[access-uk] Re: guide from software express

Hi Graham.

Theres a lot of products available in relation to assisitive software. I
would like to think that Guide creates a friendly and easy to use
environment and allows the user to do the majority of computer related
tasks in an easy and trouble free manner.

Setting up an outlook express account within windows could seem daunting
to some users but within guide you can setup an email account quite
easily. There are numerous help pages incase you get confused and help
on hand by phone, email, remote support if need be.

The whole idea was to create this comfortable operating zone instead of
the world of windows which can get confusing for new computer users. 

If you think in comparison how much a full copy of microsoft office
would cost you, and then a screenreader to assist with this. Then who
would you turn to for technical support or tuition?

Guide uses a lot of microsoft key commands and such as it is compatible
with a lot of microsoft applications, eg word, notepad, works. The word
processor works in a similar way also. You can save to microsoft word
and import other files into Guide.

Remember that the product is designed to be easy to use and easy to
learn.

If you're an advanced computer user then yes your specific needs would
require more freedom than Guide offers and a different product would
probably be more beneficial. We happily recommend other products to
users as I don't think that any one product can be suited to every user.
The whole idea is to create an affordable package which can benefit
people and assist them in there everyday life. If I know what the
individuals needs are then I happily promote which product on the market
I think is best suited.

Regards Phil.






  

-----Original Message-----
From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf
Of Brendan Magill
Sent: 29 August 2007 18:58
To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [access-uk] Re: guide from software express



Hi Graham,

I first saw Guide a couple of years ago and I've learned a good deal 
about it in the interim.

One of the things which bothers me is that, by its provision of 
alternatives to the standard Windows applications, it must inevitably 
duplicate a lot of what Microsoft and other large software developers 
have already done.  This means that, based on the potential market for 
Guide, the package is likely to be less well tested and therefore less 
reliable than standard Windows applications.  It is also likely to 
render things like web pages in a different way to the standard
browsers.

Another concern is that, by doing everything in a nonstandard way, as 
opposed to using standard Windows applications, Guide is 
segregationalist in its basic philosophy.  Surely, it must be better for

those of us who are VI to use standard applications wherever this is 
possible?  Guide users will not know about how the rest of the world 
uses computers and it will be difficult for Guide users to get support 
from their sighted friends.

I understand that the target market for Guide is the older generation of

computer users, often people whose vision has deteriorated with age.  
Whilst it is less likely that these people will have to use other 
computers which have mainstream software on them, this is not an excuse 
for them having something so different.

Just a few thoughts.

Cheers,

Brendan.

-- 
BRENDAN MAGILL
Business, Employment &
Disability Consultancy

8 York Place
Worcester
WR1 3DR
England

Phone: +44 (0)1905 28286
Fax:   +44 (0)870 127 7856

Web:   www.magill.co.uk

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