Fw: HWG AWARE-TECHNIQUES (was Hello?)

Thanks for the info John. I agree that it would be ideal to only have one
version of the web site, accessible to everyone. I was beginning to think
that a text only version was my only alternative. But after reading today's
posts to this list I am very encouraged. I don't feel like I am all alone
out there. I am definitely going to give it a try.



----- Original Message -----
From: "John Foliot - Another 4:00 AM Web Thing" <foliot(at)fouram.com>
To: "Gail Isbell" <gisbell(at)ebusiness-oasis.com>; <aware-techniques(at)hwg.org>
Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2002 4:19 PM
Subject: RE: HWG AWARE-TECHNIQUES (was Hello?)


> 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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