Well thank you John, Let me say i have a realistic view of this.
There are applications, Photoshop, for example which will never be
accessible to the blind no matter what you do. It's sort of like
making cars interments panels in braille.
I may have spoken too strongly about having some sort of veto power
at Apple. That power belongs with Steve Jobs alone and is one of the
reasons Apple has been successful. But Mr. Jobs can and should
instruct that software and hardware developed by the company comply
with well established accessibility standards. More important this
office could be used to prod and help the third party developers to
be aware of accessibility issues.
This person and his staff could also go to the various disability
groups to both promote Apple products and to take their comments back
to Cupertino.
Greg Kearney
On Jan 13, 2007, at 10:34 , John Panarese wrote:
I understand what AC is saying, but I am of the mind that this
type of position, however it is called or however it actually
works, would be useful and helpful. Basically someone who can work
beyond the constraints of the accessibility team that does exist
who not only advocates for accessibility in house, but who is a
bridge to the outside world in training, seminars and so forth.
It's fanciful, yes, but if there is serious consideration in light
of how access to technology has grown in scope, I would not say
that it isn't doable. It comes down to details and a willingness
to create such a "position". But, of course, that is my humble
opinion. Greg has been like a one man army on this list and I have
gotten to know him well enough to know he has a realistic
perspective on this subject as it relates to overall accessibility
to Apple's products.
Take Care
John D. Panarese
Managing Director
Technologies for the Visually Impaired, Inc.
9 Nolan Court
Hauppauge, NY 11788
Tel/Fax, (631) 724-4479
Email, [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Internet, http://www.tvi-web.com
AUTHORIZED DISTRIBUTORS FOR PORTSET SYSTEMS LTD, COMPSOLUTIONS VA,
PREMIER ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES, INDEX, PAPENMEIER, REPRO-TRONICS,
DUXBURY, SEROTEK AND OTHER PRODUCTS FOR THE BLIND AND VISUALLY
IMPAIRED
AUTHORIZED APPLE BUSINESS AGENT
MAC VOICEOVER TRAINING
On Jan 13, 2007, at 12:04 PM, Greg Kearney wrote:
Ah but it is a hard hard nosed business factor it keeps you form
getting sued. Particularly as the ADA requirements get extended
into more and more areas of business such as the case with
telecommunications equipment.
Greg
On Jan 13, 2007, at 08:35 , Access Curmudgeon wrote:
On 1/11/07, David Poehlman
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
can you explain why the idea is fanciful?
Yes, but only because you didn't top post.
Greg writes:
Now for the Accessibility Evangelist to be able to do his job he or
she will need the support of the highest level of Apple management.
That means Steve Jobs has to tell all the other parts of the company
that they must abide by what the Accessibility Evangelist says
and no
product may be release but that the office of the Accessibility
Evangelist has not had a look at it first to insure it is accessible
to the various disabled groups.
I agree this observation but it illustrates why the idea is a
non-starter. I cannot image any single "first principle" that has
this level of control over the Apple product line. Except maybe
that
Jobs himself must like it. That particular power of veto cannot be
delegated. If there are factors that come close to this kind of
authority, you be sure they are hard nosed business factors
driven by
economics, not philosophy.
