Re: HWG AWARE-TECHNIQUES - Tools
by Mike Livsey <mlivsey(at)qwest.com>
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Date: |
Wed, 23 Jan 2002 15:37:31 -0700 |
To: |
aware-techniques(at)hwg.org |
References: |
fouram |
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todo: View
Thread,
Original
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Here in Denver, CO. I attended an STC (Society for Technical Communication)
meeting last year and listened to someone who is both blind and deaf speak about
Disability issues in Technical Communication. One interesting part was when she
demonstrated the tools that she used with her computer. She uses uses JAWS for
Internet Explorer, HAL for WORD and Window Eyes 4.11 for Adobe Acrobat. She uses
a standard laptop computer with an attached 40-character Braille pad, and
special navigation bars.
Just for thought.
Mike Livsey
John Foliot - Another 4:00 AM Web Thing wrote:
> From what I know, IBM's Home Page reader does a great job, and I believe is
> currently one of the only speach browsers out ther that support the LONGDESC
> attribute correctly. Anybody else know?
>
> From what I have heard, pwWebspeak is no longer being supported by the
> company that first created it. Again, annicdotally... cna anyone confirm or
> deny?
>
> With my limited experience however, I've been lead to understand that most
> visully impaired people actually use screen readers... software programs
> which read whatever text elements are on the screen, regardless of whether
> it's a web browser, word processor, or similar productivity tool. Jaws
> (http://www.freedomscientific.com/index.html) appears to be the front runne;
> there's also something call TextAloud
> (http://www.nextuptech.com/TextAloud/?AfID=3610), which I have not yet
> played with.
>
> While I won't discourage you to do an alternative text only site, can't you
> perhaps work towards ensuring that the actual site is also accessible?
> Ultimately less work involved, although perhaps a little more planning...
>
> Pose questions to the list, that's why it's here
>
> JF
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-aware-techniques(at)hwg.org
> [mailto:owner-aware-techniques(at)hwg.org]On Behalf Of Gail Isbell
> Sent: January 23, 2002 4:56 PM
> To: aware-techniques(at)hwg.org
> Subject: RE: HWG AWARE-TECHNIQUES (was Hello?)
>
> Thanks for shaking it up John. I had forgotten about this list, but actually
> need it very much at this moment. I am the midst of designing accessible
> sites for a couple of customers. I am not sure what direction to take.
>
> I found a good resource for a talking web browser on the IBM website here:
> http://www-3.ibm.com/able/ibmsns.html . I have been using the IBM Home Page
> Reader to read web sites. It is amazing how different the sites function
> with voice only. It makes you look at the design process differently. You
> need to be much more descriptive in the text version.
>
> I also tested pwWebSpeak ( http://www.soundlinks.com/pwgen.htm ), another
> talking browser. This program actually reads some of the html tags. It could
> get very confusing for a deaf user.
>
> At this point, I have decided to do a text only version of the customers web
> sites to make it easier for the disabled users to use. I am trying to find
> out if the two products above are actually used, or if there are other, more
> widely used programs or equipment that disabled people use to operate a
> computer and surf the web.
>
> If anyone has any info I this, I would appreciate it. It is pretty pointless
> to design an accessible site if you can't test it in the actual user
> environment. Maybe a separate text version isn't necessary.
>
> Regards,
> Gail
>
> ****************************************************************
> Gail Isbell
> Oasis Technology
> Web Site Design/ Search Engine Positioning
> Multimedia CD Presentations
> Network/PC Support
> gisbell(at)ebusiness-oasis.com
>
> **************************************************************
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "John Foliot - Another 4:00 AM Web Thing" <foliot(at)fouram.com>
> To: <aware-techniques(at)hwg.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2002 12:31 PM
> Subject: Hello?
>
> > This appears to be the sleepiest list I've ever subscribed to. What's the
> > problem? Are there really no issues, or does nobody but a very small group
> > of us actually care?
> >
> > - Yesterday I received an eMail from the good folk at M*crom*dia (names
> > changed to protect the innocent) who have put on a travelling road show to
> > demonstrate the accessibility features in a number of their applications
> > (both graphic and code tools). Has anyone been to any of these demos in
> > their home town? Is it worth investing half a day of dog and pony show?
> > Inquiring minds want to know...
> >
> > - As a Canadian web developer located in Ottawa, Ontario, list members
> might
> > be interested in the following fact: The Canadian Federal Government has
> > mandated all federal web sites be compliant to the Level 1 and Level 2 WAI
> > Guidelines, similar to the Section 508 statute in the US, but, to my
> > understanding, stricter. Can anybody confirm or deny this fact?
> >
> > - There is a dire need for developers who are both aware and able to code
> to
> > these standards... hint<wink>. The Canadian government has provided a
> > testing group to assist governmental employees who actually work on
> federal
> > sites (http://www.cio-dpi.gc.ca/clf-upe/1/wats/wats_e.asp) to help them
> > identify and correct potential problems. Attendees consistently ask if
> > there are any "real time" support mechanisms out there. I would love to
> > recommend this list, but the last posting was dated October 8th, 2001.
> >
> > So, show of hands... is there anybody out there?
> >
> > JF
> > Ottawa, Ont.
> >
> >
> >
> >
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