apple's already working on this.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Rachel" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Sunday, August 05, 2007 1:10 AM
Subject: [VICUG-L] OP ED August 2007 Column (12)
Op-Ed<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
By Edward J. Heaton
August 2007 Column
iPhones and the Disability Divide
In all the hype about Apple's new and revolutionary iPhone, it seems
that one segment of the population has been ignored. As usual, it's
persons with disabilities.
The most revolutionary feature of the iPhone is supposed to be its
user interface, which consists of a touch screen. A touch screen
interface does not allow persons with limited mobility in their
hands, or persons who are blind, to use the iPhone. Early sales
estimates say that in the first weekend of sales (June 29 to July 2),
up to 750,000 units were sold. The effect of the iPhone is not just
limited to Apple products. According to Fortune Magazine's David
Kirkpatrick, "every other handheld device maker no doubt will
immediately start trying to imitate [the iPhone's touch screen interface]."
If this is true, then PWDs will really be in a hole. The debate on
whether iPhones should or should not be accessible has already
started on Apple user websites. There are two schools of
thought. The first is that if you are blind, why would you buy an
iPhone? The second is that one cannot determine who wants to use the
technology.
The iPhone was introduced in January by Steve Jobs. In the six
months since then, I have seen no disabled organization, such as the
National Association of the Blind, or any ADA-related group come up
with a position on whether or not the iPhone should be handicapped
accessible. Given the other serious issues facing the disability
community, I can certainly understand the oversight. However, given
the early and probably ongoing success of the iPhone, I think this
will become an issue as more companies attempt to either license or
come up with their own version of the Apple technology.
According to "Disability and the Digital Divide", a report released
in 2006 by RTC Rural, "[t]he most current data (October 2003) show
Internet use by fewer than 30% of those with disabilities over age 15
while more than 60% of those with no disability used the Internet at
some location." If people with disabilities are already using the
Internet half as much as people without disabilities, the iPhone will
only continue to swing the pendulum in the wrong direction.
What needs to be done? Organizations, such as National Organization
on Disability, and the American Association of Persons with
Disabilities, need to push for accessibility standards for all
devices that will use the iPhone technology. Currently, in America,
there are approximately 30,000 ATMs that are accessible to people
with low vision by the use of a headphone jack. Perhaps a similar
arrangement can be developed for the iPhone. This needs to be done
because of the other feature of the iPhone: that it acts as a true
mobile computer that allows consumers to surf the Web as if they were
at home on their own computer. The digital divide is already wide
enough. We need to ensure that it doesn't become the digital chasm.
VICUG-L is the Visually Impaired Computer User Group List.
Archived on the World Wide Web at
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VICUG-L is the Visually Impaired Computer User Group List.
Archived on the World Wide Web at
http://listserv.icors.org/archives/vicug-l.html
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Subscribe: [log in to unmask]
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