Geographically
located at the South East of Spain, the Region of Murcia makes a triangle, dividing firmly the
influence of the Catalonian impact from the North East & the input of the
Andalusian inheritance from the South west.
Just at the Corner of Cabo de Palos, strong
point of curve towards the west of the Iberian peninsula, the Region of
Murcia is like a frontier with a firm
tradition & personality for i-ntegration.
Phoenicians, Carthaginians[1], Romans, Sephardites, Berbers, Gypsies and
Christians populated the are of some 11.000 square Kilometers, and presently
with a population of over 1 Million
inhabitans with the tallest rate of i-migrants
in Spain. Some cities like Lorca have over 20% of migrants[2].
Hans
Christian Andersen made a trip to Murcia in 1862/63[3]
and found too many Gypsies and Arabs in its unpaved streets!
With some 250 kilometers of sea shore the
Region of Murcia, the tallest in desertification of the Iberian Peninsula, is a very creative Region:
The 6th of April 1272 King Alfonso X el
Sabio set up the University of Murcia targeting, mainly, the integration of
Christian, Arab and Jewish cultures from the Sephardics, the Murcianos, the
near neighbouring Berbers and Gypsies....etc. He was a real innovative man[4].
Today, we, at The UofMU are very
proud of him, for his visionary knowledge and his wisdom so we have nicknamed
him as Alfonso X “El Sabio” the knowledgeable man of wisdom.
In 1885 Isaac Peral[5],
invented and performed the first Submarine, navigating in the harbour of
Cartagena.
In 1912, Juan de la Cierva, created the first ever Hellicopter which took off from the hills of Verdolay, some 10 Kilometers from Murcia city.
The
Region of Murcia is composed of light lands, with a good chain of mountains in
the North, getting into the Segura river plantations of rice at Calasparra and
passing by the North west cities of Caravaca where the world wide know French
Croix of De Gaulle is originated, to Cehegin with a large marble industry and
Moratalla headquarters of an oil business. Then and to the East the grapes
lands of Jumilla’s wine and the important furniture industry town of Yecla,
getting South to Cieza, of over some 50.000 persons and located at a historical
crossroads of traffic (Train, High ways and the Rio Segura meets there for the
first time) to the rest of the Region,
north towards “La Mancha” North and south to Murcia city.
Cieza
is located at rich valley, amidst a very fertile plantations of oranges,
lemons, tangerines, apricots, peaches, prunes, pears, apples & vegetables
of all sorts and the first Civic Network of the Region: Ciez@net a Digital Project which is there since 1997[6]
Palms
trees and desserts lands surrounds the Capital of the Region, Murcia, at the
bottom of another very fertile and larger Valley, irrigated still in some parts
trough an old arabic system[7],
where a good communication system of High ways leads west to the
impressive city of Lorca[8]
in the western part, a real frontier[9]
to Andalucía, and at the bottom of a soft chain of mountains, “Sierra Espuña”
being the tallest in the Region and a National Park.
On
the other side of the hills of “La Cadena” and “La cresta del Gallo” at the
deepest southern point of the Region, is the city of Cartagena[10],
one of the three National Navy Headquarters of Spain – this one for the
Mediterranean, as Cadiz is for the
Atlantic south and El Ferrol for the Atlantic north. An interesting
Politechnical University is located in Cartagena as well as the Parlamentary
Assembly of the Region. Cartagena was also the oldest set foot hole for the
Christian faith in Spain. [11]The
old Catholic Diocesis of
Cartagena-Murcia is located in Murcia city as well as the UofMU and the
Political Executive Presidency of the Regional Community of Murcia[12]
The Region of Murcia has also a “Costa calida”, which runs
along some over 250 Kilometers, from the borders of the Catalonian impact at
Guardamar, the mouth of the Segura River into the Mediterranean, and which runs
along a very special ecological and very salted lagoon, “El Mar Menor”,
connected to the “Mar Mayor” through a natural canal, “La Encañizada”[13]
near to Santiago de la Ribera, headquarters of the National Military Air Force
Training and down to the Cabo the Palos, the deepest geographical turning point
into the south of the Iberian Peninsula. It is a magic point. Mines of Gold
& Silver were in production some decades ago at La Unión, which is very
close to the heavy Industrial Park of Portmán, on the out skirt of Cartagena.
Aguilas is the last splendid sea shore resort and in between from Murcia city
is the town of Alcantarilla, siége of the National Academy for civil and
military Parachuting.
Murcia is a stronghold and meeting point of Culture,
Economics and Politics of i-ntegration in the Iberian
peninsula, and its historical and mythological background goes to the Roman
Goddess of Murcia, representing a beautiful young Lady lying down in a roman
canapé and surrounded of ivy thick plants.
I was born in Murcia[14]
where I did my High School and University studies but left the city when I was
only 21, after my Graduation in Law at the UofMU and have not come back, from
my diplomatic postings at the UN. in New York, The Vatican in Rome, Perou,
Australia, New Zealand, PNG, Fiji, Tonga, The Salmon Islands, Canada, Lithuania
and Denmark, after 39 years of absence. But I was graduated in Law at the
UofMU. So my connections are clear enough from the very beginning.
Early on the Decade of
the 90´s the UofMU has elaborated, researched and developed an important
special “niche” for IT´s. The outcomes, in the world of Internet Technologies
and the fields of TIC´s, can be tested, by/at different areas of research and
applications of the University, probably one of the most advanced in this
issues in Spain.
The
UofMU[15]
has one basic Product and two flagship Projects which I am going to outline in
this Panel of ISOC at [16]
INET´ 2002[17] in the next
20´ in my closing address to this Panel about “Beyond Web Accessibility –
Design for All and Internet Technology”[18]
The
flagship Product of the UofMU is the MUSCard[19]
based on smart chip technologies which has produced a Smart Card item with the
main purpose of ID at the University, throughout the ITAC (Intelligent,
Terminal for Access Control) or TICA in Spanish (Terminal Inteligente de
Control de Acceso) which runs the entire system of the University throughout
multiples small virtual Secretaries, (TICA’s machines) scattered all over the
Campuses, and which gives more than 30 services to students, professors and
staff members, from ID, to Library lending purposes, virtual on time meetings
among students, professors & staff, paying fees of different sorts, like
photocopies, tuition and others, money pocket, car pools, sportive as well as
gym and outdoors activities….etc.
The
almost Products are based on the MUSCard technologies and the main Projects,
actually in a well road of development are:
I
will speak today only about the two Projects and in a very concise way.
The
University School of Social Works of the UofMU has worked in the past, for 7
consecutive years and since 1995 together with the TICA Department and they
have succeed in setting up several Encounters among “University students,
people with disabilities and volunteers for “University Education, Community
life & Disabilities” bringing about the publication of a Book ‘on-line’
introduced in Copenhague in 1999[22]
Since
them two main targets are aimed, in order to integrate IT’s Technologies and
specially the SC device, MUSCard, to advance the Societal immersion of People
with Disabilities into Society, the so called:
The Ciud@d,es Project
The Sm@rtfires Project
The Smartfires has been
presented, in an Abstract, to the European Union P6M, or 6th
Framework Program for Excellence Research, the last 7th of June.
I will describe both of
them, also in a short way.
Ciud@d.es in Spanish is the synchronic of the
following ideas in our Language:
Centro de
investigación y
usos
de las TIC para los
@dultos y
discapacitados
.en
es-paña.
The main idea is to build a huge i-DB which is called “The
Virtu@l building”, for the entire Region of Murcia
for Senior and other People with disabilities, done, if possible, by
themselves, since the very beginning, using Chip technologies and specially the
basic MUSCard of the UofMU.
This intelligent and inter-active Data
Base will be the main pumping heart of the Project and it is easy to build,
following a very simple schema of data:
Geographical
references (where is located the person),
Arithmetical
data (which is the users number assigned to the person at the i-DB)
and
Cultural
parameters (sort of quality & preferences in life for/of the Members of the
i-DB,
plus economic situation data….etc.)
Societals inputs
(levels of social immersion & participation as well as special features
connecting with her/his disabilities)
All this Information will be stored also at the MUSCard chip
and will inter-act with the “Physical Building”, which is going to be built
with the latest technologies for construction. Soft, adjustable new materials,
sensors and all kind of furniture, removable and able to be stored, when need
it, in order that when a new user comes to the Building, showing her/his
identity at the MUSCard, the Memory of the i-DB, automatically will adjust the
Entrance hall, corridors and rooms and even common spaces to the needs of the
users. Ramps, sounds, lights, Braille systems, chairs, wheel chairs, tables and
sofas, will be set up of the type asked for….at the SC identification memory,
immediately!
This is the concept developed by the Canadian Architect Eric
BUNGE[23]
of New York. In 2000 they won the First Prize at the international competition
to design a “Hotel á la Karte” house at the Hotel Proforma [24]
in Orestaad, Denmark, in which physical services would be digitally ordered
with a Smart Card. This year they were one of thirty firms worldwide to have
exhibited in the international architectural exhibition in Orléans, Archilab,
2002
The Project of
Ciud@d.es was
presented[25] at the
UofMU on the 17th of January 2001 on occasion of the inauguration of
the International Year of Volunteers and during the Official visit of HRH. the
Prince of Asturias, Prince Felipe, to the Region of Murcia, by a team of
Canadian, Spanish & US researchers,
professors, diplomats and businessmen from Ottawa, Nepean, Segovia, New York
and Madrid. The project was also outlined at the Closing address of Educa-red[26],
in Madrid with the Participation of hundreds of professors and teachers from
all over Spain at the Palacio de Congresos in Madrid, on the 20th of
January same year. This Congress of Educa-red was also inaugurated by HRH the
Prince of Asturias, Prince Felipe on the 19th.
This Project is about building up of a Digital Network of Excellence, of
no more than 50 experts “on-line”, in order to research and come up with
practices, tools and incentives to adequate the European normative on Building
construction for Fire protection and improved the IST technologies to
prevent/help the blind, the deaf, the wheel-chair users and the aged, in cases
of Fires at their living or working places. This could be possible by an
intensive use of the Smart Card and by setting up special alarms, sensors and
devices, as well as training people and the creation of artefacts to be more
suitable in order to help before, during and after the whole process of a Fire
is detected.
The process to follow up research must be focus in:
·
Detection.
·
Prevention, and
·
Extinction of
fires
The targeted
research will have to be directed, mainly towards:
·
Infrastructure
Technologies (software and hardware)
·
Equipment/Devices
of all kinds
º Sounds
º Lights
º Consumer electronics
º Radios
º TV sets
º Mobil phones
º Universal Remote Consoles
º Special devices for specific needs
·
And Human
resources
º Accommodation Specialist
º Use of training systems
º Employment of a digital network of trained volunteers[27].
We also intend to
use the schema of the UNITeS[28]
The level of protection of buildings is bound directly to the culture of
society, the growth of energetic consumption and the technological advances to
the built-in systems[29].
When raising the cultural and economic levels of society, a greater
protection against fires on the part of citizens is demanded; whereas the
greater power consumption entails greater fire risk. Also, the existence of
norms relative to the compulsory conditions that buildings and systems must
comply, contributes to the collective awareness of this problem.
On the other hand,
technological advances in the fire detection (more and more precise and trust
worthy) as well as the systems of extinction take place (more effective and
ecological). Nevertheless we, at the
UofMU, thought that we can extend this technological advance hammering the
technologies aimed at the effective co-ordination of organism in case of
emergency and the integration of the existing system of detection and
extinction of fires, contributing advances in the IST´s that result in the
protection of citizens with special emphasis in the most disable groups. It is
intended to developed systems that, in addition, eliminate environmental
barriers and facilitate the integration of these disabled and aged groups in
society.
The universal character of
this problem, entails a big effort beyond the national scope, requiring
European scale means of mobilisation with the purpose of offering global
solutions. The departure point of this investigation ahead is based on the
Smart Card incorporation from the Department of TICA of the UofMU, http://www.Muscard.com to the systems of
detection and performance of fires ion two levels:
·
Control of
presence,
·
Control of
access,
º The outgoing interface,
º The incoming interface
·
The central
system of management for control and presence.
As a result of this Digital network of
Excellence, an European approach to all techniques of performance in existing
case of fire at present time is being offered.
Generally
speaking and following this simple schema we should also have a look into
ISO&IEC, the International Standards Organisation and of the International
Electronic Commission for special devices. They are already hooked up at
Geneva, at http://www.iso.org in reference to
IT Standards and the JTC, the Join Technical Committee and the SC 35 Sub
Committee 35.
We
have to research into a sort of a Users Interfaces with Human beings, in order
to build a Digital Network of
Excellence of no more than 50 people, representing all this aspects of
Research & Appliances.
My
intention with this talk is to add to the excellent Panel we just heard here,
at INET’ 2002, on “Beyond Web Accessibility – Design for All and Internet
Technologies” by Mark Urban and Bill LaPlant “Accessible Protocols for an Array
of Devices to be Connected Over the Internet” and William Lawson, Ph.D. on “Biometrics,
People with Disabilities and the Internet” and exceptionally moderated by Mike
Burks[30]
some special fields where we can all
deploy our imagination, inspiration, desire work and creativity to achieve our
aims.
We hope all that we all will be enriched by the
outstanding presentation of today in this Panel of INET´2002
I hope it can be added something…..more!
José Luis Pardos, PhD
Ambassador of Spain, on special Mission for
IT´s
Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Palacio de Santa Cruz.
Madrid.
18th of July 2002
[1] They came through the Region
of Murcia, on its way to conquer Rome
and if Anibal will have won again, after the successful three hours battle, of
the Trasimeno Lake, some day of April
217 b.c. against Servilio and Flaminio to conquer Rome, the whole
politics and history of Europe will have been a different one. Rome won, and
the world of Europe became roman, Carthago lost and Anibal could not impose the rule of Cartagena on
the Mediterranean area and the Iberian peninsula, which he has conquered before
from Castille to Salamanca, as his
father Amilcar Barca had done in northern Africa, when he died in 228 b.c.
already in Spain . Carthago was located
in the present area of Tunisia and its Iberian foot hole was set up and
nominated the Region of Cartagena-Murcia.
[2] Of some over 75.000 persons of
population, and probably the tallest immigration rate of Europe. Families, of
third generation, from Ecuador, Peru, Morocco and Subsaharian countries are
populating the large agricultural fields of Lorca, on its summers harvest of
Kiwis, and other primor vegetables.
[3] Cfrs. In the Book, published in
Denmark, “Hans Christian Amdersen in Spanien”
first edition of 1863 by C.A.Reizel in Copenhague, where he describes
the shores of the Mediterranean coast from Barcelona, to Valencia, Elche and
Murcia, going then from Cartagena, on a very “dirty ship” to Malaga and then
travelling to northern Morocco and Marrakesh.
[4] His well known “El Libro de las
siete Partidas” was a master piece, in the XIII Century. A sort of a Rule of
Law for that time!
[5] Vide. More information in Encilopedia Universal Ilustrada, Euro-Americana, Vol. XLIII, Espasa Calpe, Bilbao, 1921, pp. 504-507
[6] Cfrsé. http://www.cieza.net
[7] “El Reguerón” is a long Canal which spreads the water all over the agricultural fields and La Noria of “La Ñora” is a round pump wheel which elevates water some 20 meters above with the same purpose of irrigation. Both artifacts belongs to the arabic water technologies and are in total use now-a-days. The Transvase Tajo-Segura brings water from the River Tajo to the Segura and a future project to bring more water, this time from the Ebro river, is under major discussions. Water is an essential element to the Region.
[8] More than 70.000 persons and with a
rate, the tallest in Europe of some 20% of migrant population.
[9] See the Metropolitan Museum of Art
in New York, the splendid Patio of the
Marquis of “Velez Rubio”, part of a real fortress and a few kilometers west of
Lorca.
[10]
With a population of some 200.000, and the second City in the Region,
probably the strongest area in the for the regional economy, maritime strategic
importance and industrial power.
[11] No later than ca. Year 60 AC.
Apostle Saint Jack came from Carthago to Spain and landed in “Santa Lucia” on
the shores of the Mediterranea sea, very near to Caratagena, and then preached
the Gospel all over Spain, dying in Santiago de Compostela and being buried
there.
[12] More details and facts can be found
in http://www.carm.es
[13] Privately owned traditional by Tomas Maestre´s family.
[14] I was born in “El Barrio del Carmen”, on the south side of
the Segura River, which my father, nicknamed as “El Barrio de los Ferroviarios”
or the train working living place, because it was very near to the Train Station.
[15] The UofMU has over 50.000 students
and some 3.000 Professor and staff members. Some 14 Faculties and three
Campuses, in Espinardo, La Merced and Convalecencia, with uses and employs
quite an advanced ITC´s system for identification, communication and social
impact developments.
[16] Vide http://www.isoc.org created in Copenhague in 1992 for
the free development and uses of the Internet and to which, at its Board of
Trustees, I was elected in 1997
together with Ben Segal from the CERN in Geneva, John Gilmore CEO of
EFF. the Electronic Frontier Foundation at San Francisco Ca. Jun Murai from
Japan and Christine Maxwell french-anglo Lady creator of the Yellow Pages of
the Internet in 1994. At this BoT were already John Postel, the man from IANA,
Vington C.Cerf, the man for IT/PCP, Scott Brand, the man for Standards, David
Faber from BITNET at Corneil University, Larry Landweberg, the man for Internet
II & my first CoB from Wisconsin University, among others and the whole BoT
used to meet, at the same time that the IETF (The Internet Engineering Task
Force) and later on, after the meeting on “Strategies for the 2000” in Paris,
in 1999 the ISTF or Internet Societal Task Force, which lead, in a way, to the ICANN, actually chaired
in its last meeting in Bucarest by Vington G Cerf on July 2002
[17] The Internet Society or ISOC, has
developed & research many tuition
ways at its annual Conferences INET, http://www.inet.org since then, with the criteria of
setting every year at the end of the University term (last week of June) the
Conferences, once in Europe, once in America and once in Asia. I have actively
participated in all of them since 1996 in Montreal, 1997 in Kuala Lumpur, 1998
in Geneva, 1999 in Yokohama, 2000 in San Jose, Ca. 2001, in Stockholm and 2002
presently in Washington DC under the tittle, this last time of “Internet
Crossroads” including “The IPv6 Development Summit”. See http://www.intet2002.org and http://www.ipv6summit.com
[18] Vide the whole Program at the above
mentioned URL http://www.inet2002.org This Panel, specially devoted and a
follow up of previous & precious INET Conferences at Stockholm, San Jose
and Geneva, is composed of some special personalities, more or less, all of
them devoted to the areas of People with disabilities.The following participants are important to underlined, for future works: Mark Urban docurban@nc.rr.com, Bill LaPlant, claplant@census.gov,
ICDRi, USA “Accessible Protocols for an Array of Devices to be Connected Over
the Internet”, William Lawson, Ph.D, wjl@att.com
AT&T and ICDRi, USA “Biometrics, People with Disabilities and the
Internet”. All under the excellent leadership of Mike Burks, ATT&T, USA, mburks952@att.net and more or less all of us, disables, in a certain way.
[19] Vide http://www.muscar.com and mainly its impacts in the
University campuses and areas of influence, mainly in Spain and Canada
[20] Look at http://www.um.es/unids
[21] Research Program launched the 7th
of June, this year, for the EU. research of Excellence, together with 75% of
the Anti fire business in Spain http://www.tecnifuego-aespi.org, the
Government of the Region of Murcia, http://www.carm.es and the TICA Department of the
UofMU, trying to establish a Digital Network of Excellence for research and
application on people with Disabilities, helping/Aiding in cases of fires.
[24] See more of this important and
innovative Ballet Art Co. http://www.hotelproforma.dk
[25] Vide http://www.On-Lsp.ca
[26] Cfr. at http://www.educared.net
[27] It could be used a schema more or
less similar to the present UNITeS digital volunteers services which is already
operating for bridging the digital divide between North and South. See http://www.unites.org
[28] Vide en http://www.unites.org
[29] Cfr. Part of those last paragraphs
are literally transcribed from the Abstract that the UofMU presented the 7th
of June last to the European Commission, for obtaining the P6M founds for
research and application.
[30] Cfr. Mark Urban, docurban@nc.rr.com Bill LaPlant, claplant@census.gov William Lawson, Ph.D. wjl@att.com and Mike Nburks, mburks952@att.net