From: vlb@MAGIC.AUX.APPLE.COM (Vicki Brown)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Re: Why Big Blue?
Date: 10 Apr 92 04:20:28 GMT
Reply-To: vlb@MAGIC.AUX.APPLE.COM (Vicki Brown)
X-Fidonet: Silent Talk Conference

Index Number: 20940

[Note from Bill McGarry: This came across the DEAF-L mailing list]

>These various programs for ASL and fingerspelling sound terrific, but I
>am sitting in front of a friendly Mac, not an IBM or clone thereof.
>Anything for the likes of me? (other than ASL font, which I already
>have)

I second the question!
I've got info on some for-sale (for $$$) programs, but no info on shareware
or freeware.  Maybe someone else does.

This information is as of Jan 23, 1992.
The following retail programs are all sold by
	E&IS SignWare
	PO Box 521; Cedar Falls, IA  50613
	319-266-7800 (phone or fax)

Elementary Signer

  o  Introduces elementary level hearing or hearing-impaired students to
     American Sign Language
  o  Macintosh 512K or larger; Macintalk V6 or earlier (for talking version).

  o  Elementary Signer is a software package designed to introduce
     elementary level hearing or hearing-impaired students, who are not
     familiar with sign language, to the American Sign Language (ASL). The
     program contains more than 160 signed words specifically selected for a
     child's world. Elementary Signer is recommended as an educational and
     entertaining instructional tool for general classroom use with either
     hearing or hearing-impaired children.

  o  $79.95 retail; silent version	$99.95 retail; talking version

FingerZoids

  o  Sign language program; modified game program
  o  Macintosh 512K or larger.

  o  FingerZoids is an arcade-type interactive game that teaches the
     American Sign Language (ASL) fingerspelling alphabet. Alien invaders in
     the shape of letters from the ASL alphabet descend from the top of the
     screen. A player shoots them down by pressing the corresponding English
     letter key. The program keeps score and posts high scores.

  o  $39.95 retail

FingerSpeller

  o  Converts Macintosh keyboard to an American Sign Language keyboard
  o  Macintosh 512K or larger; Macintalk V6 or earlier (for talking version).

  o  FingerSpeller is a program that converts the Macintosh keyboard to an
     American Sign Language alphabet keyboard. Any letter or word entered on
     the keyboard is then converted to a hand shape. An instant word
     conversion mode is available to finger spell words of up to 30 letters
     at user-selected speeds. The learning comprehension function allows a
     user to test receptive skills with words selected at random or in
     order. Customized word files can be created to store names of family
     members, cities, states, etc. Words from a user's word file can then be
     used for learning comprehension purposes or finger spelled on cue.

  o  $29.95 retail; silent version 	  $39.95 retail; talking version

CAV-ASL

  o  Computerized animated vocabulary of American Sign Language
  o  Macintosh 512K or larger, except II; dual floppy disk drives
     Macintalk V6 or earlier (for talking version).

  o  CAV-ASL is the acronym for Computerized Animated Vocabulary of American
     Sign Language. It is an interactive educational tool that communicates,
     tests and challenges a user to learn American Sign Language. It
     provides animated graphics and an interactive format for easier
     comprehension. It includes more than 2,600 signed words developed from
     actual photographs of a human signer.  All words are categorized in
     specific groups and are stored on 15 different disks. A talking version
     provides digitized voice output and requires no additional hardware.

  o  $695 retail; silent version
     $995 retail; talking version

    Vicki Brown   A/UX Development Group       Apple Computer, Inc.
    Internet: vlb@apple.com                    MS 35RJ, 20525 Mariani Ave.
    UUCP: {sun,amdahl,decwrl}!apple!vlb        Cupertino, CA  95014 USA