Re: One of those pesky questions

I would like to add my voice in support of this idea.  One of the things
that the WAI could do is help Industry see what they have to gain in real
terms by making things accessible.  For example, cell phones that access the
web or e-mail via sound use essentially the same technology as screen
readers.  These will be used by mainstream users.  I have been thinking that
a great deal of other "assistive technology" will also be used in the
mainstream.  If we can point out this advantage to these companies I believe
it will go a long way towards gaining support for this initiative.

Sincerely,

Mike Burks

The opinions expressed above are mine and do not necessarily reflect those
of my employer.
-----Original Message-----
From: Mike Paciello <paciello@yuri.org>
To: Scott Luebking <phoenixl@netcom.com>; w3c-wai-ig@w3.org
<w3c-wai-ig@w3.org>
Cc: paciello@yuri.org <paciello@yuri.org>
Date: Tuesday, March 03, 1998 10:33 AM
Subject: Re: One of those pesky questions


>I'd second Scott's thought with an additional note. Browsing as we know it
>today is changing rapidly, particularly in the area of display interfaces.
>Kiosks, TV's, cell phones, cars, watches, consumer electronic products,
>etc..etc... all are being equipped with web based, wireless display
>interfaces. Sun, SpyGlass, Netscape, IBM, Adobe and a host of telco and
>cable manufacturers already have made the investment. Without their
>"buy-in", the WAI battle becomes much more difficult and, perhaps, somewhat
>futile.
>
>I am of the humble opinion that our "battle" would be much easier if more
>emphasis was placed on education, awareness, and outreach (with a subtle,
>but powerful PR strategy) geared at helping industry and, ultimately,
>resulting in gaining their support.
>
>After all the hard work that the Guidelines WG has put in over the past
>several months, I haven't had any inkling that the W3C is gaining
>membership support for the WAI. I really wonder what's going on in the
>minds of those 200+ members. Since the release of the guidelines, are W3C
>members eager to implement and "advertise" their support? Clearly IBM and
>Microsoft have been there right from the start (thank goodness)...But I
>really would like to see "new kids on the block", demonstrating similar
>support and zeal.
>
>Sorry for getting off on a tangent...and I am in no way trying to
>dishearten the outstanding work already accomplished...but it comes right
>back to what Scott indicated below -- development without participation =
>zero integration.
>
>- Mike
>
>
>
>At 06:40 AM 3/3/98 -0800, Scott Luebking wrote:
>>Hi,
>>Both the au and ui groups are meeting via phone this week.  I'm afraid
>>I keep having one of those pesky questions cropping up for me.
>>
>>Basically, how many browser companies have shown a willingness to
>>modify their browser software.  Various browser companies may show
>>something like moral support.  However, this type of support can
>>be fairly cheap.  What happens when they need to expend resources
>>for changing their software to include accessibility?  For example,
>>as near as I can tell, Netscape has not shown any interest in taking
>>on the chore of modifying their browser software to include
>>aceesibility aspects.  If the WAI decides what is needed in browsers
>>without participation of browser companies, the browser companies
>>will have less a sense of ownership of the issues and will be more
>>reluctant to make changes to their software.
>>
>>Scott
>>
>>
>>
>

Received on Tuesday, 3 March 1998 10:48:15 UTC