Re: length of jaws training
- From: "Yardbird" <yardbird@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <jfw@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 3 Sep 2005 09:28:22 -0700
Hi Jim,
I just want to concur with Francis on the num pad topic. The num pad is
absolutely an essential part of the Jaws keyboard commands. It's not
optional, at all. Every key on it, in connection with the Insert key at the
bottom (0 if you've got the num pad turned on, of course) has a specific
function for not just navigating through text, as you may be imagining, but
specifically for directing nearly every reading action of Jaws. You operate
your PC with Jaws using a combination of the myriad Windows key commands
most people aren't aware of in conjunction with the Jaws commands on the
num pad.
A suggestion: I never took instruction in Jaws, or on computers, from a
skilled teacher like Francis. But this is because I had years of experience
using a PC with more or less normal sight (now deteriorating continually due
to Retinitis Pigmentosa), plus when I got my first version of Jaws, it came
with an excellent package of audiotape tutorial cassettes. I think Eric
Damery was the instructor. So I put a tape player on the desk beside my
keyboard, and went through the tapes methodically, in order, pausing every
time I was instructed to try out a particular Jaws action. It was a really
well structured tutorial. Yes, it took some hours of concentrated
attention, as any skill worth learning does, but I got through it with
ease, and it provided me a firm foundation as a beginning Jaws user, ready
to learn more as I went, to ask questions on a supportive, informative
mailing list forum like this one, and even, eventually, to be able to offer
helpful suggestions to others.
Now, I think I've heard that a tutorial of some sort is currently provided
in another way, either as .mp3 files on the Freedom Scientific site, or
using that other reading system they're demonstrating or selling on the
site. But I don't know the details. I hope someone here might be able to
fill you in on that. There's nothing like a good tutorial. then it becomes
a matter of methodical skill acquisition, not random guesswork, which isn't
just efficient but more frustration than anyone ought to put himself
through.
Hope this helps. As Francis says, there aren't dumb questions at all, most
especially in this matter. As a professional educator and trainer, Francis
knows this truth more deeply than most of us, in fact. You're in good
company.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Francis Daniels" <fdaniels@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <jfw@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Saturday, September 03, 2005 8:55 AM
Subject: Re: length of jaws training
Hi Jim,
What is that saying? "There are no dumb questions, only the ones you never
ask." Something like that.
JAWS uses the num pad as a vital way for people to get information about
what is happening on the screen, what they just typed, to make sure they did
it correctly. Yes, you could drop some commands from the num pad, but it
would cost you in extra keystrokes or forgetting what the prompt was.
I said before that you cannot teach JAWS in a vacuum. It has to be taught
within a context so that the commands make sense. In the same way, it would
be really hard to use Windows, or Windows programs, and not use the
JAWS-specific keystrokes. For example, you are typing some text for a cool
short story you are writing. You want to listen to each word on a line, to
make sure you got it correct. You could press Control right arrow to move
through the words, using both hands to do this. You could also press Insert
right arrow to do the same thing, using just your right hand. Both do the
same thing. Which would make it easier?
By the way, in the JAWS help, they list control right arrow as the way to
move from word to word in Microsoft Word. They've dropped the Insert right
arrow function from the help description, even though the command works and
is more efficient. Go figure.
Almost all the keystrokes for reading text and screen elements are in the
num pad. Other listers will certainly add to this, but each application
carries with it particulars for how JAWS reads stuff to you. But they all
have the num pad in common, to make it easier for you to figure out what is
going on and to get going again.
I don't know about Kurzweil, as I don't use it. Maybe someone else can
handle that.
Don't stop asking, Jim.
Francis
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