New Media

New ITunes 8 software features improved accessibility

Thursday, 11 September 2008 10:05

The worldwide release of the new Apple iTunes 8 software has incorporated new accessibility features, designed to make it easier for people with disabilities to listen and download popular media.

Read more: New ITunes 8 software features improved accessibility

Google improves Gmail access for older web browser

Monday, 08 September 2008 16:48

Google, the world’s largest Internet search provider, has recently taken the unusual step of addressing access issues in its Gmail web-based e-mail package for users of Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 (IE6)

The update provide IE6 users with access to popular Gmail features which were previously only compatible with more recent browser offerings, such as Internet Explorer 7, Firefox 3 and the new Google Chrome.

The update has the potential to significantly benefit people with disabilities, who often rely on older web browsers to maintain compatibility with their assistive technology software. In Australia,  Further information can be found on the CNET News website.

Google launches ‘Chrome’ web browser with little accessibility support

Wednesday, 03 September 2008 11:34

Google, the world’s largest Internet search provider, has entered the highly competitive web browser market with Google Chrome.   Designed to speed up web searches and inspire application development, it has been produced as an open-source beta product which means that the Internet community itself can contribute to the browser’s ongoing development.

Read more: Google launches ‘Chrome’ web browser with little accessibility support

The Asus Eee Box: the start of a low-cost desktop revolution?

Thursday, 21 August 2008 17:16

Towards the end of 2007, Asus released a low-cost, ultraportable laptop called the Eee PC.  This was based on the One Laptop Per Child program which focused on providing school students in developing countries with the essentials in portable computing: the ability to access the Internet, write documents and communicate with other classmates.  Asus observed that this concept wasn’t limited to school students, but in fact a majority of people who bought fully-featured laptops only used them for the same basic purposes.  The Eee PC now numbers in its millions, with many other manufacturers including Hewlett-Packard, Dell, Acer, Lenovo and MSI all releasing their own version of what has now become known as the ‘netbook’.

Read more: The Asus Eee Box: the start of a low-cost desktop revolution?

In-flight internet access begins mainstream rollout

Thursday, 21 August 2008 10:27

The first mainstream wireless in-flight Internet service has been launched by American Airlines on 15 of its Boeing 767-200 aircraft.  Aircell, the company behind the ‘Gogo’ Internet service, will provide basic web browsing an e-mail facilities on several trans-continental routes.

In order to connect to the Internet, passengers will need to have their own computer or electronic device with wireless capabilities and pay $US9.95 or $US12.95 depending on the length of the flight.   Several other United States-based airlines have pledged to roll out the Gogo service before the end of the year. Australian airline Qantas is currently trialling the product.

The mainstream uptake of in-flight Internet access has great potential for disadvantaged Australians by providing a choice between the existing in-flight entertainment system and a user-customised accessible computer with Internet access.

Further information can be found on the CNET News website.

Accessible airline entertainment system tested

Tuesday, 12 August 2008 11:01

As part of WGBH’s National Center for Accessible Media’s project looking at the accessibility of airline inflight entertainment systems, a prototype has been tested that is designed to work for vision impaired people.

The system is designed by Panasonic Avionics Corporation and demonstrates an accessible interface, user-selectable captions, selectable fonts, video description, and talking menus.

Lee Huffmann from the American Foundation of the Blind (AFB) provides a comprehensive review of the system in the AFB publication Access World.

Visit the AFB Website for the full story.

MAA CEO joins founding board of ACCAN

Wednesday, 06 August 2008 11:16

The new voice in telecommunications for Australian consumers, Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) has been formed.  ACCAN is a single peak body representing the diversity of views among consumers of telecommunications services.

Alex Varley, Media Access Australia’s CEO, has joined ACCAN as one of the nine founding board members.  Whilst the organisation will not become operational until mid-2009, the transition arrangements with other consumer organisations, such as Consumers’ Telecommunications Network (CTN), and the governance, policy and operational directions of ACCAN need to be formulated. 

Read more: MAA CEO joins founding board of ACCAN

IBM and GW Micro join Accessibility Interoperability Alliance steering committee

Tuesday, 05 August 2008 10:39

The Accessibility Interoperability Alliance (AIA), a coalition of leading information and assistive technology companies dedicated to enabling developers to more easily create accessible software, hardware and Internet products, welcomes the addition of two new steering committee members: Doug Geoffray of GW Micro and Richard Schwerdtfeger of IBM.

Founding members of the AIA include large information technology companies such as Microsoft, Adobe and Novell, along with a host of assistive technology-specific companies. The expansion of the AIA is likely to provide additional focus on accessibility in consumer computing and Internet products. 

In Australia, many of the popular assistive technology products and resources in use have been created by AIA member organisations.

China Embraces Web Accessibility for Beijing Olympics

Tuesday, 29 July 2008 10:31

Several organisations including the China Disabled Persons’ Federation, the Beijing Organising Committee for the Olympic Games and the Internet Society of China have joined forces to launch an ‘Information Accessibility Action’ event, focusing on the accessibility of China- based websites covering the 2008 Olympic Games.

Read more: China Embraces Web Accessibility for Beijing Olympics

Laptops Overtake Desktop Sales in Australia

Tuesday, 29 July 2008 10:30

Laptop sales in Australia have now overtaken Desktop sales for the first time, with portable computers representing 50.3% of the market.  The boost in laptop sales if largely credited to the popularity of the ‘netbook’, a low-cost, ultraportable laptop made commercially popular by the Asus Eee PC.

Read more: Laptops Overtake Desktop Sales in Australia