Hello David,
I'm thinking along the same lines as you. I have all ready asked the company if
there is a users manual and a demo version of the software I could play with.
I agree, it's about knowing the tasks to be performed and not just what key
strokes to apply that is the most important. I tend to learn better on my own
anyway. Thanks for the input, very useful as always.
Janet
----- Original Message -----
From: David
To: Janet Brandly ; [email protected]
Cc: [email protected]
Sent: Monday, March 25, 2013 7:40 PM
Subject: Re: DocuScribe from M*Modal and Window-Eyes
I give it another try: :)
Janet,
I do not know anything about the software you are supposed to work with.
Neither have I ever heard about it. So what I here will deal with, will have to
stand for its general purpose. Yet, i thought to jump in here, hoping that some
of these thoughts will help you make the most informed decision.
I have been working with computers for three decades, and been using adaptive
technologies for even longer. This means, through the years, I have had to
switch from one technology to the other. Several of these switches, have been
under instruction from some kind of a teacher. What I did find, is that many
times, it did not really matter how well a certain piece of adaptive equipment
was designed or worked. Long as you learn the principal way of handling
certain tasks, you can easily handle new or different equipment.
Hence, when I have been instructing other blind people in the computer usage,
my main goal has always been to teach them so much basics, that they would be
well enough equipped to adapt with any piece of equipment you put in front of
them. Of course, this is not always fully possible. We are different as humans,
and some people are more "fixed" on doing things according to very pre-cut
rules. You will know your own personality best, in this regard.
At the same time, I often found that people who were to instruct me, did see
far more challenges than did I. Reason i guess, is that they feel frustrated
about a piece of equipment, that they easily could do without. For you, me and
the rest on this list, we know what it is like to adapt with new things and
ways of doing things - simply because that is pretty much what all our life is
about, adapting to the seeing world around us.
Based on all of this, and without really having had the chance of working
with JAWS specifically, I would say you should have pretty good chances in
performing the same effectively with Window-Eyes. Of course, there could be
things on the screen, that would not show up in Window-Eyes, but due to JAWS
handling the screen differently, you would end up in a bad spot. As for that
part, I would have to leave others who know the software in question, to tell
more. Still, I would say chances are pretty high, that if you can work things
with JAWS without any extra scripts installed, you should have quite much the
same chance of working the screen with Window-Eyes. So, for one suggestion, get
back to the instructor, ask them whether JAWS users had to get anything extra
(like scripts), for tayloring the screen reader toward the software.
If not, well then chances are,that you might have to perform the same tasks,
with slightly different keystrokes. And, this is where some of my initial
experience will apply. No matter how much experience the instructor has, with
JAWS, it won't do you much good. The best thing is, if the instructor rather
would tell you to move your mouse to the top corner, and then three lines down
from there, then right-click the icon. The job for you, then would be to know
your screen reader well enough, that you actually know how to perform these
kind of activities with effeciency. Is there a chance, that you could let your
potential employer have you hooked up on a computer with the software
installed, and you had let them install Window-Eyes, and you could have had
half an hour in exploring the software? How many times, have I seen things to
be solved, simply by giving it half an hours chance. Many people, who are not
used to the challenge of being disabled, tend to think "Disabled". Once they
present you with the actual task, and give you the chance of figuring it all,
they are quite impressed how well and smoothly we adapt. In a sense, I guess,
your biggest challenge here will be to have them willing to give you that
chance. Just you tell them, that the computer you need for testing, does not
have to be giving any "real" information. That is, they don't have to let you
into sensitive parts of some database. Long as the software can present its
screens without this, or if they make some imaginary entries, enough that you
get a touch of the actual screens of the software. Again, try to get into a
dialog with them, and see if you could get a chance of a short play. Not only
would you help yourself, but just imagine how many other potential users with
Window-Eyes, you could provide some experience. And, maybe you even would
broaden the minds of your potential colleagues and employer.
Again, I don't have any chance of giving specific and educated advice on your
particular query. Yet, I do hope this would prove some helpful in your
decision-making.
Regards,
----- Original Message -----
From: Janet Brandly
To: [email protected]
Cc: [email protected]
Sent: Tuesday, March 26, 2013 2:03 AM
Subject: DocuScribe from M*Modal and Window-Eyes
Hello everyone,
Has anybody had any experience using DocuScribe with Window-Eyes? I have
applied for, and successfully passed the online testing for a position as a
medical transcriptionist with a company called M*Modal. They use a platform
called DocuScribe; there is a new version with a different name which I don't
recall right now. The blind transcriptionists working for M*Modal must use the
previous version as it is apparently not compatible with JAWS. I have just been
informed that, although they cannot specifically dictate which third-party
software a blind MT uses, their platform has been written for JAWS and their
support people, instructors etc., are only familiar with JAwS. So, as it seems
right now, they ar reluctant to hire me because I do not use JAWS. Needless to
say I have major issues with this. I have contacted one of their instructors,
and she does not believe that learning the software with WE would be an issue,
but I want to hear of others' experiences first. Any input anybody has would be
much appreciated. I am currently using XP and WE 7.5.4. I was planning to
upgrade today until I read about all the problems people are having with
lockups.
Thank you so much,
Janet
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