Thread Subject: Re: "closed software"

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From: Jim Tobias
Date: Fri, Dec 22 2006 9:15 AM

Mike Burks wrote:

" How about Cell Phones? Many have operating systems that we cannot
upgrade. Would those pass as closed systems? "



There may be such cell phones. But there are cell phones with operating
systems that either (1) already contain accessibility features, (2) can be
modified to contain them, or (3) are compatible with third-party software
for access. The regs should encourage feds to purchase *these* phones, not
the inaccessible/closed ones. That would, as intended, drive the market
towards wireless platforms with accessibility features and/or compatible AT
software packages.



(For the benefit of our benevolent Access Board overlords: it's too bad that
there's not a continually updated report that monitors the market to
indicate where such progress has been made. Why, such a report would
probably also be useful in performing the kind of market research that the
508 FAR regs require....)



Jim Tobias

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