My original point was that out of all the programs I've used over the years, Skype is the only one that requires this level of constant attention. The interface seems to go through drastic changes every time they upgrade it, and you have to learn the program all over again. Just look at the number of posts to this group asking how to find this or that, or how to do this or that. Some people don't have the time or the desire to read through pages of documentation to use a program like Skype. When a programs no longer user friendly, then who are you making it for? Jack ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jim Grimsby JR." <[email protected]> To: "'JardataMailServices'" <[email protected]>; "'screen access software with skype'" <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, November 29, 2009 4:07 PM Subject: Re: [Skypeenglish] Observations (Skype Getting Beyond Enjoyment)
You know, sighted people sometimes forget that more than sighted people are using their products and won't stop tampering with it. So are you suggesting or are you advocating here in the above that because more than sighted people are using it. They should not make changes to the user interface because it might be harder for you as a blind person. Please remember Sir that you are a very small niche market, and it is necessary for a company to consider the needs and desires of the majority of its user. fact of the matter is that the user interface is easier to use from a visual perspective. Having all of the features in one place makes it easier for the sighted person to find and use the feature. So making this change meets the needs of its majority. Also, once you learn the interface. Many people are already discovering that it is easier to use from a blind person's perspective as well. Please remember that what is hard for, you may be simple for someone else. You say you enjoy using Skype 3.8 more than you enjoy using Skype for I on the other hand, find an interface to be easier to use more intuitive and more enjoyable. So this should they consider my needs over yours. Which of the blind people, should they listen to, you would say the majority. So therefore they would have to get a survey to find out which interface the people enjoyed most. And then what should they do, should they listen to the majority of blind people. Or should they listen to the majority of sighted people. The fact of the matter is there are more of the sighted people using the product. So obviously they should listen to the needs of the sighted people that they should provide access through Microsoft Active Accessibility. So the screen readers might be coded to get the information that they require. Skype has done this so they have met the needs of the blind person and the accessibility obligations. -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of JardataMailServices Sent: Sunday, November 29, 2009 11:04 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [Skypeenglish] Observations (Skype Getting Beyond Enjoyment) Yes! I agree with you about whetheror not Skype is getting too far beyond the enjoyment stage. You know, some software developers just cannot seem to let well-enough alone and constantly change their program when it is already working ok for most users. I too enjoy using skype very much, especially with Skype 38, as it did all I wanted to do without much trouble, albiet only with the skype scripts. As I look at Skype 41, I don't see anything different than they offered in Skype 38. the ony changes I see is the interface and it is now more difficult to useand enjoy. Like I have said earlier, all I want to do in skype is contact my friends via "skype contact and skype phone, along with sending a few text messages. I do enjoy conference calling at time via phone and contact, but nothing else. I don't see any difference between phone quality, although it just be my normal hearing; I have had no problem with skype sounding good. All I know now is that I don't enjoy the product like before. When I use skype, I just want to turn on my computer, open skype, click on a phone number or contact and chat, along with sending a text to my niece or sister every now and then; that is all, but now it is a hastle. The contacts don't work as good, it is harder or more awkward to make phone calls, and conferencing is a nightmare now. Dug's scripts may help, but even those are a bit more cumberson and long winded to use. You know, sighted people sometimes forget that more than sighted people are using their products and won't stop tampering with it. Someone once said, "Skype is free so we should not complain about it not being easy for us to use." Remember, Doug and other script writers have to make skype usable, as the company seems to care little about this aspect of their program. Skype knows what they do is not good for blind users, as they even once told us to use 38 instead of 41 because 41 was not compatible with screen readers yet. I have not seen them say 41 is accessible yet; I have only heard us blind users (some of us) say it is easier to use. You are correct (those who feel skype is okay even though it is fast becoming useless to most of us) in saying skype is free and we can't complain too much to the owners because they are giving us something. Well, "Skype is free to everyone, even sighted people." Winamp once did a similar thing by making winamp almost unusable for blind people and sighted people too. Sighted people complained and winamp offered classic views. One thing, Office 2007 changed, but it is still just as compatible and accessible as ever. The ribbons made office easier and just different. Skype did something worse; thy changed the interface and cared little about us who have used the product for years by changing the interface. I still have not heard anyone say what skype did makes their product better. You merely say, "It is different and we should just gt use to it." You know, as soon as we figure this one out, skype will change it and we start all over again. There is no compelling reason for changing skype's interface as often as they do. Skype can improve their program without messing up the interface. I have come to the conclusion that I will use skype 38 for as long as they allow it to be used on their site. If skype no longer supports 38 and takes it off their servers, they I will no longer use skype. I think they must offer a 38 like interface or they will lose a lot of users soon. I get more upset by the day; I have friends who depended on skype for their communication via the internet; now they cannot really use it. These people don't use computers well and now feel disenfranchised by what has happened. Yahoo once bought skype; could these changes b related to yahoo's ownership of the program; you see what they have done to yahoo messenger. Looks funny to me. Even facebook and twitter and my space are now to use than skype; skype use to be the easiest one of all to use. I use to ue callburner and other programs; now even the interface items don't work as before. I am tired of these companies doing these things to us. Well, enough of my screaming and I will continue to use skype as long as I can use 38 and scripts 653 with them. Thanks Dug for keeping them on your site, but I will keep my copies so I can always have them should you decide to do like skype and abandon us too. Sincerely, James Robinson PS. I spend a lot of money with skype, having a phone number and often calling to Philippines and other places who are not on my skype world account. Skype is not totally free to me. Thanks for posting to the skype english list. To access scripts for the latest version of skype go to http://www.dlee.org/skype To access tutorials and other goodies go to http://www.marrie.org/skype/skype.html To contact the list owner send a message to mailto:[email protected] to download a tool to automate the installation of skypewatch go to this link. www.hkprojects.tk and for a searchable archives page go here. http://bit.ly/64Y48 thanks and have a wonderful day. _______________________________________________ Skypeenglish mailing list [email protected] http://emissives.com/mailman/listinfo/skypeenglish_emissives.com Thanks for posting to the skype english list. To access scripts for the latest version of skype go to http://www.dlee.org/skype To access tutorials and other goodies go to http://www.marrie.org/skype/skype.html To contact the list owner send a message to mailto:[email protected] to download a tool to automate the installation of skypewatch go to this link. www.hkprojects.tk and for a searchable archives page go here. http://bit.ly/64Y48 thanks and have a wonderful day. _______________________________________________ Skypeenglish mailing list [email protected] http://emissives.com/mailman/listinfo/skypeenglish_emissives.com Thanks for posting to the skype english list. To access scripts for the latest version of skype go to http://www.dlee.org/skype To access tutorials and other goodies go to http://www.marrie.org/skype/skype.html To contact the list owner send a message to mailto:[email protected] to download a tool to automate the installation of skypewatch go to this link. www.hkprojects.tk and for a searchable archives page go here. http://bit.ly/64Y48 thanks and have a wonderful day. _______________________________________________ Skypeenglish mailing list [email protected] http://emissives.com/mailman/listinfo/skypeenglish_emissives.com
