Re: [UACCESS-L] Eyes-Free Access to Android Smart Phones

[Steve Jacobs <steve.jacobs@ideal-group.org>]

Hi Gerald.

Regarding, "it looks like rampant modification of the Android OS may be 
jeopardizing the ability to run that screen reader technology on the 
various phones."

It's not as bad or complicated as it sounds.  It's like a chess game.  
If you know enough about the game to make an intelligent move after your 
opponent makes theirs it's not a problem. 
The wireless carriers are, of course, not our opponents.  There are just 
the opposite.

Even though there are many combinations and versions of Android 
firmware, hardware and software out there... and things are changing 
monthly...  one can still install the right software on the right phone 
and have a pretty accessible phone.

It's our goal... with the support of all four carriers (all of whom 
support what were are doing) to make it easy and intuitive to pick an 
Android phone, run a wizard, practice a little and have an accessible phone.

Everything being a moving target is par for the course in the smartphone 
market space... so don't be discouraged.

The most important thing to keep in mind about Android Eyes-Free and 
Screenreading software is that it is free.  Therefore, it can no longer 
legally be claimed to be an "Undue Burden" making more than one 
smartphone in a line of smartphones accessible.  This is an incredibly 
powerful statement from a legal standpoint.

We are being told... and all the carriers are telling us... that they 
understand the above and support making their Android phones accessible.

They have absolutely no desire to shortchange users with disabilities.  
They also understand that, with the advent of Android, it is much less 
expensive supporting efforts to use free accessibility software 
available for their Android phones than refusing to do so, being sued 
and losing millions as a result of the lawsuit.

Hope this helps.

Sincerely,

Steve :-)

gerald.g.weichbrodt@gm.com wrote:

> Following your link and looking at the page, it looks like rampant 
> modification of the Android OS may be jeopardizing the ability to run 
> that screen reader technology on the various phones.  I found that a 
> bit disappointing since I was hoping some day to have a truly 
> accessible phone for a change--without spending an arm and a leg for 
> it.  Did I misunderstand what was being communicated?
>
> Thanks,
> Jerry
>
>
> *Steve Jacobs <steve.jacobs@ideal-group.org>*
> Sent by: uaccess-l-admin@trace.wisc.edu
>
> 01/08/2010 03:03 PM
>
> 	
> To
> 	uaccess-l@trace.wisc.edu
> cc
> 	David Poehlman <poehlman1@comcast.net>
> Subject
> 	Re: [UACCESS-L] controll your mouse with your breath:
>
>
>
> 	
>
>
>
>
>
> I also found it interesting that none of the companies showcasing new
> Android smart devices made it known that FREE Eyes-Free/Screenreading
> software is available for their devices.
> http://accessibility-android.info
>
> Steve Jacobs
> IDEAL Group, Inc.
>
>
>
> David Poehlman wrote:
> > All;
> >
> > With the hype over ces this week, it's interesting that I ran across 
> this app.  The article containing it poked a bit of fun so I'll not 
> include it here, but controlling your mouse cursor with your breath is 
> nothing new though the app seems to be.
> > http://www.zyxio.com/SensaWaft.htm
> >  
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