[jawsscripts] Re: jaws and windoweyes scripting abilities, leading edge?
- From: "Brian Hartgen" <jaws@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <jawsscripts@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 6 Dec 2008 07:16:10 -0000
Hi Jeff
I think the point is this.
JAWS has had a scripting ability for many years and now all of a sudden the
other manufacturers actually realise it is a great idea to have scripting,
which it is.
About 7 or 8 years ago, you are right, I was creating a lot of Window-Eyes
set files for applications and was trying to be as creative as I could be
with extremely limited tools available to me. I became very frustrated at
this and so I turned to JAWS scripting.
I only recount this because it illustrates many of us have had years to get
used to the scripting language of JAWS which has not been there in other
products. Consequently, when we have been asked to script an application in
the workplace, or we have been requested to create a product like J-Tunes
which links JAWS and iTunes together, obviously JAWS has been what we and
professionals have chosen because it has had a unique place in the market.
People are not I feel going to switch screenreaders just because allegedly
it has a higher quality scripting language than JAWS does, which is
debatable. Often, it's not about the tools you have but how creative you
are with them in applying them to the situation you need to work with.
While JAWS continues to be capable of being able to be scripted for
applications in the workplace, there is no need for anyone to switch.
The other thing you have to look at is the base product itself. I know this
is definitely a matter of personal preference, but if you have a
screen-reader which still in my view has more functionality for people in
commonly used applications then clearly that too is going to sell the
product and so the quality of the scripting language becomes irrelevant.
Take two examples. First, quick navigation keys within Microsoft Word. For
people who have to deal with long and complex documents, structuring the
document well with headings etc and then using quick navigation keys off the
back of it makes a blind person very productive. Only JAWS has that
feature. Second, context sensitive help. This help system not only provides
useful environmental information but it also describes details of, for
example, fine attributes concerning a Word document, such as its margin
settings or table information. Using a competitive product, if you enter an
application and try and get help for that program you won't get the quality
of context sensitive help you will receive in JAWS. Then, if you add
scripting to the mix, you have an amazing and very useful product.
I am sure I could easily learn scripting for Window-Eyes, and in fact I have
been on the scripting course for the Dolphin products. But at the moment my
work hasn't required me to learn the language because JAWS still leads in
terms of popularity and sales, particularly here in the UK, and basically
that's what it all boils down to.
-----Original Message-----
From: jawsscripts-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:jawsscripts-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Geoff Chapman
Sent: 05 December 2008 14:45
To: jawsscripts@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [jawsscripts] jaws and windoweyes scripting abilities, leading
edge?
Hey Brian/listers.
hey what you've said below brian, re your view that jaws is still the
"leading edge" screenReader, with particular reference to it's ability to
provide enhanced flexability re your business of writing scripts for
increased usibility of applications etc,
really kinda intrigued me. Everet will indicate if he thinks this not on
topic, but, given that WE now does have support for scripting, and given
that you were once a window eyes man if I remember rightly back in the olden
days,
I'm curious to have you share your particular reasons for thinking Jaws
*is*, still the "leading edge screenReader?" particularly I guess for
ontopicness of this list, presumably in your view, in it's still ahead
ability to meet the needs of high accessibility demands, even though WE now
also has scripting capabilities?
What I'm trying to ask is, have you yourself, personally, really put the new
windoweyes scripting through it's paces? to, for example, try and mock up
in windowEyes script land, what you've been able to achieve in jaws script
land? and if so, have you found definite areas that windoweyes scripting
support still lags behind in, compared with that of jaws builtins?
Or do you feel it's just not economically worth your while now investing
resources in learning Windoweyes scripting approach, in order to perform
such tests with any degree of equal fairness to both sides, as per perceived
strengths and weaknesses?
I'm just really curious to hear you share your views/thoughts, as to
specific reasons for below?
I'm such an hsc man now that I can't see myself leaving the jaws world any
time soon, given how much energy I've invested in it, but, I'm still curious
to hear other's views on this.
Would you care to elaborate?
----- Original Message -----
From: "Brian Hartgen" <jaws@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <jawsscripts@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, December 05, 2008 4:24 AM
Subject: [jawsscripts] Re: Announcement, JAWS for Windows training courses
> Hi
>
> Actually the message went to this list in error as it should have gone to
> another jaws list. Sorry about that. However:
> 1. I did preceed it with the word "announcement" so in fact you could have
> hit delete if you had wanted to.
> 2. We have had two responses to it already who would not have otherwise
> known.
> 3. I think more importantly we are really trying very hard to promote jaws
> as a screen-reading product. These services and the third party scripts
we
> produce are just not being done in the UK at all. With the advent of
> scripting abilities and enhanced features in other screen-readers, I think
> it is very important that we let people know about what jaws related
> services are available to keep it the leading edge product that it truly
is.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: jawsscripts-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> [mailto:jawsscripts-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Matthew2007
> Sent: 04 December 2008 16:10
> To: jawsscripts@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [jawsscripts] Re: Announcement, JAWS for Windows training courses
>
> This is advertising on the list isn't it?
>
> Matthew
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Brian Hartgen" <brian@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: <jawsscripts@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Cc: <bcab@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Thursday, December 04, 2008 5:42 AM
> Subject: [jawsscripts] Announcement, JAWS for Windows training courses
>
>
> > Hi
> > During 2009, our company are delivering some training courses in the use
> > of the JAWS for Windows screen-reader. If you would like to know more
> > about the courses so you can learn more about JAWS, please visit our
> > Training Courses page at
> > http://www.tandt-consultancy.com/courses.html
> >
> >
> > Brian Hartgen
> >
> > __________
> > Visit and contribute to The JAWS Script Repository
http://jawsscripts.com
> >
> > View the list's information and change your settings at
> > http://www.freelists.org/list/jawsscripts
> >
> >
>
> __________
> Visit and contribute to The JAWS Script Repository http://jawsscripts.com
>
> View the list's information and change your settings at
> http://www.freelists.org/list/jawsscripts
>
> __________
> Visit and contribute to The JAWS Script Repository http://jawsscripts.com
>
> View the list's information and change your settings at
> http://www.freelists.org/list/jawsscripts
>
__________
Visit and contribute to The JAWS Script Repository http://jawsscripts.com
View the list's information and change your settings at
http://www.freelists.org/list/jawsscripts
__________
Visit and contribute to The JAWS Script Repository http://jawsscripts.com
View the list's information and change your settings at
http://www.freelists.org/list/jawsscripts
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