hello and greetings to all fellow accessindians!
it have been really long since i've been able to sit down, open note pad, and write and compile article in my own words on something very special, and post it to the mailing list. but honestly, i've missed describing and narrating the subject of the topic in my own way, and lately, there have been nothing so special in the world of accessibility that needs to be addressed specifically. but this time, just few days ago, a remarkable change has occurred, which marks the starting of a new venture of peoples with visual impairments into the world of touch screens. yes, i'm talking of iPhone 3gs. let its fast speed, grate features, accessibility aside, the biggest achievement is, for the first time, some big techno firm has took care of the needs of differently able persons and considered to include assistive programs and functions right into their mainstream product. long story in short version is, the new iphone 3gs, has a very powerful, customizable and easy to understand screen reader built right into the device by default, which means that you don't have to pay extra large amount to purchase another software, and then there is a whole new different story of incompatibility of the software version with your phone's operating system, non supportive applications, maintenance of its registration key, which has been totally eliminated in iPhone, because the screen reader, voiceOver comes by default installed in iPhone, which just needs to be activated in order to use it. each time you buy the newer iPhone 3gs, you get a built in, properly optimized, and ready to use out-of-box screen reader. talking of its features, why not hear it directly from its producers, apple computing? head over to. http://www.apple.com/accessibility/iphone/vision.html and learn more about voiceover for iPhone. there's also a very interesting and unbiased blog post by a general iPhone user talking about the accessibility of new iPhone which can be located at. http://www.evengrounds.com/blog/the-new -iphone-3g-s-provides-more-support-for-people-with-disabilities but then, won't it be better to hear about the actual utility of iPhone and if its promise of a fully accessible device is true from an expert blind user who have tried the device on his own? MarcoZehe, a blind developer and programmer in mozilla foundation went to an apple store to try the iPhone and its speech capabilities on his own, and here is what he have to say. http://www.marcozehe.de/2009/06/22/my-first-experience-using-an-accessible-touch-screen-device/ i'm sure even after so much of reading chunks of text, there's nothing that beets an actual podcast in mp3 format, which demonstrates an actual working iPhone, with screen reader active, and explanations of each and every important thing about it. download the podcast recorded in 3 parts from, part 1: http://www.shanejackson.net/iPhone_Podcast_1.mp3 part 2: http://www.shanejackson.net/iPhone_Podcast_2.mp3 and the final and last, part 3: http://www.shanejackson.net/iPhone_Podcast_3.mp3 and for the persons with low vision, who can see a youtube video, can have a glimpse of a working iPhone with screen reader activated at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=496IAx6_xys i'm sure this first step of apple of integrating accessibility into their mainstream products will surely benefit everybody equally, resulting a happy profit making company, happy customers, and equality among its users. it also denies the myth, that a visually challenged person can not use a touch screen. although its not as easy as operating the traditional keypad of your present mobilePhone, but never the less, it is possible to fully operate a touch screen based device. pheww!!!! now, that's called a review! *grins*. since now you all have enough of reading, downloading and listening ahead, i'd conclude my mail here. with warm regards, Ruchir. -- As long as forever, I will stay by your side, I'll be your companion, Your friend and your guide!!! www.ruchir89.wordpress.com To unsubscribe send a message to [email protected] with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in
