🚀 go-pugleaf

I think this is really interesting.  Hope you Mac'ers do.

Maybe something to get involved with?  Your choice.


in article <1517@bunker.UUCP>, wtm@bunker.UUCP says:
> Approved: wtm@bunker.UUCP
> 
> Index Number: 0060
> Written-by: <ihnp4!DAVR_IENGL@UORDBV> 08/21/86
> 
> [This is the first of three articles by Harvey Lauer and
>  Leonard Mowinski.]
> 
> 
> 
>             RECOMMENDING COMPUTERS FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED
> 
>                     A MOVING TARGET OR A LOSING WAR?
> 
> 
>                   By Harvey Lauer and Leonard Mowinski
> 
>               Blind Rehabilitation Technology Specialists
> 
>                             September, 1985
> 
>      "We find that professionals can no longer advance without
> computers.  What computers do you recommend for our blind workers?"  "I
> need to use a computer to keep my job.  How can I find out which one is
> needed?"  "Which of our clients need computers, and how can we keep up
> with the technology?"  Those questions keep coming.  So we keep revising
> our articles and resource lists.  The resource lists include the sources
> of everything discussed herein and much more.  We also recommend the
> publications of the Sensory Aids Foundation of Palo Alto, California
> especially for IBM resources.
> 
>      This paper is directed to users, providers, developers and
> researchers because two issues are addressed: recommendations of
> computer aids and five strategies for improving and evaluating them.
> 
>                     IS THE APPLE EMPHASIS CHANGING?
> 
>      We have used and taught many computer aids for the blind and have
> studied all of them.  Here is a summary of our findings to date.
> 
>      1.  Due primarily to the software available, the Apple II series
> computers with selected peripherals and software offer the most powerful
> and "friendly" low-cost tool for blind people so far.
> 
>      2.  Those who must use a computer most of the day may best be
> served by having one of the more costly special devices.  This could be
> a full-featured personal computer with special output, or it could be a
> regular computer with an added special terminal.
> 
>      3.  The IBM PC is heavily used in business, and there is now useful
> software for us, so for some applications, the emphasis is shifting.
> 
>      Making the appropriate choice and applying it is probably the
> toughest job in rehabilitation.  Few counselors are equipped to make it
> without help.  The prevailing opinion among blind people is that almost
> the only ones of us who use a computer at work first bought one and
> learned to use it at home.  We believe the causes are the instability,
> complexity and nastiness of the computer field.  The computer business
> is engulfed in an aura of mystique, an atmosphere of ignorance and a
> vacuum of trust.  All too often, we follow the same pattern in adapting
> and developing computer aids for the disabled.  The first of five
> strategies we recommend is that the developers and providers stop
> imitating the worst attributes of industry and build a foundation of
> trust and respect.
> 
>                           WHAT ABOUT THE APPLE
> 
>      In this article, we will discuss the Apple in some detail because
> it is the pace setter.  We think that Raised Dot Computing (RDC) in
> Madison, Wisconsin is one of the most pace setting companies of all.
> Its newsletter is especially valuable for Apple resources, and its
> program system called Braille-Edit offers powerful word processing in
> speech, braille, regular screen and large-print screen.  It also has
> professional-quality braille Grade Two translation and reverse Grade Two
> translation.  Its global replace options, cut-and-paste features and
> input/output file transfer utilities are powerful.  There are special
> advantages for braille transcribers and additional software for
> formatting textbooks.  Braille-Edit runs in the Apple II machines
> including the portable Apple IIc.  A much more powerful version is in
> the works.
> 
>      We know of three more good word processors written for speech
> alone: Word-Talk, TWP and Words.  A spell-checking program works well
> for us though it is not convenient to use.  There are two talking
> terminal programs:  Talking Transend and Talking TermExec (and several
> other useful terminal programs).  There are two talking databases:  Info
> and Lister Talker and other accessible databases.  There are at least
> two check-writing and budget-management programs written for speech and
> many supporting utilities.
> 
>      Much educational software runs with speech as is, and some has been
> modified to take advantage of speech.  Much public domain and some
> commercial business software works with speech including hundreds of
> games and utilities.  We have talking programs for the CP/M operating
> system available for the Apple.  Braille output is easy to add both in
> CP/M and in Apple DOS.  We can access the data files generated by those
> popular programs which we cannot use.
> 
>      The Echo II is a low-cost speech device made by Street Electronics.
> It makes the system transparent in utilities and unprotected software.
> It is favored by most blind users because of its screen review features,
> punctuation options, speed of speaking and instant response to commands.
> The Cricket, sister to the Echo, does the same for the IIc.
> 
>      The Print-it Card and the Apple Cyber Card make the II plus and the
> IIe models transparent to an outside device even in protected software.
> The Apple is compatible with all braille and speech devices.
> 
>      Vtek, Inc., formerly Visualtek, makes a large-print add-on, the
> DP-10, with variable magnification that is valuable for those with low
> vision.  It makes the text screen completely accessible even in
> copy-protected software.  They make a similar device  called the DB-20
> with refreshable braille output.  They have versions of both for the IBM
> PC--the DB-11 and DB-21 respectively.  For some low-vision users, the
> combination of a large monitor and a standard word processor that
> displays 40 columns is all that's needed.
> 
>      Multiple ports and a wide variety of interfacing hardware are
> available.  The file transfer and interface features of Braille-Edit
> make it a terminal for the functions of uploading, downloading and
> logging onto local and remote systems.  We have interfaced the Apple
> with several commercial word processors including Wang, Lanier and IBM
> Display Writer.  The blind user can efficiently generate and manipulate
> text in his "friendly environment" leaving the commercial word
> processing machine or terminal of a main frame free for sighted users.
> Then he can transfer blocks of text back and forth to those other
> systems at will.  This is an efficient way to work with many office
> network systems using asynchronous protocols.  The user merely needs a
> routine or protocol to follow.  As with the sighted user, he or she
> needs technical help in interfacing equipment, and that is hard to get.
> 
>      The pace of software development for the Apple has not slowed.
> Ironically, most teachers and users have not used much of the power they
> have.  Unfortunately, most of our counselors and vendors do not even
> know what is possible by way of adapting and interfacing.  This
> situation is discussed in our companion article "Selecting Computer Aids
> For the Visually Impaired, A Troubling Quandary."
> 
>                               TWO WARNINGS
> 
>      There are, however, two warnings or catches.  First, we must point
> out that having access may not bring utility.  For instance, you can use
> a Zero Card or a Print-it Card to send textual screen information to a
> cheap speech device.  For some uses, that works, but you could not
> review your data.  So, if you must access standard, unmodified software,
> you are likely to need either a braille device, a talking terminal or
> another computer out there connected to your access port.  That other
> computer could be another Apple running a Street Electronics talking
> terminal program, for example.  The likely need for two machines is one
> reason why it is usually cheaper and less complicated to use
> specially-written applications software in a single computer to which
> speech has been added.
> 
>      Another factor that makes access to standard unmodified software
> problematic is that its authors increasingly use what is called bit
> mapping.  Instead of using the text screen for display to sighted
> people, they use the graphics mode to display textual information.  So
> far, none of our special access devices work with such semi-pictorial
> displays in any computer.  It will take a device as "smart" as the
> Kurzweil Reading Machine to decode such information for us.
> 
>      The second catch is that all the accessories listed above have
> different values for the various tasks and the differing abilities of
> people.  These articles and resource lists alone are not enough.  They
> should be the embryo of a set of manuals.  One should be:  "Outfitting
> the Apple as a Tool for the Visually Impaired."  Another should be:
> "Outfitting the IBM PC ...", and so on.  The interface manual sold with
> Braille-Edit and the Crosstalk Series from TSI are good starts in this
> direction.
> 
>      Various developers have invested several hundred thousand dollars
> in access technology for Apple and IBM computers alone, but
> accessibility and interfacing are a big bottleneck.  Writing and
> circulating such manuals is the second of our five recommended
> strategies to developers and the rehabilitation field.
> 
> 
> 		       Harvey Lauer and Leonard Mowinski
> 		       Blind Center (124)
> 		       Veterans Hospitatl
> 		       Hines, Illinois 60141
> 		       (312) 343-7959
> 
> [From the L-HCAP mailing list]
> 
> 
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