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Re: How does a Screen Reader work?

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From: Joshue O Connor
Date: Mar 5, 2007 3:30AM

Hi Tedd,

I recommend tracking down some blind users in your area and actually
hanging out with them for a bit and observing them use the screen
reader. This could be a powerful experience for you, especially if they
are power users with great speed and efficiency, and are fluent with the
application. As far as downloading JAWS et al yourself and having a go -
I daresay that at this point you will find it a more frustrating
experience than anything else. If you are not familiar with the modality
of screen reader interaction at all, I actually would not recommend it
_until_ you have a better idea of what is going on.

That may get some peoples hackles up on the list - but I say this
because screen readers are complex applications and going in to test
your websites could be a disaster as you may not know if you are doing
something wrong with the screen reader, or is it your code, you may not
even know how to recognise what is right or wrong (??)

So it may be a more existential experience than a practical evidence
gathering one.

Josh



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