A few words about the host.

I was introduced to SGML, and hence XML, via the infamous XML-DEV list, when I was tasked with reviewing multi-media publishing for RNIB and delved into the subject, almost never to return.

I had a systems and software background in the Aerospace industry until I moved to my present location, some eighty miles North of London, England. Originally from Yorkshire, the biggest and best part of England, I've lived in the flatlands of Lincolnshire, the other (I shan't say wrong) side of the pennines where my two children were born, then via a brief sojourn in London to Bedfordshire, still far too flat for my liking, although I enjoyed the stay.

My interests tend to focus on technologies XML based. I find Scheme the most interesting of the languages I've looked at, which is not to say that I find it easy to use. It has this magic quality of being easy for easy stuff, yet more than capable of meeting quite stringent needs for tasks its meant for. I play golf to a handicap of 14, although I had to look hard when my wife reduced her's to 13, pehaps it's time I gave it up! I have a partially lapsed interest in woodturning and cabinet making, having produced a small number of items I'm sufficiently proud of to declare them as mine, including two chests of drawers, a full length mirrors with 4' turned posts, and even a double wardrobe.

I try to help out with the Web Accessibility Initiative, I have contribed to the DAISY working group, which provides a second generation digital talking book player targeted at Blind and partially sighted users, capable of providing navigable audio, and partly based on SMIL from the W3C.

I helped with reviewing and improving the accessibility of the ODF standard from Oasis along with a great bunch of people. I'm into revisions of a transform from ODF to Daisy.

I also hold a little information on Braille, the tactile language used by some readers, and an open source English Braille engine at ubraille.org.

I've published a book on XSL-FO which is in need of an update. Early desires to print SGML led me into DSSSL and Scheme. I'm of the opinion that one reason for its small uptake was the lack of print documentary support, hence my book.