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From:
Terri Hedgpeth <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Terri Hedgpeth <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Thu, 5 Jan 2017 16:36:36 +0000
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Sorry for the spelling errors. Spell check did not kick in!
Good morning Keith and all,
Well, perhaps those who were used to driving a horse and buggy felt the same way about automobiles. The fact is that society and time will keep marching forward regardless of how any single or group of individual(s) feel about it. If one chooses to not keep up in one way or another, they will certainly be left behind. I suppose all of us in some manner will fall off the treadmill be it from death or a decision to stop trying/learning. I do not mean this as an exaggeration, I believe it is true. I am surprised at how many sighted folks I encounter who are in their 30s and 40s who have never used a computer and have no interest in learning. Some of those begrudgingly learn basic smart phone if their job requires them to do so, but that seems to be the extent of their ventures into technology land. 
Best,
Terri


-----Original Message-----
From: Visually Impaired Computer Users' Group List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Jim Hamilton
Sent: Thursday, January 05, 2017 9:12 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [VICUG-L] JAWS and Microsoft Edge

Keith:

Three cheers!!!

If anything is going to change regarding the accessibility of EDGE, the same kind of concentrated effort, by all those who forced Microsoft to continue supporting Windows XP for much longer than it had planned, may be necessary. 
As it stands now, Microsoft will continue supporting IE 11 until some time in 2020.  We should mount a concentrated campaign/effort to force Microsoft to support IE 11 until EDGE is fully accessible with all meanstream screen readers.  And we should do this before Microsoft goes farther down this road!

"Power to the people!"

Jim H

-----Original Message-----
From: Visually Impaired Computer Users' Group List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Keith Bundy
Sent: Wednesday, January 4, 2017 9:52 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [VICUG-L] JAWS and Microsoft Edge

I admit two things at the beginning of this post. First, I have done limited research on Microsoft Narrator, though I believe I have given it a fair look. 
Second, some of what I am about to say may be related to my age - I just passed a milestone birthday.

I am concerned about Microsoft working hard to make Narrator competitive. I think competition is a great idea and will benefit all of us in the future. 
And a built-in screen reader is a fantastic idea!

However, the operation of Narrator seems to be vastly different from the operation of other Windows screen readers out on the market. While this is fine for individuals just learning how to work with a screen reader, I get concerned for those of us who have been using such technology for ten fifteen, twenty or more years.

First, how many programs will we be excluded from if we don't transition to Narrator? For example, I hear that Narrator works fine with Edge right now, but a user of JAWS or NVDA will have difficulty. Is this the trend of the future? Will we be excluded if we don't learn Microsoft's proprietary screen reader?

Second, is Microsoft working on any type of training or documentation that will assist those of us who have certain ways of using the computer integrated into our brains in learning the smooth operation of Narrator? Now before anyone calls me a Luddite, please know that I have continually accepted new technologies for the last twenty years and don't plan to stop doing so - yes, I will learn Narrator. . But not all screen reader users wish to learn new methods of operating a computer and navigating the screen. Will these folks just be left behind like yesterday's dust?

I welcome any and all discussion on this topic. If my concerns are invalid, please let me know. But I think what I am saying expresses the concerns of many users of screen readers.

Thanks for reading this and for the opportunity of expressing concerns like this. Have a great day!


Keith Bundy
Digital Accessibility Consultant and Trainer

Siteimprove, Inc.
7807 Creekridge Circle
Minneapolis, MN 55439
Tel: 612-259-6350
Email: [log in to unmask]


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