[Fwd: [webwatch] Re: PC World Story on the Blind & the Web]

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: [webwatch] Re: PC World Story on the Blind & the Web
Date: Thu, 06 Apr 2000 01:23:43 -0500
From: Judy Heim <judyheim@execpc.com>
Reply-To: "webwatch" <webwatch@telelists.com>
Organization: Organized? You've got to be kidding
To: "webwatch" <webwatch@telelists.com>

Here's my original message, prior to Kelly's outstanding comments:

Hi, Folks!  I write for PC World magazine.  We're doing a feature on
problems that the handicapped have accessing the Web, with a focus on blind
computer users.

You guys are a talkative bunch, so I thought I'd ask if you have any input.
My  husband is blind, and together we've written about screen readers and
other adaptive devices for the magazine for several years. I'm familiar
with the basic issues. Specifically I'd be interested in hearing:

* What specific sorts of sites pose the most problems for you?  For
instance, Web shopping sites.  Are some easier for you to navigate?  How
about news sites?  Or music sites? For example, we got a letter from a
blind user who cannot access the Spinner site with his speech reader and
download its software.

* If you could talk to any exec at a major computer company about the
problem (except for Bill Gates, who probably will not talk to us <g>), who
would you most like to talk to, and what would you ask him/her?

* What do you think about the suit against AOL?  Do you think it's going to
bring significant changes to the Web?

* If you could change one thing about the Web tomorrow, what would it be?

* What do you think about the future of the Web?  Or you worried that the
Web will become more difficult for blind users to navigate?  Or are you
optimistic that the Web will become more accessible?

* Do you know anyone with another disability who has trouble accessing the
Web and who I might contact?  While the focus of the story is on blind
computer users, we want to talk to other handicapped users.

In advance...thank you for any help any of you can offer!

Judy Heim
Contributing Editor, PC World

Received on Thursday, 6 April 2000 09:17:33 UTC