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                            THE BLIND NEWS DIGEST

                                 Issue # 910

                           Thursday, May 06, 1993

Today's Topics:


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                     advice on buying a reading system?
                           tiny talk environments
                        Need info on Braille Printer
                     Re: sleep circadian rhythm in blind
                            Brail from Computer??
                          Re: teaching elementary s
                               Re: New $1 Coin
                            Re: Money identifier
                               braille program
                                Jaws thoughts


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                              Bill McGarry (Moderator)
                              (203) 337-1518



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Subject: advice on buying a reading system?
From: dlawlor@morgan.ucs.mun.ca (Doug Lawlor)
Organization: Memorial University of Newfoundland

Can anyone give me any advice on buying a computerized reading
system?  I am aware of most of the specialized optical character
scanning systems but what about an ocr system consisting of a
scanner and a 'normal' piece of software?  I want to stay away
from as much of the specially designed technology as I can.  I
already have a speech access system which will read the screen
and other things for me and now I want some kind of a good
scanning system for not two much money, under 2500cdn if I can do
it.
thanks, Doug
--
Doug Lawlor, vo1cm
Internet: dlawlor@morgan.ucs.mun.ca or dlawlor@kean.ucs.mun.ca




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Subject: tiny talk environments
From: dashiell@nadc.nadc.navy.mil (Jude DaShiell)


Jason,

I wrote a tiny talk environment for turbo c v 2.0 and
got it all talking.  I sent it to eric bohlman so it may be included
with the next version of tinytalk that's released.
Eric plans to release alot of environment files with I think version 2.0 of
the product and will gladly accept any mailed submissions to him of any
environments rolled by users.

<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: Need info on Braille Printer
From: ramesh@mishna.esys.cwru.edu (Ramesh Doddamani)
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio (USA)

Hello

I am wondering if there are low-cost kits available to convert an
electronic daisy-wheel printer to print Braille. I had heard of something
called the Perkins BrailleWriter. What exactly is this?

Any information regarding this is appreciated.

Please email.

Thanks

Ramesh


--
********************************************************************
Ramesh Dodamani         <<REPLY TO rxd20@po.cwru.edu>>
Case Western Reserve University
Cleveland OHIO
********************************************************************




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Subject: Re: sleep circadian rhythm in blind
From: Ron.Denis@f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org (Ron Denis)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:129/89 - BlinkLink, Pittsburgh PA


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

Jim,
     This has got to be the most complete search for the elimination of sleep
disturbance I've come across.  I found it fascinating though a bit distressing
how quickly professionals can write off a patient's complaints and blame the
victim for the symptom.  You were fortunate to find someone who recognized the
problem with circadian rhythms as far back as you did.  This seems to be fringe
knowledge to a lot of people.
     Do you still have to import the melatonin or have you found a domestic
source.  I've not heard of it being available in the country.  Do you take it
orally and if so, is there any evidence about bio-availability or how it gets
into the system in the appropriate ways?
     The stuff that started discussion in this area on blink talk came from a
phone call I received from a friend who came across reference to some studies in
sleep patterns of blind persons in "psychiatric updates" a tape/print continuing
education program for psychiatrists.  Unfortunately, he lives about 1000 miles
from here so we haven't really had any in depth discussions on the subject and I
can not give the original references.  Based on responses I have received here,
most, but not all, totally blind persons have some form of sleep disfunction.
Most seem to be more prone to sleep disturbance as a stress reaction.  Exercise
may alleviate the problem in some people.  Although this was anything but a
scientific survey, there were subtle indications that there are factors which
can mollify the effects of melatonin inconsistencies caused by blindness.  Maybe
some day someone will study blind persons with relatively normal sleep patterns,
though these seem to be a minority, to determine what other factors may be
coming into play to stabilized the sleep cycle.

     Ron

... Nothing is so firmly believed as what we least know.--Montaigne (1533-1592)

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!129!89!Ron.Denis
Internet: Ron.Denis@f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org




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Subject: Brail from Computer??
From: Stu.Turk@p2.f26.n129.z1.fidonet.org (Stu Turk)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:129/26.2 - SoundingBoard, Pittsburgh PA


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

 DT>     Stu, I understand there is a software that will print Braille on
 DT> a dot matrix printer. I believe the name of the software is PC
 DT> Braille.  I don't know a lot about it, but will try to find out
 DT> more. Supposedly you can buy the software and a cheap dot matrix
 DT> printer to go with it for $200.  I'll get back with more info
 DT> sometime after Easter. I will be out-of-town on business this coming

If it is the system I read about before, I think when you check you
will find that the printer must be modified and I doubt if it can
be switched back and forth between ink and braille.

In any case, I got the impression that the person I was replying to
wants to use a ink printer and print out the braille cells.

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!129!26.2!Stu.Turk
Internet: Stu.Turk@p2.f26.n129.z1.fidonet.org




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Subject: Re: teaching elementary s
From: William.Wilson@f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org (William Wilson)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:129/89 - BlinkLink, Pittsburgh PA


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

 MG> share answers to personal questions.  Oh yes, you will find a
 MG> few who think that personal questions about blindness are
 MG> inappropriate.

Mitch,
     Say what???

     If there is anything that is appropriate for this echo, it is
personal questions about blindness!  I simply can't imagine why anyone
would complain about such things being posted in this echo!

     Now then, personal messages about not reaching someone when they
called them on saturday, or personal messages about not receiving the
disk promised them, that's a horse of a different color! <grin>
                                        Willie

... BlinkTalk - the Electronic Voice of the Blind!

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!129!89!William.Wilson
Internet: William.Wilson@f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org




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Subject: Re: New $1 Coin
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]

 JD> I have mixed feelings about the coin, but do recognize that removing the
 JD> dollar bill from circulation in the U.S. just may not be feasible.

I think it would be feasable.  The reason the previous fcoin did
not get accepted was that it was easily confused with the quarter.
If they make it distinguishable, and remove the one dollar bill
from circulation, then we have no choice but to accept it.

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: Money identifier
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]

Your bank note reader sounds very much like the ones available up
here in Canada.  The only difference is, of course, that I did not
have to pay for mine.
The Canadian Bank Note Company provides a life time loan of the unit,
but if I were to lose it or break it I'd have to fork over $200.

We did have a discussion in here some time ago about the bank note
readers,, and someone had informed me that if you put Canadian Tire
Coupons, which are discount coupons like money but only redeemable
at a Canadian Tire hardware store, that the bank note reader would
in fact read them as money.

Well, not too long ago I was at the Canadian Tire Store, and of course,
I received a couple of dollars in their funny money.  When I got home,
I put this theory to the test.  All I got was the cannot read out
of the speaker, and mine has been very accurate.

Take care,,
Jeff

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




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Subject: braille program
From: Nichole.Rhode@p0.f911.n273.z1.fidonet.org (Nichole Rhode)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:273/911.0 - Wombat's Wagon, Philadelphia PA


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

Hi Ed,
I don't understand exactly what you're looking for, but there is a
braille display called the Navigator which can be used with a computer.
It translates everything on the screen into braille dots that can be
read on a display.  It comes with a software package for this purpose.
It also comes with a grade-2 translator which can be also loaded
automatically if you like.  I'm not sure of the price, (I used one at
one time, but it was purchased for me) but it can be purchased from TSI.
(I have theirnuimber if you want it)  I hope this was at least some
help.  I don't use the Navigator any more because I found speech to be
more helpful.   However, if you want more information about the
Navigator, just ask and I'll be happy to help.

Nichole.

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!273!911.0!Nichole.Rhode
Internet: Nichole.Rhode@p0.f911.n273.z1.fidonet.org




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Subject: Jaws thoughts
From: David.Tanner@f234.n109.z1.fidonet.org (David Tanner)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:109/234 - Braille Bank BBS, Oakton Va


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

I found your comments interesting.  I am finding some of the same
problems, and also some of the problems others have mentioned about
it being a bit slower reacting to input.  I am especially
disapointed that on this machine, a 486 33MHZ system, I am finding
a lot of times that if I hit the caps lock to turn it on or off I
loose speech for as much as 15 to 20 seconds.  At times it seems
that if I try to get things going to fast Jaws gets confused and I
may end up with speech running at the top speed of the synthesizer
or speech may quit completely until I stop typing and wait for it
to come back for as much as 30 seconds.  All of this is really
surprising as I am using the Accent SA which is one of the primary
synthesizers that Henter-Joyce has always done an excellent job of
working with.  I really like the new features, but am getting a bit
concerned about so many problems that seem to be croping up with
this version.

    D. T.

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!109!234!David.Tanner
Internet: David.Tanner@f234.n109.z1.fidonet.org




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                 End of Issue # 910 of the Blind News Digest

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