WebAIM - Web Accessibility In Mind

E-mail List Archives

Re: screen reader open source?

for

From: Joshue O Connor
Date: Nov 22, 2006 8:50AM

>> I don't think that day will come not because of Microsoft but because of
>> anti-trust legislation particularly in the EU. Anytime Microsoft adds
>> something to the OS that there is already a third party solution it seem the
>> EU slaps a fine on or demands that it not be included in any OS version
>> released in Europe.

I hadn't considered that, and you are right that it could be an issue.
It would be great PR for Microsoft though, I can see the headlines.
"Uncle Bill wants to help blind users by including a native screen
reader but evil EU denies them in 'inhumane' anti-trust case."

Its good spin. (Maybe I should CC this to MS?)

Gareth said:

> I doubt that the EU would be unsympathetic to the argument that a screenreader is required to fulfil accessibility requirements.
>Microsoft could argue, rightly, that by denying them the right to include screenreading software out of the box, the EU is denying them
>the ability to meet it's own (or member states') accessibility legislation.

Thats also good spin :)

Anyway, bashing Microsoft for bundling the media player is obviously the
more acceptable face of anti-trust legislation.

Josh


Cheryl D Wise wrote:
> I don't think that day will come not because of Microsoft but because of
> anti-trust legislation particularly in the EU. Anytime Microsoft adds
> something to the OS that there is already a third party solution it seem the
> EU slaps a fine on or demands that it not be included in any OS version
> released in Europe.
>
> You have somewhat better luck with Apple since the European Commission
> doesn't seem to see any problem with Apple adding features to the OS.
>
> Note: I own both Windows and Apple computers so don't think I'm OS bashing
> here.
>
>
> Cheryl D Wise
> WiserWays LLC
>
>