[Trainer-talk] Fwd: [Nfbktad] Fwd: Freedom Scientific Announces JAWS Training Bundle

David Goldfield disciple1211 at verizon.net
Sun Jun 22 17:02:07 UTC 2014 

I have some additional thoughts on this topic which I should have 
written in my previous message.
First, GW Micro is a great example of a company trying to make money in 
this changing landscape by thinking out of the box, at least for the 
a.t. industry.  First, finding a convenient way to essentially give away 
an $895.00 screen reader was a pretty brilliant move on their part.  For 
other companies, it would have been quite risky but I suspect it's not 
as much of a risk to them, considering their partnership with 
Microsoft.  Secondly, they actually do charge for several support plans 
for consumers who chose to get the "window-eyes for Users of Microsoft 
Office" in a variety of configurations.  Also, they do offer phone-based 
training for a fee.  This type of out of the box strategy is also being 
done by Fedora Outlier with a service they call the $6 question where 
they will answer any support question you have for $6.00.  That may not 
make them a ton of money but it's a brilliant move and nobody else in 
this field is doing anything quite like that, at least to my knowledge.  
As I write this, it occurs to me that mainstream companies like 
Microsoft and Apple are getting the same message and are doing things we 
wouldn't have expected even five years ago.  Microsoft is essentially 
giving away new versions of Windows to consumers who are running Win8 or 
later.  Apple is now offering packages like Pages and iBooks for free, 
at least for new users, and they even gave away the last OSX upgrade for 
free and I believe Yosemite will also be offered at no cost.  So, as I 
said companies, both mainstream as well as adaptive, have to change the 
way they do business if they want to continue to stay in business.


      David Goldfield,
Assistive Technology specialist
---------

Visit my Web site
http://www.davidgoldfield.info

Feel free to visit my LinkedIn profile
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/david-goldfield/12/929/573

visit my blog
http://davidgoldfield.wordpress.com

Follow me on Twitter
http://www.twitter.com/davidgoldfield

On 6/22/2014 12:48 PM, David Goldfield via Trainer-talk wrote:
> Hi, Gabe.
> I hadn't heard that GW Micro was offering a similar bundle of training 
> modules.  However, I can see why the screen reader manufacturers are 
> trying to develop new packages to entice current and future customers.
> In a nutshell, the landscape for computer access has radically changed 
> and producers of screen readers simply can't use the business model 
> that worked for them in the 1980's and 1990's.  For windows users, we 
> now have NVDA, which has become an extremely robust, reliable and 
> stable screen reader.  That's not meant as an endorsement or as an 
> advertisement but this has been my personal experience using most of 
> the major screen readers.  It offers enough to satisfy most home 
> users.  With the economy being what it is, state rehab organizations 
> are less likely to want to pay thousands of dollars for access 
> software for a client and this would surely hurt screen reader 
> manufacturers.  Of course, there will always be visually impaired 
> workers in a corporate environment who will require a screen reader 
> with the power and configuration of JAWS and window-eyes but for users 
> at home or who are in school they may not always need such a product 
> to get by. I can anticipate the objections that NVDA doesn't have the 
> power and flexibility of a product like JAWS but for a product which 
> was officially released in 2009 it's come a long way and additional 
> support for Office is being added, not to mention that NVDA, like 
> their competition, is also scriptable.  Let's also not forget that 
> blind consumers have understandably embraced apple with open arms, due 
> to their commitment to universal accessibility in nearly all of their 
> products.  Basically, the economy is struggling and computers and 
> other mainstream devices are becoming less expensive all of the time, 
> making the prospect of paying a thousand dollars for an access package 
> very unappealing and, to some, unacceptable.  Also, let's not forget 
> that Window-eyes is essentially now free if you're running Office 2010 
> or later and this is bound to hurt Freedom Scientific.  Therefore, as 
> I stated at the beginning of this message, companies which sell 
> products the way they did in the early 1990's are going to be 
> clobbered by their competition and they must change the way they offer 
> their products.  This out of the box strategy could work, assuming 
> it's the correct strategy.  Open source products like LibreOffice come 
> to my mind where the product is free for anyone to download, install 
> or distribute but consumers need to pay if they want support and 
> custom configurations.  It's an intriguing business model and it seems 
> to work if you've got the right product.  I have mixed feelings about 
> selling a training bundle for nearly the same cost as the screen 
> reader.  I'm aware of the positive spin they've put on the offer, 
> stating that this comes out to $15.00 per hour which is an insanely 
> low price for receiving help from a quality trainer.  I'm not sure, 
> however, that their approach is the best one but time will tell and 
> the market will decide.
>
>
>      David Goldfield,
> Assistive Technology specialist
> ---------
>
> Visit my Web site
> http://www.davidgoldfield.info
>
> Feel free to visit my LinkedIn profile
> http://www.linkedin.com/pub/david-goldfield/12/929/573
>
> visit my blog
> http://davidgoldfield.wordpress.com
>
> Follow me on Twitter
> http://www.twitter.com/davidgoldfield
>
> On 6/22/2014 10:44 AM, Gabe Vega Commtech LLC via Trainer-talk wrote:
>> has anyone noticed that the screen reader manufacturers both GW and 
>> FS are finding it harder to make money, why else would they both 
>> offer training packages for sell at the same time? GW just announced 
>> theirs.
>>
>> We offer training on call for less that 60 a month.
>> http://commtechusa.net
>>
>> Gabe Vega
>> CEO
>> Commtech LLC
>> Web: http://commtechusa.net
>> FaceBook: http://facebook.com/commtechllc
>> Twitter: http://twitter.com/commtechllc
>> Email: info at commtechusa.net
>> Phone: (888) 351-5289 ext. 710
>>
>> On Jun 21, 2014, at 3:12 PM, Robert stigile via Trainer-talk 
>> <trainer-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>
>>> hello,
>>> Does anyone know what the cost of this package is.
>>> I have looked and have not been able to find the cost
>>> If anyone can shed some light I would appreciate it.
>>> Thank you
>>>
>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>
>>>> On Jun 21, 2014, at 1:46 PM, David Andrews via Trainer-talk 
>>>> <trainer-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> Having trouble viewing this email?
>>>>> Click here to view as a webpage.
>>>>> http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?ca=9a4ae63f-965f-489a-81af-debe9dd606b4&c=eeeda900-b692-11e3-8412-d4ae527547e4&ch=f06de060-b692-11e3-8424-d4ae527547e4 
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
>>>>> Media Contact: Mark O'Brien
>>>>> 800-444-4443 or 727-803-8000
>>>>> www.FreedomScientific.com
>>>>> Sales: info at FreedomScientific.com
>>>>>
>>>>> Freedom Scientific Announces JAWS Training Bundle
>>>>>
>>>>> (St. Petersburg, Florida - June 20, 2014) - Freedom Scientific
>>>>> released the JAWS Training Bundle today, a new training solution,
>>>>> specifically designed based on customer feedback.
>>>>>
>>>>> This solution, provided in the DAISY audio format, contains over 50
>>>>> hours of training on how to use JAWS with your computer, and ships
>>>>> with either a PLEXTALK(R) or Victor Reader Stream.
>>>>>
>>>>> "We are looking to meet a specific need with this training," said 
>>>>> Matt
>>>>> Ater, Vice President, Services. "We feel that audio training is an
>>>>> excellent tool that can get JAWS users to a baseline. Everyone should
>>>>> know how to use Windows(R), Microsoft(R) Office, and the Internet. 
>>>>> The
>>>>> training is designed as a progression, starting at the very basics 
>>>>> and
>>>>> continuing to more advanced topics." Ater also added, "Individuals 
>>>>> can
>>>>> control the pace of learning - lessons can be started and stopped
>>>>> easily, and repeated or skipped if necessary."
>>>>>
>>>>> Training includes essential lessons on Windows 7 and 8, Office 2010
>>>>> and 2013, using the Internet, reading PDF's, and getting started with
>>>>> your computer.
>>>>>
>>>>> "This is a great supplement to one-on-one training," said Ryan Jones,
>>>>> a Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapist and one of the JAWS
>>>>> certified instructors featured in the audio tutorials. "We also feel
>>>>> this is a great fit for customers who don't have access to a 
>>>>> certified
>>>>> JAWS instructor because of where they live."
>>>>>
>>>>> Customers will also have the option to take tests on what they have
>>>>> learned and send reports to their agencies and instructors to measure
>>>>> individual progress.
>>>>>
>>>>> The JAWS Training Bundle is available for purchase immediately. For
>>>>> more information, please visit www.FreedomScientific.com or call
>>>>> Freedom Scientific at 1-800-444-4443. You can also listen to the
>>>>> latest FSCast Episode, which features Matt Ater discussing the
>>>>> benefits of this new training solution.
>>>>>
>>>>> About Freedom Scientific
>>>>>
>>>>> Freedom Scientific is the leading worldwide provider of assistive
>>>>> technology products for those with vision impairments. The Company
>>>>> sells its products worldwide and has offices in Florida and
>>>>> Switzerland. The Company's products have been translated into 24
>>>>> languages and are available in 55 countries. Freedom also has a line
>>>>> of software products for those with learning disabilities.
>>>>>
>>>>> Freedom Scientific(R) and JAWS(R) are registered trademarks in the 
>>>>> United
>>>>> States and/or other countries. The names of actual companies and
>>>>> products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective
>>>>> owners.
>>>>>
>>>>> Please like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter, or both if 
>>>>> you prefer.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Privacy Policy:
>>>>> http://ui.constantcontact.com/roving/CCPrivacyPolicy.jsp
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Online Marketing by
>>>>> Constant Contact(R)
>>>>> http://www.constantcontact.com/home.jsp?pn=sjsmarketing&cc=custom01
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Freedom Scientific | 11800 31st Court North | Saint Petersburg | 
>>>>> FL | 33716-1805
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> -- 
>>>>> Joey Couch
>>>>> phone 606-216-8033.
>>>>> email ki4vjd at gmail.com
>>>>> twitter @ki4vjd
>>>>> facebook ki4vjd
>>>>        David Andrews and long white cane Harry.
>>>> E-Mail:  dandrews at visi.com or david.andrews at nfbnet.org
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> Trainer-talk mailing list
>>>> Trainer-talk at nfbnet.org
>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/trainer-talk_nfbnet.org
>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info 
>>>> for Trainer-talk:
>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/trainer-talk_nfbnet.org/rstigile%40gmail.com 
>>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Trainer-talk mailing list
>>> Trainer-talk at nfbnet.org
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/trainer-talk_nfbnet.org
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info 
>>> for Trainer-talk:
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/trainer-talk_nfbnet.org/vega.gabe%40outlook.com 
>>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Trainer-talk mailing list
>> Trainer-talk at nfbnet.org
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/trainer-talk_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
>> Trainer-talk:
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/trainer-talk_nfbnet.org/disciple1211%40verizon.net 
>>
>>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Trainer-talk mailing list
> Trainer-talk at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/trainer-talk_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> Trainer-talk:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/trainer-talk_nfbnet.org/disciple1211%40verizon.net 
>
>

More information about the Trainer-Talk mailing list