Well, for what it is worth, in many cases it is not up to Apple to support anything, it is up to the developer of the program. Apple exposes all the necessary functions to let programmers interact directly with VO, plus you have the common controls (buttons and other GUI controls) that VO knows about across all programs. If Firefox is not accessible on a Mac (and I have no idea if it is or not), then Mozilla is the company to which to complain, not Apple. This is the beauty of a built-in screen reader: if done right (the right functions and properties are exposed via a publically documented API) then the ball is put back in the developers' court to make their programs work.
On 9/1/10, randy black <[email protected]> wrote: > Chris, your point is valid but there is something truly liberating about > buying a Mac and having the screen reader work right out of the box without > having to pay another 3 or 4 figure price to make the computer meet our > needs. You do have a point about Apple not having a great incentive to > support products other than its own. That's why I purchased Vmware Fusion > and installed it on the Mac. I then got Windows 7 installed on the machine > and I can in either platform. I know some can't afford this option either so > I feel fortunate I can do so. If I were on a limited budget, I'd start with > a Mac and build from there. And if the person writing the earlier post feels > ill used by GW Micro, they have more options now than they have had before. > A couple of years back, the Mac wasn't useful at all by blind folks. > I'm a mere computer user so my opinion is worth even less than yours. Smile. > Randy Black > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Christopher Chaltain [mailto:[email protected]] > Sent: Wednesday, September 01, 2010 7:55 PM > To: [email protected] > Subject: RE: [GW-Booksense] Re: GW Micro Responds to the Future of Screen > Readers Discussion Panel Questions > > I'm not sold on the idea of a screen reader being included in the OS, > although I admit Apple has done a good job. My problem with this approach is > that there's no incentive for Apple to support anything other than Apple > products. What if I want to use Firefox instead of Safari or a media player > other than iTunes or a third party email client or PIM or so on. > > I also think JAWS and Window Eyes are vastly more robust than Narrator. I > would not have the job I have today if it wasn't for JAWS and or Window > Eyes. > > Since the original poster doesn't talk about the changes they'd like to see, > or how they could make Window Eyes better, it's impossible to know what > they're talking about. After working in the software development field for > almost 25 years, I'm certain GW Micro has some talented and dedicated > programmers working on Window Eyes. I'm also certain they've overcome quite > a few technical challenges in the years they've developed and supported a > Windows based screen reader. I'm sure someone could come in and make some > superficial changes on top of the base that's already there, but that's > doing a disservice to the years of development that's already gone into > Window Eyes. > > Although I'm sure GW Micro has some business savvyness, I wouldn't go as far > to use the terms "exploit" or "conspiracy". > > Just my $0.02, if it's even worth that much. > > -- > Christopher > [email protected] > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Kim Lingo [mailto:[email protected]] > Sent: Wednesday, September 01, 2010 5:30 PM > To: [email protected] > Subject: [GW-Booksense] Re: GW Micro Responds to the Future of Screen > Readers Discussion Panel Questions > > Then why haven't you come out with something better and cheaper? > Kim Lingo > At 03:01 PM 9/1/2010, you wrote: >>"GW Micro believes that having a free screen reader as part of the >>operating system does a disservice to Blind computer users." >> >>I thought this to be a hypocritical viewpoint. Somewhat charlatanistic. >>It is highly prejudicial to exclude low income users, or encourage >>an over priced payment plan like some sort of layaway. The price is >>highly debatable. It's seems to have to many zeroes. >>I think it's a typo, but no one seems to see it. (pun intended) >>The program itself is not even practical, nor signifigantly better >>than the windows narrotor for common use. >> >>Perhaps I should write the Obama administration to see what he >>thinks about GW micros position on affordable pricing of screen >>readers for the blind/disabled. >>If the president tested Window Eyes head to head with "real" >>software for the blind, he would have to "keep it real" and tell you >>exactly as I have. If not then we have a conspiracy on our hands, >>where the blind are being held back on purpose for extra >>profits. Or possibly for backdoor code abilities that rely on >>accessibility to mask their true intent. >>I will not allow exploitation of the blind, in any case. >> >>Window Eyes could be much better within a couple months of work. >>I mean several times better than it is right now. I know this for a >>fact because I am a developer that has done it. I'd crumple WE, and >>throw it in the trash if I were blind. >>GW probably knows it too, but keeps it secret from the users, >>because they just don't want to spend the time required to fully >>wrap their heads arround it. Or they can't, yet still want to enjoy >>the positive cash flow. The price shows the greed, not crafsmanship. > > If you reply to this message it will be delivered to the original sender > only. If your reply would benefit others on the list andyour message is > related to GW Micro or the BookSense, then please consider sending your > message to [email protected] so the entire list will receive it. > > To manage your subscription to gw-booksense, visit: > > http://www.gwmicro.com/listserv > > > > > If you reply to this message it will be delivered to the original sender > only. If your reply would benefit others on the list andyour message is > related to GW Micro or the BookSense, then please consider sending your > message to [email protected] so the entire list will receive it. > > To manage your subscription to gw-booksense, visit: > > http://www.gwmicro.com/listserv > > -- Have a great day, Alex (msg sent from GMail website) [email protected]; http://www.facebook.com/mehgcap If you reply to this message it will be delivered to the original sender only. If your reply would benefit others on the list andyour message is related to GW Micro or the BookSense, then please consider sending your message to [email protected] so the entire list will receive it. To manage your subscription to gw-booksense, visit: http://www.gwmicro.com/listserv
