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                            THE BLIND NEWS DIGEST

                                 Issue # 1038

                            Friday, May 06, 1994

Today's Topics:


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                          video enlargers for sight
                           Re: Graphic to tactile
                  Window Bridge demo now available via ftp
                             Re: Video enlargers
                              Speech with Unix
      Info needed on Research status on cure for Retinoitis Pigmentosa
                  Re: Computer sys. for Blind..Recommendat
                           race cars and the blind
                             Computer for blind
                            MegaDots or Duxbury?
                                   Braille


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thoughts in the next issue, please send electronic mail to
Bill McGarry at any of the following addresses:


UUCP:       uunet!bunker!wtm
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Fidonet:    The Handicap News BBS (141/420)   1-203-926-6168
            (300 - 14,400 baud, 24 hours)
NVN:        ABILITY
Compuserve: 73170,1064

                              Bill McGarry (Moderator)
                              (203) 926-6187



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Subject: video enlargers for sight
From: jim.breene@atlwin.com (Jim Breene)
Organization: The Atlanta Windows BBS - Atlanta, GA  404-516-0048

JK>we have a professor here at rutgers who is visually-impaired. does
JK>anyone know of dos add-ons to change the size of the screen font
JK>for all applications (mainly wordperf, lexis, etc.)? please post or
JK>email to katz@andromeda.rutgers.edu thanks for any help.

Jeff, if the professor is operating with an IBM or comaptible system,
there are several sources for screen magnification programs.  Contact:

AI Squared, P.O. Box 669, Manchester Center, VT 05255-0669, phone (802)
362-3612 regarding ZoomText or ZoomPlus or inFocus.

Microsystems Software, Inc., 600 Worchester Road, Framingham, MA 01701,
phone (508) 626-8511 regarding MACic or MAGic Deluxe

Optelec US, Inc., P.O. Box 796, Westford, MA 01886, phone (800) 828-1056
regarding Large Print DOS (LP-DOS).

There are others but this will give you a start.

Jim Breene, Atlanta
jgbgsh@rit.edu
---
. SLMR 2.1a . Special products to meet special needs!!

----
+---------------------------------------------------------------------+
| The Atlanta Windows BBS   (404)516-0048    9 high-speed USR nodes   |
+---------------------------------------------------------------------+




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Subject: Re: Graphic to tactile
From: einarl@oslonett.no (Einar Langeland)

In article <9404281559.aa06043@sheldev.shel.isc-br.com>, John Mattioli
wrote:
>
>         Last week I got a look at a system for putting tactile images onto
> capsule paper.  In the U.S. it's being sold by a guy named Daved
> Skrivanek.  His company is called Reprotronics.  They're located in
> Westwood New Jersey and can be reached by phone at (201)722-1880.
>
[remainder of quote deleted]

Hello!!

This system is not new. We have used it in Norway in many year and
it is simple and easy to use. We use a Rioch offsetburner to do the
last work at the capsule- paper. But this paper can not be used in
all laser or copyingmashines, because of the heat from the lamp. If
the laser or copyer have high temperature, can the capsulepaper
raise up and cause damage in the laser and copyer!!!

----------------------------------------------
Einar Langeland
(TDD-ASCII/300baud) +47 22492547
Internett: einarl@oslonett.no
-----------------------------------------------




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Subject: Window Bridge demo now available via ftp
From: wtm@bunker.afd.olivetti.com (Bill McGarry)

Bernhard Stoeger asked about making the demo version
of Window Bridge available via anonymous ftp.  I've
already done this and the latest version 1.30 is now
available from handicap.afd.olivetti.com in the /pub/speech
directory.

Here are the files:

SWB130A.ZIP     Window Bridge manual in ASCII.  Not required
                               if you get the demo program
SWB130L.ZIP     General info about the Window Bridge demo
SWB130_C.ZIP    Window Bridge configs for 1.30 demo
SWB130_D.ZIP    Window Bridge 1.30 video drivers demo
SWB130_I.ZIP    Window Bridge install files for 1.30 demo
SWB130_M.ZIP    Window Bridge manual and reader for 1.30 demo
SWB130_P.ZIP    Window Bridge program files for 1.30 demo
SWB130_U.ZIP    Window Bridge utility files for 1.30 demo

These are also available on the Handicap News BBS at
1-203-926-6168 and in the Disability Forum on NVN.
They can also be obtained via mail from Syntha-Voice for free.

                                Bill McGarry
                                (203) 926-6187

UUCP:       {oliveb, uunet}!bunker!wtm
INTERNET:   wtm@bunker.afd.olivetti.com  BITNET:     l-hcap@ndsuvm1.bitnet
            (300 to 14400 baud, 24 hours)
NVN:        ABILITY                      Compuserve: 73170,1064




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Subject: Re: Video enlargers
From: JBARM@acadvm1.uottawa.ca (John Armstrong)

In the April 28 HANDICAP DIGEST, Jeff Katz wrote:

> We have a professor here at rutgers who is visually-impaired. does
> anyone know of dos add-ons to change the size of the screen font
> for all applications (mainly wordperf, lexis, etc.)?

I, too, would like to find an all-purpose one. Berkeley Systems inLARGE
is, alas, only for the Mac and they say they have no plans for a PC
version. Maybe if they get enough letters...

However, at least for WordPerfect 6.0 (DOS) you don't really need
one. You can view AND edit in full graphics mode and set the font size
as large as you want (even though the choices only go to 48 pts, you
can enter a larger number). I have gone as high as 500 pts, but you
only get about 1 letter on the screen. Try 72-108 pts. (1-1.5"). WP6
works well with DragonDictate too, so I'm all set. Now WP says 6.0
will be their last DOS version! Maybe another letter writing campaign?
(It's not quite "Perfect" yet, but they're getting close.)

Who needs Windows?

John Armstrong   (jbarm@acadvm1.uottawa.ca)




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Subject: Speech with Unix
From: PITCCN4.KENNED09@SSW.ALCOA.COM (William A. Kennedy)



I am interested in using speech on a Unix system.  The system is an
HP 9000-827 and the particular brand of Unix is HPUX, but I am also
interested in what everyone is using to work with Unix of whatever
flavor.  All responses will be appreciated.

I am new to this mailing list so I hope the above questions are
appropriate for this distribution.



                         Bud Kennedy

                         INTERNET: KENNED09@SSW.ALCOA.COM
                         Netmail 1:129/89
                         PHONE (412) 553-2849
                         FAX (412) 553-2484



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Subject: Info needed on Research status on cure for Retinoitis Pigmentosa
From: BALA@kcgl1.eng.ohio-state.edu (V.S.BALANETHIRAM)



I am interested to know the latest research status on the cure for
Retinoitis Pigmentosa (which robs eye sight over 10-15 years
gradually due to blood clotting on retina very gradually).  TO my
knowledge, the cure is absent till date. Also Prevention is not
known, causes esp.  genetic ones are also not known.  I am
interested to know any info on this.  My father has lost eye sight
completely and a cousin  is losing it gradually.


Thanks

Bala





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Subject: Re: Computer sys. for Blind..Recommendat
From: scotthooker@DELPHI.COM (Scott Hooker)
Organization: Delphi Internet Services Corporation

>Our local CIL is upgrading/updating computer intended for use by blind
>and/or visual impaired.  Also used to braille documents.

I get so tickled out here on the old "highway" when someone asks a question
I know a little bit about.  There's a lot of good stuff either just coming
out or about to come out that will make Windows and its ilk accessible.  For
this you need a 386 or 486 and I would recommend 8 meg of RAM at least.
>Arkenstone said if we traded in our current scanner they would sell us
>their newest scanner and a 486DX 66 computer.
>
I'm an Arkenstone customer, just so you'll know my biases right off.  I
really don't see how a powerful computer like the one they mention will
cause conflicts, although I probably know less than most people about
that.  I use a 386DX40 with "An Open Book Unbound" from Arkenstone.  I
also have JAWS for DOS and plan to upgrade to their Windows product when
it becomes available.  I have been to Closing the Gap and CSUN and
witnessed demonstrations of the Windows programs from Henter-Joyce,
Berkeley (Outspoken), and Artic.  Of these, JAWS for Windows impresses me
as far and away the most flexible and powerful.  And yes, the new Arkenstone
is worth the money, even if you just get the new scanner and software.
 Scanner technology is one of the most rapidly-changing aspects of the whole
industry, and just this most recent Arkenstone upgrade (Openbook Version
2.0) is allegedly 25% more accurate than Version 1.x, which in turn is more
accurate than the pre-Windows version you spoke of.

I'm just full of advice tonight.  My final piece is: don't just believe me.
 Get as many opinions across the board as you can.  Of course, you probably
already know that since you posted to such a public forum as the newsgroup.
 Hope this helps you some, though.

Scott Hooker






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Subject: race cars and the blind
From: noeln@u.wa hington.edu (Noel Nightingale)


On Tue, 3 May 1994 UN034123@WVNVAXA.WVNET.EDU wrote:

>       I still drive.  As a matter of fact, I am a driver for the WVU
> Formula Racing Team.  I also do data acquisition for the car.

Vic,

        I attended the convention of the National Federation of the Blind (NFB)
last summer and remember a blind guy talking about being a mechanic for a car
racing team.  He wants to have an NFB-sponsored racing team and car to
educate the public about the abilities of blind people.  I can't remember
his name, but you could call the NFB headquarters in Baltimore and find
it out.

Noel






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Subject: Computer for blind
From: ktaft@sanik.ascs.muni.cz (Karel Taft)
Organization: Technical University of Brno, Czech Republic

Hi,

I'm from The Czech Republic and I'd like to buy a computer and a printer
for my blind friend, but I've no information about computer of this kind.
Could you help me?

Thanks.

Regards


Karel Taft






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Subject: MegaDots or Duxbury?
From: danc@cac.washington.edu (Dan Comden)



I'm looking for comments on two Braille translation packages, MegaDots
from Raised Dot Computing and DuxWP from Duxbury Systems.

We are currently using a Ransley interface for translation, and are in a
lab environment that requires a significant amount of flexibility. The
Ransley doesn't seem as flexible as a software solution, so I'm trolling
for any comments about these leading software solutions.  If you email
your responses to me at danc@cac.washington.edu, I'll summarize and post
to the list.

Thanks for your help!

-*- Dan Comden               (danc@cac.washington.edu)
    Adaptive Technology Lab
    University of Washington





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Subject: Braille
From: SHSILVERMAN@vaxsar.vassar.edu (Shira Silverman)

I'm sighted, and I'm going to be taking a correspondence course in
Braille from the Library of Congress, National Library Service for
the Blind and Physically Handicapped this summer.  I need to find a
Perkins Brailler for $200 or less.  I would also prefer to buy one
in the New York City area, in order to save shipping and handling
costs.  I have tried a number of organizations; e.g. the Lighthouse
sells reconditioned Braillers in the right price range, but may not
have any to sell for a while.  If you know of any organizations
that would be willing to lend me a Brailler, or sell me one within
my price range, or if you have any information at all on the
subject, please e-mail me at shsilverman@vassar.edu.  Thanks!




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                 End of Issue # 1038 of the Blind News Digest

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