Interesting perspective. Have you tried more modern commandline interfaces based on non-DOS systems?
Emacspeak is an audio text-based interface to Linux: http://emacspeak.sourceforge.net/ PowerShell is Microsoft's new commandline interface. You can access COM and interact with other tools through it. A quick try suggests it works with Narrator: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/technologies/management/powershell/default.mspx Alasdair On Thu, Jul 22, 2010 at 2:45 PM, Eleni Vamvakari <[email protected]> wrote: > Hi there, > > I wrote this in response to a personal e-mail sent to me the other > night and then shared it with the Blind Computer Users list but forgot > to send it here. But after today's discussion, it occurred to me that > some of you are curious about it as well. > > I'll add this before starting. Apple IIs in school aside, I > started using computers in around 1996. By that time, DOS was already > obselete and no one would teach me what I wanted to know. I'd refused > to learn Windows prior to then and had started on my own little > adventure using MS-DOS 5.0, Word Perfect 5.1, DOS for Dummies tapes > that I got from the NLS, a Word Perfect tutorial from the local > library and a machine that I'd inherited from a friend of the family. > But eventually, the computer, with a 386 cpu, crashed and I was forced > to use Windows. I then began acquiring some DOS tech to the point > that I had synths and two KeyNote Gold laptops with stripped-down > versions of MS-DOS 6.21. But then, I lost the cable needed for the > synth and by the time I went to college, the old tech was put away. > Well, I graduated from college four years ago and found that crazy > cable about two years ago, so now have time to get back to the system > I love. Only now, I've outgrown the laptop and want to expand to a > newer and better computer, which is why I'm having that custom one > built. Anyway, here's the essay. > > Many people throughout my life have asked me why I love DOS so much. > Not being a truly technical person, I could only give a few reasons > from my limited experience. I love old tech in general, and avoid > touch screens on things that work perfectly fine with dials, switches > and real buttons. But that's not the only reason why I love DOS. It's > a fast, efficient, stable, keyboard-friendly system which doesn't > require alot of power, hard drive space, ram, speed or money passed > the initial cost of a synthesizer, a screen reader if you get > VocalEyes (sold but no longer supported), since all others are now > free. Even the machine itself is also cheap, since you don't need a > top of the line computer to run this os. Of course, if you choose to > get scanning software and a braille embosser, that will add money to > the overall cost, but even those can be bought at a good price if > you're lucky enough to find them. Most of the mainstream software is > also freeware, shareware or very cheap. The newer versions of the > operating system, like FreeDOS and Enhanced DR-DOS, are open source, > meaning that you can tweek them to meet your needs if you have the > technical knowhow. They're also updating the various versions to be > compatible with modern hardware and formats so you're not limited to > using only older technology. Enhanced DR-DOS was just updated last > year and has it's own built-in multitasker, available since the old > DR-DOS days, which, if it works with a screen reader, means that > you're not stuck using only one program at a time. As for me > personally, I like programs that use the tui (text user interface) and > the command line or that have nice hotkeys and/or menus built in and > that don't have tons of graphics, most of which are unnecessary or > which complicate things without reason. > > For the longest time, that was as far as I could go with my answer. > But after 14 years, I've found the page that explains more than I ever > could about why DOS is still a viable option today and why it > shouldn't be tossed aside. At the below link, you'll find 37 > fallacies about DOS and why they're all wrong. Some are common > misconceptions and some even surprised me. It's a bit long but > definitely worth reading, especially if you know alot about operating > systems and/or are looking for an alternative one that will keep you > on budget and won't give you a headache. > > http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/~ak621/DOS/DOS-Fal.html > > Many have said that software and resources are no longer available > for DOS. If they mean ones for adaptive technology, then sadly, > they're right. But there's alot out there for the mainstream. > > http://www.unet.univie.ac.at/~a0503736/php/drdoswiki/index.php > > and > > http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/~ak621/DOS/DOS-Head.html > > (especially the second one) are both gold minds of material and have > just about everything you could ever want, from links to other > websites, including ones with different varieties of DOS, to programs, > to tutorials and books on using the os, various programs and even > programming itself, to tips and even a little humour. The only things > they doen't have, as I've said, are reviews and tips on using software > from the blind point of view and information on finding and using > adaptive technology. > > I hope this explains my point of view a bit more clearly and that > some people here will be able to help me. I'd really like to get my > system up and running. > > Talk soon, > Eleni > > For answers to frequently asked questions about this list visit: > http://www.jaws-users.com/help/ > -- Alasdair King For answers to frequently asked questions about this list visit: http://www.jaws-users.com/help/
