[misc.handicap] CBFB_ARTICLES sutton.txt

robertj@tekgen.bv.tek.com (Robert Jaquiss) (05/13/91)

Index Number: 15523

What's New at Berkeley Systems?

Berkeley System's most recent access product called outSPOKEN
provides blind computer users first-time speech-based access to
all but a few very graphical applications on the Apple Macintosh.
It has been available for over a year now and has received very
high marks in performance and user satisfaction.  In June of last
year, it was honored with the Computerworld Smithsonian Award for
the innovative use of information technology and will be
permanently showcased in the Smithsonian Museum of American
History.  We are continuing to build on this groundbreaking
technology through a rigorous program of research and development
that seeks to provide blind people all of the benefits that new
generations of computers are bringing to sighted users.  The
focus of this effort is on the problems and opportunities
presented by new graphics-based computers like the Macintosh and
others that are on their way.  Among these efforts are three
special projects:

1)  The first of these projects will provide access where
outSPOKEN was found to be incompatible with certain computer
applications and parts of applications.  The most notable of
these special cases is the popular authoring program called
Hypercard which is provided without charge with every new
Macintosh.

2)  The second major project, well underway, seeks to use the
human ability to detect the location of sounds around us in order
to pinpoint where objects like words and the pointer are located
on the computer screen.  In combination with outSPOKEN, not only
will words from text and icons be spoken, but will sound as if
they are coming from different locations on the computer screen.
For example, as a line of text is reviewed, the words will seem
to float across the screen.  The Sonic Navigator, as we are
calling this new capability, is still in the early stages of
development, but we are excited by its potential for expanding
access to the new generations of computers.

3)  Our latest project is an effort to open two-way channels
between Berkeley Systems and blind computer users and providers.
The objective is to inform more blind people and providers about
available access to computers and new developments, and to learn
from blind computer users what problems they are having, what
they need, and what they would like to see in new or existing
products.  If you would like to joint us in this project that we
are calling "outREACH," please call or write with your
suggestions.  (Provide address and phone number?)

The latest version of outSPOKEN is 1.0P.  The only change in this
version over the original 1.0 release version is that 1.0P will
work with the new Macintosh keyboard that came out with the
release of the new line of Macs.  Also, outSPOKEN 1.0P runs on
the Mac portable, and continues to run on earlier Macs from the
Mac Plus and up.
Happy computing.