Hello:
I saw this in the misc.handicap newsgroup and thought it would be of interest.
I am posting just as I saw it.
Robert
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Article 34380 of misc.handicap:
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From: JAMAL@KSGDFS.HARVARD.EDU (Jamal Mazrui)
Subject: Microsoft letter to National Council on Disability
Reply-To: JAMAL@KSGDFS.HARVARD.EDU (Jamal Mazrui)
Date: Wed, 1 Feb 1995 19:32:56 GMT
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Since arranging a meeting at Microsoft headquarters in August
1994, the National Council on Disability--a federal advisory
board appointed by the President--has been diligently advocating
for improved access to the Microsoft Windows operating
environment, particularly for people who are blind or visually
impaired. Marca Bristo (the chair), Bonnie O'Day (an appointee),
and Billy-Jean Hill (a staff person) deserve particular credit
for this work, which--combined with the efforts of others--seems
to be achieving substantive results.
A few days ago, NCD received a responsive letter from a
senior vice president at Microsoft. With NCD's permission, I am
sharing it here.
Jamal Mazrui
jamal@ksgdfs.harvard.edu
------------------------------
Microsoft Corporation
One Microsoft Way
Redmond, WA 98052-6399
January 25, 1995
Ms. Marca Bristo
Chairperson
National Council on Disability
1331 F Street, N.W. -- Suite 1050
Washington, D.C. 20004-1107
Dear Ms. Bristo:
Thank you for your letter to Bill Gates concerning blind
accessibility to Microsoft Windows and other products. I am
sorry to be so long in getting back to you. As you can imagine,
we've been very busy ensuring the upcoming release of Windows 95
does the best job possible addressing the issues that you raise.
I want to emphasize Microsoft is very committed to making
computers easier to use for everyone, including individuals with
disabilities. Personal computers are powerful tools that enable
people to work, create, and communicate in ways that might
otherwise difficult or impossible. The vision of enabling all
people can be realized only if individuals with disabilities have
equal access to the powerful world of personal computing.
That said, I would like to share with you some of the areas we
are focusing our resources on for Windows 95:
* New API's (Application Programming Interface) and "hooks"
are being developed
to allow Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) to develop
third-party accessibility aids,
especially those which allow blind individuals to use Windows by
way of a screen
reader. These include the ability to access both low-level
graphics operations as well
as higher level graphics information, methods to retrievewindow
focus change and system carat location information, and methods
for screen readers to bypass system
criteria dialog boxes and messages. By providingdocumented and
supported interfaces to this information, it allows the
ISVcommunity to be innovative in their own accessibility products
for Windows.
* We're also developing a Windows 95 tutorial for blind users
to better introduce
the rich set of functionality now available, as well as the
ability for the computer to
read text to a user ('text to speech') and the ability for a user
to tell a computer what
to do ('voice command').
* For people with limited vision, we've designed the Windows
95 visual interface to be very easy to customize. This includes
a customizable mouse pointer, high-contrast color schemes, high
contrast mode, and customizable windows titles, scroll bars,
borders, and menu text. In addition to be easy to customize,
we're working on utilities for users with limited vision such as
a screen enlarger.
* We're integrating and improving the features from the Access
Pack which compensate for difficulties some individuals have
using the keyboard mouse. These features include
'stickkeys' (allows users to type with a single finger or
mouthstick), 'filterkeys' (allows users to brush against keys
without any ill effect, and when the user gets a finger on the
proper key, they can hold the key down until the character prints
to the screen), 'repeatkeys' (allows users to adjust the speed at
which the keys repeat), 'bouncekeys' (instructs Windows to ignore
unintended key strokes), and 'mousekeys' (allows users to control
the mouse pointer using the keyboard).
* Aside from the above features, we're also developing an
on-screen keyboard for users who have difficulty navigating with
a keyboard.
* We're providing additional visual feedback for users who are
deaf or hard-of-hearing, including 'showsounds' (allows Windows
to tell applications to show audible information, akin to 'close
captioned' television broadcasts), and 'soundsentry' (tells
Windows to send a visual cue, such as a blinking title bar or
screen flash whenever there is a system beep).
* We will be making Windows 95 documentation in an accessible
format.
Since your meeting here on campus in August, we have assembled a
sizable group of employees who are working to devise a means of
making all of our products more accessible. I know that Windows
95 has been of particular concern. As indicated above, Windows
95 will have improved support for blind access techniques over
Windows 3.1, as well as the many other features mentioned. Some
features may not ship in the initial release of Windows 95, but
we will find a way to include these additional features as soon
after the initial release as possible. We have also stepped up
our efforts to work with accessibility software vendors and to
provide them with better technical access, so that they can
address the limitations of current software. To provide this
opportunity, we will be holding an "Accessibility Summit" where
software vendors will be invited to participate in an exchange of
ideas and experience creating products for people with
disabilities. We won't, however, rely solely on software vendors
to do all the work. Some additional utilities we'll build
ourselves.
We are continuing to hear, from a variety of sources, about the
problem that graphical interfaces, and Windows in particular,
present to individuals who are blind. We understand the need to
address these shortcomings as soon as is feasible and are
committed to making Windows the most accessible operating system
available. To adequately ensure each issue is addressed, we are
initiating an internal research effort on making graphical user
interfaces more accessible for the disabled. We're also
investigating establishing an independent effort for
accessibility criteria for all Windows-based applications.
We hope that in the interests of greater accessibility for blind
computer users we can enter into a productive dialog with the
National Council on Disability and with other disability
organizations to reach our common goal. In fact, we are in the
process of setting up an advisory board and are eager to involve
you if possible. I would personally like to meet with you to
discuss these issues. A member of my team will contact you in
the near future to set up a meeting where we can begin working
closely together.
Sincerely,
Brad Silverberg
Senior Vice President
Personal Systems Division
cc: Bill Gates
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