If you are on the TRACE CENTER list you have seen this, but since we
have discussed SUN workstations here, I thought it would be appropriate
to post the following:
Regards,
Steve Jacobson
INTERNET: SOJACOBSON@MMM.COM
*** Forwarding note from I1305765--IBMMAIL 02/16/95 15:32 ***
Date: Thu, 16 Feb 1995 14:25:09 -0600
From: "Mark J. Senk WB3CAI" <senkmj@ptbma.usbm.gov>
To: Multiple recipients of list <uaccess_l@trace.wisc.edu>
Subject: from http://www.sun.com index.html (fwd)
I came across this on the SMI webserver and thought I'd pass it along.
Information, like love, is worth little until you share it with someone.
Mark Senk (412) 892-6513 senkmj@ptbma.usbm.gov
U.S. Bureau of Mines Pittsburgh, PA 15236
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Sun, 12 Feb 1995 05:04:12 -0500
From: SENK <senkmj@ptbma.usbm.gov>
To: senkmj@ptbma.usbm.gov
Subject: index.html
[SUN MICROSYSTEMS, INC.] [SUN MICROSYSTEMS LABORATORIES, INC]
ABOUT ENABLING TECHNOLOGIES
Earl Johnson
Manager and Principal Investigator
earl.johnson@eng.sun.com
[IMAGE]
Sun's investigations into developing accessible systems has found that
designing to meet the needs of users with disabilities today helps
make all users more productive, and strengthens the effectiveness of
tomorrow's general technologies. Examples are speech recognition,
text- to-speech, and interactive media.
An early outcome from the investigations was the establishment of the
Enabling Technologies (ET) project. ET is responsible for developing
architectural strategies and solutions to benefit users with
disabilities. An enabling technology is one which increases system
access, system control, and overall task productivity for ALL users.
This definition is used to identify areas within Sun where ET needs to
influence product development.
In general, Sun's ET activities are to:
* Establish guidelines for developers on how to build accessible
products;
* Identify and test access solutions currently available for the
user with a disability;
* Establish functional requirements for then test and evaluate
future bundled and third party access solutions;
* Develop an accessible workstation which meets the requirements of
Section 508 of the Federal Rehabilitation Act and the Americans
with Disabilities Act;
* Identify how Sun could be affected by the requirements found in
the ADA and Section 508.
We are currently targeting solutions for users with mobility and
sensory (vision and hearing) disabilities. These efforts will lead to
solutions, e.g., screen readers, which will be combined to address the
needs of users with cognitive disabilities.
Our approach has been to develop the system hooks, or APIs, that will
attract and promote the development of bundled, third party and
research-based access solutions. This approach insulates the access
solution developer from the intricacies of our system and allows us to
tap into the expertise that is currently available inside and outside
of Sun.
Examples of our access solution efforts include:
Bundled--StickyKeys, which allows sequential single finger or
pointer operation of multiple keystroke sequences such as
Shift-m for M; for persons with physical disabilities.
Third party--Speech recognition, which provides voice control
of keyboard-based user interface control functions; aids all
but blind users.
Research--We are supporting and working with Georgia Institute
of Technology on Mercator, which provides control of and access
to screen contents and functions for blind users.
[IMAGE]
The ET home page also provides you with the ability to find out more
information on:
* Guidelines on building accessible software
* Project accomplishments
* Collaborative research projects
* Additional reading
* Guide dog FAQ
* Information on agencies and conferences specializing in disability
issues
[IMAGE]
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