Thread Subject: Definition of Closed Product for Discussion

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From: Debbie Cook
Date: Tue, Jun 05 2007 5:00 PM

Please discuss on the list, and we will include as a topic on friday.

Our assignment from the Part A subcommittee is to review the definition of
Closed Product which reads as follows:

SELF CONTAINED, CLOSED PRODUCT

Products that generally have embedded software and are commonly designed in
such a fashion that a user cannot easily attach or install assistive
technology.
These products include, but are not limited to, information kiosks and
information transaction machines, copiers, printers, calculators, fax
machines, and other similar types of products.

discussion:
Most hardware, whether its software components are closed or not have some
kind of imbedded software. So I'm not sure this statement is relevant.
The primary component of this definition is that end users cannot install
assistive technology based on design of the product or because of policy
restrictions.
I believe many of the examples should be eliminated--copiers, printers etc.
are often operable from a computer which can accept AT. So perhaps examples
serve only to limit the definition.




Debbie Cook
WA Assistive Technology Program
Box 357920
Seattle, WA 98195-7920
Phone: 206-685-4181

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