[Electronics-talk] Accessible Android E-Mail andBarcode Reader Available

Fri Jul 9 04:49:24 UTC 2010

I concur with Jim's words below.

Mike Freeman

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jim Barbour" <jbar at barcore.com>; <0 at barcore.com>; <256 at barcore.com>; 
<0c at barcore.com>
To: "Discussion of accessible electronics and appliances" 
<electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, July 08, 2010 9:24 AM
Subject: Re: [Electronics-talk] Accessible Android E-Mail andBarcode Reader 
Available

> Actually, in many ways, open source is a free for all.
>
> There are ways to bring order to the open source chaos, but they
> require thought leaders to step up and outline best practices,
> developer guidelines, documentation, etc  These thought leaders *can*
> also take control of the process of checking in changes to open source
> projects.  However, this can just mean that an alternate group can tak
> ethe code, and staqt a new project.
>
> I have not seen strong thought leaders step up yet in the android
> accessibility space yet.  there are several talented programmers, but
> no impactful thought leadership.
>
> Jim
>
> On Thu, Jul 08, 2010 at 07:49:07AM -0700, Tom Evans wrote:
>> Thanks for the good answer.
>>
>> I would assume that it would have to be pros making the changes.  Are 
>> they
>> paid?  And what happens if there are differences in the direction?  One
>> wants it to do this, which may violate what the other one has done.  it
>> seems like a free for all, but it is more regulated then that.
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org
>> [mailto:electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Christopher
>> Chaltain
>> Sent: Wednesday, July 07, 2010 7:12 PM
>> To: 'Discussion of accessible electronics and appliances'
>> Subject: Re: [Electronics-talk] Accessible Android E-Mail and Barcode 
>> Reader
>> Available
>>
>> Open source typically means that the source code is available to the 
>> public;
>> contributions are encouraged and any use of the open source software has 
>> to
>> in turn be open source. This provides a fantastic opportunity, especially
>> where accessibility is concerned, since anyone could go in and make the
>> changes needed for an application to become more accessible.
>>
>> Open source applications and development also have some challenges. the 
>> most
>> successful open source projects are those with a passionate community 
>> behind
>> them. Many open source projects fade away because they lose the driving
>> force behind them. Not every community is going to have members who are
>> committed to accessibility, and accessibility advocates may have trouble
>> getting the community to adopt standards and conventions necessary for an
>> application to be accessible. Remember too that laws like the 
>> Rehabilitation
>> Act in the US aren't going to have much influence over a free open source
>> application, since it won't stand to lose much revenue in government 
>> sales.
>>
>> Although there's a lot of reason to be optimistic that open source
>> environments will lead to greater accessibility, it's not a given that 
>> just
>> because the Android screen readers are open source the Android platform 
>> will
>> be as accessible as the iPhone, Symbian or Windows Mobile platforms.
>> Remember that open source operating systems and applications have been
>> around for a while and they aren't automatically the most popular and
>> accessible applications.
>>
>> --
>> Christopher
>> chaltain at gmail.com
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org
>> [mailto:electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Tom Evans
>> Sent: Wednesday, July 07, 2010 3:40 PM
>> To: 'Discussion of accessible electronics and appliances'
>> Subject: Re: [Electronics-talk] Accessible Android E-Mailand 
>> BarcodeReader
>> Available
>>
>> So there is not really a deadline of when this is as accessible as an
>> iphone?  May be better than an iphone one day is your thought?
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org
>> [mailto:electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Baracco, Andrew 
>> W
>> Sent: Wednesday, July 07, 2010 11:00 AM
>> To: Discussion of accessible electronics and appliances
>> Subject: Re: [Electronics-talk] Accessible Android E-Mailand 
>> BarcodeReader
>> Available
>>
>> It's supposed to stimulate creativity, independent thinking, thinking
>> out of the box, etc.
>> Andy
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org
>> [mailto:electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Tom Evans
>> Sent: Wednesday, July 07, 2010 9:24 AM
>> To: 'Discussion of accessible electronics and appliances'
>> Subject: Re: [Electronics-talk] Accessible Android E-Mailand
>> BarcodeReader Available
>>
>> Not sure what you mean by open source.  How can it be near as good, if
>> no
>> standardization?  They free lance and maybe come up with something
>> better?
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org
>> [mailto:electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Baracco,
>> Andrew W
>> Sent: Wednesday, July 07, 2010 8:59 AM
>> To: Discussion of accessible electronics and appliances
>> Subject: Re: [Electronics-talk] Accessible Android E-Mail and
>> BarcodeReader
>> Available
>>
>> That's the downside to open source.  There is a lot of potential, but no
>> real accountability. And, no standardization. At least there is some
>> accountability to Microsoft if you are developing for the Windows
>> platform, or to Apple if you are developing for the Mac or iPhone.
>>
>> Andy
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org
>> [mailto:electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Tom Evans
>> Sent: Tuesday, July 06, 2010 2:51 PM
>> To: 'Discussion of accessible electronics and appliances'
>> Subject: Re: [Electronics-talk] Accessible Android E-Mail and
>> BarcodeReader Available
>>
>> They use the word developing, so that means the video magnifier and web
>> browser are not here and no date.
>> Did I read that accurately?  So how do you use the web or just wait?
>>
>> What is here is the email and bar code reader.
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org
>> [mailto:electronics-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of David Andrews
>> Sent: Tuesday, July 06, 2010 1:55 PM
>> To: david.andrews at nfbnet.org
>> Subject: [Electronics-talk] Accessible Android E-Mail and Barcode Reader
>> Available
>>
>>
>> >
>> >FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
>> >
>> >Contact: Steve Jacobs
>> >Phone: (614) 777-0660
>> >E-Mail: steve.jacobs at ideal-group.org
>> >
>> >Accessible Android E-Mail and Barcode Reader Available
>> >
>> >Open Source, Android Applications Released in
>> >Support of Raising the Floor, Reducing the Cost,
>> >and Leveling the Playing Field for Individuals with Disabilities
>> >
>> >HILLIARD, OH July 6, 2010 - IDEAL Group
>> >Apps4Android, Inc. announced today the release
>> >of the first Android e-mail reader for the
>> >blind. The IDEAL K9 E-MailR reader is accessible
>> >using Google's Talkback and other Android
>> >screenreaders. Also announced was the release of
>> >IDEAL Item IdentifierR, an Android-based barcode
>> >reader. The barcode reader makes it possible to
>> >quickly, easily, and accurately identify
>> >products by using Android smartphones to read
>> >barcodes on standard products. Both applications
>> >have been open-sourced in support of the Raising
>> >the Floor Initiative. http://raisingthefloor.net/
>> >
>> >According to Steve Jacobs the President of IDEAL
>> >Group, "Given the efforts Google has put into
>> >Android, especially the work of their Eyes-Free
>> >Project team, we are convinced that Google is
>> >committed to making Android a world-class fully
>> >accessible platform and we want to help Google get there faster."
>> >
>> >IDEAL is also developing an open source Android
>> >web browser for the blind. In addition, IDEAL is
>> >developing an open source video magnification
>> >application that enables individuals with low
>> >vision to turn their Android smartphones into hand-held video
>> magnifiers.
>> >
>> >Given the high cost of dedicated devices that
>> >serve these purposes today, Jacobs hopes these
>> >free, high-quality open source Android
>> >applications will be Raising the Floor of
>> >opportunities for individuals with print disabilities.
>> >
>> >Jacobs further stated, "While we plan to develop
>> >accessible applications for other platforms in
>> >the future, we love the openness of Android. It
>> >makes it easy for developers to figure out how
>> >programs function and has enabled us to innovate
>> >much more rapidly and easily than on any other platform."
>> >
>> >About IDEAL Group Apps4Android:
>> >
>> >Apps4Android, Inc. is dedicated to developing
>> >low/no-cost, high-quality, Android applications
>> >that enhance the quality-of-life, independence,
>> >quality of education, and employability of
>> >individuals with disabilities... and everyone
>> >else! Apps4Android is the world's largest
>> >developer of speech-enabled Android applications
>> >in the world with 750,000+ active users in 47 countries. For more
>> information:
>> >http://apps4android.org/
>> >
>> >About Raising the Floor (RtF):
>> >
>> >Raising the Floor is an international consortium
>> >of organizations and individuals focused on
>> >ensuring that people experiencing disabilities,
>> >literacy problems, or the effects of aging are
>> >able to access and use all of the information,
>> >resources, services, and communities available
>> >on or through the Web. Of particular concern are
>> >those with limited or no resources. For more information:
>> >http://raisingthefloor.net/about
>> >
>> >###
>> >
>> >This work is supported in part with funds from
>> >the National Institute on Disability and
>> >Rehabilitation Research, U.S. Department of
>> >Education, grant number H133E080022 to the
>> >University of Wisconsin Trace R&D Center. Users
>> >of IDEAL K9 E-MailR and IDEAL Item IdentifierR
>> >should not assume endorsement by either the
>> >Department of Education or the federal government.
>> >
>>
>>          David Andrews and long white cane Harry, dandrews at visi.com
>> Follow me on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/dandrews920
>>
>>
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