Notice how Lynx is not mentioned in the article.  Perhaps it ight be
because it cannot be sold, hence no press releases or people pushing stories.

kelly

>From PC magazine


   Internet

   Equal Opportunity Web
   New tools tackle old problems facing disabled computer users.


   (3/26/97) -- Tens of millions of disabled Americans now have access to
   cyberspace with the help of an assortment of new tools that use speech
   synthesis, keyboard alternatives, and other technologies to address
   visual, auditory, and motor impairments. These tools allow computers
   to talk, magnify, and translate text into Braille. There's even a new
   tool called Microsoft Active Accessibility for Java, which makes Java
   more accessible to disabled computer users.

   Graphical Nightmare
   Though Federal laws, such as the Telecommunications Act and the
   Americans with Disabilities Act, mandate that computer systems be
   accessible to people with disabilities, few actually are. That's
   because the digital revolution of the late eighties to the
   mid-nineties has emphasized ease of use, which translates into
   less-text-based environments in exchange for better looking graphical
   ones.

   The move began with the advent of Windows and accelerated with a slew
   of graphical applications for accessing the Web's hypertext interface.
   Until recently, this trend has been at odds with the needs of the
   disabled, 27 million of whom are visually impaired and can't make use
   of .gifs and .jpegs or "Shocked" Web pages.

   All that is changing. People with visual impairments who want access
   to the Internet now have options. Various programs enlarge, magnify,
   or alter information on screen so it's more readable. Other tools
   print text into Braille using Computer Braille Code (CBC), which
   precisely transcribes terms relating to computers.

   Talking Browsers for Visual Impairments
   Web pages can also be converted into speech. One such program is
   Web-On-Call Voice Browser, which allows users with only a phone to
   access Internet or intranet sites without a computer or modem.
   Disabled users can navigate via a phone's keypad and request Web site
   contents in the form of pre-recorded audio clips or request to have
   text-to-speech synthesis read to them. Users can even send the
   contents of a Web page via fax, e-mail, or postal mail.

   Productivity Works' approach to the talking Web browser is a little
   different. The pwWebSpeak browser is designed for those who want to
   access the Internet but can't use a keyboard or monitor and for those
   who are blind or visually impaired. The software translates the
   contents of a Web page into speech via a speech synthesizer. Users can
   navigate a document based on its contents, such as headlines,
   paragraphs, or sentences, rather than scroll down a screen display.

   CompuServe is soon planning to integrate a similar Windows-based
   screen-reading program into its service. The software, called JAWS for
   Windows (JFW), is from Henter Joyce, a company that provides access
   for people with disabilities.

   Keyboard Alternatives for Motor Impairments
   Motor disabilities, which can restrict mouse movements or keyboard
   typing, are the most common types of impairments. There are several
   programs available that deal with varying levels of motor
   disabilities. Some programs enable people to "type" using a pointing
   device or their voice. Technologies such as word and phrase prediction
   require fewer keystrokes and allow computer users to type more
   quickly. Trackballs and touch screens are also viable solutions.

   Visual HTMLboard, from Adaptive Computer Systems, combines some of
   these technologies to let disabled users create their own Web pages.
   Through the help of an on-screen keyboard and any word processor or
   text editor, users can create hypertext documents without using the
   actual keyboard. Visual HTMLboard uses arrow keys to position and
   apply HTML tags.

   Guidelines for Web Developers
   Paul Fontaine of the Center for Information Technology Accommodation
   offers a few basic guidelines for Web site developers who want to
   maintain sites that are accessible to the disabled. These include:
     * providing associated text for graphic images;
     * providing text transcriptions or descriptions for all audio clips;
     * providing alternate schemes for online forms;
     * limiting the use of proprietary extensions, which can make Braille
       translation difficult.

   As the Web grows, the World Wide Web Consortium, the international
   organization charged with developing common standards for the Web, is
   making its position on Web accessibility clear: "All the protocols and
   languages we issue as recommendations should meet or exceed
   established accessibility goals. In addition, we will actively
   encourage the development of Web software and content that is
   accessible to people with most disabilities."--Angela Hickman
   Copyright (c) 1997 Ziff-Davis Publishing Company.