- From: Ian Jacobs <ij@w3.org>
- Date: Thu, 30 Mar 2000 11:57:57 -0500
- To: "Gregory J. Rosmaita" <unagi69@concentric.net>
- CC: Jon Gunderson <jongund@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu>, User Agent Guidelines Emailing List <w3c-wai-ua@w3.org>
"Gregory J. Rosmaita" wrote: > > 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 -- Comments below prefaced by IJ: > (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> IJ: I've added this as a technique for checkpoint 5.9. > 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> IJ: This is already in the 10 March techniques document under checkpoint 11.1: "Documentation includes information bundled with a product when it is released as well as information made available subsequently (e.g., bug fixes, etc.). " - Ian > 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> > -------------------------------------------------------- -- Ian Jacobs (jacobs@w3.org) http://www.w3.org/People/Jacobs Tel: +1 831 429-8586 Cell: +1 917 450-8783
Received on Thursday, 30 March 2000 12:00:27 UTC