- Blind-sysadmins - lists.hodgsonfamily.org

Accessible BIOS Utilities
by vic.pereira＠ssc-spc.gc.ca 18 Dec '14

18 Dec '14

Greetings The only accessible BIOS utilities I've come across were put out by Compaq and Toshiba. Compaq had a DOS based BIOS program that one could use with a DOS screen reader and synthesizer. Toshiba also had a utility that worked with their laptops. I have not come across any since then. It was just when processors were moving from the 486 to the Pentium platform. Is when I lost track of what happened. There were even some SCSI cards that were accessible through similar DOS text based utilities. Vic Pereira Shared Services Canada/Services partagés Canada 9-111 Lombard Avenue Winnipeg MB R3B 0T4 Vic.pereira(a)ssc-spc.gc.ca 204-781-5046 -----Original Message----- From: Blind-sysadmins [mailto:blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org] On Behalf Of Anatoliy Shudrya Sent: December-18-14 12:58 PM To: 'Blind sysadmins list' Subject: Re: [Blind-sysadmins] Serial Synthesizers Are these hardware synthesizers capable of making BIOS accessible? I got to IT with software synthesizers only and never had a change to work with one of the hardware once. Always wondered if it worse the effort to invest in one of the hardware synth to be able working on the BIOS level when needed. Do they have one with USB connection? Sorry it's kind of off the topic. Anatoliy -----Original Message----- From: Blind-sysadmins [mailto:blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org] On Behalf Of Chris Smart Sent: Thursday, December 18, 2014 10:44 AM To: Blind sysadmins list Subject: Re: [Blind-sysadmins] Serial Synthesizers Oh they are. I still prefer Eloquence for basic computing where I have the speech cranked up though. But for pleasure reading, the more human-sounding voices for sure. At 01:38 PM 12/18/2014, you wrote: >I had the Artic business vision and before that an Echo 2E later on the >Dectalk. > >Love that these are things of the past, they sounded good (dectalk did >anyway) but software synths are miles ahead in my opinion. > > >On Dec 18, 2014, at 1:12 PM, Chris Smart <csmart8(a)cogeco.ca> wrote: > > > am I the only one who misses the Accent synth > and ASAP on dos machines? Most found Accent to > be too stacato, but I really liked it at fast speeds. Same goes for Artic. > > > > > > At 01:06 PM 12/18/2014, you wrote: > >> Hi, > >> > >> Not really to me - Apollo has a very > distinctive voice. I wish it could be > reserected. Those were the days that the > hardware synth manufacturers had several > different variants of their synths - Dolphin > for example had an internal Apollo ISA card, > the two external Apollos/Junos and the PCMCIA Gemini card. > >> > >> Andrew. > >> > >> -----Original Message----- > >> From: Blind-sysadmins > [mailto:blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org] On Behalf Of mattias > >> Sent: 18 December 2014 17:13 > >> To: 'Blind sysadmins list' > >> Subject: Re: [Blind-sysadmins] Serial Synthesizers > >> > >> But the voice in orpheus tts sound verry verry verry like apollo > >> > >> -----Original Message----- > >> From: Blind-sysadmins > >> > [mailto:blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org] > On Behalf Of Darragh Ó Héiligh > >> Sent: den 18 december 2014 18:09 > >> To: Blind sysadmins list > >> Subject: Re: [Blind-sysadmins] Serial Synthesizers > >> > >> NO. Not really. Similar though. > >> > >> -----Original Message----- > >> From: Blind-sysadmins > >> > [mailto:blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org] On Behalf Of mattias > >> Sent: 18 December 2014 17:08 > >> To: 'Blind sysadmins list' > >> Subject: Re: [Blind-sysadmins] Serial Synthesizers > >> > >> But them have same voice? > >> > >> -----Original Message----- > >> From: Blind-sysadmins > >> > [mailto:blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org] > On Behalf Of Andrew Hodgson > >> Sent: den 18 december 2014 18:00 > >> To: Blind sysadmins list > >> Subject: Re: [Blind-sysadmins] Serial Synthesizers > >> > >> Hi, > >> > >> Juno is smaller, has a slightly inferior > speaker and can be powered by battery where as > Apollo is external powered synth. > >> > >> Andrew. > >> > >> -----Original Message----- > >> From: Blind-sysadmins > >> > [mailto:blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org] On Behalf Of mattias > >> Sent: 18 December 2014 16:38 > >> To: 'Blind sysadmins list' > >> Subject: Re: [Blind-sysadmins] Serial Synthesizers > >> > >> Hm? Juno and appollo are the same? > >> Or what are different > >> > >> > >> -----Original Message----- > >> From: Blind-sysadmins > >> > [mailto:blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org] > On Behalf Of Darragh Ó Héiligh > >> Sent: den 18 december 2014 17:19 > >> To: Blind sysadmins list > >> Subject: Re: [Blind-sysadmins] Serial Synthesizers > >> > >> Vic, > >> I was the same to a certain extent. When I > started, I had a Juno and an Apollo 2. > >> > >> I lived with Hal 4 for years! I mean > years. I must have used it from 1993 to 2003 > when I needed to do something in Dos. > >> -----Original Message----- > >> From: Blind-sysadmins > >> > [mailto:blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org] > On Behalf Of vic.pereira(a)ssc-spc.gc.ca > >> Sent: 18 December 2014 15:57 > >> To: blind-sysadmins(a)lists.hodgsonfamily.org > >> Subject: [Blind-sysadmins] Serial Synthesizers > >> > >> Well, back then the Braille n' Speak was an > OK note taker. We didn't have much to choose from when it came to portability. > >> > >> It also worked as double duty as a portable > synthesizer. For example when taking a course > where the classroom was a computer lab. If you > had text to speech software that you could > install on one of the classroom computers the > BnS worked as a synthesizer. Remember there was > a time when we didn't have access to software > synthesizers. Many of us taking networking > courses, classes that required the use of > terminal emulation programs to access minis, > mainframes etc. or anything else that used a > computer we had to be flexible and creative to > make those classroom environments work for us. > If we expected the training companies and > instructors to set all that up for us, we would > have been waiting for a very very long time. > >> > >> A friend of mine uses the following statement often: > >> > >> "I used to be plastic, but now I am elastic." > >> > >> I like that saying, because it demonstrates > how a little flexibility can go a long way > >> > >> Vic Pereira > >> Shared Services Canada/Services partagés Canada > >> 9-111 Lombard Avenue > >> Winnipeg MB R3B 0T4 > >> Vic.pereira(a)ssc-spc.gc.ca > >> 204-781-5046 > >> > >> > >> -----Original Message----- > >> From: Blind-sysadmins > >> > [mailto:blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org] > On Behalf Of Stephen Guerra > >> Sent: December-18-14 9:39 AM > >> To: 'Blind sysadmins list' > >> Subject: Re: [Blind-sysadmins] NVDA will soon support remote access > >> > >> But why would anyone want a $695 speech synthesizer > >> > >> > >> -----Original Message----- > >> From: Blind-sysadmins > >> > [mailto:blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org] > On Behalf Of vic.pereira(a)ssc-spc.gc.ca > >> Sent: Thursday, December 18, 2014 9:03 AM > >> To: blind-sysadmins(a)lists.hodgsonfamily.org > >> Subject: Re: [Blind-sysadmins] NVDA will soon support remote access > >> > >> The Blazie products also worked as speech > synthesizers that could be connected to a > serial port and accessed by text to speech software. > >> > >> Vic Pereira > >> Shared Services Canada/Services partagés Canada > >> 9-111 Lombard Avenue > >> Winnipeg MB R3B 0T4 > >> Vic.pereira(a)ssc-spc.gc.ca > >> 204-781-5046 > >> > >> > >> -----Original Message----- > >> From: Blind-sysadmins > >> > [mailto:blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org] On Behalf Of mattias > >> Sent: December-17-14 5:57 PM > >> To: Blind sysadmins list > >> Subject: Re: [Blind-sysadmins] NVDA will soon support remote access > >> > >> but braille an speak are hardware? > >> On 2014-12-17 15:59, vic.pereira(a)ssc-spc.gc.ca wrote: > >> > Hello Katherine > >> > > >> > Some of us curmudgeons can put up with a lot of bad synthesized speech. > >> When one is brought up on TriFormations FSST > dumb terminals, Type n' Talk, Blazie Braille n' > Speak etc. a lot of these software synthesizers aren't too shabby. > >> > > >> > Also, you made a comment regarding the look of a UI. When someone has > >> useable vision, the look of an application > is as important to them as the quality of synthetic speech is to some of us. > >> > > >> > Vic Pereira > >> > Shared Services Canada/Services partagés Canada > >> > 9-111 Lombard Avenue > >> > Winnipeg MB R3B 0T4 > >> > Vic.pereira(a)ssc-spc.gc.ca > >> > 204-781-5046 > >> > > >> > > >> > -----Original Message----- > >> > From: Blind-sysadmins > >> > [mailto:blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org] On Behalf Of > >> > Katherine Moss > >> > Sent: December-16-14 6:58 PM > >> > To: Blind sysadmins list > >> > Subject: Re: [Blind-sysadmins] NVDA will soon support remote access > >> > > >> > I've never tried Teamviewer and NVDA, but I've heard the audio from my > >> friend's side when he uses Teamviewer to > access my computer, and let me tell you, it sounds like crap. > >> > > >> > -----Original Message----- > >> > From: Blind-sysadmins > >> > [mailto:blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org] On Behalf Of > >> > Ben Mustill-Rose > >> > Sent: Tuesday, December 16, 2014 6:48 PM > >> > To: Blind sysadmins list > >> > Subject: Re: [Blind-sysadmins] NVDA will soon support remote access > >> > > >> > It sounds like it will be a good solution for blind on blind support > >> > so to > >> speak & a blind person supporting a sighted > friend. ISTM that corporations who also have > sighted administrators will still have to > deploy another remote access solution on top of > this one though as it doesn't support video & I > got the impression that they're not intending > to make it into a fully featured remote administration tool. > >> > Never the less, I'll be contributing to their campain as it's > >> > noticeabley > >> better than TeamViewer & NVDA which is what > I'm having to use for people at the moment. > >> > > >> > Cheers, > >> > Ben. > >> > > >> > On 12/16/14, Katherine Moss <Katherine.Moss(a)gordon.edu> wrote: > >> >> Now that's awesome? not to mention, best programmers out there to do > >> >> the job; everything I've purchased from Christopher, and I've nearly > >> >> bought all of his stuff; I intend to finish those purchases off soon; > >> >> I can't tell you how much productivity and joy I've gotten out of > >> >> them. I use QRead and Chicken Nugget on the daily. If those are good, > >> >> then I can only imagine what this will do; hopefully it will be good > >> >> for both client OS and server OS access. Now all we need is a virtual > >> channel over RDP. > >> >> > >> >> -----Original Message----- > >> >> From: Blind-sysadmins > >> >> [mailto:blind-sysadmins-bounces@lists.hodgsonfamily.org] On Behalf Of > >> >> Ben Mustill-Rose > >> >> Sent: Tuesday, December 16, 2014 3:38 PM > >> >> To: blind-sysadmins(a)lists.hodgsonfamily.org > >> >> Subject: [Blind-sysadmins] NVDA will soon support remote access > >> >> > >> >> Hi all, > >> >> > >> >> Taken from http://www.nvdaremote.com > >> >> > >> >> NVDA Remote Access Preview > >> >> Welcome to NVDA Remote Access > >> >> NVDA Remote access will be a free add-on to NVDA which allows a user > >> >> to remotely control another machine. It does its part to reverse the > >> >> trend of blind unemployment by creating more job opportunities for > >> >> tech entrepreneurs, system administrators, rehabilitation > >> >> specialists, and educators. > >> >> Why do we need Remote Access? > >> >> NVDA Remote Access will give blind users the freedom to enjoy a > >> >> number of career and educational options. Blind Technical Support > >> >> Professionals and amateurs alike can Use NVDA Remote access to > >> >> connect to their clients computers remotely in real time and walk > >> >> them through multi-step procedures or teach them new applications, > >> >> techniques and workflows. Educators can hear what their students are > >> >> doing on their computers and vice versa, providing a perfect > >> >> environment for hands-on training from afar. Whether in an office > >> >> down the hall or a datacenter on the other side of the globe, NVDA > >> >> Remote access will provide powerful, minimal latency access to the > >> Windows desktop via speech. > >> >> Audio Demonstration > >> >> Listen to a podcast where we demonstrate and discuss the current > >> >> prototype of NVDA Remote Access. > >> >> http://www.cucat.org/class_notes/CaviCasts/2014/20141213_nvda_remote. > >> >> m > >> >> p3 > >> >> Who are we? > >> >> Tyler Spivey and Christopher Toth, creators of popular accessible > >> >> software such as 3MT Reader , QRead , Chicken Nugget , MushReader , > >> >> and > >> more. > >> >> > >> >> Cheers, > >> >> Ben. > >> >> > >> >> _______________________________________________ > >> >> Blind-sysadmins mailing list > >> >> Blind-sysadmins(a)lists.hodgsonfamily.org > >> >> https://lists.hodgsonfamily.org/listinfo/blind-sysadmins > >> >> > >> >> _______________________________________________ > >> >> Blind-sysadmins mailing list > >> >> Blind-sysadmins(a)lists.hodgsonfamily.org > >> >> https://lists.hodgsonfamily.org/listinfo/blind-sysadmins > >> >> > >> > _______________________________________________ > >> > Blind-sysadmins mailing list > >> > Blind-sysadmins(a)lists.hodgsonfamily.org > >> > https://lists.hodgsonfamily.org/listinfo/blind-sysadmins > >> > > >> > _______________________________________________ > >> > Blind-sysadmins mailing list > >> > Blind-sysadmins(a)lists.hodgsonfamily.org > >> > https://lists.hodgsonfamily.org/listinfo/blind-sysadmins > >> > > >> > _______________________________________________ > >> > Blind-sysadmins mailing list > >> > Blind-sysadmins(a)lists.hodgsonfamily.org > >> > https://lists.hodgsonfamily.org/listinfo/blind-sysadmins > >> > >> > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> Blind-sysadmins mailing list > >> Blind-sysadmins(a)lists.hodgsonfamily.org > >> https://lists.hodgsonfamily.org/listinfo/blind-sysadmins > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> Blind-sysadmins mailing list > >> Blind-sysadmins(a)lists.hodgsonfamily.org > >> https://lists.hodgsonfamily.org/listinfo/blind-sysadmins > >> > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> Blind-sysadmins mailing list > >> Blind-sysadmins(a)lists.hodgsonfamily.org > >> https://lists.hodgsonfamily.org/listinfo/blind-sysadmins > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> Blind-sysadmins mailing list > >> Blind-sysadmins(a)lists.hodgsonfamily.org > >> https://lists.hodgsonfamily.org/listinfo/blind-sysadmins > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> Blind-sysadmins mailing list > >> Blind-sysadmins(a)lists.hodgsonfamily.org > >> https://lists.hodgsonfamily.org/listinfo/blind-sysadmins > >> > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> Blind-sysadmins mailing list > >> Blind-sysadmins(a)lists.hodgsonfamily.org > >> https://lists.hodgsonfamily.org/listinfo/blind-sysadmins > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> Blind-sysadmins mailing list > >> Blind-sysadmins(a)lists.hodgsonfamily.org > >> https://lists.hodgsonfamily.org/listinfo/blind-sysadmins > >> > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> Blind-sysadmins mailing list > >> Blind-sysadmins(a)lists.hodgsonfamily.org > >> https://lists.hodgsonfamily.org/listinfo/blind-sysadmins > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> Blind-sysadmins mailing list > >> Blind-sysadmins(a)lists.hodgsonfamily.org > >> https://lists.hodgsonfamily.org/listinfo/blind-sysadmins > >> > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> Blind-sysadmins mailing list > >> Blind-sysadmins(a)lists.hodgsonfamily.org > >> https://lists.hodgsonfamily.org/listinfo/blind-sysadmins > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> Blind-sysadmins mailing list > >> Blind-sysadmins(a)lists.hodgsonfamily.org > >> https://lists.hodgsonfamily.org/listinfo/blind-sysadmins > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Blind-sysadmins mailing list > > Blind-sysadmins(a)lists.hodgsonfamily.org > > https://lists.hodgsonfamily.org/listinfo/blind-sysadmins > > >_______________________________________________ >Blind-sysadmins mailing list >Blind-sysadmins(a)lists.hodgsonfamily.org >https://lists.hodgsonfamily.org/listinfo/blind-sysadmins _______________________________________________ Blind-sysadmins mailing list Blind-sysadmins(a)lists.hodgsonfamily.org https://lists.hodgsonfamily.org/listinfo/blind-sysadmins _______________________________________________ Blind-sysadmins mailing list Blind-sysadmins(a)lists.hodgsonfamily.org https://lists.hodgsonfamily.org/listinfo/blind-sysadmins

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windows 8 accessible apps
by mattias 18 Dec '14

18 Dec '14

the topic says all and now i dont meen desktop apps i meen the new one

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NVDA will soon support remote access
by Ben Mustill-Rose 18 Dec '14

18 Dec '14

Hi all, Taken from http://www.nvdaremote.com NVDA Remote Access Preview Welcome to NVDA Remote Access NVDA Remote access will be a free add-on to NVDA which allows a user to remotely control another machine. It does its part to reverse the trend of blind unemployment by creating more job opportunities for tech entrepreneurs, system administrators, rehabilitation specialists, and educators. Why do we need Remote Access? NVDA Remote Access will give blind users the freedom to enjoy a number of career and educational options. Blind Technical Support Professionals and amateurs alike can Use NVDA Remote access to connect to their clients computers remotely in real time and walk them through multi-step procedures or teach them new applications, techniques and workflows. Educators can hear what their students are doing on their computers and vice versa, providing a perfect environment for hands-on training from afar. Whether in an office down the hall or a datacenter on the other side of the globe, NVDA Remote access will provide powerful, minimal latency access to the Windows desktop via speech. Audio Demonstration Listen to a podcast where we demonstrate and discuss the current prototype of NVDA Remote Access. http://www.cucat.org/class_notes/CaviCasts/2014/20141213_nvda_remote.mp3 Who are we? Tyler Spivey and Christopher Toth, creators of popular accessible software such as 3MT Reader , QRead , Chicken Nugget , MushReader , and more. Cheers, Ben.

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Testing tools
by Ibraam Wahib 16 Dec '14

16 Dec '14

hello friends please, wish find who can help me in this project, I need to find professional tools help me to test accessibility for screen-readers and magnifiers 1- dynamic website asp.net, 2- a windows software. what you recommend in this matter, tools, materials to read, how report should be prepared for the developers. many thanks for your guide.

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NVDA will soon support remote access
by Ben Mustill-Rose 16 Dec '14

16 Dec '14

Hi all, Taken from http://www.nvdaremote.com NVDA Remote Access Preview Welcome to NVDA Remote Access NVDA Remote access will be a free add-on to NVDA which allows a user to remotely control another machine. It does its part to reverse the trend of blind unemployment by creating more job opportunities for tech entrepreneurs, system administrators, rehabilitation specialists, and educators. Why do we need Remote Access? NVDA Remote Access will give blind users the freedom to enjoy a number of career and educational options. Blind Technical Support Professionals and amateurs alike can Use NVDA Remote access to connect to their clients computers remotely in real time and walk them through multi-step procedures or teach them new applications, techniques and workflows. Educators can hear what their students are doing on their computers and vice versa, providing a perfect environment for hands-on training from afar. Whether in an office down the hall or a datacenter on the other side of the globe, NVDA Remote access will provide powerful, minimal latency access to the Windows desktop via speech. Audio Demonstration Listen to a podcast where we demonstrate and discuss the current prototype of NVDA Remote Access. http://www.cucat.org/class_notes/CaviCasts/2014/20141213_nvda_remote.mp3 Who are we? Tyler Spivey and Christopher Toth, creators of popular accessible software such as 3MT Reader , QRead , Chicken Nugget , MushReader , and more. Cheers, Ben.

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What happened to the VMWare Player?
by Steve Matzura 08 Dec '14

08 Dec '14

Unbelievable but true, it's no longer on offer from vmware.com. The Website says it's currently in redevelopment, which could mean anything. Suitable replacement recommendations, or location of old downloadable versions, greatly appreciated.

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Windows 8.1 notifications and JAWS
by Anatoliy Shudrya 05 Dec '14

05 Dec '14

Is there a way JAWS can enounce/read windows 8.1 notifications? I already have 16 version and it is still seems to be not supported. Am I missing something, maybe there is a way to enable it some ware in JAWS settings? Anatoliy

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Virtual XP
by Steve Matzura 29 Nov '14

29 Nov '14

Anyone tried building a virtual XP installation on a Windows 7 system? I have an old piece of software that absolutely will not run in 7's compatibility mode, so I thought I'd build a virtual XP. For my next trick, I want to use this virtual XP on multiple hardware platforms, and I suspect this part will not be possible because of driver requirement differences. I'd like to hear from anyone who's tried virtualizing XP on Windows 7, and which virtual environment manager (VMWare, etc.) they prefer, and of course, why.

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window-eyes 9 beta1
by Josh k 25 Nov '14

25 Nov '14

hey window eyes9 beta1 is now out go get it at www.gwmicro.com/beta or google search it.

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Remotely installing applications onto Windows Servers and career advice.
by Barry Toner 24 Nov '14

24 Nov '14

Hi all, I've a potential cracking, in fact life changing job coming up for a company. It's an FT100. Couldn't' come at a better time as my current 2yr contract is coming to a close. I've passed my interview. I scored the highest out of everyone they interviewed. I have been explicitly been told this by HR. I spent 1hr:20mins on the phone with two Senior Tech Managers two weeks ago. They wanted to gage my current experience for themselves. I'm trying my best to keep the positive, upbeat attitude going. I want this job right? I don't want to allow it to enter my head, OK guys I'm open, I'm honest, let's go! There's a couple of things going on now. No one for these entry level infrastructure roles have been hired yet, as far as I am aware. I keep being told there are 4 roles coming up. They interviewed a second time for this area, and there's a queue I'd imagine forming behind me! One person let slip that they are waiting for paperwork to be completed that is on a desk of someone who has been out of the office. I had a phone call today from HR saying, there's one problem. The parent company refuses to allow a Screen Reader to be installed on their servers. And asked how would I install an application on a server with no screen reader. These are Windows Servers. 2008R2 and 2012. I've asked someone off list and they gave some suggestions, but also had concerns about no SR on a server. I'm getting tempted to say, after I go back to HR with ways I can do this, OK, I appreciate your position, let's take me on for a year, see what we can do and after that it it's not working out I can walk away and you don't' have a permanent member of staff if with all the red tape. However, give me the chance to prove to you I can work around barriers. I'll find a way to keep it positive and not begging. It's so frustrating because I'm walking a thin line here. I appreciate they want to make sure things are going to work, but they can't even tell me what the specifics of the roles are going to be, let alone what application they are talking about installing and if it's just installing. I'm talking to someone in HR who doesn't know tech, acg! OK, can people please offer suggestions how I can install a program onto a remote server from a workstation? I've already heard PowerShell, and Group Policy. I'm not sure how I'd do this, as I don't' have a working knowledge of either of these technologies. I suspect at the level I'm going in at neither will the other candidates. I appreciate sometimes we need to be the best of the best and any skills I'll acquire by learning how to do this while more arduous than someone pointing and clicking on an RDP connection, but I need to start from somewhere. I'd also appreciate any advice on how to tread carefully here, I don't' want to blow my chances but equally I don't' want to be taken for a ride. Or despite passing their recruitment process be ton a old based ona hypothetical, we can't consider you! Cheers guys, Barry.

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