Mail*Link(r) SMTP FWD>>Accessibility software announcement
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Date: 4/21/97 1:16 PM
From: Jackie Dwyer
SoftQuad Announces First Development Tools to Make World Wide Web Accessible
to People with Disabilities
AdaptAble Technologies to be Added to SoftQuad Products, Licensed to Hardware
and Software Companies, Government Agencies
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (April 8, 1997) -- SoftQuad International (NASDAQ:SWEBF;
TSE:SKI), a leading provider of Knowledge Publishing tools for corporate
intranets and the Internet, has introduced the SoftQuad AdaptAbility Toolkit,
a suite of technologies designed to make the World Wide Web fully accessible
to people with disabilities.
SoftQuad unveiled the toolkit at the sixth international conference of the
World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), here through April 11. The announcement is
part of the Web Accessibility Initiative co-sponsored by the White House,
the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), and the Yuri Rubinsky Insight Foundation
-- and reflects the conference theme of "Accessibility: Everyone, Everything,
Connected."
SoftQuad AdaptAble Technologies will be integrated into upcoming versions of
SoftQuad products at no additional charge and made available to software
developers and hardware OEMs under licensing arrangements for third-party
products. As the SoftQuad AdaptAbility Toolkit, these technologies will also
be offered to corporations, government agencies and end-users.
"Accessibility is the Web's next frontier," said David Gurney, CEO, SoftQuad.
"Roughly 15 percent of the population has a disability that keeps them from
using an unmodified computer. The tools we're announcing today are just the
beginning of a movement that will empower this group as never before and
provide every user with an easier, more satisfying way to access the Internet
and the Web.
"We're pleased that SoftQuad has taken the initiative by providing usable and
useful technology for people with disabilities," said Mike Paciello,
executive director, Yuri Rubinsky Insight Foundation. "If the Web is to be a
mass medium, it's critical that people be welcomed now, when the medium is
still young."
First Fully Accessible Mainstream Applications
The SoftQuad AdaptAbility Toolkit consists of integrated application- and
content-aware access tools that equip applications with screen reading and
screen magnification features, as well as with on-screen keyboards. Together,
these tools provide a fully-integrated, highly usable computer interface for
users with or without disabilities, and make the World Wide Web and
electronically published information more accessible to all.
With the toolkit, hardware and software vendors will be able to integrate
these access technologies into their products, enabling vendors to create the
first fully-accessible mainstream applications and ensuring that people with
disabilities can use the same software as those without disabilities.
Because these access technologies are integrated into the application, they
provide capabilities not possible with external alternative access systems.
Similarly, because SoftQuad's AdaptAble Technologies are compatible with the
market-leading browsers, Web content can become universally accessible,
enabling computer users everywhere to reap the potential benefits of the
world's information infrastructure.
SoftQuad Products the First to Integrate AdaptAble Technologies
SoftQuad products will be the first mainstream Web authoring and publishing
software to fully integrate AdaptAble Technologies. An upcoming release of
HoTMetaL PRO, the company's award-winning HTML authoring tool, will include
an on-screen keyboard to assist Web authors who have physical disabilities,
and an auto-prompting mechanism that aids in the authoring of fully
accessible content for the Web.
Future releases of HoTMetaL intranet Publisher will also include these and
other AdaptAble Technologies, including screen reading and screen magnifying
features for users with visual disabilities.
Tools for Accessibility
Initially, SoftQuad AdaptAble Technologies consists of four components:
Visual Dynamic Keyboard
SoftQuad's Visual Dynamic Keyboard (VDK) is an on-screen keyboard that lets
users enter text, select commands, activate dialog box controls, and so on,
without using a traditional keyboard and mouse. The VDK supplies a number of
capabilities not available in standalone on-screen keyboard software,
including the ability of the keyboard to logically branch to other keyboard
pages, depending on placement of the cursor on the screen.
The keyboard can also intelligently adjust its position on the screen so that
it doesn't obscure the viewing area. Because the keyboard is aware of the
application and HTML markup, the user can choose to scan chosen elements of
the screen (e.g., the menu, the links or anchors) and thereby avoid tedious
manipulation of the pointer position.
Screen Enhancer
The SoftQuad Screen Enhancer is a screen magnification technology that goes
beyond existing screen magnifiers because it does not simply enlarge the
user's screen; instead, it re-renders the desktop and/or the application in
logical ways for better, more intuitive navigation and viewing. In addition,
while external screen readers produce jagged images of the text when
magnifying above a certain power, the Screen Enhancer has access to the
application's font size adjustment and provides a higher-quality display.
Screen Reader
Like the other elements of the AdaptAbility Toolkit -- and unlike other
external screen readers -- SoftQuad's integrated screen reader is both
application-aware and HTML-aware. For users, this means greater control over
and improved navigation within an application and its content. Users are also
able to set up automatic routines for reviewing a page when it appears (e.g.
read URL, read headers, read first text section, read links, etc.). In
addition, standard screen reader elements are also available (e.g. read word,
read character, read line, etc.).
User Profiler
SoftQuad AdaptAble Technologies also include customizable user profiles, in
which users can quickly select display and control preferences. User profiles
can be selected upon startup, so multiple individuals with varying
preferences can use a single terminal.
SoftQuad AdaptAble Technologies and the SoftQuad AdaptAbility Toolkit have
been developed in association with the University of Toronto's Adaptive
Technology Research Centre (ATRC). ATRC's pioneering work reflects the
findings of recent usability tests, which show that Web browsers and
authoring tools are difficult for both experienced and inexperienced computer
users without disabilities. As the population ages, an increasing number of
people will have visual impairments or difficulties that will hinder their
access to computer technology, making such rich accessibility toolkits
critical to the free flow of digital information.
Pricing and Availability
In keeping with SoftQuad's commitment to ensure universal availability of
AdaptAble Technologies, the company has established aggressive volume pricing
for hardware and software manufacturers to bundle the technology. Volume
pricing has also been established for corporations and government agencies to
easily and cost-effectively integrate the technologies into their
environments. Interested parties can contact SoftQuad directly.
About SoftQuad
SoftQuad is the leading provider of multi-platform, standards-based Knowledge
Publishing applications that enhance business processes. SoftQuad is
recognized worldwide for its pioneering work in structured document
publishing and, through its newly-acquired Alpha Software unit, structured
databases. SoftQuad is a founding member and active participant in the World
Wide Web Consortium, the Internet Engineering Task Force and Editorial Review
Boards. Based in Toronto, Canada, SoftQuad International employs more than
150 people with additional sales offices across North America, and European
operations based in London, with offices in Paris and Munich.
About the ATRC
The Adaptive Technology Resource Centre, based in Toronto, Canada, is an
internationally recognized centre of expertise on equal access to information
technology and the Internet. The ATRC combines direct service, education and
research and development to meet the needs of individuals with disabilities.
Primary areas of research include access to the World Wide web, Java, VRML
and videoconferencing for users of assistive technology. End-user input and
usability testing are an integral part of the design process at the ATRC.
For Further Information
Investor Relations Inquiries:
Selwyn Wener, (416) 544-9000 investor@softquad.com
Press Inquiries:
Press and Media Relations, (416) 544-9000 press@softquad.com
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From: Jackie Dwyer <jdwyer@parsons.lsi.ukans.edu>
Subject: FWD>>Accessibility software
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