I have written an on screen keyboard that is much better than microsofts third party on screen keyboard for Windows 7. I released before they did. My article is here, and should change some of your minds about my credability. http://www.codeguru.com/vb/gen/vb_system/keyboard/article.php/c16501/ Also I wrote a sendkeys module, that won the codeguru award in 2008. http://www.codeguru.com/vb/gen/vb_system/keyboard/article.php/c14629__1/ And I re-wrote the UAC(User account control) to be safer, and much less annoying to use. http://www.codeguru.com/vb/gen/vb_system/win32/article.php/c16565/ Anyhow, I understand the loyalty of window eyes users, its okay to bash me until you know who I am, and what I've got. The demo is mostly for developer collaboration, and is in the final stages where it can be tested by others. That's why I tried to contact GW, but was ignored. They are busy, and probably didn't believe me. I understand, they are big boys now. It has not been officially released for sale yet. The setup is incomplete without audio, but that will be different later ofcourse. Voiceware Kate, and Paul are not included but work great with the software on Vista/7 too! I wanted to get final feedback from blind users, and over the next couple months perfect and polish the software. I can close my eyes too, and I have many times during testing, and developing, but I am well aware that there are biases, which I may have overlooked. Not many, but I'm not oblivious either. Are you sighted, or totally blind? Are you using xp, Vista or Windows 7? Do you have .NET 2.0 or higher installed? The demo is best with xp right now, since I lost some details in Vista/7 after the last filter update. I will get those tricky controls back. Vista and 7 were quirky along the way, but things have stabalized recently. I spent most time this summer working on the foundation, which was the most important, and I will finish the application for Vista/7 soon(within a few weeks), so the experience is professional and without bugs on all systems. You will find that almost all standard windows will have FULL access, within quick reach. And a customizable filter ofcourse. For example taskbar objects, all task manager controls, all explorer controls, all notepad controls etc. If you press shift while refreshing you get additional client windows in the scrollable list. Those were uncommon, but still an accessible point, usually a button. I also hybrided HotSpots into the mix, so that common points can be included in the scrollable list. Over a short period of time most web windows will be mostly accessible, by writing very general rules, and specific rules to filter uneeded, or needed window controls and their objects. Quick instructions, you move the mouse into a category, left to right. Locked in statically, so that the mouse does not move, but the category changes with voice feedback. Then you scroll to move the mouse over any and all controls. Controls are items on a form, so scroll them, as if they were text items! Its genius in it's simplisity, but I can see why it's hard to pull off, or yet never done. The categories are in this order: Main Window, Control Under Mouse, and Selected Item. The main window category can also move the mouse down to the taskbar, or up towards the desktop. At any time to get more information about the control under the mouse, right click and hold for one second, to read the description of that control.
I will change the demo to 30 minutes, and I will do a final proof read before uploading the 30 minute demo. No need for rebooting though, you may start the app again under the license terms. Please allow me to post the demo in the morning, when I complete another proof read. I use mediafire to host files, or directly though email since the file size is digestable. If anyone has objections to mediafire, then where can I upload the demo that you trust? You should always scan files, but it's not wise to use any old freeware for this purpose. At least not the ones that popup on a webpage, those are viruses usually with the mask on to help you, or promote sister companies by filtering an app as a virus. Thanks If you reply to this message it will be delivered to the original sender only. If your reply would benefit others on the list and your message is related to GW Micro, then please consider sending your message to [email protected] so the entire list will receive it. GW-Info messages are archived at http://www.gwmicro.com/gwinfo. You can manage your list subscription at http://www.gwmicro.com/listserv.
