[bcab] Re: Thunder

Hi Roger.  I have both used and set up Thunder for others, it's actually a very 
good little program 
especially considering that it's free.   It will also work through any SAPI 
voice, so I set one 
complete novice (a retired gentleman who couldn't even type) up to use it with 
scansoft realspeak.

Browsing the web as a task is far too advanced for a novice, however I worked 
out a good way to make 
Webbie usable to him.   I setup Webbie's home page to be, the RNIB audio 
described TV program 
schedule at www.tvhelp.org.uk , which he found most useful, having the A D TV 
listings a simple 
keystroke away...

Beyond this, Outlook express including the address book was fully navigable.  
Although Thunder did 
have problems reading incomg emails when they were still in read-only mode, 
pressing either CTRL R 
or CTRL F took them out of read-only mode where they could be red successfully 
line by line.  Word 
2000 was also largely navigable, although I suspect there would be some 
limitations with Thunder for 
the more advanced options.

I think the key thing is here, the price is definitely right!   It is also in 
my view a better 
choice for a novice  - with the right training - than Guide is.

On the Thunder news front, firstly a short while ago it was announced that the 
program is now 
completely free to both commercial organisations and individuals.   Secondly, 
Roger Wilson Hinds 
writes a blog called The Blind Blogger, where updates can be followed and which 
can be found at 
http://theblindblogger.blogspot.com
And thirdly screen reader dot net was featured in The Times Online last week, 
at this link.

Our big idea: screenreader.net  (Times Online, 15/5/08)
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/entrepreneur/article3930347.ece

The information in this article states that Thunder is available in 6 different 
European languages 
and now has almost 100,000 users.   Pretty impressive uptake!   And no doubt, 
the price being right 
had more than something to do with this.

All the best & have a great weekend (all).

Leon Gilbert
Editor, www.vipnews.org.uk
Improving access to blindness & visual impairment in the media, since 2002.





----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Roger Woolgrove" <rawoolgrove@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "B C A B" <bcab@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Saturday, May 24, 2008 1:53 PM
Subject: [bcab] Thunder


Hello List,

Has anyone tried Thunder Screen reader?

I know that some of you may be interested in free speech software and screen 
readers.  This one I 
find tricky to understand but workable with some patience.

If you are interested, you can find it at:

http://www.screenreader.net

roger




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