Leah,

Speaking from experience, I wouldn't recommend running ZoomText Xtra Level 1
or 2 with JAWS.  Besides the sound card conflict between ZoomText Xtra Level
2 and JAWS, there are many keyboard conflicts between JAWS and both ZoomText
Xtra products.  By this I mean, both ZoomText and JAWS want to use the same
keys to do different things.  While you can re-map the keyboard to try and
get around these key conflicts, you are left with some very non-standard
controls for JAWS and ZoomText.  By my way of thinking, an adapted library
computer should be as standard as possible so persons who know how to run
the adaptive software have a fighting chance of getting their work done.

At my university, we have both ZoomText Xtra Level 2 and JAWS 3.5 on our
accessible workstations but don't recommend running them together.  If run
independently, they both work fine.  When I evaluate and train people who
use these two programs, I always try to get those who need both speech and
extreme magnification to use JAWS alone.  Likewise, for those who use less
magnification but like a little help from some speech to use ZoomText Xtra
Level 2.

Another thing to consider is using ZoomText Xtra Level 2 without the speech
features, effectively making it like Level 1.  Another option if both speech
and magnification are needed together is the MAGic screen magnification
program from Henter-Joyce.  Finally, some individuals I work with who want
speech and minimal magnification use a 21 inch monitor with the Windows
Accessibility High Contrast display option enabled along with JAWS.  This
combo seems to work very well together.

I hope this helps you out...

Jeff Senge
Information & Computer Access Program
California State University, Fullerton
Phone:  (714) 278-7253
Email:  [log in to unmask]

> ----------
> From:         Leah Monger[SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Reply To:     Library Access -- http://www.rit.edu/~easi
> Sent:         Tuesday, February 29, 2000 2:10 PM
> To:   [log in to unmask]
> Subject:      Jaws and ZoomText
>
> About a month ago I posted a question about furniture and software we were
> tentatively planning to put in an adaptive technology lab in a new
> library.
> We were suggesting putting Jaws for Windows and ZoomText Extra Level 2 on
> our workstations.  I got one response that we might want to consider
> ZoomText Level 1if we are putting Jaws on the same workstation.  What's
> the
> collective wisdom on which would be a better combination of software?
> During a site visit to another library's adaptive technology lab, I made a
> note that ZoomText Extra and Jaws can't run simultaneously since they both
> use the same speech card.  If I remember correctly, that library purchased
> Jaws in addition to ZoomText Level 2 because it can voice text in dialogue
> boxes and highlighted buttons that ZoomText does not read.  If we did
> decide to downgrade the ZoomText software, how difficult is it to run
> ZoomText Level 1 and Jaws together?  Would we make things easier on our
> users to spring for the ZoomText Level 2?
> Thanks much!
>
> ******************************************
> Leah Monger
> Head of Library Systems & Operations
> Abigail S. Timme Library
> Ferris State University
> 1201 S. State St.
> Big Rapids, MI 49307
> (231)591-2947
> (231)592-3724 (fax)
>
> EASI's online workshop on accessible Web design,
> Barrier-free Web Design, begins Feb. 22.
> Making your Web pages accessible is the right thing to do,
> and it is the law.  For information, go to
> http://www.rit.edu/~easi and click on workshops.
>

EASI's online workshop on accessible Web design,
Barrier-free Web Design, begins Feb. 22.
Making your Web pages accessible is the right thing to do,
and it is the law.  For information, go to
http://www.rit.edu/~easi and click on workshops.