On Apr 30, 2008, at 1:18 PM, Josh de Lioncourt wrote:
James,
Apple has tried an opposite approach to accessibility in Mac OS from
that in Windows, one that I believe is better. It puts the
responsibility on the developers of the software to make their
software accessible. This prevents all the responsibility falling
on one team's shoulders, as it primarily is with WIndows screen
readers. (i.e., if a program isn't accessible, it is up to FS or GW
to make it so.) This is Apple's philosophy, which they even
discussed explicitly at CSUN. Therefore, it is, without question,
Microsoft's responsibility to make their own software comply with
accessibility standards.
More to the point, if MS (or whichever developer), writing
specifically for an Apple platform (as opposed to a cross compatible
code base, which I expect poses its own special challenges), would use
Apple's published standards and development tools and controls and so
on, the accessibility would be there without extra effort on the
developers' part. Of course, remembering to properly label controls
might constitute a slight extra effort, but beyond that, it's a matter
of education. Or else it's a matter of "can't be bothered". Not sure
which. In any case, I'm glad there are lots of usable apps. Like
adium. Like Nisus. And tables. (BTW, I'm not holdind my breath breath
waiting for Mariner Soft. They've promised accessibility fixes since
2005.)
Josh de Lioncourt
Twitter: http://twitter.com/Lioncourt
Mac-cessibility Site: http://www.Lioncourt.com
...my other mail provider is an owl...
----- Original Message -----
From: "James Jolley" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "General discussions on all topics relating to the use of Mac
OS X by
theblind" <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, April 30, 2008 12:33 PM
Subject: Re: Why Access Matters (was) Re: Microsoft Messenger for
Mac 7
hasbeen released!
I see what your saying now but even so, its not a microsoft problem.
Surely there must be mac users testing? We can't keep blaming
companies for everything.
--
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