[Blindmath] Accessibility of minitab

[Jonathan Godfrey]

Hi Michael,

I of course offer R as an alternative but agree that using the same 
software as your classmates is probably a better way to go than working alone.

However, Minitab 16 is not entirely friendly.

The menus behave in unusual fashion as items get greyed out. Jaws has 
had trouble in this respect with Minitab since v14, which I could at 
least use because of the prior experience I'd built up in previous 
versions. My reliance on the menu structure kept my head above water back then.

The last version of Minitab I used as successfully as I could expect 
any fresh user  to use statistical software was v12. The output is 
all printed in the session window and is readable without using the 
review mode of a screen reader. This hasn't changed as far as I am 
aware for versions since. The menus were useable but the 
functionality of Minitab was fundamentally altered when they brought out v14.

The dialogue boxes are now a real mixture of useless to utterly 
frustratingly useless. Jaws does not interact well at all with them.

The syntax of Minitab code is useable. The problem is that resources 
for identifying the code is not easy to find anymore.
If the lecturer or a classmate ensures that the commands for their 
work are printed, then you can use them Note that for the most part, 
Minitab commands can be abbreviated to the first four letters of a 
more natural command so occasionally the code looks more painful than 
it needs to be. In the days of DOS, Minitab v8, I typed out commands 
without the benefit of cut and paste functions that came about with 
Windows. I'm sure that if I was employed in a Minitab dominant 
workplace, that I could pick up the syntax again. I would point out 
that I am not currently looking for such employment.

So, I guess I would suggest that if you can't use an older version of 
Minitab and your lecturer can't provide the codes (irrespective of 
version) then you might choose to avoid Minitab. I can't think of 
anything taught in a modern introductory statistics programme that 
isn't available in Minitab since v10. Minitab's advances since then 
are cosmetic or for more advanced topics. If v12 is required you may 
need to do some  hunting with your university or send me a message 
off list and I will then see what I can find. No promises though as 
it's been a long time since I needed it.

Cheers,
Jonathan



_____
Dr A. Jonathan R. Godfrey
Lecturer in Statistics
Institute of Fundamental Sciences
Massey University
Palmerston North

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