Re: [WSG] Articles/reasearch/experience of screen readers

[Robert O'Neill]

I've just carried out a research project (http://www.roboneill.co.uk/research.htm) in which I observed blind web users in action. You just don't realise the obstacles they face until you see it for yourself.   Look in your yellow pages for a local self help group, I'm sure they would be happy to let you observe them and their access technologies in action.   Rob.       >>> [EMAIL PROTECTED] 02/11/2006 15:12:25 >>> On 2 Nov 2006, at 14:36:22, Barney Carroll wrote: > Not sure if this is exactly the place to ask, but I am very eager  > to get any authoritative (and by now, 'authoritative' can be  > qualified by anybody who's so much as seen one) information on  > screen readers. > > Despite the fact I haven't been able to find anyone who has ever  > used a screen reader, Have you asked any blind people? There's probably some charitable  organisation local to you that would be able to put you in touch with  people with various degrees of visual impairment, using assorted  assistive technologies to various levels of competence, who would be  willing to participate in a properly-constructed program of user  testing. > Only I can never know if I have achieved it, because I can't test  > it; nor can I find anybody else to test for me, or even pin-point  > known problems. > You can download trial versions of all the major screen-reading  applications. (Learning to use them in the same way as a visually  impaired user is a different challenge, hence the importance of user  testing.) > I think the myth surrounding screen readers is an incredibly bad  > thing because it fills the community with superstition. A great  > many otherwise intelligent, adventurous and imaginative potential  > innovators in the world of web design are completely crippled by  > this thing that they have no experience of whatsoever - it may as  > well be imaginary. My blind friend Andy would kick you in the balls for describing an  awareness of the difficulties he faces as "superstition" or  "imaginary". He wears heavy boots, too. > w3c's accessibility guidelines are highly revered, and for the most  > part there is go! od cause for this - and as I've said I am a  > supporter of the notion of standardisation - but when talking about  > the precepts of design for the blind, I become very cynical because  > this stuff is pure idle theory from sighted people. > Not so. There is plenty of good information out there based on the  actual experiences of blind and partially sighted people. Also note  that the W3C's accessibility guidelines are not exclusively concerned  with visual impairment. > I would love any links to articles/archived polemic/research  > studies/the appropriate list... If anybody here has actual  > experience of a screen reader, I would be overjoyed to hear from them. > Download and use one (or preferably several). And read, mark, learn  and inwardly digest the book "Web Accessibility: Web Standards and  Regulatory Compliance" (Thatcher et al., pub. Friends of Ed 2006). > Likewise, if this is wholly irrelevant to this list then please  > tell me. :) > I think any discussion of accessibility is valuable when intended to  improve awareness of the issues involved :-) Regards, Nick. -- Nick Fitzsimons http://www.nickfitz.co.uk/ ******************************************************************* List Guidelines: http://webstandardsgroup.org/mail/guidelines.cfm Unsubscribe: http://webstandardsgroup.org/join/unsubscribe.cfm Help: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ******************************************************************* *** IMPORTANT NOTICE *** *** NHSBSA DISCLAIMER *** This e-mail and any attachments transmitted with it, including replies and forwarded copies subsequently transmitted (which may contain alterations), contains information which may be confidential and which may also be privileged. The content of this e-mail is for the exclusive use of the intended recipient(s). If you are not the intended recipient(s), or the person authorised as responsible for delivery to the intended recipient(s), please note that any form of distribution, copying or use of this e-mail or the information in it is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. If you have received this e-mail in error please notify the Help Desk at the NHS Business Services Authority, Prescription Pricing Division via e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] including a copy of this message. Please then delete this e-mail and destroy any copies of it. Further, we make every effort to keep our network free from viruses. However, you do need to validate this e-mail and any attachments to it for viruses, as we can take no responsibility for any computer virus that might be transferred by way of this e-mail. This e-mail is from the NHS Business Services Authority whose principal office is at Bridge House, 152 Pilgrim Street, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE1 6SN. Switchboard Telephone Number :- +44 (0)191 232 5371 ******************************************************************* List Guidelines: http://webstandardsgroup.org/mail/guidelines.cfm Unsubscribe: http://webstandardsgroup.org/join/unsubscribe.cfm Help: [EMAIL PROTECTED] *******************************************************************