A personal comment based on bitter experience.
Regardless of the supplier of commercial VIP software - so no jibe at any one company - and the costs, the issue seems to me to be the usabilty of the software in a shared public PC environment for:
a) users not used to any form of VIP software
b) experienced VIP users who are wedded to their own brand of software
c) general library staff (as opposed to trainers in a Learning Centre) who cannot maintain currency on the software and cannot then help the user types above.
The software seems to be designed for trained users in a domestic environment on their own PC's, not for shared PC's. e.g. can the users have their personalised settings (not the software itself) on a stick which is picked up by the software installed on our machines? (and I don't mean users who have the whole software on their own stick)
But back to the cost issue - are we not in danger of being seen not to care for the VIP's if we don't have this software, but being trapped into expensive ghettos of unused, unwanted and unloved software if we do have it, which we can't really afford?
Will the NDVA be any better in this respect? so no matter how cheap (at least to buy, if not to support), is any of this really what the users need?
Perhaps this is one for the MLA (whilst still in being) to evaluate for 'Best Value' across the whole market?
Just a thought...
Regards
JU
John Usher
ICT Manager
Library and Heritage Services
Islington Council
Central Library
2 Fieldway Crescent
LONDON N5 1PF
Tel: 020 7527 6920
Mobile: 07825 098 223
Fax: 020 7527 6926
Alternative contact: Michelle Gannon - 020 7527 6907
www.islington.gov.uk
How to get to Central Library: http://www.islington.gov.uk/Education/Libraries/Local/Central.asp
-----Original Message-----
From: lis-pub-libs: UK Public Libraries [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Cothliff, Andrew
Sent: 13 August 2010 14:55
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [LIS-PUB-LIBS] Screen reader software for public access PCs
Is anybody using or evaluating NVDA (NonVisual Desktop Access) open source screen reader software (www.nvda-project.org <http://www.nvda-project.org> )? We are about to replace our Pnet hardware and our version of Supernova is not compatible with Windows 7 and a full upgrade would cost in the region of £34,000. Based on usage stats that would equate to over £11,000 per session! We do want to offer the screen reader facility but cannot justify the cost of the upgrade. If anyone is using this software can they please relay their experience of pro's and cons.
Kind Regards
Andrew Cothliff
Systems Officer
01772532408
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