Thread Subject: Re: "closed software"

Note

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From: Gregg Vanderheiden
Date: Fri, Dec 22 2006 10:15 AM

"closed" means BOTH unable to be controlled from another, accessible,
device like an AT-equipped PC workstation; AND unable to load and run its
own accessibility software.



That is close to what I was assuming. I would say that it would have to
have the access software in it - not just that it could. For example, if a
person with a disability goes to a library and encounters the card catalog
system. If they are unable to connect or install their AT then then system
would be closed - even if the manufacturer somewhere had software it could
install that would make it accessible - but it did not sell that to the
library (or the library did not buy or install it).





E.g. 'work with AT'. You asked if that meant current AT. I would assume
so. The purpose of 508 was to make things accessible to people with
disabilities. If the AT doesn't exist yet - or users don't or can't get it
- then the product cannot be used by people with disabilities - and fails
both the performance criteria and the intent of 508.



This is important enough a topic I will be posting a separate email on this
one in a bit. Have to run now.


Gregg
-- ------------------------------
Gregg C Vanderheiden Ph.D.






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From: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
[mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ] On Behalf Of Jim Tobias
Sent: Friday, December 22, 2006 9:58 AM
To: 'TEITAC self contained/closed products subcommittee'; 'TEITAC
Web/Software Subcommittee'
Cc: 'TEITAC General Interface Accessibility Subcommittee'
Subject: Re: [teitac-general] [teitac-closed] [teitac-websoftware] "closed
software"

Gregg wrote:

" The hardware is not closed but the software is. It is not designed to
accept AT.

The fact that at product can be upgraded by its manufacturer with
proprietary software - or even that it allows 3rd party extensions - is a
different issue from whether it works with AT."



As I've posted recently, "closed" means BOTH unable to be controlled from
another, accessible, device like an AT-equipped PC workstation; AND unable
to load and run its own accessibility software.



What does "... works with AT" mean -- only current AT? We should not be
constrained by the current crop of AT. The goal of the regs is to stimulate
native accessibility in products that don't have it right now, and to
stimulate AT where native accessibility is not feasible or reasonable.



Jim Tobias

= EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =

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