Re: Web Accessibility Visualization Tool updated

Charles and other on the list,
Here is a direct as I can get about the Web Accessibility
Visualization Tool
http://devserv.rehab.uiuc.edu/accwebsim/beta/

1. The current source code is "owned" by the students.  I do
not think they have any plans to try to commercialize the
tool.  Most are graduating and have jobs already lined up.  I
will ask and encourage them to make the code available under a
GNU license.  To tell you the truth I had not ever thought
about licensing issued until Charles e-mail.  If any one would
like the source code I am sure the students would provide it,
they would probably be honored that someone would be
interested in their code.

2. I plan to continue to support the tool on the current
server as a free tool as long as I or other people find it
useful, and the server can support the technologies used in
the tool (mostly Perl).  Have no fear if you like the tool it
will be around and "free" for a long time.  Hopefully the tool
will get better and one way for it to get better is by
receiving constructive comments on features and bugs from
people who find the tool useful.

http://devserv.rehab.uiuc.edu/accwebsim/beta/

3. I plan to try to find new resources to continue to improve
the web accessibility visualization tool.  If any one with
programming skills and time is interested in helping in
development please let me know.

4. If the features demonstrated in this tool already exist, I
would also like to know.  No reason for me to expend resources
and time replicating a wheel that already exists.

Other "Free" Tools form UIUC

1. Mozilla/Firefox Accessibility Extension
http://cita.disability.uiuc.edu/software/mozilla

The source code is included as part of the extension
(javascript) and already has the GNU license in the code.  I
hope the features of the Web Accessibility Visualization tool
will one day be intergrated into the extension.

2. Visual Impairment Simulator for Microsoft Windows
http://cita.disability.uiuc.edu/software/vis/

A tool designed to teach people about various visual
impairments in a near realtime simulation on the computer
screen.  This is another student project, if anyone wants the
source code I am sure the students would be glad to share it.

Commercial Tool

1. Web Accessibility Wizard for Microsft Office (Windows)  
http://cita.disability.uiuc.edu/software/office

This tool allows you to create highly accessible and W3C
standards compliant html versions of Microsoft Office documents.  

I beleive this is the tool that draws the ire of Mr. Kelly. 
It is a complex tool that requires professional full time
developers.  From my correspondances with Mr. Kelly he seems
more interested in a "Free" tool model, than an "Open
Source" model.   I hope people find $40 US value in the tool
and would consider it a contribution to making the tool better
and making their life easier when dealing with Microsoft
Office documents.  

Cheers,

Jon


Jon Gunderson, Ph.D., ATP
Director of IT Accessibility Services
Campus Information Technologies and Educational Services (CITES)
and 
Coordinator of Assistive Communication and Information Technology
Disability Resources and Education Services (DRES)

Voice: (217) 244-5870
Fax: (217) 333-0248

E-mail: jongund@uiuc.edu

WWW: http://cita.rehab.uiuc.edu/
WWW: https://netfiles.uiuc.edu/jongund/www/

Received on Friday, 1 April 2005 05:40:30 UTC