🚀 go-pugleaf

                            THE BLIND NEWS DIGEST

                                 Issue # 912

                           Thursday, May 06, 1993

Today's Topics:


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                                Re: jaws 2.3
                             Re: VCR discussion
                           Jaws 2.3 Smart Screens
                        Re: BRAILLE LABELS FOR DISKS
                                Re: TINY TALK
                               Re: New $1 Coin
                           Re: barcodes and speech
                           Re: barcodes and speech
                        Re: braille labels for disks
                             Norton utilities 7


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Subject: Re: jaws 2.3
From: Mitch.Galloway@f811.n270.z1.fidonet.org (Mitch Galloway)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:270/811 - KB-NET, Lewistown PA


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

 -=> Quoting Chuck Oppermann to Mitch Galloway <=-
Hi Chuck,

 CO> There is currently no way for JAWS to know when you've switched
 CO> programs.  What system are you using to do this with?

I'm using Taskmax with DrDos 6.0.  I use Taskmax from the command
line and not from the DOS shell.
Mitch
___ Blue Wave/QWK v2.12

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!270!811!Mitch.Galloway
Internet: Mitch.Galloway@f811.n270.z1.fidonet.org




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Subject: Re: VCR discussion
From: Mitch.Galloway@f811.n270.z1.fidonet.org (Mitch Galloway)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:270/811 - KB-NET, Lewistown PA


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

 -=> Quoting Donald Roberts to All <=-

 DR> I have been in the market for another VCR and decided to buy
 DR> the Model 53 Mts stereo four-head unit from Radio Shack.
Hi Don,
  I too just went through the trials and tribulations of bying a
new VCR.
 DR> I did so with some misgivings because the salesman, although
 DR> quite knowledgeable, was not able to answer several questions
 DR> about the operation of the unit.  Looking through the manual

  That was my biggest problem.  I got a Sears LXI four head stereo.
I wanted to be sure that it had the second audio programing.  Two
of the PBS stations in my area are planning to run descriptive video
next year and told me that I would have to have SAP.  The
salesperson told me that they don't make them with that.  My wife
pointed out that six inches in front of his nose was a sign for another
unit that listed SAP on the features list.  He kept saying that there
was no switch for SAP on the unit or remote.  I finally convinced
him to get the users manual to see if it could be programed.  Sure
enough, it can!

 DR> One of the most appealing features about the model 53 is that
 DR> the clock and the program settings are entered via the numeric
 DR> keypad.  Just, a blind person can program it easily by memorizing
 DR> the prompts.  It's great.

I agree with you there.  My old VCR was a real pain to program.  No
unscreen prompts.  While I haven't memorized the prompts yet, I have
been able to lead my nine year old through setting up programs.
Like your unit, the LXI sets everything up through the key pad.
The unit also hasa battery backup
 DR> or more correctly a charged capacitor which will store the
 DR> program information for an hour if a power failure occurs.

Now there's a feature I wished I had.  However, setting the channels,
time, and date are so simple that I won't mind to much if I have to
reset them from time to time.

 DR> The unit also has VCR plus which I feel is minimally useful

  You got that right.  After reading about setting up guide numbers
and the like, I decided just to use the on screen programing.
Although the model 53
 DR> has what it calls an index search as well as a search for
 DR> blank spots on the tape, these are not what they appear to
 DR> be, particularly ifyou do a lot of audio only recording from
 DR> the input jacks.  The search modes work only if a video signal
 DR> has been recorded.

  The LXI also has indexing.  That was one of the features the sales-
person knew nothing about.  I really like it when searching through
a tape.  My unit does allow you to put in your own indexing marks.
I'm not sure how it works with audio.
 DR> The biggest single disadvantage however is that it is impossible
 DR> to automatically record from the input jacks.  In other words,

>From what I read in the manual it is raather easy to set up audio
recording.  When making your program selection you just choose AV
instead of tuner.  I haven't tried this yet, but will let you know
how it works when I do.

 DR> If anyone is considering buying this unit, you should know
 DR> that both the Arkenstone and the Reading Edge read this manual
 DR> quite nicely.

Don't know about the Reading Edge, but the Arkenstone did a great
job on reading the LXI manual.
  If for some reason you do decide to use that money back guarentee,
and look for another system, maybe you would like to take a look
at the LXI.  So far  I'm pleased with what I see.

Mitch
___ Blue Wave/QWK v2.12

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!270!811!Mitch.Galloway
Internet: Mitch.Galloway@f811.n270.z1.fidonet.org




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Subject: Jaws 2.3 Smart Screens
From: Walter.Siren@p42.f17.n396.z1.fidonet.org (Walter Siren)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:396/17.42 - N. O. P. C. Club, New Orleans LA


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

 MS> The following is the macro and Smart Screen set up for reading messages and
 MS> having the quoted lines not spoken.

Mike, I like the one you used with smartscreen better than the
first one.  I shall have to try it out.  Up until now, I have using
msged writing through the bios.  Apparently there is no way to do
it that way.  However, asap has a quote filter, which will work
even when writing through the bios.  I wish we could get one to
work that way in jaws.

In jaws 2.3, they have turned off the saying of blanks in the say
all mode, but I wish they would have also done that with speaking
of frames.  I hate to hear blank, blank, blank.  If I use the
smartscreen, I will still have to hear those blanks.  So now I will
have to decide which is worse, listening to the quotes or hearing
blank, blank, blank.

The only time we should hear blank is when cursoring down or up the
screen, and even then, you should have a choice.

Walter

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!396!17.42!Walter.Siren
Internet: Walter.Siren@p42.f17.n396.z1.fidonet.org




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Subject: Re: BRAILLE LABELS FOR DISKS
From: Sandy.Gryskiewicz@f414.n154.z1.fidonet.org (Sandy Gryskiewicz)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:154/414 - Radio Free, Milwaukee WI


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

I agree that braille paper labels just don't do the trick.  However, I have
found a very good source of plastic labels.  It is:  Label Specialties 8014
Vinecrest Ave.,  Louisville,  KY  40222.  Phone:  502-4253136.  They are a
business which primarily caters to other businesses, but they are willing to
do small orders.  I paid about $52 for 1000 labels.

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!154!414!Sandy.Gryskiewicz
Internet: Sandy.Gryskiewicz@f414.n154.z1.fidonet.org




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Subject: Re: TINY TALK
From: Ted.Filteau@p0.f460.n101.z1.fidonet.org (Ted Filteau)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:101/460.0 - VI/BUG, Holbrook MA


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

 SR> Hi All. Can someone please tell me how to get intouch with Eric
 SR> Bohlman the author of Tiny Talk?

Hi Scott,
Eric will probably answer this himself, but the phone number for O. M.
S. development is (708) 251-5787.
The address is, 1921 Highland Avenue
Wilmette, IL. 60091 U.S.A.

 I have just got version 1.12
 SR> and would like to give some ideas to Eric. Also, could someone
 SR> also please tell me what the latest version of Tiny Talk is?

The latest version of Tinytalk that I know of is 1.45, and your ideas
are probably already included.  I have found this version to be an
excelent program and well worth the $75.00 registration fee.

Ted

Ted

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




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Subject: Re: New $1 Coin
From: Jeff.Dubois@p666.f266.n163.z1.fidonet.org (Jeff Dubois)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:163/266.666 - Vision Information , Ottawa ON


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

Would you envisage the return of the two dollar bill in the U.S. if
a $1 coin is adopted?

I could see this as a bit of a complaint, especially in those bizarre
situations where you buy a can of pop, present the clerk with a ten,
but he's outa fives.

My pockets would jingle more than the check chain on the Dogface!

I'm also thinking about how attached, mind you, this could be a
stereotype that some of us Canucks have, the people of the U.S. are
to George Washington!

The dollar coin does have alot of advatages.  Transportation companies
just love it because it saves them countless hours of unfolding
delepidated folded dollar bills.  That was one of the big arguments
up here when we went the coin route.  That was when bus fare was a
buck fifty.  Now, at two dollars and twenty cents though I'm sure
they have the same problem.

Vending machines can be much easier, and this includes things like
washing machines.  The draw back is though that when the machine is
broken, you don't just lose a quarter.

Our government has argued, and to some degree I must admit, that the
$1 coin is just cheaper to make.  Mind you, these are the same people

who claim that it costs more than a penny to make a penny.
My question is, why make a penny?

More food for thought.

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!163!266.666!Jeff.Dubois
Internet: Jeff.Dubois@p666.f266.n163.z1.fidonet.org




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Subject: Re: barcodes and speech
From: Mike.Keithley@f99.n215.z1.fidonet.org (Mike Keithley)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:215/99 - Blink Connection, San Leandro CA


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

 -=> Quoting Bob Humbert to Ron Denis <=-

 BH> Unfortunately, what you say is probably true for most of us.
 BH> Still, if a barscanner was just an attachment, it might not be too bad

Seems to me that if there was a calculator/barcode reading package
available, sighted people would like it as it would not be necessary for
to punch in prices while shopping, just scan the barcode!  Since
there's a market, a speech addition wouldn't be that expensive -
assuming a low base price.

___ Blue Wave/QWK v2.12

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!215!99!Mike.Keithley
Internet: Mike.Keithley@f99.n215.z1.fidonet.org




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Subject: Re: barcodes and speech
From: Mike.Keithley@f99.n215.z1.fidonet.org (Mike Keithley)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:215/99 - Blink Connection, San Leandro CA


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

 EB> The little hand-held
 EB> device you were talking about would have to contain its own
 EB> price lookup  table, and there would have to be some way to
 EB> update it from the store's  database.

 CH> Visions of wireless networks are dancing in my head :)
 CH> Chris

I read an a discription of a 20 mb disk drive the size of a matchbox.
That could certainly be put into a handheld.  Maybe 20 mb is enough to
store the sore's database.  Apple is supposed to be working on a
"personal communicator" which will use wireless networks.

___ Blue Wave/QWK v2.12

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!215!99!Mike.Keithley
Internet: Mike.Keithley@f99.n215.z1.fidonet.org




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Subject: Re: braille labels for disks
From: Bob.Humbert@p1.f99.n215.z1.fidonet.org (Bob Humbert)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:215/99.1 - Blink Connection, San Leandro CA


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

 -=> Quoting Christopher Hill to Bob Humbert <=-
 CH> I have never used such labels myself.  I have a braille label maker
 CH> that uses the label tape.  It works pretty well for labeling disks of
 CH> all sizes.  It isn't the perfect solution, but it is easy to use, and
 CH> quick. Later.. Chris

I know the device and it is a good solution.  I also have a braille one line
slate for use with the same tape enabling you to also use grade2 braille and
I use it some.  However, for some reason, the glue seems to not hold very
well, and I am afraid of losing a label inside my disk drive.  Have you ever
had that happen to you?  Thanks for the response, I have had quite a few
responses.  If I get a good source of acceptable labels, I will share the
information here.

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!215!99.1!Bob.Humbert
Internet: Bob.Humbert@p1.f99.n215.z1.fidonet.org




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Subject: Norton utilities 7
From: Mark.Schafer@f432.n109.z1.fidonet.org (Mark Schafer)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:109/432 - The Idea Link, Wheaton MD


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

well the norton utilities version 7 is out and it does not work
well at all with speech.  the only way i can get it to work is to
go in to the review mode and read the screen.

i called tec support and thay said that there was nothing thay
could do.

i would like to ask you if you are having the same problems to
write to SYMANTEC corporation. reference your letter to the NORTON
UTILITIES V7.

SYMANTEC CORPORATION
10201 TORRE AVENUE
CUPERTINO CA 95014-2132

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!109!432!Mark.Schafer
Internet: Mark.Schafer@f432.n109.z1.fidonet.org




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                 End of Issue # 912 of the Blind News Digest

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