Hi
I believe that whether dos access was better than what we have now is
subjective, and depends on your preference. I know a lot of people
who say dos had better access, when what they really meant is that
they liked the text-based interface better than the GUI. We had
access to most things in dos, that is true, but we were stuck in dos
while the world had moved on. Window-eyes has most of the
configuration abilities that vocal-eyes did--not all, as some don't
apply in a graphical environment. And don't forget that in dos, there
really were no standards for applications' interfaces. Anyone who
remembers the complex configurations most screenreaders needed to
work with wordprocessors other than wordperfect or microsoft works
will know exactly what I'm talking about here, and the only reason we
didn't have to configure those two applications in the screenreader
is because the manufacturers did that for us. Personally, even though
it has its very annoying aspect, I prefer what the majority of us use
now to the dos days--I know, and am fully aware, that I am most
likely in the minority here for one who has used both dos and various
GUI environments extensively. I held on to dos as long as I could,
but I'm glad I finally let it go, that battle was lost. I still love
the command line--that's what Linux is for--but I'm not closed to the
advantages that a GUI has. And I must admit that I love multi-
tasking, especially in Linux and OS X. It has certainly made me much
more efficient and, no matter what task switching software we used in
dos, it really couldn't do what we can do now in addition to playing
hell with the screenreader more often than not. Okay, I'll stop now,
I'm getting a bit off-topic for this list, I think. To each their
own, just my $0.02 worth.
On Mar 17, 2006, at 8:51 AM, <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
I’m afraid that in general, I don’t se that we have progressed
nearly as far as some think we have in terms of accessibility.
While I never really used computers, Mac or PC’s, with dos based
speech, I have heard that it was far better. I do know that the
invent of GUI interfaces and the like has complicated this level of
accessibility.
I also feel that we as blind and low vision users are an after
thought and even feel that computer companies often view us as
obstacles to progress. Months ago I was following some of the
discussion around the changes Microsoft is making in Windows Vista
and with its Office product. It sure sounded like these changes
were going to further complicate accessibility. Further, even our
good friends at Apple one minute push accessibility but then
release products like iWork06 where parts of the program are
accessible and then you can’t do simple things like write or edit
text.
Even in other areas we continue to be ignored as blind folks. Just
this week the city of Phoenix passed several bond proposals that
will be used to improve the quality of life here in the city. One
project involves the city parks and recreation department
partnering with the local center for independent living to build an
accessible fitness center. However, when I reviewed the list of
planned activities and equipment, everything listed was for those
who use chairs. Nothing about making the machines accessible to
blind users. Nothing about activities involving blind folks. The
point is that even among our brothers and sisters in the disability
community, when we talk accessibility we’ve not moved beyond ramps
and curb cuts. I think this is what bothers me the most. The
blindness organizations have done some things but probably most
obvious is that as blind folks we’ve been segmented off in to our
own little group. And then, our little blind group is further
divided because consumer organizations are too busy pissing and
moaning at one another over philosophical differences. Just
imagine what we could do if we as blind people could get our crap
together, stop being our own little community and stop being our
own organizations. Just think what could happen if we as a
disability community could recognize our collective needs and be
working together. About the only time we can manage to do that is
when cuts to vocational rehab are proposed. Sorry reason to gather
together on an issue if you ask me.
Alas, I’ve gone far afield on my little rant here. Sorry!
I do believe though that the potential is there to have a better
quality of life and further accessibility to many things in the
future. This because individuals who are aging are loosing their
vision at an alarming rate. These are people who have worked hard
and been successful all of their lives. I don’t think that these
folks in the baby-boomer generation are just going to decide that
life and independence are lost because they begin loosing their
vision. So, I think that there will continue to be increased
demand for products and services to increase in accessibility. I
also think that more products using voice recognition and speech
will continue to come on the market and this can be a good thing
for us.
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Date: 2006/03/17 Fri AM 10:11:03 EST
To: General discussions on all topics relating to the use of Mac
OS X by the
blind <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: where are we at twenty years later?
We are behind the computer curve as an after thought. We have not
reached
in the mac and ms worlds the level of access and power and
flexibility and
user control of screen readers that was possible 15 years ago in
dos. Most
blind folk are unaware of this because most have become computer
users in a
windows world and are thrilled that their computer speaks at all, not
realizing that the gui ms and mac based speech is second and even
third
best when it works at all.
We have let the national blind groups to do a song and dance on us
and
neglect leadership on speech access and making excuses why it is so.
There is no blind vision among them as to what access is in all
aspects of
life and most particular in technology. As a thumbnail neasure,
almost
universal captioning on tv and equally universal wheelchair access
to all
public places puts to shame the disarray and third best even if it
exists
use of technology we have.
XB
IC|XC
