Blind Web Sites

elivsvonchiaing

I had a guy come into us (work) recently selling voice-intros for web-sites. He claims the UK are passing a law that will make this compulsory in the near future for web-sites - presumably .co.uk ones. He said it was likely the EU would follow.

What he didn't know was that I once worked with a guy using a Henter-Joyce terminal - so I know he wont be needing this - so I'm quite skeptical about this. Only possibility is David Blunkett doesn't know how to use one of these I suppose

Is this just bull**** or is there some truth in it?

sceptre

elivsvonchiaing wrote:

He claims the UK are passing a law that will make this compulsory in the near future for web-sites - presumably .co.uk ones. He said it was likely the EU would follow.

/chews slowly, coughs and throws eyes to heaven (not at you, at sleazy salesguy).

There may be something about government sites, I don't know. In any case I'm sure the UK government have made a commitment to make their sites accessible, we've made some vague commitments in the New Connections document the Irish government are still pretending to follow.

As for a new UK "law to make it compulsory for websites to be blind- or poor-sighted-accessible"? Heh, these snakeoil guys will try anything to get a sale. Take his name and company name and report him to the ODCA for a start.

elivsvonchiaing

[QUOTE=sceptre As for a new UK "law to make it compulsory for websites to be blind- or poor-sighted-accessible"? Heh, these snakeoil guys will try anything to get a sale. Take his name and company name and report him to the ODCA for a start.[/QUOTE]
Thanks for that its what I suspected. would probably do just that - but this isn't mentioned in any printed matter he gave unfortunately

pork99

elivsvonchiaing wrote:

I had a guy come into us (work) recently selling voice-intros for web-sites.

Just code your site properly (to W3C standards) and there is no need for this whatsoever

daveirl

This post has been deleted.

mrhappy42

If you want training on helping people with partail sight...

http://www.ncbi.ie/volunteer/volunteer_opportunities.php

They have not indicated that any standards where going to be applied.

Capt'n Midnight

elivsvonchiaing wrote:

I had a guy come into us (work) recently selling voice-intros for web-sites. He claims the UK are passing a law that will make this compulsory in the near future for web-sites - presumably .co.uk ones. He said it was likely the EU would follow.

Suggest you report him to the authorities, he is obviously lying.
I think laws should be changed so that if a sales person lies then they are personally liable for any/all damages not thier company.

Mandatory voiceover in a country where the vast majority are on dial up - it is not exactly practical. Next which voice format do you use, what quality ?

Even snake oil has a placebo effect. This is lower.


BTW: yes govt sites should have voice over OPTIONS for the purposes of inclusion, but telling people that it is mandatory for thier web site - the best thing about the internet is that it bypasses sales persons

elivsvonchiaing

Capt'n Midnight wrote:

Suggest you report him to the authorities, he is obviously lying.
I think laws should be changed so that if a sales person lies then they are personally liable for any/all damages not thier company.

Mandatory voiceover in a country where the vast majority are on dial up - it is not exactly practical. Next which voice format do you use, what quality ?

Even snake oil has a placebo effect. This is lower.


BTW: yes govt sites should have voice over OPTIONS for the purposes of inclusion, but telling people that it is mandatory for thier web site - the best thing about the internet is that it bypasses sales persons

Slimy fecker only said this to me. In the printed material no mention of this - strong case - don't think so!

I'm really sick of these snake oil merchants tbh - but I have seen worse than this - sure you have too.

Amz

I'm not particularly comfortable with the direction this thread was taking so I'm locking it.

Certain posts have been move to the recycle bin.