[Athen] Repost: Google Apps Evaluation

[Ken Petri]

Google I/O: As far as I can tell, there were no announcements about
Google Apps accessibility directly, at all. There was only one
web-related accessibility presentation--another on Android and on
YouTube.

But there is another wrinkle, Charles Chen demo-ed ChromeVox, the
screen reader built into Chrome OS, working with Gmail. I've played
with ChromeVox on a PC just in the browser and it isn't too bad with
Gmail--certainly much better than gmail in any other screen reader,
currently. ChromeVox is ARIA aware to some degree (not clear what
degree) and Google has developed an imperative language called
VoxScript that allows scripters of applications (in Chrome/ChromeOS
only?) to add in audio cues, supplemental text, and control focus via
web application-specific scripts that extend the application. (This is
somewhat like Chen's earlier AxsJAX project.)

Here's the YouTube vid:
http://www.youtube.com/user/GoogleDevelopers#p/u/76/PAzY2MQxJDQ
(limited time? start around 12:00 and tune out after Chen leaves).

BTW, I participated in two of the Google CSUN sessions. The open/no
NDA presentation was run by Naomi Black and was basically an hour of
"we aren't doing a very good job, with the exception of search." She
assigned grades to many of their products and gave Gmail a B- (to some
audience grumbling and audible mumbles of "C-"). She assigned Google
Apps a grade of "D." I also attended a later session under NDA. I
suppose I'm forbidden from giving any info on that, but I can say that
virtually all of the discussion in this developer focused session was
on Android.

ken
--
Ken Petri
Program Director, OSU Web Accessibility Center
102D Pomerene Hall, 1760 Neil Avenue, Columbus, Ohio  43210
Office: 614.292.1760 | Mobile: 614.218.1499 | Fax: 614.292.4190
http://wac.osu.edu | petri.1 at osu.edu



On Fri, May 13, 2011 at 12:20 PM, Ron Stewart <ron at ahead.org> wrote:

> I would also like to be an observer in this effort.  You have done it,  and

> yes I would think that getting a "Collaboration" going would be the

> appropriate next step since that is the way the membership has endorsed

> doing these kinds of things.

>

> Ron

>

> -----Original Message-----

> From: athen-list-bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu

> [mailto:athen-list-bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu] On Behalf Of Greg

> Kraus

> Sent: Friday, May 13, 2011 8:17 AM

> To: Access Technology Higher Education Network

> Subject: Re: [Athen] Repost: Google Apps Evaluation

>

> Hi All,

>

> Here is the list of people I have who have expressed interest in working in

> this interest group.

>

> Greg Kraus

> Karen Sorensen

> Alice Anderson

> Sharon Trerise

> Scott Williams

> Terrill Thompson

>

> If I missed anyone please let me know. Jon, I wasn't sure if you were

> expressing interest or not. If you would like to just let me know.

>

> Others, as with other ATHEN interest groups I assume people will be able to

> come and go from the group when desired. This list is just an initial list

> of people to start the discussion.

>

> Ron, what is the process for getting an official ATHEN Interest Group

> started? Would it be best to go ahead and set up a section on the

> Collaboration site to start discussing these matters?

>

> Thanks.

>

> Greg

>

>

> On Tue, May 10, 2011 at 2:33 PM, Greg Kraus <greg_kraus at ncsu.edu> wrote:

>> I'll be happy to coordinate this. With Google IO going on right now we

>> should probably also wait to see what announcements are coming from

>> the cloud. I'll start pulling some things together soon and get

>> everyone who has expresses interest involved. I'll probably start an

>> email discussion in the next week or two to make sure we can define a

>> common goal and that it is something that ATHEN as an organization can

>> support.

>>

>> Greg

>>

>>

>> On Tue, May 10, 2011 at 1:46 PM, Ron Stewart <ron at ahead.org> wrote:

>>> Thanks for those of you who stepped up to the plate on this, Greg

>>> since you already volunteered do you want to pull something together.

>>> Before we move forward under the ATHEN umbrella I want to make sure

>>> everyone is on the same page.  It probably would be best to setup a

>>> smaller discussion group on this topic as well.

>>>

>>>

>>>

>>> Ron

>>>

>>>

>>>

>>> From: athen-list-bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu

>>> [mailto:athen-list-bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu] On Behalf Of

>>> Gunderson, Jon R

>>> Sent: Tuesday, May 10, 2011 7:57 AM

>>> To: Access Technology Higher Education Network

>>> Subject: RE: [Athen] Repost: Google Apps Evaluation

>>>

>>>

>>>

>>> If we coordinate our accessibility efforts with Google we will be

>>> able to prioritize the accessibility features they work on and be

>>> able to help Google understand that this is a long term effort and

> responsibility.

>>>

>>>

>>>

>>>

>>>

>>> Jon

>>>

>>>

>>>

>>>

>>>

>>> From: athen-list-bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu

>>> [mailto:athen-list-bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu] On Behalf Of

>>> scott williams

>>> Sent: Tuesday, May 10, 2011 9:21 AM

>>> To: Access Technology Higher Education Network

>>> Subject: Re: [Athen] Repost: Google Apps Evaluation

>>>

>>>

>>>

>>> The University of Michigan is in contract negotiations with Google.

>>> We told them that we were holding off negotiations until they could

>>> show us an accessible version of Google Apps. I expect to be a member

>>> of the pilot here on campus so I can evaluate its accessibility before a

> campus-wide rollout.

>>> They are trying to publish a more accessible version of Google Apps by

> fall.

>>> I am going to wait to evaluate the updated version (or a substantial

>>> number of micro-upgrades). I do know that they are working closely

>>> with the NFB to reach a settlement, so I do expect real change, but

>>> the proof is in the pudding.

>>>

>>>

>>>

>>> I think we surprised them with our firm stance, but we told them that

>>> even though the NFB is happy with Google's progress, that wouldn't

>>> stop the NFB from coming at us should a student file a complaint

>>> here. And that is not a risk we're going to take.

>>>

>>>

>>>

>>> I would be very interested in participating in this group. I agree

>>> with Jon and Greg that Google would welcome the effort, and it will

>>> help keep them on the right track.

>>>

>>>

>>>

>>> Best,

>>>

>>>

>>>

>>> Scott

>>>

>>> On Tue, May 10, 2011 at 9:14 AM, Greg Kraus <greg_kraus at ncsu.edu> wrote:

>>>

>>> Hi Ron,

>>>

>>> I've been talking with some members of the Google Apps for Education

>>> Team about this and have offered to coordinate with ATHEN an

>>> accessibility interest group to work with Google like we have done

>>> with Blackboard and Elluminate/Blackboard. We are a Google Apps

>>> campus so we definitely have a vested interest in this. So far Google

>>> has not taken me up on this offer.

>>>

>>> I can say that Google is keenly aware of the issue and is trying to

>>> address it. We at NC State have built some relationships with the

>>> Google Apps for Education Team so I am happy to coordinate an ATHEN

>>> interest group if others are interested in participating.

>>>

>>> Greg

>>>

>>> --

>>> Greg Kraus

>>> University IT Accessibility Coordinator Office of Information

>>> Technology North Carolina State University

>>> 919.513.4087

>>>

>>>

>>> On Mon, May 9, 2011 at 6:45 PM, Sean J Keegan <skeegan at stanford.edu>

> wrote:

>>>> Good morning folks, hope you are staying above water!

>>>>

>>>> I have received several request for ATHEN or another unbiased group

>>>> to do an objective evaluation of the accessibility of the current

>>>> version of Google Apps.  This would be of a similar nature of our

>>>> work on the iTunes work we did a few years back.  If you are aware

>>>> of anyone who has already done a compressive, cross disability

>>>> evaluation that is great and I will pass that on to those who have

>>>> inquired.

>>>>

>>>> At this point I am needing someone who has the time and available

>>>> bandwidth to take a project of this nature on and to be the leader

>>>> of the project.

>>>>

>>>> Ron Stewart

>>>>

>>>> ********************************************************************

>>>> ****

>>>> Ron Stewart

>>>> Managing Consultant

>>>> Altformat Solutions LLC

>>>>

>>>> 8300 West Weller St

>>>> Yorktown, IN 47396

>>>> Mobile: 609 213-2190

>>>> Fax: 765 405-1484

>>>>

>>>> ron at altformatsolutions.com

>>>> www.altformatsolutions.com

>>>> _______________________________________________

>>>> athen-list mailing list

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>>>>

>>> _______________________________________________

>>> athen-list mailing list

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>>>

>>>

>>> --

>>> Scott Williams

>>> Web Accessibility Coordinator

>>> Office of Institutional Equity

>>> University of Michigan

>>> 734.764.0051

>>> swims at umich.edu

>>>

>>> _______________________________________________

>>> athen-list mailing list

>>> athen-list at mailman1.u.washington.edu

>>> http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/athen-list

>>>

>>>

>>

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