[access-uk] Re: facebook.com - an amazing, yet partially inaccessible, tool for blind people

  • From: "Adrian Higginbotham" <adrian.higginbotham@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Mon, 11 Jun 2007 09:58:15 +0100

Linked-in is similar and is completely accessible - it's more
proffessionally focused than the current trend of social networking
sites like face-book but it does work.
 
Adrian Higginbotham


Accessibility content manager

British Educational Communications and Technology Agency - BECTA
Tel: Direct dial 024 7679 7333 - Becta switchboard 02476-416994.

Email: Adrian.Higginbotham@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Web: http://www.becta.org.uk/
BECTA, Millburn Hill Road, Science Park, Coventry, CV4 7JJ 


-----Original Message-----
From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf
Of Damon
Sent: 10 June 2007 18:34
To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [access-uk] Re: facebook.com - an amazing, yet partially
inaccessible, tool for blind people

Facebook isn't a chat website. And I don't have enough hours in the day
to sit and relay chat with strangers, sadly.


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Christopher Hallsworth" <chrishallsworth@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sunday, June 10, 2007 4:50 PM
Subject: [access-uk] Re: facebook.com - an amazing, yet partially 
inaccessible, tool for blind people


> Oh I see what you mean now. There is another possibility; how about
irc?
> You could use an Irc client like Mirc and connect to a general purpose
> Irc channel where most but not all sighted people are on it. Hope that
> helps.
> On Sun, 10 Jun 2007 16:15:43 +0100, "Karen Burgess"
> <karen@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> said:
>> hi chris
>>
>> only one problem with this, majority of zone members are blind
people,
>> thus
>> not giving you access to the mainstream sites that others use.
>>
>> kaz
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Christopher Hallsworth" <chrishallsworth@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>> To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>> Sent: Sunday, June 10, 2007 4:08 PM
>> Subject: [access-uk] Re: facebook.com - an amazing, yet partially
>> inaccessible, tool for blind people
>>
>>
>> >I personally think we're better with an alternative yet very
accessible
>> > service, Zone BBS. There are no graphical verification thingies,
you 
>> > can
>> > do everything that it has to offer without sighted assistance, and,
>> > well, it's just another choice for those like you and me who can't
>> > socialize very well. You can sign up at http://www.zonebbs.com.
Hope
>> > that helps.
>> > On Sun, 10 Jun 2007 15:49:39 +0100, "Damon"
<damon.rose@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>> > said:
>> >> HI all.
>> >>
>> >> Are there any Facebook members among you?
>> >>
>> >> It's a really amazing social networking site. I got myself on it
last
>> >> week - but had to ask someone to help me with the verification
graphic 
>> >> in
>> >> order that I can setup an account.
>> >>
>> >> Now that I'm in, it's quite good. It only currently gives limited
>> >> accessibility for visually impaired people though.
>> >>
>> >> Various important things you can do, such as Add Friends, send
email,
>> >> have conversations on the groups you choose to be part of, are all
>> >> inacccessible now because they have recently added verification 
>> >> graphics
>> >> for these things too.
>> >>
>> >> Interestingly, if you are in the US or Canada you can get rid of
the
>> >> verification graphics by giving it your mobile phone number to
verify 
>> >> you
>> >> are a real human being and not just a spammer. But it doesn't work

>> >> with
>> >> UK phones yet. I am thinking of calling up a mate in the US and
asking 
>> >> if
>> >> she'll allow me to use her mobile number - though not entirely
sure 
>> >> this
>> >> waves all verification graphics away. If anyone has any insight
into 
>> >> this
>> >> I'd appreciate hearing from you.
>> >>
>> >> In the meantime, you can add to your list of friends by sitting
back 
>> >> and
>> >> waiting for them to add you. And you can post on peoples' walls.
The 
>> >> key
>> >> to social networking is to build those networks as they are
important
>> >> from friendships, business and finding like-minded people. Oh and
you 
>> >> can
>> >> also, of course, look for partners if that's your thing. But it's
a 
>> >> way
>> >> of opening up networks, letting your friends see your mates
friends 
>> >> and
>> >> business acquaintances.
>> >>
>> >> You can also create and join networks. So, using a valid email
address 
>> >> at
>> >> the company I work for, I'm now a member of their Network. I also 
>> >> belong
>> >> to the London network. All these things are accessible.
>> >>
>> >> I think this tool could be amazingly useful to blind people, 
>> >> especially
>> >> as we find it so hard to network when at big conferences and at 
>> >> parties.
>> >>
>> >> I believe visually impaired people are lobbying Facebook to have
an 
>> >> audio
>> >> alternative to the captcha graphic put in place. I'm going to get
more
>> >> details about this.
>> >>
>> >> I urge you to check it out.
>> >>
>> >> www.facebook.com
>> >>
>> >> The other thing to mention is that, interestingly, everyone in my 
>> >> office
>> >> has become a member of Facebook and are networking like mad. So,
the 
>> >> fact
>> >> that I can't leaves me at a disadvantage. There is currently only
semi
>> >> access for me but I have chosen to jump on board because it's
better 
>> >> to
>> >> be partially in than out in my circumstances.
>> >>
>> >> Get an account. Get looking round. It's a fascinating site. The
longer
>> >> you're on it, the more friends you collect, the more you get it.
>> >>
>> >> ...Damon
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> > Christopher Hallsworth
>> > E-mail: chrishallsworth@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> > Skype name chrishallsworth7266
>> >
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>>
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> Christopher Hallsworth
> E-mail: chrishallsworth@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Skype name chrishallsworth7266
>
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