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

Hi Jamal,

Writing a Braille device driver isn't too much of a problem.  I know someone
who's been working on a home-brewed Braille translation module, so we may be
able to use that.  So, Braille shouldn't be a difficult or time consuming
feature to implement.

I think Braille is an important feature of a screen reader, as not everyone
is capable of using speech, and in some situations speech is an undesirable
output modality.  There's also the on-going debate over the improved
literacy of Braille users over those of speech users, mainly in the area of
spelling as speech users tend to spell phonetically.

So, to make it available to the widest group of users, and to provide the
best quality that is possible, Braille really needs to be there.  Failiure
to provide Braille would exclude those who cannot use speech, and that's a
route I really don't want to go down.

Will
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jamal Mazrui" <Jamal.Mazrui@xxxxxxx>
To: <ossrp-control@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, April 28, 2005 2:57 PM
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

-- 
Email services by FreedomBox.  Surf the Net at the sound of your voice.
www.freedombox.info
To post to the list, send a message to:
ossrp-control@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
To unsubscribe, send a message to:
ossrp-control-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
and set the subject field of the message to "unsubscribe" (without the
quotes


To post to the list, send a message to:
ossrp-control@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
To unsubscribe, send a message to:
ossrp-control-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
and set the subject field of the message to "unsubscribe" (without the
quotes



To post to the list, send a message to:
ossrp-control@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
To unsubscribe, send a message to:
ossrp-control-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
and set the subject field of the message to "unsubscribe" (without the quotes

Other related posts: