- From: Gregory J. Rosmaita <unagi69@concentric.net>
- Date: Thu, 16 Mar 2000 03:41:16 -0500
- To: Jon Gunderson <jongund@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu>, Ian Jacobs <ij@w3.org>
- Cc: User Agent Guidelines Emailing List <w3c-wai-ua@w3.org>
aloha, jon! you asked, quote: Does the proposed recommendation wording satisfy your concerns related to the scope of the documentation related checkpoints? unquote no, it does not... there are actually 2 issues which i want addressed -- (1) the accessibility of download-and-install functionalities, and (2) the accessibility of online support materials which are either issued after the release is finalized or which serve as supplemental documentation -- if these are not accessible, then the user agent, as a whole, cannot be said to be accessible... RATIONALE 1) most software is updatable via the web, either via ActiveX download-and-install routines, or through a sniff-and-suggest form (in which the server sniffs the user's browser version and update information so as to provide a list of suggested and recommended downloads -- such interfaces _must_ conform to both WCAG and to the proprietary guidelines appropriate for the interface and/or operating system in question... 2) online documentation -- such as tips and tricks, FAQs, downloading and installation instructions, all _must_ be WCAG compliant... this is especially important as developers often post information on their web sites that is not included in their regular means of distribution, or which supplements or corrects information contained in the documentation that is distributed with the user agent 3) links to extensions, plug-ins, tweaks, and links to third-party utilities promoted in the user agent manufacturer's web space must also be WCAG compliant SUGGESTIONS here are a few places where stronger verbiage needs to be added: 1. introduction to Guideline 5 quote Communicate with other software (e.g., assistive technologies, the operating system, plug-ins) through applicable interfaces. Observe system and programming language conventions for the user agent user interface, documentation, installation, etc. unquote which could be strengthened by the addition of the following sentence: <proposed> Ensure that any online services (e.g. automated update facilities, download-and-install functionalities, sniff-and-fill forms, etc.) comply with relevant operating system conventions concerning device independence and accessibility, as well as with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0 [WCAG10] </proposed> 2. introduction to Guideline 11 needs something along the following lines: <proposed> Due to the rapid development cycle involved in issuing, patching, and bug-fixing User Agents, it is essential that at least one version of any supplemental documentation that is issued after the software is released conforms to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0 [WCAG10]. Any information about the User Agent that is available solely via the web _must_ conform to WCAG 1.0. </proposed> these, i think, are reasonable requests to make of developers and the maintainers of their corporate or product web sites... if you can't control the download-and-install or update-over-the-web mechanism, you can't keep your user agent up to snuff, which means that you can't take advantage of advances in accessibility, as well as general functionality and performance... and, if there is documentation or a support facility (such as a FAQ, update notices, feedback forms, etc.) that is available only through the manufacturer's web site, then that, too, must conform to WCAG in order to ensure that the greatest number of individuals possible can access it.... i'm sure that with a bit of re-wording, ian can get my 2 points across, gregory. -------------------------------------------------------- He that lives on Hope, dies farting -- Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard's Almanack, 1763 -------------------------------------------------------- Gregory J. Rosmaita <unagi69@concentric.net> WebMaster and Minister of Propaganda, VICUG NYC <http://www.hicom.net/~oedipus/vicug/index.html> --------------------------------------------------------
Received on Thursday, 16 March 2000 03:30:57 UTC