Internet Explorer 7.0 has come out and its not very friendly to the blind and visually impaired.  Adaptive software companies are rushing to get out the software patches to help the blind maneuver around the new browser.

 Bill Gates is pushing out the new Internet Explorer through the Windows update manager and the ones with automatic download and installs are in trouble.  They are getting lost in the new browser because their JAWS software is not compatible yet for the new world.  Freedom Scientific has just come out with a new patch for the current JAWS user, version 7.0 and 8.0.  If you are a user of 6.0 or below, you are now forced to upgrade.  This just doesn’t seem fair.  The average blind individual does not have the money to upgrade their software so what are they to do?  Below are two links that  will take you to some sites that will help.  But what about the new operating system, Vista ?  It has been said that JAWS users will have to upgrade to the JAWS professional version in order to run Vista and the video card and the RAM are needed to be upgraded also.  It costs $300 to upgrade to JAWS professional.  The average blind person makes $750 per month.   

I am interested to see how accessible the new Vista is and did Mr. Gates think about this target market.  You can get more details at http://www.freedomscientific.com . 

The first is a post from Kelly Ford on keyboard changes from Beta 3 of IE7. 

 LINK:http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/2006/06/30/652785.aspx

  The second is the Keyboard Lover's Guide to IE7

 LINK:http://blogs.msdn.com/ie/archive/2006/02/08/527702.aspx

 Please keep in touch with CCS’s website to find out more about the new adaptive software updates for the new Operating System, Vista …