Feedback on Information Needs
Types of information needed
- How to get referred to services.
- Where services are located.
Ensuring information reaches service users
- Volunteers can help all 3 organisations by getting information to potential users, and in formats that users need. Kingston Voluntary Action could assist as it is the umbrella organisation for the voluntary sector.
Provision of information in alternative formats
- The point was made that taping very long documents is not helpful. It is better to record a digest and advise the listener to call for details.
- There are pitfalls involved in using artificial voice systems. For example, Brian Gaff did the A to Z of Council services on an artificial voice system, and needed to instruct the system how to pronounce an extremely long exception list of words.
- Steve from Kingston Hospital advised that the hospital are exploring the use of different formats. As all documents start as a text document they could be saved as MP3 files, then put on audiotape or CD on request, so that all documents could be supplied in audio format.
- Brian Gaff advised the group of the use of Orion web box used in the Netherlands.