Web surfing for the blind - help please

[harden]

Here's a response from Cathy Murtha which I'm forwarding to the list on 
her behalf.

>Subject:     Web surfing for the blind - help please
>Sent:        28.1.97 15:20
>Received:    28.1.97 16:13
>From:        Stephen M. Jones, stjones at umbc.edu
>To:          Web4Lib, web4lib at library.berkeley.edu
>
>We have inherited a DecTalk Express speech synthesizer with its software
>and a screen reader program called Vocal Eyes.  According to the
>manufacturer of Vocal Eyes, it is DOS only, and doesn't even support
>Lynx or Pine very well.  We would like to implement this with a pc, not
>a Mac, due to the patron's preferences.  (Yes, I know that Mac has very
>high capabilities in this area; we will _not_ be considering Mac
>solutions, no offense.)

Dectalk is the best synthesizer on the market, the only thing better than
the express is the dectalk internal board, but the express does have its
advantage in its portability.

Vocal eyes is a great program, I use it, it can be customized to each 
users
specifications by the use of set files.  The users can save their set 
files
with a unique name and load the file when they use the computer.  It is a
powerful program that works great with lynx, pine, ftp, irc and more.  I
would wholeheartedly recommend usage of this product.  It is a screen 
reader
specifically designed for DOS.  You will need to purchase another screen
reader for Windows.


>1.  How satisfactory is the DecTalk synthesizer for Web/email
>requirements?  Is there something better?  There are funds available if
>there is something significantly better.

Dectalk, as previously stated, is the premier synth and you are very lucky
to have access to one!

>2.  What screen reader works best with Netscape/IE?  The manufacturer of
>Vocal Eyes has a package Window Eyes which they say would satisfy our
>needs; any experience?  There is also a product Jaw for Windows.  Any
>experience with these or other packages?

Jaws for Windows appears to be a favorite among many blind people.  I have
recently acquired a copy and like it very much. They provide taped 
tutorials
with the software that helps walk you through all of the basic functions. 
It makes windows highly accessible.  Window Eyes is a nice product, but I
found it lacking in many respects.  To be fair, I must admit I used an
earlier revision of the product and understand they have refined the
product, but I found the set files in windows to be confusing and prefer
Jaws in the windows environment.  There are a lot of screen reading 
packages
available.  You can download demos of the software and "try before you 
buy"
if you like.  Check out http://users.deltanet.com/~tdb/company.htm for 
more
information on the various screen readers and the companies that sell 
them.

>3.  Between Netscape and IE, which is friendlier in this context?

It seems as though, in the windows 95 OS, Microsoft Exploreer is winning
hands down.  If you are accessing the net via win 3.1 you would definitely
want to use Netscape.  It is much more powerful that the 3.1 version of 
ie.

>4.  Any other suggestions, experience, hints will be greatly
>appreciated.

If you have any other questions or concerns, please feel free to contact 
me.
 I will be pleased to help you provide access for the blind!

Cathy Murtha


Magical Mist Creations
"TAking your dreams and turning them into a reality!"
Phone:  (714) 490-1011 tutorial orders and custom web design

Cathy Murtha, Web Design and Access Specialist  mist at cdepot.net
http://www2.cdepot.net/~mist

Tom Baccanti Sales and Information tdb at deltanet.com
http://users.deltanet.com/~tdb