[vicsireland] Re: FW: Press Release: Nonprofit Launched toBringFreeAccessibility Worldwide
- From: "Flor Lynch" <florlync@xxxxxx>
- To: <vicsireland@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 6 Feb 2008 18:34:57 -0000
Jim,
Yes, I guess it should, strictly, be called 'shareware'. But I suppose the
end consumer is the one who doesn't have to know all the 'ins and outs'.
Basically, I don't want Microsoft to have more of a monopoly than they
already have. I'm not even saying that we wouldn't benefit in some ways if
Microsoft developed a full screen reader. I'd live with it, if they did,
and probably use it too! They've recently launched a hostile takeover bid
for Yahoo!, which Google is opposing now that Google has in practice a
monopoly of the search engine market. I shall have to look up more on the
Accessibility Is a Right group, if there is more. They may decide to
support other 'worthy' causes. I'm afraid money matters, even in the
developing-world takeup of blind Windows accessibility. Individuals from
less-well-off countries often contribute letters to the Matilda Ziegler
magazine's Readers' Forum wherein they tell us how well-off we in the West
are by comparison with them, especially when it comes to computer access
technology - which, for many, remains a lifelong dream because of the cost.
You can see how countries like china (the Chinese-language market was
mentioned by the AIR) would appreciate a cheap screen reader, such as this.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jim Dunleavy" <jim.dunleavy@xxxxxx>
To: <vicsireland@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, February 06, 2008 5:41 PM
Subject: [vicsireland] Re: FW: Press Release: Nonprofit Launched
toBringFreeAccessibility Worldwide
Hi Flor,
What I find objectionable is the way the nonprofit AccessibilityIsaRight.org
is furthering Serotek's business interests under the guise of altruism.
It would be unfortunate if governments of developing countries
were fooled by this trick.
Regarding "free software", for software developers the term has a very
specific meaning: it doesn't mean "gratis", it means availability
of source code and no restrictions on the use of the software among other
things.
So free software is a more suitable agenda to be pursued by such a
nonprofit or humanitarian effort.
Out of curiosity, why would you not like to see Microsoft develop
a full-blown screen reader?
--Jim
----- Original Message -----
>From: Flor Lynch <florlync@xxxxxx>
To: <vicsireland@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, February 04, 2008 9:15 PM
Subject: [vicsireland] Re: FW: Press Release: Nonprofit Launched
toBringFreeAccessibility Worldwide
> Jim,
>
> Well, if they want to pay, they can pay Serotek, the original product
> developers, and thus uncripple it. There is still
> the relatively cheap System Access for $129.95 or thereabouts per annum.
> Most free programs are 'crippled' in one way or another. Some people have
> for quite a while been calling and/or squalling for a free Windows screen
> reader. This is one way towards an affirmative answer. I'm not sure I'd
> want Microsoft to be providing more than a basic screen reader.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Jim Dunleavy" <jim.dunleavy@xxxxxx>
> To: <vicsireland@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Monday, February 04, 2008 3:57 PM
> Subject: [vicsireland] Re: FW: Press Release: Nonprofit Launched to
> BringFreeAccessibility Worldwide
>
>
> lor,
>
> My thimbleful analogy refers to the artificial technical restrictions
> in the software not the types of applications supported.
> A sighted person wouldn't use a computer where the mouse only worked
> when the network cable was plugged in.
> A gamer wouldn't play games on a computer where 3D accellaration only
worked
> when the internet is turned on.
> I expect the tech-savvy "blind baby boomers" will wonder why it is that
> the future must be worse than the past, and will question the ethics
> of those who peddle this sort of CrippleWare.
>
> --Jim
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> >From: Flor Lynch <florlync@xxxxxx>
> To: <vicsireland@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Friday, February 01, 2008 6:27 PM
> Subject: [vicsireland] Re: FW: Press Release: Nonprofit Launched to
> BringFreeAccessibility Worldwide
>
>
> > Why 'by the Thimbleful'? Did you ever try the SaTo Go demo? You can do
> > stuff in Microsoft word with it, while remaining connected. (I think
you
> > can also do stuff in Excel.) I can see that the increasing number of
> > vision-impaired 'baby boomers' are going to be attracted to this sort of
> > thing.
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Jim Dunleavy" <jim.dunleavy@xxxxxx>
> > To: <vicsireland@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > Sent: Friday, February 01, 2008 5:00 PM
> > Subject: [vicsireland] Re: FW: Press Release: Nonprofit Launched to
Bring
> > FreeAccessibility Worldwide
> >
> >
> > MessageIt's another pig at the web 2.0 trough.
> > The idea of doling out accessibility by the ThimbleFull while you
> > stay connected to the internet is dispicable.
> >
> > --Jim
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > >From: Tim Culhane
> > To: vicsireland@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > Sent: Friday, February 01, 2008 8:24 AM
> > Subject: [vicsireland] FW: Press Release: Nonprofit Launched to Bring
> > FreeAccessibility Worldwide
> >
> >
> > Some might find the below interesting.
> >
> > Tim
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > >From: Accessibility Is a Right Foundation
> > >[mailto:announce-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]
> > Sent: 31 January 2008 23:32
> > To: announce@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > Subject: Press Release: Nonprofit Launched to Bring Free Accessibility
> > Worldwide
> >
> >
> > NEWS RELEASE
> >
> > Media Contact:
> >
> > Janelle Schulenberg
> >
> > Tacet Consulting
> >
> > 612-720-1068
> >
> > janelle@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Nonprofit Launched to Bring Free Accessibility Worldwide
> >
> >
> > The AIR Foundation committed to 'accessibility is a right'
> >
> >
> > Orlando, Florida - January 31, 2008 - The AIR Foundation, a nonprofit
> > organization headquartered in Minneapolis, Minn. was announced today at
a
> > press conference held during the Assistive Technology Industry
Association
> > (ATIA) 2008 National Conference at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando,
> > Florida. The mission of the foundation is to promote universal
> accessibility
> > so that every blind and low-vision person in the world has access to
> digital
> > information over the Internet and Worldwide Web.
> >
> > The foundation's executive director, Art Schreiber, also
> > announced that the organization's first offering will be free usage of a
> Web
> > 2.0 accessible screen reader. The product is provided through an
exclusive
> > license in perpetuity granted to The AIR Foundation from Serotek
> > Corporation, the leading provider of Internet and digital information
> > accessibility software and services. The screen reader is called SA To
Go
> > and is powered by Serotek's award-winning System Access software which
> > provides immediate text to speech, magnified visual, and Braille access
to
> > digital information presented through the Web or other means, while the
> user
> > is directly connected to the Internet. The software does not remain
> > resident on the user's computer when the connection to the Internet is
> > interrupted or terminated. Users can obtain access to the free software
by
> > calling 877-369-0101 or visiting www.AccessibilityIsaRight.org.
> >
> > "The basic tenet of The AIR Foundation is that accessibility is a
> > fundamental human right, regardless of financial or geographic
> constraints"
> > said Art Schreiber, executive director of The AIR Foundation, "by
allowing
> > the blind and visually impaired to have equal access to computer and
> > Internet information through the free use of an advanced screen reader
> like
> > SA To Go, we have already taken great strides toward our mission."
> >
> > The AIR Foundation will solicit funds and contract development of
product
> > enhancements including availability in other languages. The
> organization's
> > first priority is to make SA To Go available in Mandarin Chinese.
> >
> > "SA To Go is highly intuitive and requires minimal training to use,"
said
> > Serotek CEO, Mike Calvo, "the user not only has access to information
> > displayed on Web pages, but to Web-based applications such as Internet
> > telephone service, and to applications resident on the host computer.
The
> > user can also access PDF files, fill out forms, and otherwise interact
> with
> > information with the same facility as a sighted person."
> >
> > The AIR Foundation will operate through the generosity of organizations
> > donating their time, expertise, and funds. It invites other nonprofits,
> > assistive technology vendors, mainstream hardware and software companies
> and
> > anyone interested in promoting accessibility as every person's right, to
> > align with the AIR team.
> >
> >
> >
> > The AIR Foundation
> >
> > The AIR Foundation is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to
> advocate,
> > teach, and deliver information accessibility tools. We focus on the
> > accessibility needs of blind and low-vision people. Our mantra is
> > "accessibility is a right" and we work with corporations and agencies
> > worldwide to deliver free accessibility to all. For more information,
call
> > 877-369-0101 or visit www.AccessibilityIsaRight.org.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Serotek Corporation
> >
> > Serotek Corporation is a leading technology company that develops
software
> > and manufactures accessibility solutions. Committed to the mission of
> > providing accessibility anywhere, Serotek launched the first online
> > community specifically designed to meet the needs of people with
> > disabilities. Since then, Serotek has introduced several powerful,
> > affordable solutions that require minimal training and investment. For
> more
> > information, visit www.serotek.com.
> >
> >
> >
> > ###
> >
> > --
> > This is a low-traffic, one-way mailing list for announcements about the
> > Accessibility Is a Right Foundation. To unsubscribe from this list,
send
> a
> > blank message to "announce-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx". If
you
> > have any trouble unsubscribing, send a message to
> > "announce-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx".
> >
> >
>
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