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Re: FW: PDF is only partially accessible

for

From: Simius Puer
Date: Dec 4, 2009 3:42AM

Hi Wayne

This is a brilliantly in-depth and thorough look at PDFs from the
perspective of a specific disability group.

I agree that Adobe have done a huge amount over the past 10 years or so to
bring the PDF format up to scratch in terms of accessibility and they have
by-and-large done a great job.

There are a few reservations that I hold regarding your notion that "I think
PDF needs to go one more step to be classified as accessible without
qualification":

1. No format can be considered "accessible without qualification" - that
is a dangerous statement that could lead non-technical people to think that
anyone can produce an accessible PDF without training. Any format is only
as accessible as the people publishing make it - I'd hate for your words to
be taken out of context or misinterpreted as I see that happen all too often
on the Web.
2. As a format for Web content the user experience is still jarred by the
use of PDFs. The user is taken away from their browser, to the PDF reader,
and then has to return to to the browser. Most of us take this for granted,
but then again, a great many of us take sight and other abilities for
granted too. Not everyone is as web savvy as developers like to think and I
know many people who get confused by PDF content (especially if the link to
it doesn't warn them first - the web editors fault, not Adobe's of course),
new windows and the like. These people could not really be labeled
"disabled" as such but I think they would be a good representation of the
"cognitive" group of disabled user.
3. There are other disabled user groups that need to be considered - not
just users with sight problems.

I'm sure Adobe will be most interested in your input and I'm sure you will
find them very accommodating. I have met with them in the past and they are
very keen to listen and improve their products, plus I see some of their
representatives getting involved in this forum (hi there). Given the
progress they have made with PDF I don't think a few more steps will pose a
problem.

Even with all the accessibility in place I am still utterly unconvinced as
to the use of the format as the primary format for delivery of Web content
for so many other reasons. PDFs have their roles, but that isn't one of
them.

Possibly a tiny bit off-topic (but not by much) - ironically, viewing this
thread in Gmail I am presented with multiple ads for free "PDF to HTML" and
other such converters. I shudder at the memory of testing many of those
products. Sadly whilst free software exists businesses will often be
attracted to them (especially given the cost of Acrobat) - it would be nice
to see Adobe tackle this but I can't see a business model for them to
release Acrobat/Acrobat Pro for free.

Best of luck with your effort in getting the Daisy translator!