Families

[Randy Dipner <dipner@mtc-inc.com>]

FOR THE EITAAC FAMILY SUBCOMMITTEE

I hope I can live up to Larry Scadden's trust in me. Since he asked me to
attempt to lead or guide the discussion for this subcommittee, let me start by
describing a goal for the subcommittee and laying out a general approach for
reaching it.

I think that our goal is to describe a taxonomy starting with families of
technology that will eventually lead us to definable technology elements or
building blocks for which we can create accessibility standards. This same
approach worked well for the play areas reg/neg committee. They ultimately
identified five key accessibility elements or building blocks that make a play
component accessible and specified the guidelines for each of these. I'm not
suggesting that we can arrive at five building blocks to describe accessibility
in all electronic information technology but there will surely be fewer building
blocks than there are technology products.

Let me suggest that we accept David's list of families as a starting point. (I
have recreated it below.) If anyone wants to add a new family to the list please
suggest it. If there is consensus we can add it. If not we can hold it to the
side for further discussion. (This is what I would suggest we do with the system
integration item since there is some question as to whether it belongs within
the definition of electronic and information technology or not.)

In the spirit of developing a taxonomy of families and lower level subfamilies,
etc. I have modified David's list somewhat with the subcategories he suggested
in parentheses as indented items. Please also add to this list of subcategories
and sub-subcategories if you feel it will help in the definition process. Let me
ask whether there are any families suggested that you feel do NOT belong on the
list?

I think if we continue this process we will ultimately get to the products we
believe are part of the electronic and information technology. Then we can
identify the accessibility elements of each product for which we must establish
accessibility standards. Clearly there will be duplication from product to
product as we identify the building blocks.

I will continue to repost the updated family taxonomy as it develops.
-----------------------------------

Families Taxonomy:

* Computers
* Computer related hardware
       - monitors
       - keyboards
       - pointing devices
       - scanners
       - digitizers
       - modems
* Software
       - productivity
       - education
       - data entry
       - off-the-shelf
       - instrumentation
       - remote i/o
* Software (development)
* External Web sites and Internet
* Business e-communications
        - e-mail
        - v-mail
        - e-scheduling
        - e-journal
        - e-collaboration
        - intranet
* Business communications
        - pagers
        - telephones
        - cell phones
        - transceivers
* Office automation equipment
        - copiers
        - printers
        - faxes
        - intercoms
        - public address systems
        - alerting systems
* Security equipment
        - pass key and readers
        - keypad entry
* Public input/output equipment
        - kiosks
        - ATMs
* Diagnostic equipment
        - oscilloscopes
        - VOM
        - magnetometers
        - Geiger counters
* Rendering equipment
        - TV's
        - FM tuners
        - CD players
        - DVD players
* Recording equipment
        - video recorders
        - sound recorders
        - mixers


--
Randy Dipner
President
Meeting the Challenge, Inc.
3630 Sinton Road, Suite 103
Colorado Springs, CO 80907-5072
719-578-8448 (voice/TTY) 719-444-0269 (fax)
email: dipner@mtc-inc.com