On Apr 16, 2007, at 2:32 PM, Gabe Vega wrote:
also I kind of like the fact that apple didn't make a media hore of itself and didn't make a big deal about accessibility in itunes. if it was M$ they would held a press conferance and I thought we were trying to be normal and just like everyone else. we don't need a media parade every time some thing works for us. if it works it works.
I don't think Holly or anyone was saying we should have a media parade everytime something works or is made more accessible. That isn't the point. The point is that awareness needs to be raised about products like VoiceOver, which have an uphill battle at present because of so many people believing the myths circulating.
Apple should have made a note of accessibility improvements to iTunes. They should be touting VO more than they are. And, raising awareness in the sighted community is definitely not a bad thing, IMO. We are people like everyone else, but that doesn't mean that we're like everyone else. Infinite diversity in infinite combinations is a wonderful thing, if I may steal the concept from Star Trek. I think it would be a great thing if Apple drew a little more attention to itself in the accessibility arena. VO is a product that needs to be marketed to the VI community, just as Final Cut Pro needs to be marketed to the film industry. The general principles are the same. It's a limited market, and there are no end to press releases on such products.
Mainstream media attention on Apple's work in accessibility would only help it's standing in the aggrivatingly inflexible VI community landscape.
