[OPLIN 4cast] OPLIN 4Cast #121: Screen Readers, Usability Testing, Election Info, AOL

[Bobbi Galvin]

*OPLIN 4Cast#121:
Screen Readers, Usability Testing, Election Info, AOL
*October 22, 2008


  /4casting technologies that could have an impact on public libraries.//
  **Now published every 4tnight!/

1. *Screen Readers* - The American Foundation for the Blind estimates 
that 10 million people in the US are blind or visually impaired and 1.3 
million are legally blind.  The increasingly graphic nature of the web 
has made it more difficult for people with visual disabilities.

    * Importance of HTML Headings for Accessibility
      <http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=AmUPhEVWu_E>
    * Things Just Got a Whole Lot Clearer . . .ZoomText 9.x
      <http://www.synapseadaptive.com/aisquared/zoomtext_9/zoomtext_9_home_page.htm>
    * JAWS for Windows
      <http://www.freedomscientific.com/fs_products/software_jaws.asp> 
    * Kurzweil 3000 for Windows <http://www.kurzweiledu.com/>

2. *Usability testing* - When building new web sites or applications, 
it's important to observe first-time users as they interact with the 
product.  With each usability test, you should identify concerns and 
collect quantitative data on user performance.  You should also 
determine how satisfied the user is and goals to make the product 
customer-friendly.

    * Usability.gov <http://www.usability.gov/refine/learnusa.html#lab> 
    * SilverBack - a new Mac app that systematizes usability testing
      <http://silverbackapp.com/>
    * Usability and Interface Design Books
      <http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2008/01/24/usability-and-interface-design-books/>
    * Usability testing slows down launch but speeds up success
      <http://lsvp.wordpress.com/2008/10/10/usability-testing-slows-down-launch-but-speeds-up-success/> 


3. *Election info, past and present*

    * Google Launches U.S. Voter Info Site
      <http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/google_launches_us_voter_info_site.php>
    * 'Net yields new dirty political tricks, means to fight them
      <http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20081021-net-yields-new-dirty-political-tricks-means-to-fight-them.html>
    * Voting America visualizes the history of US presidential elections
      <http://infodoodads.com/?p=460>
    * Memeorandum Colors: Visualizing Political Bias with Greasemonkey
      <http://waxy.org/2008/10/memeorandum_colors/>

4. *AOL is up to stuff*

    * AOL Quietly Launches One of the World's Biggest App Platforms
      <http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/aol_quietly_launches_one_of_th.php> 

    * MyAOL Frequently Asked Questions <http://dev.aol.com/myaol> 
    * AOL Sheds Yourminis Personalized Startpage
      <http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/10/21/aol-sheds-yourminis-personalized-startpage/> 

    * AOL Gives YourMinis Users the Post-Acquisition Blues, Shutters
      Service
      <http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/aol_gives_yourminis_users_the.php> 


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-- 
Bobbi Galvin
OPLIN Customer Relations & Support
P: 1-888-966-7546
www.oplin.org

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