Fw: [WSIS CS-Plenary] About the UN document system, and lessons
for information diffusion
Carlos Afonso
ca at rits.org.br
Thu Jan 6 16:22:42 GMT 2005
Sorry, Kouraich, but Fast Browser is little more than a new "skin" for
MS Internet Explorer (it does not run without M$IE), and it works only
on Windows machines.
--c.a.
Kouraich.Jaouahdou at unctad.org wrote:
>
> Hi,
>
> The ODS site works without any problem with a browser like "Fast
> Browser".
>
> You can download it from : http://www.fastbrowser.net/download.html
> More on "Fast Browser" on: http://www.fastbrowser.net/index.html
>
> Kouraich
>
>
>
>
>
> *Ramin Kaweh*
>
> 06.01.2005 14:54
>
>
> To: Kouraich Jaouahdou/GVA/UNCTAD at UNCTAD-NOTES
> cc:
> Subject: Fw: [WSIS CS-Plenary] About the UN document
> system, and lessons for information diffusion
>
>
>
>
>
> * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
> Ramin Kaweh
> Programme Officer
> UN-NGLS (Non-Governmental Liaison Service)
> Palais des Nations
> 1211 Geneva 10
> Switzerland
> tel: 0041.22. 917 2078
> fax: 0041.22. 917 0432
> ramin.kaweh at unctad.org
> www.un-ngls.org
> * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
>
>
>
> ----- Forwarded by Ramin Kaweh/GVA/UNCTAD on 06.01.2005 14:54 -----
>
> *Andy Carvin <acarvin at edc.org>*
> Sent by: plenary-admin at wsis-cs.org
>
> 06.01.2005 14:35
> Please respond to plenary
>
>
> To: plenary at wsis-cs.org
> cc:
> Subject: Re: [WSIS CS-Plenary] About the UN document
> system, and lessons for information diffusion
>
>
>
>
> Not sure if anyone has mentioned this aspect already, but the site fails
> even the most basic Web accessibility standards for the disabled (the
> W3C WAI standard). They don't even provide ALT tags for the graphics on
> the homepage.
>
> http://bobby.watchfire.com/bobby/bobbyServlet?URL=http%3A%2F%2Fdocuments.un.org&gl=wcag1-aaa&test=
>
> If this had been a US govt site, it would have also failed to pass the
> Section 508 guidelines required by law to make all government sites have
> rudimentary accessibility.
>
> http://bobby.watchfire.com/bobby/bobbyServlet?URL=http%3A%2F%2Fdocuments.un.org&gl=sec508&test=
>
> ac
>
> Rik Panganiban wrote:
> > Thanks everyone for your detailed feedback on the ODS system. I am in
> > touch with some United Nations folks about this, who are also concerned
> > about the non-compatibility of the code. Indeed it would be strange if
> > the UN did not comply with internationally-accepted standards.
> >
> > Rik Panganiban
> >
> > On Jan 6, 2005, at 5:14 AM, Hervé Le Crosnier wrote:
> >
> > Georg C. F. Greve a écrit :
> >
> > rp> The ODS can be accessed at http://documents.un.org.
> >
> >
> > I just tried this and had problems actually getting to the
> > documents,
> > others have reported similar problems with non-IE browsers on
> > Windows
> > and Macintosh. It appears the site is running on Microsoft
> and is
> > using Microsoft-only functions for Javascript.
> > Could someone else please confirm whether this effect also
> > exists for
> > them or whether this is some odd freak-incident that I have been
> > seeing?
> >
> >
> >
> > Hello,
> >
> > I've also try the UN doc system.
> >
> > To me it don't work either...
> >
> > This answer is not a technical one
> > (though i give technical advice), but rather
> > a short insight on the way we have to deal
> > with information in the information society.
> >
> >
> > The UN site seems intersting... but what a poor realisation.
> > Ugly style... and more : it don't work.
> >
> > Why ?
> >
> > Why do they use such a complicated system only to
> > return back the id of the document we need ?
> > At the end of this mail is the javascript code they use...
> > it's not useful, but i think it will work with my Mozilla
> > on Linux... So the problem is not that one.
> >
> > Where's the problem... that's a good question. Not only
> > a geek one. What are the criterions such a rich and
> > powerful body as UN use to assess an information system ?
> >
> > It works on the developer computer, so it have to work
> > for everyone ?
> >
> > So many times international recognized standards are not in
> > use... and more, standard of practice and programming skills
> > are not used by developpers of international and wide-world
> > information systems.
> >
> > It's a long way to have head of administrative
> > structures to survey their own systems, and to be sure
> > they work for anyone (from the visually-impaired to the users
> > of others systems). They don't have the skills... OK,
> > that's not their job. But they have to hire good analysts,
> > to provide system-control check lists, have independant
> > watchers (never ask the developper to test his own system...).
> >
> > That's really "information society". As we go to give more and
> > more power to system wide coders, we have to define new
> > skills and practices for assessing those systems. And that's a
> > new kind of "governance", and may be of "government".
> >
> > Free software, as it give the ability to learn and share
> > skills, and the capacity for any nation to develop it's
> > own computer science economy, are a good tool for this
> > new conception of responsability of public providers of
> > information to ensure that any users can get access and
> > have satisfaction with the systems they propose to the public.
> >
> > Hervé Le Crosnier
> >
> > PS : here is the javascript code... the problem is not there, but
> > merely in the retunr asp programm...
> >
> > My two cents technical advice :
> > Give away Front page, use any front-end
> > to the UN database, publish the API to
> > access the database (or any other data
> > collected system to use)... and in a minute
> > tens of programmers will add access to the
> > UN documents in their own systems !!!
> >
> > Freeing the public national or international
> > documents is not a question of publishing them,
> > but of organising the acccess for any "publisher"
> > (private or cooperative, or even other national
> > or international bodies) to integrate those documents
> > in their services.
> >
> > Look at the way commercial systems as Amazon
> > offer that kind of API, and the massive use
> > all over very different kind of web prducers.
> >
> > Look at the success of RSS,...
> >
> > Yes building information societies is also a
> > problem of opening access to digital documents.
> > And we need to teach those who are in charge of
> > deciding that it's not a "technical" problem they
> > have to give to a technical staff, but it's also
> > a political problem they have to deal with.
> >
> > "Code is Law" as say Larry Lessig.
> >
> > --------------------------------------
> > <script language="javascript">
> > function Perform(action_name) {
> > var form = document.forms[0];
> > form.lastevent.value=action_name;
> > form.submit();
> > return true;
> > }
> >
> > function ViewDoc(index) {
> > var form = document.forms[0];
> > form.doc2view.value=index;
> > form.submit();
> > return Perform("results.view");
> > }
> >
> > function Perform1(language){
> > var form = document.forms[0];
> > form.langchoice.value=language;
> > form.submit();
> > return Perform('results.lang');
> > }
> > </script>
> >
> >
> >
> > ===============================================
> > RIK PANGANIBAN Communications Coordinator
> > Conference of NGOs in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations
> > (CONGO)
> > web: http://www.ngocongo.org
> > email: rik.panganiban at ngocongo.org
> > mobile: (+1) 917-710-5524
> >
> > ** Please note CONGO's new mailing address: *CP 50, 1211 Genéve 20,
> > Switzerland.* Our physical office address is 11, Avenue De La Paix,
> 1st
> > Floor, 1202 Genéve, Switzerland. **
> >
>
> --
> -----------------------------------
> Andy Carvin
> Program Director
> EDC Center for Media & Community
> acarvin @ edc . org
> http://www.digitaldivide.net
> http://www.tsunami-info.org
> Blog: http://www.andycarvin.com
> -----------------------------------
> _______________________________________________
> Plenary mailing list
> Plenary at wsis-cs.org
> http://mailman.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/plenary
>
>
>------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>No virus found in this incoming message.
>Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
>Version: 7.0.298 / Virus Database: 265.6.8 - Release Date: 3/1/2005
>
>
--
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Carlos Afonso
diretor de planejamento
Rede de Informações para o Terceiro Setor - Rits
Rua Guilhermina Guinle, 272, 6º andar - Botafogo
Rio de Janeiro RJ - Brasil CEP 22270-060
tel +55-21-2527-5494 fax +55-21-2527-5460
ca at rits.org.br http://www.rits.org.br
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
--
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
Version: 7.0.298 / Virus Database: 265.6.8 - Release Date: 3/1/2005
More information about the Plenary
mailing list