[nfbcs] Helping a software engineer keep his job

[John G. Heim]

You’re assuming the person we’re trying to help already uses Windows. I actually switched to Windows when I went blind And it was one heckuva struggle. There is nothing about linux that makes it harder to learn than Windows. In fact, I’d say the reverse is true. When I was able to go back to linux full time, I found it a considerable relief. 

On the other hand, if someone is already familiar with Windows, it is going to be hard to switch to linux and learn a new screen reader at the same time. I agree with that. And I’ll agree that orca isn’t as polished as jaws. 


But I still struggle with Windows itself and it is a huge hardship using Windows as a linux programmer and systems admin. I will admit that jaws is better than orca but I would never go back to using Windows full time on my workstation.

On Oct 17, 2014, at 10:56 PM, Jim Barbour via nfbcs <nfbcs at nfbnet.org> wrote:

> Hey Everyone,
> 
> David, I'd like to ask you to reconsider the idea that this list is a windows biased list.  There are plenty of people on this list who have windows and a strong understanding of the screen readers that run on them. 
> 
> However, there are plenty of people here who are knowledgeable about VoiceOver on OSX and as you've read a few of us who spend our time on various UNIXes.
> 
> I've spent 30 years doing UNiX sysadmin, tools development, SRE work for Google and now private UNIX cloud architecting for Qualcomm.
> 
> I do agree about all the AT tools you recommend, especially emacspeak. I'm just not sure I'd recommend them for an AT beginner.  Jaws and NVDA have a much larger user base and so more people to help answer his questions and help him find his footing.
> 
> However, if the blind person is confident, ready to try new things and figure things out on his own, then absolutely spend some time with yasr, emacspeak, or even orca.  I'd just warn him that these tools are not a polished and well understood as a standard windows screen reader.
> 
> Take Care,
> 
> Jim
> 
> On Fri, Oct 17, 2014 at 06:19:51PM -0700, David Tseng via nfbcs wrote:
>> Hi,
>> 
>> I think without a fuller description of the software engineer's current
>> setup and level of sight, it's difficult to say exactly what will meet his
>> assistive technology needs.
>> 
>> With that said, I have a few recommendations that may help or lead to more
>> questions and answers. Firstly, this list is probably not the greatest one
>> to ask about linux as it does have a slight or perhaps major Windows bias.
>> For that reason, I would ask on the Orca, Gnome A11y, Speak Up, and
>> Emacspeak lists. These are the folks who are using those products day to
>> day for both work and play.
>> Secondly, if he already knows Emacs, I would highly suggest he pick up
>> Emacspeak. It's pretty much the best in class development environment for
>> perhaps any software engineer who uses speech on any platform. It does have
>> a decidedly high learning curve, most of which involves learning Emacs and
>> core linux system management. I'm assuming he doesn't know braille;
>> otherwise, Brltty is fabulous for post boot access to a linux shell
>> environment.
>> 
>> Finally, I'd be happy to chat offline as some things are better discussed
>> in a less latent medium as email.
>> 
>> HTH,
>> David
>> 
>> 
>> On Fri, Oct 17, 2014 at 8:47 AM, Gary Wunder via nfbcs <nfbcs at nfbnet.org>
>> wrote:
>> 
>>> Several days ago I was contacted by a software engineer who is going blind.
>>> He uses the Linux operating system, and what he really needs is a way to
>>> efficiently do the things that are required of him as a programmer for
>>> Lockheed Martin. His employer seems to be willing to get him any equipment
>>> that might help him in his job, so they have gotten him Zoom text, the
>>> K1000, and I think they have even purchased several copies of JAWS for
>>> Windows for him to use on several computers. Of course all of these are
>>> based on Microsoft Windows, and what he really needs to interact with is a
>>> Linux box. He has figured out a way to do some terminal emulation that lets
>>> him use screen reading technology, but all of the workarounds really make
>>> it
>>> difficult for him to do what once was efficient.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Do any of you have ideas about how to help him? My impression is that he is
>>> smart, motivated, well regarded by his employer, but at his wits in as to
>>> how to do his job and to meet the deadlines that are being offered. He is
>>> monitoring this list and will appreciate any comments that people care to
>>> give. I will be monitoring the list, but I will be on vacation and rather
>>> out of touch for the next ten days or so. I thank all of you for thinking
>>> about this and giving him your best ideas. His name is Graham Mehl.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Warmly,
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Gary
>>> 
>>> Linix operating system
>>> 
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