Well, Microsoft has a whole department of people working full time doing nothing but testing their software with all access software. I'm personally acquainted with some of those people and can assure you and others that they do a world-class job. Many of those people are also beta testers for the various accessibility applications, so are in excellent positions to pass information in both directions; that is, to both Microsoft and to the accessibility application vendors.
Microsoft has an exceptionally strong incentive to make their software as accessible as possible and that incentive is called U.S. government contracts. They were told in no uncertain terms several years ago that they had to ensure that their programs were accessible or the federal government wouldn't purchase from them and that's when their accessibility group was formed. What other application vendors may or may not do (Symantec, for example, as there have been many complaints about the newest version of Norton Anti Virus) is pretty much up to them. However, it's important to bear in mind that one person's total lack of accessibility is the next person's completely usable application. This was certainly demonstrated in the recent lawsuit against Target with the claim that their web site was not accessible. This at the same time that many blind people I know personally were using it on a regular basis. One might argue that we're rapidly degenerating into a situation where the lowest common denominator of user; and not the _typical_ user; is going to get to define what constitutes accessibility and this would be a disaster, albeit totally politically correct. I think you also may forget that software vendors in general must develop and test their programs with the average user in mind. This has several implications, including not supporting your comment about the quality of systems used by testers and evelopers. They're smart enough to realize, believe it or not, that the typical user isn't running the latest, greatest, and hottest system and they must act accordingly. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Victor Gouveia" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <jaws-users-list@googlegroups.com> Sent: Monday, December 11, 2006 7:58 AM Subject: [JAWS-Users] Downloding New Versions of Software Like IE 7 Hi All, If it means anything, and although it doesn't mean anything for those who have already done it, it might help people who are considering downloading the new IE Update. One rule I have lived by when it comes to software is that I will never download a new version of software right when it comes out. While I agree that most software vendors and makers test drive their software out on beta testers and the like, it's been my experience that these beta testers are, for the most part, working with kick ass systems and working with, if not better, than better than average computer systems. Also, these vendors don't always test out their products with the disabled in mind. Having said that, I usually only test out or download and install new versions of software, like IE 7 and the like after a few updates have been released with it, such as a service pack or a higher version. Anyway, that's my two cents worth, and I hope the subject line was changed as per your instructions, David. Victor --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Visit the JAWS Users List home page at: http://www.jaws-users.com Address for the list archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/jaws-users-list%40googlegroups.com/ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "JAWS Users List" group. To post to this group, send email to jaws-users-list@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/jaws-users-list?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
