Thread Subject: Re: Combined HardwareSubcommittee Proposal

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: Randy Marsden (Home)
Date: Mon, Dec 18 2006 11:10 PM

Interesting... I had never heard of it.

Based on my quick perusal, Rock Box is an open source ³Jukebox² project that
completely replaces the firmware of many MP3 players, including the iPod.
It can speak menu items, but only if they have been pre-recorded and stored
as MP3 sound files. (In other words, there isn¹t a TTS engine in Rock Box
itself). If you made up a name of a song, Rock Box would only be able to
read the song¹s title letter-by-letter. The entire software user interface
of the iPod is replaced by Rock Box. (No wonder Apple didn¹t mention it...).

It brings up an interesting point ­ we usually think of assistive technology
software as something that co-operates with the operating system to provide
accessibility. Here is an example where something completely replaces the
operating system, perhaps making the hardware more accessible. But does
that mean Apple can claim the iPod is accessible? Certainly the
Apple-produced software on an iPod still is not. The system is ³open²
because someone took a can opener and pried it open... (so to speak). In my
mind, the package as a whole (OEM hardware and software) is still
self-contained.

By the way, in Apple¹s defense, they have been very open to the idea of
external add-on components that would help make the iPod more accessible.

So, back to 508. Perhaps our definition should include something like this:

A device is considered ³Self-Contained² if the original manufacturer has not
provided a way for third-party software and hardware to be added to the
device.

-Randy
>
> From: David Poehlman < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
> Reply-To: TEITAC General Interface Accessibility Subcommittee
> < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
> Date: Mon, 18 Dec 2006 20:54:12 -0500
> To: TEITAC General Interface Accessibility Subcommittee
> < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
> Subject: Re: [teitac-general] [teitac-hardware] [teitac-closed] Combined
> HardwareSubcommittee Proposal
>

> Randy, allowed or ot, there is something called rock box which can
> be loaded onto an IPod too make it talk.
>
> On Dec 18, 2006, at 8:43 PM, Randy Marsden wrote:
>
> In the specific case of iPods, 3rd-party software is not allowed on
> them at
> this time. (And certainly not any AT that might change the user
> interface).
> This I know from personal interaction with Apple on the subject. I¹m
> not
> sure about Zune or other media players.
>
> But to the extent that devices like this become open and do allow 3rd-
> party
> software / hardware, then I agree they would be the same as other
> computer
> hardware.
>
> -Randy
>> >
>> > From: David Poehlman < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
>> > Reply-To: TEITAC General Interface Accessibility Subcommittee
>> > < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
>> > Date: Mon, 18 Dec 2006 20:21:45 -0500
>> > To: "TEITAC desktop/portable (hardware) subcommittee"
>> > < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
>> > Cc: TEITAC self contained/closed products subcommittee
>> > < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >, = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
>> > Subject: Re: [teitac-general] [teitac-hardware] [teitac-closed]
>> > Combined
>> > HardwareSubcommittee Proposal
>> >
>
>> > IPods and other portables can be written to and from. In some cases,
>> > software can be loaded on them so are they really self contained any
>> > more than a computer with its software and operating system?
>> >
>
>

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