🚀 go-pugleaf

                            THE BLIND NEWS DIGEST

                                 Issue # 984

                          Wednesday, July 21, 1993

Today's Topics:


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                             Re: blue wave setup
                             Diet for the Blind
                                 nfb people
                              Readit suggestion
                                 recruiting
                                New Flipper!
                          Re: Braille code changes
                        BRAILLE TRANSLATORS WITH ISOS
                             Reading Advantedge
                             Re: Word Processing


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                              Bill McGarry (Moderator)
                              (203) 337-1518



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Subject: Re: blue wave setup
From: George.Mccoy@p0.f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org (George Mccoy)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:129/89.0 - BlinkLink, Pittsburgh PA


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

Hello, Tandy.

I am using Blue Wave 2.13 (registered version of 2.12) with ASAP and
have had no problems.  It does babble a bit, but if I turn extended
activity checking off, it helps a lot.  Haven't had it go into spell
mode with this version or my unregistered copy version 2.12.  Let me
know if you're still having trouble and I'll be glad to try and
duplicate it and solve it for you.

Take care,
George and Bullet

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




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Subject: Diet for the Blind
From: Chris.Bailly@p0.f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org (Chris Bailly)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:129/89.0 - BlinkLink, Pittsburgh PA


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

Here's my idea of a diet for the blind.  My claim is that if you put on
enough extra pounds, you'll regain the use of your eyes.  It is called
the Weight and See diet (spelled w e i g h t)!

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




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Subject: nfb people
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 am a member of both the NFB and ACB.  I'm curious to know what the
two organizations stand for, and whether or not the acb has chapter
meetings in the state of minnesota.  As I'm sure this topic has been
discussed to death on this echo, simply telling me the name of some
good computer files to read, or net mailing me at
mmalver@sunrayce.solar (assuming you can figure out how to address the
notes to the internet)
would be great.  Sorry to bring up a point which has probably been
talked to death already.

Michael

... Taglines are irrelevant. You will be assimilated into the Blue Wave.
___ Blue Wave/QWK v2.12

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




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Subject: Readit suggestion
From: Al.Hoffman@f432.n109.z1.fidonet.org (Al Hoffman)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:109/432 - The Idea Link, Wheaton MD


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

David:
     I have a request for read-it.

I want a timer built in to the auto-read function, such as, read
for 45 mins at rate xx.  I can then read stuff with an OCR, and
tape the results for myself or somebody elsewhere.  Thanks.

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




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Subject: recruiting
From: Jennifer.Armbruster@f93.n128.z1.fidonet.org (Jennifer Armbruster)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:128/93 - CSDB BBS, Colorado Springs CO


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

Hi, I am a blind athlete here in Colorado and am looking for more
athletes to join.  The only requirement our associatioon has well
wait theres two, one that you are legally blind 20 over 200 or have
20 degrees of less of usable vision, the second is that you want to
be active and someone isn't pushing you into something you don't
want to do.  The national office of blind athletes is also located
here in Clolrado so you can give them a call for general
information to find out what sports are offered on that level at
719 630 0422 or leave a message in my mail box on what you would
like and I'll try to get as much information as you requested if I
have it available.

Sorry about the errors but my times about to rum out. Hope to hear
from you.

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!128!93!Jennifer.Armbruster
Internet: Jennifer.Armbruster@f93.n128.z1.fidonet.org




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Subject: New Flipper!
From: William.Wilson@f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org (William Wilson)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:129/89 - BlinkLink, Pittsburgh PA


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

Note from Bill McGarry -- this is on the Handicap News ftp archives
already.

    Gee, and it's here right before the conventions!

     Steve Smith just uploaded the new release of Flipper, so it's
available for downloading or file request at up to 16.8k speeds via a
USR Dual Standard:

FLIP403.ZIP   318111 07-01-93 demo of Flipper version 4.03, latest release of
                              the speech program from Omnichron!  Loaded with
                              features including the ability to define most
                              functions from an extremely friendly menu!

     Give it a look and let us all know what you think, ok?
                                        Willie

... BlinkTalk - the Electronic Voice of the Blind!

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!129!89!William.Wilson
Internet: William.Wilson@f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org




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Subject: Re: Braille code changes
From: Stew.Bowden@f270.n271.z1.fidonet.org (Stew Bowden)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:271/270 - VA Data Exchange, Newport News VA


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

Hi Shan: well, I keep hearing about modifications to the current
braille code, even a new braille code entirely. However, knowing
people as I do, especially educators, I am extremely doubtful that
any committee will be able to agree on just what should be
presented. I know that BANA is very much involved, but I even doubt
they will be able to agree. Should be interesting though. Don't
know about you, but I haven't even mastered the codes that are out
there right now, especially Nemith and computer braille. See you
later. Stew

... WHEN I'M IN THE MOMENT, THE WORLD IS FINE!

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!271!270!Stew.Bowden
Internet: Stew.Bowden@f270.n271.z1.fidonet.org




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Subject: BRAILLE TRANSLATORS WITH ISOS
From: Tina.Jinkens@f102.n299.z1.fidonet.org (Tina Jinkens)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:299/102 - Lawrence Online, Lawrence KS


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

My name is Tina Jinkens, and I am new to the wonderful world of
BBSing and obviously to  BLINK.  I am presently using an ISOS
screen reader with a double talk synthesizer, and I am interested
in getting a braille translator.  I am especially interested in
Megadots.  I would be interested in any feedback about ISOS,
Megadots, or other braille translators.  It's so exciting to be on
line with so many people with such common
interests                    [B[BThanks Tina

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!299!102!Tina.Jinkens
Internet: Tina.Jinkens@f102.n299.z1.fidonet.org




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Subject: Reading Advantedge
From: Rick.Alfaro@f8.n369.z1.fidonet.org (Rick Alfaro)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:369/8 - The Catwalk BBS, Davie FL


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

Hello Stephen!

I am one very happy camper!  Reading advantedge is much more
accurate than what I had expected, and I never knew how much fun it
could be to read Junk Mail! <smile>  My wife says that Xerox has
created a monster in me, as I go around the house reading
everything I can get my hands on...Literally another open window to
the world!

Here is a request if possible sometime in the future.  I would like
to see the ability to have the pitch of the voice change for
different attributes like bolded text, or underlined or highlighted
text.  Perhaps it could be implimented by having a section in the
setup program where you could plug in the necessary control strings
to cause the synthesizer to change to the pitch you want for the
various attributes.  An alternative of course would be to directly
support certain synthesizers, but I thin that would detract from
the fact that reading advantedge is very "generic" and works with
anything.  Being able to specify the pitch change codes would
satisfy those folks that would want such a feature, while those
that don't simply don't have to bother with it.  Does this sound
possible, or practical at all?

Also, would it be possible to add brightness control to the options
menu under the scann menu.  Quite often, trying to find the right
brightness for a particular magazine or book can be somewhat
tedious, and I find myself having to use several keystorkes to back
out of the scanning menu, and down to the Options menu and in a
couple of levels just to try a different brightness.  If the
brightness setting were accessable write off of the scan/options
menu, it would be less tedious to try different settings.  Another
thought I had on this would be to have perhaps a few hotkeys that
could be used anywhere where scanning is done.  These hot keys
could control things like brightness, Half tones on/off, columns
as  1 or variable, and orientation just to mention a few. In the
case of something like the brightness where the input needs to be
lowered or raised, perhaps you could use something like the plus
and minus keys on the numeric keypad to raise or lower the
setting...

Those are just a few thoughts I wanted to throw your way, and
certainly hope you don't mind.  There is no reason why an already
good product can't be made even better, and I guess feedback from
its users will do the trick for you in many cases.  Thanks for an
excellent product...

Regards,
Rick

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!369!8!Rick.Alfaro
Internet: Rick.Alfaro@f8.n369.z1.fidonet.org




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Subject: Re: Word Processing
From: Ryan.Heneise@f101.n277.z1.fidonet.org (Ryan Heneise)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:277/101 - House Of Pancakes, Morgantown WV


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

OK, there's a ton of talking programs for the Mac.  My personal
favorite is TexEdit. There's also Speak Easy, which reads any text
file, but after it's started, you can't stop it.  Speak To Me is an
INIT that reads the name of any file selected.  Unless you need it,
though (visually impared?) it can get pretty annoying.  If you have
a vision problem, it's the answer to all your proyers.  There's
also some nonsense programs like PB, which speaks X-Rated phrases,
and Eliza, which lets you cary on an intellient conversation with
your Mac.  Most of these programs you can get from America Online
and Compuserve, or from your local MUG.  They all require
MacinTalk, the speach INIT.  If

If you send me your address, I can ship a disk out to you to give to
your friend.  I'll put my favorite ones on it.

Later,
Ryan

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!277!101!Ryan.Heneise
Internet: Ryan.Heneise@f101.n277.z1.fidonet.org




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                 End of Issue # 984 of the Blind News Digest

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