I have just discovered that Scott Sigler now requires the passing of an inaccessible visual CAPTCHA in order to post comments to his Infection podcast. This disappointing move means that blind and visually impaired people are no longer allowed to fully participate in the exchange associated with his unique podcast novel experiments. Scott’s podcasts are associated with Adam Curry’s Podshow network. If Podshow provides the blogging platform and the inaccessible CAPTCHA that goes with it, then this “no blind people allowed sign” would represent yet one more area in which the company has not yet delivered on its public pledge of making accessibility a core part of the Podshow DNA going forward from last November’s Portable Media Expo and Podcasting Conference.

Shownotes

Karen survived the Infection! Yay! Is she the only one who will make it? Only Scott Sigler knows. Listen to the previous show for context on that issue. Just a short 30 minute update on our frantic wedding preparations, erands, packing, etc. Check out our Wedding Journal blog for more details mostly in text form. Check out some assorted pics of Karen in her wedding gown and us together outside our apartment. We’ll make sure to get these cleaned up with descriptions added. This link really isn’t intended to be prime time at all. Browse at your own risk…

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I am ecstatic to report that WebBraille has been returned to service! The following information has been provided by Judy Dixon, Consumer Relations Officer at NLS.

The Web-Braille site is now available! Access to Web-Braille was temporarily suspended because NLS became aware of copyright violations. NLS has taken several steps to prevent such problems in the future. Two are noted below.

Users will be required to accept an agreement describing the appropriate use of downloaded material each time a volume of Web-Braille is accessed. In addition, NLS has instituted a monitoring procedure to track all access to the Web-Braille system.

As these enhancements are refined, users may observe some web site behavior that may seem unusual. We very much appreciate your patience while the Web-Braille system is undergoing these necessary modifications.

Will Windows Media Player 11 be more accessible than Apple’s horribly inaccessible iTunes de-facto standard? Will it ultimately provide us blind users the ability to purchase, download and use legal content alongside our sighted peers? Please download Windows Media Player 11 Beta and let us all know how it is working with screen readers.

Thirty-three-year-old Christine Workman could lose her house. She was simply kicked to the curb (thrown away like yesterday’s newspaper) by her employer due to her visual impairment. This article is just one of many examples that demonstrate all the reasons we must improve social attitudes regarding blindness, insist on the accessibility of critical technology and insure the enhancement and continued availability of the alternative transportation services we must have in order to participate in the world around us.

Article from Edmonton Sun, Canada on 5/18/2006
by KERRY DIOTTE
Submitted by BlindNews Mailing List
[BlindNews: News About Blindness]

Looks like there may be some light at the end of the tunnel with respect to the accessibility of these visual authentication cards and devices.

Article from ThomasNet Industrial News on 5/15/2006
by
Submitted by BlindNews Mailing List
[BlindNews: News About Blindness]

Shownotes

Oh, wow! Look out! We’re back with another joint podcast! This time Karen and I chat for an hour and a half about an incredibly wide variety of topics. It is T minus 17 days and counting down to our wedding on June 3! Here are some links you definitely ought to think about checking out…

• Sign the petition asking NLS to restore Web-Braille!
• Infection – A podcast novel by Scott Sigler
• Security Now with Steve Gibson and Leo Laporte

There’s a lot happening in our lives right about now, so it may be awhile before you all can get another fix of Karen and I podcasting together. Hope you enjoyed the show. Please feel free to send along feedback on this blog, by e-mail to editor (at) blindaccessjournal.com or by phone to our comment line at 206-350-6925.

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Please, everyone, sign the Restore Web Braille Petition asking the National Library Service to restore this vital service to us without delay.

We think we’ve got problems with visual verification now? Watch out! In the future, those of us whom happen to be blind and visually impaired may find it virtually impossible to do business online. Credit cards may soon incorporate a visual display. The mineature screen will display a random number which must be entered in order to successfully complete transactions. Absolutely nothing is stated concerning alternatives for blind customers. Read the article entitled One Time Password DisplayCard heightens transaction security – Engadget and let us know your thoughts. This technology, without alternatives, surely represents a clear and present danger. Please provide any available information on what steps may be put in place to enable our continued ability to do business.

In light of Google’s successful implementation of an audio alternative to word verification, the Google Word Verification Accessibility Petition has now been closed. Over 4,700 concerned blind and sighted Internet users signed this petition. We thank everyone for their support on this critical advocacy project. This petition was hosted free of charge by Petition Online. This excellent service deserves our support. Please consider making a donation to support the continued operation of Petition Online.