ZDNET Bloggers write: Microsoft cements OpenXML standard with Daisy deal. Really? Cool, but how does a Daisy deal cement that broken "standard"?
Microsoft has cemented OpenXML as a standard by creating an open source plug-in for the Daisy Consortium enabling Word files to be used by the blind and those with severe dyslexia.
Now, actually they did not announce they created an open source plugin for the DAISY format. They said they would do so.
Have a look at the code hosted on Sourceforge. As we all expected, there is no. What they write is:
OpenXML to DAISY converter to convert WordprocessingML document to Daisy DTBook document.
and
Project Admins : openxml-daisyProject Admin, syedquiserahmedProject Admin
Developers : 3
Development Status : 1 - Planning
Intended Audience : Advanced End Users, Developers, End Users/Desktop, Non-Profit Organizations
License : BSD License
Sure, they will write something. After all it is trivial coding, that "save to Daisy" thing. Maybe we should think back to the good old ODF converter days.
As of 2007-05-21 06:56, this project is no longer under active development.
We won't take any bets on Daisy. Sure that project will be quite important for selling OOXML and for meeting the accessibility policy requirements of governments. Feel free to write your own ODF to Daisy converter over the weekend.
- Here you find the ODF Accessibility Guidelines from OASIS.
- Daisy Consortium
- Toronto White Paper Conclusion about OOXML
There are grave issues with respect to the accessibility of Office Open XML as a format and potential standard that should preclude its adoption at present. It may be the case that OOXML can be improved to ameliorate some of the more specific technical concerns, but it is most likely too late for the higher-level issues, especially those inherent in the process by which OOXML was developed. We suggest that energy would be better spent in the ongoing effort to improve the existing ISO ODF standard (with which OOXML would overlap and compete if it is adopted). In any event, decisions with respect to standardized document formats should be made in consultation with members of disability communities, disabilities experts and developers of assistive technologies, with universal accessibility as a core requirement as opposed to an ad hoc afterthought.
