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Re: Reading tables in JAWS

for

From: Lucy Greco
Date: Feb 4, 2014 10:35PM

Hello:
Nicely said. I would echo you on one point. The deficiency is not only
in the AT but in the training given to at users I regrettably know of
to many at users that don't know that there are ways to navigate a table
besides just using the down aero to read line by line. If you don't use
table nav commands using left and write only move letter by letter so
telling someone to navigate a table with arrows only just does not work. I
would say in my 9 years of working with college students of the top
caliber of the ones that come to Berkley, only 1 in 10 new how to read
tables at all. many of my students did not even know why there screen
reader even bothered to tell them about tables.
I would teach them how to use table commands and they would always rely
on them from that point on. they all came back and said I can do so much
more now that I know that .

Unfortunately I feel that a majority of people training AT least in
California really don't have a clue about how to really use a screen
reader let alone train someone to the point where they can become
proficient. I know that seems harsh but I have run in to so many trainers
that don't even look at the new features list when the screen reader
updates or the training tools the venders build in to say any of them are
any good at their jobs.


Jaws and NVDA both do a very good job on tables but how many people use
the feature is limited to how many people get taught how to use it. window
eyes the last time I tried to use it on a table just failed miserably.
At that point in time over 3 years ago now, windoweyes 7.0 if a table had
an imbedded form and yes it was appropriate the user would fill out the
form in table mode and as soon as they left table mode the form entry's
would be cleared away. Needless to say I stopped supporting windoeyes at
that time and focused on jaws and NVDA. I do think the way voice over
treats tables is good but I hate the concept of interacting and not
interacting that voiceover uses at the best of times. smile I fear the
change in the screen reader market is not for the good of access because
more people will start using windoeyes now so we need to find ways to
support them even if the screen reader market has better free choices.
Sorry for the long rant Lucy

Lucia Greco
Web Access Analyst
IST-Campus Technology Services
University of California, Berkeley
(510) 289-6008 skype: lucia1-greco
http://webaccess.berkeley.edu Http://accessaces.com
Follow me on twitter @accessaces