Hmm, this may have explained my sluggishness at the Apple store. I've never worked with a computer without doing so through a screen reader, since I've never had vision. To be honest, I may need a better understanding of visual concepts to run the Mac well, just as some Apple reps must have relied on at least some understanding of blindness when designing VO. This is fascinating! Tammi from work
-----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Cara Quinn Sent: Sunday, March 16, 2008 4:27 PM To: General discussions on all topics relating to the use of Mac OS X by the blind Subject: Re: potential switcher seeking personal take on the Mac Forgive me but I'd just like to add once more here, that the cursor behaviors people are talking about here in regard to Windows are made to work the way they do through the screen reader. I.E. The typing cursors in Windows, when not under the control of a screen reader such as Jaws or WE, will work just as they do with Mac and VO. I saw this happen as I used to use Outspoken for Windows, which did not change the native behavior of the cursors and voiced them exactly as they were being shown on the screen, whereas JFW and WE voiced them differently. Does this make sense? Once again, this is an instance where the true output of the OS isn't being shown accurately, in favor of a 'quote unquote' more blind friendly experience. Have a great day All, and catch ya on the flippers!… Smiles, Cara :) On Mar 16, 2008, at 12:10 PM, Dan Keys wrote: > Hi, > Just a little comment about cursors. In the Mac OS, the cursor > always follows the direction in which you are working. For example, > if you are at the beginning of a line and you press right arrow, you > will hear the first letter, unlike in windows where you have to go > back one space to hear the character. Now if you are at the end of a > line and you press left arrow, the same thing will happen, the > cursor will show you the last character on the line. > So again, the cursor always follows you in what ever direction you > are working. This is certainly more logical than the way windows > does it. > I broke that habit real fast. > Now, God forbid, if I ever am forced to use a windows machine, I > find the windows way of doing things real cumbersome. > Just my thoughts. > Oh, and, welcome to the Mac world. > Dan > On Mar 16, 2008, at 11:53 AM, Jean-Claude Provost wrote: > >> Hi there, >> >> Here's a new Mac user >> who bought a MacBook Pro only because I thought it was now >> accessible enough for me to give it a try. I have used windows >> for... I don't care to remember how long. The only thing that got >> me in the Mac world was curiosity. >> >> Now that I'm in it, let me share a few feelings I had/have. >> >> The Synthesizer that comes with VO has a new voice Alex and it's >> scary... I mean, the thing actually breathes,! for god's sake! It >> is indeed the best speech I had heard. That is, until I went on >> the Assistiveware site where I found synthesizers from Acapella. I >> installed a Canadian French voice (Louise) and, with it, they give >> you Heather. Those 2 ladies are ranking at the very top of my >> speech synthesizer list. They are! sexy sounding and, I don't >> think you'll have any problem spending a whole day hearing them >> telling you the screen content. I have setup Alex to be the >> content voice and Heather as the default and I like it very much. >> >> Looking at your needs the only thing I can say is that after 2 >> weeks of random use, reading this list and practicing, I'm handling >> all my personal email on the Mac , I purchased installed and >> registered Louise and Heather online and I have connected the thing >> on my home network and I can exchange files between my Mac and my >> other PC's. >> >> To me, the biggest thing for now is to get used to the way the >> cursor works. For instance, I don't know how to delete characters >> the way we do it in windows. IN WINDOWS, WHEN YOU PRESS THE DELETE >> KEY, IT DELETES THE CHARACTER IN FRONT OF THE CURSOR. I HAVE NOT >> FOUND HOW TO DO THIS YET ON THE MAC AND, TO BE CANDID, A 25 YEARS >> HABIT IS QUITE HARD TO BREAK. I'M HOPING SOMEONE WILL TELL ME HOW >> I CAN DO THIS BECAUSE, THE SOLE USE OF THE BACKSPACE KEY to delete >> characters behind the cursor IS DRIVING ME A LITTLE coucou BANANA >> WILD. AND BECAUSE OF THAT, I'M DEFINITELY NOT READY TO SWITCH MY >> WORD PROCESSING ACTIVITIES ACROSS THE FENCE FOR NOW. >> >> ONE THING YOU PROBABLY WANT TO KEEP IN MIND IS THAT, FOR $79.00, >> you can purchase Fusion from VMWare. This will allow you to run a >> Windows session from the Mac, hence, potentially providing you with >> a transitional ground that might be quite acceptable. I've not >> tried this yet but I certainly intend to. >> >> I tried streaming a few things on the internet and I found ITune to >> be quite neat to use. I started 3 different radio station streams >> and I could switch between them (back and forth) within about half >> of a second. >> >> ITune also appeared faster to initiate the streams. Another neat >> thing about the Mac is its natural sound-related abilities. You >> can set the volume of ITune, the volume of your synthesizer as well >> as the overall volume independently. I even experienced instances >> where the synthesizer was speaking 2 things simultaneously and all >> that, using only the default sound card. This thing definitely >> appeared to be multichannels. >> >> One final thought, in my opinion, the most important part of a >> successful migration is the transition. If you can, try to walk >> across it as opposed to jumping in it. This way, you're not stuck >> having to do things when you don't have time to learn them. And if >> you can't do that, jumping in the Mac pool is not so bad. I didn't >> find the water to be cold at all. >> >> Besides, there are a lot of knowledgeable folks on this list who >> will certainly be able to help you, if you decide to embark on the >> jerney. >> >> So much for my .00000004840345 cens worth. >> >> Cheers from Varennes, Qc, Canada, >> >> JC >> Skype: Canadianfrog >> >> >> >> >> >> On 14-Mar-08, at 2:10 PM, Store wrote: >> >>> Here's your chance to pitch VO to a potential switcher or to pass >>> along those warnings that you wish you had been given. >>> I'm not a computer professional, though I've used everything from >>> an Apple II E with Braille Edit as a child to VersaBrailles and, >>> today, both JAWS and Window-Eyes. Right now, I generally use word >>> processing, E-mail, the Internet for informational purposes, and >>> the occasional spreadsheet. I'm not a musician or in any way >>> likely to produce entertainment material on my computer, though, >>> once I replace my obsolete home system, I'm likely to try learning >>> more about podcasts and listening to more audio. I have checked >>> out Screenless Switchers and a few articles sited recently on the >>> list and found them interesting. Since I have no vision, I'm most >>> interested in the thoughts of those who rely on speech. My >>> questions? >>> For those who use both, what are your favorite qualities of the >>> Mac or of Windows vs. the Mac? >>> What types of tasks does the Mac excell at? >>> For any non-computer pros: How long did it take to learn VO well? >>> I checked it out at the store and even read some documentation. >>> I'm fascinated by Apple's interest in building accessibility into >>> their products, but I sense that my learning curve may be steep. >>> That being the case, I'm looking for the low-down on what kind of >>> bang I might get for my buck, so to speak. >>> Since I'm subscribed from my part-time job, I'll only be able to >>> reply during certain times on weekdays, so please don't mistake >>> silence for lack of interest. >>> Also, if there are any VO experts in Pittsburhg, PA, feel free to >>> write me off list if you're willing to have a novice come and play >>> on your computer. >>> Thanks a bunch for any input. >>> Tammi >>> This message and any attachments are intended for the sole use of >>> the individual to whom it is addressed. >>> The information contained herein is confidential, proprietary, >>> privileged or otherwise prohibited by law >>> from disclosure. If you have received this email in error, please >>> destroy the message immediately and >>> notify the sender by email. >> > > --- View my Online Portfolio at: http://www.onemodelplace.com/CaraQuinn This message and any attachments are intended for the sole use of the individual to whom it is addressed. The information contained herein is confidential, proprietary, privileged or otherwise prohibited by law from disclosure. If you have received this email in error, please destroy the message immediately and notify the sender by email.
