Hi All
A couple of thoughts: I have found that there are a number of
approaches toat people have to computer software: some people
won't do anything unless they attend a (usually very expensive)
training course and come away with a pile of exercises, "cheat
sheets" and "how-to guides". At the other extreme, there are the
people (like me) who have never had a day's computer training,
read the manual as a last resort, and try to figure out
everything from the program itself. One good thing about Windows
is that once you do know the basics it is generally possible to
explore the menus and the help system and learn a fair bit about
the program (documentation seems to be getting thinner and
thinner these days anyway).
I have met JFW users who havge had the product for over a year,
but didn't know that there was a manual on their hard disk, and
hadn't read the braille reference lists that come with it. Now
the JFW documentation isn't perfect, but it's better than a lot
of the documentation you find in so-called mainstream products.
For those using braille, don't forget that if your display has
cursor routing buttons, you can use these to click the mouse at a
particular position. I use the Powerbraille 40, and probably use
this feature more than any other. Not all applications have good
keyboard support, and familiarity with mouse-movement commands
is, in my view, almost essential if you want to use Windows
effectively. JFW has a good set of these commands. Also if you
are a braille user, it's important to understand the difference
between Speechbox mode, Structured mode and Line mode. Most of
the time I use line mode because it gives me a feel for the
screen layout and alwo let me use the cursor routing buttons; but
sometimes information doesn't appear on the display, and in many
of these cases I go back into Speechbox mode.
Cheers Bruce Maguire
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
On Thu, 31 Dec 1998 16:09:36 -0600, you wrote:
>I was interested in reading Debbie[s and David's messages on the importance
>in learning the basics before getting commercial software packages.
>
>Basically, I think if one gets the general feeling of Windows and JFW....he
>or she can go to commercial software packages. I am relatively new to the
>world of Windows but I have caught up fast.. and am pretty proud that I was
>able to tackle the use of JUNO almost all by myself - installation and usage
>of it.
>
>I do have OMNI page PRO but I have not yet been taught how to use it - don't
>worry, Debbie, I won't be bombarding your tech support line with my calls
>since I feel that my trainer will teach me everything I need to know. But
>I plan to try it out myself over the weekend if I have time since I am
>somewhat familiar with the basics of Windows keyboard commands.
>
>The whole message is... do get to know Windows keyboard commands as that is
>the key to mastery of today's computer technology. As a totally Braille
>user (I am deaf-blind), I have found a little need to use Jaws commands - I
>learned one yesterday which is to use Jaws command to find a specific word
>on the he screen (darn it - it won't work for file!)
>
>Jeff Bohrman
>-----Original Message-----
>From: David Poehlman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>Date: Thursday, December 31, 1998 2:15 PM
>Subject: Re: comments on commercial ocr
>
>
>>my take is that if you can go commercial it is better for many reasons
>>into which I will not travel. seems to me there is a tutorial on how to
>>use omnipage with jfw in here somewhere?
>>--
>>hands-on Technolog(eye)s
>>Touching The Internet
>>ftp://ftp.clark.net/pub/poehlman
>>http://poehlman.clark.net
>>email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>>voice 301-949-7599
>>Dynamic Solutions Inc.
>>Best of Service for your small business network needs
>>http://www.dnsolutions.com
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>
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