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Re: Web based screen readers

for

From: GF Mueden
Date: Jun 18, 2013 8:45AM

Mary, Tim, and All -

My eyes need help and there have been times when long lines ran off the
page and word wrap was not offered (e.g.afb.org). In such cases
Readability.com gives me a nice short line with word wrap, but text to
speech would have been welcomed for long articles as less tiring on the
eyes, neck, and back because I lean forward to have my eyes close to the
screen.

Why not use a screen reader? Because it would be acquiring a new skill
and at my age (96) the memory and ability to learn are much diminished
and I have other fish to fry, like responding to this.

It might help if we had in mind some specific examples of web based
screen readers, good and bad, for us ro try and report.

Regards, George



On 6/18/2013 6:22 AM, Tim Harshbarger wrote:
> Mary,
>
> I think it can be useful as long as the people implementing it understand what it can't and can do.
>
> You can create an accessible site without using this feature. This feature alone won't make a site accessible or conformant to Section 508 or WCAG 2.0.
>
> It won't benefit people using screen readers, because they will already be using their screen readers to read the page. In fact, I would go as far as to state that anyone that requires some kind of audio output to read web content will likely already be using a tool that provides that functionality--since users can't depend on most sites implementing that feature.
>
> However, to use a web metaphor, disability isn't a checkbox, but more like a slider. Somewhere in the middle, people transition from not using any AT to using AT to assist them as they use the web. So, there always will be at least a few people, who could really benefit from using AT, but don't have it so that the feature is extremely useful to them. Also, it surprises me how many people I know that actually prefer listening to content rather than reading it--particularly lengthy passages of text. Some of those people may have disabilities, but not all of them by any means.
>
> My own opinion is that you look at it as an enhancement. It might have some place in your site that will enhance its accessibility, but it probably won't be all that useful if core elements of accessibility aren't addressed first.
>
> Thanks!
> Tim