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                            THE BLIND NEWS DIGEST

                                 Issue # 1133

                           Monday, March 27, 1995

Today's Topics:


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                         Music Notation with Braille
                         Re: Descriptive Services???
                             Cursor Enlargement
                        Making Money more Accessible
                      RFB gets $250,000 from Microsoft
                           Re: Talking Thermometer
                           Re: Talking Thermometer
                           Re: Braille stopwatch??
                            Jewish Museum in NYC
                            CD ROM Advice Sought
                        info need on reading machines


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                              Bill McGarry (Moderator)
                              (203) 926-6187



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Subject: Music Notation with Braille
From: Margret.Bezold-Chatwin@lrz-muenchen.de (Bezold-Chatwin)
Organization: Leibniz-Rechenzentrum, Muenchen (Germany)

Hello there,

I am wondering if there  are any tools for blind people to convert
music notation into braille, eventually also with text for singers.

I would very much appreciatie any information on this subject,
such as existing standards, software and other  pertinent information.

Please respond directly to me. I will summarize the result of this
inquiry.

Thank you very much.

Margret



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Subject: Re: Descriptive Services???
From: Karen.Deweeger@EBay.Sun.COM (Karen deWeeger)

In article <35627@handicap.news>, Richard C Kiiski <kiiski@crl.com> wrote:
>Index Number: 35627
>
>Is there currently in existence any print periodicals devoted exclusively to
>audio description services for the visually impaired - also sometimes referred
>to as descriptive video services and/or narrative television?
>
>Any info you provide will be greatly appreciated!

From the DVS Guide:

"Call 1-800-333-1203 for information about DVS on television and video,
to place an order, request the DVS Guide or DVS Home Video Catalogue,
or to leave a comment."

        -kyd



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Subject: Cursor Enlargement
From: kford@cts.com (Kelly Ford)

Are there utilities around that will enlarge the cursor in DOS and
Windows, excluding a full blwon screen enlargement package?


Kelly Ford

See my corner of webspace at http://www.turnpike.net/metro/kford/index.html.





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Subject: Making Money more Accessible
From: kford@cts.com (Kelly Ford)

A few weeks ago the New York Times ran an OP-ED entitled
"Changing The Currency," by John F. Heimerdinger, chief executive
officer of the Jewish Guild for the Blind.  In his column,
Heimerdinger argues again that the Treasury Department should do
something to make money more accessible for people who are blind.
If countries like Colombia, Isreal and The Netherlands can
include small embossments on the edges of bills and if numerous
European countries can produce bills of different sizes for
different denominations, I, like Mr. Heimerdinger, fail to
understand why the United States can't do something about this
problem.

Apparently the Treasury's considering doing something about U.S.
currency to stem the rising flood of counterfit bills.  Call or
write your legislators or to the new Treasury Secretary Robert
Rubin to urge them to include the needs of people who are blind
when considering changes to the currency.




Kelly Ford

See my corner of webspace at http://www.turnpike.net/metro/kford/index.html.





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Subject: RFB gets $250,000 from Microsoft
From: kford@cts.com (Kelly Ford)

The subject line pretty much says it all but I thought I'd share that I
read that RFB was recently awarded a $250,000 grant from Microsoft to
expand E-text offerings.  According to the press release, Microsoft
chose RFB because of that organization's leadership in the e-text area.

The press release further stated that the money will be used to expand
the number of titles available in e-text, especially books from Microsoft
Press.



Kelly Ford

See my corner of webspace at http://www.turnpike.net/metro/kford/index.html.





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Subject: Re: Talking Thermometer
From: adaptive1@aol.com (Adaptive 1)
Organization: America Online, Inc. (1-800-827-6364)

Reply to:

>From: Edwards_Maryellen/sra_hq1@cpo.stratus.com
>
>I just discovered your newsletter and am excited about passing on
>some of the valuable information covered to my father.  He is
>interested in purchasing a talking indoor-outdoor thermometer but
>has been unable to find one.  Does anyone know a manufacturer or
>where I might purchase one?  Any help would be appreciated.
>
>Thank you,
>Maryellen Edwards

From: adaptive1@aol.com
    (Dan Aunspach)

You could contact the following company regarding the talking thermometer.

Maxi-aids
1-800-522-6294
42 Executive Blvd.
Farmingdale, NY 11735

Page 87 of their 1995 catalog has a Talking Clinical Thermometer which,
according to the catalog:

"Announces accurate clinical reading & may be easily switched to announce
in Fahrenheit or Centigrade.  Thermometer probe is part of unit.  Compact
& reliable!

76010-  English-  $44.95
76019-  Spanish-  $58.95  "

The catalog does not indicate the OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) so
you may be able to get a better price if you shop around, (LS&S Group,
Anne Morris, Science Products for the Blind, etc.)

Good luck, enjoy!
Dan Aunspach, Rehabilitation Engineer

*** Please note, I am not a salesman for this company, nor am I
advertising for products via internet, I am merely responding with factual
information to a legitimate question.***



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Subject: Re: Talking Thermometer
From: adaptive1@aol.com (Adaptive 1)
Organization: America Online, Inc. (1-800-827-6364)

<From: Edwards_Maryellen/sra_hq1@cpo.stratus.com
<
<...Does anyone know a manufacturer or
<where I might purchase one?  Any help would be appreciated.
<
<Thank you,
<Maryellen Edwards

Regarding my response to your query, I misunderstood the question, I gave
you information about a clinical thermometer when that was not what you
wanted at all.  The thermometer to which I referred in my response is the
only talking model listed in the Maxi-aids catalog.  You might call them
or, more likely, Science Products for the Blind for more information in
this regard.
Again, I am sorry for the misinformation.
Dan Aunspach
adaptive1@aol.com





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Subject: Re: Braille stopwatch??
From: bkwinchester@delphi.com (brett winchester)
Organization: Delphi Internet Services Corporation

I second this request.  I am aware of the Science Products offoring, but are
there alternatives?

Comments are entirely my own unless attributed, and do not represent an
official position of any organization of which I am or am not a member.


BRETT K WINCHESTER           PUB481@IDPTV.IDBSU.EDU
BKWINCHESTER@DELPPHI.COM SW ORIENTAL LODGE #60 AF & AM
BRETT.WINCHESTER@THEBODHI.WOODYBBS.COM BOISE ID
                       W-V 208-334-3220 PX. WESTERN CHAPTER N. F. B. I.
                        W-F 208-334-2963
                        R-DV 208-323-9255




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Subject: Jewish Museum in NYC
From: judys@mville.edu (Judy Schwartz)

Dear Blind News Group:
I was asked to forward the following piece to this group.
Sorry it is a little late. Judy Strauss-Schwartz, judys@mville.edu

February 14, 1995

Dear Friends:

We'd like you to know that The Jewish Museum (in New York City)offers a
touch tour for the blind and visually impaired.  This tour focuses on the
Torah - the five books of Moses which bind the Jewish people together.
In order to schedule a tour on Monday through Thursday, please call Laura
Joseph at area code 212 423-3227.  Ms. Joseph can be reached on Mondays,
Tuesdays, and Fridays, or you may leave a message and she will promptly
return your call.

We hope you will inform your constituents about this tour.  We look
forward to receiving visitors from your community.

Sincerely yours,
Judy Schmeidler
Chair, Special Needs Committee

Charlotte Schwartz
Co-Chair, Special Needs Committee




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Subject: CD ROM Advice Sought
From: janina@igc.apc.org (Janina Sajka)

The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) is planning to release
its Directory of Services on CD ROM.  We would, of course, prefer
to use the most consumer friendly search engine possible because
we'd like our CD ROM to be usable by people who are blind or live
with low-vision, as well as by professionals.

If you're a blind or low-vision CD ROM user, you can help by
telling us which CD ROMs you found particularly easy to use, and
which were particularly dificult and should be avoided.  We
appreciate your assistance.

Janina Sajka, Director
Information Systems Division
American Foundation for the Blind

janina@afb.org



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Subject: info need on reading machines
From: richmcc@mcs.com (Richard McCallister)

    I'd like to get information about reading machines, such as those
made by Kurzweil/Xerox. If anyone is planning to sell one; or has information
on the differences among the various models (old or new); or has the
address or phone number of Kurzweil or other manufacturers, I'd like to
hear from them. Thanks!
 - Rich McCallister  (richmcc@mcs.com)  phone: 1-312-775-0816




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                 End of Issue # 1133 of the Blind News Digest

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