I have heard the story about the NFB asking/telling/advising
MS to stay away from implementing a screen reader as well. I've also
heard others claim that the NFB had nothing to do with it and it was
a matter of MS simply being unable to make a screen reader that
performed as well as JAWS or Window-Eyes.
In any event, I find it interesting how the NFB has responded to
Apple's VoiceOver efforts. It has not been exactly a kind or
encouraging reaction, as I know a few people on this list can attest
to as well from their own experiences. Apple was accused of making
VoiceOver to prevent lawsuits and all that jazz, and I heard it said
that VO would never evolve or progress. Thus, we now hear about the
improvements coming in Leopard and it is a fact that there is an
entire team dedicated to VO's development.
So, here is Microsoft PR and not really a lot of substance.
They have had Voice Recognition in the past and it's not like it's
earth shattering considering that Macs have had it as well and like
just about everything else, it's been better.
I fall into David's line of thinking. Nothing to see here in the
overall state of accessibility's. I just wish that blindness groups
and organizations would, at least, give Apple some true credit and
acknowledge their efforts, as opposed to making blanket statements
that VoiceOver is bad for blindness business.
Take Care
John D. Panarese
Managing Director
Technologies for the Visually Impaired, Inc.
9 Nolan Court
Hauppauge, NY 11788
Tel/Fax, (631) 724-4479
Email, [EMAIL PROTECTED] net
Internet, http://www.tvi-web.com
AUTHORIZED DISTRIBUTORS FOR PORTSET SYSTEMS LTD, COMPSOLUTIONS VA,
PREMIER ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES, INDEX, PAPENMEIER, REPRO-TRONICS,
DUXBURY, DANCING DOTS AND OTHER PRODUCTS FOR THE BLIND AND VISUALLY
IMPAIRED
AUTHORIZED APPLE BUSINESS ASSOCIATE
MAC VOICEOVER TRAINING AND SALES
On Sep 7, 2006, at 9:55 AM, John Heim wrote:
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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