Re: FW: [VICUG-L] FW: Press Release: Nonprofit Launched to Bring Free Accessibility Worldwide

Thanks for the info.  Maybe, I was too hasty.

Max in SC

-------------- Original message from "Sun Sounds of Arizona" <[email protected]>: -------------- 


> I've been using System Access, and it's companion software SATOGO for about 
> six months now. I personally haven't found it clunky though not as fully 
> developed as JAWS. I think SATOGO is heads and shoulders above Thunder 
> which I tried and discarded very quickly. JAWS is still my primary screen 
> reader because of this. However, SATOGO has some distinct advantages. For 
> one thing, the learning curve is much less than JAWS, and it's also much 
> easier to install and get working properly. It works adequately with all 
> the MS Office aps, has a few capabilities that JAWS does not have at all. I 
> think for the extra capability you have to buy the paid version, but even at 
> that, it's only about a third of the price of JAWS. The extras to which I 
> refer are these: 
> 
> * It has the ability to create either a CD/ROM or be installed on a USB3 
> Thumb Drive and it will bring up any XP or Vista computer from no speech to 
> speech automatically. I've tried it, it is really amazing. You plug it in, 
> and in maybe 30 seconds, or a bit more, the computer begins to talk and get 
> you set up. JAWS cannot do this without a lot of troublesome prep, and then 
> it won't always work. When you unplug the drive, the computer completely 
> reverts back to it's normal state. This is great for borrowing a computer 
> which isn't yours. The SATOGO version also can do this. 
> 
> * It enables you to use a feature much like Remote Desktop to control your 
> home or work computer remotely. I, for instance, can be working at home, 
> and need an application or file on my work computer. With just a couple of 
> key strokes, I can log into my work computer, and not just copy files, but 
> actually use the applications on my work computer, from home. I find this 
> really cool, and sometimes very useful. It can use the screen reader 
> resident on the remote computer, or use it's own speech as you choose. 
> 
> On the minus side: 
> 
> * The voice is apparently DEC Talk which is a bit less up to date and 
> pleasant than Eloquence, but still very usable. 
> 
> * The means of reviewing the screen is a bit unusual. You must go into a 
> mouse mode which isn't as fully functional as the JAWS cursor is. 
> 
> * It doesn't seem to support legacy DOS applications running under windows 
> as JAWS can. 
> 
> All that said, the price is certainly right. If a person is planning to do 
> mostly email, web surfing, and standard office applications, it is not only 
> adequate, but easy to use and inexpensive or free. 
> 
> Just my two cents. 
> Bill 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message----- 
> From: Visually Impaired Computer Users' Group List 
> [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Max Hearn 
> Sent: Friday, February 01, 2008 6:51 AM 
> To: [email protected] 
> Subject: [VICUG-L] FW: [VICUG-L] FW: Press Release: Nonprofit Launched to 
> Bring Free Accessibility Worldwide 
> 
> Greetings, 
> 
> 
> 
> I downloaded this free screenreader software. It works OK. It is a little 
> "clunky" (you can translate that word into a more appropriate Techno 
> phrase). Reminds me of the "Thunder" Screen reader. 
> 
> 
> 
> Anyone out there tried it? What is your impression of it? Are there any 
> glitches with other established screen reader software or anything that you 
> found which would create problems for the rest of us? 
> 
> 
> 
> Thanks, 
> 
> 
> 
> Max in SC 
> 
> 
> -------------- Forwarded Message: -------------- 
> From: Sun Sounds of Arizona 
> To: [email protected] 
> Subject: [VICUG-L] FW: Press Release: Nonprofit Launched to Bring 
> Free Accessibility Worldwide 
> Date: Thu, 31 Jan 2008 19:51:34 +0000 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message----- 
> From: Accessibility Is a Right Foundation 
> [mailto:[email protected]] 
> Sent: Thursday, January 31, 2008 12:29 PM 
> To: [email protected] 
> Subject: Press Release: Nonprofit Launched to Bring Free 
> Accessibility 
> Worldwide 
> 
> 
> NEWS RELEASE 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Media Contact: 
> 
> Janelle Schulenberg 
> 
> Tacet Consulting 
> 
> 612-720-1068 
> 
> [email protected] 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Nonprofit Launched to Bring Free Accessibility Worldwide 
> 
> < BR> 
> 
> 
> The AIR Foundation committed to 'accessibility is a right' 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Orlando, Florida - January 31, 2008 - The AIR Foundation, a 
> nonprofit 
> organization headquartered in Minneapolis, Minn. was announced today 
> at a 
> press conference held during the Assistive Technology Industry 
> Association 
> (ATIA) 2008 National Conference at the Caribe Royale Resort in 
> Orlando, 
> Florida. The mission of the foundation is to promote universal 
> accessibility 
> so that every blind and low-vision person in the world has access to 
> digital 
> information over the Internet and Worldwide Web. 
> 
> The foundation's executive director, Art Schreiber, also 
> announced that the organization's first offering will be free usage 
> of a Web 
> 2.0 accessible screen reader. The product is provided through an 
> exclusive 
> license in perpetuity granted to The AIR Foundation from Serotek 
> Corporation, the leading provider of Internet and digital 
> information 
> accessibilit y software and services. The screen reader is called SA 
> To Go 
> and is powered by Serotek's award-winning System Access software 
> which 
> provides immediate text to speech, magnified visual, and Braille 
> access to 
> digital information presented through the Web or other means, while 
> the user 
> is directly connected to the Internet. The software does not remain 
> resident on the user's computer when the connection to the Internet 
> is 
> interrupted or terminated. Users can obtain access to the free 
> software by 
> calling 877-369-0101 or visiting www.AccessibilityIsaRight.org 
> . 
> 
> "The basic tenet of The AIR Foundation is that accessibility is a 
> fundamental human right, regardless of financial or geographic 
> constraints" 
> said Art Schreiber, executive director of The AIR Foundation, "by 
> allowing 
> the blind and visually impaired to have equal access to computer and 
> 
> Internet information through the free use of an adv anced screen 
> reader like 
> SA To Go, we have already taken great strides toward our mission." 
> 
> The AIR Foundation will solicit funds and contract development of 
> product 
> enhancements including availability in other languages. The 
> organization's 
> first priority is to make SA To Go available in Mandarin Chinese. 
> 
> "SA To Go is highly intuitive and requires minimal training to use," 
> said 
> Serotek CEO, Mike Calvo, "the user not only has access to 
> information 
> displayed on Web pages, but to Web-based applications such as 
> Internet 
> telephone service, and to applications resident on the host 
> computer. The 
> user can also access PDF files, fill out forms, and otherwise 
> interact with 
> information with the same facility as a sighted person." 
> 
> The AIR Foundation will operate through the generosity of 
> organizations 
> donating their time, expertise, and funds. It invites other 
> nonprofits, 
> assistive techno logy vendors, mainstream hardware and softw are 
> companies and 
> anyone interested in promoting accessibility as every person's 
> right, to 
> align with the AIR team. 
> 
> 
> 
> The AIR Foundation 
> 
> The AIR Foundation is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to 
> advocate, 
> teach, and deliver information accessibility tools. We focus on the 
> accessibility needs of blind and low-vision people. Our mantra is 
> "accessibility is a right" and we work with corporations and 
> agencies 
> worldwide to deliver free accessibility to all. For more 
> information, call 
> 877-369-0101 or visit www.AccessibilityIsaRight.org 
> . 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Serotek Corporation 
> 
> Serotek Corporation is a leading technology company that develops 
> software 
> and manufactures accessibility solutions. Committed to the mission 
> of 
> providing accessibility anywhere, Serotek launched the first online 
> community specifically designed to meet the needs of people with 
> disabiliti es. Since then, Serotek has introduced several powerful, 
> affordable solutions that require minimal training and investment. 
> For more 
> information, visit www.serotek.com . 
> 
> 
> 
> ### 
> 
> 
> 
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