hello,

in yesterday's messages we saw an announcement that ibm is trying to
perfect speech access in java based computers. java based operating
systems may yet hold the source of equal access for blinks in a gui
world.  if the world goes java, the work of ibm may yet provide access
by making java speak.   the big difference between the java approach
and what we have now is that it will work on all computers, mac, ibm,
unix, etc equally.   this is why microsoft is so desperate to thwart
the development of uniform versions of java. they are trying to force
multiple java standards and hope to win by their better marking
prowess, that is, to lead the average computer user around by the
nose.  if microsoft loses the java battle,  we will not be tied to
microsoft; or be begging as some do now to please help the poor blink;
if it is not too much trouble that is; please.  applications will speak
because
it will work with java on any machine.  speech access will be built in
as monitor access is now for the sighted, not an add on after thought
of charity, built in!  microsoft's half-assed access efforts, too little, too
late, might be better placed in the computer museum of also rans.
microsoft needs competition and governmental regulatory help, not
brown nosing by blinks.

dan dunfee

hoping to be treated as an equal person, not an object of patronizing
charity.