E-mail List Archives
Thread: Apple screen reader technology preview
Number of posts in this thread: 4 (In chronological order)
From: Joe Clark
Date: Wed, Mar 17 2004 9:13AM
Subject: Apple screen reader technology preview
No previous message | Next message →
Yesterday at CSUN, Apple announced (where? in a meeting, a press
release, a paper presentation?) the upcoming Spoken Interface for OS
X:
<http://www.apple.com/accessibility/spokeninterface/>;
This will in fact be the long-rumoured Apple screen reader *and
more*, we are told.
<http://www.maccessibility.com/archive/000893.php >
<http://www.businessweek.com/print/technology/content/nov2003/tc20031112_9773_tc056.htm?tc>;
<http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?s=&;threadid=47105>
Press coverage from yesterday:
<http://www.businessweek.com/print/technology/content/mar2004/tc20040316_6454_tc056.htm?tc>;
<http://www.macdailynews.com/comments.php?id=P2343_0_1_0>;
Now, Apple is actively looking for beta-testers for this "technology
preview." If you know someone who's blind or visually-impaired (or
isn't) and is a Mac user (or isn't), pass the following URL along:
<http://www.apple.com/accessibility/spokeninterface/questionnaire.html>;
If you fill out the questionnaire and answer yes to the last
question, you may be considered for beta-testing.
I have friends at Apple, but beyond that I don't have any formal
involvement with the project.
--
Joe Clark | = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = | <http://joeclark.org/access/>;
Author, _Building Accessible Websites_ | <http://joeclark.org/book/>;
Expect criticism if you top-post
----
To subscribe, unsubscribe, suspend, or view list archives,
visit http://www.webaim.org/discussion/
From: holly marie
Date: Wed, Mar 17 2004 9:35AM
Subject: Re: Apple screen reader technology preview
← Previous message | Next message →
Joe wrote:
> <http://www.apple.com/accessibility/spokeninterface/>;
> This will in fact be the long-rumoured Apple screen reader *and
> more*, we are told.
I read through the earlier supplied links, quickly, though I do not see
any mention of support along the lines of other standards? Aural sheets,
headers in browsers, emphasis, strong , etc.
This appears to be an OS accessibility item for Mac, very good to see,
but I am not sure about the extended, if any, browser[safari or other]
capabilities it may have.
holly
----
To subscribe, unsubscribe, suspend, or view list archives,
visit http://www.webaim.org/discussion/
From: Ben Morrison
Date: Wed, Mar 17 2004 10:07AM
Subject: Re: Apple screen reader technology preview
← Previous message | Next message →
On 17/3/04 4:32 pm, "holly marie" < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > wrote:
>> This will in fact be the long-rumoured Apple screen reader *and
>> more*, we are told.
>
> I read through the earlier supplied links, quickly, though I do not see
> any mention of support along the lines of other standards? Aural sheets,
> headers in browsers, emphasis, strong , etc.
>
> This appears to be an OS accessibility item for Mac, very good to see,
> but I am not sure about the extended, if any, browser[safari or other]
> capabilities it may have.
From the apple site (http://www.apple.com/accessibility/spokeninterface/)
Apple is working to enhance the accessibility of its own applications
including the Finder, Mail, Safari, TextEdit, iChatAV, Calculator, and more.
We'll have to wait and see how well.
ben
----
To subscribe, unsubscribe, suspend, or view list archives,
visit http://www.webaim.org/discussion/
From: holly marie
Date: Wed, Mar 17 2004 11:24AM
Subject: Re: Apple screen reader technology preview
← Previous message | No next message
From: "Ben Morrison"
> From the apple site
(http://www.apple.com/accessibility/spokeninterface/)
>
> Apple is working to enhance the accessibility of its own applications
> including the Finder, Mail, Safari, TextEdit, iChatAV, Calculator, and
more.
>
> We'll have to wait and see how well.
>
That's the one I read, while it was a nice basic overview of features,
it was slim on the details.
Then again, this is still in development. While the articles point to
Blind users, there are certainly many other items on this accessible
interface that address a wide variety of users, including sticky keys
for motor challenges. (By the way, Readers are also very nice for those
that cannot read, because of a wide variety of diagnosis including brain
injuries, stroke, cognitive disorders).
[quoted from link above] Compatible with Universal Access
Apple includes a variety of accessibility features in Mac OS X referred
to collectively as Universal Access. These features enable those with
vision, hearing, and motor skills disabilities to more easily use the
Macintosh computer. These features, including the spoken interface, are
designed to work together and in combination to address the unique needs
of every user. Universal access features include zoom view, grayscale,
black on white (inverted display), sticky keys, mouse keys, slow keys,
and more.[/quoted]
Built in , not Added on:
This is very good news and will allow many users to have another OS
choice, but one that does not have to have many different add on apps or
software which made some of these items work for other OS.
holly
[I may look into the next Mac OS, myself, for a member of our family]
----
To subscribe, unsubscribe, suspend, or view list archives,
visit http://www.webaim.org/discussion/