Certification - September 2008 - (Page 19) ing in the metadata can render whole sections — or even the whole document — useless. What makes DAISY XML revolutionary is that it was built from the start with the visually impaired in mind. It was created to support proper metadata coding in the first place, and it can help users transition not only from text to audio, but from text to large print and even to Braille. According to the Microsoft Web site, the new “Save as DAISY XML” tool presents an opportunity for “organizations and independent software vendors to consider ways in which the technology may be employed to meet the needs of those not yet served by text-only or audio-only formats.” It also might impact industries such as insurance, health care and others that publish training manuals, as content could be more accessible to customers and employees, the site said. The American Foundation for the Blind estimates 10 million people in the U.S. are blind or visually impaired — and only about 15 percent use computers. Without even factoring in the tens of millions of people worldwide with reading or developmental disabilities, the widespread availability of DAISY could have a major impact not only on this community but on computer use in general. Other plug-ins for Microsoft Office products — such as PowerPoint — are said to be in the works. Fundamentally, the DAISY plug-in symbolizes a small shift in the IT industry from a focus on rapid development to one on usability and accessibility. Perhaps now that computer and Internet use are reaching high-penetration levels, the industry has the foresight to take a step back and work on improving quality and delivery. That’s not to say there’s been a mass movement, though. No other major software companies have released similar plug-ins in recent months. But Microsoft’s effort establishes precedence, and ultimately, it highlights the broader applications and implications of IT in our lives today. We’ll see whether the rest of the industry takes heed. 8 – Agatha Gilmore, agilmore@certmag.com September 2008 CERTIFICATION MAGAZINE 19
Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Certification - September 2008 Certification - September 2008 Editor's Letter Contents Data Stream Virtual Village Tech Careers Dear Techie Troubleshooting Academic Connection What We Like Look Ahead So You Want to Be an IT Major The Title Is Information Officer… Chief Information Officer Interface Network Administration: Working From the Ground Up Inside Certification Ad Index Endtag Certification - September 2008 Certification - September 2008 - (Page Intro) Certification - September 2008 - Certification - September 2008 (Page Cover1) Certification - September 2008 - Certification - September 2008 (Page Cover2) Certification - September 2008 - Editor's Letter (Page 3) Certification - September 2008 - Contents (Page 4) Certification - September 2008 - Contents (Page 5) Certification - September 2008 - Data Stream (Page 6) Certification - September 2008 - Data Stream (Page 7) Certification - September 2008 - Virtual Village (Page 8) Certification - September 2008 - Virtual Village (Page 9) Certification - September 2008 - Tech Careers (Page 10) Certification - September 2008 - Tech Careers (Page 11) Certification - September 2008 - Dear Techie (Page 12) Certification - September 2008 - Troubleshooting (Page 13) Certification - September 2008 - Academic Connection (Page 14) Certification - September 2008 - Academic Connection (Page 15) Certification - September 2008 - What We Like (Page 16) Certification - September 2008 - What We Like (Page 17) Certification - September 2008 - Look Ahead (Page 18) Certification - September 2008 - Look Ahead (Page 19) Certification - September 2008 - So You Want to Be an IT Major (Page 20) Certification - September 2008 - So You Want to Be an IT Major (Page 21) Certification - September 2008 - So You Want to Be an IT Major (Page 22) Certification - September 2008 - So You Want to Be an IT Major (Page 23) Certification - September 2008 - So You Want to Be an IT Major (Page 24) Certification - September 2008 - So You Want to Be an IT Major (Page 25) Certification - September 2008 - The Title Is Information Officer… Chief Information Officer (Page 26) Certification - September 2008 - The Title Is Information Officer… Chief Information Officer (Page 27) Certification - September 2008 - The Title Is Information Officer… Chief Information Officer (Page 28) Certification - September 2008 - The Title Is Information Officer… Chief Information Officer (Page 29) Certification - September 2008 - Interface (Page 30) Certification - September 2008 - Interface (Page 31) Certification - September 2008 - Network Administration: Working From the Ground Up (Page 32) Certification - September 2008 - Network Administration: Working From the Ground Up (Page 33) Certification - September 2008 - Network Administration: Working From the Ground Up (Page 34) Certification - September 2008 - Network Administration: Working From the Ground Up (Page 35) Certification - September 2008 - Inside Certification (Page 36) Certification - September 2008 - Inside Certification (Page 37) Certification - September 2008 - Inside Certification (Page 38) Certification - September 2008 - Ad Index (Page 39) Certification - September 2008 - Endtag (Page 40)
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