GUI designs, accessibility and navigability

Hi folks,

This might be long so we'll see. All this talk lately about T I M's issues with the doc are interesting and confusing for me. Firstly, when I got the mac home, it was a case of navigating a bit with VO, learning a few shortcuts (opening the home folder, apps, utils and dock). Now for me, understanding the doc was nothing more than relearning. The doc is, in all senses, a configured start menu/taskbar. Windows users do find this idea difficult for some reason, but I found it really quite handy. Once I figured out that applications could be kept there for later launching I was set. In fact, today I have opened my apps folder once. Just once as all the things I wanted to run are on the dock.

Downsides? Unfortunately, adding files/folders to the dock is inaccessible in 10.5 but this might change very soon. The workaround was to use an applescript that someone else posted.

Closing applications. Come on folks, what's the concern here? Command Q is cheap, but I need to say that some applications don't allow this, so it's necessary to navigate VO to the "close" button and click manually.

Finally, what's with all this not wanting to use keyboard commands? Alright, the mouse has it's uses, but surely the UI was designed for typists as there are so many great shortcuts available. Why not learn the obvious ones and be faster?

For me, it is the accessibility of OS x's UI that has entirely changed how I work. Actually, there are many things I do now on a mac that I never even concerned myself with. RSS being a real example. With windows programs, there's always the main questions blind users need to ask. "Does it work without scripts for the screen reader?" "Does it work with JAWS if I have it, and what version?", etc, etc. Since the introduction of Cocoa based elements, VoiceOver is working with applications that i'm sure developers aren't aware that the blind are using, and this will get better.

I really don't understand T I M's insistance on wanting OS X to be windows. I'm actually glad it's not because i'm not fighting with the screen reader. I'm not hoping the UI is the same from one application to another. The integration aspects of OS X are a real benefit to blind users also. The ability to use your mac as a complete calendar and addressbook without needing other software. Even the stickies program is useful. Try calling directory enquiries and writing down a number in a hurry. I open stickies in the morning and leave it there all day. That app is also great for cooking times. MY partner had to go away to a funeral and left stuff in. So, I wrote down the cooking times and directions and what shelf the things were on using stickies.

It's the little productivity tools that make macs more of a worthwhile choice.

Alright - i've kind of gone off on one here, but all the windows V Mac stuff is pointless anyways. Just learn your OS and make the most of the systems.

Best

-James-

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