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Re: accessible chat clients

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From: Birkir Gunnarsson
Date: Mar 19, 2010 10:48AM


I know various versions of MSN and Windows messengers are accessible to one
degree or another, the problem is the latest versions generally requires the
most up-to-date screen readers to work with them.
Users are also playing with the Miranda software, which has the advantage
that you can integrate msn, aim and yahoo (I think) messengers into one.
It is pretty useless for you to have AIM if all your friends have msn
messenger, and aim has been on the losing side of the popular messengers
lately.
It is just something to keep in mind.
I wish messengers in general were more accessible, and I take that to mean
chat is accessible, one should be able to click on a link sent in an instant
message, one needs to be able to open an attachment or file sent through a
messenger, a video or voice chat should be accessible, the users details as
well as adding and removing contacts need to be accessible, all via simple
keyboard shortcuts.
These are what I consider requirements, but this is just speaking as a blind
messenger user, not based on any scientific formulation or systematic
thinking.
I may add I have yet to see messenger software that I feel fulfils all of
these things.
Cheers and be well
-Birkir