It’s Like Open Mic Only Different
Here’s how it works.
It’s like any rambling conversation. Don’t try to read it all. Jump in whenever you get here. Just go to the end and start talking. EVERYONE is WELCOME.
The rules are simple — be nice.
There are always first timers and new things to talk about. It’s sort of half “Cheers” part “Friends” and part video game. You don’t know how much fun it is until you try it.
With Guest Host Glenda Watson Hyatt
Watch Glenda’s Video From SOBCon09
How POUR Is Your Blog?
Blogs need to be Perceivable, Operable, Understandable and Robust.
- Have you ever tried working without your mouse?
- Are your tags written for readers who can’t see the pictures they mark?
- Does content work across all operating systems and mobile devices?
- How can you put your community at the center of your blog?
Join us tonight and bring links and your questions to add to the discussion.
The rules are simple — be nice.
Do be nice. 🙂
–ME “Liz” Strauss
Related article
What is Tuesday Open Comment Night?
Hi Liz!
Wow just saw you message at FB
The video is great you look stylish
Glenda who? 😉
Hi Suzie, thanks!
Hey Joe. 😉
Did you have a chance to try TextAloud?
GLENDA! I’m here but from my iPhone… So this could be interesting. 🙂
am i on the right page? this is great Blogs need to be Perceivable, Operable, Understandable and Robust.
I will have to see how my keyboard works
and my blog is probably totally unaccessable
Hello all, trying to stay awake enough to benefit from this tonight.
Hi Amy! Hmm, accessibility of the iPhone, another great topic.
Yes Suzie, you’re on the right page. So, how POUR is your blog?
Glenda, I looked at the site and read their specs but haven’t bought it.
So far, Zamzar seems to work for me (and it’s free). 🙂
Suzie, you are definitely on the right page and don’t forget to download Glenda’s ebook on POUR at http://www.doitmyselfblog.com/2009/how-pour-is-your-blog/
Hey everybody!
I’m home and alive!!
Welcome Bean, good to have some back up. My thumb could be a stub by night’s end.
Hey Liz, welcome home!
Maybe you need to assess it for me.abundancehighway.com prbably very pour as it has gremlins from too many plugins etc
My new ones should be better
http://lawofattractioninaction.tv and http://divinedeliberateattractor.com
iPhone is inaccessible to me, my shaky fingers slide and wiggle all over that touch screen. I need specific keys with ridges to help hold my fingers in place
iPhone is not all that accessible!
Joe, I’ll check out Zamzar. Which voices do they use?
Glad you are home safe and sound and ready to rock Liz.
Off topic a bit, but it’s about food…
Had London Broil, Corn and Mac salad.
Best of all had Toasted Marshmallow’s for the first time in forever! 🙂
(Back to topic)
Oh, did I mention that it was all on the GRILL? 😉
Bean, my hands aren’t all that shaky and it still isn’t all that easy. Glenda tried typing on mine at sobcon. She did better than I do, didn’t ya Glenda? 😉
re the iPhone – Des just sent me this cool link http://www.mobileuserexperience.com/mexdesign/?p=120
I think it could benefit many, particularly if its customizable.
Hey Liz. Didn’t know you were gone. Sorry, I’m like 20 comments behind! 🙂
Amy, yes, using the iPhone was tricky, so small.
Glenda, I’ve just used the default “guy” voice. I guess cause I’m a guy.;-)
They do have a paid version with more choices, but you know me, I’m like a bird… cheep, cheep, cheep! 🙂
Joe, your first roasted marshmallow? Congrats! Next step: smores!
Joe, cheap but not easy, remember that!
🙂
Expense is an important consideration. There are some very expensive tools on the market to help make our sites more accessible. Thank goodness there are also a number of free and low cost services available as well.
#16 Suzie, yes, many plugins can be a problem in terms of accessibility. Plugin developers are another group I’d love to work with.
So, I am curious what to people see as the biggest obstacles in ensuring that their blogs are accessible as possible?
Knowing what the obstacles are?
Captioning video and images?
Reading levels?
working with different media devices? or…?
Good evening everyone! Second week in a row I made it! 😉
Bean, which tools do you like?
Thanks for that link Glenda! Say, when is your jury duty???
Glenda, how do you get the text within the videso? Is that a part of TextAloud?
Welcome Christa, I’m glad you made it.
Hi, I’m pete, just poking muh nose in to see what I can absorb. I wandered about at Glenda’s site yesterday? day before yesterday? well, read about POUR, downloaded the ebook for a hopefully-soon restart at blogging. Thanks for pointing out the accessibility issues.
@Bean just going to do that
@ Liz where have you been. i must let you know someone has requested you a a person to be heard on my LOA talk show!
http://budurl.com/LOAtalkshow this is the survey
Bean, captioning other peoples videos is hard for me. I usually have someone do it for me, because it is so frustrating.
Glenda is our new rock star! So tell us, Glenda, how has your life changed lately?
Amy, I played my “physical infirmity” card for jury duty.
I will be honest I haven’t found tools that really rock my world yet. Part of it is probably my schedule is so booked that dealing with the learning curve of several tools is daunting. It is part of the reason that I am here today, to learn more about tools that others are using and work for them.
#37 Joe, I use Camtasia to add captions to videos. Its tedious but very necessary!
Glenda, you cheated! Hehehe. No jury will take me. It’s kind of funny.
Bean, what kind of tools are you looking for?
#44 Bean, I’m in the same boat. I’m just now getting into the content sharing stuff after having been mainly familiar with blogs and Twitter… and only because they fit client needs…
Glenda, I find it tedious just making my stupid little weekly vids, that’s why I include the outline I started with. So people can read what the vid is about instead of listening to me. 😉
I was looking over my notes from SOBCon and I thought someone had a free captioning option other than the new feature at You tube but I can’t remember it nor read my own writing!
Check out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRS8MkLhQmM for a great example on the importance of captioning videos
#42 Li, much more action on my blog!
The other night I was thinking: if you ask me to present next year, how the hell am I going to top this year?
I’m amazed by how hungry bloggers are for this information!
Bean, I sometimes use overstream.net. You might want to check it out. Karen told me about it a while ago.
Hi everyone
Hi Darrell,
How’s our Glenda these days?
“You are posting comments too quickly. Slow down.” ha!
Hi dear, err, Darrell!
Links! Where are the Links to all these great things???
Ok, I’ll start Zimzam For free text to voice up to 100MB
Has anyone used MAGpie http://ncam.wgbh.org/webaccess/magpie/
Are you two sitting next to each other typing? Hehehe
Sorry that Zamzar, 🙁 but the link will work!
Amy, thanks for stepping in with overstream.net. There’s also CaptionTube in beta – has anyone tried it yet?
Bean I tried but couldn’t figure it out :-/
Amy, no, we are in our separate offices!
So Glenda,
What three things should everyone know …
#54 she is fine, working hard but is seeing the big picture.
Darrell, Glenda,
Two offices … you’re rich in real estate!!
No Glenda I haven’t tried that yet.
Darrell,
Do you see anything changing?
There are several nifty free toolbars for testing accessibility, links are in my ebook available at http://www.doitmyselfblog.com/2009/how-pour-is-your-blog/
will work through ebook- have to go will be back later
Hi Darrell
Greetings all
#68 I think (my thought only)she has a clearer vision of what she wants. She is great
Great observation, Darrell!
Hi Darrell! Give Glenda a hug for me. I am going through Glenda withdrawal. 🙂
Hi Kevin! Welcome!
I’m at Minneapolis airport awaiting plane & internet not working well. Bye until next week, sorry
#64 Wow, that’s such a broad question, Liz.
1. Be aware that not everyone uses the computer the same way.
2. People perceive info in various ways. Make info available in different formats or so that your readers can easily convert into different formats.
3. The more your readers have control, the more access they have.
Miss you too, Amy!
Glenda, one of these days I’m gonna come visit! Then you’ll be sorry 🙂
Glenda,
You’d never be sorry if Amy came to visit. We know that.
What are your burning questions about blog accessibility? What limitations are you facing in making your blog accessible?
Personally, I’m finding the blog’s theme has a great impact on accessibility (or inaccessibility), yet not all bloggers know [or want to] muck about with their theme, and some platforms lock out bloggers from their themes.
I would teach Faith all kinds of new games 😉
Amy, you’re most welcomed any time!
#glenda is Thesis compatible as I am shifting to that as is @deswalsh
#81 I would agree with that, Glenda. I want my WP theme to reflect readers, and it does, and I do worry that a more generic theme would bore them or not get them visually stimulated to want to stick around. If you’re Chris Brogan you can use Thesis because you have such a wide audience, you know?
At the same time, there are a lot of former cops with disabilities so… I can’t really say “my readers don’t have disabilities.” Maybe the active ones don’t. But how can I say there are no retirees reading?
It’s a very fine line to walk, anyway.
Glenda, I have trouble with editing code to fix anything beyond font color or size. I have to get people to fix things frquently after I break them. The theme does make a difference. Might help if I knew more about code 😉
Amy, a game besides “paper”? Yippee! Ah, here she comes! See if I can play paper and host open mic night. Talk about multi-tasking!
Glenda, what are some of the specific tools people use to ACCESS or try to access sites on the web?
Knowing that may help in finding programs to assist in accessibility.
#84 Suzie, I haven’t looked at Thesis theme yet. Apparently its very customizable but I don’t know how accessible it is. I’m curious to hear more tho.
I would like to try out a reader that blind folks use so I can hear what they hear. (Wonder if I’ll be able to hear it?) What do deafblind folks use?
I think it would be helpful to know what to fix if I could experience what they experience.
it is the simplest one I have seen so far, Des think better than Revolution etc
It is very clean as well as customizable
Christa, excellent point – you never know what disabilities your readers may have. And, with more seniors online, vision and mobility impairments are an issue.
it is unfortunate that many themes will advertise as being XHTML and CSS compliant but I have never seen one promoted as being accessible. Wonder what would happen if we started asking that question on theme forums and comment sections?
The actual accessibility varies a lot across themes. I think that is due to ignorance about the importance and what it entails. It is often much more efficient to create an accessible theme than it is to modify an existing one.
Thesis is user friendly to a point. But you have to be a better coder than I am to fix certain things.
I like the Thesis dashboard, but I’ve never had to live with it.
#88 Joe, people with disabilities use a range of assistive technologies from text-to-speech screen readers, magnification programs, onscreen keyboards, various switchs, sip n puff devices and the list goes on.
Time for me to go. Thanks and good night Glenda and everyone 🙂
#90 Amy, people who are deafblind would likely use a refreshable Braille display.
Night Amy
Thanks for coming and contributing, Amy!
#93 I hear ya on that, Bean!
#96 That’s part of the problem for me Glenda, where to start!
I think there are a lot of us who WANT to be fully accessible, but don’t have any idea what direction to go in to achieve that.
Night, Amy!
Thanks for iphoning it in!!
It sounds like how people with disabilities use computers and finding or creating accessible themes are big issues. Any other blog accessibility issues?
Glenda,
What worries you most about accessibility and the future?
#102 Joe, so would a step-by-step guide that led you through the process help?
Joe,
A good place to start is with the toolbar links that Glenda mentioned earlier and provides in her e-book
“There are several nifty free toolbars for testing accessibility, links are in my ebook available at http://www.doitmyselfblog.com/2009/how-pour-is-your-blog/”
That will give you a good idea on where the obstacles to accessibility are on your blog, then you can create a plan to correct.
A step by step guide would be appreciated by a lot of people, I bet.
You didn’t have enough on your to-do list Glenda!
Glenda, yeah, but I think it would be quite a big book to explain ALL that needs to be done?
Liz,
The web began as text-based, which most people could access. But now more and more mediums and aps are being added, which are shutting out people. Rather than being more inclusive, its becoming more exclusive. In a time when the web is more necessary for education, work, and entertainment, accessibility needs to be in the forefront.
#108 Bean, it is on my mind…
#110,
Glenda, that’s what I’m seeing too. I’m working with a special education company that’s worried about the same things.
#109 Joe, if I could simplify the process, would that interest you?
Exactly, Liz. As Karen said, with all of these videos and podcasts, she is worried her kids will be shut out and become more isolated.
Yes Glenda, it would. And probably about a million other Bloggers who want to reach everyone interested in their content. Words, Video, Audio everything.
Joe, check out http://www.workinfonet.bc.ca/webaccessguides/accessguide/index.htm for a starting point. Its not blog specific though – that’s in the works!
Hey all! Klondikes already passed around?
“about a million other Bloggers” – that would be awesome, Joe! 😉
Hi Brooke, help yourself to a klondike bar!
Have I missed answering any questions?
Glenda,
You’re being fabulous!!
Thank you Glenda! I am trying to catch up myself!
#114
Glenda,
I’m with you I want us all to get the most out using the web, It’s an awesome tool for connecting our minds and our hearts with meaning.
Thanks Glenda, ironically, the print is too small to read on the PDF version. Guess I need glasses.%-)
So true, Liz. Thank you so much for opening SOBCon and your blog to this topic. The first step is to create an awareness for the need for accessibility.
Oh sorry, Joe. Which pdf? What size font is comfortable for you?
I agree that awareness is the all important first step. Kudos to Liz for the platform and Glenda for being the rockstar with the message
PDFs are another accessibility issue. For some, PDF = pretty darn frustrating!
The link you just gave me for the Access guide.
Thanks Bean! 😉
Sorry to be late to the party. Have you talked about seesmic yet
Hi Larry,
Nope, no Seesmic conversation directly.
Joe, is the html version better? I believe the text sizing is relative so you can enlarge it.
I think we are a connected as we want to be. We have the technology. It is a matter of who you want to speak with, and why, isn’t it?
Hi Larry, what are your thoughts about Seesmic?
Are we in a tech talk, or why we want to talk to other people and what is the benefit to us?
Seesmic is an awesome technology that makes this conversation live. Actually Liz I went to a demonstration of this technology and this guy would be a great guest on your show. He is fabulous and adds another element to the conversation.
No, I don’t use seesmic
Yes Glenda, it is better, but it is only the table of contents. gotta click the link to see the contents and back to get to the next chapter.
Not complaining, just an observation. 😉
Hi Larry, we’re talking about accessibility so that everyone can participate in the conversation.
Philippe Lejune, I am sure I spelled his name wrong. Anyway he uses this reaching out and discussion genre and takes it to an art form. For instance he gathered all the talk about one subject and put it into a grid and you could mouse over the conversation based on the static image and see what each person had to say about the same subject. It was fascinating.
And for me a time suck I can’t afford, damn work.
Larry,
I’ve got a couple of good friends at Seesmic. They are doing some awesome things. I wish we’d all get our head around the power of communicating boldly. I love you for bringing that forward.
Joe, the navbar on top doesn’t do it for you?
Glenda, this is total accessability and therefore to me totally distracting. I am not promoting seesmic, I don’t even use it.
Larry, yes, there are many distractions online!
Larry #134
“I think we are a connected as we want to be”
I have to disagree, at least speaking for myself. I feel that I miss out on a lot of content that is only available on audio and video.
Glenda, this is the only navbar I see in the HTML
[Skip] [Contents] [Glossary] [References]
Not chapter to chapter.
Glenda, I just watched your Viddler presentation, awesome. There are so many ways to communicate and I am totally with you now. As I mentioned, I just jumped in. Sorry
I am struggling with all the disparate groups I need to communicate with and how to distribute the content. I use a variety of tools that seem to work against each other. For instance today I was using FriendFeed and somehow got all my FF links directly texted to me. Yikes. Who needs a direct FF link on your cell phone?
NO problem, Larry. Everyone is welcomed!
Accessibility is fascinating to me. In the old days you had to call someone. You spoke to one person. Now you post something and people from around the world can read and comment. It is amazing and the single most communication altering change.
Joe, if I correctly recall, the next chapter is provided in the navbar – or it SHOULD be. 😉
Larry,
The first time I talked to deaf mom via email, I asked her to call me. She said, “Yeah, have the deaf woman call you!!”
Bean, you mentioned you are feeling left out. Sometimes we just have to do other things and need to walk away from all the connections. Like some child who really needs to use the bathroom, but doesn’t want to leave the playground.
I think the more important thing to consider is who do you want to talk to, listen to and why. Do that, ignore the rest.
Yes, Larry, it is amazing! And, you are touching upon an interesting point – accessibility means different things to different people.
Glenda, Bean, Larry,
I like being able to walk away, BUT I want it to be my choice.
Liz, I have a similar story. I was sent to a house to gather a testimonial. The company was a utility, I had worked with them for years. They sent me alone. They wanted me to take pictures of the woman saving electricity. She was blind, she never used the lights. The company never checked it out.
It turned out wonderful because the woman had such a great sense of herself. We, together came up with an idea that told the story.
Glenda, do you have a blog I can follow?
#153 Larry, but if you can’t hear the conversation or can’t speak, its difficult to participate. That’s where accessibility comes in.
#155 Most definitely, Liz! 😉
This is only my second visit to open mic, what I love about it is that it is different than other conversations, tweets, plurks and the like. It is so civil. I am going to be quiet and listen for a while. I am feeling a bit like the loud mouthed boy who doesn’t shut up. I have much to learn.
Bean, do you have any last words of wisdom on accessibility? 😉
Larry,
You add so much to the conversation. No loud mouth ideas coming from your direction.
#158 So right Glenda, accessibility is different when you are limited in some physical, technological or emotional manner. And yet, I do think we find our peeps, so to speak. Limitations abound, but for some the task is more daunting. What can I do to help?
Liz, thank you it is true, it is about choice and it is also about getting work done. If I need to research something, and I have to go through 15 links to find that information that is text based that is frustrating.
I encounter it most on news sites but also from a lot of people that I respect and want to learn more from. It wasn’t so bad when video/audio were treated as a bonus but more and more it is being used as a substitute for text.
The more ways that you choose to share your content with your potential audience, the more people that will be able to benefit from your content.
The more ways that you choose to share your content with your potential audience, the more people that will be able to benefit from your content.
People are only loud mouths when they talk without listening. Questions are welcome here.
Glenda, I am a storyteller. My lot in life is to gather and share. This is what I mean when I ask what can I do to help others who feel accessibility is a hurdle. Frankly, to me, you seem to be a beacon of light in this realm. I am so pleased to have come in tonight.
and Liz has created such a safe and welcoming place to ask questions and to discuss varying view points.
Thank you, Bean. Well said, perfectly stated ethic of this site!
Wise words, Liz! 😉
Glenda,
I took them directly from Bean!
#164 Bean, a shudder of recognition went down my spine when I read this. You are so right that video is taking the place of written material. I bemoan this myself even though my living is based on the video side. Our research shows that the more intelligent, or higher up in the corp world you are, the less likely you are to watch a video. I so hope I am not dumbing down the world. Drat, another worry. hehe
Sorry bad thunderstorm just rolled in, I need to log off.
Thanks Liz and Glenda and everyone else that participated tonight.
Thank you, Glenda!
You’ve been fabulous and you’ve made tonight so valuable.
Good night, Bean!
Thanks for ooming!
Liz is the greatest.
Thank you, Larry. I can imagine your stories are rich and valuable to those who hear them. By presenting those stories in various formats, such as by adding captions to videos, more people can enjoy your stories.
#177 Glenda, thank you so much for realizing I need to, and can do more. I appreciate this counsel. Every time I come here I learn. Thank you again.
Bean, thanks for coming!
Larry, feel free online grab my ebook at http://www.doitmyselfblog.com/2009/how-pour-is-your-blog/ for more on blog accessibility.
Thanks for joining us tonight.
When we write our own little ditties
Or try our best with audios quit pithy
Along with Videos with sounds to be heard
Not everyone can hear, not nary a word
Although we want all people to join us
Not everyone can get on the community bus
I’m glad there is Glenda and Bean around
And Deaf Mom and our Liz to make me a clown
And realize that even some of our very best friends
To hear us or see us or read our words depends
On how we present our presents to them
So they can enjoy what we give without making amends.
Burma Shave
Nite Liz
Nite Glenda
Nite All
[Wonder if Joe will be back with a poem. I’m curious to see this one.]
Thank you for putting on this open forum Liz and Glenda! I have saved notes and with your ebook, Glenda, and these I can at least do a much better job with my reconstruction.
Glenda,
Joe will be back for sure. He won’t let you down.
Thank you so much Glenda, Ijust signed up to read your blog. I appreciate your ebook. Stretching ourselves each day to learn more is it’s own reward. Thank you Liz for all you do for our community. PS. I am due in Chicago next month for a shoot, I hope we can meet up>
Ah, I spoke too soon.
Good one, Joe. Thank you. And thank you for “getting it”!
G’night Joe.
Hi Pete!
Thanks for letting us know you’re getting something of value.
G’night folks, take care!
Good night, Joe,
Sleepy swell!
Thank you everyone for participating tonight. It has been a great conversation. I felt I was able to answer some questions that perhaps I didn’t answer at SOBCon.
And thank you Liz for giving space for this issue.
I’m going to go put my thumb on ice now!
Glenda,
As always you were outstanding and successful. Thank you!
Thanks Liz, I truly appreciate you providing the forum in which I can share my passion.