Not just for the visually impaired…

“While screen readers are commonly used by those with visual impairments, they are likely to become more popular in other web-based scenarios, such as for those who want to access information while they are driving or doing something else that prevents them from actually reading a screen (Duckett, Jon 2010; p421).”

Issues of accessibility need to be addressed (see the next paragraph), but I hadn’t actually thought of the very plausible scenario described by Duckett,

In the leadup to the Sydney Olympic Games, a case against the Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games was brought before the Human Rights And Equal Opportunity Commission relating to the accessibility of the Sydney2000 website. Full text is here—see Section 2 ; and commentary (probably a little easier to read) is here.

I’m pretty sure the decision in Maguire’s favour gave a jolt, if needed, to web developers/designers, and I wonder if enhancements are on the way for screen readers, if they do become more widely used?

Julie

References

Duckett, J. 2010, Beginning HTML, XHTML, CSS, and JavaScript, Wiley, Hoboken, N.J.

H 99/115 Bruce Lindsay Maguire v Sydney Organising Committee For The Olympic Games (2000). 2012. H 99/115 Bruce Lindsay Maguire v Sydney Organising Committee For The Olympic Games (2000), viewed 22 May 2012, http://www.hreoc.gov.au/disability_rights/decisions/comdec/Maguire%20v%20SOCOG3.htm.

Olympic Failure: A Case for Making the Web Accessible . 2012. Olympic Failure: A Case for Making the Web Accessible , viewed 22 May 2012, http://www.tomw.net.au/2001/bat2001f.html.