Actually, I think things will eventually be forced to get better
with regards to nonstandard output from Windows because the same things that
break screen readers also break automated testing procedures.  It is much
easier to have a script that sends commands and waits for responses than
it is to try to automate raster-based tasks.  It, of course, is feasible,
but most folks would probably rather do the former.

        The question was raised as to what other kinds of information gets
missed.  Well, a perfect example occurs in Microsoft Word.  When somebody
misspells a word, the automated spell checker draws a wavy red line under
it.  No text is generated, but that's not bad.  What's bad is the fact that
no standard alarm type routine seemed to exist to allow for the screen reader
to detect that something had happened so that it could hoot
or laugh or trigger a whip to crack over the typist head.  I have heard
other reports that certain applications may silently display errors so that
the operator who can't see the screen doesn't know that anything is wrong
until the document gets ruined or something else bad happens.

        If I sound harsh or sarcastic, it is because people who know a lot
more than I do say that it is totally possible to have a GUI for those who
need or want it and also have ways to allow other types of input and output
to peacefully coexist with the GUI.  Smart design isn't usually an
either/or proposition.  It is usually a "and" proposition in that you can
do it one way and you can also do it the other way if the first way doesn't
work.  If I write an improvement to something I have already done and someone
in my group says that he or she can no longer do XYZ, I feel bad and try
to fix it.  Microsoft has been told repeatedly about these problems for
five or six years by now and they are doing far too little.  They are
Vic tomes of their own success.  Otherwise, we would go somewhere else and
do something else.:-(

        I will not waist any more of this group's time since this is so far
off-topic, but I wish those who want to create UNIX or DOS tools that use
the PicStart Plus all the best.  If you want to put a GUI in it, fine as
long as we can also use the command-line for automation, speech, etc.

Martin McCormick WB5AGZ  Stillwater, OK
OSU Center for Computing and Information Services Data Communications Group