I've been using assistive technology products for 15 years and I have still 
not found JAWS any easier to use infact, it's gotten harder.

ITunes was not accessible in windows because Msaa does not play nice with 
cross platform apps.  We had accessibility for the most part in ITunes on 
the mac for quite a while before 8.0 came out although things did improve 
with 8.0 on the Mac side as well.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mike Pietruk" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, December 04, 2008 7:25 PM
Subject: Re: [VICUG-L] time for a rant, is anyone with me here?


There is also another issue to be considered in this usability issue.
Regardless of who develops the screen reader capability, some programs
just won't work all that well unless the program developers make certain
modifications.

Two classic examples of popular packages come to mind.  Apple's iTunes,
until the release of version 8, was only minimally usable.  The problem
was that Apple was unresponsive to the peculiarities of screen readers;
and screen developers failed to make much headway.  Eventually they did,
and the result with the collaboration of FReedom Scientific, GwMicro and
Apple has Itunes well on the way to being a very screen reader product.

Another popular package is Norton Internet Security.  The problems screen
reader users have had is the lack of seeing eye to eye between Symantec
and the screen reader developers.  The best version currently usable is
the 2006 Suite.
Though I had used both 2008 and 2009, my preferred version is 2006.

Does anyone really think that MSFT can develop the skill and sensitivities
a company whose main business is blind users has in working problems out
with 3rd parties?

My wife is an embroider and quilter.  It's an expensive hobby not only due
to the cost of the machines but also the software.  In fact, the prices
for several of the packages she uses is very much in line with what is
charged for JFW and WE.
Consider the staffing these companies must maintain, the specialized
skills their employees must have, the limited market, the amount of
handholding demanded by users, the continual catching up they must do -- 
and I think I can understand why JFW and WE are priced as they are.  Sure,
I'd like a lower price; but that would be unrealistic given what these
programs are.

And the more one uses JFW or WE, the more one discovers what can be done
with the software to make pc use easier and smoother.





It is a glorious thing to know that your Father God makes no mistakes in 
directing
or permitting that which crosses the path of your life. It is our glory to 
trust
Him, no matter what.
Joni Erickson Tada


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