How does the Blind process internet?

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netrox

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I have questions for deaf-blind or the blind.

This is VERY important because I am a web developer and I want to know exactly HOW they do it rather than reading from books on "web accessibility" which I find it rather dubious and useless in some ways.

How do you process the information from the Internet? Can't wait to read replies!
 
During my studies, we had two blind students. They used computers that has extra large letters on the keyboard, and a bigger monitor. They navigated around windows/websites using a magnification program that is similar to the Microsoft Magnifier that can be found in the accessibility folder.
 
I am a deafblind user, and from the user end, I cannot tell you all the intricate bits that go into DESIGNING an accessible site. You DO need to read the books, because there is no ONE way that a blind person accesses a site. Me telling you "I use a braille display" tells you nothing of ACCESSIBLE DESIGN.
 
Makes sense and that's the beef I have with "accessibility" - accessibility designers talk about how it's so important to use alt for every image when in fact, not all images are meaningful - some are purely for visual representation. They argue that we should be using CSS for presentation but you see, the problem is that CSS is rendered so differently on different browsers while HTML tends to be more consistent with how its rendered. I am NOT arguing against CSS, in fact, I really LOVE the concept of CSS but in real world practice, it stinks. Different browsers interpret them differently and some aspects of CSS are truly non-intuitive.

Also, I learned that the blind access the internet with their own tools and IE provides zooming. Virtually all operating systems have magnification tools for the blind so why the hell are web designers insisting on designing for the blind when the blind are looking for content itself, not the design? As long as content is accessible, I don't think the blind really cares much and they use their own tools to alter the appearance of the websites anyway. CSS purists say it's bad to use fixed pixels for fonts but the problem with their argument is that the visual design is VERY important and it was not meant for the blind, but for the sighted. Making pixels "scalable" for the sake of the blind is pure non-sense because the blind have the tools to override the CSS anyway.
 
you've already formed your ideas about what 'is' and 'isn't important to blind users and about how blind users access to the internet.. even though it's blatantly not the reality. Read the books, follow the rules, or don't pat yourself on the back for giving a damn about accessibility- because you obviously don't care enough to try and understand it.
 
oh , please dont say 'the blind' is not appropriate, you ought to say blind people. Just like it when you dont like hearies saying 'the deaf' or 'for the deaf' as it should be "for deaf people'
 
I'm deafblind. I use a braille display and a screen reader too X14. Reading bulk text in braille can be easier for me as print makes my eyes sore but I found that using a braille display only can make some sites extremely difficult to access which means having both extra large print and braille very handy.

If you want to make things easir. Don't use graphic print. Don't clutter up the sides with adverts, and don't use visual verification as these things illiminate us.
 
So what ever is on the screen the braille display punches out the text? Or is their even a monitor.

I already get the message that images don't work for the braille display.

This is all interesting.
 
Please feel free to join this group.

I use MaxTV made from Esenbach from Germany. It is my favourite accessibility tool. I do braille as well. I would say the black background with yellow font is most helpful. The bigger font helps as well.
 
I use a screen reader (called Window-Eyes) and a Braille Star 40 Braille display.
The screen reader sends information that appears on the computer screen to the Braille display. It can also read text aloud using synthetic speech.

Since I have CIs, I use both speech and Braille. I'm able to navigate sites like AD by issuing keyboard commands to the screen reader in order to move up, down, left, right, character by character, word by word, sentence by sentence, paragraph by paragrah or page by page.

I also have a PDA for the blind called a BrailleNote. It contains a 30 cell Braille display, speech output, a word processor, planner, e-mail/Internet, scientific calculator, file manager, FM radio, GPS, book reader (allows me to download books from the Internet) and games.
 
Babyblue said:
So what ever is on the screen the braille display punches out the text? Or is their even a monitor.

I already get the message that images don't work for the braille display.

This is all interesting.
Click to expand...

Babyblue,

A Braille display consists of tiny plastic pins that move up and down to form Braille characters. The Braille display itself contains 18, 40 or 80 characters per line.

Here is a site which explains what a Braille display is and how it works:

http://www.deafblind.com/display.html
 
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