Peter Abrahams on IT-Director.com

IBM Lotus Symphony now on the Mac

Peter Abrahams, Bloor Research — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 07:00:00 +0100

Symphony 1.2 includes support for Ubuntu, DataPilot tables and a beta for Apple Mac. Along with the related announcement of the ODF Toolkit Union, Symphony should be on the review list of most IT departments. [Read More...]

Major new accessibility features in Firefox 3.0.4

Peter Abrahams, Bloor Research — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 07:00:00 +0100

Firefox now has an accessibility menu which includes a host of tools that will improve the accessibility of Firefox by people with disabilities [Read More...]

New web content accessibility guidelines published

Peter Abrahams, Bloor Research — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 07:00:00 +0100

WCAG 2.0 has been published as a Proposed Recommendation with the final publication expected by end 2008. Now is the time to start using the new guidelines so that web sites are as accessible as possible to people with disabilities. [Read More...]

Google Book Library for the print-disabled

Peter Abrahams, Bloor Research — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 07:00:00 +0100

An agreement between Google and the publishing industry will make more books available to people who find it difficult to access standard printed books. [Read More...]

How to design and test for usability

Peter Abrahams, Bloor Research — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 06:00:00 +0100

A round table of experts concluded that usability must be fully integrated into the design, develop and test cycle. [Read More...]

The latest Assistive Technology: Skype

Peter Abrahams, Bloor Research — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 06:00:00 +0100

A Skype video link enables people with little sight to be more independent. [Read More...]

Everything accessible anywhere

Peter Abrahams, Bloor Research — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 06:00:00 +0100

CitronGO! From Globo provides a service interaction layer that integrates multiple emails, diaries, Instant Messagers, social networks, contacts and more into a single screen. In the process it improves overall usability and accessibility. [Read More...]

Using scripting to improve accessibility

Peter Abrahams, Bloor Research — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 06:00:00 +0100

The first of a series of conferences on Scripting Enabled was held in London recently. Lots of useful information and ideas were explored. [Read More...]

iPod Nano accessible and more usable

Peter Abrahams, Bloor Research — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 06:00:00 +0100

The latest Apple 4G iPod Nano is accessible and answers all my previous criticisms. The benefits extend to a much wider audience, leaving me with one criticism and one suggestion. [Read More...]

AbilityNet test accessibility using Morae

Peter Abrahams, Bloor Research — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 06:00:00 +0100

Being a tester in a usability laboratory confirmed the benefits of usability/accessibility testing technology. [Read More...]

Accessibility Interoperability Alliance News

Peter Abrahams, Bloor Research — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 06:00:00 +0100

The Accessibility Interoperability Alliance (AIA) brings together IT and AT vendors to discuss and resolve interoperability issues. It should greatly improve the user experience for people with disabilities. [Read More...]

Non-accessible websites will be costly

Peter Abrahams, Bloor Research — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 06:00:00 +0100

A class action has just cost the US retailer Target 6 million dollars plus expenses. Making the website accessible would have been a much more profitable option. [Read More...]

Nuance Dragon NaturallySpeaking improves accessibility for all

Peter Abrahams, Bloor Research — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 06:00:00 +0100

Nuance recently announced release 10 of Dragon NaturallySpeaking, the speech recognition system. It will be attractive to any user; but has some special benefits for people with a disability that means that they cannot use the keyboard. [Read More...]

Why not make the iPhone more Accessible?

Peter Abrahams, Bloor Research — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 06:00:00 +0100

The iPhone, out of the box, is not very accessible but with a bit of imagination and technology it could become a must-buy for people with a variety of disabilities. [Read More...]

Tricerion and accessible picture passwords

Peter Abrahams, Bloor Research — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 06:00:00 +0100

Replacing passwords with pictures may be more secure but it could be less accessible. Tricerion has a solution that can be used by all. [Read More...]

Accessible website navigation pt3

Peter Abrahams, Bloor Research — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 06:00:00 +0100

Being able to navigate around a web site easily is important to all users but for people with disabilities getting to the required information with the minimum number of clicks can be critical to the usability. Part 3. [Read More...]

Accessibility Conferences

Peter Abrahams, Bloor Research — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 08:00:00 +0100

There is a constant stream of accessibility and disability related conferences it seems to me to be useful to have a blog listing these. [Read More...]

Accessible website navigation pt2

Peter Abrahams, Bloor Research — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 06:00:00 +0100

Accessible website navigation pt1

Peter Abrahams, Bloor Research — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 06:00:00 +0100

Vasco provides accessible security to an Italian bank

Peter Abrahams, Bloor Research — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 06:00:00 +0100

IntesaSanpaolo needed to improve customer security and continue to support their customers with disabilities; Vasco had the solution. [Read More...]

When is an accessible PDF accessible?

Peter Abrahams, Bloor Research — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 06:00:00 +0100

Documents produced by the standards bodies are not as accessible as they should be. Looking at one particular document suggests changes that should be made. [Read More...]

Talking websites improve accessibility and sales

Peter Abrahams, Bloor Research — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 06:00:00 +0100

Making it easy to listen to a website opens it up to people with a variety of disabilities. But it also makes it more attractive to everyone else, so improving sales. [Read More...]

Standards must be accessible

Peter Abrahams, Bloor Research — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 06:00:00 +0100

Documents produced by standards bodies such as BSi, in the UK, and CEN in Europe are normally not accessible. Can there be any excuse and when will this change? [Read More...]

European e-Inclusion Awards 2008 - please enter

Peter Abrahams, Bloor Research — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 06:00:00 +0100

The European Union is becoming much more active in the e-inclusion arena. This latest award announcement could give valuable public exposure to organisations that take disability and accessibility seriously. [Read More...]

Lotus Symphony 1 freely accessible to all

Peter Abrahams, Bloor Research — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 06:00:00 +0100

Lotus Symphony is IBM's implementation of Open Office and is freely downloadable. As it is also accessible it will be attractive to many users with disabilities. [Read More...]

Accessibility and process and control - a response to a blog

Peter Abrahams, Bloor Research — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 06:00:00 +0100

Your business should have an accessibility policy and it needs IT processes and controls to ensure the policy is supported and adhered to by projects of all sizes and flavours. [Read More...]

Accessibility is imbedded in trustworthy computing at Microsoft

Peter Abrahams, Bloor Research — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 06:00:00 +0100

Microsoft's commitment to accessibility can be seen by its position in the organisation's hierarchy alongside security, privacy and reliability. [Read More...]

Mindjet Connect boosts accessibility

Peter Abrahams, Bloor Research — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 06:00:00 +0100

Mind maps are an excellent communication media for developing new ideas. So the latest version of Mindjet that enables collaboration amongst multiple participants is a winner, especially for anyone who finds travelling a challenge. [Read More...]

European Standards on ICT Accessibility : report on phase I

Peter Abrahams, Bloor Research — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 06:00:00 +0100

The European Union (EU) is developing standards for the procurement of accessible Information and Communication Technology by public bodies. Phase 1 is nearing completion what does/will it contain and mean? [Read More...]

Three inexpensive and essential investments for website commissioners

Peter Abrahams, Bloor Research — Thu, 29 May 2008 06:05:00 +0100

Whenever we buy or commission anything we do not need to be an expert but we do need to know the right questions to ask . Here are three documents that any website commissioner should invest in to be able to ask the questions. [Read More...]