I've been using System Access, and it's companion software SATOGO for about
six months now. I personally haven't found it clunky though not as fully
developed as JAWS. I think SATOGO is heads and shoulders above Thunder
which I tried and discarded very quickly. JAWS is still my primary screen
reader because of this. However, SATOGO has some distinct advantages. For
one thing, the learning curve is much less than JAWS, and it's also much
easier to install and get working properly. It works adequately with all
the MS Office aps, has a few capabilities that JAWS does not have at all. I
think for the extra capability you have to buy the paid version, but even at
that, it's only about a third of the price of JAWS. The extras to which I
refer are these:
* It has the ability to create either a CD/ROM or be installed on a USB3
Thumb Drive and it will bring up any XP or Vista computer from no speech to
speech automatically. I've tried it, it is really amazing. You plug it in,
and in maybe 30 seconds, or a bit more, the computer begins to talk and get
you set up. JAWS cannot do this without a lot of troublesome prep, and then
it won't always work. When you unplug the drive, the computer completely
reverts back to it's normal state. This is great for borrowing a computer
which isn't yours. The SATOGO version also can do this.
* It enables you to use a feature much like Remote Desktop to control your
home or work computer remotely. I, for instance, can be working at home,
and need an application or file on my work computer. With just a couple of
key strokes, I can log into my work computer, and not just copy files, but
actually use the applications on my work computer, from home. I find this
really cool, and sometimes very useful. It can use the screen reader
resident on the remote computer, or use it's own speech as you choose.
On the minus side:
* The voice is apparently DEC Talk which is a bit less up to date and
pleasant than Eloquence, but still very usable.
* The means of reviewing the screen is a bit unusual. You must go into a
mouse mode which isn't as fully functional as the JAWS cursor is.
* It doesn't seem to support legacy DOS applications running under windows
as JAWS can.
All that said, the price is certainly right. If a person is planning to do
mostly email, web surfing, and standard office applications, it is not only
adequate, but easy to use and inexpensive or free.
Just my two cents.
Bill
-----Original Message-----
From: Visually Impaired Computer Users' Group List
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Max Hearn
Sent: Friday, February 01, 2008 6:51 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [VICUG-L] FW: [VICUG-L] FW: Press Release: Nonprofit Launched to
Bring Free Accessibility Worldwide
Greetings,
I downloaded this free screenreader software. It works OK. It is a little
"clunky" (you can translate that word into a more appropriate Techno
phrase). Reminds me of the "Thunder" Screen reader.
Anyone out there tried it? What is your impression of it? Are there any
glitches with other established screen reader software or anything that you
found which would create problems for the rest of us?
Thanks,
Max in SC
-------------- Forwarded Message: --------------
From: Sun Sounds of Arizona <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [VICUG-L] FW: Press Release: Nonprofit Launched to Bring
Free Accessibility Worldwide
Date: Thu, 31 Jan 2008 19:51:34 +0000
-----Original Message-----
From: Accessibility Is a Right Foundation
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Thursday, January 31, 2008 12:29 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Press Release: Nonprofit Launched to Bring Free
Accessibility
Worldwide
NEWS RELEASE
Media Contact:
Janelle Schulenberg
Tacet Consulting
612-720-1068
[log in to unmask]
Nonprofit Launched to Bring Free Accessibility Worldwide
< BR>
The AIR Foundation committed to 'accessibility is a right'
Orlando, Florida - January 31, 2008 - The AIR Foundation, a
nonprofit
organization headquartered in Minneapolis, Minn. was announced today
at a
press conference held during the Assistive Technology Industry
Association
(ATIA) 2008 National Conference at the Caribe Royale Resort in
Orlando,
Florida. The mission of the foundation is to promote universal
accessibility
so that every blind and low-vision person in the world has access to
digital
information over the Internet and Worldwide Web.
The foundation's executive director, Art Schreiber, also
announced that the organization's first offering will be free usage
of a Web
2.0 accessible screen reader. The product is provided through an
exclusive
license in perpetuity granted to The AIR Foundation from Serotek
Corporation, the leading provider of Internet and digital
information
accessibilit y software and services. The screen reader is called SA
To Go
and is powered by Serotek's award-winning System Access software
which
provides immediate text to speech, magnified visual, and Braille
access to
digital information presented through the Web or other means, while
the user
is directly connected to the Internet. The software does not remain
resident on the user's computer when the connection to the Internet
is
interrupted or terminated. Users can obtain access to the free
software by
calling 877-369-0101 or visiting www.AccessibilityIsaRight.org
.
"The basic tenet of The AIR Foundation is that accessibility is a
fundamental human right, regardless of financial or geographic
constraints"
said Art Schreiber, executive director of The AIR Foundation, "by
allowing
the blind and visually impaired to have equal access to computer and
Internet information through the free use of an adv anced screen
reader like
SA To Go, we have already taken great strides toward our mission."
The AIR Foundation will solicit funds and contract development of
product
enhancements including availability in other languages. The
organization's
first priority is to make SA To Go available in Mandarin Chinese.
"SA To Go is highly intuitive and requires minimal training to use,"
said
Serotek CEO, Mike Calvo, "the user not only has access to
information
displayed on Web pages, but to Web-based applications such as
Internet
telephone service, and to applications resident on the host
computer. The
user can also access PDF files, fill out forms, and otherwise
interact with
information with the same facility as a sighted person."
The AIR Foundation will operate through the generosity of
organizations
donating their time, expertise, and funds. It invites other
nonprofits,
assistive techno logy vendors, mainstream hardware and softw are
companies and
anyone interested in promoting accessibility as every person's
right, to
align with the AIR team.
The AIR Foundation
The AIR Foundation is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to
advocate,
teach, and deliver information accessibility tools. We focus on the
accessibility needs of blind and low-vision people. Our mantra is
"accessibility is a right" and we work with corporations and
agencies
worldwide to deliver free accessibility to all. For more
information, call
877-369-0101 or visit www.AccessibilityIsaRight.org
.
Serotek Corporation
Serotek Corporation is a leading technology company that develops
software
and manufactures accessibility solutions. Committed to the mission
of
providing accessibility anywhere, Serotek launched the first online
community specifically designed to meet the needs of people with
disabiliti es. Since then, Serotek has introduced several powerful,
affordable solutions that require minimal training and investment.
For more
information, visit www.serotek.com .
###
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