Hi Shaun,
Well, if there is one constant in the universe it is change. nothing
stays the same forever. The people who can't change will always be hit
the hardest, because they are unable or simply unwilling to change their
ways. Although, there are usually some alternative that helps make the
change possible.
For example, you mentioned Dos users who were perfectly happy with Dos.
You know where many of those people are today? Do you know what they are
using?
Its pretty simple. I happen to know some VI Linux users on the Blinux
and Speakup lists who don't use Windows and they don't use the Linux
graphical user interface. Many of those Dos fans who wouldn't change are
using Debian or some other Linux distribution with a plane shell
environment, use the Speakup screen reader, and text based apps like
Nano, Alpine, Links, etc. They've found a nitche market that suits them,
and effectively are using a text based environment that has the look and
feel of Dos, but is being regularly updated and maintained.
My point is that we don't need an operating system specially made for
the blind. There are plenty of off the shelf solutions for us to choose
from. We don't have to settle for Windows 8 because there are other
options available.
For instance, if I really hated the Unity graphical desktop environment
on Ubuntu 12 I could simply install a different desktop environment.
there is Gnome Classic, Xfce is currently being made accessible, KDE 4.8
is somewhat accessible, and they are continuing to be updated, made
accessible, and supported. Plus not to mention a blind user doesn't even
have to use a graphical environment and can use the shell with Speakup
and text based programs if that suits. So if one thing doesn't fly there
is another option around the corner weather someone chooses to use it or
not.
There is no need to get worked up over this new technology and being
scared that we'll have no access. Windows 8 is functionally usable if
not as easily as XP. If that doesn't suit there is Mac and Linux which
is an investment in time and money, but is an option if people really
don't want to go down the Windows route.
Cheers!
On 4/23/2012 12:30 AM, shaun everiss wrote:
I aggree with you in part, but not fully.
Does anyknow or has anyone researched how long it takes us to catch up
period?
True ms is giving people a fair go, nvda is already going to the metro
system I see it on the list, however, to be honest, for what we pay or
are forced to pay for the comercial readers myself I wander how we can
keep up.
how will we afford something.
I am not talking about the new borns, all the current to future
generations will more than likely take it as standard and be able to
handle it all.
Its like the people that were dos guys to those that just used an icon
interface.
Now if something majorly goes wrong, just put a disk in and a reformat
later its all fixed as reformatting always fixes things.
Those people don't have time to worry.
How for old fullas like myself I must say I am slightly scared of the
touch screen, not against it but scared.
THe keyboard for me is the way to go but then I used it always.
If I were born again, i'd get a braille computer and a mac, windows
would be a vertual machine maybe but I'd have a mac maybe a touch
screen because it rocks.
However I started with dos and now windows and have invested to much
to go back.
Its doubt for falas like me that we will find it easy to change to
what is a unknow and forign viewpoint.
Sure it probably makes sence I have no doubt that it does and I am
sure once we are adapted to the new borg we will be happy in our
function.
However we are not borg and therefore it will take ages if at all for
some of us to adapt.
I plan to go 7 at some point but still keep an xp box.
I don't need to upgrade my phone and even if I do, its more than
likely it will be an older tech third dition nokia once again with
the hundred buck reader on it because for what I use it for I need
little else.
That will change though.
If I can comfortably read the screen like everyone else then fine.
One thing I'd really like to do is view things like the sighted,
pictures be announced, mouse movement feadback, etc.
To play a sighted game, etc.
This touch screen technology will probably develop that we can do that
along with the ocr tech and we should be able to handle it.
There are now bounds.
Right now though the funds to buy all this stuff unless it becomes
cheaper.
screen readers bar nvda are excluded and also voice synths.
Then there is the power vs need.
Its doubtfull where I am that I will need anymore than a core2 unit
with 2gb ram running old windows xp.
And unless life takes a big leap foreward I will be running xp till I
die or as long as I can get it.
maybe 7 but sertainly not 8 or over unless it improves.
I guess once keyboards are dropped to a secondary device that will
change.
However we were perfectly happy in dos.
back then it was special environments for the blind.
Though I don't care for segrigation by any means the way things are
all going we need to decide if we even need the main stream oses anymore.
It may be time to go back to a cut down os just for the blind at
least for the short term.
Then again I may be totally wrong.
This is the first major leap where we don't need to worry about whats
on the screen and how its displayed but what we input.
We either can try to incoperate it into what we do or just make sence
of it.
I do aggree that its time we catch up with android google chrome os
and apple though.
I wander how they do that in ubuntu, and how the vinux system will
handle it.
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