🚀 go-pugleaf

                            THE BLIND NEWS DIGEST

                                 Issue # 951

                            Friday, June 18, 1993

Today's Topics:


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                         Re: Laptops, macs, outspok
                          Library of congress onlin
                   Re: Working Dog Guides in Parking Lots
                            Re: scanner question
                      Re: Recommendations on a scanner
                                Re: New Here!
                          Speech output vs braille
                              Readit suggestion
                            Need employment info
                             beating dead horses


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Subject: Re: Laptops, macs, outspok
From: Kelly.Ford@f8.n121.z1.fidonet.org (Kelly Ford)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:121/8 - JW-PC DataFlex.HST, Sun Prairie WI


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

To: HUDSON@msu.edu (Michael.Hudson)
 On 05-18-93 MICHAEL.HUDSON wrote to ALL...
 M > On the issue of Mac, I had the opportunity to try Outspoken and
 M > found several issues that were tough to deal with.  1.  I
 M > frequently got lost and was not sure of the layout of screens (this
 M > may happen less with more experience)  2.  I had no opportunity to
 M > define windows as in Artic for quick reading of hot areas of the
 M > screen.  3.  New contents of the screen were not spoken
 M > automatically as they appeared, (this may be of special concern
 M > with terminal programs that scroll new info to the screen).

On point 3, use the Say On feature and any info sent to the screen will be
automatically read.  Turn Say On with Command-Option and the Speak key.

On point 1, I think experience is the biggest solution to this problem.
Wether in Windows are the Mac, I think you'll find that the GUI screen has
a lot going on.  It does, at times, require a little more exploration
but with experience you get the hang of it.

As to point 2, you are indeed correct that outSPOKEN lacks any windowing
features in the sense that you can define a read to a user-defined area.

 * OFFLINE 1.54

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Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!121!8!Kelly.Ford
Internet: Kelly.Ford@f8.n121.z1.fidonet.org




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Subject: Library of congress onlin
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]

  I'm not sure which on-lone source you are checking, but I made a
  worthwhile discovery of my own several months ago.  I got a
  subscription to the CARL system at APH.  It stands for Central
  Automated Resource List.  It is quite easy to use and seems to include
  the same information you are describing.  I'm actually not certain
  that they list NLS holdings, but they do list RFB along with several
  other sources for recorded and Brailled materials.  You can call APH
  for the details.  I haven't used it that much lately.  I know it costs
  something like $30 to get activated and then there are connect charges
  which I don't think are too bad, especially since you only have to be
  on for a couple of minutes at a time.  It is accessed through the AT&T
  network.  They have just switched over from Telenet, and are not
  completely together with the new network yet, but I guess they will be
  soon.

      Peter

 * JABBER v1.1 * JABBER the no meat, no oil QWK reader
===
 * KMail 2.94g - The Idea Link -

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




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Subject: Re: Working Dog Guides in Parking Lots
From: Ann.Sab@f572.n322.z1.fidonet.org (Ann Sab)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:322/572 - Back Woods BBS, Rochdale MA


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

 hi, i know where to busigos for guide dogs that say "please ignore
me. i'm on d*ty." its made of lightweight washable platic. attaches
to harncess with velcro. its for $10 postpaid from womyn's braill le
preps, inc. 8475       p.o. box 8475 minneapolis mn  55408-0475 hop
pe that helps~..

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Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!322!572!Ann.Sab
Internet: Ann.Sab@f572.n322.z1.fidonet.org




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Subject: Re: scanner question
From: Stephen.Baum@p0.f460.n101.z1.fidonet.org (Stephen Baum)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:101/460.0 - VI/BUG, Holbrook MA


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

If there is any general rule in buying high tech equipment, it is that
if you wait, the stuff will get better and the prices will get lower.
Sooner or later though, the value of actually having and using the stuff
makes it better to jump in.

I certainly agree that OCR technology, from any of us, can stand to be
improved upon. I recently scanned a technical specification of a
scanner, and it took me about four hours to get to clean copy (it was
about 40 pages). Certainly, typing it would have been slower, but it was
VERY frustrating. On the other hand, I scanned in a five page press
release and had it in perfect form, including some reformating, with
about five minutes of editing. There were about half a dozen errors.

Thanks for your remarks about the Reading Edge. Note that the technology
behind the Reading AdvantEdge is the same.

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Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!101!460.0!Stephen.Baum
Internet: Stephen.Baum@p0.f460.n101.z1.fidonet.org




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Subject: Re: Recommendations on a scanner
From: Stephen.Baum@p0.f460.n101.z1.fidonet.org (Stephen Baum)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:101/460.0 - VI/BUG, Holbrook MA


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

Eric, I fear you have been misled, at least a bit. Oscar will work just
fine with JAWS and DECtalk, as will The Reading AdvantEdge. Arkenstone's
Open Book Unbound will also work well with your DECtalk card, but, since
it is operating under windows, will not be using JAWS to do so.

I would suggest that you use any product that you are interested in with
material you wish to scan, and see if the recognition, features, and
user interface are to your liking.

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Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!101!460.0!Stephen.Baum
Internet: Stephen.Baum@p0.f460.n101.z1.fidonet.org




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Subject: Re: New Here!
From: Al.Gayzagian@p0.f460.n101.z1.fidonet.org (Al Gayzagian)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:101/460.0 - VI/BUG, Holbrook MA


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

I am very pleased with Readit but would like to see you add a few more

file management capabilities, primarily the ability to copy a file or

to move it.  I mentioned these when I registered and notice that while

you haven't yet added these features, you do continue to make

improvements.  Keep it up!

s

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Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!101!460.0!Al.Gayzagian
Internet: Al.Gayzagian@p0.f460.n101.z1.fidonet.org




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Subject: Speech output vs braille
From: Christopher.Hill@p233.f4115.n124.z1.fidonet.org (Christopher Hill)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:124/4115.233 - Southern Crossroads, Grapevine TX


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

Connie Famulari wrote in a message to All:

CF> @SUBJECT:speech output vs braille display
CF>         N I need help from anyone who has had to make a
CF> choice.

CF> I am writing a paper on the educational implications of
CF> choosing one system over another, that is speech output
CF> versus braille display.  If you have personal experience or
CF> even professional knowledge on the subject please send me a
CF> note.

CF> I thank you in advance.

Well, that's a hard one to call.  Braille is great, but as the only
way to access a computer, I have tried it some, and believe it is
intolerably slow.  The displays on the market today are normally
only 40 char displays, this makes reading a screenful of
information a chore. Braille is nice for looking around a
spreadsheet, or making sure columns of a report are lined up, but
for total access, speech is superior in my opinion.

Later..
Chris

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Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!124!4115.233!Christopher.Hill
Internet: Christopher.Hill@p233.f4115.n124.z1.fidonet.org




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Subject: Readit suggestion
From: Larry.Skutchan@f120.n2320.z1.fidonet.org (Larry Skutchan)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:2320/120 - MicroTalk, Louisville KY


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

Hi David.  With all the talk of Readit around, I had to take a look, and
I am impressed.  I have already, in fact, made to the ASAP screen access
package to allow ASAP's continuous reading to work properly when using
Readit's "slow" mode.  Everything worked well with Readit in the fast
mode with ASAP, but for some reason, we were canceling the continuous
reading when text came in via the BIOS.  Anyway, the newest ASAP does
not do that any more.

I do have a suggestion that since I added it to my Qedit key macro file,
I can't live without.  That is a command, like ctrl-up arrow and
ctrl-down arrow, to move to the ffirst line of the previous or next
paragraph.  The Qedit macro just looks for a blank line to treat as a
paragraph, and this works fine.

Keep up the good work.

 * JABBER v1.1 * If you think women aren't explosive, try dropping one.

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!2320!120!Larry.Skutchan
Internet: Larry.Skutchan@f120.n2320.z1.fidonet.org




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Subject: Need employment info
From: Jim.Hansell@f203.n273.z1.fidonet.org (Jim Hansell)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:273/203 - DSC/Voicenet, Ivyland PA


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

I need information on employment statistics for people who are
blind. Can anyone give me a source, one that I could get in print,
if needed. I need this for a legal matter.  I have called NFB, who
referred me to Job Ops for the Blind, who referred me to PA Blind
and Visual Services... still no concrete info.  I have heard that
the unemployment rate is as much as 70% nationwide.  Can anyone
either confirm this or give me another source?  I also need the
rate for the state of Pennsylvania.  Thanks.

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Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!273!203!Jim.Hansell
Internet: Jim.Hansell@f203.n273.z1.fidonet.org




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Subject: beating dead horses
From: Michael.Malver@f1007.n282.z1.fidonet.org (Michael Malver)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:282/1007 - DRAGnet, Andover MN


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

I have mentioned before my wish to multitask.  Windows can do this,
though openbook can not.
If I use window bridge, or outspoken when it comes, or any of the other
rumored windows packages, windows will speak, and thuus I will be able
to taslk.  Sincec scanning packages for the blind are the most friendly
to the blind, getting one makes sence, and the switch to windows is okay
if I can multitask.  My question is this:
If I run open book unbound after running window bridge, will the two
programs fight for control of my speech synthesizer, or will open book
unbound only use my synthesizer when I am in openbook.  Also, I have
heard that open book is safe in windows which means, I assume, you can't
mess up anything while in the program.  Can you leave the program, or
are you totally enclosed in it?  If I run window bridge, could I leave
open book to run a modem program while I scanned?
Thanks for answering my question, and sorry to keep bothering all of
you.

Micahel

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Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!282!1007!Michael.Malver
Internet: Michael.Malver@f1007.n282.z1.fidonet.org




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                 End of Issue # 951 of the Blind News Digest

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