Hi G�ran, all,

At 12:04 22/03/2011, G�ran Krampe wrote:
something *I* want to do (and has already started doing)

Building on the Smalltalk Community achievements since several decades, and my own Smalltalk-related work since 1992:
1) I've conducted in 2008 and 2009 a quite extensive study of the elderly requirements like preventing and managing impairments, improving quality of life, mobility, nutrition, medication, organization, communication, etc. These are socially, economically and technically challenging enough to motivate calling in Smalltalk technologies. Specifically, the elderly requirements are characterized by quality attributes like runtime adaptation to changing needs and conditions, affordability, and privacy.

2) I've elaborated and funded a project for developing novel Smalltalk-based solutions that address those requirements.    

3) As part of that project, I've already implemented an extension to Pier and Seaside for developing Online Programmable CMSs (OP-CMS) [1]. To the best of my knowledge, no other CMS solution comes currently with end-user programmability. Although, when addressing the elderly requirements, CMS is necessary to dynamically adapt the content of the web server, and end-user programmability to adapt its functionality. So, it appears to me that We, as a Community, have there a significant competitive advantage, which is currently largely underexploited.  

4) Now, I'm in the process of adding social networking facilities (as social networking is known as a core component of elderly-related solutions).

5) As a next step, I want to create a network of professional Seaside/Smalltalk "web service" providers. In effect, runtime adaptation of the server functionality in OP-CMSs is based on online service composition. A "service" may be any piece of code accessible for invocation from a Seaside server, including Seaside components themselves and standard Web-Services from Amazon, etc. "My" software platform provides online service composition and interpretation facilities (together with content management and social networking).

Elderly people need individualized solutions. Additionally, their needs change alongside the ageing process. So, to address worldwide the elderly changing needs, hundred of thousands of individualized services will be needed. This appears to me a concrete and substantial market for Smalltalk solutions. The end-user-friendliness issue of Pier interfaces will be addressed as a byproduct of that effort.

What do you think about this product-oriented and Smalltalk-based research, development, and innovation project?
Would anybody be interested in joining efforts to create and sustain a network of professional Seaside/Smalltalk "web service" providers, and eventually technology developers for Smalltalk-based elderly solutions (in line with what was OLPC for kids)?
 
Regards,
Reza Razavi
[1] http://www.afacms.com/blog/pontoon-app
[2] http://www.rezarazavi.com/about/cv/publications/iwst-2010
[3] http://www.rezarazavi.com/about/cv/publications/pppo-2011