[Trainer-talk] FW: GW Micro Announces Global Window-Eyes Initiative for users of Microsoft Office

[Andrews, David B (DEED)]

Likewise, I don't want to start a screen reader flame war either.  As everyone has said, this development will change things.  Freedom Scientific, as we know it is probably in deep trouble.  They just lost all the easy sales.  

Michael, I would partially disagree with one thing you said.  I think that, over the years, Microsoft has devoted considerable resources to accessibility.  Unfortunately, they haven't been across the board, and some are better than others, so progress is a bit uneven.  However many things work and work pretty well.

It is clear that Microsoft is on a path to increase/improve their screen reader access.  They have improved Narrator with Windows 8, and the other day they said they plan on continuing to do so.  They are also tightening up things so you will have to go through their API's to get access to anything.  The question is whether or not their screen reader offering will be Narrator, WE or will they put them together.  

My other question is whether or not GW Micro will have additional resources to devote to development.  I think most people will acknowledge that the last couple versions have had some problems on the web.  If they can't fix this and other things, where are we?  

In my opinion I think Window-Eyes is a good, but not great screen reader.  I think NVDA is the same -- good and improving but not great.  JAWS also isn't great, but is a little better overall.  Some will disagree -- I am talking about when you consider everything, scripting, wide usage, etc.  

I am afraid that ultimately all we will end up with is 3 mediocre products.  I am very concerned that we will have the tools we need to script or work with complex work environments.  How much is Microsoft going to put into working with non-office environments?

Dave



-----Original Message-----
From: Trainer-talk [mailto:trainer-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Michael D. Barber
Sent: Wednesday, January 15, 2014 9:17 PM
To: 'List for teachers and trainers of adaptive technology'
Subject: Re: [Trainer-talk] FW: GW Micro Announces Global Window-Eyes Initiative for users of Microsoft Office

David:  I was completely shocked when this announcement appeared.  Whether this is a good thing for those of us who use screen reading software remains to be seen.  I'm curious about FS's reaction.  I imagine there may have been an earth tremor in St. Petersburg.

On the other hand, I don't have much trust for Microsoft regarding accessibility.  I'm willing to be proved wrong though.  But Microsoft hasn't done anything to even convince me to think about changing my mind.  Look at Windows Phone 8's lack of accessibility----again.  



Cordially,
Michael D. Barber
(515) 771-8348


-----Original Message-----
From: Trainer-talk [mailto:trainer-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of David Goldfield
Sent: Wednesday, January 15, 2014 6:29 PM
To: List for teachers and trainers of adaptive technology
Subject: Re: [Trainer-talk] FW: GW Micro Announces Global Window-Eyes Initiative for users of Microsoft Office

Here is a modified copy of the message which I wrote on some LinkedIn forums, which summarizes my feelings about this development.
Here are my thoughts on this breaking story.  In no way am I trying to start a screen reader flame war, where I intend to talk about whether one screen reader is better than another.
First, this news caught me totally by surprise and I was quite speechless, which is ironic considering that this is all about a piece of software designed to make your computer talk.
This move from GW Micro is more than just a great idea or a clever marketing strategy.  In my opinion, it represents the end of an era and the beginning of a new one regarding the business model of screen reader distribution.  I've said for some time that our current model, where you pay hundreds of dollars for computer access, needs to go away.  With this decision, I predict that it soon will.  Yes, we've had NVDA offering users the same opportunity to download and use a completely free screen reader since 2009, unofficially since 2006.  However, until recently, it wasn't an ideal solution for many corporate environments, although it does actually contain scripting capabilities, allowing for some under-the-hood customization.  However, it really wasn't promoted as an access solution for the corporate world and it is likely that the majority of NVDA users are home users.  However, this is not the case for window-eyes, which GW Micro promotes not only for home use but also for use in corporate, educational and in government working environments.
Now that Window-eyes can be available at no cost for many more people, several questions come to mind.  First, how will Freedom Scientific respond?  They cannot ignore what GW Micro is doing, as doing so could hurt sales of JAWS rather badly.  This move won't just make Window-eyes freely available to many users who couldn't afford a commercial screen reader.  Once rehab agencies begin to hear about this, they may feel that forking out nearly a thousand dollars for JAWS won't be such a hot idea.  After all, why buy a JAWS license for a consumer if they can just ensure that some version of Office is on their computer, which will then allow the consumer to download a comparable screen reader at no cost.  
FS must respond to this move, if they hope to survive.  The same is true for Dolphin's HAL screen reader.
One might also wonder how GW Micro can make money off of this move. In other words, how will they survive this change, as well?  This is being addressed in several ways.  First, users of the free window-eyes program must pay to receive support, either by paying $25.00 per incident or
$99.00 for what they call the 12/12 plan, which gives you twelve incidents to be resolved for a 12-month period of time.  The one exception is that they will provide free support for users who need help with installation issues.  This is how some open-source products are able to make money; give the product away for free but charge for quality support and other additional services, such as advanced software customization.  The free version also does not come with some of the more human-sounding voices, such as Nuance's Vocalizer, which can be purchased for a fee.  However, I am of the understanding that it supports the Microsoft voices, which can be very pleasant, particularly with the male voice found in Windows 8 and 8.1.
During the press conference held by GW Micro, someone asked how giving away their flagship product would affect GW Micro.  The questioner asked if they were getting something from Microsoft, which to me implied a monetary payment of some kind, or might this represent a shift to GW Micro heading toward being a nonprofit company.  GW's vice-president said that these were good questions and that they would be able to better know the answers in six months.  He also said that their partnership with Microsoft allowed them to do this.  That, in itself, is a telling response.  Here are my predictions.  First, this is going to shake up the industry and will bring about some major changes in the way access software is distributed.  Finally, I would bet a few pieces of rich chocolate that this isn't the last we're going to hear about this from GW Micro.  If they don't become a nonprofit access provider, I would not be at all surprised if they are either bought by Microsoft or at least become the official accessibility arm of Microsoft, which is something Microsoft could really use.  Trust me, this is assistive tech history in the making.  This is a major earthquake in the field, and we've not even begun to see how the aftershocks affect the industry.  I applaud GW Micro for what I think is a daring and revolutionary decision.


On 1/15/2014 10:16 AM, Angela Griffith wrote:
> Jan-14-2014
>
> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
>
> Fort Wayne, Indiana (January 14, 2014) - GW Micro, Inc. (www.gwmicro.com) is proud to make a revolutionary announcement. GW Micro and Microsoft Corp. have partnered to make Window-Eyes available to users of Microsoft Office at no cost. Window-Eyes is a screen reader that enables people who are blind, visually impaired, or print disabled to have full access to Windows PCs and makes the computer accessible via speech and/or Braille.
>
> To better deliver Window-Eyes to the people who need it most, GW Micro and Microsoft have collaborated on this global initiative, available in over 15 languages, to enable anyone using Microsoft Office 2010 or later to also use Window-Eyes for free.  Access to technology is critical to people who are blind or visually impaired in order to have the same opportunity to compete in the workplace. As such, this initiative between GW Micro and Microsoft has the potential to reduce barriers for millions of people who are blind or visually impaired around the world.
>
> As the population ages, technologies like Window-Eyes will become more and more important as the number of people with age-related macular degeneration and other retinal degenerative diseases increases. "This significant change in the way we are doing business reflects the changing perception of accessibility and also technology in general.  Rather than wait for the world to change, Microsoft and GW Micro are leading the way," said Dan Weirich, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for GW Micro.  Weirich believes this technology can help millions of people gain access to their PC, and that providing it free of charge will open a whole new world of assistive technology to many people.
>
> In light of the rapidly changing face of technology and specifically, the changing face of assistive technology, the combined efforts of GW Micro and Microsoft have the goal of providing accessibility to people who are blind and visually impaired for the long term.
>
> Microsoft continues to take accessibility seriously.  “By partnering with GW Micro in this endeavor we are demonstrating Microsoft’s ongoing commitment to provide all of our customers with the technology and tools to help each person be productive in both their work and personal lives.” said Rob Sinclair, Chief Accessibility Officer for Microsoft.
>
> Eligible customers, using Microsoft Office 2010 or higher, will be able to download a full version of Window-Eyes starting today at www.WindowEyesForOffice.com.  The website provides download instructions as well as additional details about this offer.
>
> GW Micro, Inc. (www.gwmicro.com) has been a trusted pioneer in the adaptive technology industry since 1990, and continues to lead with innovative, customer driven solutions.
>
>
>
> Contact:
>
> Dan Weirich, VP of Sales and Marketing dan at gwmicro.com
> (260) 489-3671