[Electronics-talk] Mac computers

Mon Jul 2 02:54:47 UTC 2012

I bought a mac a couple of years ago and in the end, had to get my money 
back. I have been a windows user for now almost 20 years (I can't believe 
it's been that long) and I just could not learn it. I found VO to be 
cumbersome on the computer in a way that it was not on the phone. I gave 
myself more than a month and a half and when I could barely even read email 
I went to a store and bought a windows laptop. Eventually Apple gave me my 
money back because I had been a good customer. Some people are meant for it 
and others are not. I, was, not!

-----Original Message----- 
From: Ray Foret Jr
Sent: Sunday, July 01, 2012 10:26 PM
To: Discussion of accessible electronics and appliances
Subject: Re: [Electronics-talk] Mac computers

Well Beverly, don't give up yet at all.  I myself have a Mac and can at once 
directly advise you on one of the best places to start picking up the 
basics.  First, do what I did.  go to:
www.blindcooltech.com
and, using the search feature, look for the "Mac demo" podcasts, without the 
quotes.

Now, I'll give you some help right here which will perhaps ease your mind a 
little.  First of all, and most importantly, don't try to learn everything 
at once.  It just aint gonna happen.  Take it from a former windows user; it 
just ain't.  First, you may have already noticed that to navigate using 
voice Over, you will most often use what are called the Voice Over keys. 
This is a special combination of the control and option keys.  To refresh 
your memory.  Just immediately to the right and left of your space bar are 
your command keys.  You will use these when navigating the web.  Just past 
the command keys, you will find the option keys.  The control keys are next 
farthest from the space bar.  Now, if you're using a lap top, (such as I 
am), you will only have one control key on the left.  That is a bit aquard 
at first, but you get used to it.

Now, to navigate with Voice Over, you will press the control+Option+up down 
left or right arrow keys.  So, when I say press VO+space, you will know that 
I mean for you to press control+option+space.  Okay.

Now, I need to explain a little about interaction.  The best explanation 
I've ever seen for this concept can be found in the December 2009 Braille 
Monitor.  Let's say you have a container with things in it.  By default, 
Voice Over navigates only the outer surface of the container; however, you 
need to look more closely at its contents.  How do you do this?  You do 
what's called interacting.  How?  Just press VO+shift+down to start this 
process.  Sounds like a lot of keys at first; but, trust me.  The more you 
let yourself go and do it, the less you'll think about it.  Now, to stop 
interacting with something, just press VO+shift+up.  YOu will be told when 
interaction has started and stopped.

Here's some additional help to get you up and running.

Now that we've got that out of the way, you can activate the Voice Over 
quick start.  How do you do this?  Just press VO+command+F8.  The  tutorial 
will begin.  Just do what it says to.  The tutorial covers everything I just 
told you about.
Now, pay close attention to my next piece of advise PLEASE.  Don't give up 
right away.  There's a bit of a learning curb here and you should allow 
yourself at a minimum three weeks to get your head and hands around it. 
Believe me.  It took me no less than two weeks to get the hang of it.

Now, some further input.

You may find it better to use the track pad commander.  You know how to use 
your Iphone right?  Well, You can use the Mac Track Pad commander in a very 
similar type of way.  Here's how to turn it on.

Just press VO and with two fingers on the track pad, make the rotary motion 
like you do with your Iphone.  Do this to the right; clockwise.  That will 
turn on your track pad commander.

Here's yet another tip.  Want active keyboard help?  Then just press VO+k. 
Now, you can explore all Voice Over commands to your hearts content without 
messing anything up.  How to turn off keyboard help?  Just press escape.

Now, subscribe to this list for further
macvisionaries+subscribe at googlegroups.com

HTH.

Sincerely,
The Constantly Barefooted Ray!!!

Now a very proud and happy Mac user!!!

Skype name:
barefootedray

On Jul 1, 2012, at 8:55 PM, beverly heninger wrote:

> Hi There,
> I am wondering if there is a Email list for blind people and Mac. 
> computers?
> I have a new one, and even though I am taking lessons at a Apple store, 
> they do not know anything about voice over either. I am advancing I still 
> get very upset and just want to go back to my P.C.
> Does anyone have any suggestions? I know the best people to learn from is 
> other blind people.
>
>                       Thanks, 
> Beverly -------------------------------------------------
> From: "Ray Foret Jr" <rforetjr at att.net>
> Sent: Sunday, July 01, 2012 5:26 AM
> To: "Discussion of accessible electronics and appliances" 
> <electronics-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Subject: Re: [Electronics-talk] HD radio
>
>> 1.  Much better sound.
>>
>> 2.  no noise in sound at all.  Very like CD.
>>
>> 3.  IF the radio is set up to read it, the on display information is 
>> sometimes useful, if the station is broadcasting it.
>>
>>
>> Sincerely,
>> The Constantly Barefooted Ray!!!
>>
>> Now a very proud and happy Mac user!!!
>>
>> Skype name:
>> barefootedray
>>
>> On Jul 1, 2012, at 1:27 AM, Lauren Merryfield wrote:
>>
>>> Hi,
>>> What are the advantages of HD radio?
>>> Thanks
>>> Lauren
>>>
>>> advice from my cats: "meow when you feel like it."
>>> The most basic of all human needs is the need to understand and be
>>> understood. The best way to understand people is to listen to them.
>>> -- Ralph Nichols
>>> Visit us at catliness.com
>>>
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>>
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>
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