I said in my original message that the NFB's position might not be the sole
reason that Narrator never was made into a decent product. Who can say for
sure? But I think it's fairly well established that the NFB did ask
Microsoft to not improve Narrator. My information comes from the NFBCS
list. There are people on that list who are on the NFB committee that talks
to Microsoft about accessibility. So I got my info right from the horse's
mouth.
The NFB also petitioned the court to stop the FCC from requiring that TV
networks provide a certain amount of described video each week. Described
video is an extra sound track with a voice describing what's going on on
screen. Lots of PBS shows already have it. But the NFB sided with the
commercial TV networks to prevent the FCC from requiring it. There is
currently a bill in congress being pushed by the ACB to restore the
requirement.
----- Original Message -----
From: "JOHN PANARESE" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "General discussions on all topics relating to the use of Mac OS X by
theblind" <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, September 07, 2006 1:56 PM
Subject: Re: Accessibility look at Vista
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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