[nabs] FWD: [leadership] Google Survey to Better Understand Computer Usage and Technology Patterns in the Blind Community

Thu Aug 18 13:35:55 EDT 2011

I hear your frustration, and I think that most of us share them to some 
extent or another.  And of course each of us as individuals have to make 
decisions on how we'll spend our time, especially those of us who are 
students with all of the other life responsibilities that you listed.  I 
hope I didn't imply that anyone's time isn't valuable.

A friend recently visited with our Congressman, and he told her that he 
listens when real people speak up and write or call him on issues as he 
doesn't have time to personally research them all.  Similar to that, 
Google can't make things better if they don't have any input on what 
needs done.  Yes, this survey may seem like too little too late to some, 
but again I'll piont out the ADA.  Though it was only passed in the 
early 90's, it's done some good.  Though I definitely don't mean to 
imply that it's solved everything.  I'll be the first to criticize it.  
But the precedent is there, and that's what this survey will hopefully 
serve for the blind community with Google.  ACB didn't spend it's time 
and money on helping Google develop this survey if they didn't believe 
that it would have results.  The leaders of ACB didn't sit down to talk 
with people from Google just because they thought it would be fun to see 
what people do online with their screenreaders.

On 8/18/2011 12:17 PM, Carly Mihalakis wrote:
>
>
>
> Good morning, interested folks, discussing the GOOGLE survey,
>
> 'Seems filling out surveys to initiate action, may be akin to 
> calling/writing your Congressmen. Results are far from tangible ones, 
> if they are even effective.
> Car At 02:42 AM 8/18/2011, Andy B wrote:
>> To see no results in a forseeable future on the issue can be a little
>> problematic for people who have a life, family, overdemanding school 
>> work to
>> do, and actual work to deal with. I would want to know in Google's 
>> sincerity
>> that they are going to do something useful. How many times has people 
>> told
>> them about Google voice and gmail UI being broken for screen readers? At
>> least 4 years or more. Sure, they gave us the "screen reader users 
>> use the
>> basic html..." line, but consider that over 60% of the features standard
>> gmail has are excluded. I don't have the time to spend on a company that
>> doesn't listen. End of subject. Oh, I don't get involved in the "blind
>> persons wanting everything their way" theory.
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: nabs-bounces at acb.org [mailto:nabs-bounces at acb.org] On Behalf Of 
>> Laura
>> Glowacki
>> Sent: Wednesday, August 17, 2011 10:02 PM
>> To: Discussion list for NABS, National Alliance of Blind Students.
>> Subject: Re: [nabs] FWD: [leadership] Google Survey to Better Understand
>> Computer Usage and Assistive Technology Patterns in the Blind Community
>>
>> Everyone has a right to an opinion, but I feel that google has done 
>> an awful
>> lot to work towards accessibility, much more than yahoo or AOL have!
>>
>> Sadly, they won't just take our word for it that something doesn't work.
>> Things generally change do to money and money usually comes about 
>> because of
>> research.  Us taking our time to fill out the survey will help them 
>> learn
>> more about how we use assistive tech etc  They won't simply take Eric
>> Bridges' word, however good that may be.  They need proof and 
>> evidence to
>> show that it's worth spending the money and effort.  It's worth our 
>> time to
>> invest in our best interests long-term.
>> Where would we be if everyone requested immediate monitary 
>> compensation for
>> every single thing?  I have a feeling like the ADA, IDEA, and other 
>> such key
>> laws and legislation would have never come about.
>>
>> It amazes me that people think that accessibility just happens 
>> without any
>> effort on our part.  This isn't commentary about your email response
>> specifically, but I've always felt that it's an awful shame that most 
>> blind
>> people just don't realize the hard work that other blind people put 
>> in to
>> working with companies and working with legislators to make sure that 
>> these
>> things do indeed happen and are funded.
>>
>> Just my thoughts.
>>
>> Laura
>>
>>
>>
>> On 8/17/2011 8:15 PM, Andy B wrote:
>> > Sorry. I have better things to do. Besides, I really don't put much
>> > stock in "accessibility surveys" that companies like Google, AOL,
>> > Yahoo, Microsoft, and others might try and prod us blind/assistive
>> technology users to do.
>> > With the fact that Google in my mind not showing much of an interest
>> > in making things usable like everyone else can use them. Well... my
>> > rant. Off to do something else now. Oh, and with the survey being
>> > particularly "long", where is the paycheck to compensate for my 
>> loss of
>> valuable time?
>> >
>> > -----Original Message-----
>> > From: nabs-bounces at acb.org [mailto:nabs-bounces at acb.org] On Behalf Of
>> > Laura Glowacki
>> > Sent: Wednesday, August 17, 2011 8:41 AM
>> > To: Discussion list for NABS, National Alliance of Blind Students.
>> > Cc: Zack Olson
>> > Subject: [nabs] FWD: [leadership] Google Survey to Better Understand
>> > Computer Usage and Assistive Technology Patterns in the Blind
>> > Community
>> >
>> > Hi everyone,
>> >
>> > ACB and google are conducting a survey to find out more about how
>> > people who are blind or visually impaired use assistive technology and
>> computers.
>> > While the survey is fairly long, please find some time to complete it
>> > as it wilol provide valuable knowledge that can be used to assist
>> > companies like Google in better serving our community.  Please see the
>> > announcement below for more information.
>> >
>> > Laura
>> >
>> > -----Original Message-----
>> > From: leadership-bounces at acb.org [mailto:leadership-bounces at acb.org]
>> > On Behalf Of Eric Bridges
>> > Sent: Tuesday, August 16, 2011 7:14 AM
>> > To: leadership at acb.org
>> > Subject: [leadership] Google Survey to Better Understand Computer
>> > Usage and Assistive Technology Patterns in the Blind Community
>> >
>> > For Immediate Release
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > Contact: Eric Bridges
>> >
>> > Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs
>> >
>> > American Council of the Blind
>> >
>> > Phone: (202) 467-5081
>> >
>> > e-mail:  ebridges at acb.org<mailto:ebridges at acb.org>
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > American Council of the Blind and Google Conduct Survey to Better
>> > Understand Computer Usage and Assistive Technology Patterns in the
>> > Blind Community
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > ARLINGTON, Va., Aug. 16, 2011 -- Today, the American Council of the
>> > Blind
>> > (ACB) announced it will be working with Google Inc. to survey blind,
>> > visually impaired, and deaf-blind individuals to better understand how
>> > they use computers and assistive technology to access information.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > "Having access to information through the use of accessible technology
>> > is paramount in this day and age for education, employment and social
>> > networking. Many studies have evaluated how users generally access the
>> > Internet, but none have focused specifically on the experience of
>> > blind users," said Mitch Pomerantz, President of the American Council
>> > of the Blind. "We're pleased to collaborate with Google to develop and
>> > implement this survey, which will look at how blind users choose and
>> > adopt assistive technologies and how they discover new tools and
>> > information. Understanding the needs of the blind community is the
>> > first step to developing effective new ways of accessing 
>> information in
>> the cloud."
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > The survey, developed jointly by Google and the American Council of
>> > the Blind, will gather data about technology use and needs in the
>> > blind community. Respondents will be able to complete the survey by
>> > either telephone or web. Survey data will be used to better understand
>> > how blind users interact with the web, which assistive technologies
>> > they find most useful, and how they make decisions about whether to
>> > switch or upgrade tools.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > "At Google we're committed to making our products accessible and we're
>> > currently hard at work making improvements," said Alan Eustace, Senior
>> > Vice President of Knowledge at Google. "By connecting with American
>> > Council of the Blind members, we hope to gain valuable insight into
>> > how the blind use the Internet and how their needs are evolving with
>> technology."
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > The survey, which will run through mid-September, is available 
>> immediately
>> > at www.acb.org/googlesurvey<http://www.acb.org/googlesurvey>   .
>> Individuals
>> > who want to take the survey by telephone, please call 347-772-8355.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > About the American Council of the Blind
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > The American Council of the Blind is the largest consumer-based
>> > organization of blind and visually impaired Americans advocating for
>> > the rights of blind Americans. Comprised of more than 70 affiliates
>> > across the United States, the organization is dedicated to making it
>> > possible for blind and visually impaired Americans to participate 
>> fully in
>> all aspects of American society.
>> > For more information, visit www.acb.org<http://www.acb.org/>   ; 
>> write to
>> > American Council of the Blind, 2200 Wilson Blvd., Suite 650,
>> > Arlington, VA 22201; phone (202) 467-5081; or fax (703) 465-5085.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > ###
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > =========================
>> > Barbara Jackson LeMoine
>> > Public Policy Assistant
>> > American Council of the Blind
>> > 2200 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 650
>> > Arlington, VA 22201
>> > 202-467-5081
>> > blemoine at acb.org
>> > www.acb.org<http://www.acb.org/>
>> > Follow us on Twitter @acbnational
>> > =========================
>> > The American Council of the Blind is the nation's leading membership
>> > organization of blind and visually impaired people.
>> >
>> >
>> > _______________________________________________
>> > icb-l mailing list
>> > icb-l at icbonline.org
>> > http://www.icbonline.org/lists/listinfo/icb-l
>> >
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