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                            THE BLIND NEWS DIGEST

                                 Issue # 1120

                          Friday, February 10, 1995

Today's Topics:


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                     Looking for Voice software/hardware
                             software available
                 Re: Public domain screen reader for Windows
                 Re: Public domain screen reader for Windows
                       Re: Scanner and OCR info needed
                      TRIVIAL PURSUIT for blind person


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                              (203) 926-6187



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Subject: Looking for Voice software/hardware
From: stu_maappler@jmu.edu (Matthew Appler)
Organization: James Madison University

I am looking for software (or hardware I suppose) to allow my fiance's brother
to use his computer to read text/books to him.  He has a 386 w/ soundblaster.
He is not completely blind, just legally blind w/ problems tracking.  If there
is an FAQ for this group that contains this information, please point me in
the right direction.

Thank you,
  Matthew Appler



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Subject: software available
From: klein@handel.seattleu.edu (Charna S. Klein)
Organization: Seattle University, Seattle, WA, USA

The following programs and manuals (unused) are available:

1) VISTA - image enlarging system (retail $2500)

2) Navigator LX - integrated Braille Access System (with hardware $6000)

3) Screen Power Speech - speech access program (retail $500)

Make best offer and send to e-mail: klein@seattleu.edu



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Subject: Re: Public domain screen reader for Windows
From: kford@crash.cts.com (Kelly Ford)
Organization: CTS Network Services (CTSNET), San Diego, CA

Personally I think a public domain screen reader for Windows would be an
excellent idea.  I think the federal government should fund the
development of such a product.  When I worked for the Trace Center I
advocated that that center take some of the nearly one million they
receive annually to make computer technology more accessible and create
such a product.

I think a model like the center used in the development of AccessDOS and
the Windows Access Pack would be a great idea i.e. they created the
products and now IBM and Microsoft are distributing them.  Heck Microsoft
has even publicly announced the the features of the Windows access Pack
will be included in Windows 95 i.e. all kinds of keyboard enhancements
for people with physical disabilities.

Some, like Trace's director Gregg Vanderheiden, might argue that
developing a public domain screen reader would put companies that are
already in the business out of it.  I doubt this is true.

First of all these companies could obviously enhance the access afforded
by any public domain screen reader.  Second they could shift their focus
to training and better service delivery which is always going to be needed.

It seems to me that the government could easily fund this kind of
project.  I'd urge anyone interested to contact the National Institute on
Disability Rehabilitation and Research and express interest in getting
this kind of an idea included in the requirements for the next RERC grant
on Computers and Electronic Technology.  I think people with disabilities
should have a much greater say in what's being developed by they R&D
Centers to ensure that is has practical application to our lives.

Heck while you are at it, contact the Trace R&D Center and ask what they
are doing today to improve access to computers and electronic
technology.  You can reach them at (608) 262-6966 or by writing to
info@trace.wisc.edu.  They get public money to do this work and should be
happy to tell you how they are making computers and electronic technology
more accessible.

Kelly Ford




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Subject: Re: Public domain screen reader for Windows
From: Anne.Possoz@sic.epfl.ch (Anne POSSOZ)
Organization: Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne

In article <35426@handicap.news>, person@PLAINS.NODAK.EDU (Brett Person) writes:
|> Index Number: 35426
|>
|> [This is from the Blind-L mailing list]
|>
|> How would people feel about a public domain screen reader for Windows?

Can you be more precize at describing what is a screen reader?

--

Anne Possoz
possoz@sic.epfl.ch



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Subject: Re: Scanner and OCR info needed
From: cltrar@login.dknet.dk (Claus Thoegersen)
Organization: DKnet / EUnet Denmark - Login Tjenesten

In article <35314@handicap.news>, sms@cris.com (Steven M. Sawczyn) wrote:
>Index Number: 35314
>
>Hi, I am thinknig about purchasing a scanning system.  I know there are many
>of them on the market, but have never met anyone who uses one on a regular
>basis.  If you use a print scanner, please tell me whether or not you are
>satisfied with the scanner and if it met your expectations.  Any info,
>positive and negative is appreciated.

I am using a program called Openbook, with a 300 DPI HP II scanner. I am
blind, and most of the time I read the scanned text through a Dectalk
speechsynthesizer. I chose this system because it is very simple to operate,
it runs under Windows and therefore there is a good chance that the program
will be developed in the future. The program can work with several
speechsynthesizers and some braille displays.

It is my experiance that you always expect too high performance  from a new
scanner or from an upgrade of the software. I use my scanner to read
articles some books and mail. In fact to day I borrowed a book at my
university, I will scan the book tomorrow. It is a book on approximately 200
pages, and it will take about 1 hour or 1 and a half hour to do the
scanning. The recognision of text depends very much of the quality of the
written materials and of the  layout and funt that are being used.
To run Openbook you will need a good computer, at least 386 processor and 8
megabyte of ram, 16 megabyte will make the system very fast. If you do not
have that kind of computer I would try to find out more about a program
called Oscar made by TSI. The program can be run under dos, and makes pritty
good results, and is very fast.

Claus




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Subject: TRIVIAL PURSUIT for blind person
From: dlkarpl@prairienet.org (debra l karplus)
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana


I am interested in modifying the game Trivial Pursuit (especially
the playing board) for a person who is blind.....if anyone
has any ideas, please EMail me direct...dlkarpl@prairienet.org...
thanks....debbie

--



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                 End of Issue # 1120 of the Blind News Digest

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