Well, folks, this is the day we've all been waiting for. Who knows
what accessibility requirements have been written into the contracts.
----- Forwarded message begins here -----
From: Gregg Vanderheiden via Post Office <po@trace.wisc.edu >
To: Multiple recipients of list <uaccess-l@trace.wisc.edu>
Date: Tue, 5 Dec 1995 11:17:24 -0600
Subject: Fwd: USPS to offer electronic access to govt services
>Date: Sat, 2 Dec 1995 02:38:49 -0500
>From: "Lyndell D. Core" <lcore@CAPACCESS.ORG>
>Subject: IS THIS THE POST OFFICE?
>To: Multiple recipients of list RITIM-L <RITIM-L@URIACC.URI.EDU>
>
>This is LONG
>
>The U.S. Postal Service took the first step toward making 24-hour electronic
>access to government services a reality today by awarding four contracts to
>develop INTERACTIVE Service to the Citizens Kiosk prototypes.
>
>Task order contracts were awarded to:
>Cordant, Inc. Reston, Virginia
>Digital Equipment Corp. Greenbelt, Maryland
>IBM Government Systems Houston, Texas
>North Communications Marina del Rey, California
>
>Should market testing prove successful, more than 10,000 kiosks could be on
line
>in post offices, libraries, shopping malls, and other convenient locations
>within the next few years.
>
>We have a government which is open from nine to five serving customers who want
>access from five to nine said Robert Reisner, Vice President Technology
>Application, USPS.
>
>Technology Apps role is to develop new products and services from emerging
>technologies.
>
>The world is changing fast, Reisner added. With the Internet and dozens of
>other sources of evidence proving it, we can all see that the electronic
>marketplace is dynamic, offering new service opportunities every day. We can
>now create user friendly access to a government open around the clock.
>
>Reisner said the firms awarded the contracts will compete to develop integrated
>software and multi-media applications. One or more firms could eventually
>create a network of free standing kiosks.
>
>We have a competition of ideas and trials with four well qualified vendors, he
>said. However, before we are ready to present a single concept nationally, a
>prudent approach calls for extensive testing, and we want to make sure that we
>are utilizing the most up to date technological advances.
>
>From your local post office the electronic service window could register a
child
>for school or access social security benefit information. Perhaps while
grocery
>shopping, he added, you could obtain a loan application from the Small Business
>Administration or pay a parking fine. Catalog mailers may find the postal
kiosk
>an attractive vehicle for providing a low cost sales channel with unique
>national reach.
>
>Since May 1994, the Postal Service has been working with representatives of
more
>than 18 federal agencies and 50 state and local governments to shape a
model for
>government wide service
>delivery
>
>Initially each contractor will be awarded $30,000 in contracts.
>Individual tasks may raise funding to $5 million pending approval by Postal
>Service senior management and the Board of Governors.
>Larger funding levels may be authorized
>
>Advances in telecommunications technology are increasing the risk of creating
>two information societies: the haves and the have nots, said Reisner. But the
>Postal Service can deploy information technology to provide universal service
>and address this emerging problem, he added.
>
>The Postal Service, as the original information highway, has the unique ability
>through its 40,000 locations to provide electronic access. WeUre the link to
>the federal government that has provided the ubiquitous infrastructure of
trust,
>security and privacy for more than 200 years. Reisner.
>
>More at
>USPS Home Page: http://www.usps.gov
>
>--
>^^^ Lyndell D. Core ^^^
>^^^ lcore@capaccess.org^^^
>^^^ Washington, D.C. ^^^
>Newt is my neighbor and doesn't even know my name.
-- -----------------------------------------------------
Gregg C. Vanderheiden Ph.D.
Trace R&D Center
Waisman Center and Dept of Industrial Engr.
University of Wisconsin - Madison 53705
gv@Trace.Wisc.Edu , FAX 608 262-8848
FTP,Gopher and WWW servers at trace.wisc.edu
For list of our listserve discussions send "LISTS" to listproc@trace.wisc.edu
------ Forwarded message ends here ------
Lloyd Rasmussen
Senior Staff Engineer
National Library Service f/t Blind and Physically Handicapped
Library of Congress 202-707-0535
lras@loc.gov
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