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                            THE BLIND NEWS DIGEST

                                 Issue # 1134

                           Monday, March 27, 1995

Today's Topics:


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                              Re: talking time
                  Need bigprint mac software.  Please help.
                       Re: Brailler for a young child?
                                 Multivoice
                          Computers For The Blind!
                     Re: MacIntosh near-blind soft-ware
                            macular degeneration
                          Talking frequency counter
                      Macular Degeneration Information
                       Turkish blind from birth to US
                         Re: Descriptive Services???


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Subject: Re: talking time
From: tcox17892@aol.com (T Cox17892)
Organization: America Online, Inc. (1-800-827-6364)

I too am looking for a talking wristwatch for an elderly relative with
little vision.  Have seen about six models, all of which were unacceptable
because voice was weak or unintelligible (sometimes with a strong oriental
accent), or pushbuttons were too tiny.  None of these watches were of
brands that I'd heard of.  Do you know of a better one?



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Subject: Need bigprint mac software.  Please help.
From: mukor@acca.nmsu.edu (Lord of the Pit)
Organization: New Mexico State University

My girlfriend is visually handcapped and needs bigprint software in order
to work on my machine.  She also has difficulty tracking the mouse cursor.
I am looking for inexpensive or public domain software that will accomadate
her on my macintosh.

Please email me directly with any information you might have for me.  It's
difficult for me to spend much time reading news these days.

Thanks for your help.


Yours


Kurt



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Subject: Re: Brailler for a young child?
From: mikef@pacifier.com (Mike Freeman)
Organization: Pacifier BBS, Vancouver, Wa.  ((206) 693-0325)


The child should also be introduced to the slate and stylus ASAP.
The only truly-portable and functional note-taking device in
Braille that never fails is the slate and stylus.  It is the
pen and pencil for the blind.
--
Mike Freeman            |       Internet: mikef@pacifier.com
GEnie: M.FREEMAN11      |       Amateur Radio Callsign: K7UIJ
... Take my advice; I certainly don't use it!



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Subject: Multivoice
From: mikef@pacifier.com (Mike Freeman)
Organization: Pacifier BBS, Vancouver, Wa.  ((206) 693-0325)


Netland:

I recently acquired for a song (well, a Lieder cycle, anyway) one
of the Children's Hospital DECtalk Multivoice units.  This is the one
without the built-in speaker of the original DECtalk DT001.  Problem:
even using a speaker with amplifier, output is extremely low.  I
believe that the impedance of the amplifier is matched to that of
the Multivoice output circuit and I know that the amplifier/speaker are
operating properly.  Hence, my problem lies elsewhere.

The Multivoice has an external power supply.  What should the nominal
voltage be?  Does the speech output circuit employ discrete
transistors or IC's which might have been fried?  Are there many
components (resistors, bypass capacitors, etc.) associated with the
output circuitry?  Are their diagrams (a la Sam's Photo Facts)
available for the Multivoice?  If so, from where?

I'd like to get the unit repaired without having to pay an arm, a leg
and other vital organs as the actual speech firmware/hardware is
functioning superbly.

Any help is appreciated.

Regards,
--
Mike Freeman            |       Internet: mikef@pacifier.com
GEnie: M.FREEMAN11      |       Amateur Radio Callsign: K7UIJ
... Take my advice; I certainly don't use it!



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Subject: Computers For The Blind!
From: tmeade@infi.net (Medical Services 2001)
Organization: InfiNet

If you are searching for a computer system equiped with speach at a reasonable
cost, then we can help.

We carry several different speach packages that can be bundled on any type
of system you like.

Send your specs to tmeade@infi.net or call 800-280-0734 for a quote.

Hope to be of some help.

Services 2001




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Subject: Re: MacIntosh near-blind soft-ware
From: zalkind@access1.digex.net (Owen Dulmage)
Organization: Express Access Online Communications, USA

> >I am looking for soft-ware that will enlarge the type on the screen of
> MacIntosh for use bya sight impaired person.  Do you have any suggestions
> where I should look for this type of soft-ware?

I believe there are a bunch of programs out there, the most obvious of
which is a thing called "CloseView." It came with system 6, but not since
then. With this you could enlarge the whole screen with a command key.
The only problem could be if you're using system 7 (and need to be using
system 7).

Also, Berkeley Systems (the makers of after dark) put out a thing a while
ago that does basically the same thing.

Do you use PageMaker at all? Because if you do/have in the past, you can
view your page at almost any percentage you like. But if you don't /
never have, it might be a can of worms you'd rather not open

        Best of luck,
        Owen



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Subject: macular degeneration
From: PAULA94@delphi.com

I saw your Blind News Digest, and I'm hoping you can connect
me with sources for possible drug therapies for macular
degernation.  My dad has the disease, and isn't a candidate
for laser surgery.  Please email me at paula94@delphi.com
with information, if possible.  Thanks in advance.

Paula Reynolds



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Subject: Talking frequency counter
From: christo.de.klerk@leclub.co.za (Christo De Klerk)
Organization: LeClub BBS -  Midrand - South Africa - +27-11-3151791


Hi Everybody

Is there anyone who knows if there exists such a thing as a talking frequency
counter and, if so, where one could get hold of one? It is for a blind friend
of mine who is a radio ham. If you can help, please reply to:
christo.de.klerk@leclub.co.za

Many thanks

Christo de Klerk

___ Blue Wave/QWK v2.12
---
 * KMail 3.00



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Subject: Macular Degeneration Information
From: PatPrice@aol.com

Responding to MKFX15B@prodigy.com - Debbie S. Anthony"s question, (Index
#35799), an excellent source of current and highly relevant information on
macular degeneration, including Stargardt's Disease - Juvenile Macular
Degeneration) is:  Macular Degeneration International, 2968 West Ina Road -
#106, Tucson, AZ  85741.  Voice & Fax:  602-797-2525.

Another source of general information on vision loss, assistive devices,
medical research - including macular degenertion, etc., can be found in the
quarterly magazine, "Vision Access," published by the Council of Citizens
with Low Vision International  (CCLVI), 5707 Brockton Drive - #302,
Indianapolis, IN  46220-5481.  USA 1-800-733-2258;  Tel:  317-254-1332; or
Fax:  317-251-6588.  A complimentary copy is available upon request.

Hope this helps.

Pat Price




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Subject: Turkish blind from birth to US
From: DIJOAN@CC.ITU.EDU.TR (Joan Eroncel)

A few months ago, I had an opportunity to accompany a Turkish blind
artist to t he Czech Republic for a festival of blind artists.  I
served as his guide and t ranslator.  At that time I realized the
man is a genius - I would like to tell you his story.

Esref Armagan was born blind - and this fact is important to this
story.  Right now he is 42 years old. Only 9 years ago, he received
some rehabilitation - he has had no other education except for
that.  He is an artist.  And what an art ist'  The art that this
man creates uses his own mehtod - he never had anyone b eside him
encouraging him to do his work nor suggesting what method to use.

As a child, when he wasn't allowed to go out to play, he would pick
up a nail a nd try to draw shapes of objects that he was acquainted
with.  It soon grew int o a passion for him.  As he learned the
names of the colors, he also learned what objects they went with.
He devised a system for separating his colors and he started
drawing and painting.  For the past 35 years, Esref has been workin
g to perfect his artistry.  He works mostly in oils, using his
hands instead of brushes.

To work on a picture, he needs absolute quiet.  He closes the door
to his shop and sets to work on his painting.  First, using a
Braille stylus, he eches and outline of his drawing, using great
care to get the correct proporton.  He needs to feel that he is
'inside' his paining - in fact, as he explained to me, when he is
drawing a picutre of the sea, he wonders if he should wear a life j
acket so as not to drown|  When he is satisfied, he starts to apply
the oils, u sing his fingers.  Because he can only apply one oil
color at a time (the colors would smear otherwise), he must wait 2
or 3 days for the color to dry be fore applying th next color..
Therefore, some paintings take over a month to complete.

He has also developed his own system for doing portraits.  He asks
a sighted pe rson to draw around a photograph, then he turns the
paper over and feeling it, transfers what he feels to another sheet
of paper, later adding color.  He also draws in perspective.

Personally, I feel that the man is a genius - not a word to banter
about lightly||  And I think that the world should be shown what he
has accomplished.  Turkish Airlines has given us two tickets to New
York where an exhibition of his work will be put on.  The Turks in
NY and the Lions are helping.

I am new at knowing how to go about getting publicity for him and
would appreciate any help or contacts that you can give me so that
this special opportunity will be well used.  Please email me:

dijoan at cc.itu.edu.tr          with any suggestions that you would have.  Our
 trip is scheduled for about the 10th of May.  Thanks.

Joan Eroncel



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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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                 End of Issue # 1134 of the Blind News Digest

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