Re: Advice for a programmer losing vision?

  • From: "Tyler Littlefield" <tyler@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: <programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Mon, 15 Jun 2009 22:09:31 -0600

Um, it's all going to sound the same, but whatever floats your boat. Hearing the computer isn't really going to allow you much of a solution for anything, eloquence has sounded the same on every comp I used, and that is quite a few. There is also the issue of soundcards, but...




Thanks,
Tyler Littlefield
Web: tysdomain.com
email: tyler@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
My programs don't have bugs, they're called randomly added features.

----- Original Message ----- From: "doctor love" <minimack_19@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, June 15, 2009 10:06 PM
Subject: Re: Advice for a programmer losing vision?


don't wurry. I have just the thing for you. first, I can't really explain it over this list, cuz I have to really hear your computer to do it

--------------------------------------------------
From: "Jackie McBride" <abletec@xxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, June 15, 2009 3:19 PM
To: <programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: Advice for a programmer losing vision?

Well, ESpeak & Festival are free--Cepstral isn't. But yeah, you're
right--Cepstral does sound a whole lot better.

On 6/15/09, Bill Cox <waywardgeek@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Thanks, Jackie, and everyone for the replies.

I have to say, it's a load off my shoulders knowing that many other
programmers succeed with visual impairment. I'm more adaptable than most, and am pretty sure I'll do OK. The emacspeak project looks most promising to me in my situation (long-time emacs hacker, with peripheral vision that
should work long-term).  I'll be able to use apps I'm familiar with with
magnification sometimes (like skype).  I'm having trouble installing any
speech synthesizer it works with on my Kubuntu 9.04 x64 system, though.
I'll post to the emacspeak list, and if I have to, I'll write some support
for other speech synthesis back-ends.

Not that it's critical now, but if I'm going to bother writing a back-end for emacspeak to support another speech synthesizer, which synthesizer would you recommend? I've installed both festival and espeak. I've also listened
to demos of Cepstral, which sound much better to me.

Thanks,
Bill

On Mon, Jun 15, 2009 at 2:12 PM, Jackie McBride <abletec@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Hi, Bill:

1st, I do know what you're going thru. It bites.

U asked a question about whether u should use magnification or
screenreader. generally speaking, the conventional wisdom has it that
once you're at 5x magnification or above, productivity decreases to
such a level that screenreading software should be employed. This is
not to say that being able to zoom in on a particular spot might not
be helpful, but that it takes so much time to navigate the screen
using magnification that productivity suffers. It should also be noted
that eyestrain using magnification software can result in headache &
fatigue. Often, if system requirements permit, screenreading software
& magnification can function together to create a more powerful
solution than either technology alone.

Regarding learning braille, there are a variety of factors to
consider, including tactile sensitivity & desire to learn. I recommend
it for those who can, but, for example, many w/diabetic
retinopathy/neuropathy find it to be more frustrating than it's worth.

I really suggest that u not only avail yourself of the resources on
this list, which are considerable, but also contact your state
vocational rehabilitation department/commission for the blind, as the
case may be. They should surely be able to assist u, especially as it
relates to learning braille. Also, Hadley School for the blind in
Winnetka, IL, has braille courses, though I think u probably have to
be legally blind in order to access those.

Please let me know if u think I may be of further assistance.

On 6/15/09, Haden Pike <haden.pike@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> The orca screen reader, part of gnome, supports magnification.
>
> Haden Pike
> Email: haden.pike@xxxxxxxxx
>
> --------------------------------------------------
> From: "Holdsworth, Lynn" <Lynn.Holdsworth@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Monday, June 15, 2009 11:16 AM
> To: <programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: RE: Advice for a programmer losing vision?
>
>> And there must surely be a plethora of free and cheap screen
>> magnification solutions for Linux. Anybody know anything about >> those?
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> [mailto:programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Tyler
>> Littlefield
>> Sent: 15 June 2009 16:09
>> To: programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> Subject: Re: Advice for a programmer losing vision?
>>
>> Bill,
>> Something you might check out is the speakup project found at:
>> http://linux-speakup.org
>> They have a mailling list, and a good community.
>> Basically speakup is the community for one of the linux screen >> readers
>> that is out, that uses espeak,flite,or festival.
>> HTH,
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Tyler Littlefield
>> Web: tysdomain.com
>> email: tyler@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> My programs don't have bugs, they're called randomly added features.
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Bill Cox" <waywardgeek@xxxxxxxxx>
>> To: <programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>> Sent: Monday, June 15, 2009 9:03 AM
>> Subject: Re: Advice for a programmer losing vision?
>>
>>
>>> Thanks, Jim.
>>>
>>> It makes me feel a lot better to hear you say that.  I've been here
>>> before,
>>> with the typing problem, and there wasn't much of any community at >>> the
>>
>>> time
>>> to help.  Yes, I will most likely stay in the linux world, though I
>> would
>>> not rule out controlling linux boxes through cygwin bash shells and
>> emacs
>>> like I did before.  I also hope to help with development of some of
>> the
>>> tools being used.
>>>
>>> Bill
>>>
>>> On Mon, Jun 15, 2009 at 10:47 AM, Homme, James
>>> <james.homme@xxxxxxxxxxxx>wrote:
>>>
>>>>  Hi Bill,
>>>>
>>>> You can definitely be productive as a programmer in your >>>> situation. >>>> According to me, you have come to the right place to ask these >>>> kinds
>> of
>>>> things. We have a lot of great people on this list. Do you want to
>> stay
>>>> in
>>>> the Linux world?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Thanks.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Jim
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> ----------
>>>>
>>>> Jim Homme, Usability Engineering.
>>>>
>>>> 412-544-1810.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Note: I will reply to email and voice mail within four hours.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> "Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> "Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people
>> with
>>>> talent.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> "Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> "Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> "Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent."
>>>>
>>>> - Calvin Coolidge (1872-1933)
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> *From:* programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:
>>>> programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] *On Behalf Of *Bill Cox
>>>> *Sent:* Monday, June 15, 2009 10:32 AM
>>>> *To:* programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>>>> *Subject:* Advice for a programmer losing vision?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Hi.
>>>>
>>>> Sorry if you get a lot of first-time dumb posts, like this. I've >>>> got
>> a
>>>> rare genetic defect that's causing me to lose my central vision.
>> It's a
>>>> lot
>>>> like macular degeneration, but I'm only 45 years old.  I've been a
>>>> programmer all my life, and have succeeded in dealing with >>>> disability >>>> before. I could not type for three years. I mostly program in C >>>> on
>>>> Linux.
>>>>
>>>> What tools should I learn, what forums should I join, and what >>>> skills >>>> should I develop to stay a productive programmer? I'm very good >>>> at
>>>> building
>>>> custom environments, which I did when I couldn't type. For >>>> example,
>>>> should
>>>> I bother with Braille, and which screen readers are best for mail,
>> web
>>>> browsing (and which browser?), and controlling shells and emacs? >>>> I
>>>> expect
>>>> to have peripheral vision for a long time. Do programmers with >>>> only >>>> peripheral vision fare better reading text up close, or using >>>> screen
>>>> readers?
>>>>
>>>> Thanks,
>>>> Bill
>>>>
>>>> ------------------------------
>>>> This e-mail and any attachments to it are confidential and are
>> intended
>>>> solely for use of the individual or entity to whom they are
>> addressed. If
>>>> you have received this e-mail in error, please notify the sender
>>>> immediately
>>>> and then delete it. If you are not the intended recipient, you >>>> must
>> not
>>>> keep, use, disclose, copy or distribute this e-mail without the
>> author's
>>>> prior permission. The views expressed in this e-mail message do >>>> not >>>> necessarily represent the views of Highmark Inc., its >>>> subsidiaries,
>> or
>>>> affiliates.
>>>>
>>>
>>
>> __________
>> View the list's information and change your settings at
>> //www.freelists.org/list/programmingblind
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> DISCLAIMER:
>>
>> NOTICE: The information contained in this email and any attachments >> is
>> confidential and may be privileged.  If you are not the intended
>> recipient you should not use, disclose, distribute or copy any of >> the
>> content of it or of any attachment; you are requested to notify the
>> sender immediately of your receipt of the email and then to delete >> it
>> and any attachments from your system.
>>
>> RNIB endeavours to ensure that emails and any attachments generated >> by
>> its staff are free from viruses or other contaminants.  However, it
>> cannot accept any responsibility for any such which are >> transmitted.
>> We therefore recommend you scan all attachments.
>>
>> Please note that the statements and views expressed in this email >> and
>> any attachments are those of the author and do not necessarily
>> represent
>> those of RNIB.
>>
>> RNIB Registered Charity Number: 226227
>>
>> Website: http://www.rnib.org.uk
>>
>>
>>
>> This message has been scanned for viruses by Websense Hosted >> Security -
>> http://www.websense.com/content/HostedEmailSecurity.aspx
>>
>> __________
>> View the list's information and change your settings at
>> //www.freelists.org/list/programmingblind
>>
>>
> __________
> View the list's information and change your settings at
> //www.freelists.org/list/programmingblind
>
>


--
Change the world--1 deed at a time
Jackie McBride
Check out my homepage at:
www.abletec.serverheaven.net
& please join my fight against breast cancer
<http://teamacs.acsevents.org/site/TR?px=1790196&pg=personal&fr_id=3489>
__________
View the list's information and change your settings at
//www.freelists.org/list/programmingblind





--
Change the world--1 deed at a time
Jackie McBride
Check out my homepage at:
www.abletec.serverheaven.net
& please join my fight against breast cancer
<http://teamacs.acsevents.org/site/TR?px=1790196&pg=personal&fr_id=3489>
__________
View the list's information and change your settings at
//www.freelists.org/list/programmingblind


__________
View the list's information and change your settings at //www.freelists.org/list/programmingblind


__________
View the list's information and change your settings at //www.freelists.org/list/programmingblind

Other related posts: