Notes 1 and 2 on the Assistive Technology Definition

Name: Wayne Dick
Email: wed@csulb.edu
Affiliation: Rep for CSU Long Beach on WAI / EOWG
Document: W2
Item Number: Appendix A: Glossary
Part of Item: 
Comment Type: general comment
Summary of Issue: Notes 1 and 2 on the Assistive Technology Definition
Comment (Including rationale for any proposed change):
In Note 1, your distinction of mainstream user agent reads like it is circular.  It is not circular, but it takes two readings to realize it.

Note 2 seems related to Note 1 so I combined them.

Proposed Change:
New Combined Note 1 and Note 2 into 



New: Note 1:  The distinction between mainstream user agents and assistive technologies is real but not absolute. Many mainstream user agents provide some features to assist individuals with disabilities. These features are native assistive technologies contained within the mainstream user agent. The basic difference is that mainstream user agents target broad and diverse audiences that usually include people with and without disabilities. Assistive technologies target narrowly defined populations of users with specific disabilities. The assistance provided by an assistive technology is more specific and appropriate to the needs of its target users.

Received on Friday, 29 June 2007 16:24:49 UTC