Al.Hoffman@p0.f143.n109.z1.fidonet.org (Al Hoffman) (05/06/91)
Index Number: 15402
[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]
Hi:
I had this idea one day, and wrote down a few notes.
What books whould be really handy that I could write for myself?
The Complete Guide to Blindness Related Technology: Updated
Quarterly, Re-Released Yearly.
I kept writing the notes:
This book is not finished, and never will be. This book contains
all pertenent information about nall technological products relating to
blindness, including information/computer-access, mobility-tools,
agencies and services, more?
This book would be setup with a direct table of contents with
diredct simple entries, such as under Voice Output, under Computer
Access, you'd find ARtic, and under them, all the versions, and each
version would have a huge mass of info, as much as can be got hold of.
Under Braille Ouput, I'd list hardware, software, and vendors. Under
agencies and services, a list of all agencies and services by states,
countries, etc. That would be large, but on computer format, with some
hypertext additions it would be downright handy.
Basically the idea was to write the encyclopedia of blindness
amterials/services. God what a government project! Now who would give
me a grant? Sounds like an education deptartment project, or RSA maybe.
The problem after that would be keeping the governments hands off so
the real work could get done.
I continued the thought process.
The book would bereferenced backwards, so that the person who finds
himself lost in the middle of "light bar tracking," mode can look up the
referenced description of just what that is that was probablly explained
earlier, this would accomidate complicated subjects well.
I think once the main body of the materials was gathered, and as
time passed, it could serve as a historical overview, so that a person
with one version of a product could chart an upgrade path with the
encyclopedia. Great ad for the business folks, but it would also
contain any bad points as well as good points.
OK, OK, this is a dream, but dreams are great--I'm from Iowa after
all, lived near Field of Dreams so I am entitled maybe--even if I don't
play baseball.
I'd be surprised if this sort of book couldn't be expanded further
into a list of companies and their adaptiations for 508 legislation, and
then used as a government contracting standards manual, maybe ask the
people at COCA here in D.C. about that, they are a Computer products for
handicapped clearing house for people and agencies here. If you might
have any interest in talking with them I will find their number for you,
they have lots of equipment to look at, and are really pretty
knowledgeable about techno-garbage stuffs for government purposes.
OK, talk to you later, and someday when you open your door and this
huge book labeled Everything you ever thought you'd ask about blindness
products and services, falls on your porch, and fills it, you'll know
what happened! ha ha ha.
--
Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!109!143.0!Al.Hoffman
Internet: Al.Hoffman@p0.f143.n109.z1.fidonet.org