[gui-talk] Fwd: New Windows 10 accessibility features will improve many lives - TechRepublic

Wed Feb 8 23:07:06 UTC 2017

I personally can't stand Narrator. JAWS is still my favorite option.

-----Original Message-----
From: gui-talk [mailto:gui-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Doug Lee
via gui-talk
Sent: Wednesday, February 8, 2017 1:27 PM
To: wcmerritt at gmail.com; Discussion of the Graphical User Interface, GUI
Talk Mailing List <gui-talk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Doug Lee <dgl at dlee.org>
Subject: Re: [gui-talk] Fwd: New Windows 10 accessibility features will
improve many lives - TechRepublic

For what it's worth, here's my up-to-date view on the idea of Narrator
becoming king of Windows screen readers:

Quick background:

Before Apple, we fought this because it would give Microsoft a monopoly on
our very ability to access most computers, when we had no clear evidence or
commitment that they would continuously prioritize their efforts to keep
that accessibility for us.

Apple changed the rules a bit by doing what we opposed Microsoft doing.
Apple had no competition though, so there was no loss when they produced
VoiceOver; only gain.

Microsoft is starting to show some focus on accessibility support, though it
will take a while before I consider that a reasonable guarantee for the long
run.

My conclusions:

We can't be mad by now at Microsoft for trying to do this, whether we
support it or not.

JAWS and NVDA at least will continue to be important for years.

If Microsoft knocks them out and we become dependent on Narrator or another
Microsoft offering, time will tell if this was a wise transition. Again,
Apple had no competition, but Microsoft always has.

On Wed, Feb 08, 2017 at 12:00:30PM -0600, Wayne Merritt via gui-talk wrote:
Yes, Narrator is not as feature-rich as JAWS or Window-Eyes. However,
I have had JAWS crash or not read certain web elements on web pages,
where Narrator or NVDA read them just fine. I heard people say what
I'm about to say for the longest time and did not put any stock in it,
until it happened to me; for tech people and perhaps the average user
today, being able to use at least two screen readers works best. JAWS
is still my preferred reader, but from time to time I am in situations
where JAWS does not work as well as NVDA. I have also done some
accessibility testing, and found this to be especially true. Some
pages JAWS completely misses content, and NVDA is more accurate.

Wayne

On 2/8/17, TaraPrakash via gui-talk <gui-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> No matter what Will have to depend onjaws Windows eyes etc.  and NFB will
> not put pressure on Microsoft so that accessibility with an operating
system
> is sufficient and no third-party screen reader is needed
>
>
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>> On Feb 8, 2017, at 11:43 AM, Gregory D. Rosenberg via gui-talk
>> <gui-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>
>> Good morning everyone,
>>
>> MS has added several improvement for their Narrator. Braille support and
>> mono audio are amongst the enhancements. This is a BETA release for those
>> that choose to receive Windows Updates for Windows 10 on the Windows
>> Insider Fast Track.
>>
>>
http://www.techrepublic.com/article/new-windows-10-accessibility-features-wi
ll-improve-many-lives/?ftag=TRE684d531&bhid=24278129322317615159007803282442
>>
>>
>> Braille support in Narrator (beta). Now, when you have a USB- or
>> serial-based braille display attached to your PC you can use it with
>> Narrator.
>>
>> Mono audio option. Visually impaired users who use a screen reader with
>> headphones or earbuds can now enable a mono audio option in Ease of
Access
>> settings ???so the other ear is free to hear conversations and sounds
around
>> them.???
>>
>> Feedback Hub improvements. Microsoft is finally tackling the problem of
>> too much duplicate pieces of feedback by letting user combined them in
>> collections. Which can, collectively, be up-voted just like an individual
>> piece of feedback.
>>
>> Night light improvements. The new Night light feature gets another
>> improvement in this build, with the night light color temperature range
>> extended to a very red (1200 K) color.
>>
>> See:
>>
https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2017/02/01/announcing-windows-10
-insider-preview-build-15025-pc/#aoee4jFiqHPrCeoP.97
>>
<https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2017/02/01/announcing-windows-1
0-insider-preview-build-15025-pc/#aoee4jFiqHPrCeoP.97>
>> for details of Windows 10 build 15025.
>>
>>
>>
>> "The rapidly changing threat landscape today makes it almost impractical
>> to secure our computers and networks against all vulnerabilities.
Security
>> organizations collectively are seeing nearly four new threats every
>> second. Therefore, we must shift our security goals to making our
>> computers and networks survive the invevitable attacks."
>>                    Gregory D. Rosenberg
>>
>> P.S. Text the word BLIND to 85944 to donate $10 to the National
Federation
>> of the Blind. Your tax deductible donation will appear as "Imagination
>> Fund" on your phone bill.
>>
>> The National Federation of the Blind is a community of members and
friends
>> who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation's blind. Every day we
>> work together to help blind people live the lives they want.
>>
>> 73' & 75'
>>
>> --
>> Gregory D. Rosenberg AB9MZ
>> gregg at ricis.com
>>
>> RICIS, Inc.
>> 7849 Bristol Park Drive
>> Tinley Park, IL 60477-4594
>> http://www.ricis.com
>>
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