17 Sep 2008, 11:59PM PT
9 Sep 2008, 7:18PM PT
Closed: 17 Sep 2008, 11:59PM PT
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Google has announced its Android Market for its up-and-coming mobile technology platform, and Microsoft has similarly publicized its SkyMarket for selling applications on its Windows Mobile systems. While these developments still need to gestate for several more months before consumers can get their hands on them, what are the prospects for these projects? Do you think that more developers will result in better mobile applications for these platforms? How do you think Google and Microsoft will handle issues such as security (ie. making sure apps don't contain viruses) as well as usefulness? Will other players like Nokia follow suit? What will so many mobile app platforms mean to consumers? Will phone apps need to be compatible with other phone apps? Are you looking forward to more open mobile platforms with third-party applications?
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Joshua Howe
Wed Sep 17 5:33pm
That being said, it took law to get closed captioning built into all televisions for accessibility reasons, and now the hearing impaired are well down the list of users of CC behind bars and health clubs. In general though, developers are probably the most access aware group of people outside of those living or working in the disability community, though I continue to be amazed. I was shown a $70,000 application today and when I asked about accessibility, the presenter was stunned, like it was the first thought of it ever.