Kelly et al,

I'm not sure of how widespread this trend is, but I do know that my
local library is switching from a Jave-based product to an HTML
product. Don't know if it's Web Pac/iPac - I'll have to look.

The reasons the staff gave included better download times and being
responsive to user complaints about having to download Java plug-ins.
In some places, there's also growing awareness of accessibility issues
and usability issues.

Regards,
Audrey

Audrey J. Gorman
Access for All

> Thought I'd share this here.  Anyone know the story behind this?  A
quick
> web search shows that this iPac seems to be pretty popular with
libraries.
>
> Kelly
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Kelly Ford" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Thursday, January 16, 2003 9:52 PM
> Subject: [webwatch] A Change For The Positive http://www.kcls.org
>
>
> > Hi All,
> >
> > How many times have any of us went to a favorite web site only to
read
> that
> > soon it will be new and improved.  Personally my first thought is
sure but
> > what will that mean for accessibility?
> >
> > This evening I was pleasantly surprised when I went to
> > http://www.kcls.orggg, the web site for the King County Library
System
> here
> > in Washington.
> >
> > The library catalog listed a new method of access called iPac and
> indicated
> > it was replacing a java-based version known as WebPAC.  I was never
> > successful at getting WebPAC to work in any fashion with a screen
reader.
> >
> > Thankfully the library does offer a telnet version of the catalog
but it
> > does not offer all the same features as the web version.
> >
> >
> > I thought I'd give this new iPac a test and what a nice surprise.
While
> it
> > isn't perfect, it is very functional with several screen readers.
The
> > interface uses a series of basic web pages with a relatively low
amount of
> > navigational clutter.  Edit boxes do not use labels but because of
page
> > layout the screen readers I tried (JAWS and Window-Eyes) are able
to give
> > indication of what to enter in most cases.
> >
> > Again iPac is not perfect but it is definitely a step in the right
> > direction.  Perhaps those in the know with respect to what's
happening in
> > libraries know if this is a common trend or not.  I did notice that
the
> > Seattle public library at http://www.spl.org also uses iPac.
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Kelly
> >
> >
> > To Post a message, send it to:   [log in to unmask]
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> >
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> >
> >
>

Audrey J. Gorman
Access for All
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