Hello: Many years ago, the founder of the then Raised Dot Computing wrote an article about the dark side of new technology as a way of curbing the excess optimism over the newly found independence of blind persons using the then Apple II series of computers. He was referring to the GUI which was ushered in by the Mac. For those with excessive Apple exuberance, it should be remembered how the Mac and its GUI interface really challenged accessibility for many years, and the pernicious effects, of course, spilled over to other systems as well -- the then (but now defunct) OS II and Windows. With extensive use of iOS on our iPhones and iPads, Apple has done amazing things, but there is another danger lurking, and so far I've seen no accessibility response from Apple. Finally, Apple products, mostly the iPad and iPhone, are starting to catch on in the mainstream business world, and I see increasing demand at the grassroots employee level for access to core business systems using iPhones and iPads. The response seems to be some cousin of Citrix, which is a kind of frame relay system. Citrix, the leading vendor of such systems, does have an iPhone App. It is completely inaccessible. In the Windows world, accessibility to Citrix systems is solved by having a copy of the screen reader reside at both the client and the server. That's not an ideal solution, but at least it works -- sort of. I've seen no indication that Apple is addressing or even thinking about an accessibility solution for remote access issues. If someone can contradict me, I would be thrilled. At my last check, however, I found nothing. I wouldn't trade my iPhone in for the world, but I'm holding off on an iPad (or even a Mac mini laptop). Until I learn that Apple is seriously considering some way to add accessibility to remote access, I'm being really cautious about going beyond my iPhone when it comes to Apple products. I'm not trying to be critical of anyone. These are just the facts of life, and I think this community is one place where these concerns ought to be addressed.
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