[access-uk] Re: Accessibilty and the iPad: First Impressions | ATMac
- From: "Hussein Patwa" <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 31 Jan 2010 09:59:47 -0000
Hi,
As a multi-linguist myself, I totally agree. It's ridiculous how companies
claim to have a goobal reach and then just forget about half the planet for
whom English isn't their first language. And don't even get me started on
some of the absolutely kindergarten errors they make. Honestly, have half
of these companies even spoken with someone fluent in the languages they
claim to support - and not just someone who's done an OU course in it
either!
Just my two cents.
_______________________________________
Have a pleasant day,
Kind Regards and Best Wishes,
Hussein.
Hussein Patwa
Tel: 0789 47 595 62 (UK)
Tel: +44 (0)122 4433 954 (SIP)
Twitter: www.twitter.com/hussein_patwa
Skype: patwaspotterfan2
GoogleTalk: thewanderingwriter
Web: <http://www.patwanet.co.uk> www.patwanet.co.uk
My Blog: <http://patwaspotterfan.livejournal.com>
http://patwaspotterfan.livejournal.com
Find me on Facebook: <http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=510013486>
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=510013486
Please note: For security reasons calls from witheld numbers may not be
connected. Please release your number so it can be viewed prior to calling.
Contact your telephone service provider for advice on how to do this if
required. All calls may be recorded for fact verification.
DISCLAIMER:
This e-mail and any attachments may contain confidential or sensitive
information and are intended solely for the stated recipient(s). Copying or
distribution in any form is not permitted without the prior consent of the
sender. If you have received this message in error, please delete it and
any attachments from your system and notify the sender immediately.
Thank you for your co-operation.
Protect our trees; Do not print unless absolutely necessary. Save paper by
deleting sections of the message which are not relevant.
From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
James & Nash
Sent: 30 January 2010 19:38
To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [access-uk] Re: Accessibilty and the iPad: First Impressions |
ATMac
Applause, applause, applause! Exactly, this is the benefit of having
mainstream products being made accessible to us. We can use the same
products as our sighted friends and co-workers etc, without the need to buy
over priced (and generally unworthy) Blindness products. That last comment
is a personal one aimed squarely at Freedom Scientific as I don't feel that
anything they've introduced since JAWS 7.0 has been worth paying for. Also,
using mainstream products means that we don't have to deal with the
questionable business practices of such companies. Yes, I know that Apple
too have some less than ethical practices - at least in my opinion, and that
the choice to use a proprietary operating system has drawbacks, but Windows
too is locked down. But the keyword there is "choice". All of you Windows AT
venders listen up - it seems the reason you guys are taking shots at Apple
is because you can see that if you were to become Apple re-sellers, you
wouldn't be making so much money from the very expensive products foisted
upon the Blind.
Also, let's take an example from here in Europe. JAWS 11 came out at the end
of last year, however in Central Europe in ooh let's say France for example,
JAWS 11 is still not available in French. This is disgraceful and FS should
be ashamed of themselves. Having fought with them for years over issues like
this as a foreign language user, I have come to the conclusion that they
really are not interested in providing the same level of accessibility to
all of their customers at the same time. And before anyone says anything, I
know that Apple do not provide French voices etc by default in Mac OS X
which is equally disgraceful on their part and again I've told them so -
especially when they are available on the IPhone. However, the fact that
they are there on the IPhone suggests that they might put them into Mac OS X
if they can get the licensing sorted out. There are voices though - and
although they are around 300 Euros, they are still more reasonably priced
than JFW which costs between 1300-1600 Euros. Whichever way you look at it,
the ability for us to use mainstream products opens up so many new avenues
for the Blind. Remember too, that all you are purchasing are the voices - VO
comes with the operating system. That said, Mac OS X does provide Grade 1
Braille (all be it English) allowing a Blind person to install the operating
system independently. Quite a few foreign language codes are available
though after installation, including French Grade 1. Grade 2 is proving a
bit more difficult to implement, but hopefully in time, the person doing
this should get it done.
Anyone interested in getting foreign language Braille codes for their mac on
this list can go to:
http://www.cecimac.org
This site is in French, but I think there is an English translation too.
I don't like ranting like this - and I'm sorry if this upsets the
moderators, but as i said in a previous message, Blind people have been
dreadfully misinformed and people should be given the opportunity to hear
"the truth" if they want to. I fully accept that there are those who are
happy with what they use and that is absolutely fine. i also know that there
are those people who just don't want to hear about alternatives and put
their heads' in the sand - that's ok too. This is just a personal view and
it is not meant to antagonise anyone.
TC
James, Lyn, Nash & Twinny
On 30 Jan 2010, at 18:09, Tony wrote:
Blind person visits apple shop.
Buys Mac, iPhone, iPod touch, in the future an iPad maybe, who knows what's
next?
Takes it home, switches it on, and begins using it.
No need for specialist software, or any further outlay of cash.
So, the assistive software may have its limitations, but hasn't the
assistive software used to access the Widnows operating system got its
limitations too?
Hats off to Steve Jobs, main stream products, accessibility built in, that
can't be bad surely.
From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
Gordon Keen
Sent: 30 January 2010 15:53
To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [access-uk] Re: Accessibilty and the iPad: First Impressions |
ATMac
It's being so cheerful that keeps him going.
Cheers
G
From glorious Devon, England.
On 30 Jan 2010, at 12:20, James & Nash wrote:
Your distain disguised as sarcasm is really telling on your position Steve.
But I must agree with you, it's a little strange considering that Mac OS X
is built upon UNIX which is a true multi-user operating system. Unless of
course the IPhone doesn't run on top of UNIX. As I don't have an IPhone and
I've not intention of getting one, I am not really that interested in it.
TC
James Lyn, Nash & Twinny
On 29 Jan 2010, at 23:59, Steve Nutt wrote:
Hi Gordon,
I think the only real telling thing in that article is that you can only do
one thing at once. This means no multitasking. Just like the Touch or the
iPhone, you can't even turn Zoom and speech on at the same time. Turn one
on, and the other goes off. You can't leave Email being collected in the
background. You can't have a Twitter client running in the background or an
Instant Messenger.
A reall leap forward I must say.
All the best
Steve
From: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
Gordon Keen
Sent: Friday 29 January 2010 14:18
To: access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [access-uk] Accessibilty and the iPad: First Impressions | ATMac
Steve Nutt, look away now :-)
.
Thought this might be of interest.
Cheers
G
From glorious Devon, England
http://atmac.org/accessibilty-and-the-ipad-first-impressions/
__________ Information from ESET Smart Security, version of virus signature
database 4821 (20100130) __________
The message was checked by ESET Smart Security.
Email message - is OK
http://www.eset.com
Other related posts:
