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Re: LIFT Text Transcoder

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From: Patrick H. Lauke
Date: Jul 24, 2006 7:00PM

Ann Jenkins wrote:
> I am wondering if anyone on this list has any experience with or an opinion
> about the LIFT Text Transcoder
> (http://www.usablenet.com/products_services/text_transcoder/text_transcoder.
> html). I just got off the phone with someone from a large university, and
> they are looking into purchasing this product for the university. I don't
> know anything about the product except what is on their web site, and I
> realize UsableNet LIFT products are reputable, but somehow this feels like a
> quick fix, too good to be true solution to their web accessibility problems.
> I felt a bit alarmed that they think this can meet their government required
> accessibility problems. Any thoughts? Is it better than nothing?

I have the same opinion of this as I have of those "text only" solutions
of old (using BBC's Betsie or derivative): they're a quick fix, band-aid
solution. If you build your pages properly, using standards, providing
alternative content etc, then you've already got a text-only
version...your markup itself. What's the need for such a "solution"?

P
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Patrick H. Lauke
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