Hi Dark, Sure. Although, keep in mind we are also looking at this from a purely blind-centric mindset. I agree that usually it isn't necessary for someone writing a program for themselves, code they have no intention of sharing, to just forget about professional standards in formatting whatever. If we can't see it the entire concept of properly formatting code doesn't always serve us to the same purpose it does a sighted user.
That said, I'm sure if I was fully sighted, programming software, then I'd appreciate formatting more because I could glance at my screen and see exactly at what scope or level I am in my program.I could actually use formatting as a programming aid/tool and therefore it would have some personal use to me. Where as it is right now I have to enable the speaking of tab indentions to check if my coding is properly formatted rather than checking my formatting to the purpose it is suppose to serve in the first place. Which is similar to your discussion of your thesis. At this point you personally have no need for special formatting because Hal will read everything the same weather it looks professionally written or is extremely sloppy. However, for a sighted user its a different experience because they expect titles to be centered, paragraphs to be indented, and a double line break between paragraphs because its easier to read and locate text with a single glance. All I am really saying here is the way we handle printed text and a sighted person handles that same printed text is different. A sighted person's eye is drawn to centered text where if we want to find the next chapter we just use a find command. An extra line break between paragraphs makes it easier to visually skip between paragraphs at a glance where when using screen readers it doesn't really make a difference if there is a line break there or not. 'We, as blind users, often give up or reject things like visual formatting simply because it has no application or use to us personally. We are resigned to formatting if and when we have to turn it into our professor, boss, or someone else who requires that you dot all your i's and cross all your t's so to speak. Cheers! On 2/17/12, dark <d...@xgam.org> wrote: > Hi Tom. > > That might be business practice but to be honest it strikes me rather as > overkill most of the time. > > For instance, I certainly don't bother adding indenting or other formatting > to my thesis and probably won't until it comes time to prepare it for > printing and formal submition, despite the fact I obviously expect my tutor > to read draughts of it. > > nor would I add such stuff to anything I was writing, fiction, males or > whatever unless it was an amazingly formal document such as a statement in a > will, or one of the medical or legal documents my brother or my mum hve to > deal with (I know they both use formatting for that purpose). > > Generally I put in standard paragraphs, and if I expect the thing to be > overly public I'll spellcheck, but that's mostly as far as I will go, indeed > people I've had dealings with seem to be okay with that, even down to > university professors (none of my masters or degree essays or dissertation > had tabulation, just writing in word and spellchecking, nnor was it ever > suggested they should do). > > So, putting in tabs seems rather to me like dressing in full black tie and > tale coat when a bog standard suit and tie would do. > > Though actually less so, sinse I rather like wearing my tale coat, even more > than wearing my tux, so tend to wear it if I can possibly get away with it > :D. > > Beware the grue! > > dark. > > > --- > 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://mail.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. > --- 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://mail.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.
