I know that there is a lot of work going on in the field of smart vector
graphics or (SVG) as we like to refer to it.  I do not know of a screen
reader that makes use of the meta datta.  It is my understanding that
although searchable and edittable, the text is still imagery.

----- Original Message -----
From: "David R. Stong" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, January 13, 2003 9:20 AM
Subject: Re: Beyond the Blackboard (more)


Digital white board technology has been around for several years.
Microsoft (Writers Journal) and Apple (InkWell) are both developing
technologies that read handwritten text (written with a stylus) and
convert it to editable, searchable text. Current use is for taking
notes on a small laptop device. It seems a small step to have this
editable text, or text from a white board,  made 'harvestable' by a
screen reader. I hope the developers are kept aware of this need.

Images already can have metadata stored in them: keywords, copyright
information, and importantly- descriptions,  can be encoded in the
image file. One of the most popular graphic development software
packages, Photoshop, allows one to store this data in their images.
This data can be harvested by databases, and it is not stripped off
in Web browsers, so may even be searchable.

Does any one on this list know of any development in screen readers
that will enable them to read this info? Images with their own 'built
in' descriptions make so much sense.


--
David R. Stong
Microcomputer Information Specialist, Education Technology Services
Teaching and Learning with Technology
Information Technology Services
The Pennsylvania State University
225 Computer Building
University Park, PA 16802

Working for Universal Design:
http://tlt.its.psu.edu/suggestions/accessibility