KOSH [Kommunity Orientated Software Hardware]

Weekly Summary

Week Commencing: 5th June 1999

Number: 024

Mailing List: kosh-general

In the mailing list this week, the following items were discussed. Please do
not email the scribe regarding any of these topics, it is not his job to answer
these questions but merely to report  the topics of conversation. If you have
any queries about this summary, please email ben@kosh.net, stating the Summary
Number, and Mailing List Name, and he will try to answer your queries.

a)

Subject: The Bobby Tool and KOSH

Summary of debate: As mentioned a long while ago (but now directly relevant
                   again as we discuss the KOSH website) the Bobby Tool which
                   is available from http://www.cast.org/bobby checks a URL to
                   see if it conforms to certain standards. The aim of this is
                   is to increase accessibility to the web page(s) in question
                   by examining the html code to see that it includes things
                   like alternative text for images (used by speech based web
                   browsers). It was suggested that all KOSH pages should use
                   this tool. A page that passes the tests can use a "Bobby
                   Approved" link logo on the page.

                   Also suggested is that we should include a separate page on
                   the KOSH site explaining exactly what the approval logo
                   means and why we feel that it is important, etc.


b)

Subject: Siamese Amiga

Summary of debate: See http://access.amiga.tm/ or
                   http://ww.snowcrash.u-net.com/ which contain information on
                   the "Amiga on a PCI" project being designed by Access and
                   Siamese.

c)

Subject: KOSH Survey WG - draft user survey document

Summary of debate: The draft user survey document from the KOSH Survey WG was
                   posted to the ML (see the email from Michael Merriman,
                   repugnant@yahoo.com, 8th June, "[KOSH] KOSH User Survey
                   Draft"

                   Comments, suggestions and ideas on it were asked for from
                   the people on the General ML before the survey is made
                   publicly available.

                   The survey will be available at
                   http://www.kosh.net/survey/index.html
                   and will also be available by email from
                   survey-request@kosh.net with the word "Survey" in the
                   subject line.

                   KOSH will -not- be using mass mailing to reach people with
                   the survey - if anyone receives it via a mass email they
                   should forward it to abuse@kosh.net (complete with the
                   header) so that action may be taken.

                   A selection of comments from the General ML on the survey
                   follow:

                   BeOS should be included as a separate OS and not be grouped
                   under "other". The same applies to OS/2. MacOS could be
                   subdivided like the Amiga entries are (AmigaOS 3+ and 2 and
                   under).

                   Some may object to being asked what sex they are. Perhaps
                   "gender" is the term that should be used and the question
                   should be marked as optional?

                   the job section should recognise disabled people in some
                   way without giving wrong impressions. Also, "Homemaker" or
                   a similar category should be included.

                   How about a category to directly identify respondees that
                   have jobs that are directly computer related?

                   Could we ask if a person uses a particular OS through
                   choice, because it came with the machine, because it was
                   recommended or because they have to (at work for example)?

                   Thomas Jensen volunteers to make a Danish Translation of the
                   survey.

                   Personal information should be clearly marked as:
                   - optional
                   - completely confidential
                   - purely for identifying KOSH's audience
                   Compulsory personal information tends to put one into Lie
                   Mode.

                   The survey should -somehow- reach people that don't
                   generally use computers for whatever reason (but -not- via
                   mass e/mailing).

                   The above (and more) were taken on by the User Survey WG
                   team and are to be considered for incorporation into the
                   survey.