Unbelievable, his credibility is at zero, only because it cannot be lower. On Thursday, August 11, 2016, John Farley via Talk < [email protected]> wrote:
> Vaughan, thank you for that insight into that article. > > My own, unreasearched view, is that any free screen reader will not be > able to complete the full role of tasks that a more professional screen > reader can. > > Although I do not use JAWS, it is not an acronym for Job Access to Work > with Screen Reader for nothing. > > I am a diehard Window-Eyes user and have been for many years, in a > professional capacity and now as a retired person. > I would not move away from Window-Eyes without a much better incentive > than a single review, which it now appears, is not from the most > knowledgeable of sources. > > Community, please take your choice. > > > > Regards, John > > Tel: +44 (0) 1442 259243 > Mob: +44 (0) 7815 056076 > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Talk [mailto:talk-bounces+john_farley <javascript:;>= > [email protected] <javascript:;>] On Behalf Of Vaughan > Dodd via Talk > Sent: Wednesday, August 10, 2016 9:11 PM > To: 'Chris Skarstad'; 'Window-Eyes Discussion List' > Subject: RE: Ranking Screen Readers In Windows10 Anniversary Update: The > Results Will Surprise You! > > Thanks for the post. > > I do think we should be cautious about this. Apart from the fact that the > guy is a teacher - teacher of what and of whom - his credentials are not > clearly identified. So his views are just as good or just as bad as any > one elses. > > Many of us use apps not included in his discussion - excel, outlook, other > mail and spreadsheet applications and so on. Whilst it is clear that the > discussion is about Windows 10 anniversary, and as such is narrow in > context, it is far from complete. > > The bias is clear: if it is free - it must be better, and he has only ever > used JFW of the paid screen readers. > Microsoft's commitment to accessibility is questonable. Yes: Narrator has > made improvements which are long overdue, and there are knowledgeable blind > people commiting to Narrator. But - no braille, no ability to configure it > for specific apps, and so many other shortcomings which Window-Eyes and JFW > have attempted to resolve over the years. > > > > The discussion is an important one, as the industry is in a state of > change. But: we should just treat the comments for what they are - > someone's legitimate opinion. > > > Vaughan. > > > > Please telephone the Regional Disability and Health Team prior to emailing > or faxing any new referrals. > > Vaughan Dodd, Regional Disability Advisor. > > Desk2desk: 97187. > Email: [email protected] <javascript:;>. > For referrals: email [email protected] > <javascript:;>. > > Our up-to-date desk file is located at: > http://doogle.ssi.govt.nz/resources/publications/ > reports-research/regional/auckland/auckland-health- > disability-resources.html > > -----Original Message----- > From: Talk [mailto:talk-bounces+vaughan.dodd001 <javascript:;>= > [email protected] <javascript:;>] On Behalf Of Chris > Skarstad via Talk > Sent: Thursday, 11 August 2016 6:27 a.m. > To: Russ Kiehne; Window-Eyes Discussion List > Subject: Re: Ranking Screen Readers In Windows10 Anniversary Update: The > Results Will Surprise You! > > No mention of Window-eyes, eh? tisk tisk. > On 8/10/2016 9:38 AM, Russ Kiehne via Talk wrote: > > The following article came from > > https://www.coolblindtech.com/ranking-screen-readers-in-windows10-anni > > versary-update-the-results-will-surprise-you/ > > > > He seemed to leave out Window Eyes? > > > > Ranking Screen Readers In Windows10 Anniversary Update: The Results Will > Surprise You! > > > > James Oates > > > > > > On August 9, 2016 > > > > In this article, I will attempt to review and rank three of the most > > popular current screen readers that are available at this time. The > three screen readers were tested on the most recent version of Windows 10 > anniversary update. This is important because one of the screen readers is > Microsoft�s most recently updated Narrator. > > Although ranking the screen readers might prove to be quite > controversial, I think it can also open up a real discussion on which > screen readers are most accessible, and even the question of accessibility > can sometimes be up for debate. I do realize that accessibility is > determined by personal needs and preferences, so I will attempt to define > the criteria I used for accessibility in this review. > > > > What Is Accessibility? > > > > Quite simply, I determined that accessibility is the ability to access > that which needs to be accessed. Also, I take points off accessibility for > the screen readers that make it difficult to access material by being > dysfunctional or by making it very difficult to figure out which keystrokes > need to be used with the material. Some screen readers make you use > ridiculous key combinations to activate website elements or functions > within applications. So without further ado, here are the rankings! > > > > Number One: Microsoft Narrator! > > > > It took me about a day to get used to the screen reader, but once I > > did, I realized what a powerful tool Microsoft had created and that > > the company was finally serious about supporting a built-in screen > > reader for the blind. In fact, the only thing I could find wrong with > > the screen reader was that it did not work with my braille display. I am > currently working with Microsoft and HIMS to see if this problem can be > resolved. Besides that one issue, the screen reader was fully accessible on > all websites and applications. I tested the screen readers on Microsoft > Edge, Internet Explorer, Groove Music, Skype, Dropbox, Microsoft Word, > Audacity, Feedback, and the Settings app. Narrator now uses something > called scan mode. You can toggle this on and off by pressing caps lock and > space bar. When scan mode is off, you can tab through active elements, use > Windows keyboard commands, and navigate by means of your preferred > preference; such as, items, headings, and paragraphs. When scan mode is on, > you can navigate through everything on the screen�that includes text, > website elements, and application controls�by using the tab key, arrowing > around the screen, or employing letter navigation. How often has your > screen reader announced; �OK button�. And you are wondering; �What am I > saying OK to?� When scan mode is turned on, you can just arrow up and read > the text associated with that button. You do need to toggle scan mode off > when you want to use keyboard commands such as control P to pause a music > track or alt F4 to close an application. This was the only screen reader > that was fully functional using Microsoft Edge. It was also the only screen > reader that was able to read every active element and all text on each > website and application. Clearly, hands down, Narrator is the winner! > > > > Second-Place Goes to NVDA. > > > > NVDA > > performed mostly well. The problem is it uses a function called browse > mode that doesn�t actually work at this time. You�re supposed to be able to > toggle between focus and browse modes by pressing insert plus spacebar. > It�s supposed to function like Narrator�s scan mode. Because it didn�t > work, Microsoft Edge was only able to read active elements, not text, on > the screen. It was also difficult to read text on other applications. Like > I said before, you want to know what you�re saying �OK� to. Also, there > were other applications where you had to switch the pain view to see what > else was on the screen. That�s OK if you know that there are other pains on > the screen. But if you don�t, you�re missing out on loads of information. > NVDA is still a fantastic screen reader and the developers of the project > are working on fixing browse mode. I suspect they will work out the kinks > very soon. But can they keep up with all the changes and updates coming > from Microsoft on an almost daily basis? > > > > JAWS Finishes in a Distant Third. > > > > This wasn�t even close! I don�t even know where to begin! For > > starters, the JAWS display driver interfered with the Microsoft > > Upgrade Assistant which is a program that allows customers to download > > Windows10 Anniversary Update without having to wait for the automatic > > update. I had to uninstall the Freedom Scientific display driver just to > download my free copy of Windows 10 Anniversary Update. Next, JAWS does not > work with Microsoft Edge unless you�re using the touch cursor. This makes > Microsoft�s primary browser virtually unusable. This is inexcusable and > unacceptable. JAWS has also come up with some very convoluted keystroke > combinations to interact with elements on webpages. I also ran into several > situations where JAWS was incapable of activating navigation bars on > webpages. I just want to know, are the people at VFO serious about > accessibility, or just interested in convincing people in enterprise and > government that they are? > > > > Final Thoughts. > > > > I really enjoyed the Mark mobile voice that Narrator uses. I was also > > pleasantly surprised at how quickly the screen reader reacts. I�m now > > using it as my primary screen reader. I of course will always continue > > to use NVDA as well. It is an amazing product and will only continue > > to improve. They have one of the most talented group of developers > > I�ve ever seen. As for JAWS, I can�t think of one good thing to say. And > that�s a difficult position for me to take. When I first became a teacher > 25 years ago, JAWS was the only program that made the digital world > accessible for me. It was an amazing product, and I�ve always shown a great > deal of gratitude toward them, but even I have to admit that they�re not > maintaining their commitment to customers. You don�t know how difficult > that is for me to say this because I have a great deal of loyalty toward > the people who helped me when I was younger. I hope the people at VFO and > Freedom Scientific can turn things around, but most importantly I applaud > the accessibility team at Microsoft. For years Microsoft has preached > accessibility but seemed more interested in promoting their own advancement > within the field of accessibility. The new Microsoft accessibility team is > finally focusing on their actual customers. What a refreshing change! I > have also recorded a podcast demonstrating the use and accessibility of > Windows 10 anniversary update. I hope you give it a listen. > > > > The views expressed here are purely my own, and should be taken as such. > > _______________________________________________ > > 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/rascal0826%40verizon.net. > > 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/vaughan.dodd001%40msd.govt.nz. > 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 > > ------------------------------- > This email and any attachments may contain information that is > confidential and subject to legal privilege. If you are not the intended > recipient, any use, dissemination, distribution or duplication of this > email and attachments is prohibited. If you have received this email in > error please notify the author immediately and erase all copies of the > email and attachments. The Ministry of Social Development accepts no > responsibility for changes made to this message or attachments after > transmission from the Ministry. > > ------------------------------- > _______________________________________________ > 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/john_farley%40btinternet.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/krbarry%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 -- Sent from Kevin's iPhone. _______________________________________________ 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
