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My field of study is Interactive Multimedia. I searched for an article relating to this area and the first one I found was about IBM's new "A-Browser" or "Accessibility Browser." This browser uses some of the technology in IBM's Easy Web Browser which helps blind users to surf with audio. The "A-Browser" is different because it helps the visually impaired see animation and streaming video. The user can change the sound volume, scrub through the video and a few other interactive actions previously not easily available to them. This is accomplished by using keyboard shortcuts instead of the mouse. IBM states it should be complete by the end of this year and available for free as open source.
I believe advancements in interactive usability is very important. Interactive Multimedia is a fairly new field. The web is becoming more personal every day. I believe people with disabilities are just as interested in online shopping and news as anyone else. They are this new market that no one has truly tapped into yet. With the creation of this browser, web design for people with disabilities can take a completely new interactive approach. I strongly believe that to have a successful site, you must cater the interface to the audience, not force them into a general and mass-produced design.
The benefits of this browser is not necessarily confined to people who are blind. The baby boomer generation did not grow up with technology like my generation has. As our world keeps forcing them to conform to digital photos and mp3 players, developers need focus some products on their technical abilities. They are a very large market with a lot of money. Some will never grasp blogging, html or java scripting. So creating products that make using the internet easier to understand will be very successful.
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2 comments:
I agree with what you say about the baby boomer generation, Companies could do well to make products for them. Though it may still turn out that the younger generation learns about the products and will have to tell them about it or show them how it is easier.
Keep up the good work.
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