Summary: An open letter with updates for readers from Aaron Di Blasi addressing the recent announcement of the closure of AppleVis, a vital resource for accessible apps and devices.
Greetings everyone. I wanted to give everyone a quick update here because it is much easier to do this way than to respond individually to the many readers that have reached out seeking information about AppleVis.
On July 27, 2024 David Goodwin announced the closure of AppleVis.
On July 29, 2024 I addressed David and the AppleVis Team via the Access Information Newsletter, offering any help that we might be able to provide.
Since that time many readers have reached out to us looking for more information. The very best source of it, as of this writing, is the DoubleTap Podcast titled, “AppleVis Is To Close Down: The Double Tap Panel Reacts” released on July 29, 2024.
We have not been contacted by anyone from AppleVis as of this writing. Which may be a bit easier to understand once you listen to the podcast. This is not a case of someone simply offering to host the website. There are many more points for consideration that are outlined gracefully within the podcast.
To answer the two most asked questions that we have received:
1.) “Is there anything that you can do to help?”
The answer is maybe. But it is important to understand that the AppleVis Team may or may not need that help.
I imagine someone or some thing will step forward prior to the scheduled shut down date of August 31, 2024 with a plan to save the site as an archive, at minimum. Which is why we made the offer initially.
But it looks like the community not only wants to save the site as an archive, but explore ways to keep it functioning as it did when David was running it. And that is something that we cannot donate.
Hosting the site is one thing, but operating it is an entirely different endeavor. One that I believe, like Top Tech Tidbits and Access Information News, requires consistent funding to be sustainable.
All of which is discussed, in detail, in the podcast.
2.) “Didn’t you save Top Tech Tidbits?”
Yes we did.
Top Tech Tidbits was also slated for death in 2020 when its previous Publisher could no longer afford to maintain it.
This Publisher shopped Top Tech Tidbits around the access community too. And with it an email list of over 7,500 weekly subscribers. And still no one bit. Which I think is also telling here.
Anyone that ultimately decides to take this on will be held responsible for it success, just as we were and still are held responsible for the success of Top Tech Tidbits, and now Access Information News as well.
The puzzle that this person, or persons, will need to solve is, “What kind of model could sustain AppleVis without volunteers?”
It was mentioned in the podcast that they could see dozens of teams of people working on the site. Which I suppose is true. But what I cannot see is how you could generate the level of revenue required to make those positions meaningful. Something they admit would be a requirement for sustainability.
No matter what the final solution, if the site is to be saved in any form, the primary choice that will need to be made is, “Who will hold the keys?”
Because someone has to. The domain must be owned by someone and the site must be hosted by someone. From there, whoever that person (or entity) is would then need to delegate access to the site once they figured out how to fund it.
Which is the real question here in my opinion.
Subscription fees? Sponsors? Who knows what the community might respond best to.
And who’s going to set it all up? And manage it? And what will they get in return?
Research would need to be done. Money spent. And chances taken.
And we know this because we did all of it ourselves back in 2020 when everyone told us that Top Tech Tidbits could not be saved.
It wasn’t true then, and it isn’t true now, but it takes courage, funding and chance to make real change, and outside of direct financial assistance from Apple, which has its own drawbacks, that is what it will take to maintain the AppleVis site as a service.
With that, I leave you with a high-level outline of the podcast discussion for you to consider these points further.
Podcast Outline
1. Introduction
- Introduction to the podcast “Double Tap”
- Announcement of the main topic: the closure of AppleVis
2. Panel Introduction
- Hosts: Stephen, Sean, and John
- Guest panelists: Shelly Brisbane, Michael Feir, Allison Molloy
3. Initial Reactions
- Shock and sadness at the news of AppleVis closing
- Discussion on the importance and impact of AppleVis on the community
4. Contributions and Experiences
- Shelly Brisbane’s insights on her involvement with AppleVis
- Michael Feir’s experience with AppleVis and its role in writing his book
- Allison Molloy’s journey from using an iPod Touch to becoming a power user with the help of AppleVis
5. Reasons for Closure
- David Goodwin’s health scare (not the primary reason)
- Maintenance and workload handled by volunteers
- Increasing negativity and toxic interactions in the forums
6. Community’s Reaction
- Listeners and community members express their gratitude and sadness
- Emails and messages from users highlighting the personal impact of AppleVis
7. Role and Importance of AppleVis
- Resource for accessible apps and devices
- Forum for users to share experiences and solutions
- Trust and reliability as a source of information
8. Challenges Faced by AppleVis
- Sustaining a volunteer-based model
- Technical upkeep and content moderation
- Dealing with negative behavior and trolls in the community
9. Potential Future Steps
- Discussion on whether Apple or the community should take over
- Possibility of paid moderators and technical staff
- Importance of maintaining a centralized resource for accessibility
10. Community’s Suggestions and Feedback
- Comments from listeners about the necessity of a central, trusted resource
- Importance of preserving the archives and historical information
11. Alternatives and Solutions
- Potential for Apple to support or take over the site
- Possibility of a new community-led initiative with proper funding and structure
12. Conclusion and Reflection
- Final thoughts on the impact of AppleVis and the importance of community resources
- Gratitude to David Goodwin and the AppleVis team
- Hopes for future solutions and the preservation of AppleVis’ legacy
Hosts, Guests, and Listeners Who Contributed To This Discussion
- Stephen Scott (Host)
- Shaun Preece (Co-host)
- Shelly Brisbin (Guest, author of iOS Access for All)
- Michael Feir (Guest, author of Personal Power)
- Allison Molloy (Guest, co-host on the Tech Doctor Blog and Podcast)
- David Goodwin (Founder and creator of AppleVis, mentioned in the discussion)
- Robert Carter (Co-host with Allison Molloy on the Tech Doctor Blog and Podcast, mentioned by Allison)
- Thomas Domville (AppleVis team member, mentioned by Melissa)
- Michael Hansen (AppleVis team member, mentioned by Melissa)
- David Woodbridge (Joined Tech Doctor Blog and Podcast, mentioned by Allison)
- John Carpenter (Listener who sent an email)
- Dennis (Listener who commented on Mastodon)
- Jessica (Listener who commented on Mastodon)
- John (Listener who commented on Mastodon)
- Callum (Listener who commented on Mastodon)
- Karthik Kannan (From Envision, commented on X)
- Steven (Listener who commented on X)
- Saheed (Listener who commented on X)
- Tim (Listener who commented on Mastodon)
- Char (Listener who commented on Mastodon)
- Melissa Rowe (Listener who left a voicemail)
- Joe (Listener who commented on Mastodon)
Appreciate the update and summary of the challenges to maintain Apple Vis. It has been a vital source of information on accessible technology, and will be deeply missed if no solution is found.
Our pleasure Brenda. It is our sincerest hope that David will choose to allow the site to live on as an archive, if nothing else. To this end, we have offered to host the site as an archive, indefinitely. My very best guess is that one of 4 things will happen. The first of which already has:
(1) Some person or group of persons will step forward with a plan to host the site as an archive, long term. As we have. But this would only preserve the website itself. The site, as a service, would still die.
(2) Apple will actually step in and offer funding. Which I doubt. And even if they did, there would be drawbacks because it would no longer be owned by the access community. So it could no longer be as trusted.
(3) Some person or group of persons will step forward with a plan to reinstate the site as a service with David’s blessing.
(4) David will choose to let the site die. Possibly due to the way the community treated him and others on the forums, which he discusses in his shutdown post.
Below is a list of information on the subject:
July 27, 2024: The End of an Era: A Message From the Founder as We Announce the Closure of AppleVis
https://www.applevis.com/blog/end-era-message-founder-we-announce-closure-applevis
July 29, 2024: AppleVis Is To Close Down: The Double Tap Panel Reacts
https://doubletaponair.com/applevis-is-to-close-down-the-double-tap-panel-reacts/
July 30, 2024: An Open Letter About The Closure of AppleVis | Aaron Di Blasi | AT-Newswire.com
https://at-newswire.com/an-open-letter-about-the-closure-of-applevis/
August 3, 2024: AppleVis Closure | Double Tap Video | YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sYouJHwgCQ
August 4, 2024: An Open Offer From Top Tech Tidbits To Save The AppleVis Website As An Archive | Aaron Di Blasi | AT-Newswire.com
https://at-newswire.com/open-offer-to-save-the-applevis-website-as-an-archive/