call to arms

[jkinz at kinz.org (Jeff Kinz)]

On Mon, Dec 05, 2005 at 02:59:21PM -0400, Bruce Dawson wrote:
> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
> Hash: SHA1
> 
> In general, I believe Rich has hit the nail squarely on the head.
> There's no good FOSS equivalent for software like JAWS - especially not
> on the Linux platform.
> 
> Either volunteers are needed to create the software (of which there have
> been many well intentioned starts), or money has be shaken out to fund
> development efforts.
> 
> Although I mentioned JAWS, I mean to include other technologies that
> enable computing for those other than the sight-handicapped. There are
> some enormous challenges here (try to use a "breath sensor" to send
> email from Evolution). But the market is so small, I don't think the
> "corporate giants" are very motivated to do much in this field. This is
> going to be most successful as a grass-roots mission.


One additional point:

Since Open Source is much more inclined to add features WITHOUT
requiring a "corporate giants" style economic justification its quite
possible that the access ability issue can be one place (feature set)
where FOSS can be completely superior to proprietary products.

(OK, one "additional place" ;-) )

And, because accessibility is a legal requirement for government(s), 
FOSS can become the dominant player in the governmental software
market.

This makes FOSS accessibility a major strategic advantage for FOSS and 
means it's worth putting lots of effort into it.




> 
> - --Bruce
> 
> Greg Rundlett wrote:
> > There is a new OASIS sub-committee forming on the issue of
> > accessibility in the Open Document format.  If anyone is interested in
> > this subject, please see.
> > http://www.oasis-open.org/committees/sc_home.php?wg_abbrev=office-accessibility
> 
> I don't see much there other than intent. Are the mailing lists active?
> 
> > On 12/1/05, Greg Rundlett <greg.rundlett at gmail.com> wrote:
> >>On 11/30/05, Rich Braun <richb at pioneer.ci.net> wrote:
> >>>To me it's an open-and-shut case.  The government should not be perpetuating
> >>>Microsoft's closed-format agenda.  There should somehow be funding to create
> >>>new open-source code for handicapped people.
> >>
> >>From what I hear, the major (corporate) backers of OpenDocument are
> >>united in their determination to close this singular gap in an
> >>otherwise unassailable comparision.  OpenOffice and other open source
> >>products _will_ be more equipped with assistive technologies in the
> >>not-distant future.
> 
> I just hope some of the technology developed for OpenOffice will spill
> over into the other sectors.
> 
> - --Bruce
> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
> Version: GnuPG v1.2.1 (GNU/Linux)
> Comment: Using GnuPG with Thunderbird - http://enigmail.mozdev.org
> 
> iD8DBQFDlI4J/TBScWXa5IgRAgFIAKCK6W5aA4ENYh7YfdESgNe0x06fgwCeIaBG
> Le29eA37/901utMvTxXW8sA=
> =Gf9Z
> -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----
> _______________________________________________
> gnhlug-discuss mailing list
> gnhlug-discuss at mail.gnhlug.org
> http://mail.gnhlug.org/mailman/listinfo/gnhlug-discuss
> 

-- 
Jeff Kinz, Emergent Research, Hudson, MA.
speech recognition software may have been used to create this e-mail