I don't understand. How does Microsoft not including their browser in
Windows have anything to do with helping ensure applications are
accessible? The iPhone is a more closed system then Windows has ever
been, but I don't see this as having anyting to do with this argument,
other than a 3rd party screen reader has never been an option on an iPhone.
I agree Apple is doing a great job including accessibility in their
products, but if we're talking about history, this hasn't always been
the case. I was using a smart phone with a screen reader five years
before the iPhone was accessible. I've been using a PC non-stop since
1988, and I don't think that could be said about the Mac.
I also don't see how Microsoft's wealth and the number of lawyers they
have on retainer has anything to do with this argument. Apple is
wealthier than Microsoft, has their own set of lawyers and has been
using lawyers to protect themselves and their intellectual property
longer than Microsoft.
I'm sure I'm seen as a Microsoft defender, but I just don't see how
misleading statements about another company furthers this argument at
all. Apple, although not perfect, is getting a lot of things right.
Microsoft definitely has a ways to go, but I just don't think it's true
that the only thing Microsoft has done to improve the accessibility of
it's platforms and applications is the result of law suits. Narrator has
improved in recent versions of Windows, Windows Phone is now accessible,
Microsoft contributes to organizations establishing accessibility
standards, and I don't think any of this is just because they lost some
law suit recently.
On 07/24/2015 02:47 PM, Eric Oyen wrote:
the last time this actually happened, it was part of the Anti-trust lawsuit
that forced MS to quit favoring their browser over others. It was slipped in as
part of the settlement conditions.
btw, Apple was not the first organization to actually go with accessibility out
of the box. THere were 3 Linux Distributions that were already setup to do this
as early as 1998. Redhat Linux was one of the first, right along with Knoppix
(a debian dvd live disk). However, apple was the first to realize that they
needed a standard interface across all their products. Since voiceover got its
start as part of the audio menu for the iPod Nano, it was decided that this
would make a good audio interface for their other devices. Not only did it work
for us, but it made apple the first to create a commercial product that had
accessibility built in and ready to use (and at no extra cost). I can't say
that for my old windows smart phone (which I had to pay upwards of $400 just to
purchase the mobile speak package) and Android just wasn't accessible until the
later Android versions. Even then, it still requires some sighted assistance to
get the package installed (Windows smart phone) or turne
d on (android). WIth the iPhone, you can plug it in to a machine, turn on
iTunes and go into the device settings menu to turn it on (or hit the home key
3 times). How much easier is it than that?
-eric
On Jul 24, 2015, at 5:03 AM, Christopher Chaltain wrote:
I'm not sure what's being referred to here, but I am sure Microsoft has worked
on and delivered accessibility improvements recently without losing a law suit
to make it happen. I'm not defending Microsoft, they could definitely do a
better job, but inaccurate and exaggerated statements like this just undermine
the points that need to be made.
On 07/23/2015 09:37 PM, Eric Oyen wrote:
does Microsoft do any better??? Honestly, the answer is no. The last time we
got anything out of MS, it required a lawsuit. They are still a $45 Billion
Dollar monster with lots of lawyers. Still, if enough of us can start bugging
the software developers who make apps for MS (and OS X, iOS, Android and
others), the more likely it is that something will get done.
-eric
On Jul 23, 2015, at 6:37 PM, Andy Baracco wrote:
Does Microsoft do any better?
Andy
From: Mike Hingson
Sent: Thursday, July 23, 2015 12:30 PM
To: VIPhone
Cc: [email protected]
Subject: Re: App Accessibility and the ADA
While some apps may be graphic by nature their controls need not be
inaccessible to blind persons. I believe Apple has not totally lived up to its
responsibility to insure as miuch app accessibility as it could. Leaving this
up to the developers is unrealistic and will ALWAYS keep us behind the
accessible curve.
On Tuesday, July 21, 2015 at 7:39:08 AM UTC-7, Chris Smart wrote:
I'm not a US citizen, so forgive me if this question is ignorant.
Does the ADA or any other US law compel app and other software developers to
make their products accessible? I know the ADA applies to buildings and such,
but what about software?
I'm considering filing a report with the Better Business Bureau in the case of
one company, mostly to get their full attention. Obviously I'd like to site any
relevant legal frameworks if there are any.
Thanks for any info,
Chris
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