remember that jaws and supernova are completely different packages.
jaws is a speach based screenreader only, supernova combines both speech
output and screen magnification.
I'd suggest that any organisation considering purchasing sych systems for
their students
1. asks the students what they want - students have a wide range of
different needs and its unlike any one product will cover all of them
2. find out what software students are already using, if they need such
equipment they probably already have it for their own studies and some
continuity for machines based in libraries will obviously be an advantage.
3. look at the products, most companies hold "road shows" around the country
sometimes independently sometimes with more than one retailer present. try
to attend some of these or invite companies to demonstrate their products to
you.
remember these people are salesmen the fact that they are selling highly
specialised equipment just makes their task even easier, they can baffle you
with science or impress you with fancy tricks as much as the next salesman.
only by looking at products side by side do you get a sense of which best
suits your needs.
4. consider buying from an independent supplier who supplys more than one
product, they'll probably give you better advice on what suits your needs.
5. TRAINING - don't buy software and then assume students will know how to
use, staff training is essential, and it has to be the right staff, the
library staff who work in the areas where it will be available for example.
I feel this thread is dragging on a bit, everyone has there own opinions
about different products, look through the points above and contact a range
of companies.
if anyone wants contacts or other questions answering off list I'll be happy
to do that.
Adrian Higginbotham,
SURFACE
Salford University, Research Focus on AcCessible Environments.
E-mail [log in to unmask]
tel: 0161-2954939
fax: 0161-2955011
web: http://www.scpm.salford.ac.uk/surface/
----- Original Message -----
From: Seven-of-nine <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, November 22, 2000 8:34 AM
Subject: RE: Jaws - software for disabled users
> I currently teach blind/partially sighted users to use Jaws. It is not
> nearly as good as Supernova, and other Dolphin products.
>
> Esme
>
> On Wed, 22 Nov 2000 08:25:10 -0000, [log in to unmask] wrote:
>
> > I can recommend the Dolphin range of products (Supernova, Hal etc) for
> use
> > on a network, it works transparently and does not "mess up" the machine
> for
> > sighted users. you can get further information from the support desk at
> > [log in to unmask] .
> >
> >
> > John Barker
> > Systems Support Officer (Specific Needs)
> >
> > L206 Learning Resource Centre
> > University Of Glamorgan
> > Pontypridd CF37 1DL
> >
> > Tel: 01443 48 3742
> > Email:[log in to unmask]
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Phil Edwards [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> > Sent: Tuesday, November 21, 2000 7:06 PM
> > To: [log in to unmask]
> > Subject: Re: Jaws - software for disabled users
> >
> >
> > > Does anyone have a satisdfactory experience of use of Jaws or
> > > similar software in a networked environment?
> > >
> > > We are seeking to make available software for blind or partially-
> > > sighted students on our PCs. Jaws seems the most widely accepted
> > but
> > > it does not appear to work satisfactorily on networked PCs used by
> >
> > > other students. It appears that the client side of the software
> > alters
> > > the settings of other software that would hinder sighted students.
> > For
> > > example, it turns off some images in Netscape which cannot easily
> > be
> > > reset. Ideally we would like the software to be available in
> > every
> > > student IT learning area. The supplier has not been able to offer
> > a
> > > solution.
> > >
> > > We have therefore only been able to install it on PCs dedicated to
> > use
> > > by blind students.
> >
>
>
>
>
>
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