Hi all,
I started writing this late last night and ran out of steam. I posted it to
the GWMICRO-INFO list under the thread of I've Something To Say.
It's not the best piece I've ever written but I wanted to share my
experiences with you all as a long-term JAWS user.
Messege Starts
" I can also chime in on this thread with a personal tale.
I have been using Window Eyes on and off for around 6 years.
I lost my sight in an accident when I was18 years old. I frustrated myself
with Hal for about 2 years and then I found JAWS. Whilst it did not replace
being able to use Windows with sight it was a breath of fresh air compared
to Hal 4.2. Especially when it came to surfing the Internet. This would
have been JAWS 3.7 I started with.
I've watched the decline of JAWS over the years in terms of problems not
being fixed, new ones being introduced and generally allot of half-baked
product development going through out onto the market. Not to mention as I
see them very fluffy plug ins and the nightmare that has always existed JAWS
licensing.
Despite these failings I was not prepared to move outside of my comfort
zone. Even at the time when my peers where doing so and I would have most
benefited from their support and vice versa.
In saying this I completed two Computer Science Degrees using JAWS. Though
having learnt what I have in the past weeks things just as a fact would have
been allot easier with Window Eyes. What's that old saying though? About
heinsight being twenty twenty.
Just over three weeks back I decided I wanted to learn to use Window Eyes.
I didn’t' say too much to friends who would only think that we'd been there
before. When they tried to get me to see the light, so to speak.
I sat down and thought how best to approach Window Eyes this time.
Something that would be different from previous half-hearted attempts to
give the product a fair go.
So, I decided I would use Window Eyes and no other screen reader for 1 full
week. No matter what task I needed to do on the computer. I made a
commitment despite my tasks priority to use Window Eyes. I was determined
to learn how to do it with Window Eyes.
This was allot harder than it may sound. Especially as I'm really not that
much of a committed person when it comes to Window Eyes. Or rather I
wasn't.
So I unloaded JAWS and installed Win Eyes v7.11 onto my Windows 7 32Bit
Desktop.
I really needed to make this a genuine attempt. I decided to make it a
social experiment instead of a hardcore, I'm going to do this and if I go
back to JAWS I've failed. So I announced on my twitter and Face Book feeds
what I was going to do. I then sent updates several times a day including
@gwmicro in the thread of the good, bad and ugly.
Let me tell you the language I through at the computer for the first three
days was disgraceful! But when I learned how to use the Mouse Keys, started
to read sections of the excellently layed out manual, joined this list and
discovered Script Central I started to get a bit excited.
One of my main frustrations was the amount of times v7.11 would do odd
things. By this I mean it would clip words in Outlook 2K7. Scripts would
crash, Window Eyes would crash if set to load upon log-in. I discovered
that Window Eyes wasn't as infallible as the fan boys and girls made it out
to be. Oh yes and I got a healthy taster that no doubt End_users I've
supported as a Systems Engingeer have gotten from me a time or too. That
of, "uh that's weird" "It doesnt' do it on my machine like that". This
maybe true but it's not a helpful response!
So for me it's not been an experience of "The most stable Screen Reader".
JAWS for me still holds that trophy on my system. Well, it would if it was
still installed.
It's been over three weeks and I've not went back despite user error
problems and bugs with Window Eyes.
Now, it is fair to say that a new user of a product will often make mistakes
through just not knowing. I'm not exceempt from this. However, there's
allot going on in a person learning a new thing. Whither that is a computer
program, folding lawndry etc.
So why might you ask despite the problems I had and in some cases like the
clipping words didn’t' I just do the easy thing and switch back? Simple,
I'd decided I'd rather put up with some problems that can either be worked
round or ignored until they are either fixed or I'm told of something I'm
not doing to get Window Eyes to do what I want. In doing so I get the
wonderful functionality and fresh approach Window Eyes has given to my
computing. This compared to the stale product that did, serve me well for a
time but has frankly become a bit of a farse in comparison. I.E. JAWS.
I used to believe that JAWS and Window Eyes both had their place. I
believed this kept me nutral and made me unlike The Zellots, (as I saw them
at the time), who sat in each camp throwing muck back and forth.
I find myself looking on at other people in my life who are using JAWS and
struggling and want to cry out to them. Look, you dont' need to carry on
with those bad habits you learned with JAWS. Tabbing all over the screen
and not using keystrokes in say,and Installer Wizard of alt n for Next.
It's incredible the amount of JAWS users who are not aware of how to use the
JAWS Cursor. that's a real bug bear of mine now having used Window Eyes
mouse Keys. the fact you need to completely switch to a different mode then
back to the PC Cursor mode. no wonder people get confused!
I could detail my own feelings on a lengthy list of JAWS short comings not
to mention the iresponsable way Freedom Scientific treat customers. I'd
only be preaching to the crowd and end up falling into the camp of "My ones
bigger than yours".
I'd like to think i can lead by example to people I know that use JAWS and I
see struggling with the mindset it forces on people of the old and
comfortable. By letting them see my completley fresh approach and no longer
fear of trying something new just for fun. Sadly though I'm a geek and I
believe most of my friends will discount what I'm doing as down to that.
rather than, "I could be having that much fun and productivity as well".
Trailing off a bit as I need to get out before the rain starts here!"
Barry Toner
BCS Belfast Branch
YPG Representative& Disability Group
http://www.bcs.org/server.php?show=nav.10444
Contact me @
Professional: barry.toner@xxxxxxxxxx
Personal Email: barry@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
MSN/Live: djpaddy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
AIM/FB: barry@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
TWITTER: dj_paddy
Skype: djpaddy
Mobile: (UK) +44 (0) 7921 611 253
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