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                            THE BLIND NEWS DIGEST

                                 Issue # 1153

                            Tuesday, May 30, 1995

Today's Topics:


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                    English as a Second Language Programs
                             Re: Talking Compass
                             Blinkchat Has Moved
                          Blazer embosser for sale
                         Re: recorded Spanish books
                    Reply - problems using remote editor.
                        Re: Blind News Digest # 1152
                 Wish to talk to Outspoken for Windows users
               Adaptive Computer Equipment & Software Catalogs
                              Re: Advice Please
                Vocational assesment of the visually impaired
                  Message Device for the Visually Impaired
             Anyone seen a good screen enlargem. system for PCs?
                             Some Advice, Please
                             COME ONE COME ALL.


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To subscribe to the Blind News Digest mailing list or have your
thoughts in the next issue, please send electronic mail to
Bill McGarry at any of the following addresses:


UUCP:       uunet!bunker!wtm
INTERNET:   wtm@bunker.shel.isc-br.com
BITNET:     blindnws@ndsuvm1.bitnet
Fidonet:    The Handicap News BBS (141/420)   1-203-926-6168
            (300 - 28,800 baud, 24 hours)

                              Bill McGarry (Moderator)
                              (203) 926-6187



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Subject: English as a Second Language Programs
From: pmcclue@mail2.sas.upenn.edu (Patrick McClue)
Organization: University of Pennsylvania


I'm posting this from a friend's account and I would like to know if anyone
has information about ESL programs for visually handicapped international
students.

Any help would be appreciated.

If possible, please respond directly to this address so that my friend
may forward any replies to me.

Thank you

Joon-Bum

p



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Subject: Re: Talking Compass
From: jim@arken.arkenstone.org (Jim Fruchterman)


We are thinking of distributing a neat talking compass I bought in
Australia, called the Columbus.  I think it would cost about $125 or
so.  The package is pretty nice, and it speaks eight compass points in
many different languages (I think you spec two).

The brochure I have lists I.A.T. as the current U.S. distributor, at
1-800-688-9538.  Give them a try.

Jim Fruchterman                    jim@arkenstone.org
President                          Arkenstone, Inc.
1390 Borregas Avenue               1-800-444-4443
Sunnyvale, CA 94089 USA            1-408-752-2200
"Information Access for Everyone!" Fax: 1-408-745-6739




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Subject: Blinkchat Has Moved
From: djc@CRL.COM (Don Coco)

We are pleased at the marvelous group of people who have joined
#blinkchat since it started.  For better response we have moved the room
to the Undernet where you will find better lag and fewer Netsplits.  We
invite you to join us at the following times:

Monday Through Saturday Evenings in North America starting at 7 PM
(19-00) Pacific, 8 PM (20-00) Mountain, 9 PM (21-00) Central 10 PM (22-00)
Eastern or 02-00 UTC.  Also
you can check in earlier if you'd like as people are starting to Log in
at earlier times as well.
On Sundays in North America we meet at 4-30 PM (16-30) Pacific, 5-30 PM
(17-30) Mountain, 6-30 PM (18-30) Central, 7-30 PM (19-30) Eastern or 23-30
UTC.
The IRC or Internet Relay Chat is Easy to use.  If your on a Unix system
just type irc and your nickname and then type undernet.org all on the
same line.  It would look like this:  irc djc undernet.org and then I hit
return.  Once you get the opening screen you type /join #blinkchat and
hit return.  This joins you to the room.  Remember the slash before the
word join and the Numbersign before the word blinkchat.  While this
channel is primarily intended to be a forum for Visually Impaired Persons
to discuss Technology, find help, and find an extra smile, All are
welcome so Please give it a try and We hope to meet you in Blinkchat.
The Rewards of this channel are many and we have learned a lot from each
other but we want more people to Join So Please Give It A Try and Thank
you from all of Us for making Blinkchat Quite A Success.
If I can help with questions Please Contact djc@crl.com.  Note that you
must have access to the Internet and your provider must have IRC Access.
Check with your provider if your not sure and Thank you!




TRY ftp.crl.com cd /ftp/users/dj/djc
For Great Files!



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Subject: Blazer embosser for sale
From: jennifer@nando.net (Jennifer)

Half Price Sale

I have a Blazer Braille embosser in perfect condition for sale. It
has a current service contract and has been used very little.

It was purchased mainly to furnish Braille data to an employee, but
speech output proved more manageable in the long run.

$800.00, firm, and you pay the shipping.

Also available, Megadots for $250 and three cases of tractor feed
Braille paper for $10 each.

jennifer@nando.net or Compuserve 76150,771





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Subject: Re: recorded Spanish books
From: jsizemor@ci.phoenix.az.us (Joe Sizemore)

Bill,

Don't remember the issue number, but someone named Jorge asked about
recorded Spanish books and I have the following to share:

I have three suggestions concerning recorded Spanish books:

1.  The talking book service has many titles of recorded materials.

2.  R.F.B. has about 200 selections of graded Spanish readers.

3.  One can access a lot of information in Spanish through gopher on the
Internet; while this not recorded materials, I have found it quite
entertaining and informative.



Joe Sizemore
Special Needs Center
Phoenix Public Library
(602) 261-8690
Inovate, Adapt, Overcome





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Subject: Reply - problems using remote editor.
From: G6JPG@soft255.demon.co.uk ("J. P. Gilliver")
Organization: 255 software

Reply - problems using remote editor.

In 1152, someone in Australia was using a portable running Business Vision, and
getting slightly unusual responses when using a remote editor, which I think
was being used via a terminal emulator. Apparently others had tried his system
and reported all was working correctly, even with Business Vision loaded.

I do not know Business Vision, but the following thoughts based on the
instructions for Vocal-Eyes are probably relevant.

When you press up or down arrow, the speech software knows that this usually
means the cursor is moving to a new line, so it reads out the line the cursor
is now on, which will of course be the new line. The important word here
however is will; when you are using a system via a communications link of some
sort, what usually happens is that it is the remote computer which controls
what appears on your screen, in response to your keypresses. There is always a
delay, which is usually small, between you pressing a key and the result
appearing on your screen under command of the other end. Normally this does not
matter, but if your screen reader software is quick off the mark, this is what
happens: you press the up key; the screen reader registers that you have
pressed the up key, decides that the cursor must now be on a different line,
and reads the line the cursor is on. However, the cursor has not yet moved up a
line - it does that a moment later, when the same keypress which triggered the
screenreader triggers the remote computer, which then sends back the instruction
to raise the cursor one line - but too late.

In Vocal-Eyes, if I remember rightly, there is a delay you can set, so that when
it detects, for example, a cursor up keypress, it waits a fraction of a second
to allow things to happen on the communications link. I would assume that most
other screen readers have a similar function, but of course I would not know
how to change them if ithis is so.
--
J. P. Gilliver (John); also G6JPG @ GB7NNA on the amateur radio packet network.
`Ergonomic' =/= `dext-handed'.          (john.gilliver@gmrc.gecm.com at work.)
The summit of Everest is marine limestone.
I hope you dream a pig.



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Subject: Re: Blind News Digest # 1152
From: eli.godager@ft.dep.telemax.no (ELI GODAGER)
Organization: DAXNET

To Bill McGarry

I have read The Blind News Digest in som time, with pleasure. I live in
Norway, and I'm a mother of a blind boy (born in january 1994). I'm also
working with norwegian governmental information om a WWW-server.

I have been trying to find interesting information (url's) and news group
om the topic "blindness". I very much want to be informed the day my son
need contacts or information. And I think it is possible for me to learn
very much from blind persons, other parents "educational-people" and so
on.....

Do You have any sugestions ????

Please excuse my english.

Eli Vogt Godager




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Subject: Wish to talk to Outspoken for Windows users
From: bsmart@cris.com (Bryan Smart)
Organization: Concentric Internet Services

As the subject says, so I do.

I want to talk to those who's school district/rehab center/whatever has
been bold enough to purchase this program.  I don't really suppose that
many bought it themselves, but if you have, I'd like to hear from you
also.

I've seen the demo, but am hoping they fixed some of the bugs in the full
release.  I remember there were a couple, but the one that most sticks out
in my mind was a conflict when running a dos program from windows.  When
you were using the text screen instead of letting the dos application run
in a window on the desk top, your dos screen reader was supposed to handle
the access.  ASAP is what I use, and it did work, but I'd always be
getting info about modifier keys going on and off.  "insert, insert,
insert, insert, etc."

--
Bryan Smart
Email: bsmart@cris.com
WWW: http://www.cris.com/~bsmart



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Subject: Adaptive Computer Equipment & Software Catalogs
From: tmeade@infi.net (Medical Services 2001)
Organization: InfiNet


If you're visually impaired and would like the ability to browse a computer
catalog at your leisure then ACE or ACS is for you.

Adaptive Computer Equipment contains many products designed to help
the handicapped work with computers.

Adaptive Computer Software contains many software applications to aid
the handicapped in utilizing the computer to its fullest capabilities.

These catalogs are still in their beginning stages and will be updated
at least once a month.

For a copy of ACE or ACS email tmeade@infi.net with the subject "ACE"
or "ACS".  If you would like both use the subject "Adaptive Catalogs".
--
Tony Meade     tmeade@infi.net
MEDICAL SERVICES 2001
Phone: (804)-471-5385  Fax: (804)-471-5663



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Subject: Re: Advice Please
From: btaylor@ucsc.edu (Becky Taylor)
Organization: University of California, Santa Cruz


I use the vi text editor on Unix and have the same problem that you described
in your posting.



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Subject: Vocational assesment of the visually impaired
From: iwan@masamune.dais.is.tohoku.ac.jp (Iwao KOBAYASHI)
Organization: Graduate School of Information Sciences,Tohoku University, Sendai

I was asked to find some information about vocational assesments of
the visually impaired in the foreign contry by my friend who works
for the School for the blind.

He wants to know the contents of primary assesment of vocational
training. How training staffs decide the plan for a visually
impaired person ? Are there some assesment tests for them ?
Are there some kinds of factor and/or level for the decision ?

If someone know about it, please let me know.

Thanks !

-----
Iwao Kobayashi
Graduate School of Information Sciences
Tohoku University, Japan
URL=http://www.dais.is.tohoku.ac.jp/~iwan/index_eng.html
-----




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Subject: Message Device for the Visually Impaired
From: imra@NetVision.net.il
Organization: NetVision USENET Site.


Fax to:  People Interested in  Devices for the Visually Impaired

from:  Dr. Aaron Lerner, GM,  HSC (Israel) Ltd.

Re:  Message Center for the Visually Impaired
                @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
28 May, 1995    @   IF YOU CAN SUGGEST WHO TO SEND THIS TO         @
                @          PLEASE LET US KNOW.                     @
                @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

"Left for the cleaners",  "Call Bob back", "Dinner is in the fridge".
Every house has a place - usually by the phone or on the refrigerator,
where household members leave written messages for each other.

How about the visually impaired?  What's an effective, easy system for
recording and transmitting messages to and from the visually impaired?

We have the answer.  A simple compact (7-2/3" x 6-1/4") free standing
device for recording and playing back messages.  This SOLID STATE
electronic device has a digital memory (no tape) which allows for a
total of up to 60 seconds of messages on each of four separate
channels.  Alternatively, the channels can be combined so that there
are two channels of 120 seconds each.

The ergonomic design and special tones make operating the device
child's play.  The message center has already enjoyed much acceptance
in Israel.  In fact, the Ministry of Defense recently decided to
purchase it for all qualified visually impaired veterans.

Our target retail price is USD 98.00.

Please note: the message center allows for both AC and/or DC (4 AA
batteries) operation [batteries and AC adaptor not included].

We believe that the message center would be a welcome addition to any
offering of devices for the visually impaired.

For more information, please contact us either by fax, e-mail or
regular mail.

We look forward to hearing from you.
Best regards,
Dr. Aaron Lerner
H.S.C. (Israel) Ltd.
POB 982 Kfar Sava, Israel
Tel 972-9-904719/Fax 972-9-911645
INTERNET ADDRESS:  imra@netvision.net.il

To order a sample, please fax or mail this message back, filling out
the form below: USD 98 for sample by registered airmail

Name:_____________________________________ Telephone:____________

Address: _______________________________________________________

City/State[Province]_______________________ Postal Code:________

Country:_______________________

Credit Card (VISA/MASTERCARD/AMEX):  ___________

Number:________________________________  expires:_________

Authorized signature:_______________________________





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Subject: Anyone seen a good screen enlargem. system for PCs?
From: agnarg@rhi.hi.is (Agnar Gudmundsson)
Organization: University of Iceland

I wanted to know if anyone has seen a good screen enlargement system for PCs
and not just something like Windows 95 offers. I've mostly been using a
Macintosh and there I have a very good one called CloseView which enlarges a
part of the screen to full screen size and this enlarged window moves with
the mouse. (You see the mouse enlarged too.) I have seen many atempts of
doing the same thing on a PC but all of it has been terrible. It was either
too slow or limited in some other way.
  So, if anyone has seen, or uses, such a system on a PC whith which its
just as comfortable working in Window as in Dos I would very much like to
know about it. Please reply by e-mail since I don't read the news so often.

Thanks

Agnar

--
Agnar Gudmundsson



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Subject: Some Advice, Please
From: vaarwerk@ubvms.cc.buffalo.edu
Organization: University at Buffalo

 I am working with a co-worker who uses WordPerfect 5.1.  She
 uses a screen reader, and needs help being notified as to
 where page breaks are in her document.

 Does anyone have any ideas ?? ..

 Thanks ..

 -Todd Vaarwerk
 [VAARWERK@UBVMS.CC.BUFFALO.EDU]


-----------------------------------------------------------------
| Todd G Vaarwerk      | Bitnet:   VAARWERK@UBVMS               |
| State University of  | Internet: VAARWERK@UBVMS.CC.BUFFALO.EDU|
|  New York at Buffalo |           vaarwerk@acsu.buffalo.edu    |
|----------------------|           ae290@freenet.buffalo.edu    |
|---------------------------------------------------------------|
| Disclaimer: Believe what you want .. I trashed all my views of|



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Subject: COME ONE COME ALL.
From: gbryant@mail.coin.missouri.edu (Gail Y. Bryant)

On Monday evening, July 3 at six-thirty P.M., the Diabetics Division of
the National Federation of the Blind(NFB) will hold its annual meeting at
the Hilton and Towers Hotell in Chicago Illinois.  Anyone interested in
blindness and/or diabetes is most welcome to attend.The keynote speaker
this year is a registered dietician, herself an insulin-dependent
diabetic.  So bring all of those unanswered questions about exchanges,
food labels, and all of those no-no foods you thought you couldn't have
because you were diabetic.
There will be people there who share common concerns about diabetes and
blindness.  Do you need information on how to test your blood sugar, how
to safely draw your own insulin, or just cope?  Come to the meeting and
meet folks who are experiencing some of the ramifications of diabetes as
you, and share ideas.

You may also sign up for "Voice of the Diabetic1" our quarterly magazine
published in standard print or on four-track 15/16 audiocassette.  Or for
further information please E-mail to me or contact: Ed Bryant, Voice of
the Diabetic 811 Cherry Street Suite 309 Columbia, MO 65201 (314) 875-8911.
See you in Chicago, and have a great day.

kGail Bryant
National Federation of the Blind Diabetics Division




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                 End of Issue # 1153 of the Blind News Digest

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