Reid My Mind

“Now usually I don’t do this, but…”

Today, I’m taking you on an audio tour of my production process. This is not a tutorial, just a look at how I produce non visually!

Shout out to my daughter Raven for the photo, her cameo in this piece and her featured clarinet playing!

Since the idea for this piece came from a suggestion, I thought I would invite more… If there’s anything that you want to know about or think would make for a good story topic go ahead and suggest it in the comments. If you’re interested I could even include you in the piece! For those who are shy, no worries, you can say no to that with no hard feelings.

Listen

I always had a love and appreciation for music. I never formerly learned how to play an instrument outside of the recorder. (Maybe one day I’ll record my very soulful interpretation of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star!)

I previously wrote about my use of audio as a way to capture memories ever since losing my sight.

Back in high school, I used to take multiple cassette players to create my own multi track recording. I knew nothing about 4 Track Recorders nor could I afford them at that time. I knew about sampling machines, but once again, no dinero!

In 2005 I began playing with an accessible sound editor called Gold Wave. This was a lot of fun, but made me long for access to a multi-track digital audio workstation (DAW). I think I was longing for that feeling of creating a finished product from an idea like when I was young.

I heard of some blind musicians using a program called Cakewalk and some customized scripts that provided access to the program.

I couldn’t really justify the cost of the program for something that was not even a hobby. Along comes the Reaper! No, not that guy dressed in a hooded black robe waiting to take me to the afterlife. I’m talking about Reaper – an affordable multi track digital audio workstation that thanks to a developer featured an accessibility component for screen reader users.

I’ve been playing with this program to do various productions including TAG (Talking Advocacy & Government), and even a fun song with my daughters. (Big thanks to my girls for giving me permission to post this song – OMG, what a fun time!)

One of the most difficult things about producing for me is finding the right voice for the job. As my experience tells me, it’s often best to use whatever you have at your disposal.

The inspiration for this latest project was literally at my fingertips.

So here it is, check out the Screen Reader Rap.

When I was first introduced to screen readers a little less than five years ago, I had the impression that Freedom Scientifics’ JAWS was the only game in town. It wasn’t until I began feeling comfortable using the technology and made my way back on the web, that I realized there were other solutions available.

The folks at Serotek have been doing their best to continuously let screen reader user’s and the AT industry know they were planning on changing the game.

Now, Serotek announces the end of the Service Maintenance Agreement (SMA). A SMA is a contract between the software vendor and the purchaser, entitling the user to a set number of upgrades.
As I write this post using JAWS version 9, I am slowly growing behind the times. Freedom Scientific has released their latest version, JFW 10. After downloading and installing the upgrade I realized my SMA ended with the last upgrade. I am going to have to fork over   the money to upgrade. This is a choice I have to make for various reasons mainly work related.

Choice is great!

I appreciate Serotek for not only adding another screen reader option and introducing their  other products, but also beginning the change in an industries business model.

Darrel over at the Blind Access Journal wrote a post titled "The SMA May be Dying, But I’m Not Celebrating." He proposes that eliminating the SMA may reduce  timely updates to screen readers and therefore reduce access to new or upgraded mainstream applications.

This is actually already a problem we face as AT users. Let’s not forget, Serotek is a business. The mission of a business is first and foremost to make money.

I doubt very highly that Serotek is eliminating revenue, but rather changing the revenue stream from one that is solely customer based to another.

It’s similar to the changes in the music business. Record companies are realizing that their business model based mainly on the sale of physical cd’s or even digital music will need to change. Changes in the way society consumes and thinks about owning music are forcing the companies to change.

Serotek is simply trying to lead the change. Based on their recent history it seems they realize the importance of keeping up with the mainstream. I applaud Serotek for their willingness to try something new. Even more importantly I hope the overall technology/consumer electronics industry catches onto the concept offered by Serotek’s CEO Mike Calvo who said "…accessibility is a right not a privilege."

As a self acclaimed techie geek, the idea of searching for a new electronic gadget was more entertainment than work. However, since losing my sight over two years ago, trying to stay current is more of a stressful chore.

Let’s get beyond the somewhat obvious obstacles, window shopping is no longer a true option, easy access to catalogs and cutting edge electronic magazines is a thing of the past. However, access to the internet and all it has to offer is enough.

The idea of purchasing a piece of equipment is no longer based on the number of features compared to the cost or even the “wow” factor. Purchasing an item takes a lot more planning and preparation for the blind community. For just about every electronic item purchased we must ask the following questions;

• Will I be able to use the gadget without sighted assistance?
• Will I only be able to use some of the available features?
• Will I have to purchase additional software/hardware in order to access the item?

There are some who I know will say that technology is improving for those of us in the blind community. I would partially agree with this. The standard practice seems to focus on adapting an item to the visually impaired and blind or creating a separate item altogether. I am proposing that we get beyond this way of thinking and adopt a more inclusive approach.

The current adaptive approach is most evident in the use of screen readers. Now the two main manufacturers of screen readers will probably hate me for saying this, but I would rather eliminate the need for a separate piece of software. JAWS and Window Eyes are the two most popular packages on the market today. Each of these allows a visually impaired and blind person to have access to the Windows environment. For the average user accessing the most popular applications is possible. At a cost range of $800 to over $1,000, this is the equivalent of buying two computers.

I’m sure there are some who will say putting screen reader functionality into the operating system is too much to expect. I disagree. As with most technology there are multiple uses that are not identified until a product is released. Closed Caption for example, was not created for sports bars or for listening to music and watching television simultaneously. In fact, vinyl records were originally made as talking books for the blind. Look at the industry this created.