Linux news

2007 07 12

Microsoft Screwed Up on Accessibility, But ECMA Turned a Blind Eye

Reviewing the "Accessibility of Ecma Office Open XML File Formats"

When and how will the accessibility failings cited in the paper be fixed? ... For example, the white paper notes that MSOXML fails to support WCAG 1.0 checkpoints 4.2, 5.2, 9.4, 10.2, 12.1, 12.2, and 12.4. The white paper further notes that MSOXML only partially supports checkpoints WCAG 1.0 checkpoints 6.4, 8.1, 9.1, and 11.1. Some of these are particularly important for blind users needing to understand the context of table cells and for good Braille and DAISY transcription of tables - issues we found in ODF v1.0 and fixed in ODF v1.1. Will these things get fixed in the future? If so, when? By whom? With what outside review (if any)? To appear in what update of the specification?

http://s5h.net/u?z5d80
Just to think that Microsoft uses the "accessibility" FUD in MA in order to stifle OpenDocument adoption. Talking with Microsoft's Gray Knowlton about MSOXML accessibility

Gray, at the start of your blog comment you say "I'm not sure that the "who did this?" question matters as much as your post seems to indicate", and you spend several paragraphs describing your (non-accessibility) background at Microsoft and Adobe.

http://s5h.net/u?za9ae
Recent: OOXML: The Formula for Failure

As I've shown, in the rush to write a 6,000 page standard in less than a year, Ecma dropped the ball. OOXML's spreadsheet formula is worse than missing. It has incorrect formulas that, if implemented according to the standard may cause loss of life, property and capital. This standard is seriously messed up. And shame on all those who praised and continue to praise the OOXML formula specification without actually reading it.

http://s5h.net/u?z55ad3
[OOXML] Mathematically Incorrect

So when it comes to comparing MSOOXML and ODF v1.0 on the basis of the inclusion of "Formula Definitions", it becomes clear that the anti-ODF folk have not much to shout about. In fact MSOOXML's "Formula Definition" is deficient and inaccurate.

http://s5h.net/u?zd8099