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Linux distributions for the blind include Oralux and Adriane Knoppix. There are also open source screen readers, such as the Linux Screen Reader for GNOME and NonVisual Desktop Access for Windows.

Web browsers, word processors, icons and windows and email programs are just some of the applications used successfully by screen reader users.

This interpretation is then represented to the user with text-to-speech, sound icons, or a braille output. Access technology such as screen readers and Screen magnifiers enable the blind to use mainstream computer applications. Screen readers can be assumed to be able to access all display content that is not intrinsically inaccessible.

Further, using a screen reader is, according to some users, considerably more difficult than using a GUI and many applications have specific problems resulting from the nature of the application. Experimental approaches in sensory substitution are beginning to provide access to arbitrary live views from a camera.

The movement towards greater web accessibility is opening a far wider number of websites to adaptive technology, making the web a more inviting place for visually impaired surfers. This year nonprofit worker Anthony Loeff is writing about software applications for blind people Only a small fraction of this population, when compared to the sighted community, have Internet access.

The console-based Oralux Linux distribution ships with three screen-reading environments: Emacspeak, Yasr and Speakup. Screen reader choice is contentious: differing priorities and strong preferences are common. The open source GNOME desktop environment long included Gnopernicus and now includes Orca. Near 8 percent of those deemed legally blind, by any measure, have no vision. More and more, screen readers are being bundled with operating system distributions. A persons choice of screen reader is dictated by many factors, including platform and the role of organizations like charities, schools, and employers.

Recent versions of Microsoft Windows come with the rather basic Narrator. Screen readers are a form of assistive technology potentially useful to people who are blind, visually impaired, or learning disabled, often in combination with other AT such as screen magnifiers. The Macintosh OS also comes with a built-in screen reader, called VoiceOver. The rest have some vision, from light perception alone to relatively good acuity. A screen reader is a software application that attempts to identify and interpret what is being displayed on the screen. Most legally blind people 78 percent do not use computers. Indeed functionality remains limited compared to equivalent desktop applications, the major benefit is to increase the accessibility of said websites. While Apple Mac OS X includes VoiceOver, a more feature-rich screen reader. Later versions of Microsoft Windows include an Accessibility Wizard and Magnifier for those with partial vision, and Microsoft Narrator, a simple screen reader. The latter developed in part by Knopper who has a visual impairment. The primary audience for such applications is those who have difficulty reading because of learning disabilities or language barriers.

Microsoft Business Solutions stakes on Microsoft Great Plains as main Accounting/ERP application for US market. At the same time it seems to be staking on Navision in Europe and has Axapta as high end large corporation market competitor to Oracle, PeopleSoft, SAP, IBM. This article is brief review of Microsoft Great Plains integration with Microsoft Access. This is also applicable to Small Business Manager (which is based on the same technology - Great Plains Dexterity dictionary - DYNAMICS.DIC and runtime DYNAMICS.EXE) and Great Plains Standard on MSDE or MS SQL Server.

If you are developer who is asked: how do we implement Great Plains integration/interface with your MS Access-based system - read this and you will have the clues on where to look further.

1. Great Plains Integration Manager - this is rather end-user tool - it is very intuitive, it validates 100% of business logic, brings in/updates master records (accounts, employees, customers, vendors. etc.) brings in transactions into work tables. The limitation of Integration Manager - it does use GP windows behind the scenes without showing them - so it is relatively slow - you can bring 100 records - but when you are talking about thousands - it is not a good option. By the way you can program Integration Manager with VBA. Microsoft Access is ODBC compliant and so you can do direct Integration Manager query to MS Access
   
2. eConnect - it is type of Software Development Kit with samples in VB.Net. Obviously the development environment should be Visual Studio.Net. eConnect will allow you to integrate master records - such as new customers, vendors, employees, etc., plus you can bring transactions into so called Great Plains work tables (eConnect doesn’t allow you to bring open or historical records - you need to post work records in Great Plains, the same limitation applies to Integration Manager above) eConnect is rather for ongoing integration. It was initially created for eCommerce application integration to Great Plains.
   
3. SQL Stored Procedures. Obviously you have unlimited control and possibilities with SQL queries. You need to know Great Plains tables structure and data flow. Launch Great Plains and go to Tools->Resource Description->Tables. Find the table in the proper series. If you are looking for the customers - it should be RM00101 - customer master file. If you need historical Sales Order Processing documents - they are in SOP30200 - Sales History Header file, etc. Do not change existing tables - do not create new fields, etc. Also you need to realize that each GP table has DEX_ROW_ID - identity column. Sometimes it is good idea to use inbound/outbound XML in the parameters - then you can deploy web service as a middle party between two systems.
   
4. Data Transformation Services (DTS) - Good tool for importing your third party data into staging tables in GP - then you can pull them in using either stored procs of Integration Manager. You can also deploy this tool for EDI export/import. You can have DTS working with Linked Server - SQL Server Construction for linking to Microsoft Access
   
5. Great Plains Dexterity Custom Screens. Sometimes users prefer to have seamlessly integrated into GP interface custom screens - for parameters settings and initiating integration. Dexterity is a good option, however remember - it is always better to create new custom screen versus customizing existing one - due to the future upgrade issues. Also - Dexterity is in phasing our by Microsoft Business Solutions.
   
6. Modifier/VBA custom buttons on the existing screens - alternative to Dexterity is you are comfortable with VBA and ADO.
   
7. SQL Linked Servers - you can do direct SQL queries to other ODBC compliant platform via SQL Linked Server (including Microsoft Access) - you may need to familiarize yourself with OPENROWSET command in Transact SQL. This is also good option if you need cross-platform Crystal Report - pulling data from SQL Server and third party databases on the same report.
   
8. Warning - do not place existing GP tables into Replication! - you will have upgrade issues.

Happy integrating! if you want us to do the job - give us a call 1-866-528-0577! help@albaspectrum.com

Andrew Karasev is Chief Technology Officer in Alba Spectrum Technologies - USA nationwide Great Plains, Microsoft CRM customization company, based in Chicago, California, Texas, New York, Florida, Georgia, Minnesota, Oregon, Arizona, Canada, UK, Australia and having locations in multiple states and internationally (www.albaspectrum.com ), he is Dexterity, SQL, C#.Net, Crystal Reports and Microsoft CRM SDK developer.

In this small article we will show you the possible way of deploying Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains for the market niche of large, mid-size and small reselling and distribution business in carpeting and floor covering, textile & fabric. We will not be talking about fabric production, but rather cutting for the end-user or small retailer. Microsoft Great Plains itself in our case should be considered as a platform for light customization and modification. We’ll describe industry requirements and the way them to be implemented in Great Plains

• Variable Length Rolls. Usually, when you place and order through your supplier - there is no way to know exact length of the roll or bolt. It might have 75 yards or 80 yards - you typically know the average length, say 77 yards and this is why you know what to expect in yards if you purchase 10 bolts

• Inventory in Yards. When you receive the roll - you need to place it into inventory in exact yards. Typical method is to assign lot number to the bolt and then associate the exact initial length in yards with this unique lot number. This is Great Plains Dexterity customization, which provides parallel unit of measure, associated with the lot number

• Light Assembly. Bill of Materials would be probably too complex for cutting the fabric. This is why we suggest to deploy automatic inventory decrease and increase adjustments - you decrease number of yards in the roll and increase your finished good in the number of units assembled

• Meter / Yard challenge. If you purchase from the supplier in China, Mexico, South East Asia or Europe - they measure their rolls in meters, not yards - so you need to implement automatic unit of measure translation and conversion. You resolve this on the level of your EDI - electronic document interchange

• Cut-beds tracking to original roll. If you are assembling/cutting something like billiard table beds - you would like them to be tracked to the original roll in the case of customer complaint. This means that you will have to assign the same or modified lot number to the cut-bed

• Inventory Count. You need to track what is the current length of the bolt/roll. This is realized via custom Dexterity table, having Item Number, Lot Number, Initial Length in Yards, Current Length in Yards

• Customization Tools: Great Plains Dexterity - this is Great Plains Dynamics programming language and development environment; Modifier with VBA - will allow your modify Great Plains forms and attach VBA scripts to your custom buttons; SQL scripts and stored procedures - low level database programming, excellent for the professional with profound GP tables structure and data flow knowledge.

Good luck with implementation, customization and integration and if you have issues or concerns - we are here to help! If you want us to do the job - give us a call 866-528-0577 or 630-961-5918! help@albaspectrum.com

Andrew is Great Plains specialist in Alba Spectrum Technologies ( http://www.albaspectrum.com ) - Microsoft Great Plains, Navision, Microsoft CRM Partner, serving clients in
California, Minnesota, Illinois, Washington, Florida, Arizona, New York, New Jersey, Virginia, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, Canada, UK, Australia, Brazil, Germany, Russia

Point of sale (POS) software integrates the physical devices in the POS systems with computer language and thus facilitates automated data processing. POS software not only monitors almost all day-to-day activities of any business, but also helps to run them systematically, keeping track of income and expenditures, inventory, stock, and clearance, billing, customer, and transaction records and customer service through touch screen information kiosks and vending machines. Speedy business transactions and accurate budgeting helps vendors increase their profits significantly. The software also helps in paging in hotels and restaurants, taking online food orders and delivery of food items.

The very first POS software was introduced by IBM, which came out with IBM 3650 and 3660 Store Systems in August 1973; the software was first installed in Pathmark Stores in New Jersey and Dillard’s Department Stores. Now, POS needs have become so wide and varied that different POS software is tailored to suit the specific needs of different industries. The most popular of these industries include restaurants and retail stores. Software for each of these industries has unique features that automate sales and customer transactions and ensure staff accountability. For example, POS software for a hotel will ensure that a guest’s personal calls are automatically are automatically billed into his account by the computer and added to other charges. And a retail outlet’s POS software will require employees to swipe their cards to record their work hours and will keep stock of all the product details. Some point-of-sale software also includes credit and debit card swipe facility, fake-check tracing, and report-generating capabilities for day-to-day and monthly transactions.

Vendors usually take trials of different software before deciding the best software for their industry. Essential for the installation of basic POS software are computers, printers, cash registers, scanners, and keyboards. Barcode printing software, cash register express software, and inventory software are essential for any business that uses a point-of-sale system.

POS provides detailed information on POS, POS Software, POS Systems, Restaurant POS and more. POS is affiliated with Metal Store Fixtures.