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                            THE BLIND NEWS DIGEST

                                 Issue # 1084

                          Monday, October 03, 1994

Today's Topics:


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               Re: testing of blind university students (Long)
                    Announce: Talking Products available
                    Re: Computerized Books For the Blind.
                             Re: reading systems
                  Re: testing of blind university students
                            MaxEye press release
         Mailing list for National Federation of the Blind created!
                          Braille cards available..


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                              (203) 926-6187



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Subject: Re: testing of blind university students (Long)
From: mgardner@mlsmd.mlm.att.com (Malcolm W A Gardner)
Organization: AT&T

Arlene,

I am speaking from a purely English perspective, so I do not know anything
about rules that may apply within the US.

My university (Bradford, England), handled the examination process extremely
well, but you do often have to espect there to be an element of trust.   My
friend and I were both registered blind and attending a Computer Science
degree course.   During exams - when everyone else was in the examination
halls - we were showed into separate rooms.  We used our Perkins braillers
to write our exam answers, and then - and this is what you may not like -
dictated our papers onto tape.   The examiners seemed perfectly happy to
listen to our papers, although I don't know how much persuasion there may
have been.   It is also a generally accepted norm, that blind people should
be given extra time for exams, which would generally be a third extra.   I
also had this extra time at school when sitting O and A level exams.

Incidentally, our papers were actually written in braille, due to the fact
that Bradford has its own braille embosser and translation program.   It is
also possible to get the Royal National Institute for the Blind to translate
papers, so perhaps your equivalent national society would have the same
facility.   I suppose a student could listen to a paper from tape, but this
would course great problems for technical subjects.

You mention Braille 'n' Speak.   I have one of thos myself, and the potential
for exams may be extremely good.   The device includes its own translator, so
braille file can be copied directly onto a PC ASCII file.   I would however
say that using these does depend greatly on the students experience with the
device, due to having to edit text and checking that all the braille symbols
are correct.   I quite often find that when I have download a file to my PC,
it contains a certain amount of gobbledegook, due to mis-hit keys or use
of incorrect braille contractions.

Another method is to use an emanuensis, to whom you dictate your paper during
the exam time.   This was the method I used at school and it seems generally
to work well.

Anyway, I don't know how long you have been waiting for a response, but I
hope this gives you some idea of what can be done.   I am afraid that trust
base systems are often the only solution.

        Malcolm

        AT&T Network Systems UK Ltd.
        Swindon Road
        Malmesbury
        Wiltshire SN16 9NA

        Tel. +44 (0)666 832052
        E-mail: mgardner@mlsma.att.com
--
Malcolm

        Malcolm W A Gardner
           Dept. : MLM Feature Test (nsi357)




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Subject: Announce: Talking Products available
From: sethr@netcom.com (Seth Russell)
Organization: NETCOM On-line Communication Services (408 261-4700 guest)

I though that many of the products available in this catalog would be of
interest to persons with various handicaps especially vision.

Announcing the Speak To Me Catalog now on line on the WWW.
This innovative catalog specializes in products which
*HAVE THE ABILITY TO TALK*.  Watches, clocks calculators,
scales, key chains, spoons, tooth brushes, ash trays, teddy bears,
picture frames - practical and novelty items.
GIVE THE GIFT THAT SAYS SOMETHING...
Email your postal address to sethr@netcom.com for a free Catalog
or call toll free to 800-248-9965.  Mention where you say this posting
and receive $3.00 off your first order.

Point your WWW browser to: ftp://ftp.netcom.com/pub/conus/speak.html




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Subject: Re: Computerized Books For the Blind.
From: schwarz@kodak.com (Doug Schwarz)
Organization: Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, NY

In article <33955@handicap.news>, Bill@blondie.demon.co.uk (Bill Casey) wrote:

> Index Number: 33955
>
> > From: C9303058@cc.newcastle.edu.au

[stuff deleted]

> > One more thing!  Could anyone please help me with a mailing address or
> > internet address to the National Braille Association in Rodchester New York,
> > and/or, the Royal National Institute for the Blind in London.


National Braille Association
1290 University Ave.
Rochester, NY 14607

Telephone: 716-473-0900

I'm quite sure they don't have an internet address.

Doug Schwarz
Eastman Kodak Company
schwarz@kodak.com



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Subject: Re: reading systems
From: donselwyn@delphi.com (Donald Selwyn)
Organization: Delphi (info@delphi.com email, 800-695-4005 voice)

Partially sighted people able to read visually with CCTV or optical
reading aids, and computer display enlargement software, usually do
better this way than with s[eech. Some borderline people, typically with
corrected VA from 20/400 to 20/1000, do best using both visualy
magnifcation and speeech output, using speeech to edit materials for
content and meaning and visual for layout, format and detail.
People with very low vision, kight perception and total blindness
need speech,.
For most  non-technical people not wanting to become computer hobbyists,
the Kurzweil or any other self-contained, stand-alone reading aid is
best. The lowest cost such devices are about $5500 dollars now.
The Arkenstone system is NOT self-contained or stand-alone. While it
saves some money, the user must connect the HP Scanner they provide to
a computer that has a speech system, and then use in the computer the
Arkenstone software. Installation and setup are very complex with
lots of bugs and problems - unless you  buy the entire system, computer
included, from Arkenstone. Even then, it is far more complex to use
than the Kurzweil Reading Edge type device. And, if it needs service
it must be sent back to Kurzweil.
   For most people, we have been recommending that they either get the
$5500 self contained reader ... or else buy a suitable PC locally with
speech unit, screen reader software, a scanner and approrpirate OCR
software. The user inconvenienses, when it is up and running, will be
about the same as for the Arkenstone. But, if a local technician can be
gotten to set the system up and install the software, then local
maintenance and training support will always be available.
   Generally, when a computer is used with a scanner and OCR software,
one can read or one can type in a word processor, but not both
at the same time. The ideal combination is a stand-alone reader that
is separate from the computer but which can send scanned text to
the computer as ASCII to be used in word processing, when this is
desired, in addition to the spoken output. ith this type setup, the
user can be typing in his word processor while listening to printed
or typed reference materials being read aloud.
  from Don Selwyn at The NAtional Institute for Rehabilitation Engineereing



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Subject: Re: testing of blind university students
From: donselwyn@delphi.com (Donald Selwyn)
Organization: Delphi (info@delphi.com email, 800-695-4005 voice)

Oral testing is always feasible except perhaps for deaf-blind. Oral
testing must be done one on one if all students are to receive the same
test. It can be done by one teacher in small groups if he uses enough
questions so that no two students in the same room at the same time
are ever asked the same questions or questions similar enough so that one
is aided by answers given previously by others in the room.
   The processed can be mechanized and standardized to a degree without
high technology.  Two cassette players are loaned to a student. On one'
he hears the questions put to him by the teacher. On the other machine
he speaks his answers to each question. Using this method, the student
can be permitted to take the test on his own if it is NOT a timed test -
that is, if it is like an "open book" test.  When th test must be timed
or monitored to prevent cheating, then a proctor must be present.
However, the proctor can be any trustworthy person; it need not be
a qualified teacher.  But this does nothing to teach typing, braille,
computing or other "hands-on" skills that are needed.  Funds must be
found to buy, service and maintain appropriate equipment for each
student - running from low cost Braille slates to Perkins braillers, to
high-tech equipment - WITH SERVICE and TRAINING ... nerver as
commodity merchandise that will not be maintained and effectively used.
  If non-handicapped students MUST do daily homework in order to retain
what they learn in school, then there is no reason to believe or even
hope that hanicapped children can learn and retain in the classroom
while being unable to do homework because they cnanot see or write.
Funding must be gotten for technical aids to be used at home, as
well as in school! Until and unless this is every child's right, then
many handicapped children will continue to be educationally crippled
for life, avoidably and unnecessarily, to everyone's detriment.
  Don Selwyn at the National Institute for Rehabilitation Engineering



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Subject: MaxEye press release
From: vannorman@aol.com (Van Norman)
Organization: America Online, Inc. (1-800-827-6364)

In article <9409261202.aa02529@sheldev.shel.isc-br.com>,
elliots@rdz.stjohns.edu (Elliot Schrier) writes:
>
> Hi, here is a brief release about our new product. We are also
> doing r&d on products for disabled people and are into electronic
> marketing and info access. thanks for posting this.  elliot.
>
> Millwood, New York -- 4X to distribute MaxEye, the world's first
> portable self-contained electronic magnifier for Visually Impaired
> people.

My aunt has extremely low vision due to macular degeneration.  She needs
to read text at 3cm tall, and has trouble using radios, tvs, etc.  Her big
problem is that she is a sculptor, and while ther are solutions for
reading, she could really use a wide field imager with reasonable depth of
field, so she can see her work.  Do you know of any systems which might be
suitable?




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Subject: Mailing list for National Federation of the Blind created!
From: nu7i@netcom.com (Darrell Shandrow)
Organization: NETCOM On-line Communication Services (408 261-4700 guest)

Hello.  There is a new mailing list called nfb-l which is for discussions
related to the National Federation of the Blind.  It is for members of
the organization as well as interested parties.
Send a message to listserv@netcom.com.  In the body type:
subscribe nfb-l

Send the message and you will be subscribed to the list.  73

--
Darrell Shandrow
Student: Colorado Center for the Blind
Member: National Federation of the Blind
[Forward warp 9!  Increase confidence through challenge!!]



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Subject: Braille cards available..
From: nu7i@netcom.com (Darrell Shandrow)
Organization: NETCOM On-line Communication Services (408 261-4700 guest)

Personalized Braille Cards Available!
Send them to your friends and loved ones for holidays, birthdays,
or any other occasion.  $2.50 each or $10 for 5.
For more information contact:
Colorado Center f/t Blind Student Association
Mary Cullum, President
2232 S. Broadway
Denver, CO 80210
Phone: (800) 401-4632 or (303) 778-1130.
E-mail: nu7i@netcom.com
--
Darrell Shandrow
Student: Colorado Center for the Blind
Member: National Federation of the Blind
[Forward warp 9!  Increase confidence through challenge!!]



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                 End of Issue # 1084 of the Blind News Digest

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