[nfbcs] Advice for presentation - Pair Programming for blind and low vision developers

[Amanda Lacy]

I was required to pair/team program in my operating systems course but
I couldn't, really. My partners and I usually ended up working on
separate machines. I'm also totally blind and for the most part was
unable to follow what they were doing. Also, I focus on only one task
at one time; I could either talk with them or work with code. I
contributed as much as possible by very carefully reading and adding
to the code base, then coming to my partners with questions and
potential problems.

Amanda

On 2/18/16, Louis Maher via nfbcs <nfbcs at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Hi Suzanne,
>
> I found that pair programming worked well during bug-hunting sessions.  I
> could not track what the sighted were doing during code development in pair
> programming.  I am totally blind and use Braille displays.  I do not think
> blind individuals can effectively participate in pair programming code
> development sessions.  Our systems point at one focus point at a time.  The
> blind work locally to build a global picture.  The sighted can go from
> global to local because they can take in a page of code at a time
> especially
> if the code is enhanced with colors and indentation.
>
> If you want an accurate opinion on this issue, talk to blind individuals
> that must compete with sighted programmers on a daily basis.
>
>
>
> Regards
> Louis Maher
> Phone: 713-444-7838
> E-mail ljmaher at swbell.net
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nfbcs [mailto:nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Suzanne Germano
> via nfbcs
> Sent: Thursday, February 18, 2016 12:26 PM
> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>;
> nfbcs at nfbnet.org
> Cc: Suzanne Germano <sgermano at asu.edu>
> Subject: [nfbcs] Advice for presentation - Pair Programming for blind and
> low vision developers
>
> I am legally blind and recently graduated from ASU with my BS in Computer
> Science. About one month ago I started my new positions as a Software
> Developer/Integrator at USAA.
>
> They are working on making the entire company Agile and want to get into
> much more pair programming.
>
> What techniques have you used in pair programming?
>
> I will be proposing a talk for the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in
> Computing on the topic of how to effectively accommodate a blind or low
> vision developer on your team. So I welcome everyone's input on what works
> for you and what you would like to see implemented.
>
> So far I have found pair programming very difficult.
>
> I have enough vision that I use 2 27 inch monitors with ZoomText an have my
> IDE span the two monitors. If I am the one running the mouse and keyboard
> then it is fine. I cannot work at any of my teammates workstations as they
> work in regular size. Not only that, I am extremely light sensitive so I
> would not be able to read theirs even if magnified. I am currently in
> training, so one solution we use at times is a 55 inch monitor but I have
> to
> stand up right against it and still can't see the top or far side. We also
> do team code reviews on a monitor mounted on a wall so I am trying to
> figure
> out solutions for that and the fact the code review software uses color and
> I am completely color blind.
>
> Thank you for all ideas and advice!!!
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