From the web page
http://www.fcw.com/fcw/articles/2000/0807/cov-access3-08-07-00.asp

Federal Computer Week
Screen readers open Windows for the blind

BY Michelle Speir
08/07/2000


Screen readers are in the forefront of technologies that are
helping to open the federal workplace to disabled people - in
this case, people who are blind or vision- impaired.

When a screen reader is running, a synthesized voice reads items
on the screen aloud, describes graphics and states the user's
keyboard commands. The program will, for example, say "tab" when
the user presses the tab key. Designed to eliminate the need to
use a mouse, screen readers enable users to navigate the screen
and execute all commands using keyboard shortcuts.

Screen readers work with Microsoft Corp. Windows operating
systems and all standard Windows applications. Most will run
using standard sound cards and speakers that come with today's
desktop PCs. Higher-end, hardware-based speech synthesizers and
other devices are optional.

Most screen readers have mastered PC applications, but how they
handle material on the Web is a key differentiator.

Screen readers are faced with the daunting task of reading links
scattered about on a page and information arranged in tables.
For example, a Web page arranged in columns would make no sense
to a listener if the lines were read from left to right across
the page - which some early versions of screen readers would do.

Another problem results from sloppy coding of Web pages. Screen
readers do not read the surface text; they read the underlying
code. When this code is not labeled to reflect the text of the
link, it exists as a string of numbers, slashes and random
letters. That string of nonsense is what the screen reader will
read aloud.

Activists are bringing the problem to the attention of
Webmasters, so improvements should be on the way. Meanwhile,
even the best screen readers can't do anything about a poorly
coded Web page.

Of the dozen or so screen readers on the market, two have
emerged as clear market leaders, and both are used by federal
employees: JAWS for Windows by Henter-Joyce, a division of
Freedom Scientific, and Window-Eyes by GW Micro Inc.

The two have been running neck-and-neck for years, trying to
keep up with the other's improvements. New versions of both are
due out within the next few months.

Patrick Sheehan, a computer specialist with the Department of
Veterans Affairs who has low vision, is a longtime user of both
products. He said he likes them both and feels that they are
nearly equal in most aspects except one: their handling of the
Internet.

"They both do a wonderful job, and they're very stable, but they
have different strengths," Sheehan said. "The Web is where you
distinguish the two products."

He explained that the current version of JAWS for Windows,
Version 3.5, supports the Java programming language, but
Window-Eyes Version 3.1 does not. JAWS' support for tables on
the Web is more robust. Specifically, Window-Eyes will read the
data in the tables but not the column headings, while JAWS
(which stands for Job Access With Speech) reads both the data
and the headings.

"The current version of JAWS gives you more flexibility on the
Web," Sheehan said, "but GW Micro is working on it."

The next version of Window-Eyes, due out in September, will not
include these two Web functions, but future versions will, said
Clarence Whaley, director of sales and marketing for GW Micro.
Whaley said the company's first priority for the upcoming
release (Version 4.0) is support for refreshable Braille
devices. JAWS already supports those devices, which display the
Braille version of each line the screen reader is reading.

Another key difference between the two products is that
Window-Eyes uses the Microsoft Active Accessibility (MSAA)
standard (see box, Page 28), while JAWS has its own scripting.
Sheehan likes GW Micro's use of the standard scripting. "As
Microsoft gets better, [Window-Eyes] will get better," he said.

Dan Clark, an account development manager at Freedom Scientific,
said the company's use of proprietary scripting results in a
more powerful product. "We welcome Microsoft's efforts, but we
feel that [MSAA] is not robust enough," he said. One example is
MSAA's inability to read tables. Clark added that JAWS does use
MSAA in cases where that scripting works well.

When it comes to non-Internet use, Sheehan explained that it's
virtually impossible to distinguish the two products. They both
rely heavily on Microsoft's standard keystrokes, and they both
use the same keypad keystrokes for moving the cursor.

A handful of other differences separate the products. JAWS
requires particular video settings, but Window-Eyes does not.
JAWS Version 3.5 will not run properly unless the computer's
display is set to 256 colors, and the upcoming Version 3.7 will
require a 16-bit high-color display.

Installing Window-Eyes often is easier than installing JAWS for
a couple of reasons. First, it does not require any kind of
registration, while JAWS comes with a separate registration
floppy disk that sometimes causes problems because it does not
work in an LS-120 super disk drive. Virus protection software
also interferes with the JAWS installation process.

Technical support is another differentiator. GW Micro's Whaley
stressed that Window-Eyes technical support does not have voice
mail; callers will always reach a person. Freedom Scientific's
Clark said that JAWS users may sometimes have to wait for
support, but the wait is three minutes or less.

One nice extra included with JAWS is Eloquence for JFW, a
multilingual software speech synthesizer. In addition to the
support for multiple languages, Eloquence distinguishes itself
from the Microsoft speech synthesizer by its more
natural-sounding speech.

One final key difference is price. Window-Eyes costs $595, and
JAWS costs $795.

"I might recommend JAWS over Window-Eyes right now," Sheehan
said, "but it would be difficult to choose."

At present, JAWS does offer more features, but with both
products competing so closely, they are sure to continue
improving in order to stay in the race.

----------

Comparing screen readers


JAWS 3.5 for Windows
Henter Joyce,
a division of Freedom Scientific
(800) 444-4443
http://www.freedomscientific.com/    Window-Eyes 3.1

GW Micro Inc.
(219) 489-3671
http://www.gwmicro.com/

Pricing

A 40-minute free demo can be downloaded from the Freedom
Scientific Web site.

A 60-day timed evaluation is available for $39.95. If purchasers
of this evaluation upgrade to the full version, $39.95 is
subtracted from the price.

Full version for Windows 95/98: $795.

Full version for Windows NT 4.0 or Windows 2000 Professional:
$1,195.

Enterprise licenses for corporations are available in multiples
of five.
5 users: 30% discount off full version price.
10-25 users: 35% discount off full version price.
30 users and above: 40% discount off full version price.

A maintenance agreement is also available for a cost of 20% off
the license price. Under this agreement, new updates are
automatically shipped to the customer at no additional cost.

If you buy Version 3.5 now, you can upgrade to 3.7 for free.
A 30-minute free demo can be downloaded from the GW Micro Web
site.

Full version: $595.

Site licenses are available in increments of 10 and 30.
10-user license: $1,785.
30-user license: $3,570.

Window-Eyes for Windows 2000 will be available soon for $995.
Check the Web site for updated information.

Anyone who purchased Version 3.1 on May 1 or later can upgrade
to 4.0 for free.

Back to Top

Training

Training classes are held at the company's headquarters in St.
Petersburg, Fla. They run for four days and cost $750 per
person. Class sizes are limited to 12 or fewer. If three or more
people from the same organization sign up, they each get a 10%
discount. The company has a contract with a nearby hotel to
provide free transportation to and from the airport as well as
to and from the classes. Free lunch and snacks are provided each
day. Attendees are responsible for airfare and lodging costs.

On-site training is also available. The company recommends a
maximum of eight people per class, but up to 12 are permitted. A
basic class costs $6,000 and an advanced class called
"Customizing JAWS for Windows," which teaches scripting
techniques for developers, consultants and IT professionals,
costs $6,800.

A set of six basic training audiocassettes comes with the
system.    Anyone who purchases the software can go to Fort
Wayne, Ind., for a day of free training.

The company will also send an instructor to a company for a free
day of training.

A three-hour tutorial on audiocassettes ships with the system.

Back to Top

Operating System Compatibility

Added compatibility with JAWS 3.7 (due out in August).
Windows NT 4.0 Professional
Windows 95/98
Windows 2000
Windows Millennium    Added compatibility with Window-Eyes 4.0
(due out in September).
Windows 3.1x
Windows 95/98
Windows Millennium

Back to Top

System Requirements

30M available hard disk space.

VGA or higher-resolution video adapter (Super VGA 256-color
recommended).

Compatible sound card or voice synthesizer.    At least an
80486/66 processor; Pentium-based system is highly recommended.

For Windows 3.1x: 8M of memory.

For Windows 95/98: 32M of memory.

Compatible sound card or voice synthesizer.

Back to Top

Key New Features

Support for Internet Explorer 5.5.

User-definable verbosity settings.

Application-specific voice settings.

Voice rate changing on the fly.

Tethering the JAWS mouse cursor to the PC cursor.

Ability to add and remove synthesizers and Braille displays
without reinstalling.

Support for a host of new applications.Enhanced support for
currently supported applications.    Support for Internet
Explorer 5.5.

Braille support.

Major support for Lotus Notes 5.x.

Instant access to the system tray.

Faster Web page loading.

Set file enhancements.

Enhanced support for a host of applications.

Online upgrades and registration from the Help menu.


Copyright 2000 FCW Government Technology Group


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