🚀 go-pugleaf

                            THE BLIND NEWS DIGEST

                                 Issue # 936

                           Tuesday, June 15, 1993

Today's Topics:


                                ******


                                 Smeagol :-)
                                 Sleep apnea
                          Canine food preferences..
                                Re: Watches?
                               Advantage Here!
                              Scanner question
                          Questions from a new dog
                         Accessing Microsoft Windows
                            Custom Configurations


                                ******


To subscribe to the Blind News 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:     blindnws@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: Smeagol :-)
From: hgs@de-montfort.ac.uk (Hugh Sasse)

I have not seen anything mentioned here about Photophobia, or
photosensitivity -- where bright light is painful.  In the UK
not much seems to be available for people in this position,
the only suggestions so far are "wear a broad brimmed hat, or
a 'green eyeshade' of the sort used by tennis players".  More
recently I have come across a pair of drop-in sunglasses that
hook over normal glasses, but unlike clip-ons they go behind
the spectacle lenses.  They also wrap round the sides.  They
are called "quickshades", and they can be polarised (or not).
I have found that these solutions still let too muchlight in and
so I have obtained a pair of chemical safety goggles and had them
tinted.  I did consider tinted contacts, but they are expensive
[because they are not commonly available] and it would bw a
nuisance to remove them when going into a building, and put
them back on leaving.

My questions are:
        Is this really quite rare, or not -- given the lack of
                alternative solutions?
        Has anyone any other/better solutions to this problem?
        Is there a self-help group of any kind for people in
                this position where I might find other solutions?

Thank you,
        Hugh
+--------------------------------------------------------------+
+          Hugh Sasse                                          +
+                                                              +
+   Post:  Computer Systems Electronic Engineer                +
+          Dept. of Electrical and Electronic Engineering,     +
+          De Montfort University,                             +
+          The Gateway,                                        +
+          LEICESTER LE1 9BH.                                  +
+                                                              +
+   Phone: +44 533 551551 x8065                                +
+   Fax:   +44 533 577052                                      +
+                                                              +
+   Email: hgs@uk.ac.dmu                          (JANET)      +
+          hgs%uk.ac.dmu@ukacrl                   (BITNET)     +
+          hgs%uk.ac.dmu@nsfnet-relay.ac.uk       (ARPA)       +
+--------------------------------------------------------------+








------



Subject: Sleep apnea
From: Ian.Hebert@f24.n3602.z1.fidonet.org (Ian Hebert)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:3602/24 - ADAnet One (tm) Net, Pinson AL


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

MR>* In a message originally to Ron Dennis, Sam Troia said:

MR> > wanted to bring to your attention.  Ever since I was very
MR> > little (and continuing to this day) I have a much more
MR> > disturbing problem.  That is that I mostly have to avoid
MR> > sleeping on my back.  The reason is that doing so makes me
MR> > extremely vulnerable to the worst--and I do mean the
MR> > worst--nightmares you could imagine.

MR>That's strange. I can't sleep on my back either. I don 't know if
MR>it is because I am blind or what but every once in a while I end
MR>up on my back and wake up with a start.

Hi Marvin!

The symptoms that both Sam and yourself are describing sound
suspiciously like sleep apnea to me.  Sleep apnea refers to a pause
or cessation of breathing for ten seconds or more while asleep.

Sleep apnea has nothing to do with blindness.  Sleep apnea can be
obstructive (due to a blockage in the upper airway) or central (due
to decreased output from the respiratory centre of the brain) or
mixed (due to both causes combined.)

Some of the symptoms of sleep apnea are repeated awakenings, and
startled awakenings with gasping.  If these symptoms resemble
yours, you should see your doctor.  In the meantime, you can help
things out by avoiding alcohol, tranquilizers, sleeping pills, and
antihistimines before going to bed.  Sleeping on your side may also
help, as well as tilting the head of the bed upwards.

Let me know how you make out.

Ian

Internet: ian.hebert@homebase.com               FidoNet: 1:221/128 PGP
2.1 Public Key Available on Request
===
 * OLX 2.1 TD * CNIB in '93 -- 75 years of injustice to blind Canadians!
 * RoseMail 2.10: Adanet * Home Base BBS *St. Thomas, ON* 519-633-7253

 # Origin: ADAnet(tm) NetHub Birmingham, Alabama (205)854-9074  (94:94/1)

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!3602!24!Ian.Hebert
Internet: Ian.Hebert@f24.n3602.z1.fidonet.org




------



Subject: Canine food preferences..
From: Ian.Hebert@f24.n3602.z1.fidonet.org (Ian Hebert)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:3602/24 - ADAnet One (tm) Net, Pinson AL


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

             -=> Quoting Eric Smith to Isaac Obie <=-

ES>IO> ... She also loved grapes and raisins and nuts. I know, I know,
ES>IO> I am not supposed to give em those things. Well I'd give her
ES>IO> four grapes when I had some. At Xmas time she didn't mind a few
ES>IO> brazil, walnuts and almonds either ya know. even a slice of
ES>IO> orange now and then didn't hurt either. Let me stop before all
ES>IO> the owners on this echo start sending me nasty mail.

ES>My dog "took" from me four dozen chocolate chip coockies once we
ES>were selling to raise money for a beep ball tournament.  The next
ES>day, it was a good thing my office was close to the outside door.
ES>Whoooo!!!

Hi Eric!

You were lucky that all your dog got was an upset stomach.
Chocolate (particularly in large quantities) is actually quite
toxic to dogs, and can lead to problems such as irregular
heartbeat, seizures, etc.  I remember once that I absent-mindedly
left some chocolate covered cookies on the floor in front of the
television set, never dreaming for a moment that the dog would take
an interest in the cookies.  Boy, was I wrong! The package was torn
open and devoured, the cookies wolfed down and the evidence (torn
package) hidden under the sofa faster than you could believe.

Our dog, Querida, is incurably fond of tomatoes.  We grow them in
pots in the backyard, and we can't let her out by herself in the
summertime, because she'll raid the tomatoes and take them right
off the vines.

She also began a second career as an apple picker last year.  A
neighbour told us she jumps up and snaps the fruit right off the
tree! (Good thing we don't spray the apples!)  She also likes to
help herself to the raspberry bushes at the end of the yard, having
found a way to easily pick the fruit from the prickly raspberry
canes. She has also discovered the grapes, which she also enjoys
right from the vine.  She picked up this liking for grapes from a
visiting friend's guide dog; Anna discovered the grapes, and
Querida followed suit.  Both of them would come in from the yard
with foamy muzzles, with bits of grape clinging to them.

Ian

Internet: ian.hebert@homebase.com               FidoNet: 1:221/128 PGP 2.1 Publi
c Key Available on Request

===
 * OLX 2.1 TD * CNIB in '93 -- 75 years of injustice to blind Canadians!
 * RoseMail 2.10: Adanet * Home Base BBS *St. Thomas, ON* 519-633-7253

 # Origin: ADAnet(tm) NetHub Birmingham, Alabama (205)854-9074  (94:94/1)

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!3602!24!Ian.Hebert
Internet: Ian.Hebert@f24.n3602.z1.fidonet.org




------




From: Ian.Hebert@f24.n3602.z1.fidonet.org (Ian Hebert) Newsgroups:






------



Subject: Re: Watches?
From: Samuel.Bushman@p0.f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org (Samuel Bushman)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:129/89.0 - BlinkLink, Pittsburgh PA


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

There is a clock that is little and fits in your pocket.  It is
from radio shack and talks.  It costs about $13.00.  I have had
the same problem as you until I tryed the cheepest solution I
could find.
Hope this helps
sam

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




------



Subject: Advantage Here!
From: David.Tanner@f234.n109.z1.fidonet.org (David Tanner)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:109/234 - Braille Bank BBS, Oakton Va


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

You are right, I probably did over react a bit with Peter about the
review of Reading Advantage and OpenBook. What I was really upset
about may have been an error on his part when he wrote the
message.  I now understand that Peter owns the HP II C scanner
which is a 400 DPI 14 inch flatbed  scanner and so he certainly
could have done exactly what he said he did. But in his message he
said that he used the HP II P which is a 300 DPI scanner. Had he
actually been using that scanner he could not have done the 400 DPI
tests with it.

I have not used Reading Advantage yet other than the demo interface
software.  I already see a few problems there, but will reserve
comment until I see the real thing.

Truth is, I think that compaired to the features available with the
commercial ocr packages like Word Scan Plus and Omni Pro there
really isn't a ocr package designed for our use that comes close to
offering the variety of features that these commercial packages
do.  Yet, when you look at the prices of the specially designed
packages compaired to the commercial packages you find that almost
all of the best commercial packages are lower in price than our
specially designed packages.  D. T.

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!109!234!David.Tanner
Internet: David.Tanner@f234.n109.z1.fidonet.org




------



Subject: Scanner question
From: David.Tanner@f234.n109.z1.fidonet.org (David Tanner)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:109/234 - Braille Bank BBS, Oakton Va


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

First let me apologize for a bit of misunderstanding in my messages
to you this past week.  I now understand that indeed you own a HP
II C scanner and I have a feeling that in writing your review you
may have unintentionally said that you were using a HP IIp instead
of the HP ii c.  Please believe me I did check the message before I
said anything and the scanner you said you had used was the II P.
At any rate I want you and everyone to know that this was a simple
case of not understanding and that I now understand.

At any rate, your comments about the commercial ocr packages was
right on target. Sure, I have used both Word Scan Plus and Omni Pro
with Window Bridge, and both have some nice features. But, the big
problem is that in neither case will Window Bridge automaticly read
the text that was scanned as soon as it comes to the screen. With
Omni Pro ther is a prompt that Window Bridge does speak that
certainly will clue you in that the text is there, but you still
have to set up a window to read what is there.

The one feature that the commercial packages have that I wish
OpenBook, Oscar, Reading Advantage or somebody would come up with
is that with both Word Scan and Omni Pro when the scanned text
appears on the screen your cursor actually ends up being at the
beginning of the text and you are in a text editor where you could
go right ahead and edit the scanned document in any way you might
wish.  D. T.

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!109!234!David.Tanner
Internet: David.Tanner@f234.n109.z1.fidonet.org




------



Subject: Questions from a new dog
From: Peter.Scialli@f432.n109.z1.fidonet.org (Peter Scialli)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:109/432 - The Idea Link, Wheaton MD


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

Bob,
  I was reluctant to use a dog for several years after it was clear I
  had lost enough sight to need special mobility aids of some sort.  In
  fact, I avoided using a cane as much as possible up until I went to
  college.  At age 24 I got my first dog who is about to retire and next
  month I'll be going to Seeing Eye for my second.
    I am concerned that you seem to be looking at getting the dog as
    having been, in some way, defeated.  I think experience with the dog
    will dispel you of such feelings, but you have to give it a fair
    chance.
      It is possible to view the dog as a tool such that you maintain a
      feeling of ultimate control in any situation.  In fact, you do
      have the control, but experience will gradually teach you to what
      limits you can trust the dog.  No one trusts a dog to the
      exclusion of their own good sense, but you will soon see that the
      dog can get you through situations that were never possible with a
      cane.  I think it is a myth that using a dog deprives the user of
      a sense of his surroundings.  While it's true that there is much
      less direct contact than with a cane, I believe you will get a
      greater sense of the space between two points in a manner parallel
      to what a sighted person does automatically.  You will still have
      full use of your sense of sound, including facial vision.  And
      don't totally discount the sense of touch.
        Now, I believe you will grow to have a relationship with the dog
        wherein each of you understands the needs and desires of the
        other.  While I don't like the sometimes inappropriate
        attentions of the sighted people around me, I love being able to
        pick up the harness and go anyplace I like wihtout lots of
        preplanning and worry as I once did with a cane. I think you
        will find that a dog, in terms of companionship, offers new and
        surprising benefits which are not readily interchangible with
        the freindship of peers or that of your wife.
          I agree, by the way, with the ability to get help.  I actually
          think I get less in the DC subway than people with canes, but
          when I where jeans and a T shirt, like on the weekend, I get
          no help at all!

Good luck,
     Peter

 * JABBER v1.1 * Cottleston, Cottleston, Cottleston Pie
                              ---
 * KMail 2.94g - The Idea Link -

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!109!432!Peter.Scialli
Internet: Peter.Scialli@f432.n109.z1.fidonet.org




------



Subject: Accessing Microsoft Windows
From: David.Andrews@p0.f1089.n261.z1.fidonet.org (David Andrews)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:261/1089.0 - Braille Inn Speakou, Jarrettsville MD


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

For those of you who have access to CompuServe, there are a couple
interesting conversations going on in Section 5 of the Disabilities
Forum, "go disfor." There is a guy checking in names Gregory C.
Lowney.  He is in charge of MS's new access unit which is trying to
make their products more accessible to disabled persons.  While far
from perfect, they do seem to be trying.

On the graphical user interface scene, there is also a programmer
for IBM who works on Screen Reader/2, who answers questions.

Finally, Jim Fruchterman from Arkenstone checks in occasionally as
does an engineer and software author from Kurzweil.  He has worked
on the Reading Advantage and other things.  It makes for some
interesting interchanges.  See you on-line.  David Andrews

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!261!1089.0!David.Andrews
Internet: David.Andrews@p0.f1089.n261.z1.fidonet.org




------



Subject: Custom Configurations
From: Jeff.Belina@f5297.n3603.z1.fidonet.org (Jeff Belina)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:3603/5297 - Henter-Joyce Techni, St Petersburg FL


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

Howdy All!

Just thought I'd ask again, do you have any configurations for use
with JAWS and another program?  I have had a number of requests for
configurations for programs that I would think are popular.  If you
have your own configs for different programs,  please send me a
list of them, and let me know if you are willing to share them with
just anyone, or if you are looking to sell them.  I would like to
have a list of programs that different people have configs for, and
be able to point someone in the right direction if I can't just
give them a config.

Also if you know anyone that doesn't have electronic access through
here we are available electronically thru: FidoNet 1:3603/5297

InterNet JAWS@mechanic.fidonet.org
BBS 1-813-579-0099

or we are available voice at 800-336-5658 and 813-576-5658, and
finally, we are also available via fax at 813-577-0099.

Thank You!

Bfn,
Jeff Belina

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!3603!5297!Jeff.Belina
Internet: Jeff.Belina@f5297.n3603.z1.fidonet.org




------






                                ******

                 End of Issue # 936 of the Blind News Digest

                                ******