Hi all,
Good post, Saqib. You're absolutely right. What is being obscured
here is the effect of the product upon the community. Here are some
hard, cold facts, folks.
One: Microsoft has a strangle hold on any mainstream employment
possibilities for the blind. Any mainstream company is going to be
using Windows and Windows software for its employees. This means that
those who are lucky enough to get jobs, the thirty percent of us that
is, will have to use Windows unless you are in a situation where you
run your own busines, or you don't have a mainstream job or you are
unemployed.
Two: This means that FB has got to market itself to the 70% of the
blind community which doesn't need Windows or at least doesn't need a
Windows Browser.
Three: The problem with marketing to this segment of the population
is that there isn't enough money to rub two gold coins together.
So, what has got to happen is that the product has to be marketed to
The Whole Community, as much of the population as can possibly be. In
other words, you've got to use universal design and design something
that is going to appeal to many people.
If FB were assured of a stable, large, enthusiastic market, then
releasing the code might not be such an issue. <sigh> Let's see if
we can help and not hinder this project. It sure works better than
MSIE with either JFW or WE! And you're right, Igor, Gnome isn't ready
for prime-time yet. <smile> Maybe this here browser's existence will
spur them onto complete their task.
Ann P.
--
Ann K. Parsons
email: akp at eznet.net
WEB SITE: http://home.eznet.net/~akp
"All that is gold does not glitter.
Not all those who wander are lost." JRRT
