Window-Eyes 7, Worth the Wait?
June 23, 2008
Well, the day has finally arrived. It's been an unprecedented 14 months since the release of any version of Window-Eyes, and now users around the world will get to decide if the wait was worth it.
When the decision was made to add scripting support to the screen reader, I doubt even the programmers at GW Micro realized what they were getting themselves into. Consider that scripting has been a mainstay of JAWS for nearly a decade. But now, they're attempting to cram nearly ten years of catch-up into 14 months as scripting support is finally introduced.
The need for scripting certainly doesn't come as a necessity for the basic user. GW Micro boldly claimed, in fact, that the power of Window-Eyes is possible without the need for complex scripts. The now infamous quote still holds true, as Window-Eyes functions quite nicely without any scripting at all. But with limited resources and a growing amount of accessibility challenges, it was time for a change in philosophy. Advanced programs including audio editing software and specialized company applications simply could be made to work better with JAWS, and power users knew this fact.
That being said, even a novice computer user will probably find a use for the scripts that are already available and perhaps those to come. From the initial impressions of the over 60 scripts already available on Script Central, much has already been accomplished.
Everyday users will certainly appreciate the countless hours Jeff Bishop has put into his Winamp scripts, first demoed at the end of January. They include dozens of keyboard commands, shortcuts, and features and really make the media player shine. Jamal Mazrui, one of the most-known contributors of open-source accessible programs, has no shortage of entries on the scripting resource ranging from simple utilities to advanced programming tools. His Install Packages script makes installing other add-ons a treat.
Perhaps the true test for the young language will come when commercial developers evaluate whether or not Window-Eyes scripts can be a valuable business model. Dancing Dots CEO Bill McCan, in a Blind Bargains interview during the ATIA conference, stated this was a definite possibility, though the language and its functionality would certainly have to be closely scrutinized before a small company like theirs decides to spend months of development time in creating a new set of scripts.
On a more individual level, we can only speculate that this will open more doors to employment, both through the use of specialized scripts for company applications, and for programmers looking to make some extra income by writing these custom interfaces.
Perhaps the biggest task for GW Micro and its supporters now will be to convince users and potential users alike that the wait was worth it. Certainly, other accessibility challenges exist, and adding scripting support has delayed work on these issues. But based on our first impressions, we think that many users will be quite impressed and satisfied with how scripts can help their everyday lives. It'll be interesting to see what emerges in the form of user contributions in the coming months, as GW Micro's scripting interface evolves.