April, 2001      Diablo Blue      Page 11

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These products, such as web design standards and tools that make web pages more easily read by "text only readers," are starting to change the world of the everyday user. Web sites that use the guidelines of the Worldwide Web Consortium's "Web Accessibility Initiative" find that people using the new cell phone web access units can access their pages.
In addition, existing features of products that meet the Section 508 requirements are now being highlighted. Windows 2000 has features and benefits put there specifically for individuals with disabilities. However, the majority of users don't know what they are or how to access them. Over the next few years these features will be more and more prominent in Microsoft's advertising materials.
For more information on how you can design for, use or benefit from universal access, check out the following web sites:
The Center for Accessible Technology:  www.cforat.org/
The Archimedes Project:  archimedes.stanford.edu/
Microsoft's accessibility site:  www.microsoft.com/enable/
Sun Microsystems' Accessibility Program:  www.sun.com/access/
The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C):  www.w3.org/Consortium/Points/
In addition, the KQED program "Digital West" (dw.kqed.org/2001/03/09/) has a large amount of information (a lot of which was used for this article) on universal access.

Don't forget that the Board of Director's election is held at the April meeting. If you're interested in running for the Board, email Alan Mildwurm prior to the April 5 meeting at awm@mildwurm.com, or see any Board member at the meeting. Run and help your club!

Last month's winner was Vera Krauss (who is also a volunteer helping to set up the library). She had 23 correct words. Vera will be able to pick up her prize, a copy of "Age of Empires," at this month's meeting.
Join us this month for the next game. When you come to the monthly meeting, See Peggy, Stan (or whoever is at the table when you enter) and get your puzzle. Be sure you turn it in before the first speaker (yes, those who come early get more time to work on it) and one member will get a prize. Good luck!

I am becoming increasingly annoyed with the rebate racket as practiced by a lot of the local computer stores.  Below I've logged the key events for a rebate I was owed from Prime Peripherals/Office Max.
12/10/00 - I purchased a 50 pack of CD disks from the local Office Max store.  I paid $14.99 and according to the Office Max rebate book I was to get a $10.00 rebate.  The fine print on the coupon read "Rebate checks will be mailed in approx. 8-10 weeks".   Based on the way I was taught to read a calendar in grade school ten weeks from 12/10/00 is 2/15/01.   Accordingly I had set my abeyance file to that date expecting to receive my $10.00 no later than that.
1/29/01 - I received a postcard with the message "Unfortunately we could not honor your request for the following reasons".  There was no reason given.  Surprisingly they did give a phone number and, not surprisingly, it was not an 800 number.  Also, as I found out later, it

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