So far so good.

Apr 13, 2010 |

Well, one day in. It’s not really enough time to make observations is it?

I started my new job yesterday. Well, so far so good. It’s not really diferent than I thought it would be. The office is much quieter than I expected or than what I’m use to but I suppose that’s to be expected with the type of role this is.

I’ve come across two accessibility problems already. Both with utilities for managing appliances such as switches and network KVM’s but fortunately, both times I was able to use the web interface to get the access I needed. Just goes to show though that for a while, I’m going to have an up hill battle on my hands.

I’ll post a more detailed update shortly as a private post as there are updates relating to my angry outburst last Friday.

What do I use to make my job accessible?

Apr 9, 2010 |

This post is in response to a question:

What exactly do you do in work and what tools do you use to do it.

I am a systems administrator in a very large organization.
This job involves active directory, mail, proxy, firewall and other administration, implementation of new servers, racking servers, system security hardening and a lot more. It’s a highly technical role that I really enjoy.

the organization has 4 server rooms, dozens of coms rooms, clustered servers, fibre links and hundreds of clients. It’s like a tech hevin!

For client and server systems that run windows, I use a screen reader. called Jaws for Windows. www.freedomscientific.com

For Linux command lines I use speakup. http://speakup-modified.org

For Linux graphical systems (Gnome), I use Orca http://live.gnome.org/Orca

For the VOIP phones, I use my memory. I basically memorise the menus I need to access. I also scan the manual of any system that I need to know well using an OCR application called Kurzweil.

For programming, I use a Braille display. This interfaces with the screen reader so that information that is spoken can instead be sent to the Braille display. Using a Braille display is not necessary however I find it easier to consintrate on what I’m working on in this type of environment.

A screen reader provides highlighted and / or relevant parts of a user interface to the user via synthesized speech and/or Braille.

When working with switches, I use a LED meter. This is actually a light meter but it works well for determining when LED’s on servers, switches etc are on, flashing or off.

For RSA administration, I use a RSA keyfob that connects via USB. This is not a specialist adaptation. It is a product that is offered by RSA that suits what I need.

For backup tape storage and administration, I use a hand held barcode reader to read the labels.

#

Seeing private posts in your RSS reader.

Apr 9, 2010 |

Most feed or RSS readers allow you to provide a username and password to see restricted content.
Now that I have made some of my personal posts accessible to registered users only, you might want to avail of this functionality in your RSS reader.

The instructions below relate to Internet explorer 7 and 8 but other feed readers should have similar options.
I use the keyboard for these instructions but you can use the mouse if you prefer.

  1. In internet explorer, press control and j to bring up the feed list.
  2. Arrow down to the feed for DigitalDarragh.com.
  3. Bring up the context menu by pressing the application key. This is usually three buttons to the right of the space bar. If using a laptop and you do not know where the applications key is, press shift and F10 to bring up this menu.
  4. Press the up arrow once to jump to the bottom of the menu. You are now on the properties item.
  5. Press enter to activate this.

    6. Now, tab until you reach the first settings button

  6. Type the user name and password that you use to log into the password in the boxes provided in the resulting dialogue box.

That’s all there is too it, You will now have access to the content that is marked private.

I am providing notifications of private posts on the blog at the moment so that readers who do not have accounts know to register. However, I will not ocntinue this indefinitly.

Do I constantly have to proove my self? When will that end?

Apr 9, 2010 |

Wow I’m in a bad mood this morning.

So, yeah, blah blah blah, I got the promotion and that’s fantastic. I’m actually delighted. Well, I was. until I was told of a conversation that went on with the people I’m about to be working with and my boss.

Now, I’m use to this conversation. People are still stupidly blinded by the misconseption that because I cant see, I cant do certain parts of the occupation that I’ve chosen.

Fine. If you don’t know me, I’ll except that from the outside, it may seem that certain parts of networking and server hardware can pose certain accessibility problems. But, I equally expect and demand that if you know me then that stupid misconseption should be resolved a long time ago.

So, to find out that people who should know me and who have worked with me all be it from a distance still think I cant do my job pisses me off so much that I’m livid while typing this. More than livid. I’m some word that I cant think of at the moment.

I am amazed! shocked! stunned that people still doubt my ability because of something they see as a disability. I’ve argued before that blindness isn’t the disability, the environment you are in is what disables you from doing something. If universal design policies were adopted by manufacturors of hardware and developers of software then nothing would be inaccessible. Hay, It’s not a perfect world. Not everything is accessible but that’s where independent problem solving comes in. fine, if your troubleshooting cabling on a switch with hundreds of ports then your going to need to figure out a way of tracing the cables. but if your sighted is it really that different? if anything it’s harder. Loads of cables that are the same color and your trying to figure out what one your disconnecting from the patch panel? Na. I know from experience it’s equally as difficult for you as it is for me. The only difference is I use touch to determine the wire I need to disconnect.

Give me any IT related problem or system and I promis you, no, I will bet you everything I have that I WILL find a way to access it. Even if that means pulling the thing apart first. I have never found a system that I couldn’t get access to with some work and determination.

But, I’m through explaining my self. I’m through defending my ability any more than the people I work with have to. Sure, assess and judge me on my qualifications, skills and performance, but if you keep bringing the fact I cant see into it I’m through. I will no longer put up with this. I have to say though, my boss is great. he has always been open. I understood that he had reservations when highering me. He discussed them with me and I convinced him that he had nothing to worry about. I’ve proven this to him as well over the past two years. I really appreciate that he saw past it and continues to do same. It just really annoys me that people who know me just as well cant or don’t.

Before I got here, there were similar conversations. Will he be able to do this, will he be able to do that, what if blah blah blah blah blah. That was fine at the time. I understood that they had most likely not met someone with a visual impairment so therefore couldn’t be expected to understand that their worries were unfounded.

I have no problem explaining to people and demonstrating even at times that something can be done without sight. That’s not the issue.

I’m just tired.
Now, I’m going into a new job, learning a lot more in the process but I’m going to have a battle on my hands. A battle to constantly proove my self. A battle to show that they do not need to treat me any differently because I cannot see.

I’m tired of it.

I was looking forward to learning without this being a factor.

I’m pissed off.

I’m insulted.

When will this end. When will I be able to get on with things without this coming up. It’s stupid. It’s high time that people saw past it.

Private blogging now works.

Apr 8, 2010 |

Yesterday I wrote about an idea to make certain posts private. After a failed test or two, I finally have it working. If you have an account on DigitalDarragh.com, you will be able to read personal posts that I mark as private. If you don’t have an account, tuff. You’ll only see what isn’t personal. But, if your into the technical posts, that will probably be ok. The posts that are marked private will just be rubbish that your probably not really interested in anyway unless you know me. or your just nosy…

Today, I wrote the first private blog post. If you don’t have an account, as I said earlier, you won’t be able to read it. but, it’s Big Big News! so you should probably sign up. You’ll find the link for that under the log in form.

Hay, the site even remembers you when you come back. It cant get any better than that really can it?

Well, enjoy. Let me know if there’s anything else you would like on the site.

Big big news!

Apr 8, 2010 |

So, now that I have private personal blogging functionality on the site, let’s start going into some more detail.

So, the big news that I haven’t been able to tell anyone for the last week is?

I’m pregnant!

Ah no. The truth is, I’m getting a sex change and changing my name to Darleen.

Hahahaha.

No. I got promoted.
No, please. Believe me, I know it seems more likely that I’m pregnant or I’m getting a sex change but seriously! I got promoted! Isn’t that cool? They must be stupid or something!

I’ve been working in this company for two years now on the 14th of April. When I got here, I set my sights on the job above mine. It’s a lot more technical, has a lot more responsibility and is generally just better for me. It will mean I get to learn a lot more on an ongoing basis and regardless of the money, I love learning! But, the money is slightly better too.

But, the problem is, I haven’t been able to tell anyone yet. It’s driving me crazy! I want to shout it from the roof tops. I want to tell everyone that I’m moving jobs. I want to get in and start the challenge. But, of course, I’m scared shitless that I’m not going to be up to the job or accessibility problems are going to get in my way. Everyone who has done this kind of thing knows that when you’re using technology such as servers, manufactures haven’t exactly given people who can’t see much thought. But, in saying that, I’m kind of quietly confident that whatever the problem, I’ll do my very best to find a way around it. Besides, there’s been no job without accessibility problems so far and I’ve still been able to struggle through. Well, either struggle through or bullshit my way through. In fact, there was probably more bullshit than struggling.

The only thing in my way now is waiting for management to inform people that I have the job. When that’s done, I’ll be able to start. They were supposed to do that a week ago, but….. Things take a while to happen in this place.

The most descriptive overview of the layout of the Nokia N97 Mini you will ever find.

Apr 8, 2010 |

The phone is layed out as follows.

You hold the phone with the screen toward you, in your right hand. Your thumb can feel the rocker switch that is used for volume control and by talks for one handed operation.
Your middle finger can feel the toggle slider switch that turns on and off the key and screen lock.

You cant feel it because you don’t have a finger in that area, but on the left of the phone, under the volume button, you will also find a button for the camera. I’m told by my girlfriend that it’s a particularly cool camera too. It’s a real pity that OCR software doesn’t work with it.

Above the key pad switch on the right side of the phone is a small charger / micro USB socket.

On the top of the phone you will find the power button. To the right of this is a standard headset jack.

On the front of the phone, I.E, the area where the screen is located, is one physical button. This is the menu key and is also used by Talks as a modifier key. This button is located on the bottom left.

To the right of this button are two stationary touch buttons. The first one is answer and the second is hang up. This means that the hang up button is on the bottom right, and the answer is in the middle. These do not have any tactile markings to signify where they are but this really isn’t a problem. In fact, when talking, it is very comfortable to reach the hang up button.

This describes the phone when it is closed.

When the phone is open, you will find a qwerty keyboard, arrow keys, a back space and a function key.
To open the phone, hold it in your right hand as explained earlier. The screen will slide to your right. I find that this can be done with one hand by pushing with your index finger against the very smooth partnearest the top. Of course though, everyone will have a different way of doing this. I just mention it because I don’t know why really, but doing this with two hands or without holding it properly in my hand feels unnatural and as if I’ll break the screen if I do it too forcefully.

When the phone is open and still resting in your right hand, the qwerty keyboard is now on your left with the screen on your right.

Turn the phone around so that the qwerty keyboard is facing you with the screen further away.

The longest button is the space bar. This seems like it’s badly placed but it is just one of the many ways that this phone has some surprisingly well thought out ergonomic features. It is really nice to type on this and the space bar is actually perfectly placed when you get use to it. I’ve used a lot of keyboards of this size and none have been this comfortable.

The function key is the middle button on the far left.

The arrows are on the right at the bottom. Working from right to left, you’ll find right, down and up. The up arrow is as you would expect above the down arrow.
The enter button is above the right arrow.
The back space is above the enter.

Full stop, or period for you American people is one to the left of the up arrow.
Comma is one to the left of the back space.

For convenience, considering I’ve already explained everything else, here are a few common symbols that you will probably want while typing on this phone.

Apostriphy function key and k.
@ function key and a.
# function key and h.
Exclamation mark function key and m.
Question mark function key and n.

There is one thing to note when the phone is open to expose the qwerty keyboard. The soft keys are no longer on the bottom left and right. Key one is on the bottom right and key two is on the top right.

Key 3, 4 and 5 are between key 1 and key 2 in this view.
When the phone is closed, key 3, 4 and 5 are above key 1 and 2 as explained in my second review on www.lalrecordings.com/accessiblephones

This is a very lengthy explination and description. I hope it answers your questions.

Believe me when I say, this phone is exceptionally well designed. I don’t think I’ve seen so much thought ever go into a Nokia phone. They have exceeded my expectations and I really think anyone who is looking at a touch screen phone should seriously consider this.

The lyrics to over 30 well known Irish traditional ballads and songs.

Apr 7, 2010 |

I was working on a set list last night and in case the singer isn’t sure of all the words, no offence, it can happen to anyone when you have a set list this long, I decided to find all the words to the songs that we will be singing.

So, here it is. The lyrics to 30 Irish ballads and songs.

I decided to post it on this website in the Music room just to show that when organizing a gig, I can organize the whole thing from equipment to transport to the set list and even to providing words of the songs to the singers. 🙂

So, I’m not blogging enough?

Apr 7, 2010 |

People have been telling me that I’m not blogging enough lately and that the posts I do write are too technical.

The reason for that is simple. I have done the whole personal blog thing and there’s always a danger of it becoming too revealing. I’ve been blogging now for around 5 or 6 years so the direction the blog has taken has changed a lot in that time. It’s inevitable really.

I like personal posts though. It wouldn’t even bother me if people don’t read them. I simply like writing stuff down. I like reading back over things that I’ve written years ago and remembering what I was thinking at that time.

So, to satisfy both technical and non-technical people, I’m going to begin the personal posts again.

However, they won’t be available to everyone. They will become slightly more revealing as time goes on as it’s hard for that kind of post not to become so to protect my privacy in some way shape or form, I’m going to restrict access to these posts to registered users of the site. Anyone can register and it’s very easy to do it.

This gives me some idea as to who has been reading so I don’t need to be as careful about what I write.

I will let you know when this change to the blog has been made. If you are not a registered user of the website, then the blog will continue to look as it did before. You just won’t see the posts that are marked private.