Fwd: New version of Macromedia Flash Player enables people with disabilities to experience rich content and applications

Here's another...


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>Date: Mon, 04 Mar 2002 11:00:09 -0500
>To: gw-info@gwmicro.com
>From: Aaron Smith <aaron@gwmicro.com>
>Subject: New version of Macromedia Flash Player enables people with
>   disabilities to experience rich content and applications
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>
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>MACROMEDIA BRINGS ACCESSIBILITY
>TO MACROMEDIA FLASH USING MICROSOFT ACTIVE ACCESSIBILITY
>
>New version of Macromedia Flash Player enables people with disabilities to 
>experience rich content and applications
>
>San Francisco, California -- March 4, 2002 -- Macromedia*, Inc. (Nasdaq: 
>MACR) today announced accessibility support in both the Macromedia Flash* 
>MX development software and Macromedia Flash Player 6. The player will 
>include support for Microsoft Active Accessibility, which will enable 
>people with disabilities to interact with Macromedia Flash content and 
>applications using accessibility aids such as screen readers. Macromedia 
>Flash MX (announced today, see separate release) simplifies the creation 
>of accessible content by enabling the addition of descriptive text to rich 
>Internet content and applications. According to Section 508 guidelines, 
>all federal agencies are required by law to make all content and programs 
>offered on their Internet and intranet sites accessible.
>
>"Macromedia is committed to ensuring our products can be used to deliver 
>great experiences to all people, including those with disabilities. We 
>built core Microsoft accessibility technology directly into the player to 
>ensure this crucial issue was addressed," said Kevin Lynch, chief software 
>architect, Macromedia. "Macromedia has a corporate initiative to support 
>accessible solutions across our tools so that our developers can deliver 
>content and applications that both meet federal guidelines and are 
>available to people with disabilities."
>
>"Microsoft Active Accessibility was specifically designed to simplify the 
>development of products such as Macromedia Flash Player to ensure that 
>they easily interoperate with accessibility aids to deliver accessible 
>content and applications," said Madelyn Bryant McIntire, group manager, 
>Accessible Technology Group, Microsoft Corp. "Microsoft builds 
>accessibility into our platform to let software developers quickly bring 
>accessible solutions to the marketplace."
>
>Macromedia Flash MX provides a simple, one-step procedure for selecting 
>items within content and applications and adding descriptive text. When 
>that content passes through to Macromedia Flash Player, it sends that 
>descriptive text to an Active Accessibility client such as Window Eyes 
>from GW Micro.
>
>Microsoft Active Accessibility provides a standard means for client 
>software to communicate with assistive technologies. It also delivers an 
>identifiable standard to developers of assistive technologies, so they can 
>include Macromedia Flash support into tools for people with disabilities.
>
>"WGBH Interactive is committed to creating engaging and accessible content 
>for the web," said Peter Pinch, director of technology, interactive 
>content, WGBH. "Using Macromedia Flash MX, we can now build in 
>accessibility for Macromedia Flash content, and provide exciting 
>interactive content for our entire audience."
>
>Macromedia provides advice and tips on creating accessible online content 
>using its tools, clients, and servers in its Accessibility Resource Center 
>(http://www.macromedia.com/macromedia/accessibility/). Developers, 
>designers, and managers may visit the site to learn about accessibility 
>standards such as Section 508, how to create an accessible Macromedia 
>Flash movie, or how to properly mark up a form in Macromedia Dreamweaver*. 
>Along with the improvements to Macromedia products, this information helps 
>designers to create the most exciting, engaging, and accessible content on 
>the web.
>
>For more information on Macromedia Flash MX, Macromedia Flash Player, and 
>the accessibility features available in both, go to 
>http://www.macromedia.com/go/flashmx/
>
>ABOUT MACROMEDIA
>Macromedia is passionate about what the web can be. Its award-winning 
>products empower designers and developers to efficiently create and 
>deliver the most engaging experiences on the web, and enable innovative 
>Internet business applications. Headquartered in San Francisco, Macromedia 
>has more than 1,400 employees worldwide and is available on the Internet 
>at http://www.macromedia.com/.
>
>
>
>--
>Aaron Smith
>GW Micro
>Phone: 260/489-3671
>Fax: 260/489-2608
>WWW: http://www.gwmicro.com
>FTP: ftp://ftp.gwmicro.com
>Technical Support & Web Development
>
>
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--
Aaron Smith
GW Micro
Phone: 260/489-3671
Fax: 260/489-2608
WWW: http://www.gwmicro.com
FTP: ftp://ftp.gwmicro.com
Technical Support & Web Development