Hi Travis,
Thanks for some concrete advice, much appreciated.
Travis Siegel wrote:
"by console mode"
Sorry, I meant terminal, getting confused with Debian Linux.
I tried it as it was on Apple's list of accessible applications, but I
couldn't get anywhere with it.
Is there any documentation for the advanced VO navigation you mentioned?
"There is no voice over for jaws users, because it would be a meaningless
document."
I'm not sure I was clear enough here, I meant a user guide aimed at
people switching from JAWs to Voiceover. It could include things like
the terms for equivalent settings, and guide people through how to do
things from a familiar perspective. Some of it would be the screen
reader, much of it would be about Macs in general, but with Voiceover in
mind.
It wouldn't help me much, but would have been invaluable to my colleague.
"To use voice over, you really have to approach it from a starting from
scratch point of view, since there's no direct comparison to be made."
Sorry, I disagree with that. It is a computer that you can do things
with. Yes they are done differently, and yes a guide would be at least
half about going from Windows to OSX, but it would still be very helpful.
These guides are plentiful for sighted users:
http://arstechnica.com/guides/tweaks/miniguide.ars
http://flernk.blogspot.com/2006/07/guide-to-os-x-software-for-switchers.html
I think a good VO switchers guide would be even more valuable: It would
help people get out of the windows mindset, which can only be harder
when you only have a voice to go on. (It is a bit nicer than the JAWs
one though.)
"command-option-space will always launch any application"
A-ha! Right, so with the keys locked down you only have to press space
to open/launch something? Excellent.
"calendar and especially address book are accessible, but not with the
knowledge you'll get from just a couple hours of fiddling with vo, even
if you do read all the docs first. Interacting with fields, and figuring
out just what and how to interact with things isn't a beginner type thing."
10 hours, roughly, with two people. Shouldn't they be beginner type
things? I really don't think using an address book should be on the same
scale as creating macros.
I have two example questions for the advanced users that would help shed
light on it for me:
1. How do you dismiss a calendar alarm pop-up?
2. How do you read the dynamic labels when editing an address?
With regards to the multiple ways of doing things, I've found that as
long as they are consistent and kept to a minimum, it shouldn't be a
problem.
It is to Apple's credit that they have come this far from what has
historically been a very mouse oriented interface.
Kind regards,
-Alastair
