🚀 go-pugleaf

                            THE BLIND NEWS DIGEST

                                 Issue # 904

                           Monday, April 12, 1993

Today's Topics:


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                               Re: New $1 Coin
                           Re: barcodes and speech
                                 buying a pc
                                  Vacation
                           Reading speeds (blind)
                            audible traffic signs
                     when it's advantageous to be blind
                          Re: two blink talk echoes


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Subject: Re: New $1 Coin
From: millera@genesis.MCS.COM (Alan Miller)
Organization: MCSNet Contributor, Chicago, IL

George Mccoy (George.Mccoy@p0.f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org) wrote:
: Index Number: 28638
: Well, the Susan B Anthony dollar sure flopped.  What makes you think we
: George
: v4qif

Perhaps something like the British pound?  (it's slightly larger than a
nickel, and about twice as thick, with a ridged edge)

ajm
--
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Alan Miller \\ millera@genesis.mcs.com (or @ddsw1.mcs.com)




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Subject: Re: barcodes and speech
From: janina@netcom.com (Janina Sajka)
Organization: Netcom Online Communications Services (408-241-9760 login: guest)

I wonder if adapting talking sign technology would make sense for
talking bar code readers.  What if stores using bar code technology
had infra-red or fm transmitters in their aisles that a portable
reader could link into while on the premises?  That would make it
easy to get the data when you needed it without worrying about
plugging in and downloading the entire database just so you could
check on a few items.

Could this work?  Hmmmmmm.

Here's the rub:  Can we come up with a great reason why this would be
useful to the store?  If we can, we're more likely to talk them
into it.  Inventory control for their employees?

Just some random thoughts on a Saturday afternoon.

                        Janina





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Subject: buying a pc
From: A.Stone@bradford.ac.uk (Alex Stone)
Organization: University of Bradford, UK

I am blind, and I am using a laptop pc with a navigator. I would
like to purchase a 486 pc. Can anybody tell me what the best
operating system to use is? I would rather not use dos. I would
like to know if it is possible to use the os/2 command shell. I
have also thought about windows and windows bridge, I am also
interested in Linux. If anybody has any information about things
like this could they please mail me?

Thanks very much in advance
Alex Stone





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Subject: Vacation
From: DFKDSAS@CMUVM.CSV.CMICH.EDU (Mike Wardin)
Organization: Central Michigan University

Can anyone tell me if a dog guide would be permitted on any rides in
Disney World, Epcot center, or Busch Gardens? My family wants to vacaton
in these places but they don't want to go if I cannot take my dog.

 Also does anyone know if any of these places have an E-Mail address?
Has anyone with a dog guide be to any of these and what experiences have you
had.

Thank You in advance for any replies

Mike Wardin




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Subject: Reading speeds (blind)
From: spiff@bert.eecs.uic.edu (Jason Leigh)
Organization: University of Illinois at Chicago

Hi,

        Does anyone know of any papers on research that involves
comparing the locating, reading and editing speeds of text in a
wordprocessor for unsighted users on output devices such as speech
synthesizers, single line braille displays, and multi-line braille
displays.

I am looking for any papers that are similar to the work done by Card,
Moran, and Newell.

Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Jason




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-
Please Send Replies to: spiff@bert.eecs.uic.edu (Jason Leigh)
or call: (312) 996-3002          Electronic Visualization Laboratory,
University of Illinois at Chicago, Box 4348, M/C 154, Chicago, IL 60680




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Subject: audible traffic signs
From: dashiell@nadc.nadc.navy.mil (Jude DaShiell)


I think it's a good idea.
Why should the sighted be the only ones able
to identify locations?
It's true the world isn't a fair place so why not stack the deck
whereever possible?  Also in the event these tags go into use
they'll have a hard time starting out.  A few consumer boycotts of
recalcitrant merchants will help solve that problem.  If Caesar Chavez
can do it why not the blind community?

<dashiell@nadc.nadc.navy.mil>
j. DaShiell
Naval Air Warfare Center
Aircraft Division Warminster
Street and Jacksonville Roads
Warminster, PA   18974-5000
(215)-441-2229




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Subject: when it's advantageous to be blind
From: dashiell@nadc.nadc.navy.mil (Jude DaShiell)

Let's cut the cop out.
I know of three situations when it's advantageous to be blind.
One of them was already pointed out.
Scuba divers going into merky water do better if blind since
sighted people loose their orientation.
Power failure situations are really great but they're rare.
The best foreign language teachers you'll find are likely to be
totally blind.  The reason is they can't see the
compensatory gestures sighted students make to try and cover for lack of
knowledge of the language.  In normal conversation words carry only 70% of
the meaning the rest is left to tone and gestures, I think that's words and
tone carry 70% of the conversation gestures carry the rest.
That's what this whole emphasis is on body language.

<dashiell@nadc.nadc.navy.mil>
j. DaShiell
Naval Air Warfare Center
Aircraft Division Warminster
Street and Jacksonville Roads
Warminster, PA   18974-5000
(215)-441-2229




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Subject: Re: two blink talk echoes
From: janina@netcom.com (Janina Sajka)
Organization: Netcom Online Communications Services (408-241-9760 login: guest)

Two questions come to mind for me:

        1.)  Is this divisive?

My answer is that if it isn't, why has NFB chosen a name for its echo,
'blindtalk,' that's so close to the name of the fido echo that's been here
for years, 'blinktalk.'  Is it intended that people, especially new users
might become confused?  Certainly, a name with only one embedded character
diference does not aid clarity.  Sounds a lot like obfiscation to me.

        2.)  Is this growth?

My answer is that it probably is.  When enough people start using
telecomm technology it is probably unavoidable to have multiple
echos for multiple reasons.

Still and all, why such a similar name?  Huh, NFB?

                        Janina Sajka
                        World Institute on Disability





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                 End of Issue # 904 of the Blind News Digest

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