ie8 fix

New Microsoft tool helps developers create programs viewable by vision-impaired

By | June 14, 2010, 8:40am PDT

Summary: Microsoft’s Innovation Labs in Israel has made available for download a technical preview of Digital Lens, a tool for developers interested in making their applications viewable by those with certain vision impairments.

Microsoft’s Innovation Labs in Israel has made available for download a technical preview of Digital Lens, a tool for developers interested in making their applications viewable by those with certain vision impairments.

Digital Lens emulates conditions like color blindness and blurry vision, enabling designers and developers to identify potential user-interface issues and fix them before they release their applications.

The tool available only for 32-bit Windows 7. Digital Lens also requires users to have an Aero Theme enabled in order to work correctly.

Innovation Labs, part of Microsoft Israel’s Research and Development Center, is charged with “finding and prototyping new innovative ideas and technologies that will propel Microsoft forward within the E&D (Entertainment and Devices) space in the short-term future,” according to its Web site. “ILabs sets out to create and incubate technical and business innovations that will result in a substantial and measureable business and/or mindshare advantage to Microsoft,” the site adds.

Other Innovation Labs research projects include OneAlbum and the DeepZoom Composer (codenamed “Headlight”). I’m not sure if the “Echoes” mobile/advertising project, which got its start at Microsoft Israel’s R&D Center (and has since seemingly disappeared), is also considered an Innovation Labs project, but I’d bet so.

Kick off your day with ZDNet's daily e-mail newsletter. It's the freshest tech news and opinion, served hot. Get it.

Topics

Mary Jo has covered the tech industry for more than 25 years for a variety of publications and Web sites, and is a frequent guest on radio, TV and podcasts, speaking about all things Microsoft-related. She is the author of Microsoft 2.0: How Microsoft plans to stay relevant in the post-Gates era (John Wiley & Sons, 2008).

Disclosure

Mary-Jo Foley

Freelance journalist/blogger Mary Jo Foley has nothing to disclose. WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get). I do not own Microsoft stock or stock in any of its partners or competitors. I have no business ventures that are sponsored by/funded by Microsoft or any of its partners or competitors.

Biography

Mary-Jo Foley

Mary Jo Foley has covered the tech industry for 25 years for a variety of publications, including ZDNet, eWeek and Baseline. She has kept close tabs on Microsoft strategy, products and technologies for the past 10 years. In the late 1990s, she penned the award-winning "At The Evil Empire" column for ZDNet, and more recently the Microsoft Watch blog for Ziff Davis.

Got a tip? Send her an email with your rants, rumors, tips and tattles. Confidentiality guaranteed.

Related Discussions on TechRepublic

Did you know you can take part in these discussions with your ZDNet membership?
6
Comments

Join the conversation!

Just In

RE: New Microsoft tool helps developers create programs viewable by vision-impaired
makrekwe36-24353604351308201371159602661286 Updated - 10th Nov
Enormous task! You possess the prowess of most inspiring acquiring. Since i one at a uk mulberry shop time much-loved all of the summarization especially the same movements relating mulberry ******** outlet to good plansmulberry shop .
So it isn't live, but I was using it a few years ago to try to design more inclusive products:
http://docs.gimp.org/en/gimp-display-filter-dialog.html
@stevey_d
Thanks! I never new gimp had that. Should we ever have any 'colour blind' employees that's really gonna help me help them happy
0 Votes
+ -
Reply
timaeus Updated - 30th Jun
@AndyPagin I'd be happy if sohbet got rid of the ribbon and gave us chat users the pull-down menus that existed before Office 2007 for forum . I like getting Outlook for the portal . It has grown on me since my new Windows izlesene box had to use Outlook since chat sohbet was removed. email client is weak.
0 Votes
+ -
Hey, many thanks reebok jerseys for your page.Clearly wanting ahead to go through significantly more. Neat.
Really like your blog content the way you put up the things I have read the topic with great interest and definitely will stick your blog routinely for other great posts.
http://www.cambalkon.gen.tr
http://www.bagdatgelinlik.com
http://www.anadoludesign.com
http://www.terapiuzmani.com
http://www.dermaturk.com.tr
0 Votes
+ -
RE: New Microsoft tool helps developers create programs viewable by vision-impaired
makrekwe36-24353604351308201371159602661286 Updated - 10th Nov
Enormous task! You possess the prowess of most inspiring acquiring. Since i one at a uk mulberry shop time much-loved all of the summarization especially the same movements relating mulberry ******** outlet to good plansmulberry shop .

Join the conversation!

Formatting +
BB Codes - Note: HTML is not supported in forums
  • [b] Bold [/b]
  • [i] Italic [/i]
  • [u] Underline [/u]
  • [s] Strikethrough [/s]
  • [q] "Quote" [/q]
  • [ol][*] 1. Ordered List [/ol]
  • [ul][*] · Unordered List [/ul]
  • [pre] Preformat [/pre]
  • [quote] "Blockquote" [/quote]
ie8 fix

The best of ZDNet, delivered

ZDNet Newsletters

Get the best of ZDNet delivered straight to your inbox

Facebook Activity

White Papers, Webcasts, & Resources
ie8 fix