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ISV Infragistics' NetAdvantage 2004

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From: Larry G. Hull
Date: Feb 5, 2004 8:56AM

InfoWord's lead story today is "Infragistics adds 508 support: Latest
version of NetAdvantage equipped for visually and hearing impaired"

ISV Infragistics' NetAdvantage 2004 is a tool box for constructing
user interfaces. That it is equipped for hearing impaired intrigued
me as I am hearing impaired and can't imagine what they are talking
about.

After reading the full InfoWord article (provided below), some may be
as skeptical as I after reading that "hearing impaired programmers
can use the product." Having been a hearing impaired software
developer for more than half my career and having used any number of
tool kits lacking any accessibility support, I'd sure like to know
what I've been missing.

The announcement at the ISV Infragistics site is not particularly
helpful. BTW,the page
http://www.infragistics.com/products/whatsnew.asp lacks alt text and
does not provide an explicit label for the form control.

Does anyone know what "built in tools of Windows XP and the .NET
Framework ... support functionality ... for disability-aware
applications for people that are hard of hearing?"

Larry

InfoWord Story (probably based on a press release)

Volume 1 brings support for Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, so
visually and hearing impaired programmers can use the product to
create interfaces for Windows Forms, ASP.Net, Tablet PC, and COM
development. Support for 508 means not only that hearing and visually
impaired people can use the NetAdvantage tools but also that the
interfaces they create will be fit for use by the hearing or visually
impaired, according to Dean Guida, CEO of Infragistics.

Volume 1 also includes new features, such as the ability to replicate
Outlook 2003 in look and feel for both the Windows Forms explorer bar
and scheduling elements, as well as data input elements for ASP.Net.

Infragistics typically ships three new volumes per year, Guida said,
and Volume 2 will carry support for Microsoft's forthcoming version
of Visual Studio, code-named Whidbey. When Microsoft issues the beta
of Whidbey, Infragistics will make Volume 2 available, with features
that hook into Smart Tags, and the ASP.net Web Parts portal-like
framework.


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