Great post. I'm still waiting for Apple to standardize switch access in iOS for those of us who can't use our hands. Sure, I still have my computer and the adaptive hardware that makes it completely accessible to me. But it would be nice if I could read a book or start a movie on my iPad without asking for help.
It's an interesting concept and more interface options for people with disabilities is always a good thing. I'll probably stick with my head-controlled mouse and piezoelectric switch until I get that chip implanted to control my computer with my brain. And then I'll pwn all your sorry asses in Crysis 11.
Agreed. The scene with Adama on the hill was such a lovely coda to a series that had been playing with concepts of death, rebirth, and change for all four of its seasons. But then came those tacky five minutes which were made even worse with the inclusion of stock footage of those oh-so-threatening Japanese robots.
So, the moral of BSG is that I'm supposed to be afraid of my Roomba?
The hokey spiritualism also irritated me, but it seems like said hokey spiritualism is now a prerequisite for most televised SF (cf. Lost, Heroes). The networks seem to think the masses need a healthy serving of God with their spaceships and time travel or else they might change the channel.
Still, the first hour of the was as good as anything the series has ever done. And I liked how the original series' theme music was incorporated into the scene of the fleet heading for the sun. And Olmos should get an Emmy nod for breathing life into a character that could easily have turned into self-parody in the hands of a lesser actor.
Maybe it's because I live in Minnesota, but when I go to movies, the audiences are usually civil and well-behaved. Sure, most films are teh suck, but I manage to find something I want to see every 4-8 weeks. I still like the communal experience of watching a movie in the theater. I like being around other people. It's too easy to cocoon ourselves in our homes with our home theater systems. Going to a movie is still something of an event for me. But maybe I'm a huge dork.
I've been skimming this thread and I didn't see many replies from other users with disabilities. I also use a type of headmouse because of a neuromuscular disability. I've had this type of setup since I was 16 (I'm 31 now and work as an attorney). I've always been a gamer and I tend to gravitate towards games that don't require twitch reflexes. I'm a big RPG fan and most of these are mouse-driven. Check out some of the classics like Baldur's Gate or Planescape. Planescape is especially brilliant. A more recent game I really enjoyed was Freedom Force, a rpg/strategy game that is also mouse-driven. Does your headmouse allow you to hook up separate switches for the left and right mouse buttons? These switches work really well if you have limited movement.
If you do play games that require a few keyboard commands, check out Game Commander. It allows you to program voice commands for games. It has a pretty customizable interface and you can even program macros.
If you have an on-screen keyboard, you can always go old-skool with text adventures from Infocom.
Stop by my blog if you have other questions. I've seen other disability-related questions posted on/. and the quality of the responses tends to run the gamut from troll to somewhat helpful. I hope other users with disabilities will see this and offer more ideas.
I am also puzzled by posting a review of a book that got oodles of press when it was first published back in 2000. I read this a couple years ago and was amazed by the use of language, the imagery, plot, etc. It brought me back to reading comics again. I just loaned this book to a friend at work and I'm curious to see how he will react to it. It would be interesting to see this novel redone as as a graphic novel.
As a matter of further discussion, has anyone read any good graphic novels lately? I just picked up Moore's The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, in anticipation of the upcoming film. Haven't read it yet, though.
I haven't seen the film yet (probably tonight or tomorrow), but I can't help but think that ST should just stick with the small screen. With the possible exception of ST II, most of the films have been little more than the equivalent of serviceable two-part episodes. I enjoy Enterprise and most of Voyager, but I can't imagine either series would make a good movie. Television and film are different mediums with different styles of telling a story. ST is a TV show and not much more.
If Paramount was ever serious about making a quality ST film, they'd hire a decent writer and director. I wonder what a Peter Jackson or Ridley Scott would do with Star Trek. Might be interesting.
*sigh* Once again, ignorance rears its ugly head. Look, Einstein, HAVING a disability is not the same thing as GETTING disability benefits. There's a difference, ok? A disability is usually defined as a physical or mental impairment that substantially affects an individual's ability to carry out one or more major life activities (walking, breathing, working, etc.) HIV is a disability. That's all I was saying. Disability benefits is another thing entirely. Many people with disabilities don't get cash benefits, including some people with HIV. It simply depends on circumstances.
And I'm really tired of the "thy asked for it" argument. Nobody ASKS to get sick. A person's risky behavior does not justify cruelty such as yours. After all, Einstein, I'm sure you didn't ask to be stupid.
As has been mentioned MANY times already, disability is not just people in wheelchairs and crutches. Disability includes mental illness, HIV, diabetes, brain injury, etc. I think many people would be surprised by the number of people they know who have invisible disabilities. I'm still surprised by the number of people who can't grasp this concept.
As for accessibility, I use Windows 9x with a nifty headset called a Headmaster and an on-screen keyboard called WiViK. Don't think Unix has on-screen keyboards, but I could be wrong.
I happen to be someone who actually uses a Headmaster with a piezo-electric switch (I have a disability). Headmasters have been around since at least the late 80's, but I think they use ultrasound, not IR. I've tried some IR devices, but they're not as precise as the Headmaster. The Headmaster is pretty intuitive, but my neck does get stiff sometimes. Check out my webpage, written entirely with a Headmaster: http://www.pacer.org/employment/index.htm
Since we haven't herd from any users with disabilities, I'll add my two cents. I strongly agree with Dr. Kothari that this initiative is long overdue. My disability is physical, not sensory, but it is still a pain in the ass to navigate sites that are polluted by needless animation and graphics. Accessibility guidelines encourage clean, efficient web design; a concept which many designers have difficulty grasping.
People with disabilities don't ask for preferential treatment, merely equal access to the same goods and services enjoyed by able-bodied citizens. The Internet has dramatically improved my life and has given me greater indepence. So instead of bitching about big government and how the cripples are making your job difficult, do the best job you can and remember that nothing happens overnight.
Slashdot Mirror
Great post. I'm still waiting for Apple to standardize switch access in iOS for those of us who can't use our hands. Sure, I still have my computer and the adaptive hardware that makes it completely accessible to me. But it would be nice if I could read a book or start a movie on my iPad without asking for help.
It's an interesting concept and more interface options for people with disabilities is always a good thing. I'll probably stick with my head-controlled mouse and piezoelectric switch until I get that chip implanted to control my computer with my brain. And then I'll pwn all your sorry asses in Crysis 11.
Agreed. The scene with Adama on the hill was such a lovely coda to a series that had been playing with concepts of death, rebirth, and change for all four of its seasons. But then came those tacky five minutes which were made even worse with the inclusion of stock footage of those oh-so-threatening Japanese robots.
So, the moral of BSG is that I'm supposed to be afraid of my Roomba?
The hokey spiritualism also irritated me, but it seems like said hokey spiritualism is now a prerequisite for most televised SF (cf. Lost, Heroes). The networks seem to think the masses need a healthy serving of God with their spaceships and time travel or else they might change the channel.
Still, the first hour of the was as good as anything the series has ever done. And I liked how the original series' theme music was incorporated into the scene of the fleet heading for the sun. And Olmos should get an Emmy nod for breathing life into a character that could easily have turned into self-parody in the hands of a lesser actor.
Yes, please. I have a physical disability; the Kindle isn't accessible to me. But I'd spend a lot of money on books I can read on my desktop.
Between iTunes, Netflix, Hulu, and (fingers crossed) a desktop version of Kindle, I may never leave my computer again.
Maybe it's because I live in Minnesota, but when I go to movies, the audiences are usually civil and well-behaved. Sure, most films are teh suck, but I manage to find something I want to see every 4-8 weeks. I still like the communal experience of watching a movie in the theater. I like being around other people. It's too easy to cocoon ourselves in our homes with our home theater systems. Going to a movie is still something of an event for me. But maybe I'm a huge dork.
I've been skimming this thread and I didn't see many replies from other users with disabilities. I also use a type of headmouse because of a neuromuscular disability. I've had this type of setup since I was 16 (I'm 31 now and work as an attorney). I've always been a gamer and I tend to gravitate towards games that don't require twitch reflexes. I'm a big RPG fan and most of these are mouse-driven. Check out some of the classics like Baldur's Gate or Planescape. Planescape is especially brilliant. A more recent game I really enjoyed was Freedom Force, a rpg/strategy game that is also mouse-driven. Does your headmouse allow you to hook up separate switches for the left and right mouse buttons? These switches work really well if you have limited movement.
/. and the quality of the responses tends to run the gamut from troll to somewhat helpful. I hope other users with disabilities will see this and offer more ideas.
If you do play games that require a few keyboard commands, check out Game Commander. It allows you to program voice commands for games. It has a pretty customizable interface and you can even program macros.
If you have an on-screen keyboard, you can always go old-skool with text adventures from Infocom.
Stop by my blog if you have other questions. I've seen other disability-related questions posted on
I am also puzzled by posting a review of a book that got oodles of press when it was first published back in 2000. I read this a couple years ago and was amazed by the use of language, the imagery, plot, etc. It brought me back to reading comics again. I just loaned this book to a friend at work and I'm curious to see how he will react to it. It would be interesting to see this novel redone as as a graphic novel. As a matter of further discussion, has anyone read any good graphic novels lately? I just picked up Moore's The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, in anticipation of the upcoming film. Haven't read it yet, though.
If Paramount was ever serious about making a quality ST film, they'd hire a decent writer and director. I wonder what a Peter Jackson or Ridley Scott would do with Star Trek. Might be interesting.
*sigh* Once again, ignorance rears its ugly head. Look, Einstein, HAVING a disability is not the same thing as GETTING disability benefits. There's a difference, ok? A disability is usually defined as a physical or mental impairment that substantially affects an individual's ability to carry out one or more major life activities (walking, breathing, working, etc.) HIV is a disability. That's all I was saying. Disability benefits is another thing entirely. Many people with disabilities don't get cash benefits, including some people with HIV. It simply depends on circumstances.
And I'm really tired of the "thy asked for it" argument. Nobody ASKS to get sick. A person's risky behavior does not justify cruelty such as yours. After all, Einstein, I'm sure you didn't ask to be stupid.
As has been mentioned MANY times already, disability is not just people in wheelchairs and crutches. Disability includes mental illness, HIV, diabetes, brain injury, etc. I think many people would be surprised by the number of people they know who have invisible disabilities. I'm still surprised by the number of people who can't grasp this concept.
As for accessibility, I use Windows 9x with a nifty headset called a Headmaster and an on-screen keyboard called WiViK. Don't think Unix has on-screen keyboards, but I could be wrong.
I happen to be someone who actually uses a Headmaster with a piezo-electric switch (I have a disability). Headmasters have been around since at least the late 80's, but I think they use ultrasound, not IR. I've tried some IR devices, but they're not as precise as the Headmaster. The Headmaster is pretty intuitive, but my neck does get stiff sometimes. Check out my webpage, written entirely with a Headmaster: http://www.pacer.org/employment/index.htm
Winter
Since we haven't herd from any users with disabilities, I'll add my two cents. I strongly agree with Dr. Kothari that this initiative is long overdue. My disability is physical, not sensory, but it is still a pain in the ass to navigate sites that are polluted by needless animation and graphics. Accessibility guidelines encourage clean, efficient web design; a concept which many designers have difficulty grasping. People with disabilities don't ask for preferential treatment, merely equal access to the same goods and services enjoyed by able-bodied citizens. The Internet has dramatically improved my life and has given me greater indepence. So instead of bitching about big government and how the cripples are making your job difficult, do the best job you can and remember that nothing happens overnight.