[gui-talk] Fwd: New Windows 10 accessibility features will improve many lives - TechRepublic

David Andrews dandrews at visi.com
Sat Feb 11 03:32:47 UTC 2017 

What you say sounds good, and is true in theory, but if there is a 
decent, free offering, it has to impact others. How many screen 
readers do we have for Apple. One!  I rest my case.

Dave

At 08:55 AM 2/9/2017, you wrote:
>I fail to understand all the time why would a robust and reliable 
>narrator would be antithetical to  to a third-party software like 
>jaws. Android has a built in accessibility text to speech option. 
>That does not prevent third-party developers from creating 
>applications to make android more accessible
>
>
>
>Sent from my iPhone
>
> > On Feb 8, 2017, at 9:09 PM, Steve Jacobson via gui-talk 
> <gui-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> >
> > As you may already know, some big improvements came out for Narrator last
> > fall that includes the equivelent of a sort of Virtual Cursor on web pages.
> > Narrator calls it their scan mode.  In addition, according to a Microsoft
> > BLOG post, there are further substantial changes and improvements coming
> > this spring.  These changes are only available in Windows 10 after the
> > Anniversary upgrade.
> >
> > While I remain somewhat uneasy about a powerful narrator, not because I am
> > concerned about anybody's bottom line but because I don't know if we would
> > be adequately served by one scrreen reader, the move seems to be in that
> > direction.  It is not my impression that the NFB is opposing that at this
> > point.
> >
> > I find the newest versions of Narrator to be much more full-featured, and
> > their newest synthesizers are much more responsive.  I still feel it is
> > somewhat slower to respond than JAWS or Window-Eyes, though, but we'll see
> > what happens.
> >
> > Best regards,
> >
> > Steve Jacobson
> >
> > At 06:12 PM 2/8/2017, you wrote:
> >> We should be able to perform at least the basic functions using narrator.
> >>
> >> But NFB will not put pressure  on Microsoft to make narrator more
> >> disabled friendly
> >> It will harm Freedom Sscientific  s bottomline. I feel bad  saying
> >> anything more than nthat
> >> Sent from my iPhone
> >>
> >>> On Feb 8, 2017, at 6:07 PM, Jen via gui-talk <gui-talk at nfbnet.org>
> > wrote:
> >>>
> >>> I personally can't stand Narrator. JAWS is still my favorite option.
> >>>
> >>> -----Original Message-----
> >>> From: gui-talk [mailto:gui-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Doug
> > Lee
> >>> via gui-talk
> >>> Sent: Wednesday, February 8, 2017 1:27 PM
> >>> To: wcmerritt at gmail.com; Discussion of the Graphical User Interface, GUI
> >>> Talk Mailing List <gui-talk at nfbnet.org>
> >>> Cc: Doug Lee <dgl at dlee.org>
> >>> Subject: Re: [gui-talk] Fwd: New Windows 10 accessibility features will
> >>> improve many lives - TechRepublic
> >>>
> >>> For what it's worth, here's my up-to-date view on the idea of Narrator
> >>> becoming king of Windows screen readers:
> >>>
> >>> Quick background:
> >>>
> >>> Before Apple, we fought this because it would give Microsoft a monopoly
> > on
> >>> our very ability to access most computers, when we had no clear evidence
> > or
> >>> commitment that they would continuously prioritize their efforts to keep
> >>> that accessibility for us.
> >>>
> >>> Apple changed the rules a bit by doing what we opposed Microsoft doing.
> >>> Apple had no competition though, so there was no loss when they produced
> >>> VoiceOver; only gain.
> >>>
> >>> Microsoft is starting to show some focus on accessibility
> >> support, though it
> >>> will take a while before I consider that a reasonable guarantee
> >> for the long
> >>> run.
> >>>
> >>> My conclusions:
> >>>
> >>> We can't be mad by now at Microsoft for trying to do this, whether we
> >>> support it or not.
> >>>
> >>> JAWS and NVDA at least will continue to be important for years.
> >>>
> >>> If Microsoft knocks them out and we become dependent on Narrator or
> > another
> >>> Microsoft offering, time will tell if this was a wise transition. Again,
> >>> Apple had no competition, but Microsoft always has.
> >>>
> >>> On Wed, Feb 08, 2017 at 12:00:30PM -0600, Wayne Merritt via gui-talk
> > wrote:
> >>> Yes, Narrator is not as feature-rich as JAWS or Window-Eyes. However,
> >>> I have had JAWS crash or not read certain web elements on web pages,
> >>> where Narrator or NVDA read them just fine. I heard people say what
> >>> I'm about to say for the longest time and did not put any stock in it,
> >>> until it happened to me; for tech people and perhaps the average user
> >>> today, being able to use at least two screen readers works best. JAWS
> >>> is still my preferred reader, but from time to time I am in situations
> >>> where JAWS does not work as well as NVDA. I have also done some
> >>> accessibility testing, and found this to be especially true. Some
> >>> pages JAWS completely misses content, and NVDA is more accurate.
> >>>
> >>> Wayne
> >>>
> >>>> On 2/8/17, TaraPrakash via gui-talk <gui-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> >>>> No matter what Will have to depend onjaws Windows eyes etc.  and NFB
> > will
> >>>> not put pressure on Microsoft so that accessibility with an operating
> >>> system
> >>>> is sufficient and no third-party screen reader is needed
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> Sent from my iPhone
> >>>>
> >>>>> On Feb 8, 2017, at 11:43 AM, Gregory D. Rosenberg via gui-talk
> >>>>> <gui-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Good morning everyone,
> >>>>>
> >>>>> MS has added several improvement for their Narrator. Braille support
> > and
> >>>>> mono audio are amongst the enhancements. This is a BETA release for
> > those
> >>>>> that choose to receive Windows Updates for Windows 10 on the Windows
> >>>>> Insider Fast Track.
> > 
> http://www.techrepublic.com/article/new-windows-10-accessibility-features-wi
> > 
> ll-improve-many-lives/?ftag=TRE684d531&bhid=24278129322317615159007803282442
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Braille support in Narrator (beta). Now, when you have a USB- or
> >>>>> serial-based braille display attached to your PC you can use it with
> >>>>> Narrator.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Mono audio option. Visually impaired users who use a screen reader
> > with
> >>>>> headphones or earbuds can now enable a mono audio option in Ease of
> >>> Access
> >>>>> settings ???so the other ear is free to hear conversations and sounds
> >>> around
> >>>>> them.???
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Feedback Hub improvements. Microsoft is finally tackling the problem
> > of
> >>>>> too much duplicate pieces of feedback by letting user combined them in
> >>>>> collections. Which can, collectively, be up-voted just like an
> > individual
> >>>>> piece of feedback.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Night light improvements. The new Night light feature gets another
> >>>>> improvement in this build, with the night light color temperature
> > range
> >>>>> extended to a very red (1200 K) color.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> See:
> > 
> https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2017/02/01/announcing-windows-10
> >>> -insider-preview-build-15025-pc/#aoee4jFiqHPrCeoP.97
> > 
> <https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2017/02/01/announcing-windows-1>>
> >> 0-insider-preview-build-15025-pc/#aoee4jFiqHPrCeoP.97>
> >>>>> for details of Windows 10 build 15025.
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>> "The rapidly changing threat landscape today makes it almost
> > impractical
> >>>>> to secure our computers and networks against all vulnerabilities.
> >>> Security
> >>>>> organizations collectively are seeing nearly four new threats every
> >>>>> second. Therefore, we must shift our security goals to making our
> >>>>> computers and networks survive the invevitable attacks."
> >>>>>                  Gregory D. Rosenberg
> >>>>>
> >>>>> P.S. Text the word BLIND to 85944 to donate $10 to the National
> >>> Federation
> >>>>> of the Blind. Your tax deductible donation will appear as "Imagination
> >>>>> Fund" on your phone bill.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> The National Federation of the Blind is a community of members and
> >>> friends
> >>>>> who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation's blind. Every day
> > we
> >>>>> work together to help blind people live the lives they want.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> 73' & 75'
> >>>>>
> >>>>> --
> >>>>> Gregory D. Rosenberg AB9MZ
> >>>>> gregg at ricis.com
> >>>>>
> >>>>> RICIS, Inc.
> >>>>> 7849 Bristol Park Drive
> >>>>> Tinley Park, IL 60477-4594
> >>>>> http://www.ricis.com
> >>>>>
> >>>>> +1 708-267-6664 Cell
> >>>>> +1 866-RICIS-77 (+1 866-7424-777) U.S. and Canada
> >>>>> +1 708-444-2690 Office - local and international
> >>>>> +1 708-444-1115 Fax (Please call before sending a fax).
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>> DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this communication is
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> >>>>> _______________________________________________
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> >>> m
> >>>>
> >>>> _______________________________________________
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> >>>
> >>> --
> >>> Connect with me on GoodReads:
> >>> www.goodreads.com/waynesbooks
> >>>
> >>> _______________________________________________
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> >>>
> >>> --
> >>> Doug Lee                 dgl at dlee.org                http://www.dlee.org
> >>> SSB BART Group           doug.lee at ssbbartgroup.com
> >>> http://www.ssbbartgroup.com
> >>> "While they were saying among themselves it cannot be done, it was
> >>> done." --Helen Keller

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