🚀 go-pugleaf

                            THE BLIND NEWS DIGEST

                                 Issue # 985

                          Wednesday, July 21, 1993

Today's Topics:


                                ******


                    Tragedy in Boston and Tactile Strips
                            Re: Guide Dog survey
                            Re: Recognita for DOS
                              The busy command.
                              Guide Dog survey
                      Re: Microsoft and screen readers
                          RE: OPEN BOOK AUTOCONTRAS
                               Re: BLINK HELP
                                  Re: Help


                                ******


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: Tragedy in Boston and Tactile Strips
From: Sam.Troia@p4.f203.n2603.z1.fidonet.org (Sam Troia)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:2603/203.4 - The BATcave, Brooklyn NY


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

 > The transit system there keeps saying
 > that it is a
 > mobility problem with the blink and that they should
 > receive more
 > mobility training from the blind agency there.  Why
 > people must die to
 > get a message across to the authorities that action is
 > needed is
 > ridiculous but unfortunately a fact of life.

Hi Bill,

Of course having tactile strips at the edge of transit platforms
won't absolutely eliminate death by this kind of tragic accident
but the risk is greatly reduced.  How a transit system can put the
blame on the blind person is totally beyond me.  Sounds like
they're passing the buck in order to avoid responsibility.  And I'm
sure that fiscal matters are at the bottom of it--they always are.
When will these people grow up?  Never mind; they probably never
will.

Well, so much for my cynicism for the day.

Sam

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!2603!203.4!Sam.Troia
Internet: Sam.Troia@p4.f203.n2603.z1.fidonet.org




------



Subject: Re: Guide Dog survey
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 now on dog number 6, and one, number 3, did develop a left drift while
crossing streets, but only after I had had her for 5-6 years.  One instructor
told me that some shepherds tend to develop this problem.  All my dogs have
been shepherds, though, and only one showed any signs of this.  I might add
that we had little or no luck correcting the problem.

Al Gayzagian

... Silver Xpress!...... Don't leave home without it!

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




------



Subject: Re: Recognita for DOS
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, Stephen.

The Recognita demo that I am using has an option to force single
collumns.  It didn't seem to work too well for me, but the demo only
recognizes every other line and that may be the problem.  I'll let you
know, if I find out anything more about it.

Take care,
George and Bullet

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




------



Subject: The busy command.
From: Jeff.Dubois@f266.n163.z1.fidonet.org (Jeff Dubois)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:163/266 - Vision Information , Ottawa ON


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

This has been a very hectic week for Face and I.  I thinkk it all
started with the full moon, but I'm not really sure of the concept
sometimes.

I went down to Rideau Hall, for the non-Canadians, they would be
pleased to know that this is Canada's representative to the Queen,
for the Governor General's tea party.  Not 100 yards in the gate
for this gala event this RCMP officer streakes across the 88 acre
lawn in a golf cart screaming "No dogs are allowed in here".
Face and I were, of course, very visible.  It mayh have been both
our yellow hair blowing in the Ottawa sun, or perhaps, my neon
slime green attire in the world's most humid geographical locale.

And if that wasn't enough, I attended a garden party and the taxi
driver much later that eveninh, in his broken English, gave two
excuses on why he should not take a dog in his cab.

I bloody well hate those allergy and allah excuses.

It's not a typical Canada Day for me.  I'll remember 93 as the day
I just should have  stayed at home.

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!163!266!Jeff.Dubois
Internet: Jeff.Dubois@f266.n163.z1.fidonet.org




------



Subject: Guide Dog survey
From: Walt.Cone@f145.n138.z1.fidonet.org (Walt Cone)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:138/145 - The Cats' Paws, Tacoma WA


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

Hi Scott:

I have never heard that this is common for guide dogs to do.

I am working with my 5th dog and she tends to want to be on the
left side of a sidewalk.  Her street crossings are real good.  She
does not drift at all to the left or right.

The trainers explained to me that with her first user she was
afraid of being stepped on so she wanted that little extra area
between my feet and hers.

She is much better about it now then she was when I first got her.

Good luck:

Walt

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!138!145!Walt.Cone
Internet: Walt.Cone@f145.n138.z1.fidonet.org




------



Subject: Re: Microsoft and screen readers
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]

Hi Isaac.  Reply about os2 and dos6.
Any thing that is made by Microsoft becomes incompatible with any thing
not created by them.  Soon they will be the only fish in the watter or
they will have to get out of the way.  I am afraid they might just win.
I had some problems with dr-dos and windows.  It turns out that Micro
Soft made windows have a problem with dr dos as well.  finally I had to
get an update from Novell.
I would think they would be glad I wanted to use windows.  But, not if I
am going to use another opperating system.
It's sad that a company  has to create incompatibility problems to stay
on top.  The rest of the indestry spends time fixing the purposeful
sabatage they create while they continue to stay on top with inferior
products.
MOre soon.
sam

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




------



Subject: RE: OPEN BOOK AUTOCONTRAS
From: TANDY.WAY@f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org (TANDY WAY)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:129/89 - BlinkLink, Pittsburgh PA


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

 JS> Hi Tandy,

 JS> I too have noticed that scans can be better if youtake over the
 JS> control of the contrast settings, but that is an awful lot of
 JS> patience and guessing. How do you get a fix on the right
 JS> contrast?

 well what I do is this. if the document is important to be as
 accurate as possible, then I first find out the page orientation
 using the page orientation command. then set that manually. then I
 take one page and time the scanning time using auto then normal light
 and dark. the shortest time then I use numbers to see if I can get
 even better. there will be a  point where the numbers start to go
 back up and you have gone too far.
 hope this helps.
 tandy

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




------



Subject: Re: BLINK HELP
From: jvirts@unl.edu (Jacquelyn Virts)
Organization: University of Nebraska--Lincoln

I have been facing this same problem with my blind husband--how do you
continue to be a support to your spouse who is discriminated against?
I read recently that something like 70% of blind people are
unemployed.  Now, some blind people have other physical ailments that
may prevent them from working (or further hinder them from becoming
employed, not necessarily because they _couldn't_ work).  But we all
know the real problem is that sighted folks just don't want to hire
them.

It angers me, too, that our society would rather pay out disability
payments to blind people rather than let them earn a living.  Most
blind people would prefer earning a living (I know my husband would).
One would think it would be better for our economy as well (they would
pay more taxes, etc.)

But this doesn't really answer your question.  I can offer only what I
do myself -- continue to love and support your spouse.  Continue to
let them know _you_ know they are capable and are being treated
unfairly.  And keep encouraging them to not give up, explore
alternatives to working or agencies that might go to battle on their
behalf with prospective employers.

I'm sure someone out there has better ideas than me, and I'll be
anxiously waiting to read them! :)

Jacque





------



Subject: Re: Help
From: Kevin.Nathan@f25.n347.z1.fidonet.org (Kevin Nathan)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:347/25 - Phantasia BBS, Boise Id


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

Hi again.  Well, I'm not presuming to know all the answers but would first
suggest your friend get out of the windows environment for his comm work.
There are very few speech packages that work with windows and the ones that
do are quite new and mainly experimental until going through a lot more
usage and working out of bugs, etc.

There are several fairly good comm programs for the DOS environment but
the one I am most familiar with and that works good with speech access pro-
grams is COMMO.  This can be had by calling Fred Brucker at (614) 326-1309.
I believe the cost for the new package is around $40.00 U.S. and I believe
it is well worth it.

Now, to get to the main point of your message.  Most speech programs,
at least those that work well, are fairly expensive.  I happen to be using
a product called Business Vision produced by Artic Technologies in Troy,
Michigan.  When you order this package you receive the software and a
voice synthesizer board that goes in one of the expansion slots of the
pc.  Most speech systems work in a similar manner with minor variations.
I really like this package and feel it is a good one.  There are some
things I would like to see improved, and have been told they will be in the
new package coming soon.  The cost of this package is about $895.00 U.S.
>From what I can remember when I was shopping for the synthesizer for home,
this price is about average for what is out there in terms of quality
synthesizers.  Some others you might inquire about are Vocal Eyes made by
G.W. Microsystems in Indiana and the various Vert speech systems made by
Telesensory in, I think, Mountainview, California.  Perhaps some others
in this echo will see our conversation and add to this information.
Also, if your friend is limited for funds, you might inquire here as to the
availability of used speech systems--although they are often hard to
find.

Well, I hope that helps.  Please message me again to let me know how the
quest is coming.  Also, when you do get your friend on, please let me
know.  See you again.
Kevin
___ Blue Wave/QWK v2.12

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!347!25!Kevin.Nathan
Internet: Kevin.Nathan@f25.n347.z1.fidonet.org




------






                                ******

                 End of Issue # 985 of the Blind News Digest

                                ******