[NFBMT] Chromebook
Edward Robbins
ecrobbins517 at gmail.com
Wed May 16 16:32:39 UTC 2018
Great suggestion.
Ted
EDWARD C "TED" ROBBINS, E-MAIL: ecrobbins517 at gmail.com
CEO MBEI & Treasurer NFB of Montana
PHONE & FAX: 406 453 6678, CELL: 406 799 6268
104 RIVERVIEW 5 E
GREAT FALLS MT 59404
-----Original Message-----
From: NFBMT <nfbmt-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Jim Marks via NFBMT
Sent: Wednesday, May 16, 2018 10:25 AM
To: 'NFB of Montana Discussion List' <nfbmt at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Jim Marks <blind.grizzly at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [NFBMT] Chromebook
You know, it might be a good idea to invite BLVS to provide a training
session of some sort at convention. For example, BLVS staff could teach us
how to use NVDA on a Windows 10 system. I think this would be more useful
to more people than a training on a Chromebook because NVDA and Windows 10
are used by many of our members. Chromebooks are mostly a tool for
education. Another idea is for BLVS to show us how to access online
information about technology. There are a ton of resources out there that
include text tutorials, video tutorials, and podcasts. I tend to use Blind
Bargains and Flying Blind. Access World also has some good stuff, and the
NFB technology folks do a terrific job of informing us. For example, I see
that the NFB is offering a free online training for Narrator on May 21.
Good podcasts include Blind Bargains, The Blind Side, and Cool Blind Tech.
I bet BLVS would be pleased to offer the training, and it would help the
NFB-MT connect with BLVS in positive ways. Plus, it could attract new
members to our convention.
Jim Marks
Blind.grizzly at gmail.com
(406) 438-1421
-----Original Message-----
From: NFBMT [mailto:nfbmt-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of BRESLAUERS via
NFBMT
Sent: Wednesday, May 16, 2018 10:11 AM
To: 'NFB of Montana Discussion List' <nfbmt at nfbnet.org>
Cc: BRESLAUERS <breslauerj at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [NFBMT] Chromebook
In order to do a tutorial session over the phone, each student would have to
have access to a Chrome book. Maybe that would be something fun to do at
convention. We have often talked about having a technology fair. Joy
-----Original Message-----
From: NFBMT <nfbmt-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Jim Marks via NFBMT
Sent: Wednesday, May 16, 2018 8:57 AM
To: 'NFB of Montana Discussion List' <nfbmt at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Jim Marks <blind.grizzly at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [NFBMT] Chromebook
Sure, I would be willing to share what I've learned. In the case of
ChromeVox, the screen reader for Chrome OS and Chromebooks, Google provides
really good tutorials online. The tutorials consist of both text and
video-based lessons.
Mastering technology is never achieved by anyone because technology develops
very rapidly. We are all stuck in a perpetual learning curve. For
instance, I learned last night that the Android apps on a Chromebook use the
Talkback screen reader built into Android. I had to search on Google for
directions on how to operate Talkback on the Chromebook. What I discovered
is that ChromeVox automatically shuts off when one goes into an Android app
on a Chromebook.
Talkback takes over, and there are separate commands to operate Talkback.
These commands are similar to ChromeVox commands, so it wasn't hard to learn
them. This sort of discovery happens all the time with technology. All it
takes to manage all the learning is an attitude of problem solving,
curiosity, and time. Also, a person needs a sense of adventure and purpose.
For sure, the days of running just one screen reader and one operating
system are gone.
Technology is more and more going to mobile devices, and the future promises
more change than any of us think is reasonable. That said, it would be good
to spend some time teaching one another what we know, and I would be happy
to do so.
Jim Marks
Blind.grizzly at gmail.com
(406) 438-1421
-----Original Message-----
From: NFBMT [mailto:nfbmt-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of d m gina via
NFBMT
Sent: Tuesday, May 15, 2018 9:20 PM
To: nfbmt at nfbnet.org
Cc: d m gina <dmgina at mysero.net>
Subject: Re: [NFBMT] Chromebook
With all the knowledge you have with different screen readers, coud you
teach it over the phone if someone got the same as you have?
So far we are in a ten not a mack.
I find it interesting a friend of mine still uses a mack but went back to
windows.
Original message:
> Interestingly enough, my Chromebook out-performed my Windows 10 PC and
> Android tablet today as I reviewed a website for accessibility and
> usability. It was a remarkable difference as my Chromebook showed me
> stuff on the page the others could not handle even a little bit.
> Besides the Chrome OS, ChromeVox, and Chrome, I reviewed the site with
> Jaws and NVDA using Internet Explorer and Firefox as well as with
> Android, Talkback, and Chrome. The Chromebook handled the page far
> better than the other tools. Since I was reviewing only one website,
> it's probably premature to declare the Chromebook the winner. I'll be
> reviewing many more sites soon, so I'll let all know if the Chromebook
> success persists. Also, it may be the Chrome browser that's best in
> any operating system. I did not use Chrome with Jaws or NVDA. Still,
> using Chrome with Android provided a lesser quality access than Chrome
> with Chrome OS.
> I'm very sad about how terrible Jaws and IE are these days. IE is
> rapidly getting out of date. I understand that Microsoft is not
> continuing IE development because the company is putting its eggs in
> the MS Edge browser. As far as I know, Jaws does not yet work well
> with MS Edge. And there are issues using Jaws and Firefox and Chrome
> browsers as well. NVDA looks pretty good, but Jaws remains the king.
> My point in mentioning this is that our current IT requires blind
> users to apply a variety of screen readers and browsers. We talked about
> this phenomena the other day. Moreover, blind users have to know more
> than one operating system to stay current. My three are Windows 10,
> Android, and Chrome OS. Sometime, I will have to rekindle my
> knowledge of Apple IOS and to learn for the first time how to operate
> a Mac PC.
> Hard to accept that I feel nostalgia for simpler technology times. To
> move forward, diversity in IT is a must, though.
> Jim Marks
> Blind.grizzly at gmail.com
> (406) 438-1421
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NFBMT [mailto:nfbmt-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Dan Burke
> via NFBMT
> Sent: Tuesday, May 15, 2018 1:32 PM
> To: NFB of Montana Discussion List <nfbmt at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Dan Burke <burke.dall at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [NFBMT] Chromebook
> Thanks Jim.
> It's actually about the same price as many Android tablets.
> On 5/14/18, Jim Marks via NFBMT <nfbmt at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> Here is my initial report on using a Chromebook and its built-in
>> screen reader, ChromeVox.
>> I bought the Chromebook on Amazon. It cost $177, and it is a
>> refurbished Samsung with 4GB RAM and a 32GB SSD. Its 11-inch screen
>> is not a touch screen. It looks like a regular small laptop.
>> Chromebooks are designed to run apps and to store date on the cloud.
>> They primarily use the Google products such as Chrome and G Suite,
>> but they also run Android apps and other online services such as MS
>> Office 365. It is possible to use a Chromebook offline, but it's
>> best when connected to the Internet. Its keyboard is designed for
>> Chromebook.
>> For example, it has no F keys, and it includes a new key called the
>> Search key, and this key is also called the ChromeVox key because
>> it's used to operate the screen reader much like the Insert key
>> modifies Jaws keystrokes. Although the Samsun is quite small, it
>> fits my large hands just fine. I'm using lots of online tutorials
>> and videos to learn how to operate a Chromebook and to use ChromeVox.
>> All-in-all, Chromebook and ChromeVox work well. At this point, I do
>> not think it will replace a PC for me, but it will serve well for
>> portable computing. I think of it as being like using an Android
>> smart phone or tablet. Also, now, my user experience is a bit
>> awkward, mostly because I have yet to commit the ChromeVox keystrokes
>> to muscle memory. It's happening fast, though, because ChromeVox is
>> natural even though it means learning new keystrokes and new ways of
>> doing things. The speech is very responsive and easy to understand.
>> I speed up the speech a great deal, and I prefer using the UK English
>> voice. Insofar as I know, only female voices are available now. Oh,
>> it is possible to add a refreshable Braille display to a Chromebook
>> as
well.
>> Facebook works very well. I use Chrome and m.facebook.com, and the
>> experience is quite nice. ChromeVox includes a feature called
>> "sticky
key"
>> in which one quickly presses the Search/ChromeVox key twice, and then
>> one can navigate with keystrokes that consist of a single key or two
>> keys pressed simultaneously. When in sticky mode, it's not possible
>> to type, but all it takes to get out of sticky mode is two rapid
>> strokes on the Search/ChromeVox key.
>> I'm having troubles reading Gmail, but this is caused by my ignorance
>> on the keystrokes. As I learn those keystrokes, I'm confident I will
>> be able to use Gmail with no problems. I can also add apps like Aqua
>> Mail or Outlook.
>> In the future, I'll provide more updates. At this point, I think a
>> Chromebook would be a very good alternative to an Android tablet
>> because it operates entirely with a keyboard and because it's
>> inexpensive. I don't think I could, at this point, recommend a
>> Chromebook as a replacement for a PC, though.
>> Best!
>> Jim Marks
>> Blind.grizzly at gmail.com <mailto:Blind.grizzly at gmail.com>
>> (406) 438-1421
> --
> Dan Burke
> President, NFB of Denver
> "Blindness is not what holds you back. You can live the life you want!"
> My Cell: 406.546.8546
> Twitter: @DallDonal
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every saint has a past
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