I'm actually working on some of this for a future podcast. Actually,
much of it will be spread out over several podcasts.
Josh de Lioncourt
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
...my other mail provider is an owl...
On 24 Apr, 2008, at 9:06 AM, David Poehlman wrote:
This is an interesting challenge.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Rick Alfaro" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "'Rick Harmon'" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>;
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Thursday, April 24, 2008 11:59 AM
Subject: Re: [BCT] Mac tutorials
Rick,
I agree with you. I think that the fact that VoiceOver is imbedded
into the
Mac OS is a terrific thing, but I have yet to hear a podcast that
demonstrates that the accessibility offered in VoiceOver is at least
equal
to one of the major Windows screen readers like WindowEyes or JFW.
I don't want to diminish the value of having a screen reader as an
integral
part of the operating system. This is huge, but I have yet to see
anyone
demonstrate that the great access we have to things like the web,
spreadsheets, and applications we use on a daily basis like Skype,
Messenger, and the list goes on, is at least equal to what we have in
Windows.
By access, I don't mean simply that it talks and reads the screens.
I mean
things like can you go to a web page and jump directly to the third
button
on the page? Can you go directly to the third form. Can you bring
up a
list of forms or edit fields in a list so you can choose the one you
want to
jump to directly? Can you set markers on either a per page or
domain level?
Can you open a word document with tables and comfortably read
through those
tables in a meaningful way?
Can you open up a spreadsheet and define monitored cells that will
automatically speak their value when they change whether they are
visible on
the screen or not?
Can you read mail in Outlook or equivalent email client in html or
text and
have it automatically read the message for you when opened?
Do you have the same level of access to your multi-track recording
software
as Windows users have to Sonar?
Do you have an equivalent solution for scanning and reading to
K1000, or
OpenBook?
Do you have an FTP client that is as accessible as FTP Voyager, or
FileZilla?
The list could go on and on, but I think these are the sort of
questions
Windows users would like to see answered in a straight forward and
honest
way. These questions are not meant to be confrontational in any
way. They
are just examples of the sort of things I would want to know if
someone were
to do a podcast on VoiceOver.
Honestly speaking, the few podcasts I have heard were cool, and it was
awesome to see an OS have a better solution than narrator, but the
sort of
access I witnessed, and the amount of maneuvering folks had to do to
get
something's done, to me at least, seemed like Windows access a few
years
ago.
I know VoiceOver is still a baby compared to the Windows screen
readers and
if development continues, could some day catch up to them, but so
far, from
what I have heard and seen in podcasts, it does have a long way to
go. I am
not saying it won't get there but for someone to say access is now
equal
with VoiceOver is still a stretch. Of course I would love to see
development continue by Apple and some day be able to say that I can
switch
to a Mac if I want to and not miss a thing in terms of accessibility.
Hopefully, someone will do a podcast that will prove me wrong.
Warmest regards,
Rick Alfaro
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Rick Harmon
Sent: Thursday, April 24, 2008 1:54 AM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: [BCT] Mac tutorials
Ok all you mac users. I've been asking for several months now for mac
tutorials demonstrating lepard, voice over and programs on the mac.
No one
has stepped foward.
So here's your chance to show how voice over shines. Let me know if
anyone
is interested in contributing.
Rick
--
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