For a man who would rather be biking, shopping online isn't the greatest thrill. But Jeff Mulkern, a Shaler resident who happens to be blind, agreed to demonstrate how the process works for those who can't see the computer screen.

His computers, both at home and work, use a screen-reading software named Jaws to help him navigate Web sites. There are other programs available and using any of them requires learning keystrokes that, among other things, replace the need for clicking a mouse.

Mr. Mulkern had those skills down pat, but every online store he visited had its own quirks, its own language. Searching for "T-shirts" on one site didn't get him very far because the retailer was using the term "tee" in some places. Another site didn't make it clear whether he had pulled up information on men's or women's shoes.

He didn't begrudge retailers their differences, noting there's bound to be a learning curve. "Most people who shop online, they go to their favorite sites over and over." That allows them to master the layout and the terminology.

Listening to a computerized voice speeding through everything on a Web page takes skill as well. Think of the computer in the 1980s movie, "WarGames," reading out every department at J.C. Penney or every type of men's shirt sold by Target, interspersed with terms identifying design features.

In computerese, a phone number might be "four billion, one hundred twenty-two million..." and the computer gives the same tone to copyright information as to a copywriter's fanciful description of seafood.

Macys.com touted a new tool for the visually impaired but it seemed more geared to those who would benefit from magnification, so Mr. Mulkern skipped it. Besides, he's wary of downloading free tools that might affect his software.

A site operated by the American Printing House for the Blind even became confusing when Mr. Mulkern tried to buy a T-shirt and a message popped up that his information needed to match his account -- if he already had an account, which it didn't help him figure out.

"The moral is even the best of places can lead you astray," he said. Anyone who has done much shopping online would have to agree with that.

Teresa Lindeman can be reached at tlindeman@post-gazette.com or 412-263-2018. By Teresa F. Lindeman

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

For a man who would rather be biking, shopping online isn't the greatest thrill. But Jeff Mulkern, a Shaler resident who happens to be blind, agreed to demonstrate how the process works for those who can't see the computer screen.

His computers, both at home and work, use a screen-reading software named Jaws to help him navigate Web sites. There are other programs available and using any of them requires learning keystrokes that, among other things, replace the need for clicking a mouse.

Mr. Mulkern had those skills down pat, but every online store he visited had its own quirks, its own language. Searching for "t-shirts" on one site didn't get him very far because the retailer was using the term "tee" in some places. Another site didn't make it clear whether he had pulled up information on men's or women's shoes.

He didn't begrudge retailers their differences, noting there's bound to be a learning curve. "Most people who shop online, they go to their favorite sites over and over." That allows them to master the layout and the terminology.

Listening to a computerized voice speeding through everything on a Web page takes skill as well. Think of the computer in the 1980s movie, "WarGames," reading out every department at J.C. Penney or every type of men's shirt sold by Target, interspersed with terms identifying design features.

In computerese, phone numbers may be "Four billion, one hundred, two thousand …." and the computer gives the same tone to copyright information as to a copywriter's fanciful description of seafood.

Macys.com touted a new tool for the visually impaired but it seemed more geared to those who would benefit from magnification, so Mr. Mulkern skipped it. Besides, he's wary of downloading free tools that might affect his software.

A site operated by the American Printing House for the Blind even became confusing when Mr. Mulkern tried to buy a T-shirt and a message popped up that his information needed to match his account -- if he already had an account, which it didn't help him figure out.

"The moral is even the best of places can lead you astray," he said. Anyone who has done much shopping online would have to agree with that.