JiscMail Logo
Email discussion lists for the UK Education and Research communities

Help for ASSISTECH Archives


ASSISTECH Archives

ASSISTECH Archives


ASSISTECH@JISCMAIL.AC.UK


View:

Message:

[

First

|

Previous

|

Next

|

Last

]

By Topic:

[

First

|

Previous

|

Next

|

Last

]

By Author:

[

First

|

Previous

|

Next

|

Last

]

Font:

Proportional Font

LISTSERV Archives

LISTSERV Archives

ASSISTECH Home

ASSISTECH Home

ASSISTECH  2006

ASSISTECH 2006

Options

Subscribe or Unsubscribe

Subscribe or Unsubscribe

Log In

Log In

Get Password

Get Password

Subject:

Re: FireVox

From:

Judge Simon <[log in to unmask]>

Reply-To:

A discussion list for Assistive Technology professionals.

Date:

Fri, 29 Sep 2006 11:50:00 +0100

Content-Type:

text/plain

Parts/Attachments:

Parts/Attachments

text/plain (219 lines)

I think you fit the tool to the person - if Firefox/vox or Opera is more
appropriate than IE (likely) then case closed - this is why i'd find a
comparison table useful.

I also think you overplay the difference between proprietary and open source
(FLOSS) software - FLOSS is just normal software, it's like saying that AT
software wont support Quark or SAGE or any other non Microsoft product
(which will have a MUCH lower number of users than a popular product like
Firefox but are incredibly important tools for, e.g. Graphic Designers or
Accountants).  AT software (and, really, I think you are just talking about
screen readers here) should work with any software the client chooses to
use, and, in fact, generally it does...

RE support - companies, under DDA are obliged to make reasonable
adjustments.  I think supporting the AT software will be much more of an
issue than supporting open source software and, as an employer i'd like to
save money by deploying open office rather than MS office.  Lots of small
companies (like the NHS, education, IBM,  !!) are starting to see the light
with regards to this and, frankly, I think there will be a sea change over
the next 10 years [1].  

The way for AT products/software to sort this issue out is to develop/comply
to standards (e.g. W3C for the internet, XML for content, Windows
ActiveAccessibility & UI automation) . Also, just because AT software may be
a little short sighted, it doesn't mean that all innovation (open source or
not) should be stifled...  I happen to think Open Source is a very
appropriate vehicle for encouraging innovation (and standards) in this field
(and open source doesn't necessarily mean free) and we would be foolish to
ignore it. Obviously i am biased [2]. (-;

Cheers

Simon

[1] E.g. Check out Ubuntu if you are bored paying for an operating system
for your PC, openoffice if you don't think Office is worth £150...
[2]  www.oatsoft.org . (-;

Clinical Scientist
ACT
0121 627 1627 ex 53245 

-----Original Message-----
From: A discussion list for Assistive Technology professionals.
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Neil Hansen
Sent: 29 September 2006 09:51
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: FireVox


Hi,

Just some thoughts that may have some bearing on this & future discussion.

In general Commercial companies will not support products like Firefox or
Opera beyond a certain point. For example, here is an edited quote from the
Freedom Scientific Website:

JAWS now supports the Mozilla Firefox Web browser (version 1.5 beta or
later)...  ...While the majority of this support is in place now, not
everything is complete and Freedom Scientific will not be able to provide
Technical Support for this program as a result.

(full quote here:
http://www.freedomscientific.com/fs_products/software_jaws70fea.asp )

JAWS is the most popular screen reading programme in the world and won't
support Firefox (& doesn't even mention Opera in its support documentation).

Most companies will test & support their AT software with the most popular
products ie MS Office, outlook express, etc. Whilst they're willing to go so
far along the line in helping, they will generally draw the line at anything
beyond basic support of less popular products (unless they supplied them).

The other thing of course is that companies cannot train their support staff
on every programme or technology. Whilst many of the companies employ very
technically competent people, they just do not generally have the time to
look at supporting every single programme.

So unless Assistive Technologists are willing to take on the support of less
popular programmes for the end-users you may be putting them in a
unsupportable position. 

You may also want to consider the employment prospects of individuals using
AT software. If you're an employer (unless it's a techie job) would you
employ someone with skills and knowledge of "Open Office" or "MS Office".
What is the default setup in your \ most organisations? I'd be surprised if
it wasn't primarily Microsoft based.

If you're using open source software for all your computing needs (AT or
otherwise), it's highly unlikely an IT department would either allow such
products into their environment or be happy at the prospect of not having
access to support staff.

It strikes me that the fragmentation of AT effort on the most popular
products whilst laudable in its intention to possibly provide better access
in the long term may be akin to the discussion on lists etc from last week,
and dilutes effort on resolving present needs. Cf: too many information
sources with too many products to know, test, support, train etc. with
dilution of Assistive Technologists time & focus in a constrained time in
the NHS etc

Neil

Neil Hansen

Technical & Software Development Manager - AAC

 

Possum Controls Ltd - AAC Division

8 Farmbrough Close

Stocklake Park Industrial Estate

Aylesbury

Buckinghamshire

HP20 1DQ

 

Tel: 01943 871004

Fax: 01943 870 780

Mob: 07734 551205

 

This e-mail (which includes any files transmitted with it) may contain
information that is sensitive, confidential and/or protected by law. If you
are not the intended recipient, please delete this e-mail and any
attachments and notify us immediately. It is not to be relied upon by any
person other than the intended recipient. If you are not the intended
recipient of this email you may not use this information for any purpose or
disclose it to any other person. This email and any attachments hereto are
not intended to create contractual relations or legal obligations binding on
the sending organisation and no action may be taken in reliance on this
e-mail and any attachments hereto unless the contents are confirmed by
letter. The views expressed in this communication may not necessarily be the
views held by Possum Controls Limited.


-----Original Message-----
From: A discussion list for Assistive Technology professionals.
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Judge Simon
Sent: 29 September 2006 08:35
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: FireVox

That's interesting to know... To be honest i'm so addicted to firefox
extenstions that i've not strayed from Firefox.  I think people on this list
have come out as opera fans though (as it were) and I know it is meant to be
quite good accessibility wise.  In fact, i've not come across an
accessibility comparison between browsers... That'd be useful, anyone got a
link?

Cheers

Simon

Clinical Scientist
ACT
0121 627 1627 ex 53245 

-----Original Message-----
From: A discussion list for Assistive Technology professionals.
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of David Hobbs
Sent: 29 September 2006 02:03
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: FireVox


Thanks for your email Simon - I hadn't seen Firefox's reader. Has anyone
seen or used the following (Opera)? I've just heard and seen it used on a
colleagues PC. 
 
http://www.opera.com/products/desktop/ 
 
It also has 'voice' - http://www.opera.com/products/desktop/voice/ 
 
Dave  ;-) 

>>> Judge Simon <[log in to unmask]> Wednesday, 27 September 2006
>>> >>>

Anyone else played with this?

Seems excellent - it is a web browser reader for firefox - i.e. it reads web
pages.  Might do for lots of people who want support reading web pages.
http://www.firevox.clcworld.net/ And i've added it to OATS if you want to
comment: http://www.oatsoft.org/Software/fire-vox

Cheers

Simon

Clinical Scientist
ACT
0121 627 1627 ex 53245 


 

-- 
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.1.407 / Virus Database: 268.12.9/458 - Release Date: 27/09/2006
 

-- 
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.1.407 / Virus Database: 268.12.9/458 - Release Date: 27/09/2006
 

Top of Message | Previous Page | Permalink

JiscMail Tools


RSS Feeds and Sharing


Advanced Options


Archives

March 2024
February 2024
January 2024
November 2023
October 2023
September 2023
August 2023
July 2023
June 2023
May 2023
April 2023
March 2023
February 2023
January 2023
December 2022
November 2022
October 2022
September 2022
August 2022
July 2022
June 2022
May 2022
April 2022
March 2022
February 2022
January 2022
December 2021
November 2021
October 2021
September 2021
August 2021
July 2021
June 2021
May 2021
April 2021
March 2021
February 2021
January 2021
December 2020
November 2020
October 2020
September 2020
August 2020
July 2020
June 2020
May 2020
April 2020
March 2020
February 2020
January 2020
December 2019
November 2019
October 2019
September 2019
August 2019
July 2019
June 2019
May 2019
April 2019
March 2019
February 2019
January 2019
December 2018
November 2018
October 2018
September 2018
August 2018
July 2018
June 2018
May 2018
April 2018
March 2018
February 2018
January 2018
December 2017
November 2017
October 2017
September 2017
August 2017
July 2017
June 2017
May 2017
April 2017
March 2017
February 2017
January 2017
December 2016
November 2016
October 2016
September 2016
August 2016
July 2016
June 2016
May 2016
April 2016
March 2016
February 2016
January 2016
December 2015
November 2015
October 2015
September 2015
August 2015
July 2015
June 2015
May 2015
April 2015
March 2015
February 2015
January 2015
December 2014
November 2014
October 2014
September 2014
August 2014
July 2014
June 2014
May 2014
April 2014
March 2014
February 2014
January 2014
December 2013
November 2013
October 2013
September 2013
August 2013
July 2013
June 2013
May 2013
April 2013
March 2013
February 2013
January 2013
December 2012
November 2012
October 2012
September 2012
August 2012
July 2012
June 2012
May 2012
April 2012
March 2012
February 2012
January 2012
December 2011
November 2011
October 2011
September 2011
August 2011
July 2011
June 2011
May 2011
April 2011
March 2011
February 2011
January 2011
December 2010
November 2010
October 2010
September 2010
August 2010
July 2010
June 2010
May 2010
April 2010
March 2010
February 2010
January 2010
December 2009
November 2009
October 2009
September 2009
August 2009
July 2009
June 2009
May 2009
April 2009
March 2009
February 2009
January 2009
December 2008
November 2008
October 2008
September 2008
August 2008
July 2008
June 2008
May 2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
January 2008
December 2007
November 2007
October 2007
September 2007
August 2007
July 2007
June 2007
May 2007
April 2007
March 2007
February 2007
January 2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000


JiscMail is a Jisc service.

View our service policies at https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/policyandsecurity/ and Jisc's privacy policy at https://www.jisc.ac.uk/website/privacy-notice

For help and support help@jisc.ac.uk

Secured by F-Secure Anti-Virus CataList Email List Search Powered by the LISTSERV Email List Manager