Darrell, I've tended to have an unpopular position on some of this but I continue to feel that the position was a correct one. I have little confidence that if Microsoft had included a full screen reader with Windows that we would have gotten the support that we have received over the past twenty years for competing products such as Lotus Notes that many of us had to use on our jobs. It isn't that I think Microsoft would try to crush competition, but how would competing products have fit into their screen reader priorities and where would that have left us? Also, because Microsoft has not exercised the same control over development that Apple does, I believe we benefited greatly by the fact that there were multiple screen readers competing for our dollar.
The reason we have benefited so much from Apple's efforts is that before VoiceOver, there was no access technology since the days of Berkeley Systems' Outspoken that I am aware of. Apple had to produce something so their products were accessible, and that had to be done for them to get into the educational market. I'm not saying that there were not some good intentions there, as I'm sure there were, but the situation was very different. Because of what Apple did, our expectations are different now, and NVDA has also changed the landscape. I do not feel as certain as do many that this will be good for us in the long run, but I also know that with the decreasing cost of computers that most people can't afford to add $800 for a screen reader, either. We live in interesting times. Best regards, Steve Jacobson -----Original Message----- From: Talk [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Darrell Bowles via Talk Sent: Saturday, August 01, 2015 2:26 PM To: 'gary melconian' <[email protected]>; 'Window-Eyes Discussion List' <[email protected]> Subject: RE: Windows 10 is working better than I expected If I may enter into this discussion. I am the assistive technology trainer at a local community college in Knoxville tn. My job is to make sure that all computers, devices, software, hardware, etc, comply with the ADA, and section 504 of the rehabilitation act as it relates to accessibility. I test a lot of educational software and websites. Not one of them work with edge. Edge is still in it's infancy, and isn't adopted by anyone yet that I am aware of. Therefore, can you honestly expect it to be accessible, particularly when Microsoft its self dropped the ball? It isn't just AISquared's fault, it's microsoft's fault. Further more, Microsoft has always been behind when it comes to accessibility. Look at narrator for example. Microsoft never wanted to include a full screen reader in it's OS. Why you ask? So that Microsoft could continue to get money from at companies to make there products accessible. You don't see a window-eyes for mac, or a JAWS for linux, do you? Heck you don't even see a JAWS for mac either. If Microsoft did what they should have done since windows 3.1, there wouldn't be any AT companies to make screen readers, unless of course Microsoft does what they always do, and that's drop the ball. The end result, customers suffer. In the meantime, stop disrespecting AISquared for not having edge accessible, because they are offering us a free screenreader that only requires office. Personally, AI Squared doesn't have to do that, and for that I'm greatful. -----Original Message----- From: Talk [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of gary melconian via Talk Sent: Friday, July 31, 2015 6:39 PM To: 'Michael Massey' <[email protected]>; 'Window-Eyes Discussion List' <[email protected]> Subject: RE: Windows 10 is working better than I expected All they had to state was that they wer working on it. in their press releases about it and not let us all jump to assumptions about it. -----Original Message----- From: Talk [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Michael Massey via Talk Sent: Friday, July 31, 2015 3:56 AM To: 'Window-Eyes Discussion List' <[email protected]> Subject: Windows 10 is working better than I expected Hi everyone. Gary, I absolutely agree with your point that since Ai Squared is partnered with Microsoft that the Microsoft Edge browser should be accessible using Window-eyes 9.2 under Windows 10. Yes, I know, none of the other major screen readers I've read and listened to podcasts about, work with Microsoft Edge. Ai Squared in partnership with Microsoft should have been able to make Microsoft Edge accessible with Window-eyes. I must admit that I have to take Marc Solomon's response to another list member regarding how difficult it really is to implement accessibility into a particular program. However,. I think Gary's point is a valid one. Again, I am sure that from Marc's comments to the list member that implementing accessibility into Microsoft Edge is easier said than done under the circumstances. Mike M. _______________________________________________ Any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Ai Squared. For membership options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/options.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com/gmelconian619% 40gmail.com. For subscription options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/listinfo.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com List archives can be found at http://lists.window-eyes.com/private.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com _______________________________________________ Any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Ai Squared. For membership options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/options.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com/dgbowles%40msn .com. For subscription options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/listinfo.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com List archives can be found at http://lists.window-eyes.com/private.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com _______________________________________________ Any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Ai Squared. For membership options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/options.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com/steve.jacobson %40visi.com. For subscription options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/listinfo.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com List archives can be found at http://lists.window-eyes.com/private.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com _______________________________________________ Any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Ai Squared. For membership options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/options.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com/archive%40mail-archive.com. For subscription options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/listinfo.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com List archives can be found at http://lists.window-eyes.com/private.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com
