[Athen] Google tests web search for blind

[Kestrell]

I agree with feeling that tools such as the accessible Google one present the unfortunate possibility of encouraging the scenario for a "separate but (not-quite) equal" approach to Web site. design.

My best example at the moment is the Amazon accessible site, which doesn't seem to allow me to actually use any of the tools I always use, such as my wishlist.

Kes
   


  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: sean keegan 
  To: 'Access Technologists in Higher Education Network' 
  Sent: Thursday, August 03, 2006 8:28 PM
  Subject: Re: [Athen] Google tests web search for blind


  I have seen the new google accessible search and have some mixed reactions
  about it.  From the user's perspective, it is much easier to use with a
  screen-reader and can be "reflowed" reasonably well.  TV Raman seems to be
  the one who really put some work behind this (he is the blind developer who
  created Emacspeak), so it is not surprising that it is designed for those
  using screen-readers.

  My concern about this, however, is how Web developers will interpret this
  new search function.  There is a difference in search results between the
  accessible search and the regular google search - the accessible search
  relies on a different page ranking algorithm to identify Web sites that are
  "screen-reader friendly".  There is a whole field of Web "professionals"
  dedicated to giving their company the highest ranking possible for the
  google search results.  It would be unfortunate if we saw the reappearance
  of "text-only" sites in an attempt to get the ranking high on both the
  regular google search AND the accessible google search.

  It will be interesting to see how this plays out...

  Sean Keegan
  Web Accessibility Instructor
  High Tech Center Training Unit, California Community Colleges

  -----Original Message-----
  From: athen-bounces at athenpro.org [mailto:athen-bounces at athenpro.org] On
  Behalf Of James Bailey
  Sent: Thursday, August 03, 2006 2:43 PM
  To: Access Technologists in Higher Education Network
  Subject: [Athen] Google tests web search for blind


  Interesting article at:
  http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3739435a28,00.html

  Here's a teaser:
  "TV Raman, a research scientist at Mountain View, California-based Google,
  said his project sorts search results based on the simplicity of page
  layout, the quality of design and the organization and labeling of
  information on each page."

  James Bailey
  Adaptive Technology Access Adviser, University of Oregon
  1299 University of Oregon
  Eugene, OR 97403-1299
  Office: 541-346-1076
  jbailey at darkwing.uoregon.edu


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