[ossrp-control] Re: I Think It's A Great List

Come now--why would I want to "lock out" people?  My message actually
contemplated braille support, but in the spirit of prioritization,
consistent with the stated purpose of this project, suggested that it
should not be an initial requirement.  

To elaborate, the announcement of this project stated that it was
intended to benefit those who could not afford assistive technology.  A
typical braille display costs several thousand dollars, at least 5 times
that of commercial screen reader software.  Thus, it seems reasonable
that the cost of a screen reader is unlikely to be a significant
obstacle to someone who can obtain a braille display.  If they can
afford one themselves, they can probably afford a screen reader as well.
If they obtain one instead as a donation from an organization,
governmental or private, why would the organization pay for that and not
the much lower cost of a screen reader that is necessary to use with it?

Unfortunately, software can be free, thus one of the benefits of open
source, but hardware generally is not.  Luckily, the sound system built
into almost all computers these days can also be used for accessible
speech output.  I suppose that if mainstream uses of braille displays
become popular, they may be included as standard computer parts as well.


Jamal


-----Original Message-----
From: ossrp-control-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:ossrp-control-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Travis Roth
Sent: Thursday, April 28, 2005 11:14 AM
To: ossrp-control@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [ossrp-control] Re: I Think It's A Great List


So you iwsh to lock out any user who needs a screen reader but cannot
use
speech?

A good screen reader has braille support.


**  Travis Roth
www.TravisRoth.com
travis@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
 

-----Original Message-----
From: ossrp-control-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:ossrp-control-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Jamal Mazrui
Sent: Thursday, April 28, 2005 8:58 AM
To: ossrp-control@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [ossrp-control] Re: I Think It's A Great List


That is a good point about the braille support.  If someone can afford
or
have given to them an expensive braille display, then it is unlikely
that
they cannot also obtain a commercial screen reader.  I do think that
braille
offers unique accessibility features, so I do not mean to discout
braille
access generally.  

If braille were to be added in a version later than the initial version
of
the screen reader, then it still probably makes sense to ensure that the
design accounts for whatever is needed for braille support, even if the
details are not initially filled in.

Jamal


-----Original Message-----
From: ossrp-control-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:ossrp-control-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Tony Broome
Sent: Wednesday, April 27, 2005 11:13 PM
To: ossrp-control@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [ossrp-control] I Think It's A Great List


It seems that almost everyone has added to the list of Will's suggested 
inclusions in the first version.  Some of them seem quite techy and 
advanced for this particular phase, in my humble opinion.
I think it's a great starter list, far beyond what version 1 of any 
other access product has attempted to offer.
While we certainly want the reader to do all it can and to cover as 
much ground as possible, according to the project name, it is or will 
still be considered a Screen Reader.  Now, whether that means just 
reading the screen as has been the case in the conventional sense, is 
open for everyone's interpretation.
A good common sense approach, in my judgment, would be a Screen Reader 
with this definition:
A reader which reads and gives adequate speech output, necessary for 
one to be able to use the computer effectively.
Braille support is great if you can afford the high cost braille 
displays.  That's just a fact of life, isn't it?  Hopefully, 
refreshables will come down some day.
To push for this over speech when speech is so much more affordable and 
certainly in compliance with the outset and design of the project, is 
to hide one's head in the sand.

Smile,

Tony

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