Greetings. Here I sit on a rainy Saturday afternoon. Its been raining a ton here over the past few weeks, and while I like the rain, its beginning to grow tiresome even to me. However, as long as it mainly rains when I’m inside, I don’t mind it too much. And anyway, when was the last time it rained like this in July in Austin, or on a larger scale in the south? Then again, I live in a pretty good area; not close to any rivers or lakes, and in a place where it doesn’t flood too badly. I live on flat ground and the apartment complex’s parking lot can flood easily, but the apartments themselves are a little raised up from the ground so that water doesn’t flood the sidewalks too often. If it ever did, then it would be raining a lot. I may have slightly different views of the rain if these conditions were different.
On another issue, I don’t believe I’ll purchase any of the System Access software, at least not for now. I’m still experiencing the problems I wrote of a week ago and Serotek hasn’t really offered any solutions for me. In the Word problem, where System Access was losing focus in Word XP, the only thing they said was, “We don’t support that version of Word for Windows.” I know that, and I even replied telling them that. I however also asked them why this happened, since it’s a notable issue that needs to be addressed bys someone. The response I got back went something like, “We don’t’ know why it happened.” Oh well. I’m not knocking Serotek or their products by writing all of this. I’m sure that my issues are more the exception rather than the rule. And, hopefully whenever I get my new Vista computer and try these packages again, the same things won’t happen. However, they’re happening to me and I’m not willing to pay several hundred dollars for faulty software. I’ll still keep rooting for Serotek and support their endeavors in what they’re trying to do.
I indirectly received more complements from one of the July graduation students from the training Center. He asked someone to pass along a message to me from him, that according to the graduate, I had made a large impact on him; that he enjoyed having me as a computer teacher. That made me feel pretty good. I had made an impact on him. He was one of the students that I really clicked with and really got along well with. There were many times when I asked the students in class how they were doing on a particular task, and this student would say something like, “Already done,” much to my surprise. I’d give him another few tasks to do and he would finish those in short order as well. These are the times that give me great satisfaction and help confirm for me that I’m in the right place as a tech teacher at a rehabilitation center. These are the times when I think back to that award I received two months ago at another graduation ceremony, for excellence in teaching and dedication to the students.
I’m beginning horseback riding again. I’ve had a secret passion and love for horses. Many people are surprised when I tell them that, but its true. Just being around horses, petting them and giving them treats gives me a recharge, much less taking regular lessons and spending hours at a time with them. This all began when I participated in a therapeutic horseback riding program for the disabled back in the late eighties. I had liked horses before that time, but those 10 weeks over a semester was the thing that really did it for me. I found a place in south Austin that offers horseback riding lessons, as well as horse/dog boarding and dog training lessons. The lessons themselves are very affordable and I’m glad to be at a point in my life where I can pay for my own lessons and easily afford to do so. The horse that I’ve been paired up with, coincidentally has a little bit of vision loss, but is a red roam color with some white. I think the owner said that the white spots are on the horse’s mane. Anyway, the horse is named Rye and he is about 16.5 hands at the withers. For those that don’t know, a “hand” is about 4 inches, or about the distance from your pinky to your index finger when your fingers are together. So 16.5 hands is pretty tall, about 66 inches. I’ve only been on one lesson thus far but hope to go weekly. My next lesson is tomorrow night. That time might pose problems as we get into football season if the Cowboys play on a Sunday evening, which happens a few times this season. That will be a hard choice: go horseback riding or watch football. Though there is that deep passion for the equine, football in general and the Cowboys in particular might win that contest.
I think the plan is to have me do some training with Rye. The owner was asking about my horseback riding experience, the types of saddles I’ve ridden in (both English and Western), and if I’ve done Join Up with a horse before, which I haven’t. Join Up is a means of getting a horse used to the rider and to a saddle. Some would call this “breaking a horse..” It was largely brought into the mainstream by
Monty Roberts,
as a means to build trust with the horse in a nonviolent way. Though I’ve read how this is done and read Monty’s book (available through the National Library Service on talking book), I’m not sure how I as a totally blind person would do it. Anyone who has experience with this is welcome and encouraged to comment on this entry and explain how this can be done, so I can pass it along to the people at this facility I’m going to. Though they are not an official
North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA) stable, they do seem willing to work with me. I think that the owner has worked with blind folk before. Horseback riding is one of the few things that I’ve done over the years that I’ve truly gotten a lot from, been able to relax while doing, and truly enjoyed. I’m glad that I found this place and can get into it again. I’d love to own my own horse or two someday, along with that dream home of a ranch, with stables near the house in easy walking distance, and a bus stop at the end of the sidewalk or driveway. That may be a little unrealistic, but then again, who knows.
Well that’s all for now. The training Center is supposed to get a large group or intake of people, as many as 30 or more, coming in a few weeks. So my weekends and week nights will become a lot more enjoyable and hopefully restful shortly. Speaking of which, I’m off to enjoy this one. I’ll attempt to get some pictures of Rye that I can put up on my website for you to see, and will post more about my riding experience. Until then. (Hey, …, you, …, pssssssst, football’s coming!)
Saturday, July 28
Sunday, July 22
Interesting article about regaining sight
Greetings. Here's an interesting article about the blind possibly regaining sight, and the possible questions and issues that come out of that. I received this from the NFB's blind students email list. As for me, I have thought about some of the questions raised below often and really haven't come up with any answers. Except that if I were offered the chance to see again, I'd first think about it for a long time, but eventually probably refuse. Read on about the various issues that come out of sight restoration to find out why. Enjoy, and as always, please excuse any formatting errors.
Subject: The Chance to see again...would she take it?
REBECCA ATKINSON IS GOING BLIND. AN EXPERIMENTAL
THERAPY COULD OFFER HER THE CHANCE TO SEE AGAIN - BUT WOULD SHE TAKE IT?
TUESDAY JULY 17, 2007
THE GUARDIAN
EARLIER THIS YEAR, DOCTORS AT MOORFIELDS EYE
HOSPITAL, LONDON, BEGAN THE WORLD'S FIRST GENE
THERAPY TRIALS TO TREAT 12 PATIENTS WHO HAVE LEBER'S CONGENITAL
AMAUROSIS, A CONDITION THAT CAUSES PROGRESSIVE
SIGHT LOSS. FOLLOWING SUCCESSFUL ANIMAL TRIALS
(SAID TO HAVE RESTORED THE VISION OF BLIND DOGS SO THEY COULD
NAVIGATE A MAZE WITHOUT DIFFICULTY), IT IS HOPED
THAT THE TECHNIQUE, WHICH INVOLVES INJECTING
WORKING COPIES OF FAULTY GENES DIRECTLY INTO THE RETINA,
WILL PROVE EQUALLY EFFECTIVE WHEN CARRIED OUT ON
HUMANS. THE RESULTS WILL NOT BE MADE PUBLIC FOR A
YEAR BUT, IF THE TECHNIQUE WORKS, SCIENTISTS HOPE IT
COULD EVENTUALLY BE USED TO TREAT A WIDE RANGE OF
INHERITED SIGHT DISORDERS AFFECTING UP TO 30,000
VISUALLY IMPAIRED PEOPLE IN THE UK AND POTENTIALLY MILLIONS
MORE WORLDWIDE.
THE FIRST VIABLE TREATMENT FOR BLINDNESS IS
TWINKLING ON THE HORIZON AND AS ONE READER SAID
ON A NATIONAL NEWSPAPER MESSAGE BOARD DISCUSSING THE TRIALS,
"THE POSSIBILITY OF BEING ABLE TO GIVE IMPROVED
SIGHT TO PEOPLE WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS IS A
GREAT DEVELOPMENT FOR THE HUMAN RACE." BUT WHAT OF THE PEOPLE
WE SEEK TO REPAIR? THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN BORN BLIND
AND THOSE, LIKE ME, WHO ARE LOSING OR HAVE LOST
THEIR VISION. IS THIS WHAT WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR?
IS IT "A GREAT DEVELOPMENT FOR THE HUMAN RACE",
OR A STEP FORWARD IN THE EUGENIC QUEST FOR AN
UBER-RACE, FREE OF IMPERFECTION AND RID OF THE UNEASE ABOUT
DISABILITY THAT NESTLES QUIETLY IN SOCIETY'S POCKET?
FOR THE PAST 13 YEARS I HAVE BEEN LOSING MY
SIGHT, DUE TO A GENETIC AND INCURABLE CONDITION
CALLED RETINITIS PIGMENTOSA (RP). RP CAUSES THE PHOTORECEPTIVE
CELLS ON THE RETINA TO DIE OFF, CAUSING, IN MY
CASE, TUNNEL VISION. I LIKEN IT TO LOOKING AT THE
WORLD DOWN THE MIDDLE OF TWO TOILET ROLLS. MY CENTRAL
VISION REMAINS INTACT, BUT WHERE ONCE WAS
PERIPHERAL VISION NOW FLOAT ONLY MY THOUGHTS. IN
TIME THESE LOO ROLLS WILL SHRINK TO KNOTHOLES AND THEN PINHOLES
AND THEN POSSIBLY NOTHING.
IN THE EARLY YEARS AFTER MY DIAGNOSIS, BLINDNESS
REMAINED A REPULSIVE AND TERRIFYING CONCEPT.
EVERY YEAR I WOULD VISIT THE DOCTOR AND HE WOULD SAY THE SAME
THING - THAT I MUST LIVE AND PLAN MY LIFE WITH
THE CERTAINTY THAT BLINDNESS WAS INEVITABLE. AND
SO, SLOWLY OVER TIME, THAT IS WHAT I LEARNED TO DO. BUT
NOW THE ADVENT OF GENE THERAPY HAS PUSHED OPEN A
CHINK IN THE DOOR. DISABLED PEOPLE HAVE LONG
ASKED THEMSELVES THE HYPOTHETICAL "WOULD YOU BE CURED IF
YOU COULD?" QUESTION. NOW, FOR THE FIRST TIME,
THERE IS A CHANCE, ALBEIT VERY SMALL, THAT MAYBE
ONE DAY I MIGHT ACTUALLY GET MY SIGHT BACK.
HURRAH, YOU CRY. I MUST BE THRILLED. ACTUALLY, I
AM A BIT CONFUSED. IT IS EASY TO ASSUME THAT ALL
VISUALLY IMPAIRED PEOPLE WILL BE HAMMERING DOWN THE DOORS
SHOULD GENE THERAPY PROVE SUCCESSFUL. BUT TO SAY
THIS IS TO ASSUME THAT A BLIND LIFE IS LESSER AND
THAT ALL BLIND PEOPLE REALLY WANT TO BE SIGHTED. THEY
DON'T. THE FIRST BLIND MAN I EVER MET, WHO ALSO
HAPPENED TO BE MY BOSS AT THE TIME, IS ONE OF
THEM. I RECENTLY ASKED HIM IF HE WOULD HAVE GENE THERAPY
IF HE COULD. NO, CAME HIS REPLY. BECAUSE, HE
TELLS ME, REGAINING SIGHT IS MORE THAN JUST SEEING AGAIN.
THERE ARE ISSUES OF IDENTITY AND CULTURE AT STAKE
TOO. "AS THE BLIND-FROM-BIRTH SON OF BLIND
PARENTS, I AM, IN PART OF MY SOUL, DEFINED BY MY BLINDNESS,"
HE EXPLAINS. "IT DIRECTLY EQUATES TO ETHNIC OR
RACIAL ORIGIN. IF YOU GIVE A BLACK PERSON THE
CHOICE TO BE WHITE THERE MAY WELL BE SIGNIFICANT ADVANTAGES
IN SUCH A DEAL: MORE ACCESS TO BETTER JOBS;
FREEDOM FROM THE SHACKLES OF IGNORANT PREJUDICE;
IN SHORT, A STEP CLOSER TO EQUALITY. BUT I'D BET MOST WOULD
TURN THE OFFER DOWN FLAT."
BUT WHAT IF, UNLIKE MY OLD BOSS, YOU HAVEN'T
ALWAYS BEEN BLIND? WHAT IF, LIKE ME, YOU GREW UP
WITH FULL VISION AND HAVE SEEN ALL THE CLICHE-RIDDEN THINGS
THAT THOSE BORN TOTALLY BLIND ARE PITIED FOR
NEVER HAVING SEEN - THE SUNSET, YOUR OWN
REFLECTION, THE LOOK IN YOUR LOVER'S EYES. WHAT IF YOUR SOUL IS SIGHTED,
AND THEN YOU GO BLIND?
YOU WILL CRY AND WONDER WHY. YOU WILL HOPE AND
PRAY. YOU WILL WISH IT WOULD ALL GO AWAY. BUT THE
LONGER YOUR SIGHT HAS BEEN ON THE SLIDE, THE MORE IT SEEPS
INTO EVERY CRACK OF YOUR PSYCHE - UNTIL ONE DAY
YOU ARE NO LONGER THE "SIGHTED PERSON" WHO CAN'T
SEE ANY MORE. SOMEHOW, STRANGELY, IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT,
YOUR IDENTITY HAS ROLLED OVER IN BED AND YOU WAKE
UP AND GET OUT THE OTHER SIDE A "VISUALLY
IMPAIRED PERSON" - AND IT FEELS LIKE PART OF YOU.
IT DOESN'T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT, AND PERHAPS IT
DOESN'T HAPPEN TO ALL WHO SAIL THE STRANGE SEAS
OF SIGHT LOSS WITH ME. BUT FOR ME THERE CAME A POINT WHEN IMPENDING
BLINDNESS WAS NO LONGER MY ALIEN BUT MY FRIEND. I
HAD HAD MY TIME AS A SIGHTED PERSON. I HAD SEEN
THE WORLD THROUGH MY EYES. NOW IT WAS TIME TO TOUCH IT
AND SMELL IT AND HEAR IT.
WHEN YOU LOSE YOUR VISION YOU HAVE TO RE-LEARN
THE SORTS OF THINGS THAT WILL ALLOW YOU TO
SURVIVE ON THE PLANET, SUCH AS CROSSING THE ROAD WITHOUT BEING
FLATTENED. NEXT YOU MUST TACKLE THE REAL PROBLEM
AND LEARN TO DEAL WITH THE ATTITUDES OF OTHERS AS
THEY MORPH AROUND YOU. MISCONCEPTIONS START TO SPOUT
FROM EVEN YOUR OLDEST FRIENDS' MOUTHS BECAUSE
NEGATIVE ATTITUDES ABOUT BLINDNESS PERMEATE US ALL.
YOU ARE ABOUT TO CROSS OVER INTO THE DARK SIDE
AND SEE WHAT WRIGGLES AND WRITHES ON THE
UNDERBELLY OF SOCIETY. FOLK WILL SEE YOU AS THE SUFFERER, THE PITIFUL,
THE AFFLICTED, THE SUBHUMAN - THAT'S YOU, YES,
YOU. IF YOU USE A CANE OR A DOG, PEOPLE WILL
STARE AS YOU WALK DOWN THE STREET. PEOPLE WILL ASSUME YOU ARE
MORE LACKING IN INTELLIGENCE THAN YOUR SIGHTED
COUNTERPART. PEOPLE YOU HAVE NEVER MET BEFORE
WILL ASK IF YOU WANT CHILDREN, AND IF YOU DO, THEY WILL ASK
IF THE KIDS WILL HAVE THE SAME CONDITION THAT YOU
HAVE, AND WHETHER THAT IS RIGHT OR WRONG.
WELCOME. YOUR REPRODUCTIVE AUTONOMY IS IN THE DOCKS OF THE
MORAL COURTS OF THE NATION'S MINDS.
SO IF THIS UNDERBELLY IS SO WRETCHED, SURELY IF
THE TIME COMES WHEN THE DOCTORS ARE LOOMING FORTH
WITH A NEEDLE CONTAINING THE WORKING VERSION OF MY FAULTY
GENE AND HERALDING THE PROMISE OF A NEW DAY, ONE
WITH A BRIGHT SUNSET AND ME AT THE WHEEL OF A
FAST CAR, I'LL TAKE IT, RIGHT? ANYTHING TO ESCAPE? NO. SAYING
YES TO SEEING AGAIN, EVEN FOR SOMEONE WHO WASN'T
BORN BLIND, ISN'T EASY. THE REPERCUSSIONS WOULD
RIPPLE BEYOND MY EYES INTO MY FRIENDSHIPS, MY WORK, MY
RELATIONSHIP.
WOULD I RETAIN THE UNITY I HAVE WITH MY DISABLED
BRETHREN IF I COULD SEE? OR WOULD I HAVE
DIFFERENT FRIENDS, THE TYPE WHO FALL BY THE WAYSIDE NOW BECAUSE
THEY ARE NOT AWARE OR EMPATHETIC, OR ARE TOO
AESTHETICALLY OBSESSED? WOULD I LOSE THE FRIENDS
WITH WHOM I HAVE NOTHING IN COMMON BUT WHO REMAIN IN MY PHONE
BOOK BECAUSE THEY GET THE BLINDNESS THING? AND
WOULD IT BE RIGHT TO DUMP THEM JUST BECAUSE I CAN
SEE AND DON'T NEED THEIR EMPATHY ANY MORE? IF I STEPPED
INTO THE POOL OF "NORMAL PEOPLE" AGAIN, WHERE WOULD MY IDENTITY GO?
THE KERNEL OF WHO I AM HAS BEEN SUCKED INTO A NEW
BODY; NOW IT WOULD HAVE TO BE SUCKED BACK INTO
THE OLD ONE. AND WHAT OF MY RELATIONSHIP? WOULD WE STAY
TOGETHER OR WOULD I RUN OFF TO DO ALL THE THINGS
I NEVER GOT TO DO BEFORE? THERE IS A HIGH RATE OF
SEPARATION AMONG COUPLES WHERE ONE PERSON GETS A GUIDE
DOG FOR THE FIRST TIME. WHY? BECAUSE SUDDENLY
THEY CAN DO THINGS ON THEIR OWN AGAIN. THIS
NEW-FOUND INDEPENDENCE SHIFTS THE BALANCE AND CRACKS APPEAR.
IF THIS CAN HAPPEN WITH A DOG, THINK WHAT COULD
HAPPEN WITH A PAIR OF FULLY WORKING EYES AND A CAR.
GOING BLIND ISN'T A SMOOTH RIDE, THOUGH. IT COMES
DOWN AND SQUISHES YOU UNDER AN INSURMOUNTABLE
WEIGHT OF GRIEF AND DISBELIEF. IT IS LIMITING, FRUSTRATING
AND CHANGES THE WAY YOU DO MANY OF THE THINGS YOU
USED TO ENJOY - NOW YOU MUST DANCE WITH THE LIGHT
ON AND DRIVE FROM THE BACK SEAT. BUT LIKE THE AFFIRMATION
OF NEAR DEATH, IT AFFECTS MORE THAN JUST YOUR
PHYSICALITY. IT GIVES YOU A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE.
IT IS A GRAND EXPERIMENT THAT MOST DON'T GET TO TRY; TO OBSERVE
AS YOUR BRAIN REWIRES AND WATCH AS THE HUMAN BODY
ADAPTS IN INFINITE WAYS. WHEN MY VISION BEGAN TO
GET WORSE, I BUMPED INTO EVERYTHING IN MY PATH BECAUSE
I WAS STILL CAREERING DOWN THE PAVEMENT AT THE
SPEED OF SOMEONE WHO COULD SEE. AS MY MIND CAUGHT
UP WITH MY EYES, I CHANGED THE WAY I WALKED - WITH MORE
CAUTION AND LESS SPEED - AND THE PERPETUAL BUMPING AND TRIPPING STOPPED.
LOSING YOUR SIGHT IS NOT LIKE JUST SHUTTING YOUR
EYES. THE LOSS IS SO GRADUAL THAT AS ONE SENSE
DIES OTHERS GROW. SUDDENLY YOU CAN SMELL THE WORLD AND SENSE
WHEN SOMEONE IS STANDING OUT OF YOUR LINE OF
VISION. YOUR BRAIN GROWS ON THE INSIDE AND THINGS
ON THE OUTSIDE START TO MATTER LESS. I GET TO LIVE MY LIFE
TWICE OVER IN TWO DIFFERENT BODIES (THE SIGHTED
ONE I USED TO HAVE AND THE PARTIALLY SIGHTED ONE
I NOW HAVE), AND WITH THAT COMES THE PRIVILEGE OF SPYING
ON THE WORLD AND ITS INTRICACIES FROM MULTIPLE VANTAGE POINTS.
IT'S A CLICHE TO SAY THAT DISABLED PEOPLE ARE
NICER. IT IS INCORRECT, IN FACT. BUT FOR ME,
VISION LOSS HAS MADE ME MORE EMPATHETIC AND MORE OPEN- MINDED.
I HAVE TO TAKE SO OFTEN THAT I GIVE MORE FREELY.
WHEN YOU RELY ON FRIENDS TO TAKE YOU DOWN OXFORD
STREET OR A STRANGER TO GET YOU ACROSS THE ROAD, YOU
THINK MORE CONSCIOUSLY ABOUT WHAT YOU GIVE BACK
AND BATTLE WITH THE FEELING THAT YOU NEED THEM
MORE THAN THEY NEED YOU. BUT, STRANGELY, I AM HAPPIER LIKE
THIS THAN IF I HAD CARRIED ON DOWN THE MIDDLE
LANE TO MEDIOCRE CITY NEVER HAVING SEEN OR FELT
REAL LOSS AND KNOWN HOW TO APPRECIATE THE GOOD THINGS AROUND
ME.
I HAVE MET PEOPLE I WOULD NEVER HAVE MET HAD I
BEEN SIGHTED, AND WE HAVE BEEN JOINED TOGETHER BY
THE COMMON BOND OF DISABILITY (AND THERE IS NO GLUE THAT
SETS AS HARD AS THAT SQUEEZED FROM THE PORES OF A
MINORITY). WHEN PART OF YOUR BODY STARTS TO DIE
YOU FEEL WHAT IT IS TO BE HUMAN. YOU WAKE UP FROM THE
SLUMBER OF BEING JUST ANOTHER IDIOT WITH AN IPOD
BECAUSE YOU ARE FORCED TO WORK OUT THE BIGGER
QUESTIONS. OR AT LEAST ASK THEM. WHY AM I HERE? WHY IS THIS
HAPPENING? YOU ARE ALERT TO THE IMMEDIACY AND
FRAGILITY OF YOUR LIFE. YOU KNOW THAT THE CHOICES
OF THE MODERN AGE DO NOT AND CAN NOT EXTEND INTO EVERY
REALM OF YOUR LIFE. YOU CAN'T CHOOSE TO SEE (AT
LEAST NOT YET). THIS IS IT. THE UPSHOT? YOU LIVE
IN THE MOMENT. YOU SETTLE FOR YOUR LOT AND LOVE IT.
THE CONCEPT OF SIGHT LOSS AS A POSITIVE THING IS
AN ELUSIVE ONE. IT IS HARD TO GRASP WHEN YOU HAVE
EXPERIENCED IT; AND EVEN HARDER TO GRASP WHEN YOU HAVEN'T.
IT IS NOT SOMETHING I WOULD HAVE CHOSEN, BUT IT
IS NOT SOMETHING I WISH HADN'T HAPPENED. WOULD I
LIKE TO STOP IT GETTING WORSE? YES, BECAUSE I'M ONLY HUMAN
AND SOMETIMES I LIE AWAKE WORRYING HOW I'LL COPE
WHEN IT'S ALL GONE. BUT WOULD I LIKE TO HAVE GENE
THERAPY AND SEE PERFECTLY AGAIN? FIVE YEARS AGO I'D
HAVE SAID YES. NOW I'M NOT SURE, BECAUSE IF THIS
EXPERIMENT OF GOING BLIND HAS TAUGHT ME ANYTHING,
IT IS THAT WHAT YOU LOSE IN ONE PLACE YOU GAIN ELSEWHERE,
AND WHILE A BLIND LIFE IS DIFFERENT TO A SIGHTED
LIFE, IT IS NOT LESSER. AND ULTIMATELY IT IS BETTER THAN HAVING NO LIFE AT
ALL.
Subject: The Chance to see again...would she take it?
REBECCA ATKINSON IS GOING BLIND. AN EXPERIMENTAL
THERAPY COULD OFFER HER THE CHANCE TO SEE AGAIN - BUT WOULD SHE TAKE IT?
TUESDAY JULY 17, 2007
THE GUARDIAN
EARLIER THIS YEAR, DOCTORS AT MOORFIELDS EYE
HOSPITAL, LONDON, BEGAN THE WORLD'S FIRST GENE
THERAPY TRIALS TO TREAT 12 PATIENTS WHO HAVE LEBER'S CONGENITAL
AMAUROSIS, A CONDITION THAT CAUSES PROGRESSIVE
SIGHT LOSS. FOLLOWING SUCCESSFUL ANIMAL TRIALS
(SAID TO HAVE RESTORED THE VISION OF BLIND DOGS SO THEY COULD
NAVIGATE A MAZE WITHOUT DIFFICULTY), IT IS HOPED
THAT THE TECHNIQUE, WHICH INVOLVES INJECTING
WORKING COPIES OF FAULTY GENES DIRECTLY INTO THE RETINA,
WILL PROVE EQUALLY EFFECTIVE WHEN CARRIED OUT ON
HUMANS. THE RESULTS WILL NOT BE MADE PUBLIC FOR A
YEAR BUT, IF THE TECHNIQUE WORKS, SCIENTISTS HOPE IT
COULD EVENTUALLY BE USED TO TREAT A WIDE RANGE OF
INHERITED SIGHT DISORDERS AFFECTING UP TO 30,000
VISUALLY IMPAIRED PEOPLE IN THE UK AND POTENTIALLY MILLIONS
MORE WORLDWIDE.
THE FIRST VIABLE TREATMENT FOR BLINDNESS IS
TWINKLING ON THE HORIZON AND AS ONE READER SAID
ON A NATIONAL NEWSPAPER MESSAGE BOARD DISCUSSING THE TRIALS,
"THE POSSIBILITY OF BEING ABLE TO GIVE IMPROVED
SIGHT TO PEOPLE WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS IS A
GREAT DEVELOPMENT FOR THE HUMAN RACE." BUT WHAT OF THE PEOPLE
WE SEEK TO REPAIR? THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN BORN BLIND
AND THOSE, LIKE ME, WHO ARE LOSING OR HAVE LOST
THEIR VISION. IS THIS WHAT WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR?
IS IT "A GREAT DEVELOPMENT FOR THE HUMAN RACE",
OR A STEP FORWARD IN THE EUGENIC QUEST FOR AN
UBER-RACE, FREE OF IMPERFECTION AND RID OF THE UNEASE ABOUT
DISABILITY THAT NESTLES QUIETLY IN SOCIETY'S POCKET?
FOR THE PAST 13 YEARS I HAVE BEEN LOSING MY
SIGHT, DUE TO A GENETIC AND INCURABLE CONDITION
CALLED RETINITIS PIGMENTOSA (RP). RP CAUSES THE PHOTORECEPTIVE
CELLS ON THE RETINA TO DIE OFF, CAUSING, IN MY
CASE, TUNNEL VISION. I LIKEN IT TO LOOKING AT THE
WORLD DOWN THE MIDDLE OF TWO TOILET ROLLS. MY CENTRAL
VISION REMAINS INTACT, BUT WHERE ONCE WAS
PERIPHERAL VISION NOW FLOAT ONLY MY THOUGHTS. IN
TIME THESE LOO ROLLS WILL SHRINK TO KNOTHOLES AND THEN PINHOLES
AND THEN POSSIBLY NOTHING.
IN THE EARLY YEARS AFTER MY DIAGNOSIS, BLINDNESS
REMAINED A REPULSIVE AND TERRIFYING CONCEPT.
EVERY YEAR I WOULD VISIT THE DOCTOR AND HE WOULD SAY THE SAME
THING - THAT I MUST LIVE AND PLAN MY LIFE WITH
THE CERTAINTY THAT BLINDNESS WAS INEVITABLE. AND
SO, SLOWLY OVER TIME, THAT IS WHAT I LEARNED TO DO. BUT
NOW THE ADVENT OF GENE THERAPY HAS PUSHED OPEN A
CHINK IN THE DOOR. DISABLED PEOPLE HAVE LONG
ASKED THEMSELVES THE HYPOTHETICAL "WOULD YOU BE CURED IF
YOU COULD?" QUESTION. NOW, FOR THE FIRST TIME,
THERE IS A CHANCE, ALBEIT VERY SMALL, THAT MAYBE
ONE DAY I MIGHT ACTUALLY GET MY SIGHT BACK.
HURRAH, YOU CRY. I MUST BE THRILLED. ACTUALLY, I
AM A BIT CONFUSED. IT IS EASY TO ASSUME THAT ALL
VISUALLY IMPAIRED PEOPLE WILL BE HAMMERING DOWN THE DOORS
SHOULD GENE THERAPY PROVE SUCCESSFUL. BUT TO SAY
THIS IS TO ASSUME THAT A BLIND LIFE IS LESSER AND
THAT ALL BLIND PEOPLE REALLY WANT TO BE SIGHTED. THEY
DON'T. THE FIRST BLIND MAN I EVER MET, WHO ALSO
HAPPENED TO BE MY BOSS AT THE TIME, IS ONE OF
THEM. I RECENTLY ASKED HIM IF HE WOULD HAVE GENE THERAPY
IF HE COULD. NO, CAME HIS REPLY. BECAUSE, HE
TELLS ME, REGAINING SIGHT IS MORE THAN JUST SEEING AGAIN.
THERE ARE ISSUES OF IDENTITY AND CULTURE AT STAKE
TOO. "AS THE BLIND-FROM-BIRTH SON OF BLIND
PARENTS, I AM, IN PART OF MY SOUL, DEFINED BY MY BLINDNESS,"
HE EXPLAINS. "IT DIRECTLY EQUATES TO ETHNIC OR
RACIAL ORIGIN. IF YOU GIVE A BLACK PERSON THE
CHOICE TO BE WHITE THERE MAY WELL BE SIGNIFICANT ADVANTAGES
IN SUCH A DEAL: MORE ACCESS TO BETTER JOBS;
FREEDOM FROM THE SHACKLES OF IGNORANT PREJUDICE;
IN SHORT, A STEP CLOSER TO EQUALITY. BUT I'D BET MOST WOULD
TURN THE OFFER DOWN FLAT."
BUT WHAT IF, UNLIKE MY OLD BOSS, YOU HAVEN'T
ALWAYS BEEN BLIND? WHAT IF, LIKE ME, YOU GREW UP
WITH FULL VISION AND HAVE SEEN ALL THE CLICHE-RIDDEN THINGS
THAT THOSE BORN TOTALLY BLIND ARE PITIED FOR
NEVER HAVING SEEN - THE SUNSET, YOUR OWN
REFLECTION, THE LOOK IN YOUR LOVER'S EYES. WHAT IF YOUR SOUL IS SIGHTED,
AND THEN YOU GO BLIND?
YOU WILL CRY AND WONDER WHY. YOU WILL HOPE AND
PRAY. YOU WILL WISH IT WOULD ALL GO AWAY. BUT THE
LONGER YOUR SIGHT HAS BEEN ON THE SLIDE, THE MORE IT SEEPS
INTO EVERY CRACK OF YOUR PSYCHE - UNTIL ONE DAY
YOU ARE NO LONGER THE "SIGHTED PERSON" WHO CAN'T
SEE ANY MORE. SOMEHOW, STRANGELY, IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT,
YOUR IDENTITY HAS ROLLED OVER IN BED AND YOU WAKE
UP AND GET OUT THE OTHER SIDE A "VISUALLY
IMPAIRED PERSON" - AND IT FEELS LIKE PART OF YOU.
IT DOESN'T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT, AND PERHAPS IT
DOESN'T HAPPEN TO ALL WHO SAIL THE STRANGE SEAS
OF SIGHT LOSS WITH ME. BUT FOR ME THERE CAME A POINT WHEN IMPENDING
BLINDNESS WAS NO LONGER MY ALIEN BUT MY FRIEND. I
HAD HAD MY TIME AS A SIGHTED PERSON. I HAD SEEN
THE WORLD THROUGH MY EYES. NOW IT WAS TIME TO TOUCH IT
AND SMELL IT AND HEAR IT.
WHEN YOU LOSE YOUR VISION YOU HAVE TO RE-LEARN
THE SORTS OF THINGS THAT WILL ALLOW YOU TO
SURVIVE ON THE PLANET, SUCH AS CROSSING THE ROAD WITHOUT BEING
FLATTENED. NEXT YOU MUST TACKLE THE REAL PROBLEM
AND LEARN TO DEAL WITH THE ATTITUDES OF OTHERS AS
THEY MORPH AROUND YOU. MISCONCEPTIONS START TO SPOUT
FROM EVEN YOUR OLDEST FRIENDS' MOUTHS BECAUSE
NEGATIVE ATTITUDES ABOUT BLINDNESS PERMEATE US ALL.
YOU ARE ABOUT TO CROSS OVER INTO THE DARK SIDE
AND SEE WHAT WRIGGLES AND WRITHES ON THE
UNDERBELLY OF SOCIETY. FOLK WILL SEE YOU AS THE SUFFERER, THE PITIFUL,
THE AFFLICTED, THE SUBHUMAN - THAT'S YOU, YES,
YOU. IF YOU USE A CANE OR A DOG, PEOPLE WILL
STARE AS YOU WALK DOWN THE STREET. PEOPLE WILL ASSUME YOU ARE
MORE LACKING IN INTELLIGENCE THAN YOUR SIGHTED
COUNTERPART. PEOPLE YOU HAVE NEVER MET BEFORE
WILL ASK IF YOU WANT CHILDREN, AND IF YOU DO, THEY WILL ASK
IF THE KIDS WILL HAVE THE SAME CONDITION THAT YOU
HAVE, AND WHETHER THAT IS RIGHT OR WRONG.
WELCOME. YOUR REPRODUCTIVE AUTONOMY IS IN THE DOCKS OF THE
MORAL COURTS OF THE NATION'S MINDS.
SO IF THIS UNDERBELLY IS SO WRETCHED, SURELY IF
THE TIME COMES WHEN THE DOCTORS ARE LOOMING FORTH
WITH A NEEDLE CONTAINING THE WORKING VERSION OF MY FAULTY
GENE AND HERALDING THE PROMISE OF A NEW DAY, ONE
WITH A BRIGHT SUNSET AND ME AT THE WHEEL OF A
FAST CAR, I'LL TAKE IT, RIGHT? ANYTHING TO ESCAPE? NO. SAYING
YES TO SEEING AGAIN, EVEN FOR SOMEONE WHO WASN'T
BORN BLIND, ISN'T EASY. THE REPERCUSSIONS WOULD
RIPPLE BEYOND MY EYES INTO MY FRIENDSHIPS, MY WORK, MY
RELATIONSHIP.
WOULD I RETAIN THE UNITY I HAVE WITH MY DISABLED
BRETHREN IF I COULD SEE? OR WOULD I HAVE
DIFFERENT FRIENDS, THE TYPE WHO FALL BY THE WAYSIDE NOW BECAUSE
THEY ARE NOT AWARE OR EMPATHETIC, OR ARE TOO
AESTHETICALLY OBSESSED? WOULD I LOSE THE FRIENDS
WITH WHOM I HAVE NOTHING IN COMMON BUT WHO REMAIN IN MY PHONE
BOOK BECAUSE THEY GET THE BLINDNESS THING? AND
WOULD IT BE RIGHT TO DUMP THEM JUST BECAUSE I CAN
SEE AND DON'T NEED THEIR EMPATHY ANY MORE? IF I STEPPED
INTO THE POOL OF "NORMAL PEOPLE" AGAIN, WHERE WOULD MY IDENTITY GO?
THE KERNEL OF WHO I AM HAS BEEN SUCKED INTO A NEW
BODY; NOW IT WOULD HAVE TO BE SUCKED BACK INTO
THE OLD ONE. AND WHAT OF MY RELATIONSHIP? WOULD WE STAY
TOGETHER OR WOULD I RUN OFF TO DO ALL THE THINGS
I NEVER GOT TO DO BEFORE? THERE IS A HIGH RATE OF
SEPARATION AMONG COUPLES WHERE ONE PERSON GETS A GUIDE
DOG FOR THE FIRST TIME. WHY? BECAUSE SUDDENLY
THEY CAN DO THINGS ON THEIR OWN AGAIN. THIS
NEW-FOUND INDEPENDENCE SHIFTS THE BALANCE AND CRACKS APPEAR.
IF THIS CAN HAPPEN WITH A DOG, THINK WHAT COULD
HAPPEN WITH A PAIR OF FULLY WORKING EYES AND A CAR.
GOING BLIND ISN'T A SMOOTH RIDE, THOUGH. IT COMES
DOWN AND SQUISHES YOU UNDER AN INSURMOUNTABLE
WEIGHT OF GRIEF AND DISBELIEF. IT IS LIMITING, FRUSTRATING
AND CHANGES THE WAY YOU DO MANY OF THE THINGS YOU
USED TO ENJOY - NOW YOU MUST DANCE WITH THE LIGHT
ON AND DRIVE FROM THE BACK SEAT. BUT LIKE THE AFFIRMATION
OF NEAR DEATH, IT AFFECTS MORE THAN JUST YOUR
PHYSICALITY. IT GIVES YOU A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE.
IT IS A GRAND EXPERIMENT THAT MOST DON'T GET TO TRY; TO OBSERVE
AS YOUR BRAIN REWIRES AND WATCH AS THE HUMAN BODY
ADAPTS IN INFINITE WAYS. WHEN MY VISION BEGAN TO
GET WORSE, I BUMPED INTO EVERYTHING IN MY PATH BECAUSE
I WAS STILL CAREERING DOWN THE PAVEMENT AT THE
SPEED OF SOMEONE WHO COULD SEE. AS MY MIND CAUGHT
UP WITH MY EYES, I CHANGED THE WAY I WALKED - WITH MORE
CAUTION AND LESS SPEED - AND THE PERPETUAL BUMPING AND TRIPPING STOPPED.
LOSING YOUR SIGHT IS NOT LIKE JUST SHUTTING YOUR
EYES. THE LOSS IS SO GRADUAL THAT AS ONE SENSE
DIES OTHERS GROW. SUDDENLY YOU CAN SMELL THE WORLD AND SENSE
WHEN SOMEONE IS STANDING OUT OF YOUR LINE OF
VISION. YOUR BRAIN GROWS ON THE INSIDE AND THINGS
ON THE OUTSIDE START TO MATTER LESS. I GET TO LIVE MY LIFE
TWICE OVER IN TWO DIFFERENT BODIES (THE SIGHTED
ONE I USED TO HAVE AND THE PARTIALLY SIGHTED ONE
I NOW HAVE), AND WITH THAT COMES THE PRIVILEGE OF SPYING
ON THE WORLD AND ITS INTRICACIES FROM MULTIPLE VANTAGE POINTS.
IT'S A CLICHE TO SAY THAT DISABLED PEOPLE ARE
NICER. IT IS INCORRECT, IN FACT. BUT FOR ME,
VISION LOSS HAS MADE ME MORE EMPATHETIC AND MORE OPEN- MINDED.
I HAVE TO TAKE SO OFTEN THAT I GIVE MORE FREELY.
WHEN YOU RELY ON FRIENDS TO TAKE YOU DOWN OXFORD
STREET OR A STRANGER TO GET YOU ACROSS THE ROAD, YOU
THINK MORE CONSCIOUSLY ABOUT WHAT YOU GIVE BACK
AND BATTLE WITH THE FEELING THAT YOU NEED THEM
MORE THAN THEY NEED YOU. BUT, STRANGELY, I AM HAPPIER LIKE
THIS THAN IF I HAD CARRIED ON DOWN THE MIDDLE
LANE TO MEDIOCRE CITY NEVER HAVING SEEN OR FELT
REAL LOSS AND KNOWN HOW TO APPRECIATE THE GOOD THINGS AROUND
ME.
I HAVE MET PEOPLE I WOULD NEVER HAVE MET HAD I
BEEN SIGHTED, AND WE HAVE BEEN JOINED TOGETHER BY
THE COMMON BOND OF DISABILITY (AND THERE IS NO GLUE THAT
SETS AS HARD AS THAT SQUEEZED FROM THE PORES OF A
MINORITY). WHEN PART OF YOUR BODY STARTS TO DIE
YOU FEEL WHAT IT IS TO BE HUMAN. YOU WAKE UP FROM THE
SLUMBER OF BEING JUST ANOTHER IDIOT WITH AN IPOD
BECAUSE YOU ARE FORCED TO WORK OUT THE BIGGER
QUESTIONS. OR AT LEAST ASK THEM. WHY AM I HERE? WHY IS THIS
HAPPENING? YOU ARE ALERT TO THE IMMEDIACY AND
FRAGILITY OF YOUR LIFE. YOU KNOW THAT THE CHOICES
OF THE MODERN AGE DO NOT AND CAN NOT EXTEND INTO EVERY
REALM OF YOUR LIFE. YOU CAN'T CHOOSE TO SEE (AT
LEAST NOT YET). THIS IS IT. THE UPSHOT? YOU LIVE
IN THE MOMENT. YOU SETTLE FOR YOUR LOT AND LOVE IT.
THE CONCEPT OF SIGHT LOSS AS A POSITIVE THING IS
AN ELUSIVE ONE. IT IS HARD TO GRASP WHEN YOU HAVE
EXPERIENCED IT; AND EVEN HARDER TO GRASP WHEN YOU HAVEN'T.
IT IS NOT SOMETHING I WOULD HAVE CHOSEN, BUT IT
IS NOT SOMETHING I WISH HADN'T HAPPENED. WOULD I
LIKE TO STOP IT GETTING WORSE? YES, BECAUSE I'M ONLY HUMAN
AND SOMETIMES I LIE AWAKE WORRYING HOW I'LL COPE
WHEN IT'S ALL GONE. BUT WOULD I LIKE TO HAVE GENE
THERAPY AND SEE PERFECTLY AGAIN? FIVE YEARS AGO I'D
HAVE SAID YES. NOW I'M NOT SURE, BECAUSE IF THIS
EXPERIMENT OF GOING BLIND HAS TAUGHT ME ANYTHING,
IT IS THAT WHAT YOU LOSE IN ONE PLACE YOU GAIN ELSEWHERE,
AND WHILE A BLIND LIFE IS DIFFERENT TO A SIGHTED
LIFE, IT IS NOT LESSER. AND ULTIMATELY IT IS BETTER THAN HAVING NO LIFE AT
ALL.
Saturday, July 21
Serotek products and thoughts
Greetings. Let’s try this again. I started this post a little while ago but it was erased by some circumstance, so I’ll try again. Of course, this slightly changes my view on the software that I was and am going to talk about, :)
Serotek is a name that some blind people have heard of, either from their line of products for Windows or, perhaps more likely, from their involvement in a lawsuit from Freedom Scientific recently. Either way, it’s a name that we should be familiar with. Why? Because of the types of products that they are coming up with; products that innovate and push the envelope. I’m not going to get into technical details. There are others that can do that much more eloquently, not to mentioned informed, than I can. I will talk about my experience thus far with their products, aside from the information loss, and tell you what I think.
System Access. This is a new product that Serotek has come up with that performs like, and in fact is, a screen reader. Its not as complex and involved as JAWS, but then again, it doesn’t pretend to be. System Access is what it is, and it’s a pretty good product. It allows you to use your computer nonvisually, from accessing desktop icons, to using Microsoft Word, to sending email in Outlook Express or Microsoft Outlook, to surfing the WWW, and more. Serotek has recently introduced a new product similar to System Access, called System Access to Go or S.A. to Go. They are currently offering S.A. to Go as a public beta for people to test. There’s no indication on when the beta cycle will end, however you can sign up by going to:
www.SAToGo.com.
I’m using a 4 and a half year old computer running Windows XP Home and am writing this in Word XP,a program that Serotek freelly says that they don’t support. Perhaps hat’s why I’ve had problems with it. When using their System Access program, each time that I’ve come back to Word from another window, my focus has been lost and I’ve been placed on one of the many pages of my currently 28 page blog document. Sometimes I’ve gotten speech when arrowing through the document, and sometimes I haven’t. And then there’s the issue of that disappearing text I had earlier. I should say that it seems that Serotek’s products use some of the familiar JAWS navigation keys. I’ve been able to use the equivalent Windows keystrokes for moving by word or paragraph. About the time that I thought I’d run into trouble (which I’ll get into later), I was able to switch back to the Word window with Ssystem Access, and attempt the save file command in Word (Control with S). I assumed that the file did indeed save and closed the file. This was several hours ago. When I returned a few minutes ago I found that the last post in the file was one I had written before convention. All of the stuff I had written before was gone. That wasn’t very much, but I figure I had written about a page and a half or 2 pages altogether. That as some good stuff with good observations. Hopefully I can recreate that in this post or another one. However, those good thoughts are now in the bit bucket as some call it. This is disappointing to say the least. I plan on informing Serotek about this, even if they don’t’ support Word XP.
I mentioned that System Access and S.A. to Go don’t use many of the JAWS keys I’ve come to know and love, such as moving by character, word, spelling the word, etc. The programs are however much more responsive in Word as a whole, as least compared to JAWS. They are also pretty good in Outlook Express. There is a bit of a delay when arrowing through messages, but I can deal with that, at least for a short time. I’m not sure if I’d want to rely on it all the time, but its good to have available.
The advantage and huge selling point to S.A. to Go is that you don’t need any software on the computer in order to use it. All you need is either an Internet connection or the S.A. software on one of the many new U3 USB thumb drives, for when you plug in the USB drive into any computer, you instantly have access to that computer, whether or not if there’s any assistive software on that machine. This has been the big selling point for some of the Serotek line of products for several years, starting with their Key to Freedom product. That I know of, no one else in the AT industry has been able to duplicate this level of access. Some have come close, like Freedom Scientific with their dongle or thumb drive version of JAWS, but one still needs JAWS on a computer in order to use this, which kind of defeats the purpose of “access anywhere.” I think that Dolphin have also attempted this kind of access as well with their Dolphin Pen, though I don’t know if that requires the Dolphin software on the computer in question in order to work, like FS does. In any case, Serotek are true innovators by introducing and maintaining this level of access.
The last product I’d like to talk about is the S.A. Mobile Network, formerly known as the Freedom Box Network. Basically, this is a safe “sandbox” like environment that they introduced back in 2000 to give blind and low vision people access to many different software, such as email, web browsing, chat, word processing, etc. Among other things, one of their most popular offerings is the ability to listen to the audio track of many different DVS or describe movies. Thik of the S.A. Mobile Network like what America Online attempted to do some years ago.
I’ve gone onto the Mobile Network, after I signed up for a free 30 days trial, and have watched, er listened, to several movies in the last 12-24 hours. I must say that these movies present a very good and enticing argument and plus for the S.A. Mobile Network and Serotek as a whole. The movies range from classics to Holiday favorites to action and adventure, and all points in between.
In watching these movies I’ve discovered that while I started out the session with System Access, after a said period of time in which I haven’t pressed any keys on my computer, S.A. disappears. I know this because I’ve attempted to check the time a number of times and was unable to do so. When the movies were over, I’ve also attempted to move to another window finding that I got no speech. I tried bringing up JAWS and Microsoft Narrator with no success. Incidentally, Narrator’s not so bad if you adjust the speech rate to a faster speed. Its still the same voice, but at least he doesn’t sound as drunk. Anyway, I know that JAWS came up because my Braille display came to life but nothing was displayed. There was no speech either. Perhaps S.A. was blocking the speech, since if Narrator did load, the program spoke with hesitation, menaing there were many pauses when it was trying to announce some things. All but one of the times that I’ve watched a movie, which has probably been 5 or 6, I had to eventually restart my computer from a complete shut down state. Being able to watch movies is quite nice, but I’m not sure I’d pay for this ability if I have to reboot my computer after the movie’s over. The one time that I didn’t have to restart was when I closed the media player’s window and got S.A. speech back, but I was still unable to check the time during that session after awhile. The point when I lost my work in Word, I had started a movie and had it on pause. I had a feeling that I might have to restart at some point, so I paused the movie, went back to Word, and tried to save the document. I don’t know if the presence of the movie or media player had anything to do with my data loss, but if so, that’s not a good selling point either.
Like I’ve said, I’m still evaluating things and my conclusions might not amount to much. However, over all, these are great products. While I may not pay the money for System Access or the Mobile Network for this computer, after all it is still 4 years old. There’s a good chance I will try it on Windows Vista, whenever that next computer comes. Even when my 30 day trial runs out, I’ll still use the S.A. to Go program, if at all possible. Its great not needing any software and just being able to type in a web address or bring up a favorite to launch a screen reader. And then, when done, to just close the window or unload the program, and have there be no trace of the program on that computer. There’s one other part of S.A. to Go that might interest others but doesn’t really do much for me: the ability to remotely control another computer with both System Access and S.,A. to Go. For the person in information technology, tekkie, or computer repair person, or even for the true geek, this is pretty cool. Also, as far as Windows Vista is concerned, System Access doesn’t have any trouble in working with Vist’as graphics. Which means that unlike JAWS, Window Eyes, and other screen readers, you don’t have to unload or change the display settings in order to use System Access. For any sighted people in your life, this is pretty notable it would seem.
There you have it. I’m off to play some more in this virtual sandbox. Serotek is running a "summer conference special" on their site until 7/30/07 that combines many of these products for only $500. Check it out if you're interested. To learn more about Serotek, visit them online at
Serotek.com
Serotek is a name that some blind people have heard of, either from their line of products for Windows or, perhaps more likely, from their involvement in a lawsuit from Freedom Scientific recently. Either way, it’s a name that we should be familiar with. Why? Because of the types of products that they are coming up with; products that innovate and push the envelope. I’m not going to get into technical details. There are others that can do that much more eloquently, not to mentioned informed, than I can. I will talk about my experience thus far with their products, aside from the information loss, and tell you what I think.
System Access. This is a new product that Serotek has come up with that performs like, and in fact is, a screen reader. Its not as complex and involved as JAWS, but then again, it doesn’t pretend to be. System Access is what it is, and it’s a pretty good product. It allows you to use your computer nonvisually, from accessing desktop icons, to using Microsoft Word, to sending email in Outlook Express or Microsoft Outlook, to surfing the WWW, and more. Serotek has recently introduced a new product similar to System Access, called System Access to Go or S.A. to Go. They are currently offering S.A. to Go as a public beta for people to test. There’s no indication on when the beta cycle will end, however you can sign up by going to:
www.SAToGo.com.
I’m using a 4 and a half year old computer running Windows XP Home and am writing this in Word XP,a program that Serotek freelly says that they don’t support. Perhaps hat’s why I’ve had problems with it. When using their System Access program, each time that I’ve come back to Word from another window, my focus has been lost and I’ve been placed on one of the many pages of my currently 28 page blog document. Sometimes I’ve gotten speech when arrowing through the document, and sometimes I haven’t. And then there’s the issue of that disappearing text I had earlier. I should say that it seems that Serotek’s products use some of the familiar JAWS navigation keys. I’ve been able to use the equivalent Windows keystrokes for moving by word or paragraph. About the time that I thought I’d run into trouble (which I’ll get into later), I was able to switch back to the Word window with Ssystem Access, and attempt the save file command in Word (Control with S). I assumed that the file did indeed save and closed the file. This was several hours ago. When I returned a few minutes ago I found that the last post in the file was one I had written before convention. All of the stuff I had written before was gone. That wasn’t very much, but I figure I had written about a page and a half or 2 pages altogether. That as some good stuff with good observations. Hopefully I can recreate that in this post or another one. However, those good thoughts are now in the bit bucket as some call it. This is disappointing to say the least. I plan on informing Serotek about this, even if they don’t’ support Word XP.
I mentioned that System Access and S.A. to Go don’t use many of the JAWS keys I’ve come to know and love, such as moving by character, word, spelling the word, etc. The programs are however much more responsive in Word as a whole, as least compared to JAWS. They are also pretty good in Outlook Express. There is a bit of a delay when arrowing through messages, but I can deal with that, at least for a short time. I’m not sure if I’d want to rely on it all the time, but its good to have available.
The advantage and huge selling point to S.A. to Go is that you don’t need any software on the computer in order to use it. All you need is either an Internet connection or the S.A. software on one of the many new U3 USB thumb drives, for when you plug in the USB drive into any computer, you instantly have access to that computer, whether or not if there’s any assistive software on that machine. This has been the big selling point for some of the Serotek line of products for several years, starting with their Key to Freedom product. That I know of, no one else in the AT industry has been able to duplicate this level of access. Some have come close, like Freedom Scientific with their dongle or thumb drive version of JAWS, but one still needs JAWS on a computer in order to use this, which kind of defeats the purpose of “access anywhere.” I think that Dolphin have also attempted this kind of access as well with their Dolphin Pen, though I don’t know if that requires the Dolphin software on the computer in question in order to work, like FS does. In any case, Serotek are true innovators by introducing and maintaining this level of access.
The last product I’d like to talk about is the S.A. Mobile Network, formerly known as the Freedom Box Network. Basically, this is a safe “sandbox” like environment that they introduced back in 2000 to give blind and low vision people access to many different software, such as email, web browsing, chat, word processing, etc. Among other things, one of their most popular offerings is the ability to listen to the audio track of many different DVS or describe movies. Thik of the S.A. Mobile Network like what America Online attempted to do some years ago.
I’ve gone onto the Mobile Network, after I signed up for a free 30 days trial, and have watched, er listened, to several movies in the last 12-24 hours. I must say that these movies present a very good and enticing argument and plus for the S.A. Mobile Network and Serotek as a whole. The movies range from classics to Holiday favorites to action and adventure, and all points in between.
In watching these movies I’ve discovered that while I started out the session with System Access, after a said period of time in which I haven’t pressed any keys on my computer, S.A. disappears. I know this because I’ve attempted to check the time a number of times and was unable to do so. When the movies were over, I’ve also attempted to move to another window finding that I got no speech. I tried bringing up JAWS and Microsoft Narrator with no success. Incidentally, Narrator’s not so bad if you adjust the speech rate to a faster speed. Its still the same voice, but at least he doesn’t sound as drunk. Anyway, I know that JAWS came up because my Braille display came to life but nothing was displayed. There was no speech either. Perhaps S.A. was blocking the speech, since if Narrator did load, the program spoke with hesitation, menaing there were many pauses when it was trying to announce some things. All but one of the times that I’ve watched a movie, which has probably been 5 or 6, I had to eventually restart my computer from a complete shut down state. Being able to watch movies is quite nice, but I’m not sure I’d pay for this ability if I have to reboot my computer after the movie’s over. The one time that I didn’t have to restart was when I closed the media player’s window and got S.A. speech back, but I was still unable to check the time during that session after awhile. The point when I lost my work in Word, I had started a movie and had it on pause. I had a feeling that I might have to restart at some point, so I paused the movie, went back to Word, and tried to save the document. I don’t know if the presence of the movie or media player had anything to do with my data loss, but if so, that’s not a good selling point either.
Like I’ve said, I’m still evaluating things and my conclusions might not amount to much. However, over all, these are great products. While I may not pay the money for System Access or the Mobile Network for this computer, after all it is still 4 years old. There’s a good chance I will try it on Windows Vista, whenever that next computer comes. Even when my 30 day trial runs out, I’ll still use the S.A. to Go program, if at all possible. Its great not needing any software and just being able to type in a web address or bring up a favorite to launch a screen reader. And then, when done, to just close the window or unload the program, and have there be no trace of the program on that computer. There’s one other part of S.A. to Go that might interest others but doesn’t really do much for me: the ability to remotely control another computer with both System Access and S.,A. to Go. For the person in information technology, tekkie, or computer repair person, or even for the true geek, this is pretty cool. Also, as far as Windows Vista is concerned, System Access doesn’t have any trouble in working with Vist’as graphics. Which means that unlike JAWS, Window Eyes, and other screen readers, you don’t have to unload or change the display settings in order to use System Access. For any sighted people in your life, this is pretty notable it would seem.
There you have it. I’m off to play some more in this virtual sandbox. Serotek is running a "summer conference special" on their site until 7/30/07 that combines many of these products for only $500. Check it out if you're interested. To learn more about Serotek, visit them online at
Serotek.com
Tuesday, July 10
Remembering Tony
Hi Tony. I just wanted to write you a quick note and wish you happy birthday. I know you're in Heaven now, but I still need to remember your birthday and the happy times. I've thought about you a lot in recent months and days. For awhile, you were in my dreams. I don't dream about you as often these days. You do come up from time to time though. I've met a girl named Beth and I think you would have liked her. She's a real dog person so there would be a definite connection between the two of you. May this day bring you happy memories in Heaven just like they're bringing me down here. Talk to you in awhile. Love, Wayne.
Sunday, July 8
JAWS 8.0 for Windows Vista Final release
Greetings. I meant to post this before I left for convention, but didn't get a chance. JAWS 8.0 for Windows XP/Vista has been released. On the Windows XP side, there's not a lot of enhancements/improvements since the last minor update. However, this is considered a "final release" for Windows Vista. So from now on, you can burn this copy to a CD or get a CD from Freedom Scientific, and install it on a new Windows Vista computer. For those interested, you can read more about the JAWS 8.0.2173 Final Release. Refer to the "Enhancements for JAWS version 8.0.2173" heading for specifics on what has changed since the last update. Also, in the JAWS seminar at the NFB convention last week and on FS Cast (FS's podcast), there was mention of version 9 coming out hopefully in September. If you have Windows XP and don't see a reason to get this update, then I'd suggest just waiting for 9.0. One notable thing and a reason you might want to order the 8.0 CD is that a new batch of training material is included on it. Among this material are free Daisy moduals, including one on moving to Windows Vista when using JAWS or Magic. Refer to the JAWS Training Headquarters and look for the heading, "Download these additional DAISY books." Enjoy.
The PAC Mate Omni
Greetings. After long last, an upgrade for the PAC Mate is coming. It was officially announced this past week at the National Federation of the Blind and American Council of the Blind conventions. For those that missed the convention or announcement, or want more details, then check out the PAC Mate Omni press release. As a PAC Mate user, I'm grately looking forward to this upgrade. Though I hate to be apart from my technology I rely upon, I'll gladly send my unit in if they're going to perform this sort of upgrading to it. In case you're interested, it would be a good thing to do any maintenance or repairs to your unit before the new version comes out. FS in fact said that they won't do any upgrading if your unit is not working perfectly. Also, the pricing structure that FS has announced is pretty great too; think of it, paying from only $299 to $699 for an upgrade like this. That sounds a lot better than the nearly $2,000 that HumanWare was charging a few years ago when they introduced the BrailleNote mPowers. Since my hardware and software agreements are up to date, I'll only pay $299 for this upgrade. As the date gets closer, Freedom Scientific will announce other details about how the upgrade process will work, as well as other enhancements to the PAC Mate. For now though let's enjoy the moment and the news.
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