Burhans%ECLD@usc-ecl (Jackie) (02/23/85)
Our Office for Students with Disabilities is looking into purchasing personal computing equipment for students with visual disabilities. They are thinking of getting the Total Talk PC from Maryland Computer Services. This system is and HP150 micro with a VOTRAX and some software to allow spoken output. The keypad can be used to issue 'speak' commands; to have the whole screen, a line, or a word spoken. It comes with some free software to display large print on the screen. Does anybody have any experience with this system; I am looking for some feedback. I am also looking for alternative systems that might be a better deal financially. This system, while it sounds quite nice, at $8000 is a bit pricy. I contacted the Braille Institute and asked about other systems, especially involving the IBM PC since our school gets a 40% discount from IBM. There are apparently some third party devices to do this kind of thing. I understand you can buy an external VOTRAX (is this right?) unit for about $1000 and a software program to do large printing to the screen for $500. If anybody has information about this type of equipment I would appreciate any replies. If there is interest, I will summarize to the net(s). Thanks. Jackie Burhans USC-Division of Student Affairs BURHANS%ECLD@USC-ECL.ARPA
sde@mitre-bedford.ARPA (02/27/85)
When I bought a pair of Votrax Type 'N' Talk boxes several years ago, the price was $375 each. Surely the price has not increased since then, but in case it has, I would be willing to let you have, at cost, one whose box has never been opened. David sde@mitre-bedford