I know a lot more about computers and cell phones than any sighted 
person I know. It's not because I'm a tech junky at heart. It's because 
I've been around a long time. If I wanted to make my computer speak, I 
mostly needed to figure out how to do it on my own. Taking the manual to 
sighted techie types only resulted in chaos because, of course, they 
never read the manual, and even now, I only go to tech support when I 
find myself standing in the garage trying to remember where my dad put 
the sledgehammer last time he used it.


The older I get, the longer it takes to get past the frustration of a 
device that isn't quite cooperating and the longer it takes to work up 
the motivation to learn a new trick or find the right solution. But like 
Keith, I find that most new things are worth learning though sometimes I 
need a little time to discover why. I also like helping others out 
because I think, "X isn't hard. If someone had explained it to me, I 
would have jumped on right away."


There are definitely things I don't keep up with. I notice which things 
when I sit on discussion lists or overhear my students' conversations. 
But these are definitely choices I make, and I know that, if I ever 
decide to change my mind about one of them, I'll have to make up my mind 
to learn and be patient with myself.


No judgment here either.


On 9/23/2016 8:22 AM, Keith Bundy wrote:
> Well said, Ted. Being part of the "not under fifty" crowd and working primarily with the "20 and 30 something" crowd, I have learned that if I don't do all that I can to accept change and stay on the "technology train", I may find myself dragged by the train, or, worse yet, left behind and walking.
>
> I remember going through a thought process a few months ago and thinking that maybe it was time to jump off the "technology train". So I understand that many will come to that point and jump off, and I respect that totally. No judgment at all from this corner, folks. You have to do what is best for you. But then I thought about all that technology has made possible for me and how I just might be able to stay on the train and help others on their journey.
>
> Does this mean that I like or enjoy the new changes that are supposed to make things "better" and "easier"? Not at all. In fact, I often complain to my wife about how the changes are making it more and more challenging for me to keep up.
>
> But it does mean that I refuse to give up and that I am hanging on until I can't hang on anymore. And, hopefully, I can help some of the younger generation to embrace all the potential of technology and - yes - even embrace change. But, as I often say when speaking to groups, "Nobody likes change - except a wet baby!"
>
> Pardon the Friday philosophizing from someone who's been around for more than one rodeo. Everyone have a wonderful weekend!
>    
>
> Keith Bundy
> Digital Accessibility Consultant and Trainer
>
> Siteimprove, Inc.
> 7807 Creekridge Circle
> Minneapolis, MN 55439
> Tel: 612-259-6350
> Email: [log in to unmask]
>
>
>
>
>     
>
> Subscribe to our newsletter
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Visually Impaired Computer Users' Group List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of ted chittenden
> Sent: Friday, September 23, 2016 9:56 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: [VICUG-L] Progressing Technology for the Blind
>
> Hi to all.
>
> Jim:
> I don't know the answers to all (or probably even most) of the questions you have raised, but I think you need to take some serious concerns into consideration.
>
> First and foremost among these is the fact that blind people represent about .6% of the world's population, if you use the legal definition of blindness under U.S. law, and most of these people are visually impaired, meaning that they have some sight. In terms of technology (and other issues), what this statistic means is that technology (and other updates) for the blind and visually impaired (especially the former) are going to be 1) done after the fact; and 2) set to follow trends within the sighted community.
>
> The Cloud (along with Facebook and other social media groups) is being heavily used by the sighted community so a lot of efforts are underway now to make these things accessible to the blind, even at the cost of the blind and visually impaired losing access to technology that they are used to and that presently works for them very well.
>
> The whole truth is that none of us likes change, yet change, for better or worse, is being forced upon us. I don't really want to move from my Windows 10 desktop computer to an iPhone--for me, the learning curve looks pretty steep, especially the gestures required for use of Apple. However, I may be forced into making this change as newer editions of Windows, although they make some things easier, also make some things (including playing audio and visual files outside of Windows Media Player) more difficult.
>
> In sum, I think all of us need to learn that change is the only constant and that, if we don't have control over the coming changes, we must learn to accommodate and ultimately accept them.
> --
> Ted Chittenden
>
> Every story has at least two sides if not more.
> ---- Jim Hamilton <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Bill:
>
> It looks like you forgot something from your forward of my message.  Here it is again - going out to the whole list, I assume.
>
> "
> On the other hand, my "alternative perspective" is to avoid the "cloud" as much as possible.  I do understand that I do have, and will have no power to stop some things from having to be stored in that way.  Technology is too far along now to prevent that.  It's bad enough that my iPhone wants to "enable" the iCloud, and make other changes to my settings, whenever the IOS is updated, and that Apple keeps reminding me to install iCloud on my PC.
> So, knowing that I can disable One Drive is something that I can do that could save me a lot of grief!  It may not stop the other things from happening; but, I like to have control over that which it is possible for me to control.
>
> When you get right down to it, I guess that I have extremely little faith that there are any "privacy guarantees", especially once information gets placed on the internet!  I come from the days when there was no internet, CPM was the dominant OS, through the DOS days, and kicking and screaming all the way through various iterations of various screen readers to JAWS 17 and Windows 8.1.  As this journey progressed, I felt my ability to control technology slip gradually away.  So, I am reluctant to relinquish what control I have.
>
> Just venting...  I have absolutely no problem with other people using the cloud.  It's just a different generation/way of looking at the world these days.  I have no problem with progress in general; but, I do object to me being forceably "progressed"!  I like to know that what "has" worked for me up until now, will "continue" to work for me in the future.
>
> Nonetheless, I am left with a "quick" question.  When people upgrade to Windows 10, are they forced to use the cloud?  Would there be anything - e.g. settings, contacts, anything -  that "automatically" would be sent to the cloud?  If so, and if possible, what steps could be taken to prevent/minimize the use of the cloud in Windows 10?  And, would it still be possible to "disable" One Drive - I'm assuming "yes"?
>
> Secondarily, is there anything in upcoming versions of JAWS, e.g. V: 18, where one should be cautious about potential use of the cloud?
>
> Thanks for listening to my short rant.
>
> Jim H
> "
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Visually Impaired Computer Users' Group List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Bill Pasco
> Sent: Thursday, September 22, 2016 5:37 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: [VICUG-L] Disabling One Drive
>
> I think the message below was intended for the entire list.
> b
>
>
>      VICUG-L is the Visually Impaired Computer User Group List.
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>      VICUG-L is the Visually Impaired Computer User Group List.
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>      VICUG-L is the Visually Impaired Computer User Group List.
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>
>      VICUG-L is the Visually Impaired Computer User Group List.
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