- From: Heiko Hornung <heix.msg@gmx.com>
- Date: Thu, 14 Jun 2012 18:40:03 -0300
- To: semantic-web@w3.org, ProjectParadigm-ICT-Program <metadataportals@yahoo.com>
- Cc: "public-lod@w3.org" <public-lod@w3.org>
Milton, I think the focus here is on accessibility. While it is possible to create accessible PDF files, the procedure is far from trivial. Regarding MS-Office files, the situation seems even more complicated, considering that not everyone hast access to MS products and viewing these files in libreoffice, etc. might not render everything in a way a screen reader or other assistive technology can handle. Maybe producing accessible HTML (if that's the format they'll be using) is simpler/cheaper/faster to produce (for the people involved in editing/publishing the documents). Best regards, Heiko On Thursday, June 14, 2012 14:05:09 ProjectParadigm-ICT-Program wrote: > Dear All > > The upcoming Rio +20 Conference (www.uncsd2012.org) will be utilising > PaperSmart, see papersmart.un.org to eliminate the use of paper. > > However the conference is not using generally accepted industry standards > such as DOC or PDF for paperless documents. > > On the webpage http://papersmart.un.org/commitments we find the following > text > > > The ISPS Mission on Accessibility > We, at the > Integrated Sustainable PaperSmart Services (ISPS) Secretariat, are > committed to making our portal as well as information available on it > accessible. We strongly believe in making information usable for > ‘everyone,’ especially when digital information becomes the only crucial > means of accessing information by persons with disabilities. Every effort > has been made to comply with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG > 2.0) developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) standards under the > Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI). > ISPS will > make reasonable efforts to provide or recommend alternatives wherever > non-compliant, non-W3C formats (Flash, PDF etc.) or multimedia will be > used. > > When we contacted the Secretariat we were informed very bluntly this is a > PaperSmart meeting and we do not use ANY Word Office or Adobe PDF formats. > They did not specify which formats were supported. > > This issue is drawing fire from many civil society areas as restricting open > access to documents available during this and other UN meetings and not > endorsing industry standards. > > The real cause for concern is the way the mention of W3C in this context can > be construed in an unfavorable form. > > The World Wide Web and Semantic Web Technologies specify specific standards > but in practice internet browsers support a myriad of industry standards. > > It seems that the PaperSmart program of the UN is putting a new spin on how > we should have access to documents through the internet and it is not being > well received by many. > > > I wonder if the W3C is really aware of this issue and how it may affect the > image of the W3C . > > > Milton Ponson > GSM: +297 747 8280 > PO Box 1154, Oranjestad > Aruba, Dutch Caribbean > Project Paradigm: A structured approach to bringing the tools for > sustainable development to all stakeholders worldwide by creating ICT tools > for NGOs worldwide and: providing online access to web sites and > repositories of data and information for sustainable development > > This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended > solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. > If you have received this email in error please notify the system manager. > This message contains confidential information and is intended only for the > individual named. If you are not the named addressee you should not > disseminate, distribute or copy this e-mail.
Received on Friday, 15 June 2012 08:24:48 UTC