laurae@ATTUNIX.ATT.COM (Laura Eaves) (09/03/90)
Index Number: 10021 [This is from the BLIND-L mailing list] > - A low-vision person has to work with a UNIX machine (Siemens version > Sinix). Is there any character enlarging software available that works > with the standard terminal (not a PC as terminal)? I am legally blind and have been working on UNIX since '82. I use either of two systems: 1) Since grad school, I've been using a closed circuit video system designed for enlarging terminals. My system consists of a Vtek Voyager II with external camera that sits on a stand with mirrors over the terminal. (This configuration has since been discontinued. However, TSI does have a similar product called a "CRT Readout System" in which the camera sits on a stand in front of the terminal.) The nice thing about this type of setup is that it can be used on ANY type of terminal (graphics terminals, workstations, etc), and even on other large objects. The camera is maneuvered and focused manually. 2) A couple of months ago, I also purchased TSI Vista. This is the enhanced graphics card for DOS machines that enlarges both print and graphics. The main advantages to using Vista are 1) cursor tracking (you don't have to hunt for the cursor), 2) color (TSI now has a closed-circuit color video system, but as yet, it can't be used with an external camera. However, I understand this will change soon.) 3) no need to focus. Although Vista doesn't run on a UNIX machine, it is quite simple to use a PC as a terminal. All you need is terminal emulator software. There are other character enlargers on the market, but I don't have the information handy. You may be interested to know that MacIntosh computers come with a utility called "Close View" for low-vision users that lets you zoom in on any part of the screen, track the mouse icon, view in reverse video, etc. I used it once briefly, but since mouse-driven interfaces are quite awkward to use when enlarged, I tend to shy away from them as much as possible. Sorry -- I have no info on music systems for low vision, but my guess is that general enlarging systems (such as Vista) could be used effectively with standard software/hardware packages, and there would be no need to adapt them specifically for low vision users. At least that SHOULD be the case. Hope this helps... -- Laura Eaves, AT&T Bell Labs, Warren, NJ
MAINT@UQAM.BITNET>Peter Jones) (09/03/90)
Index Number: 10022 [This is from the BLIND-L mailing list] On Fri, 17 Aug 90 17:08:04 +0200 Jan Engelen said: >- A low-vision person has to work with a UNIX machine (Siemens version > Sinix). Is there any character enlarging software available that works > with the standard terminal (not a PC as terminal)? I don't see how that can be done, unless you use a driver that changes a string like "TEXT" to: TTTTT EEEEE X X TTTTT T E X X T T EEE X T T E X X T T EEEEE X X T (Maybe the person could see the text better if one used a solid square to draw the characters, instead of repetitions of the character as above). Note that I have spaced the characters wide apart. That's because I know of a person who could read text 21 characters wide, but not 40 characters wide, produced on an NTSC TV screen by a Commodore micro which is no longer manufactured. I've forgotten the model number, but it seemed to be the one below the Commodore 64. Maybe it was called a C20 or a C40. I've never seen any other terminal device that would produce 21 characters; most start at 40. This Commodore had an RS232 interface in a 5-pin DIN plug, so it would require an external modem. In enlarging text, it would also be necessary to have software capable of going back over the virtual screen, enlarging the part the user wants to see. That's a lot of overhead to inflict on a mainframe. It may be possible to use the video output of a terminal and use a large TV screen with video input. Some people hook Macintoshes with 27-inch TV's for example. >- Does anyone know what type of hardware is used by Stevie Wonder for writing > his music? I'd love to know too. I seem to remember seeing a photo of him with a Versabraille from TSI in California, some years ago. I wonder if he uses a micro that sends/receives MIDI code to the keyboard/synthesizer. I hope this info is helpful. "A Kleenex in the the hand is worth two in the box" Peter Jones (514)-987-3542 Internet:Peter Jones <MAINT%UQAM.bitnet@ugw.utcs.utoronto.ca> UUCP: ...psuvax1!uqam.bitnet!maint
Tom.Gerhart@f210.n273.z1.fidonet.org (Tom Gerhart) (09/14/90)
Index Number: 10356
[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]
Hi Laura,
I work for Social Security adm. and I use a large print system called
Lyon Large. It is sold by TSI and sells for about $1200.00. It works
well with the Avatar emulation software that I use, along with Artic
speech. I like the Lyon because you do not need a mouse and you can keep
yours hands on the keyboard. Tom G
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Internet: Tom.Gerhart@f210.n273.z1.fidonet.orgTimothy.Mcilwee@p0.f15.n114.z1.fidonet.org (Timothy Mcilwee) (09/17/90)
Index Number: 10395
[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]
This response is in regards to the person who wanted info about
screen enlargers for unix. I have a public domain program to
do just this for a Dos PC. It allows you to read a text file and
enlarges the letters. It doesn't enlarge letters in other programs
though. The way it works is to find the pattern in ROM that the PC
uses to print letters on the screen (it builds them up with patterns of
dots) and enlarges this pattern to be much larger. Something similar
could be done on Unix systems, though it may be specific to the
particular computer (or terminal) running unix. This would be a good
question to redirect to a Unix technical conference.
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