Hi Darren, Perhaps, but there is still one major issue to consider here. The first is that Microsoft Windows still holds about 83% of the mainstream PC market right now, and no matter how good Apple's accessibility is or Linux's accessibility is the majority of blind users will likely want a Windows solution. Therefore if a person wants to be employed chances are good the employer will want him/her to be fluent with Jaws or some other high priced Windows access solution. The second is state and government agencies. Apple's VoiceOver is hardly new, has been around for a few years now, but BSVI, BVR, and other agencies are still paying for Jaws, Openbook,Magic, and the same high priced software they were paying for a dozen years ago. As long as that continues Freedom Scientific will continue to milk the government agencies for all they are worth. Bottom line, while the cost of accessible software is coming down, there are now other alternatives, there are still going to be people such as state agencies who will be more than happy to pay high prices for accessible technology. Such people are slow to change, and are often ignorant of the competition in the first place. Not to mention the fact the Windows screen reader manufacturers are doing their best to hold onto their clients by downplaying VoiceOver.
For example, a few months back I remember listening to a tech show advertising the new version of Window-Eyes by GW Micro. GW Micro was asked point blank how it compares to screen readers like VoiceOver. They in turn responded by pointing out this or that feature Window-Eyes has that VoiceOver doesn't have, explained that because Window-Eyes is their primary focus that it is updated more often, and that they believe it is an all around better solution. In short, I think GW Micro wanted to downplay VoiceOver in order to help push their product and they know Apple has a good thing going that is going to be hard to compete against in the long run. Cheers! On 8/7/12, Darren Harris <[email protected]> wrote: > Well this is something I've been hoping that would come to pass for years > now, mainstream companies like apple kicking the butts of the adaptive tech > industry. > > Personally I find it highly amusing to think that the likes of fs are going > to be hard put to it to compete now that apple have a fully fledged screen > reader as an integrated part of the operating system. It's certainly going > to stop them from ripping people off as well as organizations. But to have > accessibility out there on mainstream products can only be a benefit in the > long run because either by accident or design, accessibility is finally out > there and as such more and more people are becoming aware of it. so as well > as forcing the adaptive tech companies into line which the governments and > charitable organizations should have done years ago, it's also bringing > more > exposure to accessibility which can only be a good thing. > --- Gamers mailing list __ [email protected] If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to [email protected]. You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at http://mail.audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. All messages are archived and can be searched and read at http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, please send E-mail to [email protected].
