🚀 go-pugleaf

                            THE BLIND NEWS DIGEST

                                 Issue # 986

                          Wednesday, July 21, 1993

Today's Topics:


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                             Re: seiko Watches?
                                Bns formatter
                       Visually Challenged, ... Ugh!!!
                          Tinytalk and Soundblaster
                            Xerox Reading Edge ?
                            Re: Recognita for DOS
                     Re: Visually Challenged, ... Ugh!!!
                             Re: blue wave setup
                                Re: Recognita
                              Guide Dog survey


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Subject: Re: seiko Watches?
From: Sam.Fulton@p0.f266.n163.z1.fidonet.org (Sam Fulton)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:163/266.0 - Vision Information , Ottawa ON


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

 -=> Quoting Ron Denis to Carol Ashland <=-

 RD> As for talking watches, I bought one from radio shack after
 RD> reading the  raves about them here.  I was not disappointed.  I
 RD> frequently wear two watches,  (making me look a bit odd, but I'm used
 RD> to that), one for quiet reading, one for
 RD> listening.  I keep it with the announce hour function on which seems
 RD> to disturb
 RD> no one, and the alarm works well.

The two watches trick is the only way to go.  I use a talker for
when I'm on my own, and on other special occasions (see below), and
a braille watch for when I want to seen but not heard.

The special occasion when I use my talker to great effect is as
follows.  When I am chairing a meeting, I like to set out clearly
what we hope to achieve, and get some agreement from those present
of how long it should take to get through the items on the agenda.
Then we start, and the only time hint I ever have to give
throughout the rest of the meeting is to push the talk button on my
watch.  It is very effective, subtle and understated, and gets
everyone out of there on time.

In this situation the talker is worth its weight in gold.

All the best

Sam

... Tempus fugit, so buy a good swatter

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!163!266.0!Sam.Fulton
Internet: Sam.Fulton@p0.f266.n163.z1.fidonet.org




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Subject: Bns formatter
From: Irwin.Hott@f120.n226.z1.fidonet.org (Irwin Hott)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:226/120 - Colossus, Worthington OH


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

 -=> Quoting Tim Cumings to All <=-

 TC> Does anyone know when the bns formatting program is coming out, how
 TC> much it will cost, and how much it will cost?

I believe  the  formatter  will  be   released  at  the  ACB  and
NFB conventions. I am pretty sure it is free but I am not 100
percent sure of that.  It should be up on the Blazie BBS fairly
soon. If I find out more I will post a message here.

___ Blue Wave/QWK v2.12

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!226!120!Irwin.Hott
Internet: Irwin.Hott@f120.n226.z1.fidonet.org




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Subject: Visually Challenged, ... Ugh!!!
From: Sam.Troia@p4.f203.n2603.z1.fidonet.org (Sam Troia)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:2603/203.4 - The BATcave, Brooklyn NY


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

 >  ST> Euphemisms such as the one you used are horrible and
 >  ST> they only muddy the waters of communication.

 >         Gee, anytime anyone comes from the outside
 > they
 >         bring some "baggage"; that is:  They have some
 > ideas
 >         about correct-incorrect based upon their past
 > and
 >         their present.

Well, then their baggage has to be changed.  After all we are the
referrants in these euphemisms and therefore we should let it be
known if the expression is in some way inadequate or even
offensive.  This is our echo; this is our space.  And while it is
certainly true that we want to encourage the participation of
non-impaired persons, we should make them aware of how we feel
about certain expressions--especially ones that are foisted upon us
by the careless and oft indifferent media.

Sam

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!2603!203.4!Sam.Troia
Internet: Sam.Troia@p4.f203.n2603.z1.fidonet.org




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Subject: Tinytalk and Soundblaster
From: Bob.Westerman@p2.f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org (Bob Westerman)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:129/89.2 - BlinkLink, Pittsburgh PA


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

Len Burns wrote in a message to All:

LB> From: lburns@moria.nfbcal.org (Len Burns)

LB> Index Number: 29833

LB> it wasn't on a floppy drive. We have worked around most of
LB> these except for one.  We have been unable to get Tinytalk
LB> to cooperate with a modem.  For some reason, serial data is
LB> going out, i.e. the modem will dial and connect, but nothing
LB> is getting back to the computer.

Eric explained tha recenly in this echo.  The problem is with the
SoundBlaster.  When using the SB as a synhesiezer, you will very
likely never get reliable connects with a modem.  The reason for
this is tha none of the speech processing is actually doe by the
SB, but is instead done by the CPU.  This causes i to miss any daa
coming over the serial port as i can' process he interrupts.

LB> set a few of these up for people, but we must get the kinks
LB> out before $75 dollars is going to be sent anywhere for a
LB> registration fee.  Thanks in advance for any help.

This is what happens when you try to take the cheap way out,
TinyTalk is actually a very good program, when used wih ANYTHING
BUT THE SOUNDBLASTER.

Later,
          Bob

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!129!89.2!Bob.Westerman
Internet: Bob.Westerman@p2.f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org




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Subject: Xerox Reading Edge ?
From: Les.Kriegler@p0.f207.n260.z1.fidonet.org (Les Kriegler)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:260/207.0


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

 WS> Les, a friend of mine told me the same thing, and he has the openbook.
 WS> So I am not worrying about an upgrade now.

Walter, neither am I.  One needs a minimum of a 386-33 to take
advantage of increased processing speed.  Since I am not
upgrading my machine, there is really no advantage to
upgrading the software, especially since EasyScan is a solid
product and does what I need at this point.  Arkenstone is
working on an additional product which is supposed to allow
one to use existing equipment, such as the Truescan model E
board or the hot card which is supposed to have the same
capabilities as OpenBook, but it will not be out until some
time next year.  Sitting tight for now seems to make good
sense.  Les

... "Yield to temptation, it may not pass your way again." - L. Long

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!260!207.0!Les.Kriegler
Internet: Les.Kriegler@p0.f207.n260.z1.fidonet.org




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Subject: Re: Recognita for DOS
From: Stephen.Baum@p0.f460.n101.z1.fidonet.org (Stephen Baum)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:101/460.0 - VI/BUG, Holbrook MA


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

I've been following this Recognita thread for a while, and thought it
would be appropriate to add a few things. I haven't played with
Recognita for a few years, so I don't have any first hand experience.
Certainly at the price its an interesting option. Also on the plus side,
it does not require a '386 (as I recall), and it can run in relatively
little memory.

On the negative side, the last I checked it could not handle multiple
columns. Has that changed? In terms of accuracy, it, along with about
nine other OCR products, was benchmarked thoroughly in a study at the
University of Nevada at Las Vegas. It is definitely not as accurate as
the big three: Xerox Imaging Systems, Calera (used by Arkenstone), and
Caere (used by TSI). Depending on what you're doing though, it might be
good enough.

Recognita is a Hungarian company, so an emphasis on multiple languages
certainly makes sense.

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




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Subject: Re: Visually Challenged, ... Ugh!!!
From: Chet.Tacka@f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org (Chet Tacka)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:129/89 - BlinkLink, Pittsburgh PA


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

        We were discussing someone's unintended use of some
        words that offended you.

 ST> ....we should let it be known if the expression is in some
 ST> way inadequate or even offensive.

        I find the above amusing somewhat, 'cause I thought
        I recall there was some controversy in the use of
        the term BLINK, a term with which I venture most of
        the world is unaware!!!  Ya gotta come here to
        appreciate it!!!

        Again this is my opinion:  If someone errs
        innocently, there is a way to politely and
        CONSTRUCTIVELY correct them.  After all, how, if not
        perhaps from YOU, is one to learn what is
        proper?????

        If, however, someone is indeed offensive and INTENDS
        to be offensive then there is another was to correct
        them.

        As I said, though, that is my opinion.

        No big deal......

                                chester

... Experience is nothing but a lot of mistakes.....

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




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Subject: Re: blue wave setup
From: Dennis.Bartlett@f1007.n282.z1.fidonet.org (Dennis Bartlett)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:282/1007 - DRAGnet, Andover MN


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

 -=> Quoting Tandy Way to Dennis Bartlett <=-

 TW> that is what I am using 212 and it still does it with flipper 306
 TW> have not tried it with 4.0 and I think it does it with asap but not
 TW> sure.
 TW> tandy
Have Blue Wave write direct to the screen and use the speech configuration.
That should fix any problem.  It works well with
Flipper 4.0C except for some tracking problems.

... If at first you don't succeed, destroy all evidence that you tried.
___ Blue Wave/QWK v2.12

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!282!1007!Dennis.Bartlett
Internet: Dennis.Bartlett@f1007.n282.z1.fidonet.org




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Subject: Re: Recognita
From: George.Mccoy@p0.f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org (George Mccoy)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:129/89.0 - BlinkLink, Pittsburgh PA


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

 DD> Hello,
 DD>
 DD> Could you tell us the source of the demo please?

I got my copy from Infosystems, 79 W 700 ,  Orem, UT 84057.  Their voice
number is (801)-224-8237.  I would upload the demo to Blink Link for
you, but I'm not sure I'm supposed to do so, and the files are about 2.1
megs in size.

The demo looks pretty interesting, so far.

Hope this helps,
George and Bullet

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!129!89.0!George.Mccoy
Internet: George.Mccoy@p0.f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org




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Subject: Guide Dog survey
From: Scott.Howell@f439.n109.z1.fidonet.org (Scott Howell)
Organization: FidoNet node 1:109/439 - Money Matter$ BBS, Mitchellville MD


[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

    I have a question to ask all Guide Dog users.  After having my dog for 2
years I have found one very annoing problem that seems from what I have been
told affects most all dogs in varying degrees.

1.  Does your dog have a left drift? Yes, No

2.  If so how severe is it and have you been able or tried to correct it.

If anyone could answer this question for me I would appreciate it.  I am
trying to determine if it is something that stems from their training or
what.
Thanks
Scott

... DeltaMail v2.40 (#0733)

--
Uucp: ..!uunet!bunker!hcap!hnews!109!439!Scott.Howell
Internet: Scott.Howell@f439.n109.z1.fidonet.org




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                 End of Issue # 986 of the Blind News Digest

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