C559059@UMCVMB.BITNET (Bill Benson) (10/31/90)
Index Number: 11434 I use a screen reader speech package on my mainframe terminal. But my own pc uses artic. I like both systems But I prefer the artic. Mainly because I don't like the extra keypad for the screen reader. I am a fast typist and it just does have the capability of keeping up with me and It is rather slower then the artic. It maybe my inexperienced use of the package that hampers its efficency. If anybody has information that might help me make it more useful to me mail me at c559059@umcvmb. Thanks for your time
PERSON@PLAINS.BITNET (rett Person) (10/31/90)
Index Number: 11435 I'll cast my vote for Screen Reader. This has as much to do with how I feel about Screen Reader as it does with how much I hate the artic board speech unit. I like the seperate keypad philosophy, and feel that it is the only sane method to eliminate key conflicts with other programs. -- Brett G. Person North Dakota State University uunet!plains!person | person@plains.bitnet | person@plains.nodak.edu
CUTWAYS@QUCDN.BITNET (10/31/90)
Index Number: 11436 [This is from the BLIND-L mailing list] *** Reply to note of 10/25/90 13:22 Hello again, Bill: I'm the fellow who sent you the note the other day about the Cranmer Modified Perkins Brailler I have for sale. Concerning the relative merits of the 2 systems, both have strong proponents and detractors. Both, obviously, have strengths and weaknesses, relative to each other and to what else is available. I have been an Artic user for 2-1/2 years and like it very much. I have also used ScreenReader on a much more limited basis. I can well understand why you are using ScreenReader on your mainframe terminal at school, and I'll bet you find it easier to use in the mainframe environment. The current version of Artic BusinessVision has problems tracking mainframe cursors. It can be done, but takes patience and skill. This may be solved in Visions 3 whose release is due any day, but we'll have to see a product before we know for sure. I agree with your sentiments about the additional keypad, although I understand IBM's philosopy for taking that approach. It has some clear advantages--no key conflicts, allowing an application to become as complex as necessary; no need for a separate review mode, etc. Visions 3 from Artic, it would appear, is going to work much more like ScreenReader than ArticVision/BusinessVision 2.20. Another thing I personally prefer about Artic is that I don't have to make the very difficult and very subjective decision as to which speech synthesizer to buy. Others prefer to make this choice. Finally, so far, ArticVision/BusinessVision is easier to learn. However, that may not be the case with Visions 3. We'll have to wait and see. So, in summary, if it appears that I'm sitting on the fence, I am. What I recommend to my clients is that they look very carefully at all options available to them, taking into account what kind of computer they're going to be using (portable/laptop versus desktop), and what, primarily, they're going to use it for. Steve Cutway Coordinator of Information Access Technology Computing and Communications Services Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada K7L 3N6 PHONE: (613) 545-6354 EMAIL: CUTWAYS@QUCDN.QueensU.CA
Al.Hoffman@p0.f143.n109.z1.fidonet.org (Al Hoffman) (11/14/90)
Index Number: 11673
[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]
Bill:
Get the "altstop" add in PAL for your Screen Reader, it will
let you <alt> the shutup key--and after that its a matter of your
brain against the machines. ARtic can't do what Screen Reader can.
It just can't do it--about it being slow, well, hell I hardly ever
move my hands from the keyboard here at home, at work I havve ARTIC,
so same situation--but in reverse.
If you want further info about things you can do with Screen
REader, you can either call me at work at 202-535-4720, or home at
703-765-9294.
--
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