clive@druhi.UUCP (02/21/87)
in article <1519@bunker.UUCP>, wtm@bunker.UUCP says: > Approved: wtm@bunker.UUCP > > Index Number: 0062 > Written-by: <philabs!ihnp4!UORDBV!DAVR_IENGL> 08/29/86 > > > [This is the third of three articles by Harvey Lauer and > Leonard Mowinski.] > > > APPLE RESOURCES FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED > > By Harvey Lauer and Leonard Mowinski > > Blind Rehabilitation Technology Specialists > > September, 1985 > > > Details about these and information about many more resources will > be found in the two newsletters called RDC Newsletter and BAUD. Three > periodicals on Apple disks are listed which also discuss resources. > Additional, extensive Apple resource lists are available from > Sherry Lowry, 10622 Fairlane, Houston, Texas 77024. (713) 461-9654 > Braille-Edit is a product of Raised Dot Computing, 408 South > Baldwin Street, Madison, Wisconsin 53703. (608) 257-9595. It is a > program system for word processing in braille, speech and large print. > It has extensive utilities including braille translation and file > transfer. You can upload and download files at any speed. RDC also has > the Braille Training Program, Tactile Graphics Program, and Math > Blackboard Program. The hardware they selll includes the Echo speech > devices, the Super Serial Card, the Cranmer Modified Perkins Brailler > and many special connecting cables. We recommend the RDC Newsletter for > all who are interested in computer aids. > Foley's Low Vision Aids sells the following items. Their > manufacturers listed here also market them. Echo Plus, Echo GP, Sweet > Talker (including software), Braille-Edit, Braille Training Program. > Foley's Low Vision Aids and Computer Aids are also Apple Dealers from > whom all the hardware and most special software can be bought. Foley's > Low Vision Aids, 1357 East David Road, Kettering, Ohio 45429, (513) > 294-2433 > The Bible on disks, (called The Word Processor), Bible Research > Systems, 8804 Wildridge Drive, Austin, Texas 78759, (512) 346-2181. > Price: $190.00. This is a valuable and unique service for clergymen > and students. It facilitates searches and cross referencing and works > with the Echo and Cricket speech devices. > Data Capture, Southeast Software, 7743 Briarwood Drive, New > Orleans, Louisiana 70128, (504) 246-8438. Useful terminal programs, > some of which can be used with the Echo II, but not all features work > with the speech. > Computer Aids sells Info Database, Documents Word Processor, Agenda > appointment calendar, Talking Transend terminal program, and a > draft-quality braille translator called Braille Talk. Their word > processor has been revised and improved. It is called Word-Talk. (See > also the newsletter entitled Baud. and see IBM Resources.) Mr. William > Grimm, Computer Aids, 124 West Washington blvd., Lower Arcade, Fort > Wayne, Indiana 46802. (219) 422-2424 > Speech Synthesizers: Echo II for the Apple II models and the Echo > Cricket for the IIc. Street Electronics, Inc., 1140 Mark Avenue, > Carpinteria, California 93013. (805) 684-4593. They also make the > Echo GP which works with computers other than Apple and other Apple > cards. Their talking terminal program does not save to disk but is > unique in that it runs at any baud rate. > Electronic Typing Fingers, Personal Micro Computers, Inc., 475 > Ellis Street, Mountain View, California 94043, (415) 962-0220. It > works with the IBM braille writer to print braille. Explained in > another article, it requires tinkering and is seldom advisable now that > low-cost braille printers are here. > Anti-Static Floor Mat, Misco, Inc., Box 399, Holmdel, New Jersey > 07733, (201) 946-3500. Note: Also obtainable from computer stores. > Cables and plugs for RS/232 connections, Telcom Products, 7550 > Plaza Court, Willowbrook Court, Illinois 60521, (312) 887-0212. Note: > Cables are also available from computer stores, but Telcom sells either > parts, standard cables, or made-to-order cables often at better prices. > A spell-checking program we recommend is Sensible Speller from > Sensible Software, 210 South Woodward, Suite 229, Birmingham, Michigan > 48011. (313) 258-5566. It is not as convenient to use as it should be, > and it does not talk with the Echo; however, a version is available from > the Cyberon Corporation which talks well with the Zero Card or the > Print-it Card. A version is being worked on with Echo speech in > Pro-DOS. > The Adaptive Firmware card provides alternate input options for > people with manual disabilities. These include Morse Code and > puff-and-sip controls. Contact: Adaptive Peripherals, Paul Schwejda, > 4529 Bagley Avenue North, Seattle, Washington 98103. (206) 633-2610. > To get output to speech or braille devices while running protected > software, you can use the Print-it Card. Contact: Text Print, Inc., 8 > Blanchard Road, Burlington, Massachusetts 01803. (617) 449-5808. > Computer stores also sell it. See also the Cyberon Corporation. > Pronto DOS is a faster operating system then Apple DOS. It works > with speech and is available from Beagle Brothers, 4315 Sierra Vista, > San Diego, California 92101. (619) 296-6400. > Diversi-DOS is another such operating system; however, a special > version of the Echo II speech must be used with it. It comes from DSR, > Inc., 5848 Crampton Court, Rockford, Illinois 61111. (815) 877-1343. > We have had the Maggs-Visek program modified to work in the Apple > under the CP/M operating system. It works with the Microsoft card and > perhaps others. It will not work with the Echo boards but works well > with external synthesizers. Contact us at the above address. > Speak Up is a program to create customized high-quality speech > using the Echo II. It comes from Laureate Learning Systems, 1 Mill > Street, Burlington, Vermont 04301. (802) 862-7355. You can put the > speech into your programs. They also have excellent talking software > for young children. Note that the customized speech cannot be used in > existing application programs. > The Slot Buster Card is a new one from R.C. Systems, Inc., 121 West > Winesap Road, Bothell, Washington 98012.(206) 771-6883 or (800) > 227-1617. One version has a parallel port, a serial port and a buffer. > Of main interest to us is the version that has those ports and a speech > synthesizer using the new SSI 263 chip. The speech is fast and clear, > and there are commands written for us similar to those available with > the Echo speech. The only exception is that screen review in Applesoft > is not yet available but soon may be. > The BAUD Newsletter (see Publications) and a substantial library of > public domain software that works with speech is available from Joe > Giovanelli, Audio-Tech Laboratories, 1158 Stewart Avenue, Bethpage, New > York 11714. (516) 433-0171. A talking database called Lister Talker > is available from CiderWare, Attention: Mike Firth, 104 north St. Mary, > Dallas, Texas 75214. (214) 827-7734. > A bank book and check writing program is called Trax Pax. It comes > from Howard Traxler, 6504 West Girard, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53210.. > (414) 445-5925 > A program to handle budgeting and check writing is Personal > Accounting. It comes from Kieth Creasey, 1956 Melwood Avenue, > Louisville, Kentucky 40206. (502) 896-0132. > Two talking word processors are sold by Larry Skutchan, 337 South > Peterson, Louisville, Kentucky 40206 Work: (502) 895-2405 Home: (502) > 896-1288 > Tutorial programs to teach you programming in BASIC are sold by > Program Design, Inc., 95 East Putnam Avenue, Greenwich, Connecticut > 06830. (203) 661-8799. Their new programs do not work with speech, but > their old versions work with the Echo. if you can get them. They were > not designed for that, so you need to be experienced with the Echo II > before using them. You also need the workbook, so it should be tape > recorded. > Several Apple manuals and the Echo II manual are available on > VersaBraille tape from Harvey Jossem, 1432 Sunny Avenue, Eureka, > California 95501. (707) 442-7247; or from Olga Espinola, 763 Grafton > Street, Apartment 2, Worcester, Massachusetts 01604. Audio Cassette > versions of many manuals have been made by Recordings for the Blind and > other organizations. > The Echo Enhancer is a little black box with volume control and > jacks that facilitates using the Echo II with earphones, tape recorder, > etc. It comes either from RDC or from Greg Mark, 207 Paisley Court, > Kalamazoo, Michigan 49007. (616) 344-4592. Ciderware also has such a > box with a different configuration. > A talking terminal program called Talking TermExec is available > from Quinsept, Inc., P. O. Box 216, Lexington, Massachusetts 02173. > (617) 641-2930. For details and technical support, contact Henry > Brugsch, 1645 Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington, Massachusetts. (617) > 391-0020. The program is not recommended and may be discontinued for > lack of support. > Quality educational software in a wide variety at levels ninth > grade through adult which speaks with the Echo or Cricket is available > from Sliwa Enterprizes, Inc. SEI, 2360-J George Washington Highway, > Yorktown, Virginia 23692. (804) 898-8386. Their talking Spanish > course is also unique and well done. > A magazine on Apple disks is Softdisk Magazette, P. O. Box 30008, > Shreveport, Louisiana 71130. (318) 868-7247. It features articles and > programs mostly usable with the Echo II. > Softyme is a bimonthly magazine on Apple disks. Many, if not most > of its offerings are usable with the Echo II. The price is $48 per > year. Write Softyme, P. O. Box 299, Newport, Rhode Island 02840. > Apple Talk is a quarterly periodical on Apple diskette. It is > packed with information, programs and ads. The price is $10 per year. > Contact Jeff Weiss, 3015 South Tyler Street, Little Rock, Arkansas > 72204. (501) 666-6552. > > Harvey Lauer and Leonard Mowinski > Blind Center (124) > Veterans Hospitatl > Hines, Illinois 60141 > (312) 343-7959 > > [From the L-HCAP mailing list] > > ********************************************************************** > This is a moderated news group. To submit an article, send e-mail to: > {decvax, philabs, ittatc}!bunker!handicap > **********************************************************************