Information Technology And Disabilities: 10 Years And Beyond
In the computer age, 10 years is a very long time. As a point of reference, consider that in October of 1994 Tim Berners-Lee created the now famous World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). In looking over a few histories of the Internet, I humorously note that in early 1994 there were only a total of 3,000 web sites around the world. Ten years later, that number now exceeds 50 million. Although the continuous advancement of the web is only one small snapshot of the great explosion of information technology over the past 10 years, it does help to illustrate just how much things have changed.
It was also 10 years ago, in January of 1994, that the journal Information Technology and Disabilities was born, thanks to the forward thinking and hard work of Tom McNulty, Norman Coombs, and others of EASI. At that time I was asked to serve as both a Contributing Editor and a member of the Editorial Board. Now with the crossing of our 10-year threshold, Tom McNulty, our able Editor-in-Chief since ITD's first issue, has decided that it is time to take a less active role in the journal. Therefore, beginning with this 2004 issue, I am formally taking over the reins as ITD's new Editor-in-Chief. However, Tom's valuable talents will not be totally absent from the journal, as Tom has agreed to stay on as Senior Editor. This positioning will help retain a sense of continuity to what has been a reliable and worthy enterprise.
We are also in the process of revamping ITD's Board of Editors. Working with me on the front lines, Brian Mikesell from St. John's University Libraries will continue to serve as ITD's Associate Editor. New to ITD readers will be the work of Jen Andrews who is joining the staff as Editorial Assistant. Changes to the roster of out Editorial Board are still in process, but there also we will be seeing a few new faces, mixed with some of ITD's seasoned editors. The changes to the Editorial Board should be wrapped up in short order, so I'll be leaving that update for our next issue.
In closing, I would just like to say that Information Technology and Disabilities will only be as good as the articles submitted to it for publication. We will regularly need quality articles from experts in the field. So please help me make the next 10 years of ITD just as impressive as its past by contacting me with new ideas for article topics and special issue themes.
Steve Noble
Policy Analyst, Kentucky Assistive Technology Service Network
8412 Westport Road
Louisville, KY 40242
Phone: (502) 327-0022 x268
steve.noble@ky.gov