Hi: I think Microsoft isn't interested in accessibility. I suspect time would be better spent working with Apple to get a better office type program developed. Microsoft knows they have the public by the neck, (for lack of a better word:). Like Adobe, they've pretty much made it clear that accessibility is not a concern that keeps them up nights. In my opinion, Since Apple has built accessibility in, Microsoft won't be bothered to make their product work with a rival platform.
Carolyn On May 3, 2011, at 6:28 PM, Kevin Shaw wrote: > A few points from me: > > Windows comes with a screen reader called narrator. It's not as robust as > Voiceover, but Microsoft does "develop" it, much the same way as one vacuums > under the sofa—You're lucky if it's done every few years. > > Yes, I agree with the initial suggestion. Tell Microsoft you want to > participate as a full user of their software. The squeaky wheel gets the > grease. Peer-selling can be of great benefit, like telling them that if a > company like DigiDesign can render a highly complex program like ProTools > accessible, it would be easy for Microsoft to do the same for its most > familiar productivity software. > > We may also mention the fact that 65 to 70% of blind people are unemployed or > underemployed. Perhaps one person could take up the initiative, start a > petition and be the go to person when it comes to engaging Microsoft in a > dialog, much like my hero Slau did with ProTools. In which case, a carefully > articulated and well-crafted series of statements could bring light to this > issue. > > In addition, opening lines of communication to the media on this issue could > also be of benefit to our cause. This is a large issue, as there is much to > explain to a largely sighted audience. Explaining how screen readers work is > one thing. Explaining how a popular program like MS Word doesn't work with a > Mac or Windows screen reader is a whole other challenge, orders of magnitude > beyond telling the journalist that talking computers let blind people surf > the web. > > If it's at all possible, we could establish a list of people with the skills > and connections to create these documents, the petition, press releases and > other communication strategies to bring attention to this issue. If there is > a lawyer on the list (and I doubt it because no one answered my black's Law > Dictionary question), perhaps the mention of an anti-trust investigation will > get things moving. I say this with a bit of jest, so please don't fill the > list with messages bashing these suggestions. > > I work for a radio station here in Canada and would be willing to invest > resources into getting this story told. If anyone else has a media contact or > connection, let's develop the tools that we need to tell this story. > > the only question that remains is, are you ready to change the world? > > Kevin > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "MacVisionaries" group. > To post to this group, send email to macvisionaries@googlegroups.com. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MacVisionaries" group. To post to this group, send email to macvisionaries@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en.
