🚀 go-pugleaf

                            THE BLIND NEWS DIGEST

                                 Issue # 1155

                            Friday, July 21, 1995

Today's Topics:


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                            important info needed
                        Re: Interesting article (fwd)
                         gold ladies braille watch?
                     some informations for blind person
                       internet and visual impairment
       BELL SPECIAL NEEDS BROCHURES NOW AVAILABLE IN ALTERNATE FORMATS
                  Internet access for the visually impaired
               Help finding CCTV / image magnification equipt.


                                ******


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


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                              Bill McGarry (Moderator)
                              (203) 926-6187



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Subject: important info needed
From: jdunn@cloud9.net (Jeff Dunn)

Hello All:

I am setting up a  non proffit organization online with the
internet.  The chairman of the board had asked me to research
information on the blind population.

I need to find out the following:

1.  What is the  general size of the blind population in the U.S.
2.  WHat percentage of the blind population in the U.S. are using
     computers.
3.   What would be a general number of  people round the world
    that use the internet or email.
4. What would be a general number for the amount of blind persons
on the internet.

Any help you can offer would be greatly appreciated.

My email address is:
jdunn@cloud9.net




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Subject: Re: Interesting article (fwd)
From: senkmj@ptbma.usbm.gov (Mark J. Senk WB3CAI)



Mark Senk       (412) 892-6513  ms5@usbm.gov

---------- Forwarded message ----------
 Date: Wed, 21 Jun 1995 10:39:48 -0400 (EDT)
 From:  Cearbhall OMeadhra > INTERNET:Cearbhall.OMeadhra@ITD.boi.ie
 Subj:  PCLIVE! JUNE 1995


     Hello,

     The publishers of PCLive! have kindly given permission to circulate
     the attached article as long as the source is acknowledged as we
     have done at the bottom of the document.

     We hope you will find this story interesting.  The campaign
     continues!

     Regards,
     Cearbhall E. O Meadhra
     Assistive Technology Consultant

----------

Grainne Rothery finds one group not looking forward to Windows 95

While most Windows users await the arrival of Windows 95 with anticipation,
looking forward to multi-tasking, faster applications and an even more
intuitive interface, the appearance of yet another new operating system has
been a source of concern for the members of the Visually Impaired Computer
Society (VICS).

During the 1980s, important steps were taken to make computers more
accessible to blind and visually impaired users: software developed for DOS
systems was easily accessible for people with sight disabilities, through
synthetic speech, large print and Braille devices.  According to VICS, the
200 blind computer users in the Republic of Ireland were able to use 99 per
cent of PCs in the workplace in 1990. =20

The release of Microsoft Windows and its subsequent dominance of the
marketplace was a dramatic step backwards for blind and visually impaired
users.  It was two years before any kind of access was available for blind
people and what is currently described as access is still far from perfect
and certainly far less satisfactory than that available for the older DOS
operating system. "Most blind users continue to use DOS, with only a handful
of people struggling with Windows," says VICS secretary Gus Dorrington.
Indeed, surveys quoted by VICS show that two-thirds of workplace computers
in Ireland are now running Windows, meaning that only one-third of PCs at
work are now readily usable by blind people.

"Bad and all as the situation is today, we are very concerned that the trend
is even more alarming," says Ronan McGuirk, who is on the access
sub-committee of VICS.  "Microsoft Windows NT was released in 1983 and we
are not aware of any way in which we can use it." =20

IBM, meanwhile, designed its operating system OS/2 to be accessible right
from the start.  Most blind users say that OS/2 access is far superior to
that of Windows.  Because the Windows foothold in the marketplace, however,
OS/2 is not seen as a real alternative for many users.

VICS is loud and persistent in voicing its grievances because it sees job
and educational opportunities being on the line if computer software is
simply not accessible to certain users.  As well as being a vital gateway to
information, the computer area should ideally be a source of employment for
blind people; instead, a new generation of operating systems has the
potential to alienate a whole sector of the community.=20

Together with organisations throughout Europe and the United States, VICS
has been lobbying both Microsoft and government to take steps to improve the
situation.  "We have already made representations to politicians in Ireland
about equality of access and we will be campaigning for the right of access
to the computer in the workplace," says Gus Dorrington.  Mary Banotti, MEP,
who is also vice-president of the All Party Disablement Intergroup in the
European Parliament, has been approached by VICS and recently tabled a
priority question to the parliament on access to technology.  She says: "I
believe that people with disabilities are a legitimate and equal part of the
customer base of all manufacturers.  In my opinion accessibility can only be
achieved when access is available at the time that the product is launched
and at no extra cost to the purchaser.

The good news is that Microsoft has recently announced its intention to
develop an off-screen model of Windows 95.  Off-Screen Model (OSM)
technology describes the database of a computer screen's contents, including
text, graphics, controls and other elements.  The technology is mainly used
for blind-access products.  Microsoft has recently announced that it has
licensed core OSM technology from Henter-Joyce in the United States.
According to Microsoft, the first version of this OSM will be released
approximately six to eight months after Windows 95 is shipped. =20

Accessibility features available in the shipping version include Stickykeys,
MouseKeys, SlowKeys, BounceKeys, RepeatKeys, ToggleKeys and SerialKeys, all
of which are designed to help users adapt the keyboard for mobility
impairments.  Also available immediately will be ShowSounds and SoundSentry,
which display visual cues of auditory events for people who are deaf or hard
of hearing.

Cearbhall O'Meadhra, who is also on the access sub-committee of VICS, says
that while they do welcome Microsoft's change in policy to disabled users,
this solution still does not meet the group's criteria.  "We respect the
moves they have made, but we are still saying that there should be more," he
says. "This OSM will be provided to allow independent software developers
create screen reading software. We think that Microsoft should do what IBM
has done and develop its own built-in screen reading software," says=
 O'Meadhra.

"We have been waiting patiently for five years to obtain usable access to
Windows 3.x.  The undertakings now given are impressive.  However, we see no
mention of production dates.  In fact, we note with dismay that Windows 95
will be released some six months before even the planned accessibility will
be provided to ISVs.  We can only guess how long it will be before people
with disabilities have access," says VICS president, Michael Lavin.

Windows 3.0 and access
Ronan McGuirk has highlighted the issue of access to computers for the
visually impaired by using the parallel of access to physical buildings for
wheelchair users.  "We could compare Microsoft's attitude with Windows 3.0
to a property developer constructing an inaccessible office block.  In this
comparison, the property developer would have said: 'Wheelchair access is
not in our business model, this is up to other contractors and developers to
arrange after we have completed the building'.  To continue the analogy,
five years later other contractors have completed alterations such as
building ramps, introducing new lifts, renovating lavatories, etc.

"Microsoft's apparent new policy could be compared to a second property
developer. As before, the property developer has constructed an inaccessible
office block.  This time though, the developer has produced plans,
guidelines and helpful hints, suggesting to other contractors where ramps
should be located, pointing out problems with lifts, giving diagrams of
doors in unsuitable locations, and showing staircases which should be
relocated.  This new helpful policy means that it will only take two or
three years to make the building accessible.

The VICS GUI Access sub-committee has developed a document outlining the
minimum usability requirements of GUI operating systems for blind and
partially sighted users.  The document is meant as a guideline for software
developers as well as a checklist for evaluation of access software=
 products.

The fundamental requirement is that a GUI screen reader should allow blind
and partially sighted users to work efficiently and effectively in their
work environments.  The document states: "A usable GUI screen reader should
enable a competent visually impaired PC user to be as productive as a
competent sighted user, using the same applications.  A GUI screen reader
must be at least as usable as the current DOS screen readers.  If a
particular product fails to meet one or more of the minimum requirements,
this means that the product is not a realistic option for the workplace."

[Box 1] Access to computers
Blind and visually impaired people can access computers with the help of
adaptive technology.  This currently takes three forms: screen
magnification, synthetic speech and Braille.

Screen magnification can be suitable for people with limited vision and is
achieved by either using a software program which acts as magnifying glass
placed over the computer screen, or by using a special card slotted into the
back of the computer which provides the facility to enlarge the characters
on the screen.

Synthetic speech is achieved by connecting a synthesizer to the computer,
and by using computer software to act as a screen reader.  The synthesizer
reads out what is on the screen and also echoes characters and words as they
are typed.  This solution is used by totally blind people.

A Braille display is made up of a strip of plastic across the bottom of the
keyboard comprising 40 or 80 refreshable cells each made up of six
solenoids.  These solenoids represent the six positions in a Braille cell.
Braille users can then read what is written on the screen.
[Box 2] The Visually Impaired Computer Society (VICS)
The Visually Impaired Computer Society (VICS) was set up in 1986 by a group
of blind and visually impaired computer programmers.  The group now has 28
members.
The principal aims of VICS include:
Promotion of employment of blind and visually impaired people in the
computer area;
Education of both government and the public at large of the potential of
blind people who are trained in the use of computers and adaptive=
 technology;
Ongoing education of blind and visually-impaired students in computer use
and the ensuring of the highest possible standards in this field.
Provision of self-help support for members experiencing problems with
computer equipment;
Monitoring of technological developments;
Provision of expertise to prospective employers of blind and visually
impaired people.

Since it was established, VICs has held a number of day-long conferences,
equipment demonstrations and workshops which were attended by government and
non-government agencies, as well as members of the public.  In 1993, a
training course for members was held to provide exposure to word processing
and an introduction to synthetic speech.

The group is affiliated to the Irish Computer Society and its chairman,
Michael Lavin, has a seat on the council of the ICS.  The VICS committee
consists of a chairman, secretary, treasurer and two other members.  In
addition to the AGM, general meetings are held once every three months. =20


[Box 3] The Windows user
One of the blind people using  Microsoft Windows every day is Ronan McGuirk,
assistant manager of the computing support department in the AIB Group and,
ironically, the man who led the team that introduced Windows into everyday
usage at the bank.  While initially a programmer, McGuirk moved into
research and support several years ago and is now involved in developing
policies and procedures in the AIB Group. =20

In his own office, the Windows operating system is made accessible with
Synthavoice Slimware Windowbridge v 1.23 software, together with a
peripheral voice box to provide synthetic speech.  From the time he switches
the computer on, the voice box should read everything appearing on the
screen, including commands, text and what he himself is inputting. =20

In a short demonstration, however, the system showed at least two
inconsistencies. While scanning through a pre-prepared document, the voice
box read the text, noting where a sentence or a word was in bold.  It did
not, however, make any mention of the fact that one of the lines was written
in italics.  Apparently, this is one of the more consistent faults within
the system and McGuirk in the position where he can ask a colleague to look
through his documents to ensure that they're not all in italics. =20
At another stage during the demonstration, an application error occurred
and, although this was written up on the screen, the voice box remained
silent.  McGuirk was left pressing command buttons, wondering why the
synthesizer was not responding.

"WindowBridge has built up a reputation of being dreadful," he says, adding
that he believes that 1.23, which was released earlier this year, is still
the most stable version.  "The development companies, like Synthavoice, were
seriously hampered by Microsoft when it initially launched Windows.
Microsoft has only become publicly committed to providing access for
disabled users in the last few months.  I'm very happy that Microsoft has
decided to license the OSM technology but it could take two years to even
reach this level of quality".

[Box 4] The DOS user
Cearbhall O'Meadhra, assistive technology consultant in the Bank of Ireland
Group, is one of the many blind users still using DOS.  He is, however,
planning to upgrade to a Pentium running OS/2 in the near future. Currently
using a scanner to input typed letters and faxes he receives, his PC is
unable to cope with anything else while scanning in these documents.  With
OS/2 running on a more powerful machine,  multi-tasking will now be=
 possible.

One of the issues O'Meadhra is particularly concerned with is the expense of
accessibility software and hardware.  With speech boxes costing up to 1,000
and screen reading software priced at anything from 200 to 500, this
technology can be prohibitively expensive for the ordinary user.  While
grants are available from the National Rehabilitation Board (NRB), these are
only given to people in employment who need assistive technology to help
keep their jobs or  in cases where such technology is required for a blind
person to take up a definite offer of employment.  The grants are also given
at the discretion of the NRB.  In many other countries, such as the UK and
the United States, the funds available are much higher and this has helped
to keep the end prices of such technology at these levels.

For O'Meadhra to install OS/2 it will cost =A3800 for a complete package of
operating system, Presentation Manager, screen reading software, and
training.  This compares with the normal street price of =A380 for OS/2.  If
he was starting from scratch, without a synthesizer, the package would cost
at least =A31300.
Paul Healy

This article first appeared in PC Live! June/July issue. All rights reserved.



Mark Senk       (412) 892-6513  ms5@usbm.gov

On Wed, 21 Jun 1995, Mark J. Senk WB3CAI wrote:

> I thought the analogy of Win 95 with a new inaccessible building was
> interesting.  Maybe not completely fair, but interesting.
>
>
> Mark Senk     (412) 892-6513  ms5@usbm.gov
>
>




------



Subject: gold ladies braille watch?
From: jodie_hoger@uow.edu.au (Jodie Hoger)
Organization: University of Wollongong

My name is Jodie Hoger and I am severely vision impaired. I am trying to
find a gold ladies braille watch with as small a face as possible. My
current watch is a black and silver seiko braille watch and I would like
something that is a bit dressier. The only watches that I have been able to
locate here in Australia really have not been what I am looking for. Is
there anyone out there that knows of a company that I can contact or can
send me a catalog that selss gold ladies braille watches? I really find it
difficult to think that there are thousands of regular watches to choose
from and "two" gold braille watches to choose from certainly in the two
states that I have contacted. Any information would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance,

Jodie Hoger
email: j.hoger@uow.edu.au
address:
Mrs Jodie HOger
Disability Services
University of Wollongong
NOrthfields Ave, Wollongong, 2500
N.S.W
Australia



------



Subject: some informations for blind person
From: kenichi@cba002.isenshu-u.ac.jp
Organization: UTexas Mail-to-News Gateway

Hello. I'm student of Ishinomaki Senshu Univ,Japan.
I have an acquaintance who is blind person.
And he is a personal computer user.
I started study to computer system for blind person an opportunity I met he.
Then I want know the news for personal computer with voice mechanism,so please
teach me some informations.



------



Subject: internet and visual impairment
From: tobias@macbeth.cc.bellcore.com (Jim Tobias)
Organization: Bellcore

I am looking for information about how speech synthesizer and/or
braille display users work on the internet.  Specifically, how do you
achieve access over a slip or ppp connection, and not how you use a
shell account.

I'd appreciate any and all replies.  Thanks in advance.

Jim Tobias
Bellcore
tobias@cc.bellcore.com
908.758.5296 v/tty
908.758.2139 fax





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Subject: BELL SPECIAL NEEDS BROCHURES NOW AVAILABLE IN ALTERNATE FORMATS
From: CUTWAYS@QUCDN.QueensU.CA
Organization: Arrabito Enterprises, 18 Alladin Ave., Toronto, ON  M6L 1S5 Canada

Hi all:

Thought a number of you might be interested in the following "News Bulletin"
from Bell Canada. I would encourage anyone who might have a need for these
brochures - either for themselves or for clients - to request them so that
Bell Canada will continue and expand this service.

Hope everyone is having a good summer.

Cheers,

Steve Cutway
Information Access Specialist (Non-Visual Technologies)
Computing and Communications Services
Queen's University
Kingston, Ontario, Canada
K7L 3N6
PHONE: (613) 545-6354
E-MAIL: <CUTWAYS@QUCDN.QueensU.CA>



------

---

                          NEWS BULLETIN

BELL TRIALS PRODUCTION OF THREE SPECIAL NEEDS BROCHURES IN FOUR
DIFFERENT FORMATS FOR THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED


In a trial that began May 23, 1995 to August 25, 1995, Bell will
produce three of their Special Needs brochures in one of the
following formats:

     -    BRAILLE

     -    LARGE PRINT

     -    AUDIO CASSETTE

     -    COMPUTER DISKETTE.


To receive a copy of Bell's


-    PRODUCTS & SERVICES for Special Needs
-    Calling Features User Guide (eg: Speed Calling, Call
     Waiting, Call Answer, etc.)
               OR
-    Real Plus (the long distance residential Savings plan)


          simply call this toll free number:


                         1-800-215-5333



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Subject: Internet access for the visually impaired
From: marston@coos.dartmouth.edu (David Marston)
Organization: Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH

The next meeting of the Northern New England UNIX User Group (NNEUUG) will
take place on Monday, July 31, at 7:30 PM. We will have a presentation
on "Making the World Wide Web (and the rest of the Internet) Accessible
to the Visually Impaired". Our speaker, Mike Paciello, will cover as much
of the following as we can fit in:
WWW Access Issues for People with Disabilities
UNIX-based WWW speech interface for blind WWW users
WWW Disabilities Server
Current WWW Projects geared at making WWW/NII accessible
(Among those projects are the Mosaic Access Project and EmacSpeak.)

Our host will be the NH Technical College in Claremont, NH. Claremont is
a small city in the Connecticut River valley, south of Hanover (NH) and
White River Junction (VT). The College is on NH Route 120.

DIRECTIONS (clip & save!):
From most of NH, take I-89 north to Exit 12 and follow the signs toward
Newport (NH 11 West). Those in the Peterborough area may want to cut over
on 114 and 103 rather than go all the way to I-89, and those in Keene
might go North on NH 10. Experienced shunpikers may get to Newport via
other routes, such as NH 10 South from Exit 13 of I-89. At the South end
of downtown Newport, note your mileage as you turn to go toward Claremont
on NH 11 West. The turn onto NH 120 North is 9.2 miles from that point.
(Further directions after next paragraph.)

From Western MA, VT, CT, NY, etc., take I-91 North to Exit 8. Follow the
signs from the exit ramp toward downtown Claremont (you'll cross into NH,
picking up Route 12 as you go). Note your mileage at the end of the exit
ramp, and look for a flashing yellow light 3.7 miles later, at Lambert's
Supply. If you turn left there (onto North Street), you will be taking a
shortcut that will get you over to NH 120 in ~1.1 miles. If you miss it,
just follow the road into downtown Claremont, stay on NH 11 East, and
look for the junction with 120 as you leave the densest part of downtown.

The junction of NH 11 and NH 120 is a tee with a full stop light. There
are no buildings right at the corner, but the Sugar River flows just South
of the tee. If coming East, you will turn left; if West, right. There has
been some construction on 120, but if they let you go straight through, it
will be 1.7 miles from that point to the entrance to the College. If you're
sent on a detour, look for signs that direct you to the hospital. On the
way, you'll probably see the Jiffy Mart at the corner of North Street and
Elm Street, which is where the shortcut mentioned above comes in. Turn left
on Elm if you're taking the shortcut; turn right on Elm if you're taking
the 120 detour. When you get to the hospital, turn right on Dunning and
follow it to the end, where you turn left to get on 120 North. From that
turn, the College entrance is 0.9 miles up on the right. (To help you
picture it: near the hospital, Elm St. and Route 120 (Hanover St.) are
parallel and go past the West and East sides, respectively, of the
hospital. Dunning St. cuts across the North side of the hospital between
the other two streets.)

If coming from Lebanon, Hanover, Lyme, or Enfield (all NH) *only*, you
could also try the Back Way: from the Green in downtown Lebanon, note
your mileage and take NH 120 South for 19.3 miles of rural driving. The
entrance to the College will be on the left, and you will have avoided
downtown and the street construction. Cornish and Plainfield residents
are presumed to know their own way.



------



Subject: Help finding CCTV / image magnification equipt.
From: headhunt95@aol.com (HEADHUNT95)
Organization: America Online, Inc. (1-800-827-6364)

Can anyone help point me in the right direction or source of locating used
or 2nd hand CCTV or image magnifying apparatus like Telesensory's Alladdin
or Vantage system...or any other comparable equipment that can do same.
This stuff new costs an arm & a leg ....there must be an aftermarket
somewhere....none of the insurances will pay for it.....(medicare).....or
does anyone know how or what I would have to do to get medicare/medicaid
to help with this...am retired not employed...........any suggestions
before the lights go completely out........Stan Sadowski



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                 End of Issue # 1155 of the Blind News Digest

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