🚀 go-pugleaf

                            THE BLIND NEWS DIGEST

                                 Issue # 960

                            Monday, June 28, 1993

Today's Topics:


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                          Re: Midy  Music  And Spe
                                Synthesizers
                              Re: use of readit
                              Re: Free net bbs
                             Satisfaxtion modem
                            Portable synthesizers
                           Ms-dos 6 and no manual
                         Re: Yet another OCR program
                                use of readit
                      Re: Microsoft and screen readers


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Subject: Re: Midy  Music  And Spe
From: Richard.Webb@f8.n290.z1.fidonet.org (Richard Webb)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:290/8 - Iowa MIDI BBS, Des Moines IA


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

Hello Rusty,

You'll find some folks here who use Midi and speech all the time.  I've
got some experience with this, and can maybe give you some suggestions
that will help your friend out.

I know many of the keyboards out there do not have a good user interface
for blind users.  But, many of their functions can be controlled through
midi, such as patch number playing on certain midi channel, etc.

If they are using a sequencer program such as Cakewalk pro or sequencer
plus, these messages can be sent from the sequencer program itself.  If
they are using texture, I'm not sure if they can acomplish this since
texture doesn't support exchange of system exclusive data, but still
might allow for some function control within a sequence itself.

Those are the 3 sequencer programs I know of that are the most speech
friendly, since they are text based.  I also just found recently that
for those purchasing Cakewalk and needing doccumentation in ascii files,
all one needs to do is send a note with their software registration, and
the doccumentation will be provided on disk.

There have been different schemes discussed and worked on to allow use
of speech with some of the LCD displays prevalent on many midi
keyboards, but I don't believe we've got one on the market yet.  The
problem seems to be in getting the manufacturers to agree on a standard
for such displays.  If you would like more information, you can contact
David Andrews at the National Braille and technology center of hte
National Federation of the Blind, or a couple of other folks on NFBTalk
or Blindtlk that were present at a conference where one such developer
showed his product about late January.  They could provide you with the
contact information, I believe.

I hope I am being of some help to you, and will be glad to discuss this
further with you should you feel I can be helpful.
Richard Webb
ELECTRIC SPIDER PRODUCTIONS

... [BRAILLE] . . PROMOTE LITERACY FOR THE BLIND
___ Via Silver Xpress V3.02

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!290!8!Richard.Webb
Internet: Richard.Webb@f8.n290.z1.fidonet.org




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Subject: Synthesizers
From: Richard.Webb@f8.n290.z1.fidonet.org (Richard Webb)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:290/8 - Iowa MIDI BBS, Des Moines IA


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

Hi STeve,

YOu were commenting that you guessed it's time to look for another
synthesizer.  You then said something about getting a dectalk card with
new 486.  Don't know how much the dectalk card will cost you, but you
can get a lite talk for around $500, which is a nice little portable
talker.  Interfaces through both serial and paralell port, and doesn't
sound too bad, I'm using one at the moment.

I'm sure it was a bummer seeing all these messages telling you it ws
time to look for another talker, wasn't it?

See yuh later.
Richard Webb
ELECTRIC SPIDER PRODUCTIONS

... DOS never says "EXCELLENT command or filename"...
___ Via Silver Xpress V3.02

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!290!8!Richard.Webb
Internet: Richard.Webb@f8.n290.z1.fidonet.org




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Subject: Re: use of readit
From: David.Justice@p0.f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org (David Justice)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:129/89.0 - BlinkLink, Pittsburgh PA


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

 -=> Quoting Bill Koppelmann to David Justice <=-

 BK> for myself, i use readit to check out files
 BK> on a disk without actually opening them and I even gave a shareware
 BK> copy of your program to a sighted friend who uses the windows platform

Ahh Windows...  I've never tried ReadIt with Windows to see how
well the two got along.  I take it she is having no problems in
that respect?

I often use ReadIt to check out newly obtained compressed files,
and view the included text files, before deciding whether to
extract everything.  >From time to time, I've even used ReadIt to
temporarily shell to DOS from another program--when the program in
question was large and didn't have it's own "swapping" DOS shell.
Other than these two, my uses of ReadIt are the fairly straight
forward day-to-day reading and searching of text files.

I'd like to hear from others what different ways they've found to
use ReadIt, and what things they wish they could do with it.

Hope you keep using and enjoying ReadIt, Bill.

    Dave

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




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Subject: Re: Free net bbs
From: Mark.Senk@p0.f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org (Mark Senk)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:129/89.0 - BlinkLink, Pittsburgh PA


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

Hi,

I'm not sure which reader you are using, but will share a tip that
might help.  I have found that when using rn, you should set the -t
or -h switches for turse or reduced headers.  For nonstop reading
try using dumb terminal emulation rather than vt100.  The system
may think you are using a paper tty and scroll messages rather
directing them through the "more" filter.  You could hold that
spacebar down and let them fly.  Let me know if it helps.

Mark

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




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Subject: Satisfaxtion modem
From: Bill.Holton@p0.f165.n264.z1.fidonet.org (Bill Holton)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:264/165.0 - The Back Door, Richmond VA


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

  Is there anyone here who is running an Intel Satisfaxtion 400
internal modem with Vocal-Eyes?

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!264!165.0!Bill.Holton
Internet: Bill.Holton@p0.f165.n264.z1.fidonet.org




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Subject: Portable synthesizers
From: Eric.Smith@f120.n226.z1.fidonet.org (Eric Smith)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:226/120 - Colossus, Worthington OH


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

If you have any experience with synthesizers, help. I am using JAWS
2.2.  I have a notebook and would like to find a small synthesizer
to use with it.  I have an Accent SA on my desktop and have been
changing it back and forth, but that's a bit of a pain.  So when I
buy something, I want it as portable as the computer and with
relatively good speech. I have been told I am spoiled with Accent's
quality; don't know because I have heard any others.  I have serial
and paralel ports available. Any help with names, addresses,
numbers and price would be appreciated Even if you want to tell me
about the portable you are using, I would appreciate it.

Thanks

... Catch the Blue Wave!
___ Blue Wave/QWK v2.12

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!226!120!Eric.Smith
Internet: Eric.Smith@f120.n226.z1.fidonet.org




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Subject: Ms-dos 6 and no manual
From: Mark.Schafer@f432.n109.z1.fidonet.org (Mark Schafer)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:109/432 - The Idea Link, Wheaton MD


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

MICROSOFT CORPORATION
DEPT.  1117-1
ONE MICROSOFT WAY
REDMOND, WASHINGTON 98052-6393
ATTN.  KIM STURDIVANT

  Subj: MS-DOS 6.00 AND NO MANUAL

TO THE FOKES AT MICROSOFT

HI fokes I just bought MICROSOFT DOS V 6.00 and i have no manual on
TAPE or  in DATA FORM.  I do not know about you but I am tired of
buying a program like DOS and then having  to buy a manual as
well.

FOR EXAMPLE   MICROSOFT MS-DOS 5.0  COST ME ABOUT  $59.00 AND FROM
R F B I HAD TO PAY ABOUT $30.00 FOR A MANUAL   SO MICROSOFT MS-DOS
V5.00    COST ME ABOUT $89.95

HERE IS THE PROOF

 *Title: Microsoft MS - DOS : operating system : version 5.0
 Publisher: Microsoft Corp
 Date: c1991
 Includes: Microsoft MS - DOS user's guide and reference for the
 MS DOS operating system
 Includes: Microsoft MS - DOS getting started for the MS - DOS operating system
 Book number: EP017
 Number of 360K units: 05
 Price: $27

... MARK SCHAFER K D 6 G K B ILINK HANDICAP HOST
===
 * Blue Wave/QWK v2.12 *
 * KMail 2.94g - The Idea Link -

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




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Subject: Re: Yet another OCR program
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]

I think there is merit in making a "junior" version of The Reading
AdvantEdge that would be less expensive, and less feature rich. I'm not
sure that XIS is exactly anxious to market and support yet another
product right now though. We have our hands pretty full. Besides working
on the next release of both The Reading Edge and The Reading AdvantEdge,
I'm also beginning work on the next release of BookWise, a product for
dyslexics. Your suggestion is a good one - I wonder what features are
really essential, and which are just nice to have?

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




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Subject: use of readit
From: Bill.Koppelmann@p0.f725.n104.z1.fidonet.org (Bill Koppelmann)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:104/725.0 - Wildcard BBS, Thornton CO


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

 DJ> Ahh Windows...  I've never tried ReadIt with Windows to see how well
 DJ> the two got along.  I take it she is having no problems in that
 DJ> respect?

not a one so far.  of course that doesn't mean that nobody else will,
but her experience is at least encouraging.

 DJ> everything. From time to time, I've even used ReadIt to temporarily
 DJ> shell to DOS from another program--when the program in question was
 DJ> large and didn't have it's own "swapping" DOS shell.

In that case, let me ask a question, how do you swap to dos while in
readit if you need to check for something real quick.

                        Bill K.

... another satisfied Readit user

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!104!725.0!Bill.Koppelmann
Internet: Bill.Koppelmann@p0.f725.n104.z1.fidonet.org




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Subject: Re: Microsoft and screen readers
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]

Liked your message to MicroSoft concerning including an E-Text copy
of their manual in with the 6.0 version of DOS. I hate to tell you,
but I am afraid you aren't going to find it there.

I don't knowhow many here may have tried scanning the DOS 6.0
manual. I have gotten about half way through it using Openbook
Unbound and myu Panasonic scanner and I am very impressed with how
well it scans. Apparently the text in the manual is very good. I am
thinking that if it continues to scan as well as it is for the
remainder of the manual I may contact them to see if they would all
providing copies to other DOS 6.0 owners who are legally blind.

    D. T.

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




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                 End of Issue # 960 of the Blind News Digest

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