which program in Linux?

[Janina Sajka]

Hi, Gregory:

Oh, you didn't do anything wrong with how you referred to "standards."
You appeared to use the term in the way that I would expect most people
think of it. I am sensitive on this because I work on standards
development. There are standards that are approved following the
rigorous processes of some standards body such as ANSI, or ISO, or even
our own FSG. Usually, these include conformance testing and
certification of conformance, together with indemnity. Steep stuff.

Organizations like the W3C and DAISY do not create standards in the same
sense. In fact, the W3C carefully avoids using the word, and calls it's
technology "recommendations" and "guidelines."

Then there's the very loose way that the term is used--if enough people
do a particular thing, then it's a "standard." This last definition
rankles me, because it's all about mussle and market dominance. Yet,
those who own these technologies love to call them "standards," because
the term conveys the aura of respectability and independent, unbiased
approval of some standards body. I particularly dislike sharing the term
with companies who dominate without necessarily meeting user needs and
whose technology cannot be improved by user action.

An iso standard, an FSG standard, or a W3C or DAISY recommendation can
be improved. Anyone who wants to participate can, though doing so with
ISO is rather expensive. At least there's a process for addressing
issues. There is no such process with proprietary technologies. It's all
about getting the ownder to change things--and hoping that they'll do a
decent job of it.
Gregory Nowak writes:
> 
> 
> > ----- Original Message -----
> >From: Janina Sajka <janina at rednote.net
> >To: "Speakup is a screen review system for Linux." <speakup at braille.uwo.ca
> >Date: Wed, 7 Sep 2005 10:19:39 -0400
> >Subject: Re: which program in Linux?
> 
> >Hmmm, I would say we painted very similar pictures in fairly different
> >ways. The only real disagreement I see is in how we use the word
> >"standards," and that's an issue very much peripheral to the present
> >discussion.
> 
> 
> >				Janina
> For the sake of clarity, is anyone up to the task of defining "standards" as it applies to this thread? No, since I fear I wouldn't do an adequate job, I'm not volunteering (grin).
> 
> Greg
> 
> 
> 
> 
> >_______________________________________________
> >Speakup mailing list
> >Speakup at braille.uwo.ca
> >http://speech.braille.uwo.ca/mailman/listinfo/speakup
> 
> 
> >!DSPAM:431ef701288522044811595!
> 
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Speakup mailing list
> Speakup at braille.uwo.ca
> http://speech.braille.uwo.ca/mailman/listinfo/speakup

-- 

Janina Sajka				Phone: +1.202.494.7040
Partner, Capital Accessibility LLC	http://www.CapitalAccessibility.Com
Bringing the Owasys 22C screenless cell phone to the U.S. and Canada. Go to http://www.ScreenlessPhone.Com to learn more.

Chair, Accessibility Workgroup		Free Standards Group (FSG)
janina at freestandards.org		http://a11y.org