I can't handle the traffic on this list, so I have to run in Digest mode - which means you don't get a same-day response!
Dane Trethowan said: "Someone from England may know the answer to this, wasn't the Royal National Institute for the Blind going to be pushing VoiceOver to its clientel?" If by "pushing VoiceOver" you mean "thoroughly reviewing VoiceOver's capabilities and taking a considered decision whether to include Macs in its catalogue of products" then yes, RNIB may one day promote and even sell Macs! A year ago, we published an article "The new Apple operating system" on our website (www.rnib.org.uk/technology and follow the side link to News). This initial review of VoiceOver hasn't changed, since VoiceOver has not changed. Other Mac applications that may be of interest to our customers (iTunes, MS Office) have not become any more accessible either. I believe there is still no fully accessible spreadsheet application (correct me if I'm wrong). It seems to me that very little has changed in the year since the launch of VO. We haven't finished our user review process, and blind and partially sighted people on our behalf are carrying out and reporting on the sort of tasks that Alastair and Leonie did for the Nomensa article. Without wanting to anticipate the findings, it is clear that proper introduction to the OS and suitable training material and trainers are vital to a positive experience, and currently are hard to find. Nomensa are leaders in the field and have considerable expertise, and they were actively looking for information, but even they didn't spot the key combination to lock the VO keys. Earlier this year we received a query from someone who was keen to get started on learning how to use a Mac in the south of England (I posted it to this list). I received no useful responses, and the only trainer in the whole of the UK with a knowledge of VoiceOver works for RNIB in Liverpool, in the north of England. If there are others - please put them in touch with me now! RNIB is particularly interested in selling and promoting low cost and free alternatives to the expensive Windows screen readers, but the cost and availability of support and training is a major factor. We need more and better introductory and training materials, and many many more trainers who have a knowledge of VO. I thoroughly endorse what Jane and Scott have said - Apple does not seem to be making an effort on this score. Once we have completed our user review and have some concrete recommendations to make, we will be in touch with our contacts at Apple. Keep up the good work --- Ruth Loebl Senior ICT Development Officer Royal National Institute of the Blind 58-72 John Bright Street Birmingham B1 1BN Tel: +44 (0)121-665 4231 Fax: +44 (0)121-665 4201 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Web: http://www.rnib.org.uk/technology/ -- DISCLAIMER: NOTICE: The information contained in this email and any attachments is confidential and may be privileged. If you are not the intended recipient you should not use, disclose, distribute or copy any of the content of it or of any attachment; you are requested to notify the sender immediately of your receipt of the email and then to delete it and any attachments from your system. RNIB endeavours to ensure that emails and any attachments generated by its staff are free from viruses or other contaminants. However, it cannot accept any responsibility for any such which are transmitted. We therefore recommend you scan all attachments. Please note that the statements and views expressed in this email and any attachments are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of RNIB. RNIB Registered Charity Number: 226227 Website: http://www.rnib.org.uk
