HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: Keith.Bucher@p0.f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org (Keith Bucher)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Re: Flipper
Date: 12 Aug 92 21:21:54 GMT
Reply-To: Keith.Bucher@p0.f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org
Organization: FidoNet node 1:129/89.0 - BlinkLink, Pittsburgh PA
X-Fidonet: Blink Talk Conference

Index Number: 23860

[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

 Quoting Dennis Bartlett to All 06 Aug 92 21:25:12

 DB> I understand that the latest version of Flipper is being tested.  Do
 DB> any of you know about this? I am a Flipper user,  except that I am
 DB> getting into a situation where I have to change computers quite a bit.

Hello Dennis, I too am a flipper user and I was told by Steve Smith at
the ACB convention in Phoenix that version 4 wouldn't have the same
unlocking scheme as earlier ones.  I posted a message earlier about
some of the things which are supposed to be in the new version, and if
you missed it, send me a tape and mailer to P.O. Box 130, Reader, WV
26167, and I'll fill you in.  I look forward to hearing from you.  Keith
Bucher.

... Programmers do it with their fingers.

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From: Kelly.Ford@f8.n121.z1.fidonet.org (Kelly Ford)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Bns640 Spell checker
Date: 12 Aug 92 19:11:22 GMT
Reply-To: Kelly.Ford@f8.n121.z1.fidonet.org
Organization: FidoNet node 1:121/8 - JW-PC DataFlex.HST, Sun Prairie WI
X-Fidonet: Blink Talk Conference

Index Number: 23787

[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

Has anyone had much experience with the spell checker on the BNS 640.
While it seems to work quite well, I'm quite disappointed with one
feature, if it can be called that.
Even when spell checking a grade 2 file, corrections are made in grade
1.  If one is using speech or sending the file to a PC, this is probably
fine.If, however, one is going to send the file to a braille printer,
then you end up with all kinds of grade 1 in the file.
I hope Blazie will make the unit put corrections in grade 2 before long.
 I'm not hopeful though, because when I called them they didn't seem to
think this was all that big a deal.
Also, someone should tell Blazie that a good manual should have a table
of contents, unlike the documentation that comes with the 640.

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From: Steve.Richards@f101.n277.z1.fidonet.org (Steve Richards)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Speech Compatible
Date: 12 Aug 92 21:25:01 GMT
Reply-To: Steve.Richards@f101.n277.z1.fidonet.org
Organization: FidoNet node 1:277/101 - House Of Pancakes, Morgantown WV
X-Fidonet: Blink Talk Conference

Index Number: 23874

[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

In a message 08-07-92 (21:36) From: KEITH BUCHER To: STEVE RICHARDS
KB>     And so do I.  When you do it yourself, what you want is what you
KB>     get.  The speech problem in Blue Wave is just one example, one of
KB>of many, I might add.  Should we think before we ask that inevitable
KB>question, "Does it work with speech?"  Keith.

True.  Still, I guess having programs that talk too much is better than
having programs that won't work at all with speech.  Not that I would
ever want to be complacent about the issue.  One big hurdle we must
overcome, though, is the fact that what one person sees as too much
speech is viewed by another as just right, and by yet another as not
enough.  Ideally we should be able to customize what programs send via
the BIOS screen routines.  But this would certainly add to the
difficulty of creating those programs.
Steve R.

 * SLMR 2.1a * I'm so drunk I'm hearing double!
-------------------------

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From: Greg.Pike@f49.n272.z1.fidonet.org (Greg Pike)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Access to GUI's
Date: 12 Aug 92 21:11:19 GMT
Reply-To: Greg.Pike@f49.n272.z1.fidonet.org
Organization: FidoNet node 1:272/49 - Calliope's Den, Garrison NY
X-Fidonet: Blink Talk Conference

Index Number: 23811

[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

All,

I addressed this to all because David has brought up a point that's
of interest to all who have an interest in access software.  I
suspect many are just ignoring the messages between us at this
point, because our discussion seems to have passed the point of
relevance.

David Tanner writes:
 DT>         My hope is that IBM will come up with a product for OS2 that is
 DT> so easy to use, so user friendly, and provides such
 DT> complete access to OS2 and Windows that we will truly
 DT> feel that the speech software has become transparent to
 DT> our use of a computer.  Unfortunantly, their present

To borrow a phrase from my previous work in Ada compilers, there's
no silver bullet.  Unfortunately I don't think any company is going
to develop an access system for any GUI that will be easier than
what we currently have for DOS.  The environment is inherently more
complex, and the access software is going to reflect that.  The
high lofty goal that everyone should be aiming for is for the
access software to provide blind users with the same benefits of a
graphical user interface that sighted users perceive they get from
it.  If that goal can be attained, then blind users will prefer the
graphical user environment for the same reason that sighted users
do.  Like I said, that's a pretty lofty goal.  We'll see what
everyone can provide.

As a quick example of why the environment is more complex, consider
that you will need at least the same functionality that was
available under DOS.  In addition, both OS/2 and Windows provide
the ability to run multiple DOS sessions, so instead of having one
nice little DOS machine, you've got multiple DOS machines.  Add to
that all the cutesy GUI specific things like window titles, icons,
scrollbars, pushbuttons, etc. and you've got quite a bit of
functionality to provide beyond the standard DOS environment.

The reports from our beta testers are good.  They like the GUI.  It
takes a while to get used to, but they now prefer it over DOS.  I
think if you talk to the beta testers of other access software for
GUI's, you'll probably hear the same impressions.

/Greg

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From: Joe.Chamberlain@p1.f175.n150.z1.fidonet.org (Joe Chamberlain)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Oregon Plan
Date: 12 Aug 92 18:57:54 GMT
Reply-To: Joe.Chamberlain@p1.f175.n150.z1.fidonet.org
Organization: FidoNet node 1:150/175.1 - Busted Flush BBS, New Castle DE
X-Fidonet: Able News Conference

Index Number: 23696

[This is from the AbleNews Conference]

In a message to All <04 Aug 92 03:27> Patricia Bregman wrote:

 PB> The brief reports I have seen don't make sense. Apparently they
 PB> claim that it might be discriminatory because only poor people
 PB> would have rationed care.

The Oregon plan only effected Medicaid receipents, thus only the
poor.  The Oregon plan was designed to eliminate coverage for high
cost and low success rate procedures.  The ADA was brought into
play because the ADA law requires that all disabled have access to
equal medical care.  Therefore, if a baby born at 22 weeks
gestation with a birth weight of 15oz and to a poor mother will
receive the same treatment as if she was born to a mother with the
best health care coverage.  It will allow alcoholics to receive
kidney transplants.

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From: Rick.Alfaro@f8.n369.z1.fidonet.org (Rick Alfaro)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Re: Windows access maybe
Date: 12 Aug 92 19:08:57 GMT
Reply-To: Rick.Alfaro@f8.n369.z1.fidonet.org
Organization: FidoNet node 1:369/8 - The Catwalk BBS, Davie FL
X-Fidonet: Blink Talk Conference

Index Number: 23772

[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

 GP>      What's indexing? who has it and who doesn't?

Gary,

The way I understand it is that the speech hardware actualy keeps track
of what it has spoken.  software can then take advantage of this idexed
approach by directly addressing or using what was previously spoken.  It
probably goes much further than that as well.  One of the features that
will ues indexing is the "stop on a dime ability when reading through a
document.  If you are reading continuously through a file, and hit one
of th eshutup keys, your cursor will be exactly at the position where
you sent the shutup comand if your hardware and software comnination
suppoort indexing.  Some of the synths that have this that I know of off
hand are the accent, audapter, prose 4000, braille n speak, and believe
it or not, the new battery operated echo by street electronics...

Regards,
Rick

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From: Ron.Denis@p0.f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org (Ron Denis)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Re: Arkenstone Reader and books
Date: 12 Aug 92 21:23:23 GMT
Reply-To: Ron.Denis@p0.f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org
Organization: FidoNet node 1:129/89.0 - BlinkLink, Pittsburgh PA
X-Fidonet: Blink Talk Conference

Index Number: 23867

[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

 CA> I don't know, perhaps I am doing something wrong then.  I find
 CA> that the scanner misses words along the edgs of the book,
 CA> especially in the binding. But I've only tried it a few times.

The secret is to bend that binding till it wants to split.  This is
hard if you're going to resell the book.  My roommates in college
used to talk about "breaking the bindings" to make unread books
look read.  The "breaking" isn't exactly literal, but it's close.
Also, give an extra check to make sure the book is as flat as
possible of the scanner.  It takes practice, is boring as hell, but
in the end, well worth it.  Once you know a book is scanning ok,
copy it as a batch or you'll die of old age before you reach the
end of the first chapter.  Ron

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From: Neil.Wallace@p21.f804.n680.z3.fidonet.org (Neil Wallace)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: just me
Date: 12 Aug 92 18:57:07 GMT
Reply-To: Neil.Wallace@p21.f804.n680.z3.fidonet.org
Organization: FidoNet node 3:680/804.21

Index Number: 23690

* Quoting a message of <30/7/92> Betsy Fenti to Al Manning:

  BF> I have used an Apple ][e for about 9 years.  I got a Mac ][x seven
  BF> months ago.  I'm still looking for other Macintosh users.

HELLO!

:-)

DNW

<who is a Mac-aholic, has been for 8 years, uses an SE/30,5/80; NEC
4FG monitor; Removable Syquest; Interlink FaxModem; Abaton
Trackball with mouthstick......and thinks Apple (Aust., at least)
have sold themselves short on not taking a bigger interest in
disabled>

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Internet: Neil.Wallace@p21.f804.n680.z3.fidonet.org
From: David.Tanner@f168.n129.z1.fidonet.org (David Tanner)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Re: low cost ocr system
Date: 12 Aug 92 19:07:53 GMT
Reply-To: David.Tanner@f168.n129.z1.fidonet.org
Organization: FidoNet node 1:129/168 - Braille Bank BBS, Pittsburgh PA
X-Fidonet: Blink Talk Conference

Index Number: 23764

[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

I have not used the Discover 386 software, but Larry Skutchan of
ASAP fame and a regular reader of this echo reports that he really
likes it and hopefully he will get into this conversation and give
more details of what he likes and doesn't like about it.

As for software based OSCAR I will tell you to hang tite for a
month or there abouts and we will have it at the Guild.  We sent
our order in for the new OSCAR 3.0 this past friday so we would get
ours with the first shipping.  I am told that it is looking like
the first release will be around the 15th to 30th of August.

Yet another thought, you could buy Calera Word Scan and use it with
Window Bridge.  Reviews of Word Scan have been excellent and it
also is in the price range of $300 TO $500 DEPENDING UPON WHERE YOU
BUY IT.

        D. T.

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From: Aaron.Feldman@f207.n260.z1.fidonet.org (Aaron Feldman)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: MS/HELP/Fatigue
Date: 12 Aug 92 18:57:23 GMT
Reply-To: Aaron.Feldman@f207.n260.z1.fidonet.org
Organization: FidoNet node 1:260/207 - The Recovery Room, Rochester NY

Index Number: 23692

Shalom to everyone, Missed everyone from this BBS..things have been
slow. I am hoping if someone could give me some suggestions on this
one: FINALLY- got a new job that is starting soon . It is in
computers, 48 hrs/week and pay is MUCH better than now. PROBLEM:
How do I get enough rest so I can handle it.  The hours are from 7
am-4 pm. How much sleep does someone with MS require? I seem to be
chronically tired to the point where I feel intensely irriated. As
it is now, I dont start work until noon- so I get up at 10am and
dress and then rest form an hour over lunch andf then fgo into
work. How do I do this at 6am?? I hope someone can give me some
suggestions becos I have been waiting for a chance at a REAL job
for over 3 years now and I want to at least to be able to give it a
good try. Thank you as always, Aaron

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From: weave@bach.udel.edu (Ken Weaverling)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Re: Wheelchair
Date: 19 Aug 92 04:28:21 GMT
Reply-To: weave@bach.udel.edu (Ken Weaverling)
Organization: University of Delaware

Index Number: 23948

This is a bit off the topic of the current thread, but still
related to wheelchair use.

My girl friend is a C5 quad with a motorised chair.  Sometimes it
is a bit of a pain when we go to places like museums, etc, to
constantly bend down or squat to talk to her.  In order to be more
at eye-level with her, I came up with the idea that I'd just use
her manual chair sometimes.

I had some serious discusion with her before doing this. I didn't
want to make a mockery of using a wheelchair.  There are also other
weird considerations to think about.  For example, at the Inner
Harbor Science Museum in Baltimore, there is a small stair lift for
chairs.  Should I just stand up and walk the chair up the stairs,
or consume an employee's time as he has to operate the lift for me
as well as her. (I decided to stay in the chair, since observers
might not understand.)

I enjoy it because I can be next to her at eye level, and it gives
my arms a good workout, which I constantly need, since I carry my
girl friend and transfer her quite a lot (I want to get good enough
so I can take her to a dance club, pick her up, cradle her in my
arms, and dance a slow dance with her and last the entire dance!)

One funny note. Once we went to a store with a downstairs section
that was innaccessible to wheelchairs (no elevator, etc).  After
bitching to store personnel, who offered to bring us up anything we
wanted, a small crowd developed. I said "Forget it, I guess I'll
just have to carry her down there."  I then leaped out of the
manual chair, carried it down the stairs, came back up, and carried
my girl friend down the stairs and deposited her in the manual
chair.

The onlookers freaked out. One woman kept screaming "Oh my gawd, oh
ma gawd" It was great! :-)

(Of course, we knew the store's downstairs was not accesible before
we went in and I discussed the "scene" we would make beforehand.
I'd never just do something like that and 'manipulate' her body
like that without her permission...)

--
Ken Weaverling (Delaware Tech College) weave@dtcc.edu -or- weave@bach.udel.edu

"Is it too late to change the way we're bound to go? Surely one of us must know"
			-- Sandy Denny,  1948-1978
From: Greg.Pickering@f24.n3602.z1.fidonet.org (Greg Pickering)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Wheelchair
Date: 12 Aug 92 21:38:52 GMT
Reply-To: Greg.Pickering@f24.n3602.z1.fidonet.org
Organization: FidoNet node 1:3602/24 - ADAnet One (tm) Net, Pinson AL
X-Fidonet: Spinal Injury Conference

Index Number: 23939

[This is from the Spinal Injury Conference]

LC>Used to be Food Max, but changed over to Bruno's.  Are you familiar with
LC>them?

        Unfortunately not. I grew up in Calif. and moved to the
        midwest when I was 16. My visits to the southeastern part
        of the country have been very few.

LC>I guess once in awhile we people with less spinal injury than some could
LC>get a good idea of what it's like for those worse than we are by just
LC>riding around in a wheelchair one day.

        I visited a friend not to long ago who is w/c bound. He
        lines alone and does quite well for himself. He has a very
        *interesting* rule in his home. Every visitor has to sit and
        stay in one of the many empty w/c's he has in his living
        room. :) It makes for some very fun learning experiences for
        the able bodied guests.

LC>Thanks.  Would you mind recommending a lightweight w/c?  I'm really

        I have a Quickie manufactured by Motion Designs in CA. Most
        of the major w/c companies offer lightweight chairs these
        days. Since I sense you'll need a easily collapsible or
        portable chair, weight and ease of assembly/disassembly will
        be a factor.

        I can only offer first hand experience with the Quickie
        chair, I might be a bit biased. But, the chair is extremely
        light (18lbs. without cushion) and the rear wheels can be
        removed with a push of a button. Last but not least, they
        offer some very nice colors for the frames! :) Ya gotta look
        good right? (Mine is a nice blue with black nylon seat)

-Pick

 * DeLuxe2/386 1.25 #188sa + Created on 08/04/1992 at  9:54:34 AM
===
 * QNet3 *  Pick's Place * v32/v32bis * HST/16800 * 2017650164 * 24 hrs *

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From: Gary.Petraccaro@f12.n2610.z1.fidonet.org (Gary Petraccaro)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Art and the Blind
Date: 12 Aug 92 21:22:46 GMT
Reply-To: Gary.Petraccaro@f12.n2610.z1.fidonet.org
Organization: FidoNet node 1:2610/12 - Post Road Inn, Greensburg PA
X-Fidonet: Blink Talk Conference

Index Number: 23864

[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

Cindy,

I think most of us don't like what we probably feel as being caught
out touching in public.  Therefore, we tend to reject these kinds
of shows.  I went to one type of show (not what you're talking
about, but, one with 3D art), and I find that regardless of what I
thought going in, I still remember the experience positively.

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From: Greg.Pike@f49.n272.z1.fidonet.org (Greg Pike)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Re: Screen Reader
Date: 12 Aug 92 19:00:00 GMT
Reply-To: Greg.Pike@f49.n272.z1.fidonet.org
Organization: FidoNet node 1:272/49 - Calliope's Den, Garrison NY
X-Fidonet: Blink Talk Conference

Index Number: 23711

[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

David Tanner writes:

 DT>         Add to this that IBM supports the MS DOS version of Screen Reader
 DT> so well that they dumped supporting it completely to
 DT> another company.  Now IBM says that they develope
 DT> products, but leave the support to others to do.  NOW,
 DT> if you call that support then you tell me the name of
 DT> the company and the number to call for Screen Reader
 DT> support; it isn't an IBM number and don't tell me it is
 DT> or I will prove you wrong directly from the spring SRD
 DT> Newsletter.

IBM contracted another company to do the support for Screen
Reader.  That's hardly dumping support.  The name of the company,
if I remember correctly, is CompuAnswer.  It's their business to
support software, not just Screen Reader, but lots of standard
applications as well.  Screen Reader users can get support for any
of the packages that they support in addition to Screen Reader.  I
personally don't like the idea of contracting out support
contracts, but at least the users get a little extra out of it.  I
don't think IBM gives a hoot about my personal opinions, but at
least they didn't dump support.  Support is still available.

I don't have the number of the company handy, but since you can
prove something by reciting it, I don't think it's necessary.
Anyone who purchases the package has the number as well as you do.
And yes, I do call that support.

To save you the trouble of hunting for things to attack, let me
explain the pros and cons of the support contract.  The pros are,
as I said above, you get support for a bunch of packages, and you
get to deal with a company who specializes in support and only
support.  The downside is that the support costs money.  When you
buy the package IBM pays for one year of support.  After that,
you're on your own.  I asked around about the price, but couldn't
get a definate answer.  Dennis DeVendra, who helped Tracy with her
problem, says he thinks it's around 50 to 60 dollars per year.

That's just the facts.

/Greg

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From: Walter.Siren@p18.f5.n396.z1.fidonet.org (Walter Siren)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Punctuation and Speech
Date: 12 Aug 92 19:04:15 GMT
Reply-To: Walter.Siren@p18.f5.n396.z1.fidonet.org
Organization: FidoNet node 1:396/5.18 - Pontchippi, New Orleans LA
X-Fidonet: Blink Talk Conference

Index Number: 23739

[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

Dave, while in jaws, you can set a pause, if you want to set
intonation, you have to leave some punctuation on.  Since I don't
like to hear any punctuation, I have to turn my punctuation off,
and I can't get intonation from my accent.  Furthermore, I wish we
had a way to turn on punctuation, and then tell jaws which
punctuation we want to hear like tinytalk gives their customers.  I
have mentioned this to Ted, but he does not seem interested in
doing anything about it.

Walter

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From: David.Tanner@f168.n129.z1.fidonet.org (David Tanner)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Re: Jaws macros
Date: 12 Aug 92 21:22:07 GMT
Reply-To: David.Tanner@f168.n129.z1.fidonet.org
Organization: FidoNet node 1:129/168 - Braille Bank BBS, Pittsburgh PA
X-Fidonet: Blink Talk Conference

Index Number: 23861

[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

The Jaws macro editor can be used either from the Jaws menu or can
be called from the DOS level.

        D. T.

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From: David.Tanner@f168.n129.z1.fidonet.org (David Tanner)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Re: CD_ROM
Date: 12 Aug 92 19:07:44 GMT
Reply-To: David.Tanner@f168.n129.z1.fidonet.org
Organization: FidoNet node 1:129/168 - Braille Bank BBS, Pittsburgh PA
X-Fidonet: Blink Talk Conference

Index Number: 23763

[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

You and others who do not already know, may want to know about the
cd-rom being released in January by Raised Dot Computing.  The disk
will be the history of access technology for the blind and visually
impaired.  The disk will contain information about hardware and
software released for blind and visually impaired since the 70's up
to today.  The disk is also going to containe resource lists of
producers of access technology and disk based manuals for a great
many of the access technologies that have been around for our use.
It sounds like it should be a great resource.

Price if ordered before Janualry is $50 and $100 if after Janyuary
1 1993.

Raised Dot Computing has a 800 number if you want more
information.

        D. T.

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