkback/all.py?site=LG&article=http://www.linuxgazette.com/issue85/lodato.html"><IMG ALT="[ Talkback ]" SRC="../gx/navbar/talkback.jpg" WIDTH="121" HEIGHT="45" BORDER="0" ALIGN="bottom" ></A><A HREF="../lg_faq.html"><IMG ALT="[ FAQ ]" SRC="./../gx/navbar/faq.jpg"WIDTH="62" HEIGHT="45" BORDER="0" ALIGN="bottom"></A><A HREF="mahoney.html"><IMG ALT="[ Next ]" SRC="../gx/navbar/next.jpg" WIDTH="15" HEIGHT="45" BORDER="0" ALIGN="bottom" ></A><IMG ALT="" SRC="../gx/navbar/right.jpg" WIDTH="15" HEIGHT="45" ALIGN="bottom">
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