Re: Seeking possible tasks for Dueling Operating Systems at CSUN

  • From: Jamal Mazrui <empower@xxxxxxxxx>
  • To: programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • Date: Thu, 6 Mar 2008 13:03:18 -0500 (EST)

Excellent suggestions -- thanks, Matthew.

Regarding the risk of operator error not reflecting the capability of an
OS, that is true, but probably an inevitable factor whenever someone is
presenting something.  I am trying to minimize that risk by choosing
experienced users, giving them ample notice about possible tasks, and
encouraging audience participation, which could ask questions or make
comments.

Jamal
On Thu, 6 Mar 2008, Matthew2007 wrote:

> Date: Thu, 6 Mar 2008 08:51:12 -0800
> From: Matthew2007 <matthew2007@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> Reply-To: programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> To: programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: Re: Seeking possible tasks for Dueling Operating Systems at CSUN
>
> How about the following day to day hardware types of tasks:
>
> 1. Quickly attaching and moving important files using any of the following
> peripherals such as CF cards, external hard drives, PDAs, cell phones, and
> interacting with various assistive devices such as the Braille Note or
> pacmate and so on. You would of course have to ask the participants to bring
> "all" their goodies because anything can be asked of them. It would be kinda
> crappy to ask them to do something they weren't prepared for such as
> attaching hardware they don't have in their bags.
>
> 2. Regular types of maintenance on the machine such as getting rid of temp
> files, running hard disk diagnostics and so on--using built-in tools of
> course. Also, interacting with each computer's control panel to test ease of
> use and accessibility when adding and removing software.
>
> 3. Quickly schedule client meetings and or phone calls using the particular
> machines built in calendar/day planner.
>
> 4. To test speed and ease of use, using the build-in search feature of each
> of these platforms to find files would be pretty interesting. I guess you
> would have to ask the participants to search for a file common to these
> platforms in an effort to obtain some sort of equality/fairness of the task.
>
> 5. test the portability of each of these products' file structures. That is,
> using built-in software, which of these operating systems can produce
> documents that the larger population of computer users can read. Then again,
> this might be an issue of an office productivity suite rather than a
> hardware issue. Nevertheless I'm interested in just how generalizable these
> platforms can be.
>
> 6. To see just what the operating system offers, create a list of built-in
> applications and utilities all computer users must have access to such as a
> calculator, entertainment software to play music files or watch movies,
> method of quickly jotting down notes, means of quickly accessing files using
> operating system shortcuts for files and OS utilities and so on.
>
> 7. Asking the participants to show off their platform by stating the
> benefits of their OS in comparison to the platform of others. In other
> words, what does your platform have and can offer that the other guy's
> doesn't.
>
> 8. I think a quick q/A in regards to what types of assistive technology and
> adaptive software can be installed on the platform would be pretty
> interesting. That is, can all 3 platforms run K1000? Can all 3 platforms run
> Open book? Can all 3 platforms interact with Braille Sense, BN, that APH
> player and so on. In doing so we will of course discover the usefulness and
> limitations of these operating systems as it relates to blind users.
>
> 9. Answering how one would reinstall an operating system in case of a
> digital meltdown.
>
> You know, the more I think about this question the more I'm driven right
> back to the traits of the human participants. That is, what if the platforms
> can each do any of the tasks requested of it in and effective easy to use
> manner, but the human participant is not familiar with the fastest method of
> interacting with the platform. Ultimately, I'm thinking that since this
> presentation might end up on some public forum, the possible lack of skills
> of the user interacting with their particular platform might convey to an
> audience that the platform cannot efficiently do what is being requested of
> it when in fact it might be user error or user lack of knowledge. This could
> be very unfair to an otherwise very easy to use operating system.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Matthew
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Ken Perry" <whistler@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: <programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Wednesday, March 05, 2008 11:42 PM
> Subject: RE: Seeking possible tasks for Dueling Operating Systems at CSUN
>
>
> >
> >
> > In this same vein
> >
> > 3.  Check some kind of web mail and respond to it using a web browser for
> > example a gmail account.
> >
> > Ken
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > [mailto:programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of James Panes
> > Sent: Wednesday, March 05, 2008 11:36 PM
> > To: programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > Subject: Re: Seeking possible tasks for Dueling Operating Systems at CSUN
> >
> > A couple of obvious ones:
> >
> > 1) Retrieve and respond to an email.
> >
> > 2) Use an internet browser to go on-line, fill out a form and submit it.
> >
> > Regards,
> > Jim
> > jimpanes@xxxxxxxxx
> > jimpanes@xxxxxxxxxxxx
> > "Everything is easy when you know how."
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Chris Meredith" <tallin32@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> > To: <programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > Sent: Wednesday, March 05, 2008 10:32 PM
> > Subject: RE: Seeking possible tasks for Dueling Operating Systems at CSUN
> >
> >
> > Wouldn't that only be effective if the system specs were similar?
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > [mailto:programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of John Greer
> > Sent: Wednesday, March 05, 2008 6:24 PM
> > To: programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > Subject: Re: Seeking possible tasks for Dueling Operating Systems at CSUN
> >
> > Quickest boot times from first press of the on button to screen reader
> > start.
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Jamal Mazrui" <empower@xxxxxxxxx>
> > To: <programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > Sent: Wednesday, March 05, 2008 4:37 PM
> > Subject: Seeking possible tasks for Dueling Operating Systems at CSUN
> >
> >
> >>I am moderating an event called Dueling Operating Systems at the CSUN
> >> conference next week.  Three users of an operating system and screen
> >> reader
> >> combination will compete for a couple hours:  Windows with JAWS, the
> >> Mac with VoiceOver, and Gnome/Unix with Orca.
> >>
> >> We agreed to develop a long list of possible tasks that would each take
> >> from about 3 to 5 minutes using software that comes with the operating
> >> system, except for JAWS and Microsoft Office.  Either I or others I
> >> enlist
> >> would pick a selection of tasks from the list at the actual event.
> >> Each task should be described in a general enough way so that someone can
> >> choose the application and screen reader techniques that achieve the same
> >> result.
> >>
> >> If anyone has suggestions about possible tasks to include on the list, I
> >> welcome such input.
> >>
> >> Jamal
> >>
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