Thread Subject: Re: Identifyiing SpecificHardware that Should beCovered

Note

This archival content is maintained by WebAIM and NCDAE on behalf of TEITAC and the U.S. Access Board . Additional details on the updates to section 508 and section 255 can be found at the Access Board web site.

From: Jim Tobias
Date: Mon, Nov 20 2006 7:10 AM

Sorry for the cross-posting, for all you hard chargers who are on so many
subcommittees....

TEITAC has four subcommittee that directly address hardware:
Desktop/Portable, Telecom, Self-contained/Closed, and General Interface.

We could decide to assign all Hardware issues to Desktop/Portable and
re-name it Hardware. This would give that subcommittee more work, but at
least everything hardware would be under one roof. Part of the
re-assignment could include 1194.23(k)1-4, the "mechanical control" items
now in Telecom, but repeated in several other categories in the current 508.
Alternately, 1194.23(k)1-4 could be assigned to General Interface. Right
now General Interface is only identifying which Standards go across several
product categories, including 1194.23(k)1-4, but has no forward-looking
assignment of its own.

The other issue staring us in the face is the notion of
self-contained/closed systems: is this really a category of products, or a
characteristic of some hardware?

I'd like to see a good dialog on these 3 questions, with a resolution so
that we can move forward soon without gaps or overlaps in our work:

1. Do we create a Hardware subcommittee out of Desktop/Portable?
2. If so, do we assign the mechanical control items to Hardware or General
Interface?
3. Is "self-contained/closed" a category or a hardware characteristic?


***********
Jim Tobias
Inclusive Technologies
= EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
+1.732.441.0831 v/tty
skype jimtobias
www.inclusive.com





_____

From: David Wysocki [mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ]
Sent: Friday, November 17, 2006 2:32 PM
To: TEITAC desktop/portable (hardware) subcommittee
Subject: [teitac-hardware] Identifyiing Specific Hardware that Should
beCovered



Greetings - Based on our sub-committee meeting today, addressing the larger
concerns raised at the full committee meeting last week in DC, we find
ourselves in need of identifying what specific hardware should be addressed
by this subcommittee and in what ways do we interface with other
subcommittees. This is especially important as more cross-over and changing
roles occur among existing and newer technology (e.g., PDA/Phone combos
[Blackberries, Treos etc.], handhelds, smart phones, programmable LCD
projectors with memory chip and/or network capacity, etc.). Additional
concern rises as these technologies become more the norm and common method
to perform essential job duties, such as Blackberries. Terry Weaver (GSA)
raised another concern explaining that training the public is part of the
federal government's role and considerations of how the training is accessed
(Podcasts, through handhelds, etc.) becomes an issue for 508 accessibility
as well.



So, our sub-committee is being asked to consider what should be included
under "hardware", keeping factors in mind such as:

* What broader-based and multi-function technology is currently part
of IT that wasn't existent or playing as big of a role during the previous
508 writing?

* Based on the broader roles of previously single-role hardware, what
can we expect to have to address with this 508 refresh assuring we build a
robust coverage with decent applicability until the next refresh?

* What's current, what's common, and what can we expect to be so in
the not-too-distant future?

* Is the hardware considered an open or closed system, or partially
open?



As we chime in with what we think should or should not be covered, and why,
please also consider adding to the above initial list of considerations.
Regards - David



David J. Wysocki, MS, OTR, ATP

Assistant Vice President,

Workforce Development / Assistive Technology

Easter Seals National Office

230 W. Monroe St., Suite 1800

Chicago, IL 60606

Direct Line: 312-551-7175

Receptionist: 312-726-6200

Fax: 312-726-1494

TTY: 312-726-4258

Email: <mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =



Be an angel of change. You can change the lives of people with
disabilities.

Earn your wings at <http://www.easterseals.com/> www.easterseals.com

WebAIM is an initiative of:
Center for Persons with Disabilities (CPD) Utah State University