Re: Web Application Accessibility

Yes, John, this is on the radar screen of the WAI.  Not that we have a
slick answer ready to go. 

I have copied <w3c-wai-ig@w3.org> which is where to send issues that the
WAI should address and you don't know who is working on them.

Al

At 09:45 AM 3/20/99 +0000, John Nissen wrote:
>Hello Jamal, Gregg, et al,
>
>If today is as it was last year at CSUN, the WAI (W3C's web accessibility
>initiative) will be meeting this afternoon.
>
>Microsoft has been talking more and more about web applications,
>as opposed to desktop applications.  We need to be in at the
>start on this.  Web applications present a browser interface to
>the user, but allow dynamic interaction with the user.   It is
>this area of dynamic interaction where there are no accessibility 
>guidelines.  To my knowledge there are no guidelines even on the 
>design of forms, the most primitive means of allowing the user to 
>provide input.
>
>So when we talk about "Universal Design" it needs to be applied
>to web applications, and we need WAI show how universal design
>principles can be applied in practice.
>
>Any chance of putting this on the agenda?
>
>Cheers from Chiswick,
>
>John
>--
>Here are some extracts from Jamal's message, for reference.
>
>In message <199903181538.KAA22592@gemini.smart.net> Jamal Mazrui writes:
>
>>The council reinforced the importance of having input early on
>>in the product development cycle..
>
>>No more retrofitting! Universal frustration over the catch-up
>>necessary when new versions of software are released prompted
>>many council members to ask how they can make sure that
>>accessibility is built into the product from the very start.
>
>>Raikes, one of the top leaders in the company [Microsoft], offered a
>>two-pronged solution: first, proactive productive design-that
>>is, incorporating accessibility issues at milestone zero, the
>>first step in the product development cycle; and, second,
>>establishing a good feedback loop.
>
>>Universal design. David Clarke of the Center for Applied Special
>>Technology (CAST) made the point that selling accessible or
>>universal design as good design may be the best way to integrate
>>accessibility. 
>
>-- 
>Access the word, access the world       Tel/fax +44 181 742 3170/8715
>John Nissen                             Email to jn@tommy.demon.co.uk
>Cloudworld Ltd., Chiswick, London, UK   http://www.tommy.demon.co.uk
>

Received on Saturday, 20 March 1999 15:29:07 UTC