Google for the blind.

[gfriedm1]

Anyone seen this one yet. its for the visually impaired. not really sure how someone who cannot see can use a computer, but this is interesting.

http://labs.google.com/accessible/

my sites rank much higher in this then they do in Google!

[Julie]

Screen readers.

[gfriedm1]

but how do you know where to click if you are blind?

[Julie]

When you hear it, you press on your keyboard. They have braille keyboards.

[JuggoPop]

On a pc you can try a basic version by going here:
Accessories > Accessibility > Narrator

(just tried it, it doesn't work... I may have to download a read screen reader for the days my eyes hurt.)

[Kalina]

Yeah I posted about it well before you grfriedm, http://www.v7n.com/forums/google-for...-impaired.html

[Johan007]

Originally Posted by Colleen

Yeah I posted about it well before you grfriedm, http://www.v7n.com/forums/google-for...-impaired.html

Actually I beat both of you to it on 07-21-2006, 11:38 AM

Originally Posted by gfriedm1

...not really sure how someone who cannot see can use a computer,

I hope this is not a “typical yank” view! Read section 508 becuase its the Law over there just like the DDA is over here in the UK. And gfriedm1 your site www.speaklonger.com breaks the Law!

Edit: There are laws for the rest of the world including Australia as I am aware of legal cases. As for Europe Single A compliancy is only a recommendation at present but check your legal office of your county.

[Johan007]

It must also be noted that the world “Accessible” is not only for the visual impaired as stated by Google.

They may not be able to see, hear, move, or may not be able to process some types of information easily or at all.
They may have difficulty reading or comprehending text.
They may not have or be able to use a keyboard or mouse.
They may have a text-only screen, a small screen, or a slow Internet connection.
They may not speak or understand fluently the language in which the document is written.
They may be in a situation where their eyes, ears, or hands are busy or interfered with (e.g., driving to work, working in a loud environment, etc.).
They may have an early version of a browser, a different browser entirely, a voice browser, or a different operating system.

Source: http://www.w3.org/TR/WAI-WEBCONTENT/

[010081]

haha this is great huh

[Webnauts]

Originally Posted by gfriedm1

my sites rank much higher in this then they do in Google!

It is still in a test phase so far I know. And if that is true, when they are done, your sites shall not rank higher there.

At least I check the first site of your signature, and it was not accessible. And that tool is planned to index only accessible web sites.

[Webnauts]

Google Accessible Search is a project from Google Labs. It looks like Google has recognized the need for providing their resources to the visually impaired, which also can apply to other handicapped individuals. Here are the contents of the FAQ:

Accessible Search FAQ

What is Google Accessible Search?

Accessible Search is an early Google Labs product designed to identify and prioritize search results that are more easily usable by blind and visually impaired users. Regular Google search helps you find a set of documents that is most relevant to your tasks. Accessible Search goes one step further by helping you find the most accessible pages in that result set.

How does Accessible Search work?

In its current version, Google Accessible Search looks at a number of signals by examining the HTML markup found on a web page. It tends to favor pages that degrade gracefully --- pages with few visual distractions and pages that are likely to render well with images turned off. Google Accessible Search is built on Google Co-op's technology, which improves search results based on specialized interests.

Why is Google offering this?

Accessible Search is a natural and important extension of Google's overall mission to better organize the world's information and make it universally accessible. Google Accessible Search is designed to help the visually challenged find the most relevant, useful and comprehensive information, as quickly as possible.

In the past, visually impaired Google users have often waded through a lot of inaccessible websites and pages to find the required information. Our goal is to provide a more useful and accessible web search experience for the blind and visually impaired.

How do you decide which sites are "accessible" and which are not?

Broadly, Google defines accessible websites and pages as content that the blind and visually challenged can use and consume using standard online technology, and we've worked with a number of organizations to determine which websites and pages meet those criteria. Our methods for identifying accessible pages and content are always evolving; Currently we take into account several factors, including a given page's simplicity, how much visual imagery it carries and whether or not it's primary purpose is immediately viable with keyboard navigation.

How can sites make their content more accessible to the blind?

Some of the basic recommendations on how to make a website more useable and accessible include keeping Web pages easy to read, avoiding visual clutter -- especially extraneous content -- and ensuring that the primary purpose of the Web page is immediately accessible with full keyboard navigation. There are many organizations and online resources that offer Website owners and authors guidance on how to make websites and pages more accessible for the blind and visually impaired. The W3C publishes numerous guidelines including Web Content Access Guidelines that are helpful for Website owners and authors. Broad adherence to these guidelines is one way of ensuring that sites are universally accessible.

©2006 Google Inc.

[Webnauts]

Originally Posted by gfriedm1

but how do you know where to click if you are blind?

Download a screen reader, close your eyes and try to navigate on our site.

If don't know where you can download screen readers, or you have no experience with them, view first our accessibility statement where you can find some valuable instructions.

[Webnauts]

Originally Posted by Johan007

Source: http://www.w3.org/TR/WAI-WEBCONTENT/

Johan007 allow me to add here some articles of ours about this issue too:

- Why accessibility is important to you
- The need for accessibility

[Webnauts]

Originally Posted by 010081

haha this is great huh

Excuse me for my ignorance, but could it be that you are trying to spam us here and elsewhere with you big and bold signature?

I am just asking, while as a own forum owner and mod in several very well known forums, and I am confronted often with that phenomenon...

[mit]

Why Google Accessible, Is Google.com not enough?

Regards,
AMIT VERMA

[gfriedm1]

colleen and John007. sorry was not trying to make a competition about Google Accessible, just trying to create discussion and further my understanding of Google.

when i referred to my sites, i did not specifically mean the ones in my profile.

John007, could you please explain what you mean when you say my site www.speaklonger.com is illegal?

[Johan007]

Originally Posted by gfriedm1

John007, could you please explain what you mean when you say my site www.speaklonger.com is illegal?

I do not create websites for the US market but I presume the fact your menu is only Accessible via Flash makes it fail to both Screen Readers and Google indexing. Without an alternative it fails Wc3 and would fail DDA if it was a UK site. All US web designers should be able to tell you if your site fails Section 508.

[gfriedm1]

but that is illegal? it might not meet standards, but is it really illegal? is there a penalty for it?

The speak longer page is for a specific group of people that will be accessing this page. it will not have much SEO for it, it is not meant to be found using Google. it is offline promotion that will correspond with the website.