This is a critically important point.
Apple has no way of measuring the success here, and the amount of
complaints is certainly no way to this, even less would be the numbers of
people who stop by a booth at a conference.
There are thousands, perhaps even millions of vision challenged people out
here who do not even know the technology is out there, Could not even
conceive affording the windows options, and contrary to travis's idea have
no interest in, nor should they, in becoming a computer expert to achieve
results. Show apple that there is a real market, and perhaps they will not
need to do this.
Marketing is everything, and like it or not there are still many
misconceptions, and to be honest a lot of them are perpetuated by so called
blind community organizations about the audience for this product.
If apple does not hear from those in the real mainstream, not those who
are able to reprogram their computers, but the average consumer who looks
a lot like the regular apple customer save that their vision works
differently, they will have no motivation for continuing effort here.
The feel good notion is no way to run a business, profit, market share,
ETC. can be.
We have a job crisis in this country and there are millions of people who
can fill this need if the technology is there and affordable, without the
continuous need to be upgraded tweaked, and pampered into working....like
with windows.
Can you imagine how beneficial it would be for apple's profits to be able
to outfit who is or was the largest employer of the disabled, the federal
government, with voice over? That translates into real numbers, and if
informed that the market things it possible, perhaps with some real numbers
to show apple that there is a market here they may continue to take vo
seriously.
Given the outrageous prices for adaptive technology in general, someone
must have marketing information to support such rates. Why not give apple
the proof that they can make money on vo if they just put in the effort.
better still why not help them with that effort sharing some of the wisdom
many here have demonstrated based on their own work with the product?
There is a wide ocean between apple and their real market for vo. It is
up to those here who have a vested interest in its continuing to help
bridge that ocean.
Karen
On Sun, 2 Apr 2006, John Denning wrote:
Let me just say for a last time. First I never said that Apple intended to
cease development of access technology, or VO in particular. What i said was
that i heard that the priority has been lowered, less resources will be
devoted in the future to VO.
if this is true it is cause to be concerned. If there is any chance that it
is true it might be wise to send feedback to apple indicating interest in the
Universal Access technology. I'd suggest that such contact not be to the
accessibility, but rather a more general contact. I think all the people on
the access team are interested in continued support.
Apple really doesn't have any means to know how many people are utilizing the
UI technology. They can gauge by the number of support calls on any given
topic. But if customers don't give feedback apple has no way to really know.
It's not like we had to register UI to use it. They just know they sold
Tiger.
I'm sorry that some of you get so upset when someone says something you don't
agree with. Your life must either be hell,l or sheltered.
You all want me to give names. But funny thing is I see mentions by others of
"this apple rep told me." Or "that apple rep assured me." Where are the
names? Do you know how many people on the development team for UI? And their
names?
This isn't a matter of knowing something someone else doesn't know. It's a
matter of letting apple know we believe in the technology, we want it, and we
see a bright future for it. I don't believe apple realizes what they really
have with it. Apple is focused on the media industry. They have been for
years. And they do a fantastic job in it. I don't believe they realize how
many us us visually impaired computer users are out there, and how are
willing to look at something other than JFW.
What they do so however is all the press going around blasting VO and saying
things that are down right not true. Positive feedback never hurts, even if
it isn't needed.
On Apr 1, 2006, at 10:41 PM, John Panarese wrote:
JD's source certainly might have other information, but it seems difficult
to believe that VO will stop being developed,
- JD -
John Denning
AIM: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
A+ MCSA MCSE
And glad to be a Mac snob again!
Roswell, GA
My very old web site: www.jdenning.net
