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                            THE BLIND NEWS DIGEST

                                 Issue # 1090

                         Tuesday, November 15, 1994

Today's Topics:


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                          Where can I get TinyTalk?
         In search of a speech friendly DOS fax send/receive program
                             Looking for s/w ??
                               German Braille?
                               A blind friend.
                             Living in San Diego
                           Re: What is Arkenstone?
                  Re: Starsight "built in" TV Guide cost???
                               speech-software
                               Re: Radio Shack
                                gopher access
                    Re: HTML to the Max A Manifesto . . .
                Re: Re: Re: HTML to the Max A Manifesto . . .


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                              Bill McGarry (Moderator)
                              (203) 926-6187



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Subject: Where can I get TinyTalk?
From: starrc@cofc.edu (Chris Starr)
Organization: College of Charleston

I need a screen reader for the PC. I have a SoundBlaster card. Any
suggestions on software and its source?
Many thanks from Charleston, SC, USA
Chris

[Note from Bill McGarry: The Tiny Talk demo is available via
ftp and gopher from handicap.shel.isc-br.com in the
/pub/speech directory.]




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Subject: In search of a speech friendly DOS fax send/receive program
From: pduran@world.std.com (Peter Duran)

Hi all,
Have any of you found a suitable fax program that works well with speech?
Any comments on what works and on what does not works is greatly appreciated.

Best regards, Peter Duran




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Subject: Looking for s/w ??
From: sinha@DL2VAX1.ITG.TI.COM (Arun Sinha)

Hi,

I am looking for s/w that will convert a PC into a Brailler, i.e. I can use the
keyboard to simulate a brailler

Any suggestions anyone.

Thanks in advance,

Arun Sinha
sinha@lobby.ti.com



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Subject: German Braille?
From: kmorrow@ukanaix.cc.ukans.edu (Kimberly Morrow)


Hello Buddy,

My name is kimberly Morrow.  I recently obtained a masters degree from
the University of Kansas in the area of German.  I am also fluent in
English braille and taught myself German braille via books, Etc.
Unfortunately, the source from which I learned German braille no longer
offers the course--namely, the Hadley School for the Blind in Winnetka,
Illinois.  There is a book which I would strongly recommend you read in
order to get started.  It is entitled, Reformed German Braille
Contractions.  It is authored by Heinz Adam--who taught German through
the Hadley School for many years.  The text is available from the
American Printing House for the Blind in Louisville, Kentucky.
Unfortunately, I cannot remember the price of the book at the moment, but
I recall it was quite reasonable.  Please let me know how the
braille--and the German--is going.  If there is any way in which I can be
of further help, please let me know.
Sincerely,
Kimberly Morrow
Kmorrow@ukanaix.cc.ukans.edu
Kimberly@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu




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Subject: A blind friend.
From: kmorrow@ukanaix.cc.ukans.edu (Kimberly Morrow)

I would highly recommend DECTALK as a voice synthesizer--if possible, I
prefer the DECTALK express over the internal unit.  The Vocal-Eyes screen
reader has been the product which has given me the most access to the
internet.  I think that, especially in the case of talk sessions, clear,
concise speech is important, which is why I selected this particular
synthesizer and screen reader.

Kimberly Morrow




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Subject: Living in San Diego
From: kford@netcom.com (Kelly Ford)
Organization: NETCOM On-line Communication Services (408 261-4700 guest)


I'd be interested in hearing opinions on how accessible the San Diego
area is for someone with a visual impairment.  In particular, the cities
north of San Diego proper.  How good is transportation?
--
Kelly Ford

KFORD@NETCOM.COM

Looking for someone to join your organization?  Check the URL
ftp://ftp.netcom.com/pub/kford/resume.txt to see if I might be that person.




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Subject: Re: What is Arkenstone?
From: info@arkenstone.org (Bruce Merritt)



     Arkenstone is a non-profit organization dedicated to
providing reading solutions to individuals with visual
and reading impairments.  As a charitable organization,
Arkenstone's primary goal is to bring the most advanced,
easily usable, affordable reading technology to people
with disabilities worldwide.
     The organization actively seeks equipment and
funding donations to operate donation and subsidy
programs.  These programs enable other nonprofit
organizations to acquire the benefits of technology for
application to the needs of people with disabilities.
Additionally, Arkenstone is actively engaged in research
improving adaptive equipment.  Arkenstone is strongly
committed to putting technical tools in the hands of
people who will use them in the pursuit of independent
living.
     The company's products provide users with greater
personal and professional opportunities.  These products
permit visually impaired individuals an alternative way
to read printed documents such as books, magazines,
manuals, personal letters, memos and computer printouts.
Arkenstone offers a full line of products which provide
the appropriate tool for the user's individual need.
     Headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, Arkenstone
was incorporated as a charity in March 1989.  Since that
time, Arkenstone has provided more than 3,000 reading
systems to its users.  The products, distributed by a
worldwide network of 60 dealers, can read 12 languages
and are used in more than thirty countries.
     Arkenstone actively seeks partners in the commercial
sector to aid them in their commitment to bring computer
technology to individuals with disabilities worldwide.

For additional information or a catalog of our current
products, please call us at: 1-800-444-4443

                 Arkenstone
                 1390 Borregas Avenuc
                 Sunnyvale, CA 94089
                 (408)752-2200 (800)444-4443
                 FAX (408)745-6739

or via email at:

info@arkenstone.org





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Subject: Re: Starsight "built in" TV Guide cost???
From: gimber@aol.com (Gimber)
Organization: America Online, Inc. (1-800-827-6364)

In article <34259@handicap.news>, v067ftek@ubvms.cc.buffalo.edu (TIMOTHY
M. MCCARTHY) writes:
>What does it cost for the box & who is it distributed by?
>Any address or phone # where more info. can be obtained?

To get more info on "what, where & how much", you can call StarSight at
1-800-643-STAR (voice).

Gimber




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Subject: speech-software
From: ssv7543@ucs.usl.edu (Vangala Srinivasa S)
Organization: Univ. of Southwestern La., Lafayette

Information on a new therapy on computer, designed by Barbara Dean Schacker
for her father, Vernon Dean, who had suffered a severe stroke is available.
The story of her success was featured in Reader's Digest article,
"Prisoner of Silence", June 1991 and again in a testimonial
"How the Experts Failed Us", in Reader's Digest, August 1994 issue.

After 9 years with only 9 words, and little speech comprehension or
reading ability, Vernon Dean regained his speech comprehension and reading
almost entirely and was able to say over 700 words. The computerised
therapy is now making even bigger breakthroughs for many other stroke patients.


Barbara Dean Schacker has developed a unique multisensory learning
technique that routes the language signals from the left or alternate
hand into a latent, undamaged language center from early childhood in
the right (undamaged) hemisphere of the brain. In 1991,she won  the
Johns Hopkins University Certificate of Achievement Award for her
work with technology for the disabled.

For more information, call the Creative Learning Resource Center
at (916) 292-3001 or write: P.O.Box 829, North San Juan, California 95959




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Subject: Re: Radio Shack
From: kseven@delphi.com (Kathy Seven Rush)
Organization: Delphi (info@delphi.com email, 800-695-4005 voice)

Radio Shack is just full of disappointments.  I bought a very useful talking
watch with the RS Replacement Warranty - good thing as I have had to replace it
4 times in the past year. But now the watch is no longer sold by RS (not a
surprise considering its quality/price ratio). But they want to replace the
watch with one of considerably less suitability to my needs. It would appear
their replacement deal may not be what it appears...and I want the watch I
bought because I love to hear it say 4:44 with its British accent, and I want
the count-up timer, not a count-down timer of the current model. Anyone else
solve this one yet? K7



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Subject: gopher access
From: tholton@cabell.vcu.edu (Tara Kent-Holton)
Organization: Virginia Commonwealth University


Can someone tell me if there is gopher access to either RFB's or the
LOC Talking Book catalogs?

[Note from Bill McGarry: These are available through most of
the disability gophers including handicap.shel.isc-br.com
and sjuvm.stjohns.edu




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Subject: Re: HTML to the Max A Manifesto . . .
From: 0001771813@mcimail.com (Kenyon F. Karl)
Organization: UTexas Mail-to-News Gateway

Date:     Sun Nov 13, 1994  2:12 pm  EST
From:     Bob Goldstein 996-6664
          MBX: bobg@uic.edu

TO:     * Kenyon F. Karl / MCI ID: 177-1813
Subject:  Re: Re: Re: HTML to the Max A Manifesto . . .

>
> My sense is that you have chosen to totally 'walk away' from this issue
and
> thus leave it to 'somebody else', just like 'everybody else' does. The

I learned long ago how to cast off guilt trips that have nothing to do with
me, and everything to do with my accuser.

> tragic fact is that there are very few folks that are ABLE and WILLING to
> defend the special needs of the poor and handicapped. This very brief
> correspondence (which I expect will end when this mail is sent) is the
TOTAL
> EXTENT of what I can possibly do on this issue. I just can't be the

Wrong.  YOU can use sgml in your documents, and YOU can make sure YOUR
tag set and YOUR style sheets are handicap-accessible, and YOU can
encourage others to do the same.

> 'somebody else' that you expect will carry the issue for you!
>
> The real power of the currently emerging web is 'universal access'.
Indeed,
> the web is even more powerful because most browsers can ALSO cope with
> gopher servers, Usenet news, telnet, FTP sites, and so on. The existance
of
> Lynx (and the like) is also of CRUCIAL importance to the success of the
web
> because it allows access by that great hoard of 'technogically challenged'
> and  'financially challenged' POTENTIAL users of the Internet. Without
Lynx,
> the web would have a VERY limited audience of 'very well-connected' folks.

Not so.  I've seen some stats on which browsers are used.  None, including
lynx, is in a majority.

>
> Somewhere in the University of Illinois system MUST be some folks that are
> concerned with issues of handicapped access to the Internet. I suggest
that
> you MERELY take the time to find these folks, make sure that they are able
> and willing to participate in the review of your proposals, and finally to
> PAY ATTENTION when they point out problem areas in what you have in mind.

You don't have a clue what you are asking me to do.  The official folks here
don't understand computers at all.  'Merely' and 'Pay Attention' would
take more time than I have.  Did you actually read my previous response???
I said my proposal to use sgml instead of html was *independent* of
handicap-access issues.  Tying the two together DOES NOT MAKE SENSE,
and in fact, it would ACTUALLY DELAY improving handicap access, IMHO.

>
> The goal of these folks is SIMPLY to insure that your proposed standards
are
> such that most retrieved documents will still be USABLE when viewed by a
> wide variety of handicapped persons through their commonly available
> adaptive hardware (with low-cost upgrades)!
>
>
>
You are so engrossed in your issue, you have completely mis-understood
what our proposal is.  The use of sgml and style sheets, per se,
has NOTHING to do with handicap use, one way or the other.  What WOULD
affect handicap use, is the nature of the particular style sheet used
by a particular document.  DO YOU UNDERSTAND THIS?

As it turns out, I use lynx myself.  Even more important, 95% of my
users use CMS.  I HAVE TO provide good text-only documents, not just
because of handicap access, but because the VAST MAJORITY of my user base
uses a handicapped system -- CMS.  My DOCUMENTS display on lynx just
fine, but that has nothing to do with my sgml proposal.  Handicap access
is not the only issue worth considering, and I refuse to see every
last problem this way.

A saying from the '60s might make my position clearer:
If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the precipitate.
Lighten up, and concentrate your efforts where they will do the most good.
Flaming me will not help.

bobg





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                 End of Issue # 1090 of the Blind News Digest

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