RE: HWG AWARE-TECHNIQUES (was Hello?)
by "Mike Paciello" <paciello(at)webable.com>
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Date: |
Wed, 23 Jan 2002 17:41:00 -0500 |
To: |
"Gail Isbell" <gisbell(at)ebusiness-oasis.com>, <aware-techniques(at)hwg.org> |
In-Reply-To: |
gaili |
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todo: View
Thread,
Original
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Gail:
HomePage Reader has a decent user list. Almost no one uses WebSpeak these
days. Because of recent enhancements, most blind users will use their
ScreenReader in conjunction with IE (since Netscape is still working on
screen-reader compatible client). ScreenReaders including JAWS, WindowEyes,
WinVision, HAL, are popular. JAWS has the largest USA following. WindowEyes
is second.
There is a low end (but very useful) voice browser called SimplyWeb 2000 --
it's free and does a nice job with tables (http://www.econointl.com/sw/)
Of course, individuals with different disabilities use other clients...there
are several "out there".
- Mike
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-aware-techniques(at)hwg.org
> [mailto:owner-aware-techniques(at)hwg.org]On Behalf Of Gail Isbell
> Sent: Wednesday, 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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