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From: Michael D. Roush
Date: Mon, Sep 12 2005 7:20AM
Subject: FEMA site
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Just something to monitor... FEMA's website has a form allowing people
who were affected by Hurricane Katrina to register for government
assistance. Small problem - the form requires IE6. Now, the faq for
the form does actually say that IE6 is required and they are in the
process of modifying the application. It used to say "Yes and no" to
the "Do I need Internet Explorer to Register for Assistance Online", but
for now it just says "Yes". They also fixed what I considered to be an
issue by supplying a link for people to download IE6 - that's just been
added over the weekend, but they still don't have a link to download a
PDF viewer, although they provide links to PDF documents on the
registration page.

I may be too optimistic, but I really do believe they are working on the
form to make it accessible to people who don't have IE6. What still
puzzles me though is how common it still is to design a web-based
application for one particular technology and then have to create hacks
to accommodate other technologies.

Michael Roush





From: Conyers, Dwayne
Date: Mon, Sep 12 2005 8:40AM
Subject: RE: FEMA site
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Michael D. Roush ink wired:

> What still puzzles me though is how common it still is to
> design a web-based application for one particular technology
> and then have to create hacks to accommodate other
> technologies.


In my experience, it is very common. I built an application for an
agency that required use of ActiveX (because the head of that
organization was an MCSD) and later asked for support in re-engineering
it to J2EE (after said head took some Sun training).

Sigh...


----
I made magic once. Now, the sofa is gone.
www.dwacon.com




From: Austin, Darrel
Date: Mon, Sep 12 2005 9:20AM
Subject: RE: FEMA site
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> I may be too optimistic, but I really do believe they are
> working on the form to make it accessible to people who don't
> have IE6.

I can imagine their meetings...

So, we need to plan on how to evacuate people.

Well, let's assume that they'll just all drive out of there.

Wait, not everyone has/uses a car!

That's OK, our stats indicate that 80% of the people have cars.

But what about those other 20%?

Well, they can go buy a car, I guess...listen, it will just cost us too
much money to support all forms of evacuation...let's just go with the
more popular option...we can't please everyone!

-Darrel