WATABulletin -- Fall 1998
Contents:
WebTV—Is it for You?
Tom Zeiler
WATA Information Systems Specialist
WATA recently purchased a WebTV Plus Internet receiver for evaluation. Connect one of
these "set-top boxes" to a phone line and a television set, and - voila! - you
can compose an e-mail message or browse the Web while simultaneously watching your
favorite TV program. A low sticker price (see sidebar), ease of use, and enhancements such
as automatic downloading of TV listings combine to make WebTV an interesting option for
anyone to consider when looking for an onramp to the World Wide Web. Our goal was to get
an idea of how usable WebTV might be for people with disabilities.
Not for everybody
In addressing specific issues of accessibility, the first thing we should note is that
WebTV is not going to become the system of choice for blind users anytime soon—voice
output of content is provided for a few situations (e.g., welcome messages and tutorials),
but no real accommodations for blindness are in place, and none are planned. Persons with
moderately low vision may find that they can get along well enough in the WebTV
environment, depending on the quality and size of their televisions. The system offers
very little in the way of user control over display elements, but great care has been
taken to insure that the transition from computer screen to TV set is a smooth one. For
example, fonts are rendered larger than they would be on a computer due to the assumption
that users will usually sit at some distance from a TV.
Navigation and text entry
Surfing the Web with a mouse click here and a mouse click there is, quite literally, out
of the question on a WebTV machine. Everything is done using either the handheld remote
that comes with every unit, or an optional wireless keyboard, which costs extra (see
sidebar). Where use of the remote is concerned, we feel that, so long as one can
manipulate a typical TV remote, navigation within and between Web pages at the push of a
button becomes, not just possible, but rather addictive. Text entry (for e-mail, online
forms, etc.) is a different matter, however. Here, the wireless keyboard will make life
easier for most users, as the only way to enter text using the remote control is by
selecting letters one by one from an onscreen keyboard. The wireless keyboard also
provides all of the functions available on the remote, so it can be used for navigation if
grip strength or fine motor control issues preclude use of the remote.
Adaptability
One of the drawbacks of the WebTV design is that there is no way for the consumer to load
adaptive software into the machine. Fortunately, it appears that these systems are fairly
adaptable on the hardware side of things. Earlier this year, we attended a conference on
Technology and Persons with Disabilities (CSUN ’98) at which Peggy Barker gave a
presentation entitled, "Access Strategies for WebTV." She discussed ways that a
variety of devices offering alternative input methods might be interfaced with a WebTV
receiver, including one—the Intellikeys adaptive keyboard by IntelliTools—for
which several overlays have been created with WebTV specifically in mind. [Note: the
original WebTV Classic receivers had a keyboard port in the back, but direct connection of
custom keyboards to the Plus models will require purchase of a special
adapter—available from at least one third-party manufacturer at a cost of about $35.]
For more information about the Intellikeys keyboard, contact IntelliTools at (800)
899-6687, or see their website at http://www.intellitools.com.
For more information about other possible adaptations for WebTV, see Peggy Barker’s
paper at http://www.atole.com/webtv.htm, or
contact WATA to obtain a printed copy.
Conclusion
Traditionally, one needed a full-blown personal computer system to access the Internet and
WWW from home, but a variety of competing low-cost devices and services are beginning to
emerge. We looked at the current market leader among these new
technologies—WebTV—and found that it could be an excellent, affordable solution
for individuals with certain kinds of functional limitations.
(Sidebar)
Pros and Cons of WebTV
Pros
–Inexpensive
–Relatively easy to set up and use
–Specifications comparable to a high-end PC system
Cons
–User must pay WebTV at least $10/mo, even if using a different Internet Service
Provider (ISP)
–Dedicated to e-mail and the Web (user cannot add functionality, as on a PC)
–Some Web functions are not offered (e.g. system will not run Java applets)
–Basic Costs (estimated, not including additional adaptations)
•Receiver — $150 for "Classic" ; $200 for "Plus"
•Internet Connection —$25/month if using Plus system or — $20/month if using Classic system or — $10/month + charges from user-selected ISP
•Wireless Keyboard — $50
Legislative & Policy Updates
Frances E. Pennell, J.D.
Policy, Funding & Systems Change Specialist
As of early November there was both good and bad news for users of assistive technology. Congress passed Senate Bill 2432, the Assistive Technology Act of 1998, which authorizes continued funding for Tech Act projects through Fiscal Year 2004. The Tech Act was due to "sunset" on Oct. 1, 1998 and passage of this legislation will allow states to continue their AT activities. However, Congress only appropriated $30 million for Fiscal Year 1999—an amount that is not sufficient to maintain all Tech Act programs at their existing levels. The bill’s sponsors had requested an additional $26 million. These dollars would have been used to set up loan programs and other financing mechanisms to help consumers purchase assistive technology. They also would have been used to stimulate research and development activities related to assistive technology. The National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research is in the process of sorting out the impact of the reduced level of funding. We’ll keep you posted.
Special education programs received a $500 million increase in funding in the Omnibus Appropriations Bill. The Bill Conference Report also includes a directive that the U.S. Department of Education publish final IDEA regulations by December 1, 1999. Draft regulations are available on the Web at http://www.ed.gov/offices/OSERS/IDEA/.
H.R. 4501 requires the Secretaries of Agriculture and Interior to conduct a study to determine how to improve access for persons with disabilities to outdoor recreational opportunities (such as fishing, hunting, trapping, wildlife viewing, hiking, boating, and camping) on federal lands.
Section 246 of S.1150, the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998, re-authorizes the Agrability program, providing up to $6 million per year for states to establish assistive technology programs for farmers with disabilities. More information can be found at http://www.reeusda.gov/agsys/agsyspp/agrabil/agrabil.htm.
Section 762 of H.R. 6, the Higher Education Amendments of 1998, authorizes the Secretary of Education to award training grants to universities to ensure that higher education faculty and administrators are adequately prepared to teach students with disabilities. The training grants will address topics such as distance learning, and the use of assistive and educational technologies. For more information, go to http://www.ed.gov/offices/OPE/PPI/Reauthor/.
Congress has not yet acted on any of the Patient Rights Bills, nor has it passed the Work Incentives Improvement Act, which would make it easier for people with disabilities on SSDI to keep their medical coverage under Medicare as they transition to part- or full-time employment. In spite of a bipartisan effort by the entire Washington delegation, Congress did not pass an amendment to the State Children’s Health Initiative Program (SCHIP) that would have allowed Washington to use SCHIP dollars to cover uninsured children living in families with incomes up to 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Level under Washington’s Medicaid program. Look for renewed efforts on these issues next year.
Copies of these bills are available at http://thomas.loc.gov/.
Did you know?
Debbie Cook, Director of WATA, was appointed to represent the American Council of the Blind on a national Advisory Committee established to assist the Access Board in drafting accessibility standards for electronic and information technologies covered by the Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1998. For more information, check out the Access Board’s website at http://www.access-board.gov/.
Calendar of Events:
" Communication Augmentation for Non-Speaking Individuals," a three-credit online course examining clinical issues of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) for children and adults — January 1999, Seattle, WA
An award-winning online course for professionals, families and consumers interested in clinical intervention strategies in AAC will be taught by Pat Dowden, Ph.D., Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Washington. For registration fees and information: Call Corliss Harmer of Educational Outreach at (206) 685-6463 or (800) 543-2320 and ask about registration for either SPHSC (Speech and Hearing Science) 453 or REHAB(Rehabilitative Medicine)458.
Disabilities Legislative Reception — January 20, 1999, Olympia, WA
This reception brings together citizens with all kinds of disabilities and their legislators. Everyone interested in disability issues is invited to attend and participate. It will be held at the Holiday Inn, 2300 Evergreen Park Drive, Olympia from 6 – 8 p.m. For more information please call the Developmental Disabilities Council at (800) 634-4473.
Technology and Persons with Disabilities, CSUN’s Fourteenth Annual, International Conference — March 16-20, 1999, Los Angeles CA
A comprehensive international conference where technologies across all ages, disabilities, levels of education and training, employment, and independent living are addressed. For more information, contact the Center on Disabilities, California State University, Northridge, 18111 Nordhoff Street, Northridge, CA 91330-8340, or visit their Web site at http://www.csun.edu/cod or email at Itm@csun.edu.
For a more up-to-date schedule of events please check http://wata.org/highlights/calendar.htm