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Date:         Tue, 28 Jul 1992 16:42:57 EDT
Reply-To:     Bill McGarry <wtm@sheldev.shel.isc-br.com>
From:         Bill McGarry <wtm@sheldev.shel.isc-br.com>
Subject:      Handicap Digest # 2830
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                             THE HANDICAP DIGEST

                                 Issue # 2830

                           Tuesday, July 28, 1992

Today's Topics:


                                ******

                           Blink Talk Digest # 664

                         Braille Keyboard Questions
                        Re: using readcom with speech
                          Braille keyboard questio
                               Artic Question
                    Re: nfb bbs censorship?? You decide.
                              Re: Acb/nfb Feud


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Subject: Braille Keyboard Questions
From: Brenda.Mueller@f1055.n261.z1.fidonet.org (Brenda Mueller)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:261/1055 - The Keeping Room, Baltimore MD


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

I didn't see any answers to your questions, so I guess I'll see if
I can lend you a hand.  Usually when people say that something has
a braille keyboard, they mean a keyboard with six keys for each dot
in a braille cell and a  space bar.  As you surmised, the
characters are produced by pressing down the appropriate dot/key
combinations.  I, personally, haven't dealt much with one-handed
operation, but then I've never had to.  I prefer  to write my
braille with both hands.  Sure, braille writers have braille
keyboards.  Whether any are out there for one-handed operation is
something I've never thought about asking.  Hope you get this
message, and I hope this helps.  Lon.Barfield@cwi.nl (L. Barfield

--
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Internet: Brenda.Mueller@f1055.n261.z1.fidonet.org




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Subject: Re: using readcom with speech
From: Donald.Breda@hnews.fidonet.org (Donald Breda)
Organization: The Handicap News, Shelton CT (203) 337-1607


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

Hi Tim; The version of read.com you used with softvert is one that has
been modified by TSI to write through the BIOS. This is why it worked.

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Subject: Braille keyboard questio
From: Robert.Gilchrist@f715.n153.z1.fidonet.org (Robert Gilchrist)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:153/715 - The BandMaster, Vancouver BC


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

To: Lon.Barfield@cwi.nl (L. Barfield)
 On 07-17-92 L. Barfield wrote to All...

 LB> From: Lon.Barfield@cwi.nl (L. Barfield)

 LB> Index Number: 23118
 LB>
 LB> Hello,
 LB>
 LB> I'm writing a bit about keyboards at the moment and I've heard
 LB> occasional references to a braille keyboard and I'm still not too sure
 LB> exactly what one is.
 LB>
 LB> What I am trying to find out is if there is such a thing as a keyboard
 LB> based on the layout of dots in braille. Like a large braille character
 LB> with each dot replaced with a button. Keying in a particular character
 LB> would be done by chording; pressing down at the same time all the
 LB> appropriate buttons corresponding to the pattern of dots for that
 LB> character.
 LB>
 LB> I am familiar with the Agenda and the microwriter these are one handed
 LB> keyboards with a button for each finger and they operate with
 LB> chording.  They use new invented finger patterns for the different
 LB> letters, but as these patterns are already inherent in braille I was
 LB> wondering if there are similar systems for braile writers that use
 LB> this idea.
 LB>
 LB> Any ideas?
 LB>
 LB>    -- Lon --
 LB>
Lon from Rob
There are a number of products that use a braille keyboard to input
Braille. To my knowledge they are no independent keyboards I.E.
keyboards simply manafactured that would plug into an existing keyboard
port. This is a result of thetranslation required. Each of these
products employs a Braille keyboard to input characters into it's
respective system, some examples are Braille N Speak, and Braillemate
both competing hand-held Braille note-takers which use speech. In the
case of Braillemate it also has an 8-dot cell.

I would suggest contacting Telesensory Systems, Inc. one of the
manafacturers of Braille input products at their local number.
(U.S.) (415)960-0920 ask for Mr. Eric Neilsen.

I would be interested in whether this was any help to you.
Rob

... OFFLINE 1.35 * Format another (Y/N)?

--
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Subject: Artic Question
From: Russ.Kiehne@f99.n215.z1.fidonet.org (Russ Kiehne)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:215/99 - Blink Connection, San Leandro CA


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

*** Quoting Carla Campbell to All dated 07-20-92 ***
> Ok, all you Artic Business Vision users out there... can you lend a poor
> non-Artic user a hand, here, while I try to lend a hand to a friend?
>
> Does Artic have a "pass-through" or "literal" command to send the next
> keystroke on through to the underlying application, rather than
> grabbing it for its own use?  I've got someone set up using Telix,
> only, see, we can't use ALT-X to quit out of it! (Artic BV seems to
> want to use the ALT-X for something called "point tracking" and won't
> relinquish it)  Most programs have a way to tell the speech software
> "ignore the next key stroke and pass it through to the application I'm
> running," but I haven't the foggiest what it is with Artic and I don't
> have any docs (and hers are in Canada.)  Any help would be much
> appreciated.
>
>
Hi Carla,
You may do one of two things! To pass a key to the application with artic
press alt alt-x or do the following:

First press the scroll lock key to go into control mode.
Next press alt-u and the following menu should come up!

  USER KEY DEFINITIONs

Now press control page up and you will get the following prompt.
EASY READING KEYS: A. Read Character Current   ALT K
              3

Next press page down until you get the following prompt:
3  TRACKER MODE KEYS: A. Character Cursor Mode    ALT C
                 3

now press "d" and you should get the following prompt:
 D. Pointer Track Mode       alt-x
Now press the delete key and you should get the following prompt:
Press y to remove this DEFINITION or escape

I hope this helps

Russ

--
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Internet: Russ.Kiehne@f99.n215.z1.fidonet.org




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Subject: Re: nfb bbs censorship?? You decide.
From: David.Andrews@p0.f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org (David Andrews)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:129/89.0 - BlinkLink, Pittsburgh PA


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

SB> I will give you a first hand experience where an item I submitted was
 SB> not  run in the Monitor.  A few years ago, I produced a small, spiral
 SB> bound Area Code Directory.  I sent a complementary copy to the
 SB> editors of The Braille Forum, Dialogue and The Monitor.  All of the
 SB> publications to which I submitted this announcement ran it with the
 SB> exception of The Monitor.  I received several nice thank you notes for
 SB> the comp copy as  well.  After waiting three or four months, (I do
 SB> understand publishing deadlines), I telephoned Dr. Jernigan.  He was
 SB> very complementary of my directory and even indicated he used it on a
 SB> regular  basis.  When I asked the question about my announcement and
 SB> if it was going to appear in The Monitor he said, "I would love to
 SB> run your ad, however, you have failed to tell me one thing I must
 SB> know."   I replied, "What is that?"  Jernigan then said, "Are you a
 SB> federationist?"  I said, "No I'm not."  He then replied, "Well, that'
 SB> that'swhat  I need to know and "no" we will not be able to run your
 SB> announcement."  He added, "End of conversation." and hung up.

There are those who will say that we should publish whatever is
sent to the Monitor.  However, there is obviously another view.

You belong to and are active in the ACB.  This organization has
opposed much of what we do and how we do it publicly and
privately.  You have said things against the NFB in this Echo, and
presumably other places too.  That is not to say that you aren't
entitled to your opinions.  You are of course as you are entitled
to state them where ever you like.  However, the Monitor is what is
known in journalism as a house organ.  It is primarily published
for our members.  It is also paid for by those members.  Why should
we use our funds and resources to support the activities of someone
who isn't our friend, someone who belongs to an organization that
would prefer to have us cease to exist.

There is a price to my belonging to the NFB as there is a price to
your belonging to the ACB.  One of those prices for you is that you
will have deminished access to the Monitor, your oppositions
publication.  This is a harsh political reality of life.

We do publish a variety of announcements from organizations,
however, here again, I doubt that we would publish something from
an organization who had attacked us publicly.  How often do you
turn the other cheek?  You may not agree with our thinking on this
matter, people seem to think we should do what it is that they want
us to do at that time.  We receive more than we can publish in the
Monitor and things have to be decided upon somehow.

David Andrews

... The Blue Wave echo, were suggestions are taken seriously!

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!129!89.0!David.Andrews
Internet: David.Andrews@p0.f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org




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Subject: Re: Acb/nfb Feud
From: David.Andrews@p0.f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org (David Andrews)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:129/89.0 - BlinkLink, Pittsburgh PA


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

 -=> Quoting Isaac Obie to David Andrews <=-

 IO> I am sitting up here in Beantown laughing cause you took it in the
 IO> context which I meant for you to. It was only a joke. I can't take all
 IO> this serious stuff all the time. But, at least we all live in a great
 IO> country and can agree to disagree about how things ought to be done.

In all honesty, I have to tell you that I was tempted to not answer
your question.  I don't check into Blink Talk for weeks, I look in
and you are taking another shot at me.  You guys just can't leave
it alone.

But, because I am a good guy, here goes.

IO> Now let me ask you a question. At the braille technology center you
IO> have a device from Germany. It's supposed to be the CTs. It's
IO> supposedly is like the Versabraille and has ten routing cursors. Is
IO> this device working? Have you had time to check it out? I wonder if it
IO> would help me with finding light bars and highlighted materials?

I think you mean the KTS Brailleterm from Germany and imported by
American Thermoform.  I have used it some and it is working.  It is
hardware based, so you have access to the PC from when you turn it
on.  It is a Braille display like the Navigator, or the Alva, it is
not like the VersaBraille which is a free-standing Braille
computer.

It does have the capability to define ten "soft cursors" which
could be using for tracking highlight bars.  I have not used this
capability extensively though, so can't comment on whether or not
it would meet your needs.

IO> I am
IO> going to write a letter to TSi soon about their speech programs having
IO> the ability to read highlights and light bars, but their braille ones
IO> do not! Grave omission, I think. Thanks..

The TeleSensory system for the navigator does have the capability to use their
Track program which should help you with highlights, etc.
David Andrews

... Blue Wave! Not just for FIDONet anymore!

--
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                  End of Issue # 2830 of the Handicap Digest

                                ******
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