FreeLists / ossrp-control / [ossrp-control] Re: So, where do you want the project to go?

["Will Pearson" <will-pearson@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Lyn,

I suspect that Microsoft would be willing to provide some beta copies. 
Microsoft run a program called the Microsoft Access Technology Vendor 
Program (MATVP).  April is one of the open enrolement periods, and I've 
submitted an application.  From talking to someone who's involved with the 
program last week, he said that we should be confident of being accepted. 
So, we should be able to have fairly good links with Microsoft through this 
program.

I should hear something for definate later on this week, or early next week, 
and I'll let everyone know the outcome.

Will
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Lyn Eagers" <lists.leagers@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <ossrp-control@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sunday, April 24, 2005 12:17 AM
Subject: [ossrp-control] Re: So, where do you want the project to go?


> Hi all,
>
> Is MicroSoft going to provide advance, be it beta, copies of Longhorn for
> developers in this project to use or are we going to have to wait for it 
> to
> be released before programming can begin?
>
> Lyn
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Travis Roth" <travis@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: <ossrp-control@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Sunday, April 24, 2005 5:09 AM
> Subject: [ossrp-control] Re: So, where do you want the project to go?
>
>
> Hi Ryan,
>
> You have a valid point.
> However part of the reason for focusing on Longhorn is that Longhorn =
> brings
> in a lot of new functionality, and screen readers that work in older
> versions of windows will not necessarily work well with Longhonr.
> So to do your suggestion would really require two screen readers.
>
> We wish to start with a clean slate at this time as far as coding,
> platforms, etc., and thus to avoid some issues we will start on the =
> newest
> OS since it takes awhile to get something developed.
>
> Also keep in mind there are several commercial solutions for screen =
> reading
> for current OS's. Although I realize this does not help with the cost =
> factor
> that OSAT Project wishes to help with for those who need it.
>
>
>
> **  Travis Roth
> www.TravisRoth.com
> travis@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> =20
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: ossrp-control-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> [mailto:ossrp-control-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Ryan Mann
> Sent: Saturday, April 23, 2005 1:58 PM
> To: ossrp-control@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [ossrp-control] Re: So, where do you want the project to go?
>
>
> Hello.  I have a suggestion about the screen reader you plan to develope =
>
> for Longhorn.  That is, that it is also made to be compatible with =
> Windows=20
> XP.  I make this suggestion because you say that you want to make access =
>
> technology affordable to everyone.  One way to do this is to make it =
> work=20
> with operating systems that people already have on their computer.  On =
> the=20
> otherhand, if you only make it compatible with the latest Windows=20
> operating system, people will have to spend money to purchase that=20
> operating system in order to use your screen reader.  I've recently =
> gotten=20
> a laptop computer with Windows XP and I don't think I could justify =
> buying=20
> a new operating system in order to try out a particular screen reader.=20
> Out of curiosity, is there going to be some special feature in Windows=20
> Longhorn that makes it easier to develope screen readers for it?  I'm =
> just=20
> wondering why you want to develope the screen reader just for Longhorn =
> and=20
> not operating systems that people already have installed on their=20
> computers.
> just my opinion.
> Ryan
>
>
> On Sat, 23 Apr 2005, Will Pearson wrote:
>
>> Hi,
>> As the OSAT Project is a community project, it's vital that you, the=20
>> community, get involved in determining the direction the project goes=20
>> in.  So, we're throwing the floor open to discussion on what you would =
>
>> like to see happen in the world of access technology research and=20
>> development.  The only thing that we ask, is that all suggestions are=20
>> in-line with the goals of the project: 1) To advance the state of the=20
>> art in access technology research and the abilities it provides it's=20
>> users, and 2) to provide those who cannot currently afford access=20
>> technology with the abilities that it brings to people.
>>
>> Some of the ideas that we've had so far are:
>> 1. A screen reader for Windows Longhorn, which I'll explain more about =
>
>> in a separate message. 2. An OCR system for dealing with hand writing=20
>> and other text. 3. An auditory synthetic vision system.
>>
>> We'll likely not have the resources to work on everything everyone=20
>> wants at once, but make suggestions.  If you can, try to explain how=20
>> they would fit in with the project's goals, and we'll take the=20
>> discussion from there.
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Will
>>
>>
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