Monday, June 23, 2008

MYSELF!...

I am a fresh thespian in this world of bloggers, and have just begun studying and perhaps, explore all the possibilities to make my blogs pleasures most enjoyable, and conceivably pleasurable as possible!
I am Mark Lester Maraviles Mercado, 29 years of age, Blind or visually impaired, and currently residing in Iligan City, Republic of the Philippines.
Readers in this remark, you maybe wandering how I did first setup my account if I really true blind indeed! Yes! I. in every respect, wholly comprehend all of your misgivings, qualms, and in all of your reservations in relation to, on the subject of, and with reference to myself…But if you please, allow me to describe a little bit concerning and relating to myself, so that you may fully understand, and perchance, possibly be a part on the list of your best Friends, not only in this cyber world, but in to the real world as well…
I began to learned and explore the world of computing technology, back in the year 1997 when I were in a vacation at my Tita Rosemarie Mercado Jostiniano’s domicile in Cagayan De Oro City. And Because of her husband, my Tito Jerminio’s then desire to probably taught me as best as he could, and for his colossal, immense, enormous, gigantic, gargantuan, huge, and great endeavor, I began to erudite the simplest commands, such as: closing an application alt f4, and turning on/off the computer.
However, when the duration of my more or less, 2 months stint in their abode had moved toward an end, back in our residence in Iligan, my great aspiration to study the computer had began to die away… , for the reason that: first, we do not have a computer. And last, it was not feasible for us to get a hold one for lack of resources, which is the money for us to have the aptitude of obtaining…But not until 2004!
When I got the defy from my co blind associates, have the audacity and finally decided to cram the course of scientific massage and went in Metro Manila, JESUS CHRIST blessed and granted me also the opportunity to acquire and study two courses which includes: the scientific massage which is my ultimate goal of going their.
And of course! The computer literacy for the blind, in which to me at that time, became an almost replacement of my definitive ambition!
Nevertheless, when I experienced the therapeutic, soothing, healing and relaxing effect of massage through the strong, yet gentle hands of our two of the best massage instructors, I then began to realized, that I really need to seize, and take hold of study the two courses being offered to me at that moment, Although it was not really the first instance that I got to experience the touch of massage…
Then when I took my first interview in the office of one of our placement officers, it was at that time that I really got a closer look, hear for myself! , and even came across with one of my utmost and deepest amazement! , is this real? Am I not on a somnambulistic assailing? Do I really hearing in a computer talking? Am I really listening to the computer mention my name? And my deepest and overriding incredulity continue until suddenly! , I brought back to the sphere of reality when my interviewer called my attention.
Months past by, till finally came the time in which our school administrators allowed me to enter the computer room and have myself exposed and familiarized into a computer with an assistive technology software, which is a screen reader specially designed for people with visual impairment, like me…
And the rest, is history!
At present, as far as I’ve known, there are four or more screen reading software that is compatible with Microsoft’s windows operating system, and at the moment, only one for Apple’s Macintosh operating system, in which they call, Voiceover. Please note however, that you may not be able to buy this as a standalone application, for it is a belt in software specially designed by Apple's Mac OS X intended to accommodate there clienteles who have vision impairment. And for those who are reading this avowal that is not minding of being taught and educated by a blind man, I am more than happy to show you brief description in each of the four Software which is compatible with Windows operating system that I know.

1. I begin with Cool Speech. Among the four, Cool speech is the cheapest when it comes to price tag, but also considered poorest in terms of features and usability between blind end-users if it compares with the worlds best, screen-reader in which I shall be discussing later in this article.
2. Thunder. Thunder has a lot to offer when it comes to basic computing functions and commands. But again, with the features and usability which is a great consideration, Thunder is still lacking. However, if you wondering and want to ask and know my opinion about this freeware, my answer would definitely be, NOT GOOD! Unless, they have an enormous fixed in its numerous bugs, and a gigantic upgrade in it. Although in all fairness with Thunder, I only tried using it in 2005, and have not tested it at the present. But, if you wish to make your own analysis in this good software from Sensory Software Ltd, click here to download. Good luck!
3. Window-Eyes. This great screen reading software developed by GW Micro definitely has a lot more to offer when you talk about features, a wide range of practical commands, and beyond doubt, the usability of Window-Eyes is just simply amazing! , That you could even compare it with the world’s greatest screen-reading software, in which I shall be presenting in a moment. If you’re interested of screen reading software to be installed in your Windows based desktop or laptop computer system, you may want to try this great software for I myself can not wholly depict its toughness! All I can say is that, Window-Eyes is just purely astonishing, that you could even have a very close comparison with,
4. Job Access With Speech (JAWS) which is to me, the world’s top, zenith, best, unsurpassed, paramount, preeminent, most superlative, finest, premium, most handpicked, optimum, most deluxe, most excellent, greatest, most supreme, most superior, first-rate, unequaled, unmatched, unrivaled, incomparable, unparalleled, without equal, beyond compare, peerless, inimitable, & truly matchless screen-reader this planet has to offer!. Hmm, you mite be thinking that I’ve been remunerated by Freedom Scientific because of this awesome description of their product. Of Course not! How I wish they would, at least even just 1, and it would certainly be so very great, & deeply appreciated!… the only reason in which these all superlative description of the product has been published, only because, I truly believe its capacity & capability of making the lives of the visually-impaired computer geeks easy, & perhaps, become very most productive, when it comes to accessing, exploring, & generally using the computer with much ease!
5. Now you finally know! That JAWS is the world’s most undisputed screen reading software!

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