Shownotes
Thanks for all the excellent feedback. Please keep it coming by sending e-mail to editor at blindaccessjournal.com or by calling the comment line at 206-350-6925.
Adem
I am from Turkey.
I appreciate you good podcasts about life.
I found your podcasts for searching audio demo about talking atm.
We are 7 friends which group together as Engelsiz Erisim Grubu “Access Without Handicap”. Our philosophy is “our disability is not derived from our physical
handicap; unaccessible world is the real reason”.
In these days our subject is anouncement system in the busses. Unfortunately no anouncement system is available.
We need some imformation about buss anouncement system.
Could you help us how does anouncement system work in your country?
Best Wishes.
Jake from Illinois
I would like to comment on your podcast regarding JAWS 7.0, dated October 7. First off, I enjoyed the JAWS theme at the beginning and end of the podcast, and I played it for my roommate. He too thought it was very cool. Neither of us has seen the movie though, but I’ll bet that our upstairs neighbors have because they are big horror-movie fans. I obtained JAWS 7.0 a few weeks ago from FS’s website and overall I really like it. I don’t use Firefox so I can’t comment on that part, but based on your comments it sounds like I should stay away from Firefox until further notice. However, I think
JAWS performs extremely well with Internet Explorer and Outlook Express. One feature that I really like is the ability to navigate around within websites
just by the press of a single key, i.e., h for headings, t for tables, etc. It really does save time especially when one is trying to find a particular
item on a web page. I also like the “Wrapping to Top” and “Wrapping to Bottom” feature. One problem I am having though, is that a lot of times when I am on a website and click a link to go to another area of that website and then hit my backspace key, my cursor stays on that link rather than going back.
This problem has just recently started. I have tried hitting alt-left arrow but that doesn’t change anything. I am wondering if you or other JAWS users have noticed this as well. The funny thing is, it seems to occur only some of the time but not other times. I’ve also tried refreshing the screen with JAWS key and Escape, and refreshing the website with the F5 function key but nothing changes. I find this bug to be most annoying. I don’t like having
to close out of Internet Explorer, re-launch IE, and then go back to the website I was on when this happened. I agree with you about .pdf files. Every .pdf file I’ve tried with JAWS was rendered inaccessible. Several years ago I did try a .pdf file with an earlier version of JAWS I had, but the file only half-worked. I wish Freedom Scientific would do more to make these .pdf files accessible, since that is how more and more information is being handled
these days. I have heard about the version of Acrobat Reader that is supposedly self-voicing, but I tried that with no luck. Regarding the “Document Presentation
Mode,” I haven’t had much time to play around with this feature, but I did get a brief overview of this new feature. A while back I had emailed the office of a local nonprofit independent-living organization to ask for a copy of the contact information for everyone on their board. My email was replied to the next morning by the organization’s director of development. She had sent me the information I had requested, attached in Word format. When I got JAWS
7 and found out about “Document Presentation Mode,” I immediately went to that email and tried reading it. The attached document contains a large table.
I first had JAWS read me the document with Simple Layout, and then with Screen Layout. With Screen Layout I got a little bit more of the table. I don’t recall whether this was the result of me inadvertently doing something else to JAWS, or if that is just how Screen Layout works. I will definitely try to find out in the next few days though. I am unemployed and only use my computer for pleasure and to check email, but recently I have used it for online
research. I have also made several online purchases with JAWS. Another thing I really like is the HTML Challenge. I think this is especially good for those who are brand-new to JAWS, and those who no nothing about screen-reading software but are learning. All in all, I would say that JAWS is very stable on my system. There are two major developments which I would like to see not only with JAWS, but also with other PC screen readers. The first is support for Mac platforms. The second is support for safe mode. In other words, if one of us inadvertently puts our system into Safe Mode, what should we do if no sighted person is around to get us out. This has happened to me on a few different occasions, with a couple different computers. Thanks for another very
informative podcast.
Natalie Brown – Musician on the Podsafe Music Network
I was browsing the PodSafe Music Directory and came upon your Podcast. I think it is a wonderful idea.
It would also be great if you let sighted people know how we can make our web sites friendlier for non sighted users. I for one would love to know how to make my site more accessible.
I also have some music that you may like to use for your show in the
future.
There are 2 places you can get my music from for broadcast:
1.)
PodSafe Music Network:
http://music.podshow.com/music/listeners/artistdetails.php?BandHash=014f4395
a18ffb0865565bdd962e80fa
2.)
Association of Music Podcasters
http://library.musicpodcasting.org/band.php?id=125
You can find out more about me at these URL’s:
Official Web Site:
http://www.natalie-brown.com
Official Biography:
http://www.natalie-brown.com/biography.htm
Discography:
http://www.natalie-brown.com/music.htm
MySpace Profile:
http://www.myspace.com/nataliebrown
Album Covers, Announcement Text for DJ’s & Podcasters:
http://www.natalie-brown.com/4757/192download.htm
Subscribe to Mailing List:
http://www.natalie-brown.com/mljoin.htm
Banners, Buttons, Videos, Music Codes, Avatars and more:
http://www.natalie-brown.com/natfan_dl.htm
Thanks so much for reading this email and I hope you use my songs on your podcast in the future.
If you like the music, please feel free to let other Podcasters know about it.
All the best with your show!
Kind regards,
Wayne Merritt
I think you’re right on with your comments in show 52 about JFW.
The manufacturer’s, like FS, should be held to a standard since we do rely upon their products to help us do our work. And, when we can’t do our work because of a lack of ability in the said product, like JFW, then FS should get the blame and be asked why not?
I don’t know how many other people listen to or download your podcasts, but I do. Maybe not all of them, but many of them. I think that your experience in the tech field in general and with JFW in particular, gives you a certain insight into what might, or might not be, going on.
Keep it up,
Wayne Merritt
www.wayneism.com
Check out my blog:
http://wayneism.blogspot.com
Scott Rutkowski of the Wormcast
Just wanted to comment on your fine podcast.
I really have enjoyed your podcast immensly and I too have difficulties
crossing streets. I was born blind and for some reason just can’t cross a street in a straight line and have to ask for assistance.
I also would agree with you regarding drivers who don’t watch what there doing and have almost been run over by them.
Actually one guy ran over my cane and bent it in half.
this is where having a guide dog is one of the coolest thing.
Unfortunately i’m not really an animal person but could adjust quite quickly if I did decide to apply for a guide dog.
Anyway, keep up the great work with the podcast and I really enjoy the
podcasts you do regarding your packmate jaws and your review type podcasts.
I enjoy the tech related ones but I listen to all your podcasts so again thanks for a great job and I hope we can chat sometime on skype if and when your available.
Angie the hapless geek
I’ve been watching your journal for just over a week now, and find both your written, and audio posts both informative, and enlightening. You have a concise way of expressing yourself, which frankly, is reassuring, and I especially like the fact that you display the downside to various methods of technology,
as well as their good qualities. That said, I have a few questions regarding your usage, and overall thoughts about the PacMate. There is potentially some funding coming to me, and I’d like to use it to its fullest potential. My dilemma is to either go with a Pacmate, or a BrailleNote mPower, and frankly,
I’m undecided as to which to go with. How is the PacMate in terms of reliability, dependability, and its overall housing? I’ve seen earlier versions of the brailleNote, and was immediately impressed with its overall construction, but haven’t ever had the pleasure of playing with a PacMate, wherein also,
my dilemma lies. (it also doesn’t help matters that I love new and exciting forms of technology, and want to play with all of them extensively) Any
assistance/suggestions/advice you’re able to give will be much appreciated.
Thanks for reading,
Tamara
I just discovered your podcasts thanks to the top tech tidbits produced by Deane. I must say that I totally agree with your comments regarding the Pac-Mate.
I ended up switching from the brailleLite to the BraillNote for stability reasons. Now, I’m considering switching from the Pac-Mate to the BrailleNote MPower for the same reasons. Do you have any thoughts about the advantages or disadvantages of one unit over the other. I’ve been trying to find someone who could give a reasonable comparison. Any of your thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,