Thread Subject: Re: Web Gaps - keyboard operation

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From: David Poehlman
Date: Fri, Jan 19 2007 4:40 AM

Hi Randy,

For drawing, I used to uuse a perfectly keyboardable app that came
bundled with word perfect for dos. It's not drawingg which is
difficult, it's making colors andd changing the style of brush and
stroke but then we are getting into painting so I guess it's painting
that is difficult to capture with the keyboard.

On Jan 19, 2007, at 1:24 AM, Randy Marsden (Home) wrote:

I agree, if we’re speaking only of drawing. I was speaking more
generally.

The more things you can make controllable with a keyboard, the better
(from AT’s standpoint).

But I tend to agree that there are some things where keyboard control
will be impractical. Drawing seems like the most obvious example.
I’m sitting here trying to think of other good ones, but am having a
hard time.


-Randy
>
> From: "Barrett, Don" < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
> Reply-To: TEITAC Web/Software Subcommittee <teitac-
> = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
> Date: Thu, 18 Jan 2007 22:42:44 -0500
> To: "TEITAC Web/Software Subcommittee" <teitac-
> = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
> Subject: Re: [teitac-websoftware] Web Gaps - keyboard operation
>

> Sounds like it would be a much better idea to develop a mouse
> alternative that was switched-based than to get industry to make
> drawing
> keyboard accessible.
>
> "-----Original Message-----
> "From: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
> "[mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ] On Behalf
> "Of Randy Marsden
> "Sent: Thursday, January 18, 2007 9:25 PM
> "To: TEITAC Web/Software Subcommittee
> "Subject: Re: [teitac-websoftware] Web Gaps - keyboard operation
> "
> "Not a correct assumption. Many people with motor impairments
> "who can't use a keyboard also can't use a mouse alternative.
> "For some of them, switch access is the only way. A lot of
> "assistive technology switch access solutions rely on keyboard
> "equivalents to send commands to the target application. The
> "more things that can be done via the keyboard, the more things
> "that can be done with a switch via these AT switch solutions.
> "
> "-Randy
> "
> "
> "
> " From: "Barrett, Don" < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
> " Reply-To: TEITAC Web/Software Subcommittee
> "< = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
> " Date: Thu, 18 Jan 2007 18:00:22 -0500
> " To: "TEITAC Web/Software Subcommittee"
> "< = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
> " Subject: Re: [teitac-websoftware] Web Gaps - keyboard operation
> "
> "
> "
> "
> "
> "
> " I understand that; but there are some many analog mouse
> "alternatives,
> " that should cover them. I would think the keyboard
> "would be the hardest
> " for those with limited motor impairments so a mouse
> "alternative would
> " most likely be the choice of AT thus eliminating them
> "from the equation.
> "
> "
> "
> " Don Barrett
> " Section 508 Coordinator
> " U.S. Department of Education
> " (202)-205-8245
> " = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
> "
> " -----Original Message-----
> " From: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
> " [mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ] On
> "Behalf Of Sean
> " Hayes
> " Sent: Thursday, January 18, 2007 5:57 PM
> " To: TEITAC Web/Software Subcommittee
> " Subject: Re: [teitac-websoftware] Web Gaps - keyboard operation
> "
> " I'm sorry, I didn't think the intention of this was
> "specific to blind
> " users, but might include those with limited motor
> "skills. I guess this
> " illustrates the necessity of clarifying what this
> "provision is actually
> " about.
> "
> " Sean Hayes
> " Standards and Policy Team
> " Accessible Technology Group
> " Microsoft
> " Phone:
> " mob +44 7977 455002
> " office +44 117 9719730
> "
> " -----Original Message-----
> " From: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
> " [mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ] On Behalf Of
> " Barrett, Don
> " Sent: 18 January 2007 21:54
> " To: TEITAC Web/Software Subcommittee
> " Subject: Re: [teitac-websoftware] Web Gaps - keyboard operation
> "
> " In all my testing over the years, I have never come
> "across a situation
> " in which a blind persons's career was negatively
> "affected because
> " drawing capacity wasn't available from the keyboard. I
> "will never use
> " PhotoShop, and I don't know any blind person who will.
> "I still haven't
> " seen clear concise examples of what is wrong with
> "textually discerned.
> " For example, why are we just accepting the notion that
> "freehand drawing
> " must be accessible from the keyboard. I am not against
> "the idea if it
> " has practical merit, but I want to ensure that the
> "standards provide
> " practical guidance, not just satisfy an intellectual
> "desire to codify
> " that which isn't necessary.
> "

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