PDFs

>the question still remains because PDF is not considered to be 
>accessible for the majority of individuals who use voice output.

They'll have to upgrade. Time marches on, you know.

>the only accessibility it affords in its latest incarnation is that 
>which is derived from using windows 95 or higher with the latest 
>screen access tools.

Actually, Acrobat 5 or later used with any screen reader that can 
manipulate Acrobat 5 will do an OK job muddling through even old 
PDFs. Tagged PDFs, which are still very difficult to make, will read 
out best of all, but a linear document like the Nielsen Norman report 
will probably read adequately well. Tables and illustrations will 
remain a problem, but the prose will be mostly accessible. None of 
this was ever true with Acrobat 4 and earlier; version 5 adds 
significant new logic to make educated guesses even with untagged 
PDFs.
-- 
         Joe Clark | joeclark@joeclark.org | <http://joeclark.org/access/>
         Accessibility articles, resources, and critiques ||
           "I do not pretend to understand the mind of Joe Clark"
           -- Larry Goldberg

Received on Tuesday, 23 October 2001 14:53:25 UTC