|
New AccVerify SE
2002 for Microsoft FrontPage enables
unparalleled accessibility testing
HiSoftware releases
first solution to enable complete
reports on Web sites’ conformance with
programmatic and visual accessibility
standards
Concord, N.H., (June
19, 2002) – HiSoftware, Inc., a leading
provider of Web content accessibility
solutions, announced today that it will
provide all Microsoft FrontPage users
access to AccVerify SE 2002, an updated
version of AccVerify SE for Microsoft
FrontPage, free of charge. This software
is available through a strategic
relationship between HiSoftware Company
and Microsoft Corporation and will
provide FrontPage users with the ability
to test their Web sites for complete
conformance with standards mandated by
Section 508 of the federal government's
Rehabilitation Act, as well as the
international accessibility guidelines
set forth by the World Wide Web
Consortium (W3C).
Section 508 of the
Rehabilitation Act Amendments, which
marks its one-year anniversary on June
21, mandates that federal agencies
ensure that all electronic and
information technologies purchased,
maintained or developed meet the
accessibility standards established by
the U.S. Access Board. Although
federally mandated, state governments
and private organizations can also
benefit by adhering to these standards,
which enable access and usability by the
widest possible audience.
"Universal design
and accessibility on the Web are
essential for educational institutions
and information providers as we all
strive to bring our sites into
compliance with Section 508 guidelines,”
said Gretchen Gfeller, Web and public
relations specialist for the Fogler
Library, University of Maine.
“AccVerify, which offers the ability to
make necessary code changes from
directly within the authoring
environment, is a definite advantage and
enhances the appeal of Microsoft
FrontPage.”
The newest release
of AccVerify SE tests for compliance
with all programmatic and visual
requirements under Section 508, as well
as the international accessibility
guidelines set forth in W3C WCAG 1.0
Priority 1-3. The advanced testing
features are unique to this solution, as
all other accessibility tools only have
a mechanism for completing the
programmatic tests. The Accessibility
Interview Wizard is an XML/RDF based
technology that allows AccVerify SE
users to ensure that their Web sites are
designed to conform completely to the
accessibility standards; and further, to
note in the reports who completed the
verification. The reports can be saved,
e-mailed, printed and displayed in
either text or HTML.
“AccVerify SE 2002
is congruent with Microsoft’s continued
efforts to champion solutions that are
accessible to all people, including
those with disabilities," said Giovanni
Mezgec, lead product manager for
Microsoft FrontPage. “At Microsoft, we
believe accessible design is good design
and are actively engaged with our
partners and customers in developing
accessible products. Our relationship
with HiSoftware takes this process one
step beyond product development and
underscores our commitment to
encouraging and enabling the development
of accessible Web content.”
AccVerify SE also
includes the new Usability Visual Test
Manager, which enables Web designers to
easily implement standard usability
testing practices and to create and
deploy corporate-wide custom usability
testing practices as part of their
design and quality assurance protocol.
http://www.hisoftware.com/press/accutm.html
“Programmatic
accessibility testing was most important
in our initial (retrospective) site
repair effort, as we were working
against federal and state-imposed
compliance deadlines,” said Stephen
Thergeson, Colorado Department of
Education. “Manual testing became more
important recently, especially in
situations where as multiple authors and
editors have had access to the same
files. In both cases, the seamless
integration of accessibility testing
with Web authoring has had a measurable
impact on the usability of our Web site.
Using AccVerify for Microsoft FrontPage,
we’ve increased site visits by 50
percent and repeat visitors by 73
percent over the past 12 months.” The
combination of FrontPage and AccVerify
provide an unparalleled solution for the
creation of accessible and usable Web
content. AccVerify SE provides a
complete tutorial on the creation of
accessible content and the use of
FrontPage to create an accessible Web
site.
Pricing and Availability
AccVerify SE for Microsoft FrontPage is
immediately available free of charge to
FrontPage users from
http://www.hisoftware.com/msacc/index.html.
FrontPage users also receive a discount
on the entire HiSoftware Accessibility
product line, including AccRepair for
FrontPage, which allows users to make
automated programmatic corrections to
Accessibility errors across their
FrontPage webs.
ABOUT HISOFTWARE
HiSoftware Company, the leader in
enterprise content quality management
solutions, provides innovative products
that empower quality assurance teams,
content developers, Web site architects,
and company executives to work
collaboratively on their efforts to
create and manage corporate Web
standards for Accessibility, Privacy,
Searchability, Usability and custom
guidelines and policies. HiSoftware’s
integrated, full lifecycle solutions
dramatically reduce the time required to
test, manage and deploy e-business Web
sites.
HiSoftware works closely with industry
leaders and visionaries to provide
solutions for today's information
accessibility, content quality, search
and retrieval needs. HiSoftware’s
customers represent Fortune 500
companies, and many of the largest
e-commerce, government, and educational
sites in North America and around the
world and include ChevronTexaco,
Commerce One, Mercury Interactive, and
Microsoft Government.
Founded in 1998, HiSoftware Company
maintains North American corporate
headquarters in Concord, New Hampshire.
Further information about HiSoftware can
be found online at
www.hisoftware.com
-###-
Note to editors: If
you are interested in viewing additional
information on HiSoftware, please visit
the HiSoftwareŽ Web page at http://www.hisoftware.com/press/index.html
on HiSoftware’s corporate information
pages. Web links, telephone numbers and
titles were correct at time of
publication, but may since have changed.
For additional assistance, journalists
and analysts may contact appropriate
contacts listed at
http://www.hisoftware.com/co/contacting_us.htm
HiSoftware and
AccVerify are registered trademarks of
Hiawatha Island Software Company, Inc.
Microsoft, Microsoft FrontPage,
Microsoft Office, .NET, Windows, and
Windows NT are either registered
trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft
Corporation. Any and all other product
and company names mentioned herein are
the trademarks or service marks of their
respective owners.
Members of the
press: To receive breaking news
regarding HiSoftware via e-mail, please
send your request to be added to the
HiSoftware News Distribution List to:
hsnews@hisoftware.com
|
