Dan's Ease of Access Blog : CSUN

Why is Twitter inaccessible?

danhub — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 08:56:00 GMT

I was sent an email mail about the registration process for Twitter.by someone who uses a screenreader to use the computer. It turns out Twitter uses a standard visual CAPTCHA during registration. Unfortunately they seem to not offer any other type of verification like audio CAPTCHA. This means they have no way to register to follow my Twitter posts. So I will try to recap all of my activity on this blog once a day so that folks who are unable to register can follow the activity at CSUN.

In the meantime, I have sent a few mails around to hopefully get to the folks at Twitter to address the issue.

-dan

(edited for content 3/21)

Coming soon...Smart Hal

danhub — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 07:21:00 GMT

Dave Williams from one of our partner companies, Dolphin Computer Access, has a Blog where he is counting down to the release of Smart Hal. Smart Hal is a screenreader for Windows Mobile based Smartphones. In his most recent post he talks about why Dolphin chose to develop for Windows Mobile.

I can't wait to try this out on my Cingular 3125 Smartphone. Hopefully Dave will hook me up when I see him next week. Dolphin will be at the CSUN conference next week and has a session where they will be demoing Smart Hal. I hate to admit it but I could see using this while I am commuting. Imagine having access to your cell phone without having to look at it! What I am wondering is, will Smart Hal read the traffic report from SmartPhlow.

Twittering from CSUN

danhub — Mon, 19 Mar 2007 05:27:00 GMT

Have you seen Twitter? I just started with it yesterday but can already tell i'm going to be addicted. You can go to my Twitter page and add yourself as a friend if you want updates from CSUN (Technology & Persons with Disabilities Conference). I wanted to post regular Blog updates but not that I have found Twitter I'll be using that.

Twitter is what is being called a micro-blogging service. I send a text message to an address and it posts to my twitter page for everyone to see. You can even have Twitter relay the text message to your own phone if you like via SMS. Imagine setting up a network with your friends that when you send one message it relays that message to everyone who has subscribed. No need to enter all of those addresses from your phone and the recipient has complete control of who and when they want to get messages. Services like these make using a cell phone feature like text messaging more powerful in my opinion. I hope we can see more creative services like this.

-dan

Meeting at CSUN...

danhub — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 18:40:00 GMT

First, Joanie from the Carroll Center replied to my post about contacts here at Microsoft. It looks like we are on the same page when it comes to the need for more transparency around technology. I would also argue that this need goes for the so called "open" companies as well.

On to CSUN... Joanie asks if I am available to meet. Yes I am. Joanie if you would like to suggest a time please let me know and I'd welcome a discussion about the Office Ribbon, you have my email :-). In fact I'll do you one better and introduce you to the folks from the Office team. They will be there too!

I look forward to meeting in LA.