Scott has been with Media Access Australia for over two years, and earlier in 2010 moved back to Western Australia where he is a Project Manager involved in some very exciting projects.
What have been a few of the highlights of 2010 for you in your area of access?
- More built-in accessibility, like the iPad
- Free open-source assistive technology becoming popular like NVDA
- Accessible computing becoming more common and more affordable
Netbooks have virtually halved in price over 2010, and that’s made computers much more affordable to everyone. While Windows-based computers have become cheaper, the main accessibility problems with Windows have been fixed with the large take-up of Windows 7 and its built-in zoom and new on-screen keyboard, along with free open-source NVDA screen reader which has rapidly increased in popularity.
What was one of the challenges faced in your area in 2010?
Trying to let people know that the free accessibility tools are there. A lot of people still believe that the only solution for accessibility is to spend thousands of dollars on assistive technology, when in many cases what’s now built into a computer, or downloadable for free, will do the job.
Do you see accessibility improving in 2011?
Absolutely, partly due to the increased inclusion of accessibility in off-the-shelf products, and also particularly in Australia as the National Broadband Network gathers pace and the accessibility issues around that begin to be addressed.
What’s your top pick for a gift with accessible features this festive season?
I’d go for a cheap Netbook with Windows 7 as the OS along with the free NVDA screen reader. Price would be around the $200-$300 mark.
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