Russ: thank you for advertising this.
I have listened to the podcast, and whilst not wishing to criticise Main
menu, I do have to say that it seems that the good folks of ACB Radio
have sold the Microsoft line.
Of particular concern is that Microsoft's blocking of screen reader
access with the Edge browser due to security based decisions is
unforgiveable. I feel for the blatant apologies given at last year's
ACB Convention; Microsoft's progress in more than 12 months does not
seem to reflect a true commitment. Screen readers an web browsers as a
combfination are not new. This was all preventable, and Microsoft need
to stop making excuses for its sloppy attitude. Whilst the Microsoft
representatives did say that work is happening with adaptive technology
suppliers, the fact is that MS screwed up and the strategy appears to
be to lock out screen readers which even today, perform better than the
Narrator demos we've so far heard.
The very brief demonstrations did not tackle complex web based
interactions such as banking sites, cluttered newspaper feeds and travel
booking services.
Narrator has not progressed the question of braille.
Narrator has not truly advanced magnifier.
We need to remain cynical about Microsoft's attempts at improving
Windows accessibility. For me - Microsoft needs to do better with
respect to supporting VFO screen reader products, be these Window-Eyes
or JAWS.
It is a very good thing that organisations such as ACB operate an
advisory relationship with Microsoft, (as mentioned in the podcast), it
needs to be brave and bold enough to provide public criticism when such
critique is required. If the NFB can do so with Apple, whose VoiceOver
is a better product than Narrator, ACB can certainly hold Microsoft to
account.
The Main menu programme is independent of the opinions of Acb Radio and
the ACB, and long may that independence remain. Sometimes -
discussions like this latest one need to be able to mix public relations
and awareness of developments with strident editorial comment. Such
background and assimilation of divergent opinion could easily be a
second podcast, and I hope that such a follow-up happens soon.
Vaughan.
On 7/31/2016 1:31 AM, Russ Kiehne via Talk wrote:
This week on Main Menu we bring you the latest information from the folks at Microsoft Corporation all about the new Windows 10 anniversary update coming next week to a computer near you. Narrator, the screen reader built-in to Windows 10 is the main focus of our discussion this week and we brought a number of technology experts direct from Microsoft and elsewhere to talk all about it. The following Microsoft engineers joined us on the show from the Windows 10 Narrator accessibility team: Brett Humphrey, Kelly Ford and Dan Hubbell. In addition, Joe Steinkamp joined us from the Blind Bargains site as a technology expert on Windows 10. Microsoft has been hard at work on significantly enhancing Narrator with new voices, performance improvements, a new scan mode, new verbosity settings and so much more. We ask Microsoft questions about the upgrade experience for Windows users and we even dive into the positioning of Narrator as a viable commercial screen reader. This is really
ju
st the start of what is a jam packed show. In fact, we have a slight change
for this week. We had so much content that was timely we will be airing the
content of the show on ACB Radio starting at 9:00 PM Eastern. If you get the
podcast version of the show there will be an additional 15 minutes of audio
demonstrations of Narrator features included. Here are some important links you
should keep in mind for Windows 10: What is coming up in Win10 Anniversary
Update August 2 Ready to upgrade? AT user? Please use this link for free
upgrade to Windows 10 Narrator user guides and documentation (this link will be
live on August 2nd)
http://mainmenu.acbradio.org/podcast/2016-07-29.mp3
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