X-Mailer: ELM [version 2.3 PL11]
Approved-By:  Bill McGarry <wtm@SHELDEV.SHEL.ISC-BR.COM>
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.l-hcap
Date:         Fri, 14 Aug 1992 16:03:12 EDT
Reply-To:     Bill McGarry <wtm@sheldev.shel.isc-br.com>
From:         Bill McGarry <wtm@sheldev.shel.isc-br.com>
Subject:      Handicap Digest # 2872
X-To:         LHCAP <l-hcap@VM1.NODAK.EDU>

                             THE HANDICAP DIGEST

                                 Issue # 2872

                          Thursday, August 13, 1992

Today's Topics:


                                ******

                           Blink Talk Digest # 683

                              Re: Screen Reader
                              Lavender Braille
                             Re: "Blind Loyalty"
                        Re: Braille n speak complaint
                            Talked to xerox yest
                                 music help
                          Re: nfb bbs censorship??
                          Re: braille and spelling
                             Accent dictionary.
                               Type and speak.


                                ******


To subscribe to the Handicap Digest mailing list or have your
thoughts in the next issue, please send electronic mail to
Bill McGarry at any of the following addresses:


UUCP:       uunet!bunker!wtm
INTERNET:   wtm@bunker.shel.isc-br.com
BITNET:     l-hcap@ndsuvm1.bitnet
Fidonet:    The Handicap News BBS (141/420)   1-203-337-1607
	    (300/1200/2400 baud, 24 hours)
Compuserve: 73170,1064

                              Bill McGarry (Moderator)
                              (203) 337-1518



------



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]

David,

I'll ask you a third time.  Please state the specific deficiencies
you think exist in IBM's Screen Reader.  What do other packages
provide that Screen Reader doesn't?  Like I said, you still have a
chance to play a role in the developement of Screen Reader for
OS/2, so let's hear it.  If all you're going to do is bad mouth
packages with sweeping generalizations, nothing will ever be
fixed.  Now's your chance to make life easier for every blind
person who has to use OS/2 in their work environment.  You
personally can help make access technology better.  All you have to
do is speak up.

Just that facts, mam.

/Greg

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




------



Subject: Lavender Braille
From: Warren.Figueiredo@f6.n3800.z1.fidonet.org (Warren Figueiredo)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:3800/6 - CompuChurch (tm) IH, Baton Rouge LA


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

I have actually been cleaning out my office and I'm throwing away quite
a bit of junk that I don't need.

It's an assortment of dead Speech Plus calculators, broken low vision
aids, interface cables to forgotten devices, software packages for the
Apple II, bits and pieces of transcriptions, seems like hundreds of
tests for my mainstreamed students, etc. etc. Actually it's kind of fun
and I'm glad to do it.

But there are some things I will not throw away. I've got a talking
book machine vintage 1938 that still works. It takes victrola needles.
I've got samples of Moon Type and New York Point and a few odd
braillewriters--a Hall and a machine that wrtes on paper tape.
I also found a Lavender Braillewriter and the thing still works.
That's rare considering that most of them didn't work when they were
new.

Anybody else got old stuff hidden in a closet? How about old
technology?

I've even got a SONY 105 that's in good shape.

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!3800!6!Warren.Figueiredo
Internet: Warren.Figueiredo@f6.n3800.z1.fidonet.org




------



Subject: Re: "Blind Loyalty"
From: Darrell.Shandrow@p0.f11.n2250.z1.fidonet.org (Darrell Shandrow)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:2250/11.0 - Sullivan Radio Shac, Carlinville IL


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

jamal:

all democratic organizations   have the same problems concerning outside
activities.   what i mean is that mike is right in not going into detail
about the issues he disagrees with.   all organizations tend to look
down on members who openly share discenting viewpoints outside that
organization.   don't tell me that acb doesn't have this problem too as
i'm sure it could be found.

also, saw you at the vidpi meeting in phx.   i was there with lisa towne
from h.j.  73

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!2250!11.0!Darrell.Shandrow
Internet: Darrell.Shandrow@p0.f11.n2250.z1.fidonet.org




------



Subject: Re: Braille n speak complaint
From: Darrell.Shandrow@p0.f11.n2250.z1.fidonet.org (Darrell Shandrow)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:2250/11.0 - Sullivan Radio Shac, Carlinville IL


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

i agree on the bns.   i am using a bns right now on this little bbs
in carlinville, il to communicate with you blinks.   it is a great
machine and no need for a computer for many blinks now because the
640 has a spell checker that is great.

one complaint in bbs use: there needs to be an on-the-fly
translator so we can enter grade 2 braille and have each word
translated when we hit the spacebar.   73

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!2250!11.0!Darrell.Shandrow
Internet: Darrell.Shandrow@p0.f11.n2250.z1.fidonet.org




------



Subject: Talked to xerox yest
From: Juan.Mojena@p2.f203.n2603.z1.fidonet.org (Juan Mojena)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:2603/203.2 - The Shop Mail Only, Flushing NY


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

 > conventions I am beginning to wonder whether the best idea is to buy
 > Window Bridge or Screen Reader for OS2 and get Calera's Word Scan
 > software at a much cheaper price than the Arkenstone software.  Since
 > Arkenstone has decided to hang their future on Windows then we may as
 > well go buy their commercial product for windows and use it with Window
 > Bridge

Excuse me for buting in on your conversation.  This is just the
conclusion that I was coming too.  Window Bridge and Word Scan Plus
can be purchased for the same price as the Arkenstone software.
I'm not talking about the retail price but the street price of the
Kolera software.  Of course, it's a gamble as to how it will all
work under Windows.

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!2603!203.2!Juan.Mojena
Internet: Juan.Mojena@p2.f203.n2603.z1.fidonet.org




------



Subject: music help
From: Juan.Mojena@p2.f203.n2603.z1.fidonet.org (Juan Mojena)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:2603/203.2 - The Shop Mail Only, Flushing NY


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

 > Still looking for good music composition writing software that is
 > accessible using either speech or braille.  I can't believe there

What is it that you want to do?  Do you want just to be able to
record music and then be able to edit it in a very precise manner,
or, do you want to be able to print it out as regular music
notation.  To record and edit music using a midi synthesizer the
program that is most speech friendly is Texture.  This is known as
sequencing software.  I've used CakeWalk but never with speech.
People that have tried to use it with speech found it almost
impossible.  Of course, maybe with the latest version of Vocal Eyes
it may be possible.  There are several programs that can print a
music score but speech doesn't work with them.

The Mac is a little ahead of IBM, in that, there has been speech
software available for their version of Windows, System 6.07 and
7.0 for a while now.  When I was considering purchasing a Mac I
explored this possibility.  I contacted Berkley Systems the writers
of a screen reader package called "OutSpoken."  The Mac has, hands
down, the best midi software.  I asked them how their screen reader
worked with midi software and they said that there many problems
but they were working on it.

I would contact companies that have written screen readers for
either the Mac or IBM and inquire if their software works with midi
programs.  Some names to ask about on the IBM side are Music
Printer Plus, The Copyist and Finale.  On the Mac side there's
Encore, Finale and others that I don't know about.  Encore does
both sequencing and score printing.

Hope this helps.
Juan

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!2603!203.2!Juan.Mojena
Internet: Juan.Mojena@p2.f203.n2603.z1.fidonet.org




------



Subject: Re: nfb bbs censorship??
From: Walter.Siren@p18.f5.n396.z1.fidonet.org (Walter Siren)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:396/5.18 - Pontchippi, New Orleans LA


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

 WS> How do you know that?  You only can go by what you hear since
 WS> you are not a part of either.

 WW> Walter,
 WW>     Let me get this straight...

Okay, let's get it straight.

 WW>      You're saying one can't form an opinion on an organization based
 WW> upon what they hear from members of that organization, from opinions of
 WW> others outside of the organization, or from whatever sources they have
 WW> for information about the organization, they have to first JOIN the
 WW> organization, then they can form their opinion!!!

NOw, Willie, I think that you are taking this out of the context
that it has been written.  If I remember that that person said that
her opinions would not be accepted.  In that case, how does one
know if their opinions would be considered if they did not belong
to an organization and try them out.  You can get an idea of an
organization and its policies from its members, but you cannot say
that you cannot have an effect without trying it out.  Now, I might
have an idea of how far my opinions would get in the NFB, but that
would only be bassed on passed experiences in there thirty years
ago, but I deffinitely could not say they would not listen to me
today.  Now, I think that I know they have not changed, but can I
say that for certain.  Anyway I am not going to find out.

I think that you did this just to get me one message higher in your
who is talking campaign.  Well it worked.  <grin>

Walter

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!396!5.18!Walter.Siren
Internet: Walter.Siren@p18.f5.n396.z1.fidonet.org




------



Subject: Re: braille and spelling
From: Stew.Bowden@f6.n377.z1.fidonet.org (Stew Bowden)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:377/6 - T.A.B.B., Tampa Fl


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

Hi Nancy: well, your exieriences from the third grade on cause me
some concern. I can't help wondering, and please, I'm not trying to
get personal here, but do you feel your Braille skills are
adequate, or do you believe that Braille, as far as you are
concerned is no longer needed? I guess for me, who spent most of
his life educating blind kids in residential schools, that is the
most frightening part of mainstreaming. Kids today do not have the
necessary Braille skills. Anyway thanks for the thoughts, and
obviously, when it came to teaching speling, teachers were rather
inconsistent. Stew

... I can resist everything except temptation.
=== Via Silver Xpress V3.00

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!377!6!Stew.Bowden
Internet: Stew.Bowden@f6.n377.z1.fidonet.org




------



Subject: Accent dictionary.
From: Donald.Roberts@f6.n377.z1.fidonet.org (Donald Roberts)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:377/6 - T.A.B.B., Tampa Fl


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

Hi Steve,

Thanks so much for your prompt response following my inquiry about
the Accent dictionary.  I would very much like to obtain that file
about which you spoke in your response.  Although I have PC
pursuit, I am more than willing to make a long distance call to any
number you specify so I can get that file.  Please just say how and
where.  Incidentally, for the record, I am using the Accent PC.

On a related matter, as you undoubtedly know, many blind persons
have an interest in various facets of radio.  I wish to challenge
the programmers on this echo to come up with a system whereby radio
station calls would be spelled out.  Most synthesizers attempt to
make words out of any call sign which contains at least one vowel,
and some try to make words of combinations which contain no vowels
whatsoever.  The dictionary facilities both in Vocal Eyes and in
Soft Vert are much to limited to write a series of entries of three
and four letter words beginning either with K or C and encompassing
all possible combinations.  I think most modern screen readers will
spell ham calls; but, of course, the key to that is that the call
sign contains one numeric with three or four alpha characters.

So I guess, all that I ahve done is to identify the problem in
hopes that someone might come up with a feasible solution.  Would
it be possible to write some sort of external utility telling the
screen reader to spell every three or four letter word beginning
either with K or C and then including some exceptions which would
be pronounced rather than spelled?

Thanks for your thoughts, Steve.

Incidentally, if you would prefer that I not call for that file, my
mailing address is: 1292 Palmetto Avenue, Chico California, 95926.
Thanks.

Don Roberts

... The last thing I saw was this Big Blue Wave!
=== Blue Wave/QWK v2.10

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!377!6!Donald.Roberts
Internet: Donald.Roberts@f6.n377.z1.fidonet.org




------



Subject: Type and speak.
From: Donald.Roberts@f6.n377.z1.fidonet.org (Donald Roberts)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:377/6 - T.A.B.B., Tampa Fl


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

Hello All,

I am wondering if Blazie has given any more specifics about the
Type and Speak., ie. price, release date etc.  I have a Braille and
Speak and really like it but would prefer to use a Qwerty keyboard
rather than a Braille keyboard.

I got to play with a Braille mate recently; and, although the
Braille and Speak is a much better value because of Braille Mate's
expensive storage cards and also its $500 higher price tag, I did
rather like that braille cell and also felt that the speech of the
Braille mate was somewhat superior to the Braille and Speak.

I would appreciate comments from others who have had an opportunity
to compare the two.

Don Roberts

... My hard disk is full! Maybe I'll try this message section thing.
=== Blue Wave/QWK v2.10

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!377!6!Donald.Roberts
Internet: Donald.Roberts@f6.n377.z1.fidonet.org




------






                                ******

                  End of Issue # 2872 of the Handicap Digest

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