- From: Wendy A Chisholm <wendy@w3.org>
- Date: Tue, 05 Sep 2000 17:54:36 -0400
- To: w3c-wai-ig@w3.org, w3c-wai-gl@w3.org
Hello, A couple weeks ago I forwarded information about the open source software project "Ocularis." After a few people from the list responded to me privately, I followed-up with the person coordinating the Ocularis work, JP Schnapper-Casteras. Here is what he sent for me to forward on to the WAI lists. --wendy >Date: Sat, 2 Sep 2000 22:10:46 -0700 (PDT) >From: JP S-C <jp_sc@yahoo.com> >Subject: Follow Up: Open Source for the Visually Impaired >To: wendy@w3.org, smccaffr@mail.nysed.gov >Cc: jpsc@users.sourceforge.net > >Dear Ms. Chisolm and Mr. McCaffrey, > Included below is the Release Roadmap. With the >help of more developers and non-technical volunteers, >the roadmap's timeframes are quite do-able. Feel free >to forward this message in its entirety to WAI mailing >lists or others. Thanks. Keep in touch. > >--JP Schnapper-Casteras > > > >Ocularis Release Roadmap for August 2000 > > >As of August 2000, the primary stages of Ocularis' >development are: 1)Design; 2)Desktop Environment; >3)Full Distribution. The timeframe for each of these >stages is also is subject to change and is based on >the current rate at which new developers and >volunteers join the project. > > >Terms Used: > >"Basic applications" refers to a word processor, >calculator, file manager, Internet browser, and e-mail >client. A calendar and basic accounting or finance >application and other clients or programs are also >considered "basic applications", but they are less >crucial (than the first five "basic applications") and >may miss the due dates specified in this release >roadmap. > > >"Desktop environment" refers to a package consisting >of the basic applications and software called the >"audio desktop environment" (ADE) that integrates and >allows easy access to the basic applications and other >commonly used functions. The "desktop environment" >can be downloaded from the Internet and used on a >computer that already has Linux installed. > > >"Full distribution" refers to the complete version of >the Linux Operating System that can be installed, >customized, and used by the visually impaired, >independent of sighted assistance. When the "full >distribution" is complete, it will be possible for a >visually impaired individual to install the "desktop >environment" and other optional packages on the blank >hard drive of a computer consisting of commonly >available (Linux-compatible) hardware costing less >than $500 that can be bought at almost any local >computer store. > > >1)Design: > >Discussion of and new propositions for the Audio User >Interfaces (AUIs) for the applications and desktop >environment that comprise Ocularis will end by >September 30th. At the end of the design stage there >will be specifications for the AUI of each basic >applications. After September 30th, Ocularis will >enter a stage of more substantial development of both >the desktop environment and the full distribution. >AUI modifications, design suggestions, and new >designs will be considered after September 30th, but >will receive a lower priority than if they had been >submitted before the 30th. > > >2)Desktop Environment: > >As previously stated, development of the desktop >environment will begin after September 30th and >developer releases will begin soon thereafter. Within >4-6 months from now, or from January to early February >2001, a stable (not developer) version of the desktop >will be released to and usable by end-users. >Development of the desktop environment will continue >during and after this release, although it is likely >that there will be a code freeze several weeks before >reaching the stable, non-developer version. > > >3)Full Distribution: > >Development of the full distribution will also begin >after September 30th and developer releases will start >to come out after those of the desktop environment. A >stable (not developer) version of the full >distribution should be released approximately 6-12 >months from now, or any time from February to August >2001. The word "approximately" is used because of the >numerous technical factors that go into creating Linux >installers and configuration tools that output to >speech and can be executed from a CD-ROM (while >maintaining reasonable RAM requirements). > > >Other Subprojects: > >The planned release dates of some Ocularis >subprojects, such as "UIML Implementation" are not >implicitly specified in this release roadmap. The >accomplishments of such subprojects may or may not >accelerate the progress of the three primary stages >detailed above. > >__________________________________________________ >Do You Yahoo!? >Yahoo! Mail - Free email you can access from anywhere! >http://mail.yahoo.com/ -- wendy a chisholm world wide web consortium web accessibility initiative madison, wi usa tel: +1 608 663 6346 /--
Received on Tuesday, 5 September 2000 17:50:38 UTC