Hi Tony: That's too bad. Netflix provides me a great deal of my entertainment. There are a few options I can think of here: First, Netflix could use the AltText option of their images if they exist in their current usage. Second, WindowEyes might handle dynamic content like this since it is becoming more and more common to use roll overs and popups everywhere. Then there is the possibility of creating a WindowEyes script which might be able to read the roll overs as focus changes, not sure about that one. Finally, Netflix has a API that allows anyone to build their own Website and use all the features of Netflix from their own site. That would mean we could build a blind friendly and clean Website that has pretty much all the functionallity of the original Netflix Website except is totally accessible and clean of allot of junk we don't need. I will be calling Netflix again today or tomorrow. I did try hulu and while it will mostely work it is getting more and more dynamic as well. Let me know how accessible you find BlockBuster and what their streaming library is like. Anyway, those are some choices. Of them I should think that the Screen Reader should handle the dynamic content so long as it is w3c compliant. Note that this might be the case but I'm not sure. After that, Netflix adding something like a Alt Tag if their software usage, JavaScript and CSS, allow for it. Note: This would be w3c compliant unless there are other rules in place for all the new Media, html, css and JavaScript standards that mitigate this Alt Tag requirement. Then the WE script which may, or not, be possible depending on how one might target a given site or page as displayed in IE8 for example. Finally, the ultimate solution would be to create a site for low vision and blind folks and customize it so it is the best of all video sites available anywhere on the internet using the free Netflix API. So, that's the way I see things for now. I have not heard anything from GW on all the problems they have been hearing about with various Websites moving to the new html, CSS and JavaScript and Media standards so that's up in the air. As you found out it is likely Netflix and all other major providers will just throw us out since we are not a major part of their viewer base. I have also seen this on non entertainment and even financial sites. That leaves creating a script or a new Website. Or, doing as you did and just leaving Netflix and hoping to find some video provider who has not yet gone to dynamic UI. The problem is that they will likely be doing that sooner rather than later just like Netflix and other sites. Well, I'll post up if I hear from them or if I call them and actually get any answer. Later Tony and good luck, post up and let me know what you find out if anything. Rick USA ----- Original Message ----- From: tony c To: [email protected] Sent: Thursday, July 21, 2011 6:56 AM Subject: Re: Netflix Accessibility Status
Hi Rick, I’ve called them a couple of times and the last call I was told that R&D were really busy with the price changes. Yep!! their raising their prices by about $6 a month What I got from my conversation with the person was that the accessibility issue has taken the “back” burner to the price hikes. I just went ahead and canceled my membership. I have checked out the Blockbuster site and it seems to be accessible, I’m thinking of giving them a try. Tony From: RicksPlace Sent: Thursday, July 21, 2011 4:56 AM To: GW Micro Product Discussion Listserv Subject: Netflix Accessibility Status Hi: I called them last week and they forwarded my call to their research department. Others have also called them and were awaiting a response from them. Has anyone heard anything? Perhaps if they just used the alt text fields of their image files to expose the video title. Should WE be reading the PopUp with the title automatically on the mouse over or on the cursor focus? Rick USA If you reply to this message it will be delivered to the original sender only. If your reply would benefit others on the list and your message is related to GW Micro, then please consider sending your message to [email protected] so the entire list will receive it. GW-Info messages are archived at http://www.gwmicro.com/gwinfo. You can manage your list subscription at http://www.gwmicro.com/listserv.
