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Thread: WebAIM Discussion List Digest 05.08.2004. ( Talking browsers - your opinions)
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From: Mark Stimson
Date: Thu, Aug 05 2004 9:36AM
Subject: Re: WebAIM Discussion List Digest 05.08.2004. ( Talking browsers - your opinions)
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RE: WebAIM Discussion List Digest 05.08.2004. (Subject: Talking browsers - your opinions)
Lainie,
I do NOT recommend using anything but one of the standard screen readers (for example: JAWS, Window Eyes, and SuperNova).  Why?  Because your testing will result in far too many 'false positives'!  That is, you will end up 'fixing' a lot more than you really need to.  The standard screen readers are built to access information in many different ways to optimize the access of any particular site to the user.  Talking browsers, on the other hand, are not for the totally blind user, but instead for people with low-vision who are still using their sight (the added modality of speech helps the user understand text that is difficult to see/read).  The talking browsers (and many free text-to-speech synthesizers) are not built to read everything on the screen, which is what is required for users who are totally blind. 
If your concern is cost, you can always download a fully-functional demo version of JAWS, which works for 30 minutes (I think), and to continue using it beyond that requires restarting your computer.  Because you are testing for accessibility, Freedom Scientific may be willing to give you a free 'evaluation' copy, which works for a full 90 days (after that, it goes into the full-functioning demo mode).
If your concern with JAWS (or Window Eyes and SuperNova) is knowing how to use it well enough so that your testing is representative of the population, then I highly recommend getting some formal or informal training.
If you have more questions you can email directly if you wish.  I'm happy to share what I know.
Best regards,
Mark
Mark Stimson, Ph.D.
Access Technology Specialist
Sensory Access Foundation
1142 West Evelyn Avenue
Sunnyvale, CA  94086
Phone: 408-245-7330, ext 32
Fax: 408-245-3762
= EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
www.sensoryaccess.com
SAF Mission: To assist people who are blind or visually impaired to obtain or retain competitive employment by providing the highest quality access technology assessment, computer training, job placement and accommodation services with a goal of achieving 100% job retention.
-----Original Message-----
From: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = [mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ]
Sent: Thursday, August 05, 2004 12:02 AM
To: Mark Stimson
Subject: WebAIM Discussion List Digest 05.08.2004.
WebAIM Discussion List Digest 05.08.2004.
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From: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
Subject: Talking browsers - your opinions
Date: Wed, 4 Aug 2004 16:58:42 -0600
 
With the significant cost of many screen readers, I wanted to get
anyone's opinion on using some of the talking browsers (preferably free)
that I could use for ADA testing.
Any feedback is greatly appreciated!
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Lainie Strange, Web Developer
MO Dept of Elem & Sec Ed.
http://dese.mo.gov
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
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From: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED =
Subject: Re: Talking browsers - your opinions
Date: Wed, 4 Aug 2004 17:27:01 -0600
Hi Lainie,
Ibm Home Page Reader has a thirty-day trial.  Not sure how it compares with
other screen readers tho.  Perhaps someone else here can comment, but from
what I understand developers often use that one for testing.
Good luck.
Cheers,
Glenda
Soaring Eagle Communications
-----Original Message-----
From: lainie.strange [mailto: = EMAIL ADDRESS REMOVED = ]
Sent: Wednesday, August 04, 2004 2:35 PM
To: WebAIM Discussion List
Subject: [WebAIM] Talking browsers - your opinions
With the significant cost of many screen readers, I wanted to get
anyone's opinion on using some of the talking browsers (preferably free)
that I could use for ADA testing.
Any feedback is greatly appreciated!
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Lainie Strange, Web Developer
MO Dept of Elem & Sec Ed.
http://dese.mo.gov
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
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