Re: Preview of JAWS 12
- From: "Gerald Levy" <bwaylimited@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <jfw@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 03 Aug 2010 12:15:16 -0400
Jarte is a free word processor based on the Wordpad platform that's easy to use
and screen reader friendly. Unlike MS Word 2007's complicated ribbon menus,
Jarte uses classic menus which are easier to navigate. It includes a built-in
spell checker and the ability to create and save templates. It is a good
choice if you want a simple word processor for typing general correspondence.
It lacks many of Word 2007's advanced features, but that's why it appeals to
me. For my purposes, Word 2007 is just overkill.
http://www.jarte.com/download.html
Gerald
----- Original Message -----
From: Jörgen Magnusson
To: jfw@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Tuesday, August 03, 2010 10:28 AM
Subject: Re: Preview of JAWS 12
Gerald, what is jarte that you say you use?
------------------------
Doctor of theology
Jörgen Magnusson
Mid Sweden University
Department of humanities
Lecturer in religious studies
Email: jorgen.magnusson@xxxxxxx
Office phone: +46 (0)611 862 93
Celular phone: +46 (0)708 23 52 42
Homepage: www.jorgenmagnusson.com
Address: Institutionen för humaniora
Postal code: SE-871 88
City: Härnösand Sweden
From: Gerald Levy
Sent: Tuesday, August 03, 2010 2:54 PM
To: jfw@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: Preview of JAWS 12
Well, since I rarely use Word 2007 (I prefer Jarte), I haven't used the
classic menu program lately. But I can't seem to find it anymore, so only paid
versions of this app are apparently now available.
Gerald
----- Original Message -----
From: Adrian Spratt
To: jfw@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Tuesday, August 03, 2010 8:44 AM
Subject: RE: Preview of JAWS 12
Agreed, Cy. Which goes to the idea mentioned in the review Gerald forwarded
that FS will produce a JAWS solution for ribbon-averse users like me. If we
take advantage of it, will our actions on screen become even more
unintelligible to sighted colleagues?
Gerald, some time ago you informed us about a non-JAWS program that enables
Office 2007 users to convert the environment to something closer to Office
2003. Several other listers suggested there were problems with that program.
Are you still using it and, if so, are you still happy with it?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: jfw-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:jfw-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf
Of Cy Selfridge
Sent: Tuesday, August 03, 2010 8:36 AM
To: jfw@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: RE: Preview of JAWS 12
Gerald,
Speaking of the workplace one thing I would *really* like to see is JAWS
actually reading what is on the screen as viewed by the Sightlings. (LOL)
Even with JAWS 11 folks ask "where on Earth is JAWS reading fromn?".
Cy, The Anasazi
From: jfw-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:jfw-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf
Of Gerald Levy
Sent: Tuesday, August 03, 2010 5:50 AM
To: JFW list
Subject: Preview of JAWS 12
Here's a brief preview of JAWS 12 I just came across:
by Curtis Chong
In early July, I attended a three-hour session conducted by Freedom
Scientific during which the company provided a sneak preview of JAWS for
Windows Version 12. Freedom Scientific has been working on this newest release
of JAWS for more than a year, and it is hoped that JAWS 12 will be released
before the end of 2010.
Long-time JAWS users will be interested to know that in JAWS 12, Freedom
Scientific proposes to replace the familiar JAWS Configuration Manager with
something called the Settings Center. In the Settings Center, you can search
for the setting that you want to change and then simply make the change. It is
no longer necessary to explore a variety of menus to track down where, for
example, you can change the level of punctuation that JAWS speaks or increase
the speaking rate of JAWS. Also, in the Settings Center, your last 25 changes
will be displayed at the bottom of the tree view, making it easier for you to
fix a setting that might have been adjusted incorrectly or adjust settings that
you change frequently.
Another feature included in JAWS 12 is the ability to operate your computer
from the Braille keyboard of any connected refreshable Braille display. Using
the Braille keys, you can enter any character that would be entered through a
standard QWERTY keyboard, and this includes all JAWS commands as well.
Also, a proficient Grade II Braille user will be able to enter text in
contracted Braille and have the result reverse-translated on the fly. I do not
see much value in this feature for me, personally, but I hesitate to criticize
the investment in time and effort that has been made by Freedom Scientific; I
simply do not know how many Braille users out there have been longing to
operate their computer from a Braille keyboard.
The final noteworthy feature in JAWS 12 is the ability to use a Virtual
Ribbon in Microsoft Office. Some blind computer users have expressed
frustration with the ribbon that has been incorporated into Microsoft Office
2007 and now into Office 2010. What Freedom Scientific is proposing for JAWS 12
is to give the Office user the choice of whether to use the ribbon as is or to
use the Virtual Ribbon provided by JAWS. This Virtual Ribbon provides a user
experience that feels more like the traditional menus with which a lot of
people are familiar. Time will tell whether this feature is worth the
investment. As for me, since I feel quite comfortable with the Office ribbon as
it is, I will probably choose not to use the JAWS Virtual Ribbon that comes
with JAWS 12.
In all, JAWS 12 seems like a bit of an improvement over JAWS 11. Certainly,
Freedom Scientific has incorporated some new features which some people will
like. As for me, I would wish for features in JAWS which make it easier for
blind people to compete in the workplace-something which Freedom Scientific
seems to have lost sight of over the years.
Gerald
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