Oh I see what you mean now. There is another possibility; how about irc? You could use an Irc client like Mirc and connect to a general purpose Irc channel where most but not all sighted people are on it. Hope that helps. On Sun, 10 Jun 2007 16:15:43 +0100, "Karen Burgess" <karen@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> said: > hi chris > > only one problem with this, majority of zone members are blind people, > thus > not giving you access to the mainstream sites that others use. > > kaz > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Christopher Hallsworth" <chrishallsworth@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> > To: <access-uk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > Sent: Sunday, June 10, 2007 4:08 PM > Subject: [access-uk] Re: facebook.com - an amazing, yet partially > inaccessible, tool for blind people > > > >I personally think we're better with an alternative yet very accessible > > service, Zone BBS. There are no graphical verification thingies, you can > > do everything that it has to offer without sighted assistance, and, > > well, it's just another choice for those like you and me who can't > > socialize very well. You can sign up at http://www.zonebbs.com. Hope > > that helps. > > On Sun, 10 Jun 2007 15:49:39 +0100, "Damon" <damon.rose@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> > > said: > >> HI all. > >> > >> Are there any Facebook members among you? > >> > >> It's a really amazing social networking site. I got myself on it last > >> week - but had to ask someone to help me with the verification graphic in > >> order that I can setup an account. > >> > >> Now that I'm in, it's quite good. It only currently gives limited > >> accessibility for visually impaired people though. > >> > >> Various important things you can do, such as Add Friends, send email, > >> have conversations on the groups you choose to be part of, are all > >> inacccessible now because they have recently added verification graphics > >> for these things too. > >> > >> Interestingly, if you are in the US or Canada you can get rid of the > >> verification graphics by giving it your mobile phone number to verify you > >> are a real human being and not just a spammer. But it doesn't work with > >> UK phones yet. I am thinking of calling up a mate in the US and asking if > >> she'll allow me to use her mobile number - though not entirely sure this > >> waves all verification graphics away. If anyone has any insight into this > >> I'd appreciate hearing from you. > >> > >> In the meantime, you can add to your list of friends by sitting back and > >> waiting for them to add you. And you can post on peoples' walls. The key > >> to social networking is to build those networks as they are important > >> from friendships, business and finding like-minded people. Oh and you can > >> also, of course, look for partners if that's your thing. But it's a way > >> of opening up networks, letting your friends see your mates friends and > >> business acquaintances. > >> > >> You can also create and join networks. So, using a valid email address at > >> the company I work for, I'm now a member of their Network. I also belong > >> to the London network. All these things are accessible. > >> > >> I think this tool could be amazingly useful to blind people, especially > >> as we find it so hard to network when at big conferences and at parties. > >> > >> I believe visually impaired people are lobbying Facebook to have an audio > >> alternative to the captcha graphic put in place. I'm going to get more > >> details about this. > >> > >> I urge you to check it out. > >> > >> www.facebook.com > >> > >> The other thing to mention is that, interestingly, everyone in my office > >> has become a member of Facebook and are networking like mad. So, the fact > >> that I can't leaves me at a disadvantage. There is currently only semi > >> access for me but I have chosen to jump on board because it's better to > >> be partially in than out in my circumstances. > >> > >> Get an account. Get looking round. It's a fascinating site. The longer > >> you're on it, the more friends you collect, the more you get it. > >> > >> ...Damon > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > > Christopher Hallsworth > > E-mail: chrishallsworth@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx > > Skype name chrishallsworth7266 > > > > ** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- > > ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] > > ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: > > ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > > ** and in the Subject line type > > ** unsubscribe > > ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the > > ** immediately-following link:- > > ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] > > ** or send a message, to > > ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq > > > > > > > > -- > > No virus found in this incoming message. > > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > > Version: 7.5.472 / Virus Database: 269.8.11/837 - Release Date: 06/06/2007 > > 14:03 > > > > ** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- > ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] > ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: > ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > ** and in the Subject line type > ** unsubscribe > ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the > ** immediately-following link:- > ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] > ** or send a message, to > ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq > Christopher Hallsworth E-mail: chrishallsworth@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx Skype name chrishallsworth7266 ** To leave the list, click on the immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=unsubscribe] ** If this link doesn't work then send a message to: ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx ** and in the Subject line type ** unsubscribe ** For other list commands such as vacation mode, click on the ** immediately-following link:- ** [mailto:access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=faq] ** or send a message, to ** access-uk-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the Subject:- faq