[misc.handicap] Closing the Gap

Daveed.Mandell@p0.f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org (Daveed Mandell) (10/13/90)

Index Number: 11092

[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

Willie:  I understand next week's Closing the Gap conference
in Minneapolis is where the actions's supposed to be -- where
lots of new technology products will get their debuts!
Will you be their to give us all a first-hand report?
If not, can someone else please get all the inside
info and post it here?
I hear the competition in speech is predicted to be
especially fierce!
--Daveed--

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Daveed.Mandell@p0.f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org (Daveed Mandell) (10/17/90)

Index Number: 11150

[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

Simple!  It couldn't care less about technology for the blind!
No way, no how!  Too bad, eh?
Called Syntha-Voice last week, by the way, and
Dave swears he's coming out with a whole slew of new
products, and a screen reader that'll beat
all others --- all this at Closing the Gap!
Gosh, he promises a lot.  Where are the results?
--Daveed--

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Doug.Geoffray@f8.n369.z1.fidonet.org (Doug Geoffray) (11/06/90)

Index Number: 11596

[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

 LI> Hi, Doug!  Hope you had fun and learned a lot at Closing the
 LI> Gap. When I lived in Minnesota, I always wanted to attend one
 LI> conference, but never got there.  I hope you can tell us
 LI> something about the conference.  I know you probably won't be
 LI> objective on screen readers--understandable, of course--but,
 LI> did you see any other types of products that might be of
 LI> interest to us?

Linda,
  Yes I had a great time at Closing the Gap.  This was the first time I
had ever gone to this conference.  It is amazing to me how computer
literate everyone there is.

It was amazing when I looked into some of the conference rooms.  There
were close to 75 or so IBM in one room and as many Apples in another.
Just unbelievable!  IBM and Apples booths had so many computers.  I
thought I had it tough carrying around one desktop and two laptop systems.
(grin)

Also, it was a good feeling because people were making it a point to see
our booth.  When we first started people did not even know who we were.
They thought Vocal-Eyes was just another attempt at a screen reader.  Now
people are seeing Vocal-Eyes for what it is.  Also, it was nice to see
that Arkenstone was using Vocal-Eyes to demonstrate their product.

Because of the volume, I did not have as much time as I would have liked
to look around.  Mainly what I did look at was either a product which
directly competed with ours or could possibly enhance our products.
I did look at the two main large print programs, PC-DOS
and ZOOMTEXT.  PC-DOS did not have a booth but Dan stopped by.  I would
like to make Vocal-Eyes as interactive with these types of programs as
possible.  I am sure this will happen.

As for what is new in the field, actually very little.  As David Andrews
wrote, Humanware was showing their mastertouch.  This is a revolutionary
idea but in my option thats where it stopped.  The screen reader was
what I would call average.  It certainly was not bad but lacked some of
the newer features found in other screen readers.  Also, the price seemed
a bit high.  But never-the-less an interesting idea.  Something to think
about.

Many vendors were talking about new versions which will be available
shortly.  But these have already been talked about here.

We were directly accross from the Reader Project.  I guess they first
introduced themselves at the A E R conference.  I did not see them
there though.  It sounded like a pretty neet program.

There were also two speech recognition devices by us.  Dragon Dictate and
Voice Connection.  Both had pretty good demos but I still believe speech
recongnition has a ways to go.

Sorry I could not be of more help Linda.  It's kind of tough to be impartial
with these things.  (smile)

Regards,
  Doug

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Doug.Geoffray@f8.n369.z1.fidonet.org (Doug Geoffray) (11/20/90)

Index Number: 11864

[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

 LI> Well, Doug, for someone who claims to be totally biased I
 LI> thought your message was interesting and fair.  I don't blame
 LI> you.  Were I in your position I'd check out competitors and pay
 LI> close attention to what they were doing right and sort of gloat
 LI> when my way, at least in my opinion, was a little better.  As a
 LI> user, I'm glad to see more choices.  I think the good products
 LI> will improve and the others will fall by the wayside.

Linda,
  I wish it were that simple.  However many times a state agency will
purchase a product stricly because of a companies size.  For example,
TSI has a strong hold on many states and government agencies.  Is this
because they have the best product on the market?  I really don't think
so.  Local and federal agencies like to work with large companies.  Artic
is another example.  It is extreemly difficult to convince these agencies
that your product is just as good and maybe even better.  Ask Henter-Joyce
or Omnicron.  This is why we need your support.  If enough people stand
up for the smaller companies they will eventually stand tall.

For example, Computer Aids did not fall by the wayside because they
had defective products.  They went out of business because the sales did
not meet the expenses.

Believe it or not Linda there is a moral to all this babbling.  If you
believe in a product stand up for it.  If you like JAWS compaired to all
the others than let people know that.  If you like Vocal-Eyes over the
others than let people know that too.

Please Linda don't take this meaning we at GW Micro are having problems.
Actually our sales are improving.  It is just that I have seen several
messages about weeding out the competition.  I have seen Computer Aids
Corporation go out of business.  I have seen Grass Roots Computing go out
of business and it was not because they were weeded out.

I guess you could consider companies like ours as the under-dog.  It just
makes it all that more of a challenge.  I plan to keeping Vocal-Eyes on
top as well as all our products.  Even if JAWS and ARTIC are coming out
with an upgrade "soon".  I guess it is time for an upgrade to Vocal-Eyes
even thought it is less than 8 months old.  Stay tuned!

Regards,
  Doug

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Scott.Howell@f521.n109.z1.fidonet.org (Scott Howell) (11/20/90)

Index Number: 11883

[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

 >To: Doug Geoffray
 >
 >  I wish it were that simple.  However many times a state agency will
 >purchase a product stricly because of a companies size.  For example,
 >TSI has a strong hold on many states and government agencies.  Is this
 >because they have the best product on the market?  I really don't think
 >so.  Local and federal agencies like to work with large companies.  Artic
 >is another example.  It is extreemly difficult to convince these agencies
 >that your product is just as good and maybe even better.  Ask Henter-Joyce
 >or Omnicron.  This is why we need your support.  If enough people stand
 >up for the smaller companies they will eventually stand tall.

     Well, actually NASA is pretty good about allowing you to make a choice 
as to what company the equiptment is purchased from.  Doug I will be giving 
you a call soon because I have a few ideas for Vocaleyes and a few 
questions.  Also Doug a tip you no doubt already know.  A company who is 
willing to take advice, opinions on their products such as enhancements a 
user may find very helpful and not just saying "yea sounds neat" and then 
letting it go out the other ear, open minded, while keeping the business 
part in mind keeping the customer's interest in mind, and most of all again 
being responsive to suggestions and ideas.  You wouldn't believe the ideas I 
have given to some who just don't want to listen and so that is why they are 
where they are still.

                                  Scott

     Ay Doug keep up the good hard work and good luck.

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Grant.Downey@p0.f9.n381.z1.fidonet.org (Grant Downey) (12/05/90)

Index Number: 12241

[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

Dog you really couldn't have said it better but there are a couple of 
things I'd like to elaberate on.  As technology becomes more and more 
important inthe work place, home, and in a blind person's life, I 
believe that the smaller companies will prevail because of their 
ability to provide personal service.  I have been dealing with the 
"large" comanies" but have gotten much better response from the smaller 
companies when it came to obtaining information aboutproducts, prices 
and so fourth.  That sort of service stands out in the buyers mind when 
it comes time to spend the GRANT money once it comes.  Sometimes you 
can't make an instant sale as so many people out there want to do but 
by keeping friendly and interested when the sale can be made then it 
will be that company that will be remembered.  I think there are many 
organizations like the one I work for that run on shewstring budgets 
that go from GRANT to GRANT and I don'tknow if there are others out 
there who feel the same way but the high presure from the larger 
companies just flat turns me off and makes me want to put a black mark 
by their name.  
Doug, keep up the good work, the friendly and helpful approach works in 
the long run.  You and the many other small companies out there are 
going to be the ones who willmeet the needs of the blind and visually 
empaired of this country.  People like calling a comany and not being 
met with a busy signal over and over again or getting a rude answer for 
technal support. People don't like getting the run around on technacal 
support.  and blind people just like the sighted like to feel like they 
are an important customer andyour company in particular and some of the 
others really try to keep that philosophy.  Thank goodness. Grant

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