Usability Issues by RNIB an Unfair Test?

 
Jun 05, 2002
June 18 -- The Royal National Institute of the Blind (RNIB) put the new Flash MX through a test to see if the technology did, as it claimed, help people view websites using screenreaders. What was the test? The RNIB commissioned Web outfit, Bluewave, to create an online game that would be accessible to blind people using Flash MX.

The results? According to Julie Howell, Campaigns Officer (Internet) for RNIB, files created in Flash MX were only accessible to the latest version of the Windoweyes screenreader, and if other screenreaders were used, Flash files were still inaccessible. The RNIB has declared this to be unacceptable.

RNIB 'disappointed' in Macromedia

In response, we have a new Views article by Tom Lommel, Manager of the Twin Cities CFUG, called "CF Developer 'Disappointed' in RNIB." We would also like to point out that one of Macromedia's Community Managers, John Dowdell, has blogged on the subject. He points out that this is more of an issue with the MSAA ("Microsoft Active Accessibility") technology, which provides a common system-level interface between various readers and various applications. This technology is in its early stages, and "Macromedia Flash MX and GW Micro's Window-Eyes were some of the first to take advantage of this advance ... I know it's hard to please every person perfectly, but I hope they're glad we're investing and succeeding in these early, standard, steps...?" Read the rest of his blog below for more information on this issue and the actual tech involved.

A daily log of news related to Macromedia MX from John Dowdell.


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