The Case for Server Side Digital Information Applications with particular reference to ‘Voice Out’
Introduction
1.1 For a number of reasons including the relative scarcity of mainframe computers, the capacity of their contemporaneous telephone networks and, later, the rapid emergence of a near Microsoft monopoly in office and domestic computing, the predominant model for supplying, installing, upgrading and operating computer-based operating systems and applications has been 'client side', i.e. it places primary responsibility on the consumer to maintain access to the system compared with, for example, the responsibility of the broadcaster for everything except the functioning of the user interface (Chapter 2).
1.2 The key client side factors which, individually and in combination, have caused problems to consumers are:
- Introduction (2.0)
- Unfitness for purpose (2.1)
- Poor consumer protection (2.2)
- Maintenance responsibility; Upgrading and incompatibility (2.3)
- Arbitrary invasion, junk mail & malicious damage (2.4)
- The hardware/software oligopoly ratchet (2.5)
- The market model (2.6).
1.3 This historically oppressive and inefficient model of service delivery can now be re-assessed in the light of the following technological and socio-economic developments (Chapter 3):
- Introduction (3.0)
- The emergence of broad band telephony (3.1)
- Increased awareness of the fair competition imperative (3.2)
- The emergence of subscription models of media consumption in the context of convergence (3.3)
- The transformation from digital privilege to digital rights (3.4)
- The green imperative (3.5)
- The public sector move from PC/Apple hegemony to platform neutrality (3.6).
- Mission-shaped technology (3.7)
- The imperative of cost saving (3.8)
- Child protection (3.9).
1.4 From the foregoing, it is clear that there is a strong case for server over client side services. This Chapter gathers together previous evidence into an easy reference summary:
- Introduction (4.0)
- Supplier responsibility (4.1)
- Branded brokerage (4.2)
- Child protection (4.3)
- Centralised upgrading, fixing, filtering and virus protection (4.4)
- Centralised accessibility attributes (4.5)
- Lower unit cost of production and consumption (4.6)
- Cost stability (4.7)
- The green dividend (4.8).
- Generic user requirements (4.9)
1.5 There is a special inclusion case for server side services for 'socially excluded' people but the case becomes stronger with disability in general and blindness and visual impairment in particular. This Chapter will therefore cover
- Introduction (5.0)
- Mission statements (5.1)
- Reasonable adjustment (5.2)
- 'Accessibility taxes' (5.3)
- Hardware disaggregation (5.4)
- The broadcast-like experience and inclusion (5.5)
- Geometric complexity (compatibility and MTBF) (5.6)
- Multi modality (5.7)
- Screen readers and server side voice out (5.8)
- The Use of Screen Readers (5.9)