This press release should be headed "Microsoft forgot to put
accessibility features in Internet Explorer 4.00"!
Ian F.

 -----Original Message-----

Microsoft Incorporates Leading Accessibility Features Into Internet
Explorer 4.01
New Version of Award-Winning Browser Software Also Improves Setup and
Security
REDMOND, Wash., Dec. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Microsoft Corp. today announced
that
accessibility features have been added to its award-winning browsing
software. Microsoft(r) Internet Explorer 4.01, released to the Web
today,
includes a number of advances that make the World Wide Web more
accessible
to computer users with disabilities. Internet Explorer 4.01 also
supports
keyboard accessibility features and the Microsoft Active Accessibility
(MSAA) compatibility layer, ensuring that Internet Explorer is
compatible
with third-party accessibility aids such as blind-access utilities.
"Microsoft is committed to providing the most advanced browsing
capabilities
to the breadth of Web users," said Yusuf Mehdi, director of marketing in
the
applications and Internet client group at Microsoft. "Although we had
hoped
to include these important features with the initial release of Internet
Explorer 4.0, we are pleased to now be able to offer a broader set of
accessibility features than any other browsing software available
today."
Key Accessibility Features Added
The new accessibility features in Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.01 allow
users to customize the appearance and behavior of Web pages to
accommodate
the needs of users with disabilities, offering the ability to control
the
display of the colors, font sizes and font styles of all Web pages.
Internet
Explorer 4.01 also includes extensive keyboard accessibility features
for
users who have difficulty using a device such as a mouse and support for
screen readers to assist vision-impaired users and others who rely on
third-party accessibility software. The following specific accessibility
features have been added:
*	Full keyboard accessibility. All objects in Web pages on the
Active
Desktop(tm) interface can now be accessed using keystrokes instead of a
mouse, enabling full access to all parts of the shell directly from the
keyboard.
*	HTML Help. HTML Help is now fully usable with the keyboard. In
addition, users can now override formatting options, display text
instead of
images, disable animation and even apply their own style sheet to
achieve
greater control over how Help is presented. When users adjust these and
similar options in Microsoft Internet Explorer
		4.01	and then restart Help, the settings will
automatically apply to all Help topics viewed.

*	Full-screen view. Users can now remove all toolbars and scroll
bars
from the screen to make more room for Web pages using the f11 key.  This
allows for the appearance of more information on the screen at one time
as
well as the elimination of distracting peripheral controls for users
with
cognitive disabilities. This is also useful for users who prefer large
fonts
or want to minimize the need to scroll.
*	Fully displayed image descriptions. When images are turned off,
Internet Explorer can display the entire textual description of the
image,
even if it would normally be cut off to fit the size of the object. This
is
useful for anyone who prefers text to graphics and allows older versions
of
blind-access utilities to read the textual description for these images
aloud. Newer utilities can use Active Accessibility to identify and read
these descriptions even when the graphics are still displayed on the
screen.

*	Appropriate placement of system caret. In Internet Explorer
4.01,
the system caret can be moved when a flag is set. This allows older
screen
readers or screen magnifiers to read or magnify the correct information
as
the user navigates with the keyboard. Newer utilities can get this
information using Active Accessibility.
*	Customization of text or link color. ALT text picks up the
current
text or link color, instead of always displaying it in black. This way,
users with vision issues can read the description of the image, even if
they
require specific color combinations.

Version 4.01 Improves Setup and Security
Microsoft also improved product setup and security as well as other top
customer concerns with Internet Explorer 4.01. In particular, Internet
Explorer 4.01 addresses issues affecting Compaq Presario users and
includes
the latest security updates to Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0, so that
users have only to make one download to have the most up-to-date
software.
Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.01 also incorporates product updates that
correct installation issues that affect specific hardware and software
configurations.
Availability
Microsoft is recommending that only those users who need accessibility
features or who have experienced installation problems download Internet
Explorer 4.01. Microsoft recommends that all users download the security
patch. Both downloads can be done from the Internet Explorer home page
at
http://www.microsoft.com/ie/ <http://www.microsoft.com/ie/> .
Founded in 1975, Microsoft is the worldwide leader in software for
personal
computers. The company offers a wide range of products and services for
business and personal use, each designed with the mission of making it
easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power
of
personal computing every day.
NOTE: Microsoft and Active Desktop are either registered trademarks or
trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other
countries.
Other product and company names herein may be trademarks of their
respective
owners.
NOTE TO EDITORS: If you are interested in viewing additional information
on
Microsoft, check out the Microsoft Web page at
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/
<http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/>
on Microsoft's corporate information pages. For information on Microsoft
Internet Explorer's growing use in corporate environments, visit
http://www.microsoft.com/ie/corp/ <http://www.microsoft.com/ie/corp/> .
CONTACT: Kathy Gill, 503-245-0905, or [log in to unmask]
<mailto:[log in to unmask]> , or Andrea Carlos, 503-245-0905, or
[log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]> , both of Waggener
Edstrom,
for Microsoft Corp.


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