Thread Subject: Re: Applicability of Functional Performance Criteria

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From: Phill Jenkins
Date: Mon, Jun 04 2007 3:50 PM

> But what about when there is no technical standard that applies?

Then maybe the functional performance criteria (fpc) could be applicable.
Especially since there will most likely NOT be any supporting assistive
technology. Providing some suggested guidance when to apply the FPC is
needed anyway.

> Or what about if you've applied them all but the product is still not
useable?

That is exactly my point about additional provisions. If the vendor or
agency has applied them all, and it is still not usable, then is either
a. A new provision is needed?
b. Supporting assistive technology is needed?
c. End user configuration or training is needed?

> I think the technical standards can be used to show in part how you
propose to meet the functional criteria.

If we the accessibility experts in the 508 committee can't make
suggestions for additional provisions, then why should we pass the buck
and cause additional confusion with requirements writers, purchasing
teams, and testing teams trying to determine if something is compliant or
not. 'Testability' is a theme we need to address, not more vagueness with
FPC. I personally believe the "standards" should be revisited every few
(5?) years anyway.

Regards,
Phill Jenkins
IBM Research - Human Ability & Accessibility Center
http://www.ibm.com/able





"Debbie Cook" < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
Sent by: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
06/04/2007 04:00 PM
Please respond to
TEITAC General Interface Accessibility Subcommittee
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To
"TEITAC General Interface Accessibility Subcommittee"
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cc

Subject
Re: [teitac-general] Applicability of Functional Performance Criteria






But what about when there is no technical standard that applies? Or what
about if you've applied them all but the product is still not useable? I
think that all the standards have to be taken in total. I think the
technical standards can be used to show in part how you propose to meet
the
functional criteria. But when all is said and done, I would argue that we
could merely follow hte functional criteria and drop the technical
standards. Of course no one is really prepared to do that, but the
funcitonal standards are trying to capture what should be occurring.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Phill Jenkins" < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
To: "TEITAC General Interface Accessibility Subcommittee"
< = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = >
Sent: Monday, June 04, 2007 1:55 PM
Subject: [teitac-general] Applicability of Functional Performance Criteria


Some of the discussions during the call today and especially the examples
seem to be incorrectly founded in the premise that the functional
performance criteria provisions always need to be applied. There were
several examples or scenarios of Web, Kiosks, and other applications that
went something like this:
"The Software and Web provisions already apply here, so why do we need to
also apply this "functional criteria" if we already meet all those
Software & Web provisions? Shouldn't the functional performance criteria
only apply when choosing not to comply with the applicable software and
web provisions for a software or web application?

If we took the view of only applying the functional performance criteria
when not choosing to comply with the other applicable provisions, then we
wouldn't be discussing the "AT used by people with disabilities" clause.
If there are some other necessary provisions, then lets discuss them. But
if we continue to promote this "catch all" provision as also applying, we
will continue to have this unproductive discussion. Why can't we just
propose to "drop" the clause that the functional performance criteria also
include AT - why not just propose that the functional performance criteria
only apply when AT is not provided and the application or product shall be
operable without additional AT for users who are blind?

Regards,
Phill Jenkins
IBM Research - Human Ability & Accessibility Center
http://www.ibm.com/able



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