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Approved-By:  Bill McGarry <wtm@SHELDEV.SHEL.ISC-BR.COM>
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.l-hcap
Date:         Fri, 4 Sep 1992 17:00:05 EDT
Reply-To:     Bill McGarry <wtm@sheldev.shel.isc-br.com>
From:         Bill McGarry <wtm@sheldev.shel.isc-br.com>
Subject:      Handicap Digest # 2934

                             THE HANDICAP DIGEST

                                 Issue # 2934

                         Friday, September 04, 1992

Today's Topics:


                                ******

                           Blink Talk Digest # 709

                              Re: Screen Reader
                                Re: Questions
       TRIFORMATION LED120 BRAILLE PRINTER AVAILABLE (PROTLAND OREGON)
                              Re: Screen Reader
                              Reader's Project
             Re: WANTED: Advice re: airline wheelchair practices
                       Re: comments from syntha-voice
                            Re: braille literacy
                        Echo PC introductory pricing


                                ******


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                              Bill McGarry (Moderator)
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Subject: Re: Screen Reader
From: Greg.Pike@f49.n272.z1.fidonet.org (Greg Pike)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:272/49 - Calliope's Den, Garrison NY


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

Rick,

 RA> How will they get around the fact that screen reader uses a seperate
 RA> keypad when designing a demo?

The OS/2 version of Screen Reader has an optional keyboard based
keypad, so it can be used without the hardware keypad at all.  I've
only used the DOS version of the keyboard based keypad, so I'm not
sure exactly how the OS/2 version works.  The DOS version that I
experimented with used regular keyboard keys for input, as opposed
to the keypad.  I'm not sure which keys the OS/2 version uses, or
if the keys can be reconfigured to work with the numeric keypad.
I'll look into it.

 RA> keypad when designing a demo?  Have you ever looked at Jaws?  There is a
 RA> demo available here and on other boards if you haven't.  One of Jaws

Yep, I've played with JAWS quite a bit, and the demos are available
on my board as well.  <grin>

 RA> have never tried the program, but there is something about having to use
 RA> a seperate keypad that just doesn't really attract my attention...

The seperate keypad has been argued quite a bit, both inside and outside of IBM.
  I thought it was quite annoying when I first started using it, but I've become
 accustomed to it.  There are advantages and disadvantages to the seperate
 keypad.  The biggest advantage is that it doesn't cause conflicts with software
 packages, and the biggest disadvantage is that you have to take your hands off
 the keyboard to use it.  I guess it all depends on personal preference, but
 Screen Reader can now be used either way.

Thanks for the input...

/Greg

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!272!49!Greg.Pike
Internet: Greg.Pike@f49.n272.z1.fidonet.org




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Subject: Re: Questions
From: nff2355@dsacg2.dsac.dla.mil (Dale Pennington)
Organization: Defense Logistics Agency Systems Automation Center, Columbus


From article <23990@handicap.news>, by janina@netcom.com (Janina Sajka):
> Index Number: 23990
>
> Any of you who are (or will be) in the San Francisco Bay Area on
> Tuesday, 15 September, can hear Steve speak and answer questions on
> the subject of "Financing our Adaptive Technology Needs" (or more
> precisely, "How the *** do I pay for all this stuff?"

Well, since I live in Columbus, Ohio, and have no plans to travel in
the forseeable future, would you please post whatever you can from
the meeting.  This is a subject of interest to a bunch of us.

Thanks.

Dale Pennington
Internet:  dpennington@dsac.dla.mil






------



Subject: TRIFORMATION LED120 BRAILLE PRINTER AVAILABLE (PROTLAND OREGON)
From: robertj@tekgen.bv.tek.com (Robert Jaquiss)
Organization: Tektronix, Inc.


                  TRIFORMATION LED120 AVAILABLE

     I have a Triformation LED120 braille printer available.  This
unit was taken out of service in 1984 when received a Thiel.  It
was still working and last I checked it still worked.  It does
print at CPS120 and is in good shape.  I took it home for a
personal printer but don't make enought use of it to justify the
space it takes up.  Possible uses for this unit include display in
a museum or as a source of spare parts for other Triformation
units.  If someone wanted it for parts I would be willing to take
it apart and ship all the pieces minus the cabinet.  If interested
please call or write.

     Robert Jaquiss

Phone: (503) 627-4444 (Work)

Internet: robertj@tekgen.bv.tek.com

P. S.

     For those of you who have not seen one of these units, the
whole unit is about two feet wide three feet from front to back and
three and a half feet high.  Most of this volume is taken up by
lots of cabinet.




------



Subject: Re: Screen Reader
From: person@plains.nodak.edu (Brett Person )
Organization: North Dakota Higher Education Computing Network


In article <24224@handicap.news> Rick.Alfaro@f8.n369.z1.fidonet.org writes:
>Index Number: 24224

> JD> The seperate keypad may not be a hinderance at all, once you
> JD> get used to it.
>
>Jeff,
>
>This is true.  It all boils down to what you are used to.  Your typing
>and reading habbits mold themselves around what you have at your
>disposal.

I agree.  When I teach people Screen Reader, I train them to think of
the keypad as a part of the keyboard.  Not something seperate.  Most
of my students find that Screen Reader is easy to use if they keypad
is an integral part of the way they think about the  computer.

Screen readers are really a replacement for your eyes.  I find them
preferable to my eyes.  I don't really want to do
a sequence of alt keys just to find out what the current line I'm
sitting on says,  Its better to just punch the 2 key on the keypad.
I've started not even turning on the monitor now.


--
Brett Person
Guest Account
North Dakota State University
person@plains.nodak.edu || person@plains.bitnet




------



Subject: Reader's Project
From: nrcgsh@ultb.isc.rit.edu (Norman Coombs)
Organization: Rochester Institute of Technology

Some time ago I had info on the Reader's Project.  At that time I chose
not to pay for its services.  It provides access to copyright material
by coding it so when you buy it you can not copy it.  I have heard both
that it is wonderful and taking off in a big way and that it has not
amounted to much and is about to vanish.
     Does anyone have experience with it or information about how
successful it is?
Norman Coombs






------



Subject: Re: WANTED: Advice re: airline wheelchair practices
From: dlc@ais.org (David Claytor)
Organization: UMCC

In article <24263@handicap.news> spgreg@mars.lerc.nasa.gov (Greg Macrae) writes:
>Index Number: 24263
>
>In a message of <Aug 11 15:30>, David Claytor (1:141/420) writes:
>
>>Subject line says it all.  On earlier experiences, I have
>>transferred to a boarding chair at the gate and my E&J was
>>collapsed and taken to the hold.  Now, however, I'm using a rigid
>>frame Quickie.
>>
>>Any advice/warning/recommendations would be greatly appreciated!
>>The flight is on United: Detroit<-->Denver.  My experience with
>>United and my old E&J was terrific and worry-free, but I'm worried
>>about my Quickie.
>
>I recently made a trip with four other wheelchair users.  Three had
>rigid wheelchairs.  There was no problem stowing them in the forward
>baggage.  A good point was made by someone else, remove everything that
>isn't rigidly attached.  Remember, it is not paranoia if they really are
>out to get you...


Not sure what you mean by "forward baggage", esp. if there were
three on the same flight.  You must mean "cargo bay" or "pit", as
it's sometimes called.

At any rate, the flight both ways went smoothly.  I transferred to
an aisle chair at the gate for boarding, then removed the armrests,
footrests, and cushion to carry on with me.  The backrest was
flipped down on the chair, brakes on, and off she went to the pit.
No scuffs or dings, at either destination.

__Dave








------



Subject: Re: comments from syntha-voice
From: Gary.Petraccaro@f12.n2610.z1.fidonet.org (Gary Petraccaro)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:2610/12 - Post Road Inn, Greensburg PA


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

I'm not going to attempt to quote your message to Gary.  Let it
suffice it to  say you were stating that you had had bad
experiences with Syntha-Voice in the past.

I also was blasted by a couple of people here who did not think I
had any right to say anything about Syntha-Voice.  I think that it
is quite clear at times that it is fine for certain people to
rehash certain topics as many times as they wish, but for those who
are not the particular favored few or whatever it is best they not
cross paths with the favored few.

No, I have never owned Syntha-Voice products of my own, but I have
worked in the access technology field for 8 years and have used
their products and have had plenty of experience talking with
clients who have been burned by the company in question.  Frankly,
I don't give a damm if some guy setting on the sidelines tries to
tell me to shut up.  I'll wait and see what really happens and not
be swayed into believing that I can trust a company until they
prove they are trustworthy.  Far too many people both in Canada and
the U. S. have plenty of bad experiences to tell of about the
company to believe that all this happened five years ago.

If we are to believe that Syntha-Voice is so great then I wish
those same people would quit criticizing TSI and Artic.  But, I am
sure I could find plenty of critical remarks from those same people
who don't want to hear criticism of Syntha-voice regarding their
feelings about TSI or Artic or both.

        D. T.

In a message of <16 Aug 92  19:53:22>, Gary Petraccaro (1:2610/12) writes:
 > JD> Hi David,
 >>         Another suggestion would be to make yourself available
 >> for questins through BlinkTalk.
 > JD> I made the very same suggestion to Syntha-Voice.
 > JD> I am just a user of their product.  They have been
 > JD> reasonable with me, and as a result have my business.
 > JD>  If I find another product that can provide me with
 > JD> better capabilities in large print and synthesis than
 > JD> POWERAMA, I'll drop this company like a dead mackeral.
 > JD>
 > JD> Bottom line is, the consumer is right, er, um, I mean blind.
 > JD> Yup, you're right on this one though, let's get them
 > JD> Syntha-Voice folks on this echo.
 >     I'm concerned about their treatment in this echo.  We have seen in
 >the past where tactless and incompetence have driven users away.  What
 >was their problem? They worked for an adaptive equipment company and were
 >thrown lots of stuff on its products.  If someone wants to use this echo
 >as a resource, they should be able to do that without the crap.  If I
 >ever had a job with Henter-Joyce I wouldn't field questions unless it was
 >part of the job description and I got paid for it.  I come here to relax
 >and talk with friends.

        Ok Gary, may I quote these comments back to you the next time you start
 in on TSI or Artic which you have criticized numerous times on this echo.
 Remember some of us have been around long enough to remember how critical you
 have been of these two companies.  Maybe there are users here who use Artic or
 TSI products who are offended by the criticism of the products they are using.
 And, if SlimWare is so great, why aren't you using it.  I seem to remember that
 you had been using Artic version 1.40 until fairly recently.  And, where does
 your experiences lie in the adaptive technology field to make you so sure of
 your opinions being so much better than others on this echo?
        D. T.

                                   Man, I'm devastated.

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!2610!12!Gary.Petraccaro
Internet: Gary.Petraccaro@f12.n2610.z1.fidonet.org




------



Subject: Re: braille literacy
From: Gary.Petraccaro@f12.n2610.z1.fidonet.org (Gary Petraccaro)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:2610/12 - Post Road Inn, Greensburg PA


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

 JD> From: dashiell@nadc.nadc.navy.mil (Jude DaShiell)

 JD> Base line literacy reading rate in braille is 100 words per minute.
 JD> Base line literacy writing rate in braille is 30 words per
 JD> minute with perkins and 20 words per minute with slate and stylus.
 JD> These are the standards that Arkansas Enterprises for the blind uses.
 JD> Good reading rate for braille is 150 words per minute or above.

     Were did you get these figures?  Btw, thank you.

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!2610!12!Gary.Petraccaro
Internet: Gary.Petraccaro@f12.n2610.z1.fidonet.org




------



Subject: Echo PC introductory pricing
From: Eric.Bohlman@p3.f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org (Eric Bohlman)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:129/89.3 - BlinkLink, Pittsburgh PA


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

The introductory pricing on the Echo PC ($105 by itself, $175 bundled with
Tinytalk) has been extended through the end of September.

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!129!89.3!Eric.Bohlman
Internet: Eric.Bohlman@p3.f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org




------






                                ******

                  End of Issue # 2934 of the Handicap Digest

                                ******
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU