Reid My Mind

Have you ever read a review of a piece of software that sounds exactly like what you have been looking for to solve some problem? Maybe you were looking for a better way to accomplish a specific task you find yourself doing over and over again. So after reading a review you head on over to the website of the software’s developer and look for a free trial. You download and install only to find out that the application is inaccessible.

That sucks!

Sometimes even worse you can use some of the functionality, but find yourself jumping through hoops to make the application work with your screen reader or looking for workarounds to bypass inaccessible controls.

That sucks even more!

This week I found a gem. I’ve been looking for an application to help me manage project tasks, to do lists and generally help me stay organized. I’ve been using various methods depending on the task. These include using the free text editor from Jamal Mazrui, EdSharp and it’s very cool built in functionality like creating contents and section navigation.

I learned of an application called Action Outline Lite (the free version of Action outline) that gives the ability to quickly  create structured hierarchical outlines, enabling you to organize just about anything you can imagine.

From the developer’s site:

 
A simple yet useful organizer, Action Outline consists of an Explorer-like interface where you can store and arrange all your information in a tree outline form. Arrange items using your keyboard or mouse, cut and paste branches, place checks or tags next to listed items, search information, print data, export to the external file, or link to web or local files.

Not only are just about all the options accessible from the keyboard, menus including right click and the menu bar are all accessible. (Based on Vista laptop running Jaws v 9.)

Action Outline is going to serve not only as a way for me to easily store and manage tasks and notes. but it is going to serve as my command center.

It’s ability to link directly to multiple AO outline files, emails, web sites and other objects enables me to have one main file, the "Command Center," and easily open and manage other files.

I guess I’m showing the Productivity Geek in me, or maybe it just feels great to download an app, and not have to uninstall it because of inaccessibility.

AO is A Ok with me! Big shout out to the development team at Green Parrot Software.

Go on over to Action Outline Lite and give it a try.

While the features in the lite version will probably accommodate most of my needs, I plan on upgrading to the paid version – $39.95.

I consider that more a way of supporting a development team for an accessible product.,