I don't know whether there is security in numbers, but I too have always
been frustrated when using Jaws by my inability to lengthen pauses between
sentences.
Frankly, at this point, I continue to use Window-eyes for any computer task
I wish to do. If for some reason, it doesn't work, I will then revert to
Jaws.
One Jaws 2021 feature which is great is the ability to read most PDFs
immediately. Unfortunately, my electric bills are among the unreadable PDFs.
Don Roberts
----- Original Message -----
From: "David Pedersen via Talk" <[email protected]>
To: "Larry Higgins via Talk" <[email protected]>
Cc: "David Pedersen" <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, June 18, 2021 2:56 PM
Subject: Re: JAWS and read-all
Larry,
I know what you are talking, and among other things, it's one of the
reasons why I don't use Jaws much. As one of the others pointed out, it
might to a certain degree depend on the synthesizer. But like you stated,
you have tested several synths, and the many settings. Have to admit, that
even under WinEyes I have seen the behavior with certain, less known
synths. One of my synths here, has the breaks you would expect to have at
the period, ehenever it comes to a comma. And likewise, when it comes to a
comma, it will only have the pausing that you normally would have at the
end of a phrase. This all causes the narrating to make long pauses in the
middle of the phrase, and almost no pausing between the sentences -
meaning tthat you many times loose the mainpoint in thhhhhhhhhhhe text.
Afraid I do not have much other comfort here, but letting you know you are
not alone. And it is most likely the result of sluggish handling, in the
synth, just as much as in the screen reader. By the way, I do see it even
under the TalkBack with Android, combined with some synths.
Agreed, with Jaws it seems to be the case with all synthesizers, leading
me to conclude that the screen reader does not communicate well enough
with the synths - or, could it be that I just have not tested the right
synths. Smiles.
If you want to read books, and you really want to put a bit of resources
into the project, I would suggest you check out the shareware named
TextAloud, manufactured by Nextup.com. It will leave you numerous ways of
tayloring your reading experience. You have many adjustments for speed,
and pausing. You can, if you want the extra job, have given parts of a
text read out with an alternative voice, like whatever is enclosed in
parenthesis, or quotations. All you need is the TextAloud software, and
one or more SAPI voices. Nextup sells you what you need, and offers you
high-end voices, like the Ivona and Vocalizer ones - all to affordable
prices. The software developing team is well aware of screen reader users,
hence the software has setups for you and me. Smiles. And, they are quick
and friendly in helping you out, should you send them a message. Best of
all, you even get the chance of converting your text files into MP3s, that
you can actually generate your personalized audiobook of t
he the file, and replay it on your portable player wherever you want. Even
if you want to split a long text into individual smaller files, like if
you want each chapter of your book to be in its own file, it has helpful
features to perform such automatically, in a rather short and intuitive
manner.
OK, so it does not solve your issue, when browsing the net, or sorting
your mailbox. But it would greatly help you out, when you invest a bit of
setup, for your next book or long document. Personally I have read several
books by the use of it, and got such used to the electronic voice, that I
even started to put the human modulation into it, in my mind.
Hope this gave you something, even if it hardly was any real answer to
your initial query.
________________________________
From: Talk <[email protected]>
on behalf of Larry Higgins via Talk <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, June 17, 2021 12:17 PM
To: WindowEyes List <[email protected]>
Cc: Larry Higgins <[email protected]>
Subject: JAWS and read-all
To whomever might be left to read this, I hope that you might have some
suggestions, or at least observations on what I consider to be almost a
deal-breaking issue when it comes to re-upping my annual subscription to
JAWS. BTW, I have brought this to the attention to JFW list members, but
have received no satisfactory answers. This issue is the way that JAWS
and its say-all feature paces its reading of any document, no matter
what synthesizer might be being used. I like to call it "reading rhythm."
When reading, the phrasing is rushed in my opinion, meaning that the
ends and beginnings of sentences are so close together that it is hard
for me to process what went before before I've had a chance to mentally
prepare myself for the next phrase, or sentence, whichever might present
itself while reading.
I do not have this issue with WE. WE has a pleasant reading pace-rhythm.
I have tried all of the settings provided in the say-all options, but
none of them restore that kind of rhythm, not to my liking.
On another list, when I occasionally have to make mention of
Window-Eyes, I get the old song and dance about giving up Window-Eyes
(an end of life product) in favor of the latest screen reading product,
and I would do just that if I could find a way around this kind of
unpleasant style of reading. This really does take away from my
enjoyment of reading with my PC.
If anybody who might be left is of the same opinion, or has any ideas as
to how to get around this rather vexing issue, please respond ASAP
<smile>. Your solidarity, not to mention wisdom will be gratefully
appreciated.
Sincerely,
Larry
PS. I will observe, that NOAA Weather stations do not use the JFW style
when presenting weather info, so why should I have to put up with this
as a blind computer user and voracious PC book reader?
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