Very well said! Amen, I agree! Lucy Edmonds
-----Original Message----- From: viphone@googlegroups.com [mailto:viphone@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Sieghard Weitzel Sent: Wednesday, July 09, 2014 11:44 PM To: viphone@googlegroups.com Subject: RE: Advocates for blind, deaf want even more from Apple Here is what amazes me: "as the creator of the modern smartphone and a long-time champion for the blind, Apple is feeling the most heat," I find it funny how Apple once again seems to be under attack more than Google about accessibility yet they were the ones who started out of the box accessibility. It's the same with any small security vulnerability, if it happens on an iPhone Apple gets crucified and google who puts out a platform with allows for very easy security compromises and where almost any junk can make it into their app store seems to get the praise for doing all this amazing stuff. It also seems that advancing accessibility just can't go quick enough for some radical advocates out there who apparently can't wait to let this run its course a bit longer to see where it goes. There is always time for legislation if it's necessary but I would say that this type of main stream accessibility has made some pretty big strides in the last 4 or so years. Oh, yes, where is Windows Phone in this? Here they talk about forcing people to make apps accessible and Microsoft hasn't even made the platform accessible. I wonder why these angry people and I do think a lot of these so-called advocates are angry, don't vent their frustrations where it's needed. The sense of entitlement which goes along with this drives me up the wall and I think there are other areas of accessibility deserve a lot more attention than accessible apps. I wonder how they'll force game developers to make completely visual games accessible and then there are of course photo/video editing apps, drawing apps and so on which also should be fully accessible, right? What a bunch of baloney. Regards, Sieghard -----Original Message----- From: viphone@googlegroups.com [mailto:viphone@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Donald L. Roberts Sent: Wednesday, July 09, 2014 7:32 PM To: Viphone Subject: Advocates for blind, deaf want even more from Apple New post on MacDailyNews macdailynews Advocates for blind, deaf want even more from Apple by MacDailyNews [cfsp key="adsense_336x280"]"Advocates for the blind are debating whether to use a carrot or a stick to persuade one of their oldest allies, Apple Inc, to close an emerging digital divide in mobile technology," Christina Farr reports for Reuters. "As digital life increasingly moves to the world of smartphones and tablets, some disabled people with visual, hearing and other impairments are feeling more left out than ever." "Many disabled advocates believe federal law requires that apps be accessible, but courts have not ruled on the issue. Few disabled want to risk alienating Apple, considered a friend, by fighting it," Farr reports. "Mobile apps that work well can transform a blind person's life... But when apps don't work, life can grind to a stop. Jonathan Lyens, a San Francisco city employee, who is legally blind, has a hard time browsing jobs on professional networking site LinkedIn. 'The app is insane. Buttons aren't labeled. It's difficult to navigate,' said Lyens. When it comes to social media apps, new problems arise with every release, he said. 'I get nervous every time I hit the update button.' LinkedIn has hired an accessibility chief, Jennison Asuncion, who himself is blind, and says it is working to improve the app." "Still, advocates of the disabled want the problem solved by the company at the center of the app world -- Apple. Rival Google Inc, whose Android operating system drives more phones than Apple, is also under pressure, but as the creator of the modern smartphone and a long-time champion for the blind, Apple is feeling the most heat," Farr reports. "Apple and Google both have developer guidelines on how to make features accessible, such as labeling buttons that can be read by Apple's VoiceOver software. But they don't require accessibility... Nor do they offer an accessibility rating system, which some disabled advocates say would be a big help." "At last week's National Federation of the Blind convention, members approved a resolution to press Apple to create and enforce accessibility standards," Farr reports. "Apple's next version of its phone operating system, iOS 8, will have a "speak screen" features that reads whatever is on the screen, improved zoom, and support for hearing aids for hearing impaired made by companies including ReSound. Apple helped develop the hearing aid. Howard Rosenblum, chief executive officer of the National Association of the Deaf, wants more. 'Any app should be accessible to everyone," he said.'" -- The following information is important for all members of the viphone list. All new members to the this list are moderated by default. If you have any questions or concerns about the running of this list, or if you feel that a member's post is inappropriate, please contact the owners or moderators directly rather than posting on the list itself. The archives for this list can be searched at http://www.mail-archive.com/viphone@googlegroups.com/. --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "VIPhone" group. 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