Hi Charles: Yes and no. Certainly when looking at code braille is beneficial because you can instantly feel if your formatting is correct, if you have all the write syntax, function names are correctly spelled, etc. However, there are ways to get the same information through speech, and no it doesn't have to be tedious to get the same info via speech output.
To give you an example there is a program for Linux called Emacspeak. What's so special about Emacspeak over most screen readers is it was designed especially for programmers to speak information contextually as a developer writes some code in C++, java, etc. If you indent a line of code it will automatically announce indented 5 spaces, 10 spaces, 15 spaces, etc and tell you if it is or out of a certain block of code. If you type a left brace it will tell you that you are starting a new block and if it is one, two, or three levels deep in the code. Same with a right brace. It will tell you that you have ended block 1, block 2, or block 3 so you know you are programming correctly without having to go back and review the screen. It can get a bit verbose at the same time, but it works for me and is just as good as the braille output. Windows screen readers like Window-Eyes, Jaws, NVDA, etc aren't necessarily as detailed, but can be configured to get the basic information across easy enough. There are things like spacing, tab indention, all punctuation, etc that can be enabled to get all the essential info as one types the code or arrows through it via speech. It is not as tedious as you might think. I'll agree it can be a bit too verbose, but I think speech output is better than throwing down a couple grand for a braille display to access the same info. So once again we come back to the crux of the problem. Is braille so benificial it is worth 2,000, 3,000, 4,000, 5,000, or more. Well, for me it is not worth that kind of money to buy a braille display to program. I can make do with speech for less money and put that money towards a new computer, a new iPhone, a Windows upgrade, whatever and still come out ahead. The value of that braille display is far less to me than the cost to have it. Cheers! On 12/12/13, Charles Rivard <wee1s...@fidnet.com> wrote: > Another instance in which braille would be beneficial is when writing code > of computer program, I would think. Where spacing and punctuation is > important, speech output would be tedious, time consuming, and a downright > pain in the backside. Going through your code, proofreading before > compiling, would probably be more naturally done with the fingers than the > ears. > > --- > Be positive! When it comes to being defeated, if you think you're finished, > > you! really! are! finished! --- Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org. You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. All messages are archived and can be searched and read at http://www.mail-archive.com/gamers@audyssey.org. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, please send E-mail to gamers-ow...@audyssey.org.
