> "i'm not sure why the current batch of > accessibility software (screen readers being > the most common) are so far behind today's > browsers. maybe there's a legitimate reason > that i don't know about but from what > i've seen they're just way behind."
Very true, Matt. I think it's mostly about money and economies of scale. The development of "JAWS for Windows" (http://www.freedomscientific.com/) and "Window Eyes" (http://www.gwmicro.com/) has been funded by the people who purchase the product at about $900 a copy. How many blind people can afford that? True, some can get assistance if, for example, it is a workplace accomodation ... Both of the major screen readers are also married to the Windows API, and their development has been slow because they're kept busy making accomodations for Windows' many quirks. They aren't specifically designed for Web access, but for all programs in all versions of Windows in all its proprietary standards-non-compliant glory. So on top of any other impairments a blind user may have, add the lack of choice in operating systems. But maybe not anymore. The latest version of Ubuntu Linux includes the open-source Orca Screen Reader and Magnifier. I see this as another small step forward, a leveling of the playing field for those who know about it. It worked well on my computer (not a high-end machine) as soon as it was installed by default with the latest upgrade (Ubuntu 7.10). I haven't tested it to compare its functionality with the others. I personally don't suggest doing anything special to accomodate those screen readers. I suggest writing clean semantic code, separating content and presentation, linking to external CSS and scripts, and "progressive enhancement." In the long run, I think this will benefit everyone on all platforms. But as you suggest, Matt, it would be nice if the screen readers could keep up with the technologies that are advancing more quickly. Jeff Seager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=23821 ________________________________________________________________ *Come to IxDA Interaction08 | Savannah* February 8-10, 2008 in Savannah, GA, USA Register today: http://interaction08.ixda.org/ ________________________________________________________________ Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ....... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe ................ http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines ............ http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .................. http://www.ixda.org/help
