Web Site Accessibility Blog

IBM is donating 50,000 lines of code to Mozilla’s Firefox project, which will enable FireFox v1.5 to offer enhanced accessibility features. The technology will allow for page magnification within the browser, automatic page narration, and keyboard navigation. These features will enhance the user experience for users with visual or motor disabilities.

The code will enable users to access these features without installing any additional software or plug-ins. According to the article, IBM has already helped FireFox with the support for Microsoft’s Active Accessibility, which is the industry standard for screen-reader technology.

As an avid FireFox user – I really love this announcement. It creates competition; competition creates innovation, which makes better products. I like this relationship and where it is heading. This isn’t so much of an anti-Microsoft happiness that I have, but a win-win for users that will benefit from this move.