RE: DocuScribe from M*Modal and Window-Eyes

[Don Mauck]

It is always such a bad idea to use scripting to make something accessible.  Scripting should be for enhancing, the developer should do the work up front and the scripter then can add his or her bells and whistles..  The biggest problem with scripting is that when a new release is put out, chances are that you then half to re-script the major part of the program, great money for scripter’s, not great for the user who probably can't afford the script in the first place.  In my job, I never, never say that we can just rely on a script to make a certain application accessible.      -- Regards: Don Mauck. Accessibility, it's the right thing to do. Don Mauck | Accessibility Evangelist Phone: +1 3033344184 | Mobile: +1 3032171557 Oracle Accessibility Policy Office 7604 Technology Way | Denver, Colorado 80237 Oracle is committed to developing practices and products that help protect the environment   From: Baracco, Andrew W [mailto:andrew.bara...@va.gov] Sent: Tuesday, March 26, 2013 9:28 AM To: gw-info@gwmicro.com Subject: RE: DocuScribe from M*Modal and Window-Eyes   As was mentioned, the problem arises when a software package is proprietary and the company contracts with a screen reader vendor to write scripts. This is what happened with some of our software applications at the VA, and why I have to use JAWS for some of my work.   Andy     From: Janet Brandly [mailto:jbran...@shaw.ca] Sent: Monday, March 25, 2013 6:55 PM To: David Cc: gw-info@gwmicro.com Subject: Re: DocuScribe from M*Modal and Window-Eyes   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&nbs! p; 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 ; gw-info@gwmicro.com Cc: sightles...@yahoogroups.com 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 l! onger. 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 v! ery 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 co! urse, 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 mat! ter 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 so! me helpful in your decision-making.   Regards, ----- Original Message ----- From: Janet Brandly To: gw-info@gwmicro.com Cc: sightles...@yahoogroups.com 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 i! ssues 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