Jim.Mclaughlin@f722.n273.z1.fidonet.org (Jim Mclaughlin) (11/06/90)
Index Number: 11579
[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]
Hey, yall: I'm so glad to have found this conference. I am a rookie hacker,
just new to using a modem. I have a daughter who is blind, and would like to
set things up for voice. Can anyone recommend what is the best voice program
to use. What is needed for modem-ing? What editor is best? How does one
get set up to use this conference? We have an IBM 386 machine and a 2400
modem with Telix. What else should we get? Are there any special toll free
numbers that can be used to reduce line costs? Does Bell Telephone have any
special services or discounts for blind persons? Thanks in advance. We
sure can use help making the best choice. IBM sent a package listing screen
readers, but they are not rated. How easy are they to use? Do they work
with all software? Do they work with Bulletin Boards? Thanks again for any
help.
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Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!273!722!Jim.Mclaughlin
Internet: Jim.Mclaughlin@f722.n273.z1.fidonet.orgWalter.Siren@p18.f5.n396.z1.fidonet.org (Walter Siren) (11/06/90)
Index Number: 11582
[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]
JM> Hey, yall: I'm so glad to have found this conference. I am a rookie
JM> hacker,
JM> just new to using a modem. I have a daughter who is blind, and would like
JM> to
JM> set things up for voice. Can anyone recommend what is the best voice
JM> program
JM> to use. What is needed for modem-ing? What editor is best? How does one
JM> get set up to use this conference? We have an IBM 386 machine and a 2400
JM> modem with Telix. What else should we get? Are there any special toll
JM> free numbers that can be used to reduce line costs? Does Bell Telephone
JM> have any
JM> special services or discounts for blind persons? Thanks in advance. We
JM> sure can use help making the best choice. IBM sent a package listing
JM> screen readers, but they are not rated. How easy are they to use? Do they
JM> work with all software? Do they work with Bulletin Boards? Thanks again
Well, you asked those questions so fast that I am not sure I can
remember all of them. You will probably get answers of all
sorts. That is like asking which is the best computer, or the best
car to drive.
I think that the two best speech programs on the market are jaws,
and vocal eyes. I am sure that you will get other opinions.
You also will need to get a synthizer to go in your computer for
the speech program to work. If you get in touch with the companies
that you have on your list, they will you send you material for you
to look over, and demo tapes so you can hear how the different
synthizers sound.
The only discounts for blind people with the phone company are the
fact that you can get free directory assistance.
I hope that this will give you a start.
Walter
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Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!396!5.18!Walter.Siren
Internet: Walter.Siren@p18.f5.n396.z1.fidonet.orgRick.Alfaro@f8.n369.z1.fidonet.org (Rick Alfaro) (11/06/90)
Index Number: 11600 [This is from the Blink Talk Conference] > Hey, yall: I'm so glad to have found this conference. I am > a rookie hacker, > just new to using a modem. I have a daughter who is blind, > and would like to > set things up for voice. Can anyone recommend what is the > best voice program > to use. What is needed for modem-ing? What editor is best? > How does one > get set up to use this conference? We have an IBM 386 > machine and a 2400 modem with Telix. What else should we > get? Are there any special toll free numbers that can be > used to reduce line costs? Does Bell Telephone have any > special services or discounts for blind persons? Thanks in > advance. We > sure can use help making the best choice. IBM sent a > package listing screen readers, but they are not rated. How > easy are they to use? Do they work with all software? Do > they work with Bulletin Boards? Thanks again for any help. Jim, I know just how you feel. You must have a million questions that are unanswereed. There are many many screen readers out there, and although they all do the basic task of providing better accessibility to the blind user, they all have a different approach. I personally use Vocal Eyes which is the best in my opinion because of its small size and flexibility. It is especially nice on a 286 or 386 because it will take full advantage of expanded memory, freeing up your conventional memory for other tasks. I would be happy to talk with you voice and at least get you going in the right direction with respect to hardware and software. You can call me at 305-370-2049. If you call in the evening or on the weekend, you can keep the cost down on the phone call... Regards, Rick -- Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!369!8!Rick.Alfaro Internet: Rick.Alfaro@f8.n369.z1.fidonet.org
Chip.Orange@f778.n115.z1.fidonet.org (Chip Orange) (11/06/90)
Index Number: 11606
[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]
Hi Jim,
Probably your best source is the IBM national support center for
persons with disabilities. They will send you (at no charge) a listing
of manufactuers providing special hardware/software for the visually
impaired. The phone is (800) IBM-2133.
You'll need to basic items: a screen reading program and a speech
synthesizer. You can spend anywhere from $200 (two hundred) to $5000
(five thousand) for these two items alone. Generally the more money the
more complicated/powerful the screen reading program and the better the
speech quality. I myself am a blind computer systems analyst and as a
side-line make a speech synthesizer called the SpeakEasy (for which I
will be glad to send you a free demo cassette).
The speech synthesizers come in two basic kinds: the internal ones
on a card and the external ones which interface through a serial port.
Each has its proponents (I am a proponent of the external kind myself),
and each usually has it's own unique set of instructions or command
sequences. Therefore, it is important that the screen reading program
you choose support the synthesizer you have chosen. This is not a conern
when buying both from the same company, but most people choose to buy
each item separately to suit their own individual needs.
If I can help more you can contact me here or at work at (904)
487-2680 or at home at (904) 877-0061.
Chip Orange
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Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!115!778!Chip.Orange
Internet: Chip.Orange@f778.n115.z1.fidonet.orgDoug.Langley@f999.n203.z1.fidonet.org (Doug Langley) (11/14/90)
Index Number: 11675
[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]
As for speech, I myself would recomend the package from artica
technologies. There aren't to many toal free boards because of the high
costs.
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Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!203!999!Doug.Langley
Internet: Doug.Langley@f999.n203.z1.fidonet.orgDarrell.Shandrow@f7.n300.z1.fidonet.org (Darrell Shandrow) (11/14/90)
Index Number: 11678
[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]
I would recommend using a screen reader sutch as Jaws or VocalEyes. There
are a variety of speech synthesizers out there. Does your daughter
already have any computerized equipment sutch as a Braille 'n Speak or a
PocketBraille?
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Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!300!7!Darrell.Shandrow
Internet: Darrell.Shandrow@f7.n300.z1.fidonet.orgTommy.Craig@f60.n382.z1.fidonet.org (Tommy Craig) (11/14/90)
Index Number: 11680
[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]
Hi Jim, you ask a lot of questions and I'll do my best to answer as
many of them as posible. Let me start of by saying that there are
several screen reading packages. The four leading packages are
Jaws, Flipper, Vert and Vocal Eyes. I different packages work
better for some applications than others and a lot has to do with
personal preference. After deciding on a software package you then
need to choose a speech synthesizer. There are dozens of different
synthesizers available. The most popular ones are Accent, DecTalk,
Prose, Echo and Audapter. These range in price from a couple of
hundred to a couple of thousand dollars.
The combination that I recommend is Jaws and the Accent. I think
that they offer the most flexibility and ease of use for the money.
Jaws is quite easy to learn but it is still a very powerful screen
reading package. The Accent comes in several version and offers
several features that are not available on synthesizers costing
much more.
As far as telecommunications goes, Telix and your modem should work
just fine with any of the above packages. The same is true for
editors. Word Perfect and Word Star are both very popular with
blind users. The screen readers listed above should work quite well
with almost all ibm software as long as it is not graphics based.
As far as special services available from the phone company, the
only real service offered to blind is an exemption from directory
assistance charges for blind persons. I think that covers most of
your questions. If you have more questions I'd be happy to try and
answer them. You can call me "voice" at 512 451-1717 or "bbs" at
512 451-4349. I have demo copies of most of these screen readers
available for download. I will also be happy to tell you how to
order any of the products listed above.
Tommy
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Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!382!60!Tommy.Craig
Internet: Tommy.Craig@f60.n382.z1.fidonet.org