E-mail List Archives
Thread: BrailleNote and web accessibility
Number of posts in this thread: 8 (In chronological order)
From: Randall Pope
Date: Wed, Mar 04 2009 10:00AM
Subject: BrailleNote and web accessibility
No previous message | Next message →
Hi all,
I got a question about BrailleNote, a notetaker device from Humanware. From
the complaint I received, many of these users cannot access websites that
contain table layout and other web technology for some reason. Do we need to
slow down and wait for the BrailleNote technology to catch up before going
on with the Web 2.0 technology? Or should we go move on to newer web
technology? This has been on my mind for quite sometimes and trying to
figure the best direction to take.
With Warm Regards,
Randall "Randy" Pope
American Association of the Deaf-Blind
Website: http://www.aadb.org
301 495-4402 VP/TTY
301 495-4403 Voice
301 495-4404 Fax
AIM: RandyAADB
Want to keep up with the latest news in the Deaf-Blind Community? Consider
subscribing to the monthly newsletter, "AADB Today" at http://aadb.org. It's
free and AADB membership is not required.
-----Original Message-----
From: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
[mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ] On Behalf Of Jared Smith
Sent: Wednesday, March 04, 2009 10:30 AM
To: WebAIM Discussion List
Subject: Re: [WebAIM] When will developers be able to rely on ARIA?
On Wed, Mar 4, 2009 at 8:19 AM, Despain, Dallas wrote:
> But when will we be able to release such technology with confidence that
users will reap the benefits?
Now! You lose nothing by implementing it now. If site visitors are
using an older screen reader or browser that does not utilize ARIA,
they don't get the enhanced accessibility. While you should do what
you can to make it accessible without ARIA, if you implement ARIA you
can only make things better for those that have compatible
technologies.
Based on our screen reader survey results, it appears that most screen
reader users have relatively up-to-date browsers and screen readers.
I'd say the vast majority of them have ARIA compatible user agents
now. An IE8 release with proper ARIA support will only increase
adoption.
Jared Smith
WebAIM
From: Cliff Tyllick
Date: Wed, Mar 04 2009 10:05AM
Subject: Re: BrailleNote and web accessibility
← Previous message | Next message →
Randy, it would help to know what "other web technology" is preventing access.
Table-based designs are (or should be) on their way out. Web 2.0 is what's coming.
Or is the problem that one or more popular Web 2.0 sites use table-based layout themselves?
Cliff Tyllick
Web development coordinator
Agency Communications Division
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
512-239-4516
= EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
>>> "Randall Pope" < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > 3/4/2009 10:56 AM >>>
Hi all,
I got a question about BrailleNote, a notetaker device from Humanware. From
the complaint I received, many of these users cannot access websites that
contain table layout and other web technology for some reason. Do we need to
slow down and wait for the BrailleNote technology to catch up before going
on with the Web 2.0 technology? Or should we go move on to newer web
technology? This has been on my mind for quite sometimes and trying to
figure the best direction to take.
With Warm Regards,
Randall "Randy" Pope
American Association of the Deaf-Blind
Website: http://www.aadb.org
301 495-4402 VP/TTY
301 495-4403 Voice
301 495-4404 Fax
AIM: RandyAADB
Want to keep up with the latest news in the Deaf-Blind Community? Consider
subscribing to the monthly newsletter, "AADB Today" at http://aadb.org. It's
free and AADB membership is not required.
-----Original Message-----
From: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
[mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ] On Behalf Of Jared Smith
Sent: Wednesday, March 04, 2009 10:30 AM
To: WebAIM Discussion List
Subject: Re: [WebAIM] When will developers be able to rely on ARIA?
On Wed, Mar 4, 2009 at 8:19 AM, Despain, Dallas wrote:
> But when will we be able to release such technology with confidence that
users will reap the benefits?
Now! You lose nothing by implementing it now. If site visitors are
using an older screen reader or browser that does not utilize ARIA,
they don't get the enhanced accessibility. While you should do what
you can to make it accessible without ARIA, if you implement ARIA you
can only make things better for those that have compatible
technologies.
Based on our screen reader survey results, it appears that most screen
reader users have relatively up-to-date browsers and screen readers.
I'd say the vast majority of them have ARIA compatible user agents
now. An IE8 release with proper ARIA support will only increase
adoption.
Jared Smith
WebAIM
From: Randall Pope
Date: Wed, Mar 04 2009 10:30AM
Subject: Re: BrailleNote and web accessibility
← Previous message | Next message →
Thank Cliff for asking clarification.
It is both. It appears the BrailleNote designs cannot handle tables very
well. As for the Web 2.0, it appears this device has not caught up with it.
Does this help?
With Warm Regards,
Randall "Randy" Pope
American Association of the Deaf-Blind
Website: http://www.aadb.org
301 495-4402 VP/TTY
301 495-4403 Voice
301 495-4404 Fax
AIM: RandyAADB
Want to keep up with the latest news in the Deaf-Blind Community? Consider
subscribing to the monthly newsletter, "AADB Today" at http://aadb.org. It's
free and AADB membership is not required.
-----Original Message-----
From: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
[mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ] On Behalf Of Cliff Tyllick
Sent: Wednesday, March 04, 2009 12:04 PM
To: 'WebAIM Discussion List'
Subject: Re: [WebAIM] BrailleNote and web accessibility
Randy, it would help to know what "other web technology" is preventing
access.
Table-based designs are (or should be) on their way out. Web 2.0 is what's
coming.
Or is the problem that one or more popular Web 2.0 sites use table-based
layout themselves?
Cliff Tyllick
Web development coordinator
Agency Communications Division
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
512-239-4516
= EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
>>> "Randall Pope" < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > 3/4/2009 10:56 AM >>>
Hi all,
I got a question about BrailleNote, a notetaker device from Humanware. From
the complaint I received, many of these users cannot access websites that
contain table layout and other web technology for some reason. Do we need to
slow down and wait for the BrailleNote technology to catch up before going
on with the Web 2.0 technology? Or should we go move on to newer web
technology? This has been on my mind for quite sometimes and trying to
figure the best direction to take.
With Warm Regards,
Randall "Randy" Pope
American Association of the Deaf-Blind
Website: http://www.aadb.org
301 495-4402 VP/TTY
301 495-4403 Voice
301 495-4404 Fax
AIM: RandyAADB
Want to keep up with the latest news in the Deaf-Blind Community? Consider
subscribing to the monthly newsletter, "AADB Today" at http://aadb.org. It's
free and AADB membership is not required.
-----Original Message-----
From: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
[mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ] On Behalf Of Jared Smith
Sent: Wednesday, March 04, 2009 10:30 AM
To: WebAIM Discussion List
Subject: Re: [WebAIM] When will developers be able to rely on ARIA?
On Wed, Mar 4, 2009 at 8:19 AM, Despain, Dallas wrote:
> But when will we be able to release such technology with confidence that
users will reap the benefits?
Now! You lose nothing by implementing it now. If site visitors are
using an older screen reader or browser that does not utilize ARIA,
they don't get the enhanced accessibility. While you should do what
you can to make it accessible without ARIA, if you implement ARIA you
can only make things better for those that have compatible
technologies.
Based on our screen reader survey results, it appears that most screen
reader users have relatively up-to-date browsers and screen readers.
I'd say the vast majority of them have ARIA compatible user agents
now. An IE8 release with proper ARIA support will only increase
adoption.
Jared Smith
WebAIM
From: Cliff Tyllick
Date: Wed, Mar 04 2009 10:50AM
Subject: Re: BrailleNote and web accessibility
← Previous message | Next message →
Yes, Randy, that does help. I'm sure that others can better address the Web 2.0 aspects.
For table-based layouts, isn't this just one more reason to continue our efforts to convert to CSS?
Does BrailleNote also fail with actual data tables? And, when it fails, can it access the table's description?
Thanks!
Cliff Tyllick
Web development coordinator
Agency Communications Division
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
512-239-4516
= EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
>>> "Randall Pope" < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > 3/4/2009 11:30 AM >>>
Thank Cliff for asking clarification.
It is both. It appears the BrailleNote designs cannot handle tables very
well. As for the Web 2.0, it appears this device has not caught up with it.
Does this help?
With Warm Regards,
Randall "Randy" Pope
American Association of the Deaf-Blind
Website: http://www.aadb.org
301 495-4402 VP/TTY
301 495-4403 Voice
301 495-4404 Fax
AIM: RandyAADB
Want to keep up with the latest news in the Deaf-Blind Community? Consider
subscribing to the monthly newsletter, "AADB Today" at http://aadb.org. It's
free and AADB membership is not required.
-----Original Message-----
From: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
[mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ] On Behalf Of Cliff Tyllick
Sent: Wednesday, March 04, 2009 12:04 PM
To: 'WebAIM Discussion List'
Subject: Re: [WebAIM] BrailleNote and web accessibility
Randy, it would help to know what "other web technology" is preventing
access.
Table-based designs are (or should be) on their way out. Web 2.0 is what's
coming.
Or is the problem that one or more popular Web 2.0 sites use table-based
layout themselves?
Cliff Tyllick
Web development coordinator
Agency Communications Division
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
512-239-4516
= EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
>>> "Randall Pope" < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > 3/4/2009 10:56 AM >>>
Hi all,
I got a question about BrailleNote, a notetaker device from Humanware. From
the complaint I received, many of these users cannot access websites that
contain table layout and other web technology for some reason. Do we need to
slow down and wait for the BrailleNote technology to catch up before going
on with the Web 2.0 technology? Or should we go move on to newer web
technology? This has been on my mind for quite sometimes and trying to
figure the best direction to take.
With Warm Regards,
Randall "Randy" Pope
American Association of the Deaf-Blind
Website: http://www.aadb.org
301 495-4402 VP/TTY
301 495-4403 Voice
301 495-4404 Fax
AIM: RandyAADB
Want to keep up with the latest news in the Deaf-Blind Community? Consider
subscribing to the monthly newsletter, "AADB Today" at http://aadb.org. It's
free and AADB membership is not required.
-----Original Message-----
From: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
[mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ] On Behalf Of Jared Smith
Sent: Wednesday, March 04, 2009 10:30 AM
To: WebAIM Discussion List
Subject: Re: [WebAIM] When will developers be able to rely on ARIA?
On Wed, Mar 4, 2009 at 8:19 AM, Despain, Dallas wrote:
> But when will we be able to release such technology with confidence that
users will reap the benefits?
Now! You lose nothing by implementing it now. If site visitors are
using an older screen reader or browser that does not utilize ARIA,
they don't get the enhanced accessibility. While you should do what
you can to make it accessible without ARIA, if you implement ARIA you
can only make things better for those that have compatible
technologies.
Based on our screen reader survey results, it appears that most screen
reader users have relatively up-to-date browsers and screen readers.
I'd say the vast majority of them have ARIA compatible user agents
now. An IE8 release with proper ARIA support will only increase
adoption.
Jared Smith
WebAIM
From: Randall Pope
Date: Wed, Mar 04 2009 1:15PM
Subject: Re: BrailleNote and web accessibility
← Previous message | Next message →
Hi Cliff,
I have ask the listers on DeafBlind Techies list with my question.
Hopefully I will get some responses for you. Stay tuned. Smile.
With Warm Regards,
Randall "Randy" Pope
American Association of the Deaf-Blind
Website: http://www.aadb.org
301 495-4402 VP/TTY
301 495-4403 Voice
301 495-4404 Fax
AIM: RandyAADB
Want to keep up with the latest news in the Deaf-Blind Community? Consider
subscribing to the monthly newsletter, "AADB Today" at http://aadb.org. It's
free and AADB membership is not required.
-----Original Message-----
From: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
[mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ] On Behalf Of Cliff Tyllick
Sent: Wednesday, March 04, 2009 12:47 PM
To: 'WebAIM Discussion List'
Subject: Re: [WebAIM] BrailleNote and web accessibility
Yes, Randy, that does help. I'm sure that others can better address the Web
2.0 aspects.
For table-based layouts, isn't this just one more reason to continue our
efforts to convert to CSS?
Does BrailleNote also fail with actual data tables? And, when it fails, can
it access the table's description?
Thanks!
Cliff Tyllick
Web development coordinator
Agency Communications Division
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
512-239-4516
= EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
>>> "Randall Pope" < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > 3/4/2009 11:30 AM >>>
Thank Cliff for asking clarification.
It is both. It appears the BrailleNote designs cannot handle tables very
well. As for the Web 2.0, it appears this device has not caught up with it.
Does this help?
With Warm Regards,
Randall "Randy" Pope
American Association of the Deaf-Blind
Website: http://www.aadb.org
301 495-4402 VP/TTY
301 495-4403 Voice
301 495-4404 Fax
AIM: RandyAADB
Want to keep up with the latest news in the Deaf-Blind Community? Consider
subscribing to the monthly newsletter, "AADB Today" at http://aadb.org. It's
free and AADB membership is not required.
-----Original Message-----
From: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
[mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ] On Behalf Of Cliff Tyllick
Sent: Wednesday, March 04, 2009 12:04 PM
To: 'WebAIM Discussion List'
Subject: Re: [WebAIM] BrailleNote and web accessibility
Randy, it would help to know what "other web technology" is preventing
access.
Table-based designs are (or should be) on their way out. Web 2.0 is what's
coming.
Or is the problem that one or more popular Web 2.0 sites use table-based
layout themselves?
Cliff Tyllick
Web development coordinator
Agency Communications Division
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
512-239-4516
= EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
>>> "Randall Pope" < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > 3/4/2009 10:56 AM >>>
Hi all,
I got a question about BrailleNote, a notetaker device from Humanware. From
the complaint I received, many of these users cannot access websites that
contain table layout and other web technology for some reason. Do we need to
slow down and wait for the BrailleNote technology to catch up before going
on with the Web 2.0 technology? Or should we go move on to newer web
technology? This has been on my mind for quite sometimes and trying to
figure the best direction to take.
With Warm Regards,
Randall "Randy" Pope
American Association of the Deaf-Blind
Website: http://www.aadb.org
301 495-4402 VP/TTY
301 495-4403 Voice
301 495-4404 Fax
AIM: RandyAADB
Want to keep up with the latest news in the Deaf-Blind Community? Consider
subscribing to the monthly newsletter, "AADB Today" at http://aadb.org. It's
free and AADB membership is not required.
-----Original Message-----
From: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
[mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ] On Behalf Of Jared Smith
Sent: Wednesday, March 04, 2009 10:30 AM
To: WebAIM Discussion List
Subject: Re: [WebAIM] When will developers be able to rely on ARIA?
On Wed, Mar 4, 2009 at 8:19 AM, Despain, Dallas wrote:
> But when will we be able to release such technology with confidence that
users will reap the benefits?
Now! You lose nothing by implementing it now. If site visitors are
using an older screen reader or browser that does not utilize ARIA,
they don't get the enhanced accessibility. While you should do what
you can to make it accessible without ARIA, if you implement ARIA you
can only make things better for those that have compatible
technologies.
Based on our screen reader survey results, it appears that most screen
reader users have relatively up-to-date browsers and screen readers.
I'd say the vast majority of them have ARIA compatible user agents
now. An IE8 release with proper ARIA support will only increase
adoption.
Jared Smith
WebAIM
From: Cliff Tyllick
Date: Wed, Mar 04 2009 1:25PM
Subject: Re: BrailleNote and web accessibility
← Previous message | Next message →
Randy, thanks for going to so much trouble. Even if there is nothing that can be done today, perhaps this could identify specific steps we could take (or that the manufacturers of BrailleNote can take) to help people who are deaf-blind understand information that is best organized in tables.
This is another good reminder that, even when considering the visually disabled, "accessible" does not just mean "works well with a screen reader."
Cliff Tyllick
Web development coordinator
Agency Communications Division
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
512-239-4516
= EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
>>> "Randall Pope" < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > 3/4/2009 2:10 PM >>>
Hi Cliff,
I have ask the listers on DeafBlind Techies list with my question.
Hopefully I will get some responses for you. Stay tuned. Smile.
With Warm Regards,
Randall "Randy" Pope
American Association of the Deaf-Blind
Website: http://www.aadb.org
301 495-4402 VP/TTY
301 495-4403 Voice
301 495-4404 Fax
AIM: RandyAADB
Want to keep up with the latest news in the Deaf-Blind Community? Consider
subscribing to the monthly newsletter, "AADB Today" at http://aadb.org. It's
free and AADB membership is not required.
-----Original Message-----
From: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
[mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ] On Behalf Of Cliff Tyllick
Sent: Wednesday, March 04, 2009 12:47 PM
To: 'WebAIM Discussion List'
Subject: Re: [WebAIM] BrailleNote and web accessibility
Yes, Randy, that does help. I'm sure that others can better address the Web
2.0 aspects.
For table-based layouts, isn't this just one more reason to continue our
efforts to convert to CSS?
Does BrailleNote also fail with actual data tables? And, when it fails, can
it access the table's description?
Thanks!
Cliff Tyllick
Web development coordinator
Agency Communications Division
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
512-239-4516
= EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
>>> "Randall Pope" < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > 3/4/2009 11:30 AM >>>
Thank Cliff for asking clarification.
It is both. It appears the BrailleNote designs cannot handle tables very
well. As for the Web 2.0, it appears this device has not caught up with it.
Does this help?
With Warm Regards,
Randall "Randy" Pope
American Association of the Deaf-Blind
Website: http://www.aadb.org
301 495-4402 VP/TTY
301 495-4403 Voice
301 495-4404 Fax
AIM: RandyAADB
Want to keep up with the latest news in the Deaf-Blind Community? Consider
subscribing to the monthly newsletter, "AADB Today" at http://aadb.org. It's
free and AADB membership is not required.
-----Original Message-----
From: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
[mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ] On Behalf Of Cliff Tyllick
Sent: Wednesday, March 04, 2009 12:04 PM
To: 'WebAIM Discussion List'
Subject: Re: [WebAIM] BrailleNote and web accessibility
Randy, it would help to know what "other web technology" is preventing
access.
Table-based designs are (or should be) on their way out. Web 2.0 is what's
coming.
Or is the problem that one or more popular Web 2.0 sites use table-based
layout themselves?
Cliff Tyllick
Web development coordinator
Agency Communications Division
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
512-239-4516
= EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
>>> "Randall Pope" < = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = > 3/4/2009 10:56 AM >>>
Hi all,
I got a question about BrailleNote, a notetaker device from Humanware. From
the complaint I received, many of these users cannot access websites that
contain table layout and other web technology for some reason. Do we need to
slow down and wait for the BrailleNote technology to catch up before going
on with the Web 2.0 technology? Or should we go move on to newer web
technology? This has been on my mind for quite sometimes and trying to
figure the best direction to take.
With Warm Regards,
Randall "Randy" Pope
American Association of the Deaf-Blind
Website: http://www.aadb.org
301 495-4402 VP/TTY
301 495-4403 Voice
301 495-4404 Fax
AIM: RandyAADB
Want to keep up with the latest news in the Deaf-Blind Community? Consider
subscribing to the monthly newsletter, "AADB Today" at http://aadb.org. It's
free and AADB membership is not required.
-----Original Message-----
From: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
[mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ] On Behalf Of Jared Smith
Sent: Wednesday, March 04, 2009 10:30 AM
To: WebAIM Discussion List
Subject: Re: [WebAIM] When will developers be able to rely on ARIA?
On Wed, Mar 4, 2009 at 8:19 AM, Despain, Dallas wrote:
> But when will we be able to release such technology with confidence that
users will reap the benefits?
Now! You lose nothing by implementing it now. If site visitors are
using an older screen reader or browser that does not utilize ARIA,
they don't get the enhanced accessibility. While you should do what
you can to make it accessible without ARIA, if you implement ARIA you
can only make things better for those that have compatible
technologies.
Based on our screen reader survey results, it appears that most screen
reader users have relatively up-to-date browsers and screen readers.
I'd say the vast majority of them have ARIA compatible user agents
now. An IE8 release with proper ARIA support will only increase
adoption.
Jared Smith
WebAIM
From: David Andrews
Date: Thu, Mar 05 2009 5:40PM
Subject: Re: BrailleNote and web accessibility
← Previous message | Next message →
I missed your signature in the message I just replied too, and meant
to say anyway, that if you are doing sites that are in part or
specifically for blind, visually impaired or deaf-blind persons, then
you probably do need to wait on WEB 2.0 until we are further along
the technology curve. Various assistive technologies and devices
couldn't cope with it.
Dave
At 12:56 PM 3/4/2009, you wrote:
>Hi all,
>
>I got a question about BrailleNote, a notetaker device from Humanware. From
>the complaint I received, many of these users cannot access websites that
>contain table layout and other web technology for some reason. Do we need to
>slow down and wait for the BrailleNote technology to catch up before going
>on with the Web 2.0 technology? Or should we go move on to newer web
>technology? This has been on my mind for quite sometimes and trying to
>figure the best direction to take.
>
>With Warm Regards,
>Randall "Randy" Pope
>American Association of the Deaf-Blind
>Website: http://www.aadb.org
>
>301 495-4402 VP/TTY
>301 495-4403 Voice
>301 495-4404 Fax
>AIM: RandyAADB
>
>Want to keep up with the latest news in the Deaf-Blind Community? Consider
>subscribing to the monthly newsletter, "AADB Today" at http://aadb.org. It's
>free and AADB membership is not required.
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
>[mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ] On Behalf Of Jared Smith
>Sent: Wednesday, March 04, 2009 10:30 AM
>To: WebAIM Discussion List
>Subject: Re: [WebAIM] When will developers be able to rely on ARIA?
>
>On Wed, Mar 4, 2009 at 8:19 AM, Despain, Dallas wrote:
> > But when will we be able to release such technology with confidence that
>users will reap the benefits?
>
>Now! You lose nothing by implementing it now. If site visitors are
>using an older screen reader or browser that does not utilize ARIA,
>they don't get the enhanced accessibility. While you should do what
>you can to make it accessible without ARIA, if you implement ARIA you
>can only make things better for those that have compatible
>technologies.
>
>Based on our screen reader survey results, it appears that most screen
>reader users have relatively up-to-date browsers and screen readers.
>I'd say the vast majority of them have ARIA compatible user agents
>now. An IE8 release with proper ARIA support will only increase
>adoption.
>
>Jared Smith
>WebAIM
>
From: David Andrews
Date: Thu, Mar 05 2009 5:45PM
Subject: Re: BrailleNote and web accessibility
← Previous message | No next message
The Braille Note is, or was based on Windows CE so it doesn't handle
some newer technologies. Using the Braille Note to hold back WEB 2.0
is a little bit like the proverbial Dutch boy putting his finger in
the hole in the dike though.
All blind people put together couldn't stop WEB 2.0, and a small
segment of a small population certainly can't.
I also think the days of the dedicated, simple note taker, like the
Braille Note, are numbered. They are being replaced by laptops, Net
Books, and more powerful phones.
Dave
At 12:56 PM 3/4/2009, you wrote:
>Hi all,
>
>I got a question about BrailleNote, a notetaker device from Humanware. From
>the complaint I received, many of these users cannot access websites that
>contain table layout and other web technology for some reason. Do we need to
>slow down and wait for the BrailleNote technology to catch up before going
>on with the Web 2.0 technology? Or should we go move on to newer web
>technology? This has been on my mind for quite sometimes and trying to
>figure the best direction to take.
>
>With Warm Regards,
>Randall "Randy" Pope
>American Association of the Deaf-Blind
>Website: http://www.aadb.org
>
>301 495-4402 VP/TTY
>301 495-4403 Voice
>301 495-4404 Fax
>AIM: RandyAADB
>
>Want to keep up with the latest news in the Deaf-Blind Community? Consider
>subscribing to the monthly newsletter, "AADB Today" at http://aadb.org. It's
>free and AADB membership is not required.
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
>[mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ] On Behalf Of Jared Smith
>Sent: Wednesday, March 04, 2009 10:30 AM
>To: WebAIM Discussion List
>Subject: Re: [WebAIM] When will developers be able to rely on ARIA?
>
>On Wed, Mar 4, 2009 at 8:19 AM, Despain, Dallas wrote:
> > But when will we be able to release such technology with confidence that
>users will reap the benefits?
>
>Now! You lose nothing by implementing it now. If site visitors are
>using an older screen reader or browser that does not utilize ARIA,
>they don't get the enhanced accessibility. While you should do what
>you can to make it accessible without ARIA, if you implement ARIA you
>can only make things better for those that have compatible
>technologies.
>
>Based on our screen reader survey results, it appears that most screen
>reader users have relatively up-to-date browsers and screen readers.
>I'd say the vast majority of them have ARIA compatible user agents
>now. An IE8 release with proper ARIA support will only increase
>adoption.
>
>Jared Smith
>WebAIM
>