Hi Richie,
I was actually curious about that. Someone asked me this question
recently on the phone. I wonder if there is data out there or a
method of determining this information? I'm sure there is general
Windows switcher stats, but I doubt specifically targeting blind
users has been done.
Take Care
John D. Panarese
Managing Director
Technologies for the Visually Impaired, Inc.
9 Nolan Court
Hauppauge, NY 11788
Tel/Fax, (631) 724-4479
Email, [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Internet, http://www.tvi-web.com
AUTHORIZED DISTRIBUTORS FOR PORTSET SYSTEMS LTD, COMPSOLUTIONS VA,
PREMIER ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGIES, INDEX, PAPENMEIER, REPRO-TRONICS,
DUXBURY, SEROTEK AND OTHER PRODUCTS FOR THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED
AUTHORIZED APPLE BUSINESS AGENT
MAC VOICEOVER TRAINING
On Jun 18, 2007, at 4:48 PM, Richard Gardenhire wrote:
Josh, I changed the subject line a bit to ask about another
argument that has been used by our agency here in Alaska. Are
there any statistics that show a percentage increase or decrease in
the number of blind and visually-impaired people--professional or
otherwise, who have made the switch from Windows to Macs, with the
development of Voiceover? I would be curious as to what
percentage, on a national scale, for example, use their Macs for
their professional line of work? According to what I have been told
by people who work in the Alaska school districts, for instance,
the Matanuska-Susitna Valley districts use more Macs, per capita,
of any community in Alaska, including Anchorage; however, that
number is changing as more bush and rural schools are using them in
their schools. The number of blind students being exposed to the
Mac and VoiceOver is increasing, but that's a slow, painstaking
work in progress, because our counselors are heavily influenced by
Windows screen manufacturers to continue pushing their products.
Our school districts here in Alaska are facing budget cuts, as are
a lot of school districts throught the country, and our Anchorage
store gets inquiries from Division of Voc Rehab, asking how viable
VoiceOver is? In fact, one of the counselors for the blind set up
an appointment to meet with me on behalf of a client who they are
serving, who wants to use his computer for his vending business, as
well as music. At last count, I know of eight, blind/visually-
impaired Mac users in the state of Alaska--three in Anchorage, one
in Juneau, two on the Kenai )pronounced Keen Eye0 Peninsula, and
three in Fairbanks. That number has probably changed, for the
upcoming University of Alaska-Anchorage fall enrollment. I would
be curious to know how other states are faring? Richie Gardenhire,
Anchorage, Alaska. I stand corrected; there are only two, in
Fairbanks, and a student in the Fairbanks School District who is
learning to use one.
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