Thread Subject: Operable Controls Definition

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From: Robert_Nerhood@Dell.com
Date: Wed, May 30 2007 2:40 PM
Subject: Operable Controls Definition

The Subpart A subcommittee has asked us to comment on any potential
changes to the Operable Controls definition. The definition is as
follows:

Operable controls - A component of a product that requires physical
contact for normal operation. Operable controls include, but are not
limited to, mechanically operated controls, input and output trays, card
slots, keyboards, or keypads.

Please provide comment or feedback on this definition so that we can
close with the Subpart A team.

Thanks,

Randy and Rob

Rob Nerhood | Experience Design Group | Ergonomics Engineer
Dell, Inc. | One Dell Way | Round Rock, Texas 78682 - 7000
direct 512.723.2763
This communication and all attachments are confidential and may be
legally privileged. If you are not the intended recipient, (i) please
do not read or disclose any content to others, (ii) please notify the
sender by reply mail immediately, and (iii) please permanently delete
this communication from your system. Failure to follow this process may
be unlawful and subject to prosecution. Thank you for your cooperation.

From: Gregg Vanderheiden
Date: Wed, May 30 2007 3:05 PM
Subject: Re: Operable Controls Definition

Hmmm

Depending on how we write things, touch screens are either included or not.
We need to look at the provisions that use any term before we try to define
it.

How about we always include the provisions that use a TERM when we are
trying to define that TERM.


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



> -----Original Message-----
> From: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
> [mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ] On Behalf Of
> = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
> Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2007 3:37 PM
> To: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
> Subject: [teitac-hardware] Operable Controls Definition
>
> The Subpart A subcommittee has asked us to comment on any
> potential changes to the Operable Controls definition. The
> definition is as
> follows:
>
> Operable controls - A component of a product that requires
> physical contact for normal operation. Operable controls
> include, but are not limited to, mechanically operated
> controls, input and output trays, card slots, keyboards, or keypads.
>
> Please provide comment or feedback on this definition so that
> we can close with the Subpart A team.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Randy and Rob
>
> Rob Nerhood | Experience Design Group | Ergonomics
> Engineer Dell, Inc. | One Dell Way | Round Rock, Texas
> 78682 - 7000 direct 512.723.2763 This communication and all
> attachments are confidential and may be legally privileged.
> If you are not the intended recipient, (i) please do not read
> or disclose any content to others, (ii) please notify the
> sender by reply mail immediately, and (iii) please
> permanently delete this communication from your system.
> Failure to follow this process may be unlawful and subject to
> prosecution. Thank you for your cooperation.
>
>

From: Robinson, Norman B - Washington, DC
Date: Wed, May 30 2007 3:55 PM
Subject: Re: Operable Controls Definition

Peers,

I would like to consider if we are speaking specifically about
*requires physical contact for normal operation* or is it simply
*physical controls that affect the operation of the product*?

Playing devil's advocate, if I create a control for a product
that I deem isn't a part of *normal operation* then do I get a
get-out-of-508-free card? If I create physical controls that doesn't
require physical contact, because I have software that can remotely
control the product (e.g., software that controls the copier, email,
fax, all-in-one printer on my desktop connected to the LAN) and even
more importantly to my point are *not* accessible without previously
mentioned software, is that acceptable?

I'd really like to see something that doesn't fail when combined with
or without accessibility. The terms "required" and "normal operation"
are tied to the accessibility discussion. My point: you have operable
controls but we shouldn't assume they are accessible.

Suggested definition: "Operable controls: any physical control
that affects the operation of the product. Operable controls include,
but are not limited to, mechanically operated controls, input and output
trays, card slots, keyboards, keypads, keys, or buttons, including
touch-screens." Note I added individual keys and buttons, as I've
inspected many devices that have only those features where the
manufacture thought Section 508 didn't apply because it didn't have "a
full keyboard".

Just my two cents.

Regards,


Norman B. Robinson
Section 508 Coordinator
IT Governance, US Postal Service
phone: 202.268.8246



-----Original Message-----
From: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
[mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ] On Behalf Of
= EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2007 4:37 PM
To: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
Subject: [teitac-hardware] Operable Controls Definition


The Subpart A subcommittee has asked us to comment on any potential
changes to the Operable Controls definition. The definition is as
follows:

Operable controls - A component of a product that requires physical
contact for normal operation. Operable controls include, but are not
limited to, mechanically operated controls, input and output trays, card
slots, keyboards, or keypads.

Please provide comment or feedback on this definition so that we can
close with the Subpart A team.

Thanks,

Randy and Rob

Rob Nerhood | Experience Design Group | Ergonomics Engineer
Dell, Inc. | One Dell Way | Round Rock, Texas 78682 - 7000
direct 512.723.2763
This communication and all attachments are confidential and may be
legally privileged. If you are not the intended recipient, (i) please
do not read or disclose any content to others, (ii) please notify the
sender by reply mail immediately, and (iii) please permanently delete
this communication from your system. Failure to follow this process may
be unlawful and subject to prosecution. Thank you for your cooperation.

From: Gregg Vanderheiden
Date: Wed, May 30 2007 5:05 PM
Subject: Re: Operable Controls Definition

Ooooh I hate to use the word "full functionality" but here it is used to
get people out of making everything accessible.

For example. If the user can carry out all of the functionality of the
product from a keyboard for example, there is not a reason for the mouse to
meet all of the "tactile' provision. Blind users would use the keyboard and
not the mouse.

So the goal is to have all functionality available via accessible controls -
not to have all controls be accessible. The latter would require that
touchscreens be accessible to people who are blind. The former would only
require that all functionality of the product (including functionality that
can be achieved from the touchscreen) would be achievable via tactilely
discernable controls.

Can't figure out how to say this without using the word full but you get the
idea.

I concur that the word "normal operation" should be avoided or it needs to
be defined because it is very ambiguous.


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



> -----Original Message-----
> From: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
> [mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ] On Behalf Of
> Robinson, Norman B - Washington, DC
> Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2007 4:52 PM
> To: TEITAC desktop/portable (hardware) subcommittee
> Subject: Re: [teitac-hardware] Operable Controls Definition
>
>
> Peers,
>
> I would like to consider if we are speaking specifically
> about *requires physical contact for normal operation* or is
> it simply *physical controls that affect the operation of the
> product*?
>
> Playing devil's advocate, if I create a control for a
> product that I deem isn't a part of *normal operation* then
> do I get a get-out-of-508-free card? If I create physical
> controls that doesn't require physical contact, because I
> have software that can remotely control the product (e.g.,
> software that controls the copier, email, fax, all-in-one
> printer on my desktop connected to the LAN) and even more
> importantly to my point are *not* accessible without
> previously mentioned software, is that acceptable?
>
> I'd really like to see something that doesn't fail when
> combined with or without accessibility. The terms "required"
> and "normal operation"
> are tied to the accessibility discussion. My point: you have
> operable controls but we shouldn't assume they are accessible.
>
> Suggested definition: "Operable controls: any physical
> control that affects the operation of the product. Operable
> controls include, but are not limited to, mechanically
> operated controls, input and output trays, card slots,
> keyboards, keypads, keys, or buttons, including
> touch-screens." Note I added individual keys and buttons, as
> I've inspected many devices that have only those features
> where the manufacture thought Section 508 didn't apply
> because it didn't have "a full keyboard".
>
> Just my two cents.
>
> Regards,
>
>
> Norman B. Robinson
> Section 508 Coordinator
> IT Governance, US Postal Service
> phone: 202.268.8246
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
> [mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ] On Behalf Of
> = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
> Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2007 4:37 PM
> To: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
> Subject: [teitac-hardware] Operable Controls Definition
>
>
> The Subpart A subcommittee has asked us to comment on any
> potential changes to the Operable Controls definition. The
> definition is as
> follows:
>
> Operable controls - A component of a product that requires
> physical contact for normal operation. Operable controls
> include, but are not limited to, mechanically operated
> controls, input and output trays, card slots, keyboards, or keypads.
>
> Please provide comment or feedback on this definition so that
> we can close with the Subpart A team.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Randy and Rob
>
> Rob Nerhood | Experience Design Group | Ergonomics
> Engineer Dell, Inc. | One Dell Way | Round Rock, Texas
> 78682 - 7000 direct 512.723.2763 This communication and all
> attachments are confidential and may be legally privileged.
> If you are not the intended recipient, (i) please do not read
> or disclose any content to others, (ii) please notify the
> sender by reply mail immediately, and (iii) please
> permanently delete this communication from your system.
> Failure to follow this process may be unlawful and subject to
> prosecution. Thank you for your cooperation.
>
>