Hi, Some of your suggestions below only really provide solutions to software accessibility. baked-in accessibility delivery will not work for services which have a hardware component like user terminals etc. I'm all for providing guidelines and so on, but for some reason people have an unfortunate habit of ignoring them. Tim -----Original Message----- From: vicsireland-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:vicsireland-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Ultan Ó Broin [MSC MIS] Sent: 23 May 2008 15:28 To: vicsireland@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [vicsireland] Re: the way of the future you might want to check out the visual implication of Microsoft's Seadragon: http://www.metacafe.com/watch/637132/this_technology_will_blow_your_mi nd/ Legislation would be one way go for bigger players sure, it's not a total solution. Providing simple guidelines and tools with baked-in accessibility delivery options for developers of mashups, web 2.0 stuff, etc to follow too would be a big help to get to the grass roots. Legislation will not enforce 100% accessibility. Innovators can still claim exemption if conformance would require a 'fundamental alteration' of the product (in the US anyway). Btw - check out what Tufte says about fixing the iPhone design - http://youtube.com/watch?v=-Mjc5Kbkojs - seems equally problematic from an accessibility viewpoint IMHO. U 2008/5/22 Ciaran Ferry <Ciaran.Ferry@xxxxxx>: You've hit the nail on the head re touch screens Tony. All forms of information technology are heading in that direction IMO. Just look at what Apple are doing to the mobile phone and mp3 player market with their iPhone and Ipod products. I've just recently read that Blackbury are planning to introduce a similar device later in the year. Microsoft have also launched a tabletop computer called surface, which they see as being the centrepiece of the living rooms of the future. They see us using touch technology for example to drag photos and music from our cameras and portable music players to our computers wirelessly. Frightening stuff really. Interesting about your observations at the train station Claude. I've noticed this myself too but was fortunate to have someone with me one of the days when there was no human being at the desk at all. Ciaran -----Original Message----- From: vicsireland-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:vicsireland-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Claude Saulnier Sent: 22 May 2008 15:15 To: vicsireland@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [vicsireland] the way of the future Hi Tony It is interesting, I was at one the major Brussels train station yesterday, waiting to buy a ticket. They have a touch screen where you choose a destination to print a ticket with a number. They (eventually) call your number so you can go to the next available counter to talk to a human being. And I was wondering how on earth someone who is blind could buy a train ticket on their own. You might say they could use the website. Maybe using jaws you might be lucky, because I could not navigate their website, which is why I went to train station to purchase my ticket. Claude Saulnier www.wandsoft.com * ** *** ** * ** *** ** * ** *** ** * This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. Tá an t-eolas sa ríomhphost seo agus in aon chomhad a ghabhann leis rúnda agus ceaptha le haghaidh úsáid an té nó an aonáin ar seoladh chuige iad agus na húsáide sin amháin. Any views or opinions presented are solely those of the author, and do not necessarily represent those of ESB. Is tuairimí nó dearcthaí an údair amháin aon tuairimí nó dearcthaí ann, agus ní gá gurb ionann iad agus tuairimí nó dearcthaí BSL. If you have received this email in error please notify the sender. Má fuair tú an ríomhphost seo trí earráid, ar mhiste leat é sin a chur in iúl don seoltóir. Although ESB scans e-mail and attachments for viruses, it does not guarantee that either are virus-free and accepts no liability for any damage sustained as a result of viruses. Scanann BSL ríomhphost agus ceangaltáin le haghaidh víreas, ach ní ráthaíonn sé go bhfuil ceachtar díobh saor ó víreas agus ní ghlacann dliteanas ar bith as aon damáiste de dhroim víreas. Company Registration Information: http://www.esb.ie/companies Eolas Cláraithe an Chomhlachta: http://www.esb.ie/companies * ** *** ** * ** *** ** * ** *** ** * -- Ultan Ó Broin MA MBS ------------------------------- Blog: http://www.multilingualblog.com/