Spoken interface for Mac OS X

[David Poehlman]

I wouldn't make lite of this, Those who need visual assistive technology 
have problems with the gui that are akin to what we face.  Ask any zoom text 
user who has gone thorugh the itterations of version 8.0 to tell you why 
there have been so many.  Ask any magic or zoom text user to tell you about 
panning.  Ask them about their web experiences.  There is much much more to 
this than meets the eye/ear unless I am missing something.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Darrell Shandrow" <nu7i at azboss.net>
To: <bob.dodd at acm.org>; "Speakup is a screen review system for Linux." 
<speakup at braille.uwo.ca>
Sent: Saturday, March 20, 2004 11:25 PM
Subject: Re: Spoken interface for Mac OS X


Hi Bob,

I think the Mac with Spoken Interface will be as usable or not to the
totally blind as is Windows or Linux; it'll all depend on the capabilities
of the screen reader.  I'm not as concerned about the ability of the
partially sighted to gain access to anything, including technology, as I am
the totally blind.  They remain able to operate in the sighted world, and,
all they really need is some sort of magnification, which is always easier
to implement than is real accessibility for blind users.

Darrell Shandrow - Shandrow Communications!
Technology consultant/instructor, network/systems administrator!
A+, CCNA, Network+!
Check out high quality telecommunications services at http://ld.net/?nu7i
All the best to coalition forces carrying out Operation Iraqi Freedom!
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bob Dodd" <Bob.Dodd at rocketmail.com>
To: <speakup at braille.uwo.ca>
Sent: Saturday, March 20, 2004 4:08 PM
Subject: Re: Spoken interface for Mac OS X


> Hi Darrell,
>
> Yes, I wondered how well it would handle shell windows myself, it's why
> I was look for anyone who might be thinking of trying out
> SpokenInterface. I was also interested in how well it handled
> installation.
>
> I also think you're right: SpokenInterface isn't competition for
> Speakup, it's a different market and a different philosophy (open
> source as opposed to closed source). I reckon SpokenInterface is more
> competition for windows based tools like Jaws: The cost of a mac+OSX
> should give PC+windows+Jaws a real run for its money. I also suspect,
> because the mac is so GUI driven, it will appeal more to low-vision
> users, rather than to blind users, though I'm sure people will disagree
> with that...
>
> It will be very interesting though, to see how well, and how
> seamlessly, integrated Apple have managed to make SpokenInterface seem
> to users, and what Speakup can learn from it. Apple are very good at
> look & feel (and design in general) so my guess is we'll learn
> something of use.
>
> /bob dodd
>
> --- Darrell Shandrow <nu7i at azboss.net> wrote:
> > Hi Bob,
> >
> > There's really no comparison.  While Speakup provides excellent
> > access to
> > console-based applications and the Linux OS itself, it doesn't handle
> > any
> > graphical user interfaces.  Spoken Interface is designed for the
> > Apple OS X
> > GUI.  I wonder if it is even going to do anything if the user opens a
> > window
> > to the shell available in OS X...
>
>
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