Dear AccessWorld Editor,
It appears the only way to comment on articles is by sending an e-mail message. Any plans to implement an online forum? It would certainly promote discussion and interaction amongst readers and AFB staff.
Thanks,
Scott Blanks
Response from Lee Huffman, AccessWorld Editor-in-Chief:
Hello Scott,
Thank you for reading AccessWorld and for writing in with your comment and question.
You are correct: at this time the only way to comment is through e-mail. An online forum for interaction with AccessWorld readers has been discussed internally, but a decision to implement an online discussion forum has not been made at this time. However, input such as yours will help drive the future of AccessWorld. I encourage you to continue sending questions and comments. The AccessWorld staff and I want to know what readers are thinking.
Dear AccessWorld Editor,
Janet Ingber'srecent two-part series entitled Mac, PC, or Both: Choices for Blind and Visually Impaired Computer Users, comes at a time when many of us are looking seriously at Macs and various iDevices. I have made this move myself and welcome the information found in the article. I have worked in various computer environments for close to 30 years and celebrate the opportunity to work with VoiceOver on my Mac. Articles such as this offer great support and practical tips.
Thanks,
Leo Bissonnette, PhD
Dear AccessWorld Editor,
I read with great interest Deborah Kendrick's April article entitled The Future of Braille Technology: Perspectives and Implications.
I have been a braille reader since I was four years old. I much prefer it over speech output. In fact, I would not care if everything was in braille instead of speech output.
I imagine braille costs a lot more to produce than speech. With […] fewer people reading braille, I sometimes wonder if it is even worth making braille products. Braille displays are out of reach for most people who are blind. If you do not need [a display] for a job or school, your state agency is not going to help you buy it. I would love to have a braille display. If I did,I would probably never use speech. I do not care how good text-to-speech is. It will never be as good as braille.
Sincerely,
Dwayne McNutt
Dear AccessWorld Editor,
My husband is a driver and we are desperate to find something [that] has speech recognition. We have tried just about all the apps we could find. He has Evi, but we would appreciate any additional information you could offer.
Thanks for your assistance,
Kelly K
Response from Lee Huffman, AccessWorld Editor-in-Chief:
Hello Kelly,
If your husband has an iPhone 4S or iPhone 5, SIRI can accomplish the text from voice. Another hands-free option is Vokul. It's inexpensive and works well. As with any speech recognition program, there may be some occasional errors. Also, Vokul can be on in the background, but in previous testing, it would sometimes start requesting commands or begin talking by itself. You may find this AccessWorld article by Janet Ingber, Siri Substitutes: If You Don't Have Siri, There are Other Options, helpful.
Thank you for reading AccessWorld.
Dear AccessWorld Editor,
I like AccessWorld because it presents information for users who are completely blind as well as users who are visually impaired without any snobbery.
I am downloading Fleksy as I write because typing on any virtual keyboard for this partially-sighted user has been a spiritual adventure in building "patience" into my soul. I sometimes come down from that lofty height wanting to scream and yell.
Like many people with vision loss,I am still trying to figure out all the cell phone access issues. I currently have a phone with a real keyboard, which is quite accessible, but there is a two second delay in call connections sending and receiving, which is driving me crazy. I'd love the luxury of a Galaxy 3 but just can't justify the expense.
Please keep reviewing Android cell phones for low vision access, including such issues as enlarging the font in all parts of the phone (surfing the net, the keyboard/number pad, contacts lists, etc.).
I would also be interested in more articles discussing problems and solutions of traveling in today's rather unfriendly environments.
I really appreciate AccessWorld's even-handed approach to disability. Not all publications perform in such a mature manner. Keep up the good work!
Thanks,
Name withheld upon request
Dear AccessWorld Editor,
I appreciated Aaron Preece's April article entitled An Evaluation of the HumanWare Victor Reader Stream (New Generation). I have a first generation Victor that I use every day for reading NLS books and listening to some podcasts. I was considering purchasing the new Stream because the advertising claims the speaker is better and has Bluetooth connectivity.
Based on the problems described in this article, I think I'll wait and continue to use my old trusty Stream for now.
Thank you,
Gil Johnson
Dear AccessWorld Editor,
Janet Ingber's April article, Mac, PC, or Both: Choices for Blind and Visually Impaired Computer Users, Part II: Mac and Me: Using My MacBook Air with VoiceOver, is an excellent article on how to use VoiceOver from a keyboard. I just entered the "i"—world a couple months ago via an iPod touch. The shortcut keys you covered will help since I just got a Bluetooth keyboard to go with the iPod. I can see the sense of eventually going to a Mac. Trying to keep Jaws and Voiceover shortcut keys straight could be a challenge!
Keep up the great work,
Rob Stemple
Dear AccessWorld Editor,
Aaron Preece's April article, An Evaluation of the HumanWare Victor Reader Stream (New Generation), does not address or compare the units' respective battery lives and charging times. When buying a portable device, this is [our] first or second most important factor. Please address.
Cheryl Orgas and William Meeker
Response from Lee Huffman, AccessWorld Editor-in-Chief:
Hello Cheryl and William,
Both Stream models get 15 hours of battery life. The new Stream takes five hours to charge using the included charger while the original takes four hours. The new Stream can also be charged using a computer's USB port or a commercial charger. Using another option other than the included charger will take longer to charge the device.
Dear AccessWorld Editor,
As valuable and interesting as it is to learn about and use mainstream social networks, there is a healthy community of social networks specifically targeted to, and optimized for, users who are blind or low vision. These cloud-based sites do not prohibit sighted participation, but they are a safe space for people with vision disabilities to share and socialize without having to always explain every view. Sites I'm aware of include Klango.net, Zonebbs.com, and SAM Net. The people who use these sites often also use Facebook, Twitter, and Skype. I think these sites are undervalued by those who haven't found them. These sites are a way to genuinely experience "the blind community."
Sincerely,
Bill Pasco
Dear AccessWorld Editor,
Thank you for Aaron Preece's thorough review of the features and functions of the Victor Reader Stream in the April issue. It is appreciated. HumanWare has reduced the size of the Stream by some 28 percent while still maintaining the same familiar keypad spacing of the original, which our loyal users will appreciate. We also kept the familiar Bookshelf structure and navigation tools to make it easy to adapt to for existing users and easy to learn for new users. Thank you for describing these in detail in the review.
The wireless component is built into the hardware already, and a number of exciting wireless features will be added in future software updates. Meanwhile, HumanWare is working hard in collaboration with over a dozen different international organizations and content providers to help move their content toward a wirelessly downloadable format into the Stream. Having the National Library Service's Key available this way, as you mentioned, is a great start. The good news is that wireless software updates are now possible with this latest model, so keeping your new Stream up-to-date with the latest features will be that much easier. The other issues mentioned are duly noted and will be considered as we continuously improve our products in the future.
Regards,
Matthew Janusauskas,
Technical Product Manager, Victor Reader Products
Dear AccessWorld Editor,
I want to thank Bill Holton for his very informative and uplifting article in the April issue, Reaching Out: How You Can Help App Developers Improve Accessibility.
I am feeling very out of touch regarding mobile accessibility, and this article has given me information I can use immediately to improve my experience accessing my new Android phone. I feel much more hopeful that I will actually be able to make full use of this phone's features. Thanks again.
Sincerely,
Juanita Ohara
Dear AccessWorld Editor,
I was wondering if you would give any consideration to adding the ability to share AccessWorld articles on social media to the website. I read AccessWorld every month, and there are often articles I would like to share with my Twitter followers. I've recently taken to copying article headlines and addresses into tweets manually, but it would be awesome to see an automated sharing feature (similar to what is found on most news websites) available.
Sincerely,
Michael Hansen
Dear AccessWorld Editor,
First, let me say that I love your magazine and the information it provides. In this age in which technology is constantly changing and updating for the benefit or detriment of its users, it is refreshing to find a publication [that] provides a one-stop place for technology consumers who are blind to find the information we need. I have also recently downloaded the AccessWorld app on my iPhone and am equally pleased with its performance. It's a very efficient and easy-to-use way to read your magazine.
With this said, I have one suggestion for future updates to the AccessWorld app for iOS. Currently, one is only able to share articles from AccessWorld via e-mail. If this is possible, I think it would be great if there could be a feature in the app which would allow someone to share an AccessWorld article on Facebook and Twitter. This is a feature which I have found to be very useful in other similar news apps. I would love to be able to share the wonderful information in your magazine with my friends who are blind on Facebook and followers on Twitter as many other readers probably would.
Please let me know if this is possible and what your thoughts are on this suggestion. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me. Thank you for your time and attention to this e-mail, and thank you for the work you do to provide people who are blind with the technology information we need.
Sincerely,
Chris Nusbaum
Response from Lee Huffman, AccessWorld Editor -in-Chief:
Hello Chris,
Thank you for writing and for sharing your suggestion of adding a share feature for Facebook and Twitter. This is something several readers have asked for in the past. I am happy to let you and all of the AccessWorld readers know we are currently in the process of implementing the share features. Look for them in an upcoming AccessWorld Issue!
