Yep, and Microsoft is doing what it always has: you play by our rules or not at all. Basically, they seem to be saying that if Apple wants MSOffice to work on MacOS, then they are responsible for implementing UI automation on the Mac platform, or rewriting MSOffice to use Macintosh accessibility.
Wasn't there some talk before on this list about MS actually using Coco? The article Scott sent around seems to suggest that they want Apple to implement UI automation. Maybe I'm missing something... What about Open Document Format? Are there any accessible mac-based ODF tools out there yet? Isn't ODF a superset of msOffice formats? No matter how you slice it, it doesn't look good for MSOffice accessibility, at least in the short term. -- Rich ----- Original Message ----- From: "Simon Cavendish" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "General discussions on all topics relating to the use of Mac OS X by theblind" <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, January 17, 2008 3:29 PM Subject: Re: Bad news about Microsoft Office I'd like to support what Greg's just said. It is Apple's policy to encourage other third party applications to adhere to Apple's accessbility ambitions. In that, Microsoft is failing as far as new Ms Office for Mac suite is concerned. One would hope that Apple would have something to say to Microsoft. Simon On 17 Jan 2008, at 19:01, Greg Kearney wrote: > No they can not claim that. For over four years now Apple has been > telling developers how to do accessibility. We all got letters, > physical letters, telling us what to do an not do. The accessibility > standards for Macintosh are clear and unambiguous. It is up to the > programmers to make their products accessible to the OS. Remember > that VoiceOver is part of the OS not something added to it. > > > Greg Kearney > 535 S. Jackson St. > Casper, Wyoming 82601 > 307-224-4022 > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > On Jan 17, 2008, at 11:56 AM, Cara Quinn wrote: > >> Hey All, what you're saying is great, but honestly, -bet you MS >> would only point the finger right back at Apple if this were >> brought up, saying that basically, it's apple's own OS and their >> own screen access software, so not our issue... >> >> <smile -Could be off here, but just a lil reality check... >> >> Have an awesome day!... >> >> Smiles, >> >> Cara :) >> >> >> On Jan 17, 2008, at 7:14 AM, Simon Cavendish wrote: >> >>> Dear Greg and the Listers, >>> >>> I entirely agree with Greg's words. It is a shame for Microsoft to >>> have produced a flagship version of its main suite ignoring >>> accessibility for visually impaired people and print impaired >>> people in the presence of the fact that Microsoft must be aware of >>> its obligations with regard to accessibility as outlined above. I >>> should imagine that it is against the ADA law and the Disability >>> Discrimination Act, 1995, in the UK. It would require though a >>> major representatives of business to take Microsoft to book on >>> account of this omission. The fact is that Microsoft must have >>> known that Mac OS platform is already accessible to blind and >>> print impaired people and to ignore this warrants an uproar. >>> >>> Let us all protest in whatever ways we are able to. >>> >>> With best wishes >>> >>> Simon Cavendish >>> >>> On 17 Jan 2008, at 14:26, Greg Kearney wrote: >>> >>>> According to Microsoft this morning Microsoft Office 08 is not >>>> accessible to the blind or print disabled using VoiceOver. So >>>> don't bother going out and buying it. I will now editorialize: >>>> >>>> At some point someone is going to start raising the issue of >>>> consumer products, in this case Microsoft Office, not being >>>> accessible and if producing such products is actionable under the >>>> Americans with Disabilities Act. That aside what in the world is >>>> Microsoft thinking? This was a product that was delayed because >>>> the code was changed to Xcode and here we have a major >>>> productivity application that is not accessible? Microsoft should >>>> be ashamed of itself and I for one would like to have someone >>>> from Microsoft offer some kind of explanation for this oversight. >>>> >>>> It is one thing for some small company with limited resources to >>>> not have an accessible application it is inexcusable for a >>>> company the size of Microsoft to re-write a major application >>>> like office and not have it be accessible. If Xcode would not >>>> compile non-accessible application we might have avoided this. It >>>> is interesting to note that the only accessible spreadsheet for >>>> the Mac, Tables, is the work of a lone programer who managed to >>>> do it with out the resources of a Microsoft or Apple. >>>> >>>> On a related note developer at Sun have been asking questions >>>> about accessibility on a developer list at Apple so perhaps there >>>> is hope that Sun will be developing an accessible version of Open >>>> Office. Let's hope so anyway. And let's hope that someone at >>>> Apple is able to get and explanation from Microsoft as to why an >>>> application written after VoiceOver's release is not able to be >>>> used by the blind and print disabled. And Apple your not off the >>>> hook here either Pages and Numbers are not accessible either I >>>> might add. >>>> >>>> Greg Kearney >>>> 535 S. Jackson St. >>>> Casper, Wyoming 82601 >>>> 307-224-4022 >>>> [EMAIL PROTECTED] >>>> >>>> >>> >>> >> >> --- >> View my Online Portfolio at: >> http://www.onemodelplace.com/CaraQuinn >> >> > >
