Xref: utzoo comp.sys.apple:4909 comp.sys.ibm.pc:13715 comp.windows.misc:394
Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!pwcmrd!skipnyc!atpal!tneff
From: tneff@atpal.UUCP (Tom Neff)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple,comp.sys.ibm.pc,comp.windows.misc
Subject: Windows for the Blind (was Re: BOYCOTT APPLE)
Message-ID: <117@atpal.UUCP>
Date: 25 Mar 88 16:11:01 GMT
References: <292@unicom.UUCP> <2112@phoenix.Princeton.EDU> <819@bucket.UUCP>
Reply-To: tneff@atpal.UUCP (Tom Neff)
Organization: Rational Technologies, Inc.
Lines: 24
Keywords: Microsoft, HP New Wave, Xerox, Lawsuit
Summary: it's not harder, it's easier

In article <819@bucket.UUCP> leonard@bucket.UUCP (Leonard Erickson) writes:
> ... The blind
>users are not happy. They've got speech units that let them use a stock PC
>and most programs quite easily. They have some trouble, but much of that
>can be solved if programmers would follow some simple rules ...
>
>If the "Mac"/windows/GEM/etc interface wins, they will no longer be able to
>use programs without having them specially modified....


I think you (and, by extension, the good folks at Borland Forum) are missing
the point of the Windows/OS2 approach.  What characterizes the new generation
of OS's is not their graphical nature per se, but the use of hardware
independent device *drivers* to control all communication with the user.
What this means is that all someone has to do is write a DRIVER for your
handicapped interface device of choice, and suddenly ALL programs will work
with it!  The possibilities are endless.

The existing tools for handicapped use of a PC are essentially inspired
kludges.  Future OS's may obviate the kludges, but don't despair...
handicapped users will emerge big winners when all is said and done. 
-- 

Tom Neff