Opening Web 2.0 Doors for People with Disabilities

By Eugene Chan on 9 July 2008 - 10:02am

One of the problems with Web 2.0 (and more specifically AJAX’ed applications) is their lack of usability for people with different types of disabilities. AJAX (aka Asynchronous Javascript over XML aka snazzy things done behind the browser screen) is an example of technology that has been adopted widely with graceful accessibility trying very hard to catch up.

Not all is bad news, Google for one is working very hard (and so are other companies such as Yahoo!

What Next for SF Wireless?

By Eugene Chan on 30 August 2007 - 9:54am

Ouch.

Wifi Network News is reporting that Earthlink is withdrawing from its bid to build out San Francisco’s municipal wireless initiative.

More from the San Francisco Chronicle:

Ballard said Wednesday that although the joint deal with Google and Earthlink is now history, the city would regroup and issue a second round of proposals from interested vendors. Officials hope Google, which “has been a valuable partner throughout all this,” will want to participate, he said.

Google's Public Policy Blog

By Eugene Chan on 19 August 2007 - 10:06am

While browsing through Google’s blogs, I stumbled on Google’s Public Policy blog. A blogging strategy makes sense for Google—given who they are and the scale of their ambitions. But it was the first time I’ve encountered a corporate (read: official) policy blog.