Barbara.Akin@f15.n114.z1.fidonet.org (Barbara Akin) (03/01/90)
Index Number: 7008 Scott, I just happened to see your message to Marty where you were curious about the way blind persons use computers. Hope I'm not butting in here, but I thought I'd let you know how my system works, since Marty is on an Apple, and I am on an IBM compatible. Actually I have a Toshiba laptop with what is known as the Artic card installed in it. I use what is known as a "screen reader" program that allows the computer to speak exactly what is on the screen that a sighted person would be looking at. I get exactly the same information this way as you get by looking at the screen. I teach computing on a freelance basis, teaching Wordperfect, data base management, MS Dos, and telecommunications. I teach sighted and blind or low vission students. My oldest student believe it or not was 71, a sailor, right off the ocean, who'd never even touched a computer before. He was then in the proccess of starting a part time accounting business, and needed the computer to do it. He's doing great! Now, something about myself personally. I am an old lady (38) with two children ages 4, and 8, both girls, (and they say boys are hard to handle, haha). Computing is just one of my many addictions, I also love hiking, horseback riding, biking, goofing around with my kids, well, I basically would just like to play, and not work, if that were posible, no, I actually like my work--just not house work! Well, Scott, I had better run, have a student comming pretty soon, and have to get my little one ready to go over to my Mom's while I teach. See you soon. Hope I satisfied some of your curiousity. -- Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!114!15!Barbara.Akin Internet: Barbara.Akin@f15.n114.z1.fidonet.org
Floria.Antin@f304.n109.z1.fidonet.org (Floria Antin) (03/22/90)
Index Number: 7241 The other day in the supermarket there was a young blind man shopping with an aide. I don't know if he regularly has one or if he was being trained. It started me wondering how people who are blind go shopping by themselves, especially in a supermarket where items such as produce are not always in the same place, even for items that are not moved frequently, how can you know that it is what you want and not soething else? -- Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!109!304!Floria.Antin Internet: Floria.Antin@f304.n109.z1.fidonet.org
Barbara.Akin@f15.n114.z1.fidonet.org (Barbara Akin) (03/22/90)
Index Number: 7248 Susan, I use a Toshiba 1200/H lap top computer (IBM compatible) with Telix as my tellecommunications program. I just got Check Free, from Check Free Corperation for managing my money, but haven't installed it as of yet. I'm waiting for Check Free to send me the manual on disk in Ascii format so I can load it into my word proccessor and read it. I'll let you know how I like it, once I get it up and running. What kind of computer and software are you using? -- Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!114!15!Barbara.Akin Internet: Barbara.Akin@f15.n114.z1.fidonet.org
Barbara.Akin@f15.n114.z1.fidonet.org (Barbara Akin) (03/22/90)
Index Number: 7249 Floria, well, the subject of shopping could rather long and involved. Actually, I have a series of articles that were published in a magazine for blind women called Our Special on the subject of shopping. Actually, its not difficult at all, you just have to have a system. I shop, and havve shopped on my own since I was in junior high! I do mall shopping, discount house shopping--grocery stores--you name it. So, I guess to make a long subject rather short, for grocery shopping I simply type up my list on the computer. Then, when I get to the store, I have a stock person go around the store with me, checking off the list with a pen as we go. I like doing it this way, because the stock people usually also know what's on sale, or what's a good deal, and can inform me of this. They also know the lay out of the store rather well, so we usually get done rather quickly, even when shopping as I do for my whole family. I just follow the cart as they go around the store, and help with picking the brands I want, etc. Its really Easy, no big deal at all! If you'd like a copy of my tape, with all the shopping articles on it, write me here at Insight International Inc 3106, North 42. St. Phoenix Az. 85018. I'll be glad to send you a copy. -- Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!114!15!Barbara.Akin Internet: Barbara.Akin@f15.n114.z1.fidonet.org