[gui-talk] [nfbcs] save Serotek

[Peter Donahue]

Good evening everyone,

    Just thought I would pass this through to the GUI-Talk List concerning
Serotek. Here's a bit of the other side of the coin. I'm sure we'll read
more about this in the June Braille Monitor and it will be a hot subject
during the national convention.

Peter Donahue


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Robert Leblond" <bob at atechcenter.net>
To: "'NFBnet NFBCS Mailing List'" <nfbcs at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, May 22, 2007 8:59 PM
Subject: Re: [nfbcs] save Serotek


Before starting my support of Serotek message, I would like all readers to
understand that we sell Jaws, Window Eyes, ZoomText, and System Access.

Freedom Scientific uses stealth when they can and bully tactics when they
must.  For years, this company has tried to manipulate the free market in
many ways.  The latest Jaws 8 is a total joke, and many of our clients have
uninstalled this and returned to Jaws 7, which was at least somewhat
useable.  We carry Jaws as a product only because it is all that some
counselors and end users will buy, mostly because of the familiarity.

In the past months, Jaws has introduced more human sounding voices.  This is
a direct response to System Access' use of those voices.  There are many
other reasons to choose System Access over Jaws, which is why Freedom
Scientific has had to resort to the bully strategy.

1.  System Access users can install the software on a U 3 drive, and  run a
full version of the software on any XP or Vista computer.  No administrative
privileges are necessary.
2.  System Access is fully Vista compatible out of the box.  Also System
Access is fully Office 2007 Compatible.
3.  System Access allows a user to read files on a remote computer.  No
other screen reader allows for this.
4.  Most importantly, the Freedom Box concept is fundamentally different
than other accessibility solutions.  Most commonly, manufacturers sell you
software, and don't want to talk to you until upgrade time, when they can
have their hands in your pockets once again.  Serotek has a community based
approach.  This is the basis for the Freedom Box network, but more
importantly for the Serotek tool called C-SAW (Community Supported
Accessible Websites).  C-SAW allows System Access users to submit a page to
the community which they cannot access.  Other, more technically savvy users
will go to that site and label it properly for accessibility.

Furthermore, System Access is easy to use and learn.  Our market demographic
for this application is seniors, who are intimidated by computers for the
most part, and students who cannot learn how to use Jaws or Window Eyes
properly, but should be allowed to use a computer nevertheless.

If Freedom Scientific was truly committed to the blind community, they would
try to compete honestly with Serotek, rather than try shutting the company
down.  Competition is a good thing, especially for end users which we try to
serve.  Whether or not one is a user of these products, it should be obvious
to all blind users that eliminating a tool used by so many blind individuals
would be a terrible thing.  If you are a System Access user or not, you
should show support for this company that is truly trying to make a
difference in the lives of blind and visually impaired computer users,
instead of focusing on obscene profit margins.

Regards,
Robert Leblond, President
Assistive Technology Center, LLC
www.atechcenter.net
"technology is our middle name"

-----Original Message-----
From: nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Ryan Mann
Sent: Tuesday, May 22, 2007 1:40 PM
To: nfbcs at nfbnet.org
Subject: [nfbcs] save Serotek

Serotek is a company that developes Freedombox and a screen reader called
System Access.  Because of improvements made to Systembox and System
Access and Serotek's affordable prices, these products are becoming more
popular.  Evidently, Freedom Scientific doesn't like the competition
because out of the blew they are suing Serotek for so-called trademark
violations.  I'm a proud user of Serotek's products and I fooly support
them.  There is a petition at www.saveserotek.org to ask Freedom
Scientific to drop it's law suit against Serotek.  Please sign the
petition.  Serotek is a small company so they can't
afford to be bogged down with legal fees.  If Serotek
is driven out of business by this law suit, this will
hurt blind people who can't afford Freedom Scientific's
high prices.
Thanks.
rmann at sdf.lonestar.org
SDF Public Access UNIX System - http://sdf.lonestar.org
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