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

Thu Feb 9 02:09:59 UTC 2017

As you may already know, some big improvements came out for Narrator last
fall that includes the equivelent of a sort of Virtual Cursor on web pages.
Narrator calls it their scan mode.  In addition, according to a Microsoft
BLOG post, there are further substantial changes and improvements coming
this spring.  These changes are only available in Windows 10 after the
Anniversary upgrade.

While I remain somewhat uneasy about a powerful narrator, not because I am
concerned about anybody's bottom line but because I don't know if we would
be adequately served by one scrreen reader, the move seems to be in that
direction.  It is not my impression that the NFB is opposing that at this
point.

I find the newest versions of Narrator to be much more full-featured, and
their newest synthesizers are much more responsive.  I still feel it is
somewhat slower to respond than JAWS or Window-Eyes, though, but we'll see
what happens.

Best regards,

Steve Jacobson

At 06:12 PM 2/8/2017, you wrote:
>We should be able to perform at least the basic functions using narrator.
>
>But NFB will not put pressure  on Microsoft to make narrator more 
>disabled friendly
>It will harm Freedom Sscientific  s bottomline. I feel bad  saying 
>anything more than nthat
>Sent from my iPhone
>
> > On Feb 8, 2017, at 6:07 PM, Jen via gui-talk <gui-talk at nfbnet.org>
wrote:
> >
> > 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
> >>>
> >>> +1 708-267-6664 Cell
> >>> +1 866-RICIS-77 (+1 866-7424-777) U.S. and Canada
> >>> +1 708-444-2690 Office - local and international
> >>> +1 708-444-1115 Fax (Please call before sending a fax).
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this communication is
> >>> confidential, private, proprietary, or otherwise privileged and is
> >>> intended only for the use of the addressee only.
> >>> Unauthorized use, disclosure, distribution or copying is strictly
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> >>> If you have received this communication in error, please notify the
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> >>> immediately at +1 (708) 444-2690 locally or +1 (866) RICIS-77 [+1
(866)
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> >>>
> >>> _______________________________________________
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>
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/gui-talk_nfbnet.org/taraprakash%40gmail.co
> > m
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
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> >
> >
> > --
> > Connect with me on GoodReads:
> > www.goodreads.com/waynesbooks
> >
> > _______________________________________________
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> >
> > --
> > Doug Lee                 dgl at dlee.org                http://www.dlee.org
> > SSB BART Group           doug.lee at ssbbartgroup.com
> > http://www.ssbbartgroup.com
> > "While they were saying among themselves it cannot be done, it was
> > done." --Helen Keller

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