[Blindmath] Some suggestions for Richard Baldwin's SVG drawing tool

[Richard Baldwin]

Thanks for the feedback. I will insert my responses in your test below.

On Tue, Oct 4, 2011 at 11:04 AM, Michael Whapples <mwhapples at aim.com> wrote:

> Hello,
> I have just tried using Richard Baldwin's SVG drawing tool. This is quite
> useful. I have a few comments/suggestions to make.
>
> The first is whether it would be possible to also have an option for metric
> units? I was having to create a diagram from some measurements I had in
> metric and it would have been so much easier if I could have just entered
> values in metric.
>

rgb] This is definitely possible, so I will put it on my todo list.

>
> Also, it seems simple enough to use, however particularly on the save, the
> action based approach was slightly unusual and caught me out. I am very much
> used to most software having save only prompt for file name when you first
> save and should you want to save under a different file name then you use
> "save as". I guess this is really a familiarity issue, once I remembered
> this tool needed me to confirm the save it worked fine.
>

rgb] Good point. I will put this on the list also and consider a more
standard approach.

>
> May be also related to the action based approach, sometimes things seemed
> to require more action from me than felt needed. I guess one point might be
> when I select set attributes, why cannot the list of elements be created
> then, why do I need to press another button?
>

rgb] This is also a good point and I will put it on my todo list to
consider. The same thing occurs on most of the actions on the Mod menu and
the Advanced menu. Do you have any other suggestions as to where the number
of steps required is excessive for a blind user?

>
> I quite like the way of marking elements when editing them, however how
> might one deselect something if they made a mistake and how can one tell if
> an item is selected or not? May be the answer is in the instructions but you
> know what it can be like when you have to read documentation... I possibly
> say really well designed software shouldn't need people to read
> documentation as it should be obvious what to do (either because the
> software is so clear or it just follows a convention on how to get the
> specific help you need).
>

rgb] Maybe someday I will have context-sensitive help, but that day will
probably be a long way off, or else I will have to hire programming
assistance and charge dollars for the program instead of giving it away for
free. If you have other suggestions for a better design, I would like to
hear them.

rgb] Your first question in the above paragraph regarding
selecting/deselecting is a good one. I will put it on my list to consider.
 As it stands now, when you mark an object, you get a message box asking you
to confirm the selection, so you have an opportunity to cancel the selection
at that point. The corrective procedure if you select the wrong object and
confirm that selection is to simply tab past the action button at the bottom
and start that action over again.

>
> I have to say I did feel a little uncertain on editing some of the diagram,
> may be its to do with the options available for editing and may be some of
> its to do with not quite knowing what is there (IE. no way to view the
> current diagram). I guess that latter point, users of the voice would say
> that is what the voice is for.
>

rgb] Right now, the best way to view the current drawing is to save it and
open the SVG file in Firefox, Chrome, or IE9 (IE8 and lower won't work). It
is reasonably easy to act, save, refresh Firefox, and view.

rgb] I will soon publish a version that has a real-time visual output for
sighted users, vOICe uses, and users with some but low vision. If you have
suggestions as to how to make it possible for blind users to view the
drawing other than to use the Review action in the Mod menu, to use
something like vOICe, or to emboss the current drawing, I would like to hear
about them.

Again,
Thanks for the feedback. I will put your suggestions on my todo list for
incorporation into future versions.

>
> Michael Whapples
>
>
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-- 
Richard G. Baldwin (Dick Baldwin)
Home of Baldwin's on-line Java Tutorials
http://www.DickBaldwin.com

Professor of Computer Information Technology
Austin Community College
(512) 223-4758
mailto:Baldwin at DickBaldwin.com
http://www.austincc.edu/baldwin/