RE: HWG AWARE-TECHNIQUES (was Hello?)

Hello,

My experience with PDF files authored in Adobe Acrobat 5 is that they are
quite accessible. Some of the techniques for making existing and new PDF
files accessible are limited as of yet - it works best if you have Microsoft
Word, but they are no more dificult than making a web site accessible.

PDF files created in older versions are less accessible, and security
settings in these older PDF files can totally disable the accessibility
features in Acrobat Reader 5.

Brian

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-aware-techniques(at)hwg.org
[mailto:owner-aware-techniques(at)hwg.org]On Behalf Of John Foliot -
Another 4:00 AM Web Thing
Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2002 4:18 PM
To: paciello(at)webable.com
Cc: aware-techniques(at)hwg.org
Subject: RE: HWG AWARE-TECHNIQUES (was Hello?)


Mike,

>From what I have experienced (limited - I'm the first to admit), the
"accessibility" features of Adobe's PDF 5 offering are limited at best,
complicated in many ways, and most importantly (for those of you out there),
not backward compatible.

As for that "personalization machine" - XML, CSS, XSL - the ideas are out
there, it's the browsers that don't support (yet).

Cheers!

JF

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-aware-techniques(at)hwg.org
[mailto:owner-aware-techniques(at)hwg.org]On Behalf Of Mike Paciello
Sent: January 23, 2002 3:48 PM
To: Mike Livsey; aware-techniques(at)hwg.org
Subject: RE: HWG AWARE-TECHNIQUES (was Hello?)


Hi Folks:

I'm sure that Kynn Bartlett (AWARE center creator) will respond soon. I
suspect that much of the "dead air" is due (in part) to the recent merger of
HWG with IWA. However, I have been led to believe that IWA is supportive of
the AWARE mission. Likely we'll see progress in the near future.

Regarding comments specific to Web Accessibility, I'm very glad to see
interest is growing within mainstream web development companies. I can tell
you that WebABLE has seen a dramatic increase in client interest --
worldwide.
Dell, Compaq, GE, and Fidelity to name a few.

It is true that much of this has been stimulated via government mandates,
like Section 508 or Canada's Common Look & Feel law. Currently, several EU
and Asian countries are modifying their laws to promote E&IT accessibility.

As Mike and John have indicated, building web accessibility into the web or
web applications is not nearly is complex as many would have you believe. On
the other hand, challenges still exist, mostly due to the lack of pure
standards. MacroMedia, among several other companies is working hard to
support accessibility within their platform offering. I expect that you'll
see significant enhancements to Flash in the near future -- similar to the
enhancements that Adobe has made for PDF.

A brief note of caution -- where Section 508 compliance is concerned --
creating an alternative text site is NOT an acceptable alternative unless
there is no other solution.

On the other hand, what's to stop anyone from going the next step and
developing a personalization engine that serves a user content in whatever
format they request it...

Regards,

Mike


Mike Paciello
Founder
WebABLE, Inc.
Toll Free: +1.866.932.2253
Office: +1.603.882.4122
Cell: +1.603.566.7713
E-mail: paciello(at)webable.com
Web: www.webable.com
Author:  "Web Accessibility for People with Disabilities"


> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-aware-techniques(at)hwg.org
> [mailto:owner-aware-techniques(at)hwg.org]On Behalf Of Mike Livsey
> Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2002 3:06 PM
> To: aware-techniques(at)hwg.org
> Subject: Re: HWG AWARE-TECHNIQUES (was Hello?)
>
>
> I've been wondering the same thing about this list and other HWG
> activities.
> Seems like things have slowed down a lot.
>
> I have not been to M*crom*dia's Accessibility seminar. I have
> read good things
> about it, but the info was posted on sites that fully support M*crom*dia's
> software. You can view the webcast of the seminar from September
> 6, 2001 at this
>
> link:
> http://www.tvworldwide.com/event_macromedia_090501.cfm
>
> I am in Denver, CO. and am using the Level 1 and Level 2 WAI
> Guidelines for all
> of my websites which I have found to be fairly easy, for the most part, to
> follow. I have found these guidelines to be a lot clear and concise and
> up-to-date than the 508 guidelines. Which makes the WAI
> guidelines stricter.
>
> The Canadian government has the right idea setting up an
> Accessibility Testing
> Service. I have not heard if the US government has such a service
> for government
>
> sites. The corporation I work for was about to implement this
> type of usability
> lab, but then decided to cut the project.
>
> Just my $0.02 worth
>
> Mike
>
>
>
>
> John Foliot - Another 4:00 AM Web Thing wrote:
>
> > In hindsite I probably should have had a more descriptive
> Subject Line...
> > "Hello/" tends to be the domain of spammers.  My apologies...
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: owner-aware-techniques(at)hwg.org
> > [mailto:owner-aware-techniques(at)hwg.org]On Behalf Of John Foliot -
> > Another 4:00 AM Web Thing
> > Sent: January 23, 2002 1:32 PM
> > To: aware-techniques(at)hwg.org
> > 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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