[nfbcs] Looking for tips for programming in a mainframe environment

[David W Bundy]

Good afternoon,
I am working with a client who is a programmer developing software in a mainframe environment.  His employer has concerns about his productivity and I am looking for any tips any of you programmers out there may have for him for addressing the concerns below.  He uses JAWS and has a Braille display.  He also has Window-eyes and a Braille embosser.


1.      I cannot tab through screens in order to navigate them rapidly to be more productive. Most languages automatically incorporate these features in the non-host world. Also, when I tab to different fields in the non-host environment, the field will be spoken to me.
2.      It is confusing to deal with multi line column headers when I can only see one line at a time. I would only be able to see provider on one line and then have to remember that, and its location, when going to the next line. Whereas, in the non-host environment, the entire header can be made to be spoken.

Provider

Provider

Provider

ID

Name

Type


3.      COBOL modules are so wordy and it takes more time to navigate through them. Non-host programs are generally smaller and perform more actions with lesser verbiage which would be easier to cover using my speech display.
4.      In the non-host world elements are placed on the screen by pixels, units of measure for each section of a screen using visual techniques to place elements. This would be something I can deal with because it is according to a graph which I can visualize, 0,0 for left top and width/2,height/2 for center. You must design/create CICS screens using a mouse through ASDD and I cannot do this.
5.      I have experience working with C, Java, and visual studio in college and know I can deal with those environments.
6.      I am object oriented in my thinking: Objects are items with instances, methods, ability to do things, properties, and attributes of each item. COBOL is structural, linear.




David W Bundy
Assistive Technology Consultant
SC Commission for the Blind
POBox 2467
Columbia, SC  29202
(803)898-7094
dbundy at sccb.sc.gov


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April is Women's Eye Safety Month. It is estimated that two thirds of blindness and visual impairments occur in women; three quarters of these occurrences are preventable. The South Carolina Commission for the Blind encourages all women to become more diligent in protecting their eye health. For more information about the South Carolina Commission for the Blind visit us online at www.sccb.state.sc.us.