Shockwave Auto Updates; Should Flash Do The Same?

With all the recent news about the latest Flash security hole, one has to wonder:

Should Flash have an optional auto update feature?

Since Flash MX allows users to get updates to Flash while authoring, why not make this option available to users viewing Flash content? As Macromedia's Director Technotes indicate, the Shockwave Player has an auto update feature which is configurable by the user; the Flash Player does not have an auto update feature.

With the launch of the MX product line we have seen Macromedia strive (and for the most part succeed) to integrate and homogenize their products. Both Flash and Director, for example, can use the Flash Communication Server. Does this homogenization among products mean that the next version of the Flash Player will have an auto install--making it more like the Shockwave Player--, or can we expect to see the Shockwave Player's auto install feature disappear?

Accessibility: What Is It And How Does It Affect Developers?

You've probably been hearing the word accessibility used a lot in the last year or so. I hear and see the term thrown around a lot on the Web, and it appears as though there is a lot of confusion about what accessibility is, and how it affects multimedia developers. Let's start with a definition:

Website Accessibility: The ability of people with disabilities to access Web content.

In other words, how easily can people with disabilities access the information on your Website?

Time for a quick reality check. People come to your Website because:

a. the site has a cool Flash animation
b. the site has attractive graphics
c. the site uses cutting-edge technology
d. the site has information, products or services which users want

The correct answer, of course, is d. Given this fact, doesn't it make sense to design the site so that as many people as possible--including those with disabilities--can easily navigate the site and get the information they want?

Recent legislation (Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1998) requires that all federal departments and agencies make their information technology accessible to people with disabilities. This means that software purchased by the government must be accessible, and that all digital content (Web pages, multimedia presentations and the like) produced by or for the Federal government must be accessible. Thus developers doing work for the Federal government must follow the guidelines layed out in Section 508, and insure that their work is accessible.

While Section 508 does not apply to privately funded projects, all developers should nonetheless be aware of accessibility issues, and strive to create accessible projects whenever possible. In the future, we can expect to see accessibility legislation which affects more of the work we do, such as projects created for state governments.

What does it mean to have an accessible Website?

Accessibility is often defined as whether a system can be used in a variety of ways that do not depend on a single sense or ability. For example, using "alt" tags for all of your images will ensure that users with screen readers or users viewing your site with graphics turned off will still be able to "see" your graphics. Another example of accessible Website design has to do with the use of acronyms and abbreviations, both of which present challenges to screen readers. The Minnesota Electronic and Information Technology Accessibility Guidelines state that the tags "ABBR" and "ACRONYM" should be used, as in the following example taken from their Website:

< ABBR title="Minnesota">MN < ACRONYM title="University of Minnesota">UMN

The content within the tags will not be visible on the Website visitor's screen, however it will be read by screen readers.

How do you know if your Website is accessible?

Two sites which will check a Web page for accessibility are Bobby and Wave. After you enter a URL, they check the page for accessibility, and display the results. Wave even has a bookmarklet which you can add to your Favorites menu, so that you can check the accessibility of any page currently loaded in your browser. [Note: at present I prefer Bobby, which I find to easier to use and understand. Also, Wave produced JavaScript error messages for all of the pages I checked, including cnn.com and barnesnoble.com.]

What are some sites with good info on accessibility?

Every developer concerned with accessibility should visit the Web Accessibility Initiative section of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) Website. Some other accessibility resources of interest to developers:

• Section508.gov


• Guide to 508 Standards


• IT Accessibility Resources


• Website Tips (lots of tutorials, info and links on accessibility and Website design)


• Creating Accessible Web Pages With DHTML (Microsoft)


• Flash MX Accessibility


• UW Trace Research and Development Center


• World Wide Access: Accessible Web Design (University of Washington)


• GigaLaw.com: Overview of Federal Guidelines for Website Accessibility
  
• UWSP Guidelines for Website Accessibility

Director's New And Improved Scripting Window

I've just started exploring Director MX, but I already like the new Scripting Window. In addition to the options which were present in previous versions (Go to Handler, Comment, Uncomment, etc.), there are also new features such as Inspect Object, Line Numbering, Auto Coloring and Auto Format.

Want Line Numbering turned on only in certain scripts? No problem. Director MX lets you turn Line Numbering, Auto Coloring and Auto Format on or off in each of your scripts.

Now if I can just figure out how to use the Flash Communication Server with Director MX...

Director MX: More Talkative Than A Trained Parrot

Check out Macromedia's technote on Director MX Text-To-Speech Functions. Developers can now create accessible content without using screen readers or other assistive technologies. Using the Director TTS engine is easy. Copy and paste the following in the Message Window of Director MX, then hit ENTER:

voiceSpeak("Gribble's Blog is the best!")

And while we're on the subject of new Director features...if you've purchased Director MX or downloaded the trial version, you may have seen the new Message Window. It now features two panes, an input window and an output window. If you've ever coded a movie which outputs text to the Message Window, you will appreciate the way the Message Window works in MX. Previously, if the movie was running while you were typing text in the Message Window and one of your scripts' "put" commands executed, the put text would be inserted wherever the cursor was located. With the two pane Message Window, developers can be outputting text in the bottom pane while entering text in the top pane which they want to execute. More examples of new Director MX features to follow...

Marriott to add Wi-Fi in 400 Hotels

InfoWorld has reported that Marriott plans to add Wi-Fi (high-speed wireless) Internet access at 400 hotels in the U.S., the U.K. and Germany. The new service will compliment Marriott's current in-room wired high-speed access, and will provide access in hotel lobbies, meeting rooms, restaurants and other public spaces in their hotels.