call to arms

[Bruce Dawson]

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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.

- --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
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