On Thu, 14 Oct 1999 08:49:58 -0700, Greg Brayton wrote in part:

>Just wondering if anyone uses and likes home page reader.

Normally, I avoid using and recommending web browsers designed specifically for blind computer users.  The current release of Home Page Reader,
however,  has proven to be somewhat of an exception.  I have found that currently Home Page Reader provides better access to certain sites than any of
the popular standard screen readers.  Whenever a site seems inaccessible with IE5 and either Window-Eyes or JFW, I launch Home Page Reader to
determine if that application provides better access.  Frequently, it does.  In my mind, however, that certainly doesn't negate the performance of the screen
readers by any means.  If one has access to an alternative tool that provides better access at certain sites, one certainly should use it.

I have discovered, for example, that at the moment using Home Page Reader to perform searches at an electronic library site to which many schools
subscribe is the easiest and most viable option available for students.  No matter what web-browser solution is used, many of the images don't have alt tags
associated with them which means that students must try to glean the purpose of the link from listening to seemingly extraneous data.  The actual search
button at this site, for example,  is not a standard image; it is one that is buried within the form itself, but somehow Home Page Reader makes it appear more
dominant and easier to identify.  In many instances, students are finding that using Home Page Reader to initiate searches is faster, less tedious, and less
overwhelming.

Whenever I find a form that is a bear to fill out using IE5 and a screen reader, I give Home Page Reader a shot.  If nothing else, it usually provides me with a
clear picture of the web page.  Then I can decide whether I want to fill out the form using Home Page Reader or whether I want to return to IE5.

Home Page Reader essentially piggy backs on Netscape Navigator.  Consequently, it can deal with secure sites.

Although the Home Page Reader/Netscape combination  is a full-featured web browser, it does not follow standard Windows keyboard conventions for
issuing commands.  The numeric keypad is used, instead.  While this might appear to be a drawback initially, the commands are easy to learn and to
remember.

I would never recommend that anyone completely abandon using IE5 with a screen reader in favor of a web browser designed soley for the use of blind
computer users.  However, the current release of Home Page Reader is a web tool that is certainly worthy of serious consideration for enhanced internet
access.

Please feel free to contact me privately, if you have additional questions.

Best regards,
Donna


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