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From: CUTWAYS@QUCDN.BITNET
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: screen reader verses artic
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Date: 31 Oct 90 05:22:26 GMT
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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