no question Josh. But my fear is that Apple thinks it has done all it needs to for those of us who are blind and need to access these devices. They have responded to the need to provide accessibility by developing voiceover. Yep it's free, generally usable and ticks oh I'd say, 85% of the boxes. I just think they still can refine it. Fleksy is just such a refinement.
Let's just say I've heard enough skuttlebut which would indicate that blind users aren't a priority, and that other disabilities are. I believe the job isn't finished. Dónal On 20 Aug 2012, at 23:47, josh gregory <joshkar...@gmail.com> wrote: > Ok I get what you're saying, but, it's better than Windows where you > have to use Narrator to get a screen reader from the Internet. Now i'm > not bashing windows, it's still good for what Vo can't do. But I just > think vo is more universally accessible. > > On 8/20/12, Dónal Fitzpatrick <dfitz...@computing.dcu.ie> wrote: >> Travis, >> >> I've played with the free app and personally have no intention of paying the >> "blind tax" that seems to be on these apps. However I'll also add that I've >> begun to chat with the developers (*smile* as a result of a mildly offensive >> and rather negative tweet about the app) and they are very nice guys who are >> extremely committed to what they are doing. >> >> Wearing my usability hat for a second, I think what they're trying to do >> makes sense. I don't know about you, but I don't hit letters accurately >> 100% of the time. So in essence all they are doing is building in error >> correction for inaccurate keypresses. That's an over simplification but in >> essence that's how I see it. Now from the standpoint of the research, taken >> heuristically as it were, that makes sense to me. Allowing the device to >> "assist" or "second guess" the user for whom traditional input doesn't quite >> work is a good idea. >> >> Where it falls down in my view is the fact that this input method isn't >> available globally. So one cannot, as it were, select the "fleksy keyboard" >> as opposed to apple's own variants. As an aside, they tell me that >> developers can in fact incorporate their work into their apps and they have >> had interest in this. >> >> What jumps out at me is that a software developer has seen a niche/gap in >> the market and filled it. The reason, and again this is pure opinion on my >> part, is that voiceover (whether on IOS or the desktop platforms) has >> stagnated. There, I've said it and now the apple fanboys/girls will no >> doubt create a strong rope made of iPhone cables with which to hang me from >> the nearest cellphone mast. However, let's think about it. We all (well >> certainly I and a number of my friends did) were delighted with the >> emergence of Alex, trackpad use, access to touchscreens etc. However what's >> happened since? We still have the same bugs, the gesture/keyboard >> interactions haven't been refined and software such as Pages, Numbers, >> Keynote and Preview still are not, in my opinion, usable to the extent they >> should be. >> >> So returning to Fleksy and what I think it shows. I think it shows that >> Apple don't have the monopoly on ideas. I think it shows the problems >> inherent in the design of voiceover on both mobile and desktop platforms in >> that developers cannot "plug in" to the screenreader and create extensions. >> That is bad, ladies and gentlemen because it means as long as we stick on >> Apple platforms, we've got to put up with what they give us and that, for >> the past few years hasn't been much. I now expect the usual blind response >> of "oh but we should all be grateful to apple because. (blah blah)" and all >> of that is perfect true. But how long do we have to remain grateful for? >> We're paying our money just like anyone else so should expect improvements >> in the user experience. There are seven, yes only seven, new voiceover >> features in mountain lion, and many bugs that have been there for years are >> still there. So yes I am delighted apple introduced a free screenreader, >> but they're happy too as they have got money from me (and other blind users) >> as a consequence that they otherwise wouldn't have received. >> >> I could wax lyrical on some theoretical analysis I've done on all this but >> most people would accuse me of being boring so I won't. >> >> that's my few cents worth on Fleksy, apple and the world according to Garp. >> >> Dónal >> On 20 Aug 2012, at 22:09, Travis Siegel <tsie...@softcon.com> wrote: >> >>> Ahh, Donald, an excellent summary of the app, and exactly what I needed. >>> I couldn't figure out from previous emails what the point was, so thanks >>> for that. >>> It does sound like it could be a useful app. However, for now, I'll stick >>> with apple's method, I like it, and it works for me, and I'm relatively >>> quick, so I don't see a need to change everything now. :) >>> Yes, I'm a bit stuck in my ways. :) >>> Thanks for the explanation, it makes a whole lot of sense now. >>> >>> <--- Mac Access At Mac Access Dot Net ---> >>> >>> To reply to this post, please address your message to >>> mac-access@mac-access.net >>> >>> You can find an archive of all messages posted to the Mac-Access forum >>> at either the list's own dedicated web archive: >>> <http://mail.tft-bbs.co.uk/pipermail/mac-access/index.html> >>> or at the public Mail Archive: >>> <http://www.mail-archive.com/mac-access@mac-access.net/>. >>> Subscribe to the list's RSS feed from: >>> <http://www.mail-archive.com/mac-access@mac-access.net/maillist.xml> >>> >>> The Mac-Access mailing list is guaranteed malware, spyware, Trojan, virus >>> and worm-free! >>> >>> Please remember to update your membership options periodically by visiting >>> the list website at: >>> <http://mail.tft-bbs.co.uk/mailman/listinfo/mac-access/options/> >> >> Dónal Fitzpatrick >> dfitz...@computing.dcu.ie >> >> >> >> <--- Mac Access At Mac Access Dot Net ---> >> >> To reply to this post, please address your message to >> mac-access@mac-access.net >> >> You can find an archive of all messages posted to the Mac-Access forum at >> either the list's own dedicated web archive: >> <http://mail.tft-bbs.co.uk/pipermail/mac-access/index.html> >> or at the public Mail Archive: >> <http://www.mail-archive.com/mac-access@mac-access.net/>. >> Subscribe to the list's RSS feed from: >> <http://www.mail-archive.com/mac-access@mac-access.net/maillist.xml> >> >> The Mac-Access mailing list is guaranteed malware, spyware, Trojan, virus >> and worm-free! >> >> Please remember to update your membership options periodically by visiting >> the list website at: >> <http://mail.tft-bbs.co.uk/mailman/listinfo/mac-access/options/> >> > > > -- > Ways to Connect with me: > > facebook.com/evercuriousmasteryodo > > twitter.com/joshg93 > Skype: joshgregory93 > FaceTime, iMessage and iChat: joshkar...@gmail.com > <--- Mac Access At Mac Access Dot Net ---> > > To reply to this post, please address your message to > mac-access@mac-access.net > > You can find an archive of all messages posted to the Mac-Access forum at > either the list's own dedicated web archive: > <http://mail.tft-bbs.co.uk/pipermail/mac-access/index.html> > or at the public Mail Archive: > <http://www.mail-archive.com/mac-access@mac-access.net/>. > Subscribe to the list's RSS feed from: > <http://www.mail-archive.com/mac-access@mac-access.net/maillist.xml> > > The Mac-Access mailing list is guaranteed malware, spyware, Trojan, virus and > worm-free! > > Please remember to update your membership options periodically by visiting > the list website at: > <http://mail.tft-bbs.co.uk/mailman/listinfo/mac-access/options/> Dónal Fitzpatrick dfitz...@computing.dcu.ie <--- Mac Access At Mac Access Dot Net ---> To reply to this post, please address your message to mac-access@mac-access.net You can find an archive of all messages posted to the Mac-Access forum at either the list's own dedicated web archive: <http://mail.tft-bbs.co.uk/pipermail/mac-access/index.html> or at the public Mail Archive: <http://www.mail-archive.com/mac-access@mac-access.net/>. Subscribe to the list's RSS feed from: <http://www.mail-archive.com/mac-access@mac-access.net/maillist.xml> The Mac-Access mailing list is guaranteed malware, spyware, Trojan, virus and worm-free! Please remember to update your membership options periodically by visiting the list website at: <http://mail.tft-bbs.co.uk/mailman/listinfo/mac-access/options/>
