Torbay Holdings Inc: Hewlett-Packard Website Now Selling Designer Appliances Inc's Products
Friday October 29, 9:26 am ET


MINEOLA, N.Y., Oct. 29, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- Torbay Holdings, Inc. (OTC BB:TRBY.OB - News) announced that all of the PC product options marketed by its wholly owned subsidiary, Designer Appliances Inc (DAI), are now sold from the Assistive Technology Section of Hewlett-Packard's (HP) Small & Medium Business website. Link:
Products displayed (http://h30094.www3.hp.com/searchresults.asp?store_id=19&search_id=190&dept_id=1170&dsc=I... on the site are the AirObic mouse, Left and Right, Onyx and Pearl, Nib Clickless software, as standalone software and with the mouse options that combine to make the Virtually Hands Free mousing system, plus the E-Quill-Well mouse mat. HP offers DAI products for sale to its website customers and will now purchase product from DAI against a resellers pricing schedule.

ADVERTISEMENT


Tom Large, President & CEO stated, ``HP demonstrate their commitment to the provision of Assistive Technology, in part, by offering other Vendor's Assistive Technology solutions to their customers. Currently we are the only, what we term, conventional and assistive technology mouse in this section. We were additionally pleased when HP opted to take not only the Onyx (black) AirObic mouse but also the Pearl (White) product.

``Our product design objective is to extend accessibility and so make interaction as productive as possible across as broad a spectrum of human variability as we can. We consider ability as being on a scale and not of a different league so we will assist those for whom our technology works and work on evolving technology to include those we might not yet assist. Our mouse products enable everyone by not requiring the use of muscles that can mostly likely become impaired, whether or not our users have full or limited use or control over them.''



For More Information Contact:

Tom Large
President & CEO
Torbay Holdings Inc
516 747 5955

tom@trby.com
http://www.trby.com
http://www.aerobicmouse.com

MWC, not sure what you mean by relative and dead money,many could say ALMI and others that ran were dead money at one time or another.Look at ALMI now.Good luck.

MWC ,uama Looking good,another nice pick by Rig!!

Rig, your UAMA looking good .13x..15 em

MWC, Agree,looks very good eom

Ragin' Ribs Announces National Account Relationship with Coca-Cola
Tuesday September 28, 7:30 am ET


TAMPA, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 28, 2004--Jim Cheatham, CEO of P.D.C. Innovative Industries, Inc. ("PDC" or the "Company") (OTCBB:PDCN - News), announced today that the Company has recently arranged with The Coca-Cola Company to provide product to Ragin' Ribs restaurants on a national scale.
"It is extremely important that Ragin' Ribs provides its franchisees with access to the best brands available," states Mr. Cheatham. "Coke is one of the world's most recognizable brands. It is an honor for Ragin' Ribs to be associated with such a reputable company."

Mr. Cheatham further states, "As an integral strategy of our national franchise roll-out program, our goal is to provide our prospective franchisees access to quality products that provide consistency on a national basis. Our commitment to our franchisees is to develop procurement relationships with national companies and brands that will enhance profitability and consumer satisfaction. As we are currently negotiating with several substantial potential franchisees, the Company is preparing itself for imminent growth."

About Ragin' Ribs

PDC's recent acquisition of Ragin' Ribs has placed the company at the beginning of a rapid growth cycle. A hot, new "Fast Casual" franchise, Ragin' Ribs, http://www.raginribs.com, is at the forefront of the fastest growing segment of the food industry, that being fast casual. Ragin' Ribs is an innovator in the exploding market of Home Delivery of quality meals. The Company's franchise system is professionally designed and meets all regulatory requirements. The franchise economic model targets for low investment cost and high returns. There is a strong management team in place with over 150-years experience in franchising and food service.

This press release contains forward-looking statements, which are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties and other factors as may be discussed from time to time in the Company's public filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("Commission"), press releases and verbal statements that may be made by our officers, directors or employees acting on our behalf which could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward looking statements and from historical results of operations. In addition to statements, which explicitly describe such risks and uncertainties, statements with the terms "believes," "belief," "expects," "plans," "anticipates" and similar statements should be considered uncertain and forward-looking. Factors that might cause such a difference include, without limitation: the uncertainty of the Company's ability to meet capital needs; competition within the fast-casual restaurant segment; the closing of projected franchise sales; and as further set forth in our public filings filed with the Commission and our press releases.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contact:
For P.D.C. Innovative Industries, Inc., Tampa
Hawkins & Associates
Gregory Hawkins, 813/854-3228



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: P.D.C. Innovative Industries, Inc.


Ema

P.D.C. Innovative Industries, Inc. Hires Contractor to Build Ragin' Ribs Restaurants
Tuesday September 21, 7:30 am ET


TAMPA, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 21, 2004--Jim Cheatham, CEO of P.D.C. Innovative Industries, Inc. ("PDC" or the "Company") (OTCBB:PDCN - News) announced today that the Company has hired Morris Construction, LLC from Tampa, Florida to provide contracting services for the Company's franchise restaurant roll-out.
"In preparation for our franchise roll-out program, we needed a company like Morris Construction to oversee the development and remodeling of our future Ragin' Ribs restaurants," states Mr. Cheatham. "Our restaurant economic model is developed where the ratio of expected annual sales to the turn-key cost of opening is between 3:1 to 5:1. To achieve this goal, our franchisee is searching for `retrofit' restaurant sites where the infrastructure, such as vents and hoods, are in place. We don't need an `A' location where rents are high. We need a location in the middle of our customer base where we can deliver, within a 3-mile radius."

Mr. Cheatham further states, "Low cost remodeling of existing restaurants is an acquired skill. Morris Construction has a long history of providing their clients with valued-added, low-cost retrofit capabilities."

Morris Construction, LLC is a Tampa-based company with over 35 years experience in engineering, contracting, and construction. Morris specializes in remodeling existing retail commercial properties. Morris has the ability to provide these services throughout the United States.

According to Robert L. Morris, Jr., "Our extensive experience in providing efficient remodeling in retrofit commercial retail environments is highly compatible with Ragin' Ribs development strategy. Participating as a member of the Ragin' Ribs team, particularly at the beginning of a substantial and dynamic growth, is very exciting for us!"

About Ragin' Ribs

PDC's recent acquisition of Ragin' Ribs has placed the company at the beginning of a rapid growth cycle. A hot, new "Fast Casual" franchise, Ragin' Ribs, http://www.raginribs.com, is at the forefront of the fastest growing segment of the food industry, that being fast casual. Ragin' Ribs is an innovator in the exploding market of Home Delivery of quality meals. The Company's franchise system is professionally designed and meets all regulatory requirements. The franchise economic model targets for low investment cost and high returns. There is a strong management team in place with over 150-years experience in franchising and food service.

This press release contains forward-looking statements, which are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties and other factors as may be discussed from time to time in the Company's public filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("Commission"), press releases and verbal statements that may be made by our officers, directors or employees acting on our behalf which could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward looking statements and from historical results of operations. In addition to statements, which explicitly describe such risks and uncertainties, statements with the terms "believes," "belief," "expects," "plans," "anticipates" and similar statements should be considered uncertain and forward-looking. Factors that might cause such a difference include, without limitation: the uncertainty of the Company's ability to meet capital needs; competition within the fast-casual restaurant segment; the closing of projected franchise sales; and as further set forth in our public filings filed with the Commission and our press releases.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contact:
Hawkins & Associates, Tampa
Gregory Hawkins, 1-813-854-3228



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: P.D.C. Innovative Industries, Inc.


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Sponsor Results

Press Release Source: Crazy Grazer


Chairman Rock Newman Takes to the Airwaves in Support of Left Right Marketing Technology Inc. and CrazyGrazer.Com
Tuesday September 28, 9:26 am ET
Chairman To Promote CrazyGrazer.com's October 1st Launch Date


LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 28, 2004-- Crazy Grazer LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Left Right Marketing Technology, Inc. (OTCBB: LRMK - News), announced today that Chairman Rock Newman will take to the airwaves to proactively promote the launch of - CrazyGrazer.com on October 1st.
ADVERTISEMENT


"Over my many years in the sports, business and the political world I have made numerous great friends and contacts within the media", noted Left Right Marketing Technology, Inc. Chairman, Rock Newman. "Leading up to CrazyGrazer.com's October 1st launch date, I plan to explain to the world why CrazyGrazer.com will change the way people view retail e-commerce sites."

Mr. Newman's media tour began last Friday in Las Vegas - the home city of CrazyGrazer.com - where he had an opportunity to speak to a number of top media outlets including: ESPN, Sporting News Radio and appear on a number of top broadcast sports and business shows airing in over 150 of the nation's top media markets. Over the next few weeks Mr. Newman and top LRMK executives have media trips scheduled to New York; Washington, DC; and Los Angeles, to promote the site's official October 1st launch.

"Rock has been a tremendous spokesperson for Crazy Grazer because he is so passionate and committed to helping build our world-class online shopping mall", said Left Right Marketing Technology, Inc. President/CEO Mick Hall. "Rock plays a vital role in our ability to deliver the message of CrazyGrazer.com to the masses."

At launch, CrazyGrazer.com plans to offer over 1.5 million different products in 16 categories. Additionally the site will offer a 24-hour hotline equipped with friendly customer care representatives available to assist consumers with all their shopping needs. For many CrazyGrazer.com's 24-hour customer care center will offer a welcomed alternative to automated directories and unfriendly service staff.

Additionally CrazyGrazer.com anticipates the placement of their first branded Public Access Shopping Kiosks in time for the holiday shopping season with the CrazyGrazer.com "In Room Hotel Shopper" and wireless communication initiatives scheduled to launch in early 2005.

Investors and LRMK stockholders are urged to read LRMK's annual report on Form 10-KSB and Forms 8-K, available free of charge on the SEC's website, www.sec.gov.

About CrazyGrazer.com

CrazyGrazer.com is a wholly owned subsidiary of Left Right Marketing Technology, Inc. (OTCBB:LRMK - News). CrazyGrazer.com brings the best brands together in a customer-friendly store environment featuring a 24-hour customer care center staffed with respectful, hard working, helpful service representatives, and not automated systems. CrazyGrazer.com is a company dedicated to building lasting, life-long relationships with customers.

About Left Right Marketing Technology, Inc.

Left Right Marketing Technology, Inc., (LRMK) traded on the Over-the-Counter Bulletin Board (OTCB: LRMK), owns and operates CrazyGrazer.com - a Nevada based e-commerce shopping mall (www.crazygrazer.com) - and has executed a letter of intent to acquire Neolink Wireless Content - a Los Angeles-based wireless broadcast company, currently operating two MobiTV (www.MobiTV.com) live television channels available to SPRINT PCS Vision cellular customers. In line with LRMK's vision, both companies are prepared to be ever changing and poised to respond to new developments in technology, unique product offerings and appeal to a diverse customer base.

Forward-Looking Statements: The statements in this press release regarding the company's overarching business plans, any opinions expressed about those plans, ESPN, Sporting News Radio and media markets, any benefits of the anticipated consumer impact from this announcement, anticipated perceptions of stock holders based on this announcement and financial forecasts and savings, the Company's future success, the Company's ability to take advantage of market trends, the success of e-commerce, future opportunities and any other effect, result or aspect of the transactions and any other statements, which are not historical facts, are forward looking statements. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, costs and difficulties related to the integration of acquired business, costs, delays, and any other difficulties related to the outlet store launch, risks and effects of legal and administrative proceedings and governmental regulation, future financial and operational results, competition, general economic conditions, and the ability to manage and continue growth. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual outcomes may vary materially from those indicated. We undertake no obligation to revise or update such statements to reflect current events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contact:
Left Right Marketing Technology Inc.
Bonnie Smith, 702/260-9305
bsmith@crazygrazer.com
or
Alan Taylor Communications
Charles Leone, 212/714-1280
charles@alantaylor.com



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: Crazy Grazer

Rig,picked up some omog yesterday,adding more today.also thanks for mbtt!!!!!!!!!

GLVP News
Gluv Corp. Fills Key Management Positions
RINGGOLD, Ga., Sep 1, 2004 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ --
Gluv Corp. (OTC Pink Sheets: GLVP), a leading leather goods manufacturer and distributor, is pleased to announce the addition of Janet E. Sikes and James L. Shepherd to its corporate management team.

According to Lanier M. Davenport, Sr., Chairman and President, "I am excited about the dimensional expansion that these two seasoned professionals bring to Gluv Corp."

Ms. Sikes will serve as the Company's new Chief Financial Officer and has also been appointed as a new Corporate Director. As a Certified Public Accountant, she has more than twenty-five years of extensive experience in the financial accounting and reporting areas. Much of her career has been focused on early stage small growth companies.

Mr. Shepherd joins the Company as Chief Operating Officer and brings more than a quarter century of experience in a variety of industry groups. As a media executive, he has managed network news operations with budgets in excess of two hundred fifty million dollars, in addition to holding news executive positions with CNN, FNN/CNBC, The Golf Channel and PBS's Nightly Business Report. His expertise at creating and distributing high-impact messages through a variety of electronic media will be a key ingredient in the cost efficient marketing message of our Company and each of its subsidiaries.

About Gluv Corp. and its subsidiaries

Gluv(R) has been developing, marketing and distributing its patented, premium products throughout North America and Western Europe since 1998. All products feature the finest Bisconte(R) leather. Its current product line includes leather jackets, leather bags, and patented gloves for golf, baseball, softball, football, driving, aviation and mechanics. All products can be customized with almost any logo. For the latest stock quote on GLVP, simply click-on http://www.pinksheets.com/quote/quote.jsp?symbol=glvp .

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of any offer to buy any securities of Gluv Corp., nor shall there be any sale of any such security in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state. Forward-looking statements: This press release and other statements by Gluv Corp. may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act with respect to the outlook for earnings and revenues, other future financial or business performance, strategies and expectations. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words or phrases such as "believe," "expect," "estimate," "potential," or future/conditional verbs such as "will," "should" and "could" and other similar wording.


Contact: Bob Collard, Public Relations
Select Equities Consultants, Inc.
407-304-4701

rcollard@selectequitiescorp.net


Mike Hiler, OTC Market Watch Public Relations, Inc.
954-254-9064
SOURCE Gluv Corp.

Bob Collard, Public Relations of Select Equities Consultants,
Inc., +1-407-304-4701, or
rcollard@selectequitiescorp.net
, or Mike Hiler of
OTC Market Watch Public Relations, Inc., +1-954-254-9064

http://www.igluv.com


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Copyright (C) 2004 PR Newswire. All rights reserved.

News provided by

ICOA, added a few more, Looks Gooood!! em

GLVP all buying and higher volume em

Dream,AMHI a Big Thanks!!,I added more too!! em

APOA waking up!!!!!!!!!!eom

ALMI .30,s soon imo em

Rig hbsl Very nice!!!! em

Added a few more apoa em

Rig,hbsl ,back from vaca and looks great!!Thanks again!!!

Dream, Have fun!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tom and Gordon are on overdrive,lol get those mice out there,everybody should have couple mice!!!!!

Mr. Large has been a busy man!!
http://www.ergoexpo.com/2004EECE/sponsors.asp

Rig, a few sellers and they drop it a dime,a little buying and right back up , a good buy here in my opinion.

lucky

Dave, Looks very BIG Trby is moving right along!!
Thanks!!

Have a Great Weekend!!
lucky

No, I fell asleep twice,lol

TRBY,accumulation turning back up!!!
http://stockcharts.com/def/servlet/SC.web?c=TRBY,uu[m,a]daclyyay[db][pb50!d20,2][vc60][iUf!Lk14]&...

Great!! load em up Sast!!

Money, your welcome, when you figure it out,tell me lol
lucky

I had to kick mine up to .105 just for 9500 shares!

Added APOA and HBSL em

PDCN filing is out
http://www.pinksheets.com/quote/print_filings.jsp?url=%2Fredirect.asp%3Ffilename%3D0001116502%252D04...

Rig, Great board, Great DD, Your an ACE

have a Great Weekend!!
lucky

Interesting:

http://oregonstate.edu/research/TechTran/printer.html

When you're trying to build a small company, it never hurts to have some big friends. ViewPlus Technologies has one of the biggest: Microsoft. Founded in Corvallis in 1996, ViewPlus makes a line of computer printers for blind people. Like other printers for the visually impaired, the Tiger Embosser prints text in Braille characters using raised dots. But it's the only embosser on the market that can also produce tactile versions of graphic images, from a diagram of the human heart to a map of the United States to the Periodic Table of the Elements.



Physics student Aqil Sajjad uses an embosser developed by ViewPlus founder John Gardner.

When you're trying to build a small company, it never hurts to have some big friends. ViewPlus Technologies has one of the biggest: Microsoft. Founded in Corvallis in 1996, ViewPlus makes a line of computer printers for blind people.

Married with children,trby
Tom Large has busted his ass to get us where we should be and I have no doubt he will.I sold to many to soon and now I am holding all my trby shares.
I sold exti and usga right before they took off and am not making that mistake with this one,lol
Now we just have to sit back and wait a bit and make some nice CASH!!
have a great weekend!
Lucky

TRBY,Maybe we will see a PR like SSFT had (:
ScanSoft Teams with Microsoft to Expand the Use of Assistive Products Based on Speech Recognition and Text-to-Speech
ScanSoft Named a Level 1 Partner by Microsoft Accessible Technology Group
PEABODY, Mass., June 12, 2003 - ScanSoft, Inc. (NASDAQ: SSFT), a leading supplier of imaging, speech and language solutions, announced today that it has been named a Microsoft Assistive Technology Group Level 1 Partner, and that the companies will implement joint educational and marketing programs designed to expand the development and use of assistive products based on speech recognition and text-to-speech technologies. The Microsoft Assistive Technology Group provides expanded support for technology vendors and developers in delivering products that help people with disabilities more productively and easily use information technology.

ScanSoft is a leading supplier of PC applications and developer toolkits based on speech recognition and text-to-speech technologies. ScanSoft® Dragon NaturallySpeaking® is the de facto standard for automatically turning speech into text at up to 160 words-per-minute and for controlling PC applications completely by voice. ScanSoft® RealSpeak™ is the market-leading solution for converting text into human-sounding synthesized speech and is a critical technology that allows screen-readers and accessible applications to interact effectively with sight impaired users. Both products are widely used within home, corporate and academic environments and allow government agencies to meet accessibility requirements outlined in Section 508 of the US Rehabilitation Act.

"Helping people realize their full potential is more than a goal that is shared by Microsoft and ScanSoft, it is a guiding tenet underlying the design and development of our mutual solutions," said Gary Moulton, Product Manager of the Accessibility Group at Microsoft Corporation. "We welcome ScanSoft as an assistive technology partner, as their products help organizations meet the needs of people with various types of disabilities. In addition, ScanSoft's toolkit products provide developers with the ability to quickly create new, innovative solutions that leverage speech recognition and text-to-speech technologies."

Computer users with disabilities ranging from repetitive stress injuries (RSI) to vision impairment and quadriplegia rely on ScanSoft Dragon NaturallySpeaking to control their PC's using their voice and to type as fast as they can speak. Dragon NaturallySpeaking allows them to control the features within Microsoft Office and other PC applications, and gives them equal access to the Web and email. The product helps halt, prevent or slow down the advance of repetitive stress injuries, improves the quality of education for students, and enables injured employees to return to work more quickly. Dragon NaturallySpeaking can save thousands of dollars per worker, per month, when compared with the expense of insurance and disability claims, lost productivity and replacement workers.

Jillian Bleackley, a 16 year-old quadriplegic as a result of cerebral palsy, has been using ScanSoft Dragon NaturallySpeaking for 7 years to complete all her schoolwork and writing using her voice. Also a poet*, she has used Dragon NaturallySpeaking to compose a collection of poems that she is hoping to have published, and says, "Dragon NaturallySpeaking has given me the ability to express myself in a way that others never thought possible, and has had a positive impact on my life by providing me with a license to be creative."

ScanSoft RealSpeak text-to-speech is used within a wide range of applications, including screen readers, voice portals, unified messaging systems, and interactive voice response (IVR) applications, as well as speech-enabling mobile, automotive, game and PC/multi-media applications. RealSpeak offers a single, standardized application programming interface (API) that supports the creation of speech-enabled applications in over 20 languages, including U.S. and UK English, German, French, French Canadian, Dutch and Belgian Dutch, Castilian and Mexican Spanish, Italian, European and Brazilian Portuguese, Norwegian, Polish, Swedish, Danish, Cantonese and Mandarin Chinese, Korean and Japanese.

"While many users can make a conscious choice whether to increase their productivity through the use of ScanSoft products, we take tremendous pride in being a part of bringing technology to users who otherwise would be denied its advantages," said Robert Weideman, chief marketing officer for ScanSoft. "We are pleased to team with Microsoft in the important arena of accessibility, and to be recognized for our commitment to the assistive community."

Section 508
Extending its leadership in making personal computing more accessible for all users, Dragon NaturallySpeaking is now the first and only desktop speech recognition application to be certified as compliant with Section 508 of the U.S. Rehabilitation Act. Section 508 (29 U.S.C. s794d) applies to all United States agencies when they develop, procure, maintain or use electronic and information technology, and mandates that those agencies must purchase products that give disabled employees and members of the public access to information that is comparable to the access available to others. For additional information on this important U.S. government mandate, please visit www.section508.gov.

Availability
ScanSoft Dragon NaturallySpeaking is available immediately as an easy-to-use application as well as a developer toolkit directly from ScanSoft and its network of reseller partners. ScanSoft RealSpeak TTS (text-to-speech) is available from ScanSoft as a developer toolkit, and supports more than 20 languages. Additional information on ScanSoft products can be found at www.ScanSoft.com.

About ScanSoft, Inc.
ScanSoft, Inc. is a leading supplier of imaging, speech and language solutions that are used to automate a wide range of manual processes-saving time, increasing worker productivity and improving customer service. For additional information on the company, please visit www.ScanSoft.com.

*Dragon's Magic
I start like a painter with an empty canvas.
I formulate an idea, then sit down at my computer and express my thoughts.
My words flow like water out of my mouth and onto my computer screen.
My mind can hardly keep up with my mouth sometimes I get so carried away, that I forget all my punctuation.
At the end of my time spent, the well is dry.
I hopefully have something to be proud of because of the
"Dragon's Magic."
by Jillian Bleackley

Trademark reference: ScanSoft, RealSpeak and Dragon NaturallySpeaking are trademarks or registered trademarks of ScanSoft, Inc. in the United States and other countries. All other company names or product names may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

The statements in this press release that relate to future plans, objectives, events or performance are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including risks associated with market trends, competitive factors, and other risks identified in ScanSoft's SEC filings. Actual results, events and performance may differ materially. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on these forward-looking statements that speak only as of the date hereof.

Contact Information

TRBY/ I wonder what Tom Large and Gary decide on? Hmmmm!!!!
Written comments of:
Gary M. Moulton
Product Manager
Microsoft, Corp.

No doubt, universal design is the way to go. Build everything, from the bottom-up, with the needs of every potential user in mind. In other words, make it accessible by design. And in a little over two years (if starting literally from scratch), voila! Wish that there were those opportunities. Or that we could wait.

Arguably, everyone involved in product, program and service design should be thinking universal design. Should be thinking accessibility. Who will not be able to profit from this effort? Accessible design, experienced once is noticed and appreciated everywhere. So, why isn’t it some kind of engineering, business school or design degree core-course requirement? Well, that’s a thought. But what is the average amount of time before a student really believes that they have learned something valuable in school and puts it in practice? In the real world. Definitely not a given.

It is relatively easy to make a case for universal design with xyz company. For doing access. It is good business. It is right. A commitment is a good start. It is certainly not nearly enough. Good design. Accessible design. You’ve convinced them. So, they ask: How? It can’t be taught. It can’t be learned. It can’t be had with a whack on the side of the head. It happens probably based on star alignment. For it to be right, done right and for it to work, it has to be part of some kind of heart and soul. Of an individual. Of a development team. Maybe the product, program or service itself screams out for it. It is magic. Genius. Brilliance. It is artistic. In the business world it is the good marketer and sales person at work. Everyone can use this product. Everyone will. In other words, it has to be "got." It ain’t easy. It takes a lot of work. And time. A lot of time.

In the interim, let’s come up with regulations and guidelines. Universal design commandments. Accessible software design best practices. But, we have these. Well documented. Let’s mandate something then. Well…. Don’t we really want that line of code that is only contained in some of the ATMs? That beautiful line of code that requires the automated teller user to remove his or her ATM card before they get their money? Understanding human nature is a gift. Meeting those needs is nothing short of a miracle.

Accessibility-wise, in the PC industry, we know what has to be done, we want to do it and we think we know how. We think, therefore, it will be awhile before we get to universal design. Time again. Commitment. Action. Practice. Principle. That’s the order.

Look at the entire PC picture. Fact of the matter is, we don’t know how we all really work with a PC. Not even yet. About most things PC. We, the industry, may be able to understand and appreciate a user’s experience. Maybe. Big maybe. But, we really don’t know for certain. It is just not something that is easy to "get." So we try a focus group. A product review. Ask a user. Ask a ton of users. And still we don’t know, for certain, what will work. Things break. We do things wrong. Worse yet, we create barriers. We prevent a ton of people from using PC technology. Look at the installed base. There is a lot of wisdom waiting to be gained from the majority of the world—all non-PC users. So we do a lot of fixing. In spite of the fact that fixing takes more time and costs a ton of money. Most of all it is just remembering not to forget. All this is to say nothing of innovation. Don’t forget to add that to the canvas. So, we are trying to hit a moving target, from a moving target with a completely uncontrollable projectile.

So, what’s Microsoft doing? We have targeted one PC accessibility problem to attack. The problem, in a phrase, the communication between the PC and adaptive hardware and software. It ain’t, in the strict sense of the term, universal design. It is, one heck of an important piece of the work that must be done on the way to more accessible software design and then, and only then, after a great deal of practice and work and time, to universal software design.

That said, Microsoft recognizes the importance of developing products that are accessible and usable by all people. The company has made the commitment to devote the time and resources necessary to ensure that individuals with disabilities have access to its products, programs and services. We will also assist the PC community to make similar efforts. Toward that end, Microsoft’s accessibility efforts for 1998 will include the following:

1. Enhance accessibility requirements in the Design for Windows Logo program

2. Create an accessibility checklist for product groups

3. Improve the accessibility of key products

4. Establish an Advisory Council

5. Allocate additional resources

The paragraphs below summarize Microsoft’s plan in each of the above five areas.

Enhance accessibility requirements in the "Designed for Windows" Logo program

Microsoft’s logo program represents the best opportunity to ensure software applications are accessible out-of-the-box. This will establish a minimum bar that will apply to both Microsoft and third-party software. Some existing accessibility recommendations will be promoted to join the existing four accessibility requirements already in place.

With specific regards to Microsoft Active Accessibility, this logo recommendation will be phased in to a requirement over time. It is anticipated that requirements will first be applied to menus and controls using Active Accessibility 1.0, and later applied to document content using Active Accessibility 2.0 that is currently being designed.

Once a formal schedule has been published, Microsoft’s Developer Relations Group will promote all accessibility requirements to mainstream developers as they do the other Logo requirements.

Create an accessibility checklist for product groups

In addition to the logo program, Microsoft’s executive management wants to set a higher standard of accessibility for our own company’s products. To accomplish this we have created a checklist that includes both product design issues and best practices. It is designed to help ensure that accessibility is addressed throughout the product development cycle. While the checklist items will not be requirements, executive management will use product review meetings to reinforce their importance. Product groups will be required to report on their adoption at these meetings. Microsoft’s full-time accessibility group will serve as consultants. The disability community will be invited to contribute evaluations using this checklist as a foundation. The Advisory Council (described below) will review the initial checklist during its first conference call.

Improve the accessibility of key products

Microsoft currently places accessibility priority on the products that affect the most people—operating systems, productivity applications and development tools. In addition to accessibility features already built into these key products, the next versions of each will be significantly more accessible:

An Accessibility Settings Wizard and Microsoft Screen Magnifier are being developed for Windows ’98. In addition, an on-screen keyboard and a basic screen reader are being developed for Windows NT 5.0.
The next version of Office will improve keyboard, high-contrast and Active Accessibility 1.0 support for user interface elements. Office is also working with the Active Accessibility team to define Active Accessibility 2.0 enhancements to expose document content. However, until Active Accessibility 2.0 is available, Office will expose document content using the Office object model in a manner usable by both ISVs currently using Active Accessibility 1.0 and those who will ultimately use Active Accessibility 2.0.
Internet Explorer will continue to lead the way in providing the most accessible Internet browser by working to improve keyboard navigation as well as our support of Active Accessibility.
Microsoft’s Developer Division is working to add full support for Active Accessibility in the next major release of Visual Basic tentatively scheduled for the first half of 1999.
Establish an Advisory Council

To fully address customer needs, Microsoft must actively engage the disability community in our efforts. Microsoft will assemble a group of individuals representing all segments of the disability community to participate on our Accessibility Advisory Council. This council will focus on Microsoft’s accessibility-related product issues. Microsoft will provide the council with detailed information about how product groups are addressing accessibility, major accessibility issues and workloads. In return, council members will be expected to provide input in establishing accessibility-related product priorities and assist Microsoft in deciding accessibility issues. These discussions will be under non-disclosure agreement except when covering publicly available information. A representative of Microsoft’s accessibility team will host conference calls with the Advisory Council every 1-2 months, and will work with the council to develop the agendas for these calls. The calls will also involve management or technical representatives of specific product groups, as needed.

Allocate additional resources

In the best of all worlds, every employee in a company would be thinking accessibility. Short of that, a company like Microsoft must organize and allocate its accessibility-oriented resources to ensure that products become more accessible as they evolve. While every group within Microsoft will be responsible for their own accessibility efforts, Microsoft recognizes the critical need to allocate additional resources on accessibility and organize these resources to be more effective company-wide.

In order to achieve this goal, we will more than double the number of employees working full-time on accessibility. The expanded accessibility group will be organized to maintain focus on strategic goals, while allocating staff where needed throughout the company.

These new staff members will be assigned appropriately to address the following goals:

Continue improving the scope, timeliness and quality of core accessibility technologies such as Microsoft Active Accessibility.
Proactively oversee the work being done by key groups within the company, provide expertise on accessibility issues and serve as internal advocates within those product groups.
Continue improving the company’s relations with the disability community, key advocacy groups and adaptive hardware and software manufacturers.
Finally, a couple of words on Microsoft Active Accessibility (MSAA). A lot of work needs to be done to get it known and taken advantage of—or replace it with something better. If someone or some group, somewhere, comes up with an alternative. If done well, it won’t even be noticed. It’ll just join the Hall of Fame of great PC ideas. The nibs on the home keys of the keyboard. The on/off switch on the front of the PC. The user set-up guide that makes sense to someone other than a computer science major. A reason to really want to try something new on a PC. Remembering not to forget. Practice does make perfect.


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