I will start out by saying that I have some pretty significant 
reservations about Microsoft supplying a fully functional screen reader as 
part of the operating system.

I do believe that a free screen reader would eventually kill the current 
Windows screen readers.  As long as it was a reasonable substitution.  The 
largest concern I have is how many resources would MSFT be willing to lay 
out for such a small population?  What incentive would MSFT have to 
improve the screen reader, or support non Microsoft products?

Certainly, if the screen reader was closely tied to the OS, and developers 
used the Microsoft development platform, then access would be assured. 
However, if developers used Windows standards today, the vast majority of 
applications would be reasonably accessible out of the box, however, they 
don't and I don't see why that would change.

Also, people seem to forget that the reason why a lot of applications 
quote appear quote to work so smoothly with JAWS or WindowEyes, is because 
a lot of work went into building script files and set files so that 
certain things read when you would expect them to, and in a meaningful 
way, take the spell checkers for example.  They seem to read just what you 
want to hear at the right time.  JAWS doesn't do that on it's own.  That 
is a customized script.

So, if MSFT was willing to support a screen reader fully, and they had 
some leverage on the developers to use a specific development kit, then a 
Microsoft screen reader could be quite useful.  I have concerns though, 
that those requirements would be met.

Lastly, the concept of a screen reader working right out of the box is, 
for the time being, a total fantasy.  I say that only because, working out 
of the box is different for some people than for others.  I was recently 
made aware of that fact while talking with a friend.  I just happened to 
say in a conversation that the Internet is about the greatest thing I 
could imagine for a blind person.  I can read all my utility statements, 
bank statements, credit card statements, news papers, online.  I can pay 
all my bills online, I don't need a sighted person to read my private 
statements to me.

She, was utterly surprised since she could do none of that.  She has been 
using JAWS for about two years, has even received some training on it, yet 
she is constantly frustrated that she cannot get much out of the internet.

Even if she were using a MAC, I don't believe she would have much better 
luck.  As far as I am concerned, JAWS works right out of the box with 
Internet explorer, yet, others think it is horrible.  No one screen reader 
will be the same for every person.  No two people will have the same exact 
experience with any screen reader.  Just because one person thinks that 
JAWS is the be all and end all, and WindowEyes just isn't as good, 
probably hasn't spent enough time with WE to really get used to it, and I 
am a JFW user saying this.

If a screen reader doesn't have the ability to modify what it says, IE, 
adjust the verbosity, look at all the dozens of verbosity settings in JFW, 
I for one love the ability to change how much is spoken depending on my 
mood, or if I am working with a new app or on a particularly complex web 
page.  If a screen reader can't do that, I have some concerns.  Thus, the 
concept of working out of the box bothers me, because it assumes a lowest 
common denominator.  Working out of the box for who?  Or is that whom?

Anyway, I would never willingly choose to limit my options, thus I would 
rather see Microsoft work closer with screen reader developers than put 
them out of business.

-- 
Blue skies.
Dan Rossi
Carnegie Mellon University.
E-Mail:	[log in to unmask]
Tel:	(412) 268-9081


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