"One of the things that has been both intriguing and promising from early on is that accessibility solutions didn't just help solve the problems they were created to solve," said Judy Brewer, director of the WAI. "We encourage the use of Web graphics. But someone accessing the Web through a PDA can't see a graphic, table or chart that well. For accessibility, you'd want someone to be able to visually scan it if they could, query it, run through it in a linear mode. Those flexibility user choices are precisely the things that people accessing the Web through alternate devices need as well."
She brings up a very good point. Like the products that were initially developed for space flight but found their way into general consumer use (Velcro, etc.), general web accessibility has a number of other benefits besides making the web accessible to people with disabilities.
This brings up a question which I'd like to see discussed either here, or in a new topic. I do not have a disability that prevents me from accessing the web via traditional means. However, I'm curious to ask people who use assistive devices: what is your experience going online like? How much content can you access? How do you feel about it? I know these questions have been generally answered by the document, but I'm curious about personal stories.
Actually, this is not an entirely uncommon issue with telcos... theoretically, people can send unwanted Spam to SMS email gateways. For example, if your number is 650-555-1212 and your carrier is Cingular, you automatically have an SMS email address, which means that people can send you SMS messages from their email accounts. In Cingular's case, your SMS email address is 6505551212@XXXXXXX.XXXcingular.com. So, all a spammer has to do is send email messages to 6501111111@XXXXXXX.XXXcingular.com, 6501111112@XXXXXXX.XXXcingular.com, etc. Bingo, you get unwanted SMS on your phone
Most carriers' response? Cancel SMS on your wireless account. Granted, you won't be able then to receive ANY SMS messages, but that's not their problem. Frustrating? Yes. Welcome to the world of wireless telco.
Of course, this study doesn't take into account terrain. Really hard-core backpackers lace their shoes differently depending on whether they're ascending or descending a mountain.
Wait, no, I got that backwards. This is the last time I post here without Previewing (ha ha).
What I meant to say: if they said "every citizen" and the gov't was actually tracking "every person" then the article in its current manifestation would still be true.
Of course, "every American citizen" is a subset of "every person who makes a purchase in the U.S." so the statement would still technically be true if the article said they tracked the purchases of "every person" as opposed to "every citizen."
Quote from the article: "A massive database that the government will use to monitor every purchase made by every American citizen is a necessary tool in the war on terror, the Pentagon said Wednesday."
Do you think they're going to limit it just to American citizens, or was that just a weird inaccurate description used by the reporter?
Hrm. If we're so worried about foreign terrorists (as well as domestic), you think they'd broaden the scope of the database...
From the article... "The Federal Election Commission (FEC) today approved a New Jersey technology firm's petition to waive disclosure rules for political ads delivered via SMS.
So it's not a politician or "interest group" looking for the FEC ruling. It's a provate business.
No doubt the NJ tech firm is seeing dollar signs in being a conduit for delivery of political messages via SMS. For all the naysayers who contend that SMS political spamming will never happen... take note that tech firms don't usually lay out cashola to petition the FEC on obscure rules if they don't see a monetary benefit in the proposition. They want to make money. No doubt have garnered interest from politicians who will pay for their service in the coming election season.
I must confess: I had a teen crush (pun intended) on Wil's character Wesley (demographics: I'm female and 27 now).
Here's why: Out of all the characters on TV, he was one of the most accessible. He wasn't a scary macho man. He was a nice, quiet boy. I liked that. So did my friends.
So, props to Wil for creating a kind, mild-mannered, smart role model for us kiddoes who weren't the Alpha Male type.
1) Look at "web design" as a means to an end. These kids are gaining confidence in their mental skills (rather than violence). They're tapping into thought processes (i.e. technology, programming "lite") which they may not have been exposed to in school.
Maybe they won't all end up as web designers. But think back... did you wind up getting a career in your college major? Some, yes. But many, no. College is a process of socialization where students learn "soft skills" as well as the stuff they're being taught directly in class.
I see this program as the same thing. The former gang bangers are being exposed to the general world of technology, and communications, and business collaboration. Web design is merely the medium of transmission.
2) The Internet has always been a place for communication, where, whether you're a single person of a multimillion dollar corporation, you can facilitate discussion and learning through nearly infinite nodes blah blah blah (insert general pro-internet statement here). The program gives these kids the tools to build a community on the web. It is an empowering feeling to know you have a voice in the morass.
Gangs are strong, vibrant, alluring communities that provide a sense of belonging. I'm not saying that a discussion board or website could ever hope to supplant a gang. But having a way to express oneself (through web design) may very well alleviate *some* of the hopelessness that drives kids to gangs.
Slashdot Mirror
No, but it did remind me of Funzo.
Jim Hope:
Very good. Now I want you all to imagine the perfect toy. What would it be like?
Terri:
[holding stuffed animal] It should be soft and cuddly.
Bart:
Yeah, with lots of firepower.
Milhouse:
Its eyes should be telescopes! No, periscopes! No, microscopes! Can you come back to me?
Nelson:
It should be full of surprises.
Milhouse:
It should never stop dancing.
Martin:
It should need accessories.
"One of the things that has been both intriguing and promising from early on is that accessibility solutions didn't just help solve the problems they were created to solve," said Judy Brewer, director of the WAI. "We encourage the use of Web graphics. But someone accessing the Web through a PDA can't see a graphic, table or chart that well. For accessibility, you'd want someone to be able to visually scan it if they could, query it, run through it in a linear mode. Those flexibility user choices are precisely the things that people accessing the Web through alternate devices need as well."
She brings up a very good point. Like the products that were initially developed for space flight but found their way into general consumer use (Velcro, etc.), general web accessibility has a number of other benefits besides making the web accessible to people with disabilities.
This brings up a question which I'd like to see discussed either here, or in a new topic. I do not have a disability that prevents me from accessing the web via traditional means. However, I'm curious to ask people who use assistive devices: what is your experience going online like? How much content can you access? How do you feel about it? I know these questions have been generally answered by the document, but I'm curious about personal stories.
Whoa, back up a moment ... you have a watch that receives SMS or pages? That is so cool! In a geekish kind of way.
. ht ml#tim
Is this what you were talking about?
http://www.timex.com/html/watch_finder_adv_prod
That's totally rad. I am such a nerd. That is totally rad.
Actually, this is not an entirely uncommon issue with telcos ... theoretically, people can send unwanted Spam to SMS email gateways. For example, if your number is 650-555-1212 and your carrier is Cingular, you automatically have an SMS email address, which means that people can send you SMS messages from their email accounts. In Cingular's case, your SMS email address is 6505551212@XXXXXXX.XXXcingular.com. So, all a spammer has to do is send email messages to 6501111111@XXXXXXX.XXXcingular.com, 6501111112@XXXXXXX.XXXcingular.com, etc. Bingo, you get unwanted SMS on your phone
Most carriers' response? Cancel SMS on your wireless account. Granted, you won't be able then to receive ANY SMS messages, but that's not their problem. Frustrating? Yes. Welcome to the world of wireless telco.
Of course, this study doesn't take into account terrain. Really hard-core backpackers lace their shoes differently depending on whether they're ascending or descending a mountain.
I've always double-, triple- and quadruple-knotted too-long shoelaces.
Another thing you can do: tie a regular bow-knot. Leave the ends long. Then tie those long ends into another bow-knot.
What's that you say? It looks silly? Yikes! What will the boys at my Mensa mixer think?? Better change back into the Armani.
Wait, no, I got that backwards. This is the last time I post here without Previewing (ha ha).
What I meant to say: if they said "every citizen" and the gov't was actually tracking "every person" then the article in its current manifestation would still be true.
Okay. Final post on this subject. Signing off.
Of course, "every American citizen" is a subset of "every person who makes a purchase in the U.S." so the statement would still technically be true if the article said they tracked the purchases of "every person" as opposed to "every citizen."
But I doubt that's what the author meant.
I hate it when reportage is confusing.
Quote from the article: "A massive database that the government will use to monitor every purchase made by every American citizen is a necessary tool in the war on terror, the Pentagon said Wednesday."
...
Do you think they're going to limit it just to American citizens, or was that just a weird inaccurate description used by the reporter?
Hrm. If we're so worried about foreign terrorists (as well as domestic), you think they'd broaden the scope of the database
... by "obscure rules" I mean, of course, the SMS segment of the disclosure regulation. The disclosure regulation itself is huge, and very important.
... http://www.nokia.com/mms/what_is_mms.html. The possibilities for porn spam just got a little scarier.
Just wait until MMS (MultiMedia Messaging)
From the article ... "The Federal Election Commission (FEC) today approved a New Jersey technology firm's petition to waive disclosure rules for political ads delivered via SMS.
... take note that tech firms don't usually lay out cashola to petition the FEC on obscure rules if they don't see a monetary benefit in the proposition. They want to make money. No doubt have garnered interest from politicians who will pay for their service in the coming election season.
So it's not a politician or "interest group" looking for the FEC ruling. It's a provate business.
No doubt the NJ tech firm is seeing dollar signs in being a conduit for delivery of political messages via SMS. For all the naysayers who contend that SMS political spamming will never happen
I must confess: I had a teen crush (pun intended) on Wil's character Wesley (demographics: I'm female and 27 now).
Here's why: Out of all the characters on TV, he was one of the most accessible. He wasn't a scary macho man. He was a nice, quiet boy. I liked that. So did my friends.
So, props to Wil for creating a kind, mild-mannered, smart role model for us kiddoes who weren't the Alpha Male type.
1) Look at "web design" as a means to an end. These kids are gaining confidence in their mental skills (rather than violence). They're tapping into thought processes (i.e. technology, programming "lite") which they may not have been exposed to in school.
... did you wind up getting a career in your college major? Some, yes. But many, no. College is a process of socialization where students learn "soft skills" as well as the stuff they're being taught directly in class.
Maybe they won't all end up as web designers. But think back
I see this program as the same thing. The former gang bangers are being exposed to the general world of technology, and communications, and business collaboration. Web design is merely the medium of transmission.
2) The Internet has always been a place for communication, where, whether you're a single person of a multimillion dollar corporation, you can facilitate discussion and learning through nearly infinite nodes blah blah blah (insert general pro-internet statement here). The program gives these kids the tools to build a community on the web. It is an empowering feeling to know you have a voice in the morass.
Gangs are strong, vibrant, alluring communities that provide a sense of belonging. I'm not saying that a discussion board or website could ever hope to supplant a gang. But having a way to express oneself (through web design) may very well alleviate *some* of the hopelessness that drives kids to gangs.