Agreed! Thanks for the response... Take care! --le ----- Original Message ----- From: "david poehlman" <david.poehlman@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> To: <guispeak@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Saturday, November 13, 2004 5:27 PM Subject: [guispeak] Re: here's the missing post... > Progress is good, not all change is good especially when the change > impacts > negatively on those who are the target of what is changing. For instance, > if microsoft is putting out something and says it is accessible but it > cost > 250 dollars to get it and you already have something that works well but > it's not the latest and greatest and in order to run some of the new stuff > that say is free, you have to spend this 250 dollars that you don't have > nad > can't get, this is not good change. If someone says they have a free > course > for you but you have to spend several hundred dollars to get a computer > and > an nternet connection to take advantage of it and you can't afford the > outlay, it may as well not be available. So, when we impose change, an > impact assessment needs to be part of the guiding force of the change so > that the system can be properly developped. there is all kinds of > research > and development and I have seen situations where r&d worked quite well > together because development looked at research and helped shape the > research and vise versa. Research needs to be done not only on new ways > to > do things, but on the cost of ownership and potential impacts of those new > things. > > Johnnie Apple Seed > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Laura Eaves" <leaves1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> > To: <guispeak@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > Sent: Saturday, November 13, 2004 5:14 PM > Subject: [guispeak] Re: here's the missing post... > > > Hi Dave -- > Well I wasn't pointing to you personally, and I am glad you have a wide > range of technology and gadgets and experience with it, which is helpful > in > your work I'm sure. > I guess I'm not as pessimistic about technological advancements. > I think we as blind persons needing special access expect too much of > technology -- it is perfectly fine for research to be done and new > products > to be turned out that appeal to sighted persons and perhas initially or > even > permanently not accessible, if only in a few features. That is the nature > of research vs development. > I had a unique position at work as I was in an organization that was stuck > kind of between research and development, and there was a constant battle > or > conflict between research, wanting to put new stuff into their prototypes > before the product went out as if it didn't go in then, it might never be > accepted later -- versus on the other hadd, the customer support people > who > argued that there were people who had invested time and energy and money > doing development on top of the new product and didn't want such rapid > change. Finally at one point, the 2 organizations split, but since > research > got its funding from development and the products sold by the company, > they > went public and the battle between the new and the old got out of hand and > finally the development group was cancelled and a new development team was > created that was much more closely tied to research. But such it goes. > It > was very painful, and I got caught up in the middle and even got emotional > about it a few times, but looking back, progress is good, and I agreed > that > research shouldn't be frozen because it leaves some users lagging to keep > up, at least for a while, and the accessibility features, while they > should > be addressed up front during research and not wait until later, at least > provide the researchers and developers with continued employment, etc etc. > It was a painful experience working for AT&T during the long process of > divestature and technological and economic change, but really, change is > good and is (as someone once said) the only thing that is unchanging > <smile> > and therefore people should try as best they can to keep abreast with it, > and if they can't at least don't complain that it is a bad thing, only > that > the accessibility should be addressed earlier than it apparently is. > > So that's my soapbox. > I had to learn the hard way, but I do believe in "progress" -- well > actually, there was another quote that was popular when I was working and > all the company reorgs were taking place: "change gives the illusion of > progress..." > Now that sounds like it contradicts what I have just been saying, but > there > are some changes that are valuable -- even if not always to a blind > person -- and we need to keep abreast of things so we can differentiate > and > remain vocal about what is really needed and not cut down stuff that is a > temporary barrier. > > Now as for low-income persons and institutions and schools not having the > resources to upgrade, I I can understand that is a problem and don't have > an > answer. I think the ADA does help to solve some of at, but not all, and > even the government doesn't have unlimited funds. > But in the case of schools, companies have always donated equipment to > schools to boost their business, not just via public relations, but also > to > get people experienced using their stuff, so now that the law is in favor > of > accessibility, they will be more anxious to work on it up front. (But > maybe > I'm dreaming...;) > Take care! > --le > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "david poehlman" <david.poehlman@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> > To: <guispeak@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > Sent: Saturday, November 13, 2004 4:40 PM > Subject: [guispeak] Re: here's the missing post... > > >> I'm one of those fortunate people who happen to have access to three >> computers. They range from an 6 year old pc to a right new 2.4ghz pc the >> 6 >> year old is a pII 350mhz system running xp pro sp2 and has 128mb ram so >> if >> they tell you it can't be done, send 'em to me. The inbetweens are a >> toshiba satelite 2400s201 with 384mb ram running at 1.6ghz I believe a >> pii. >> and a mac powerbook g4 which I dearly love even though it is only running >> at >> 667mhz it still out poerforms my toshiba 1.6. >> >> I fight on behalf of underfunded people and institutions who battle every >> day just to keep what they have had for the past several years working >> much >> less affording to upgrade if you want to call it that them. Yeah, the >> further we go the more "hooks" there and it kind of makes me wonder why >> we >> are loosing the accessibility fight, but that is another story entirely I >> guess but take the example of microsoft windows media player 10. 9 was >> perfectly find and then they had to come out with 10 while not >> inaccessible >> is a step down from what 9 was. Every time a new version of office comes >> out, it has to be tweeked for before we can use it and every time a new >> os >> comes out, we need a new screen reader to cope with it and I hope that it >> will be as easy with the next new os as it was with the last which was >> still >> quite a bear. Access? Let's see, can I read a document in print preview >> yet? What if I decide I want that pretty blue theme on my desktop woops, >> there goes my screen reader dead in the watter. What about changing the >> font size so I can see it better or the contrast? Sorry, no screen >> reader. >> I can point out a lot about the os that we don't have access to and >> haven't >> had for a long time and yet, we are making strides? >> >> Johnnie Apple Seed >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Laura Eaves" <leaves1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> >> To: "guispeak" <guispeak@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> >> Sent: Saturday, November 13, 2004 4:29 PM >> Subject: [guispeak] here's the missing post... >> >> >> Hi Dave and all -- here is the post that never came back to me. Not that >> it >> is such an important and earth-shattering post, but I do want my posts to >> get through... >> >> Anyway, here it is: >> >> Hi Dave -- >> Well that's true to an extent, if there are several choices of something >> available to the general public, but only the most expensive is >> accessible >> to blind. (I ran into this even with something as unrelated as a sewing >> machine -- the only accessible one was top-of-the-line, which my Mom >> bought, >> but I felt awful having her pay that much.) >> >> But on the other hand, you are not talking about driving a cadillac -- >> you >> are talking about driving a horse-drawn carriage (win95) which almost no >> one >> uses any more, and the currently available operating systems are all so >> much >> more accessible, or have so many more hooks to work with screen reaaders, >> that upgrading is really not only wise, but will soon become essential. >> >> Now I was a bit annoyed at having to buy a gsm cell phone with all kinds >> of >> features I didn't need, in order to have the menus speak. But I >> encourage >> software companies to develop such accessible software, even if I have to >> spend a little to be a guinea pig. >> Now that I've had a job -- at least long enough to have a little money to >> spend experimenting on such things, I really have enjoyed getting >> involved >> in the troubleshooting, and if it eventually filters down to the less >> expensive phones and systems, all the better. >> (But it was really a very overpriced phone!<frown>) >> >> Take care, and try copying your data and upgrading your operating system. >> Take care! >> --le >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "david poehlman" < >> david.poehlman@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> >> >> To: < >> guispeak@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> >> >> Sent: Saturday, November 13, 2004 2:38 PM >> Subject: [guispeak] Re: Fw: online internet learning session (fwd) >> >>> It is a fact that 70 percent of blind people are unemployed or at least >>> under employed so Accessibility includes a multiplicity of things in >>> this >>> instance, such as: >>> Can I access it with my ancient computer? Can I aford to get on the >>> internet to access it? Can I access it without a sound card and get >>> benefit >>> out of it? I'm afraid that w eneed to think hard when we say that >>> something >>> is accessible. Saying that asking too much is offputting is doging the >>> issue. There are degrees of accessibility so if you announce something, >>> it >>> is best o say that there is this thang a happenin' and if ya wanna >>> partake >>> of it, ya gotta be able to drive a cadelak. >>> >>> Johnnie Apple Seed >>> >>> ----- Original Message ----- >>> From: "Darrell Shandrow" < >> nu7i@xxxxxxxxxx> >> >>> To: < >> guispeak@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> >> >>> Sent: Saturday, November 13, 2004 2:26 PM >>> Subject: [guispeak] Re: Fw: online internet learning session (fwd) >>> >>> >>> Hi Will, >>> >>> But that's simply a matter of meeting the application's system >>> requirements. >>> Certainly, from a blindness or even a disabilities point of view, this >>> has >>> nothing to do with the application's accessibility. All that concerns >>> me >>> is, well, can I use the application as a person with a disability, so >>> long >>> as I otherwise can meet the mainstream system requirements? By bringing >>> in >>> other things that aren't directly relevant to accessibility for users >>> with >>> disabilities, we run the risk of turning mainstream developers off our >>> pleas >>> for greater accessibility for our needs. Let's only ask for what's >>> absolutely required. >>> >>> Besides, Windows 95 is very old now... Time for folks to upgrade. >>> >>> >>> >>> Darrell Shandrow - Shandrow Communications! >>> Technology consultant/instructor, network/systems administrator! >>> A+, CCNA, Network+! >>> Check out high quality telecommunications services at >> http://ld.net/?nu7i >>> >> All the best to coalition forces carrying out Operation Iraqi Freedom! >>> ----- Original Message ----- >>> From: "Will Pearson" < >> will-pearson@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> >> >>> To: < >> guispeak@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> >> >>> Sent: Saturday, November 13, 2004 12:16 PM >>> Subject: [guispeak] Re: Fw: online internet learning session (fwd) >>> >>> >>>> Hi; >>>> >>>> It is an accessibility issue in the pure sense of accessibility. >>>> Accessibility is a measure of whether someone can do something, and >>>> this >>>> regards whether the application in question can be accessed by those >>>> running >>>> operating systems that the application did not target during it's SDLC. >>>> >>>> Will >>>> ----- Original Message ----- >>>> From: "Darrell Shandrow" < >> nu7i@xxxxxxxxxx> >> >>>> To: < >> guispeak@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> >> >>>> Sent: Saturday, November 13, 2004 7:09 PM >>>> Subject: [guispeak] Re: Fw: online internet learning session (fwd) >>>> >>>> >>>>> Hi David, >>>>> >>>>> Probably not, but that is an OS compatibility issue, not one of >>>>> accessibility. We need to keep these issues well separated. >>>>> >>>>> Darrell Shandrow - Shandrow Communications! >>>>> Technology consultant/instructor, network/systems administrator! >>>>> A+, CCNA, Network+! >>>>> Check out high quality telecommunications services at >>>>> >> http://ld.net/?nu7i >>>>> >> All the best to coalition forces carrying out Operation Iraqi Freedom! >>>>> ----- Original Message ----- >>>>> From: "david poehlman" < >> david.poehlman@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> >> >>>>> To: < >> guispeak@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> >> >>>>> Sent: Saturday, November 13, 2004 11:25 AM >>>>> Subject: [guispeak] Re: Fw: online internet learning session (fwd) >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> > can I use windows.95? >>>>> > >>>>> > Johnnie Apple Seed >>>>> > >>>>> > ----- Original Message ----- >>>>> > From: "Darrell Shandrow" < >> nu7i@xxxxxxxxxx> >> >>>>> > To: < >> guispeak@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> >> >>>>> > Sent: Saturday, November 13, 2004 1:19 PM >>>>> > Subject: [guispeak] Re: Fw: online internet learning session (fwd) >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>>> > Hi David, >>>>> > >>>>> > Looks reasonably accessible. What's wrong with it? >>>>> > >>>>> > Darrell Shandrow - Shandrow Communications! >>>>> > Technology consultant/instructor, network/systems administrator! >>>>> > A+, CCNA, Network+! >>>>> > Check out high quality telecommunications services at >>>> >> http://ld.net/?nu7i >>>>> > >> All the best to coalition forces carrying out Operation Iraqi Freedom! >>>>> > ----- Original Message ----- >>>>> > From: "david poehlman" < >> david.poehlman@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> >> >>>>> > To: < >> guispeak@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> >> >>>>> > Sent: Saturday, November 13, 2004 6:59 AM >>>>> > Subject: [guispeak] Re: Fw: online internet learning session (fwd) >>>>> > >>>>> > >>>>> >> too bad it's not accessible to most users. >>>>> >> >>>>> >> Johnnie Apple Seed >>>>> >> >>>>> >> ----- Original Message ----- >>>>> >> From: "Andy Baracco" < >> wq6r@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> >> >>>>> >> To: < >> guispeak@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> >> >>>>> >> Cc: < >> whoweare@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> >> ; < >> acb-l@xxxxxxx> >> ; >>>> < >> ccb-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> >> >>>>> >> Sent: Saturday, November 13, 2004 2:14 AM >>>>> >> Subject: [guispeak] Fw: online internet learning session (fwd) >>>>> >> >>>>> >> >>>>> >> >>>>> >>> >>>>> >>>---------- Forwarded message ---------- >>>>> >>>Date: Mon, 8 Nov 2004 16:43:45 -0500 >>>>> >>>From: Lynn Evans < >> evans-lynn@xxxxxxxxxxx> >> >>>>> >>>To: >> VICUG-L@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx >>>>> >>> >> Subject: Fw: online internet learning session >>>>> >>> >>>>> >>>Hello VICUG listers >>>>> >>> >>>>> >>>If you or someone you know are interested in learning more about >>>>> >>>the >>>>> >>>power >>>>> >>>of the internet please go to this link below. >>>>> >>> >>>>> >>> >>>>> >>>Monday, November 15, beginning at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time, >>>> 10:00 >>>>> >>>Central, 9:00 Mountain, and 8:00 Pacific: >>>>> >>>Introduction to the Internet, the Web, and iVocalize. Get an >>>>> >>>overview >>>> and >>>>> >>>basic orientation to the power and richness of the Internet, the >>>>> >>>World >>>>> >>>Wide >>>>> >>>Web, and iVocalize, the software program from Talking Communities >>>>> >>>used >>>>> >>>for >>>>> >>>OPAL programs. Learn the basics of email, browsing, text chat, >>>>> >>>voice-over-IP >>>>> >>>conversations, searching, and information retrieval. Whether you >>>>> >>>want >>>> to >>>>> >>>use >>>>> >>>the Internet and the Web to learn, work, communicate, play, or all >>>>> >>>of >>>> the >>>>> >>>above, this session will have something for you. 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