The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) told Microsoft to *not* include a
screen reader in their operating system. There is Narrator which allows you
to get started but it's not something you can use to get your job done. The
NFB felt that including a screen reader in Windows would drive companies
like Freedom Scientific out of business and that Microsoft's screen reader
would be inferiour to existing screen readers like JAWS.
That seems like contradictory logic to me. But you know how it goes... If
the NFB tells Microsoft to not include a screen reader, they're not going
to. And after all, who knows if Microsoft really would have done it.
I argued on the NFB's list that Voiceover is proof of the invalidity of the
NFB's point of view.
Another thing I argued was that Apple might regain a toe-hold in schools and
colleges with Voiceover. Those institutions have to supply accessible
computers to students and a Mac with voiceover is a very cost effective
solution Instead of having a lab with 10 or 20 Windows machines and just 1
with JAWS installed, they can have 10 or 20 Macintoshes all of which are
usable by a blind student.
I wouldn't be surprised if someday Microsoft ignored the NFB and improved
their screen reader to a point where you can actually do your job with it.
----- Original Message -----
From: "John Weir" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "General discussions on all topics relating to the use of Mac OS X by
theblind" <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, September 06, 2006 10:34 PM
Subject: Re: Accessibility look at Vista
I am not much impressed. All that the article talks to is already done by
the MAC. Voice recognition has been there for some time and the enlarging
of letters and other items are all in VoiceOver. I didnt see anything about
screen readers. Vickie Weir
LARRY WANGER wrote:
Hi,
I ran across this article this evening and thought I'd share it. I know,
its a Mac list but some of the steps Microsoft is taking to incorperate
and promote accessibility are intreaguing. Now, we know Microsoft and the
hype is just that but it will be interesting to see this. Even more
interesting to see some of the other access improvements in Leopard and
where we end up.
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/business/stories.nsf/technology/story/B30BAA80C251A2D7862571E1006E85F9?OpenDocument
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