Re: lynx-dev The Importance of Lynx

[Philip Webb]

980711 Kelly Ford wrote: 
> This list seems to be development oriented
> so I hope you'll excuse a slightly off topic message.

i'ld say this is not at all off-topic: user feedback is essential.

> Every so often this or that media organization seems to get the idea that
> they should write an article on the internet and folks with disabilities.
> Some of these articles are good but the majority either paint a picture of
> complete horror or find some person with a disability who's a complete
> technowiz and set that up as the model.  As someone who spends a great
> amount of time teaching people with disabilities, particularly those that
> are blind, I know for certain that reality is someplace in the middle.

the press love to exaggerate for effect.
there is also a general gross ignorance among the media
about the whole World of free software.

> Anyway, it seems that another media organization is writing about the web
> and folks with disabilities.  This time it is the Wall Street Journal and
> if an article actually comes of the 45 minutes I spent talking to a
> reporter I'll assuredly provide the address.

any opportunity to publicise Lynx & freeware generally should be taken.
since WSJ charge for access, you should probably forward it whole.

> My conversations caused me to again think what a genuine treat Lynx is.
> It is by far my first choice in web browsers
> and I just wanted to say thank you to everyone
> who has a hand in keeping this software alive and moving forward.
> I wonder if you know what a difference you make in the lives of many people.
> I for one am deeply appreciative that Lynx is out there.  Thank you to all.
 
one of FM's motivations when he was an active developer was
to help the disabled.  also, LE -- who used to use a screen reader
& now uses a magnifier -- has contributed a couple of important improvements
to Lynx during the past  18 months , being a very experienced C programmer.
the whole Lynx enterprise is a volunteer co-op, people doing what they can:
maybe WSJ could use us as a new management paradigm ... (smile).

-- 
========================,,============================================
SUPPORT     ___________//___,  Philip Webb : address@hidden
ELECTRIC   /] [] [] [] [] []|  Centre for Urban & Community Studies
TRANSIT    `-O----------O---'  University of Toronto