From 461e42854acc24882f7f417720997d245c853448 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Dan Mueth Date: Fri, 15 Feb 2002 05:06:10 +0000 Subject: [PATCH] Adding link for recent Assistive Technology press release Adding recent 2001-02-14 Dan Mueth * press.html: Adding link for recent Assistive Technology press release * pr-assistivetech.html: Adding recent press release on assistive technology. --- ChangeLog | 6 + press.html | 7 ++ press/pr-assistivetech.html | 234 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 3 files changed, 247 insertions(+) create mode 100644 press/pr-assistivetech.html diff --git a/ChangeLog b/ChangeLog index bc5c3c5..5ea6a47 100644 --- a/ChangeLog +++ b/ChangeLog @@ -1,3 +1,9 @@ +2001-02-14 Dan Mueth + + * press.html: Adding link for recent Assistive Technology press release + * pr-assistivetech.html: Adding recent press release on assistive + technology. + 2001-01-23 Glynn Foster * logos/*.gif: logos diff --git a/press.html b/press.html index a84a7b8..31ca54d 100644 --- a/press.html +++ b/press.html @@ -43,6 +43,13 @@

+ + + + + + diff --git a/press/pr-assistivetech.html b/press/pr-assistivetech.html new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b60e12c --- /dev/null +++ b/press/pr-assistivetech.html @@ -0,0 +1,234 @@ + + + + The GNOME Foundation: Membership Policy + + +
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January 28, 2002Users with Disabilities Get + Built-in Assistive Technology Solutions with the GNOME 2.0 Desktop
August 28, 2001 Making GNOME Accessible -- Opening New Doors At the Workplace for Users with Disabilities
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Users with Disabilities Get Built-in Assistive Technology Solutions with the GNOME 2.0 Desktop

+ +

+New developments make the GNOME 2.0 Desktop more accessible to the needs +of users with disabilities. + +

+New York, N.Y. January 28, 2002 - The GNOME Foundation today announced +the latest innovative assistive technology contributions to the GNOME +project, an open-source, free-software desktop for GNU/Linux and UNIX. +BAUM Retec AG delivers the first full-featured GNOME screen magnifier, a +screen reader, and a set of Braille drivers to meet the needs of +vision-impaired users and the Adaptive Technology Resource Centre, +University of Toronto is delivering the first GNOME on-screen keyboard +to support users with motor impairments. These built-in assistive +technologies seamlessly integrate with a new generation of accessible +applications as they enable users with disabilities to easily interact +with applications that can adapt to their needs. + +

+These new assistive technologies leverage Sun Microsystems, Inc.'s +contribution of the GNOME Accessibility Framework. This framework based +on an open architecture, provides a comprehensive toolkit and APIs, that +developers can use to create accessible applications and interface them +with assistive technologies on any UNIX or GNU/Linux platform running +the GNOME 2.0 desktop. With the combination of the Accessibility +Framework and assistive technologies, users with disabilities have the +solutions they need to get their job done efficiently: + + +

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  • +Screen Magnifier - enables users with low vision to enlarge the +computer screen and interact with the magnified portion of the screen +they are accessing, such as menus, toolbars, graphics, and text +
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  • +Screen Reader - allows users who are blind or visually impaired +to access information on the computer screen through a Braille display +or synthesized speech. With screen readers users can read and edit text, +manipulate menu bars, buttons and dialog boxes, and fully interact with +the GNOME desktop +
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  • +On-screen Keyboard - provides users with physical impairments a +wide variety of ways to enter text and manipulate the graphical user +interface of applications and the GNOME desktop. In addition, +environments without a keyboard, such as a touch screen kiosk, can take +advantage of the on-screen keyboard. This on-screen keyboard goes beyond +the standard physical keyboard, it supports word prediction, scanning +access, coded access, customizable keyboard layouts, and dynamic +keyboard functionality that conveniently places menu bar options and +other application elements onto the keyboard display for direct +manipulation +
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+"Integrating accessibility technology solutions with the GNOME desktop +allows anyone to use GNOME," said Miguel de Icaza, GNOME Foundation +President. These built-in capabilities provide enterprises with a +ready-to-go and comprehensive accessible desktop that adapts to the +needs of users with disabilities. The benefits are vast - for IT +organizations this cost-effective alternative resolves the problem of +buying and installing expensive complex software; for disabled users +it's simpler and more convenient to work and collaborate with team +members since they have the advantage of using any UNIX or GNU/Linux +platform running the GNOME 2.0 desktop". + +

+"We chose GNOME because of its open, extensible, and comprehensive +accessibility architecture," said Thomas Friehoff, CTO, head of software +development of BAUM Retec AG. "Using the open Assistive Technologies +Service Provider API we were able to deliver our solutions quickly, +because it eliminated the need to reinvent assistive technology software +for different UNIX platforms, saving us time and costs". + +

+"Our center in Toronto specializes in developing information +technologies that include seamless accessible interfaces," said Jutta +Treviranus, Director, Adaptive Technology Resource Centre, University of +Toronto. "The GNOME Accessibility Framework free software project +enables us to leverage the component-based architecture to develop +technologies that intelligently integrate alternative access techniques. +Using this approach we will make the user interface accessible and +usable by the large group of individuals who cannot use a standard +keyboard or mouse. We will continue working with the GNOME open source +project to develop new kinds of user input support, including an open +source keyboard configuration editor that provides ways to improve the +efficiency of computer interaction for users with disabilities." + +

+"By providing rich and consistent interfaces for both assistive +technologies and applications, the accessibility framework enables +flexible and comprehensive accessibility solutions for GNOME," said Bill +Haneman, GNOME Accessibility Architect, Sun Microsystems, Inc. "A key +aspect of the GNOME Accessibility Framework is support for user +interface component sets beyond the built-in GNOME component set," said +Peter Korn, Sun Accessibility Architect. "The thousands of applications +that take advantage of the Java Accessibility API will work with the +GNOME Accessibility Framework unaltered and gain the benefit of the +assistive technologies included with the GNOME 2.0 Desktop. In addition, +other important applications, such as the OpenOffice.org productivity +suite, are being modified to use these technologies." + +

+Availability
+GNOME Accessibility Framework is available at: +http://developer.gnome.org/projects/gap + +

+Baum Retec AG assistive technologies are available at: + +http://developer.gnome.org/projects/gap/AT + +

+ATRC, University of Toronto assistive technology is available at: + +http://developer.gnome.org/projects/gap/AT + +

+About GNOME
+Gnome is a unified, open and rich desktop that employs an intuitive AND +APPEALING USER INTERFACE, includes a wealth of productivity +applications, +SUPPORTS THE LATEST industry STANDARDS, AND PROVIDES AN innovative +component-based architecture, ALL BUILT ON a powerful network-centric +architecture. +GNOME is a free software project (also referred to as open source +software) that is developing a complete, easy to use desktop for +GNU/Linux, BSD and a variety of other UNIX and other operating systems. +The GNOME desktop is used by millions of people around the world. More +than 500 computer developers, including over 100 full-time, paid +developers, contribute their time and effort to the project. + +

+About the GNOME Foundation
+Comprised of hundreds of volunteer developers and industry-leading +companies, the GNOME Foundation is an organization committed to +supporting the advancement of GNOME. GNOME is an entirely free user +environment for desktops, networked servers and portable Internet +devices. The modern architecture and design of GNOME includes a +technically advanced application development platform and a powerful +end-user desktop environment. Major leading software industry and +computer manufacturers support the GNOME development effort, which is +led by a world-wide community of volunteers. More information on GNOME +is available at www.gnome.org. + +

+About BAUM Retec AG
+As a leading European provider of products and services for the blind +and visually impaired, BAUM Retec AG offers a wide range of electronic +aids for educational, professional and private use. BAUM's products want +to help visually impaired customers to be more successful in their jobs +and to have all the possibilities to access information. More +information on BAUM Retec AG is available at +www.baum.de. + +

+About Adaptive Technology Resource Centre (ATRC), University of Toronto
+The ATRC advances barrier-free access to information technology by +working directly with information technology manufacturers and +developers to influence the early design stages of tomorrow's computer +based technology. The ATRC uses a user-centered design approach to model +and create solutions that are commercially feasible, operationally +effective, and inclusive of users with disabilities. The centre works +closely with government and public sector partners to address +accessibility issues. More information on Adaptive Technology Resource +Centre, University of Toronto is available at +www.utoronto.ca/atrc. + +

+About Sun Microsystems, Inc.
+Sun, Sun Microsystems, the Sun logo, Solaris, Java are trademarks or +registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the United States and +other countries. More information on Sun Microsystems, Inc. is available +at www.sun.com. + + +

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