Mac for inept user?
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From: Conor on 20 Mar 2010 16:14 On 20/03/2010 20:04, SteveH wrote: >> Sadly, like PnP, it'll mean people have one less reason to actually >> learn something about the equipment they're using. > > Why should they need to? > Because maybe the internet wouldn't be the malware infested cesspit it's become. Maybe because if they had even half a clue, they could save themselves shedloads of money paying people to fix them. > I want a computer to 'just work' - I've done enough cocking about in my > University days programming in FORTRAN and Pascal on clicky-keyed > green-screen terminals. > > These days, if it doesn't 'just work', I'm not in the slightest bit > interested. So you don't own a computer? -- Conor I'm not prejudiced. I hate everyone equally.
From: Jim on 20 Mar 2010 16:18 Conor <conor(a)gmx.co.uk> wrote: > > Why should they have to? Most people use a computer to _get things > > done_, not twiddle endlessly with conf files and larn x86 assembler. > > > > Because in order to use pretty much everything with electric running > through it, its a good idea to RTFM. If it needs a FM then it's badly designed. And you dodged the question - people don't want to have to learn about the ugly internals of a computer simply to write a letter to the milkman, in much the same way that I neither know nor care how an internal combustion engine works yet I still drive 80 miles most days. Jim -- http://www.ursaMinorBeta.co.uk http://twitter.com/GreyAreaUK Please help save Bletchley Park - sign the petition for Government funding at: (open to UK residents and ex.pats) http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/BletchleyPark/ Thank you.
From: James Jolley on 20 Mar 2010 17:24 On 2010-03-20 16:05:50 +0000, Chris Ridd <chrisridd(a)mac.com> said: > On 2010-03-20 16:01:50 +0000, Jim said: > >> Chris Ridd <chrisridd(a)mac.com> wrote: >> >>>> How does a modern Gnome or KDE desktop cope with that? Honest question, >>>> I genuinely don't know the answer. >>>> >>> >>> Sun added a *lot* of accessibility code to GNOME, so that they could >>> ship it in a commercial operating system. >> >> That's good to know. > > There are blind OpenSolaris (uses GNOME) users, so there are probably > blind Linux users too. I don't know if they provide all the different > things that blind users might need, but they provide at least a bare > minimum. Yes, they provide much of what the blind need. For me, it's a question of relevance for my working style. As someone who is interested in UI design, I was always frustrated with the Windows/other screen readers because they would tell me useless things that I didn't need to know at that very instant. For instance, In VoiceOver, I can control how internet HTML elements are spoken, in what order they should be announced "Link Home" or "Home Link" as an example. Other useful things within OS X are the ability to have VO automatically interact with mouseovers and have the state reflected. It's a matter of taste really but I prefer the methodology OS X has employed, the user has to initiate the reading and know where elements are on screen. Best -JAmes-
From: James Jolley on 20 Mar 2010 17:25 On 2010-03-20 19:02:05 +0000, Conor <conor(a)gmx.co.uk> said: > On 20/03/2010 16:05, Chris Ridd wrote: >> On 2010-03-20 16:01:50 +0000, Jim said: >> >>> Chris Ridd <chrisridd(a)mac.com> wrote: >>> >>>>> How does a modern Gnome or KDE desktop cope with that? Honest question, >>>>> I genuinely don't know the answer. >>>>> >>>> >>>> Sun added a *lot* of accessibility code to GNOME, so that they could >>>> ship it in a commercial operating system. >>> >>> That's good to know. >> >> There are blind OpenSolaris (uses GNOME) users, so there are probably >> blind Linux users too. I don't know if they provide all the different >> things that blind users might need, but they provide at least a bare >> minimum. >> > Well it covers Braille, Screen Readers, Magnification and High Contrast > Schemes so I reckon pretty much everything needed. VoiceOver also covers magnification and Braille. Indeed it's one of the only readers that's all inclusive. Vo is often used by those with learning/reading difficulties.
From: James Jolley on 20 Mar 2010 17:27
On 2010-03-20 19:00:22 +0000, Conor <conor(a)gmx.co.uk> said: > On 20/03/2010 15:22, Jim wrote: >> Conor<conor(a)gmx.co.uk> wrote: >> >>> The Gnome desktop is very similar as Mac OS X. I can only assume you've >>> not used it recently. In fact, some things are actually easier to do >>> with Gnome. >> >> James Jolley is blind. Literally, actually blind. As in 'has no sight'. >> >> How does a modern Gnome or KDE desktop cope with that? Honest question, >> I genuinely don't know the answer. > > Very well. Orca comes with Ubuntu and works on all Gnome desktops. Orca > is a free, open source, flexible, extensible, and powerful assistive > technology for people with visual impairments. Using various combina I can say that having used Orca, it's limited. The lack of configurability within that application is understated. I found that it is beyond chatty to the point of irritation, it's written as an aditional application where as VO is included within the OS at the lowest level. Best -James- |