[misc.handicap] Computer assistance needed

ACSJNF@DEPAUL.BITNET (Joel N. Fischoff) (01/18/90)

Index Number: 6316

[This is from the BLIND-L mailing list on Bitnet.   Bill McGarry]

Hello everyone from the Windy City,

        I am just beginning to work on setting up a system for people
        within the university who are visually impaired or legally
        blind.  I realize that this will be quite a few things, but
        here is what I've got so far:

                Computer (preferably a 286 or 386) with a lot of
                        expandability [we will be linking this to
                        a StarLAN Network

                TSR: Text to Braille - For output to a Braille printer.

                A braille printer compatible with IBM-type machines
                        that can handle a StarLAN network.

                Speech synthesizer for the student using the computer.

                Personal reader (Like the Kurzweil Reader) that can
                        be set up in the same area.

        The computer network we use allows us to connect to WordPerfect 5.0,
        Lotus 1-2-3, dBase III+, and miscellaneous other packages submitted
        by instructors.  It also links us to our mainframe computers (hence
        the reason for needing a computer with a lot of expandability).

        We want to be able to set this system up in the middle of a
        open-access lab, so it has to be as small a setup as possible,
        within reasonable conditions.

        We are also trying to figure out a system to be compatible with our
        Macintosh computers.  If anyone has any ideas towards that, please
        let me know.

        Right now, I'm looking for the best prices on the best equipment I
        can get.  If you have any further suggestions for setting up such
        a system, don't hesitate to mail me.... I'm anxious to get going
        with this thing (my business is service, and right now, we are not
        really servicing our clients who need this type of special system.
        I want to remedy that situation.)

                                Thanks,
                                        Joel N. Fischoff
                                        ACSJNF@DEPAUL.BITNET
                                              @DEPAULO.BITNET
                                              @DEPAULC.BITNET
                                        Academic Computer Services
                                        DePaul University
                                        Chicago, IL

P.S.:   My personal opinions do not necessarily reflect those of my employer.

P.P.S:  For those companies that carry these type of materials, please address
        written correspondance to:

                                Joel Fischoff
                                Academic Computer Services
                                DePaul University
                                243 S. Wabash, Room 351
                                Chicago, IL 60604-2302

MAINT@UQAM.BITNET (Peter Jones) (01/18/90)

Index Number: 6320

[This is from the BLIND-L mailing list on Bitnet.   Bill McGarry]

On Fri, 12 Jan 90 10:41:00 CDT <ACSJNF@DEPAUL> said:
>        I am just beginning to work on setting up a system for people
>        within the university who are visually impaired or legally
>        blind.

There are three ways that I know of that would allow a visually impaired
person to use a computer: enlarged text on the screen, braille (paper and
electronic using movable dots) and speech synthesis.

>
>                Computer (preferably a 286 or 386) with a lot of
>                        expandability [we will be linking this to
>                        a StarLAN Network
>

I suggest a 386 because it has the capability of running virtual
machines. Thus an adaptation program running in real supervisor
mode and communicating with the user's terminal can retain control
over ANY software running in the virtual machine. The 386 can run
time-shared, allowing use by several people, and giving security
against unavailability resulting from inability to read error
messages on the screen. A time-sharing user can always regain
control over his session.

When using TSR's to communicate with the user, it will be necessary
to check for conflicts with the TSR's associated with the LAN. Have
fun!

>                TSR: Text to Braille - For output to a Braille printer.

In passing, KERMIT 3.0 is to have drivers for a large number of types of
printers. Columbia University is looking for freely-copyable printer
drivers. A braille printer driver would be nice.

>
>                A braille printer compatible with IBM-type machines
>                        that can handle a StarLAN network.

There are some on the market with IBMPC parallel interfaces. TSI makes
one, for example. Note that braille printers are intrinsically noisy,
because of the mechanical effort in punching out the dots.
>
>                Speech synthesizer for the student using the computer.
>

For English, there are quite a few to choose from. DEC has or had an
educational price on its DECtalk (max 5 units per institution). The choices
are much more limited in other languages.

>                Personal reader (Like the Kurzweil Reader) that can
>                        be set up in the same area.
>

At UQAM, we feel it is important that a student should not be at a
disadvantage solely because of an impairment. Hence, we are leery of
systems that require the student to spend a lot of his own time translating text
before he can read it. Our experience with the Kurzweil was that it was more
efficient to have a sighted operator operate the Kurzweil to read in a
book chapter for the student.

>        The computer network we use allows us to connect to WordPerfect 5.0,
>        Lotus 1-2-3, dBase III+, and miscellaneous other packages submitted
>        by instructors.

We had a problem with WP4.2 and speech synthesis. Messages, such as File
Not Found appear briefly and disappear. So, if the user doesn't explore that
area of the screen, or set up windows to be sensitive to that area, he'll be
unaware of the error. I hope there's a hook in WP that would allow error
messages to be spoken, unbidden by the user.
>
>        We want to be able to set this system up in the middle of a
>        open-access lab, so it has to be as small a setup as possible,
>        within reasonable conditions.

Be careful with this. Braille printers take up space, and make noise.
This noise, plus the noise of other students, can mask subtle auditory
cues, like disk activity. Electronic braille systems need a table-top.
Also, paper braile is bulky. A 100-page print paperback translates into
3 8-1/2 X 11 inch 3-ring binders of braille. Remember, braille must be
pressed against a firm surface to be felt. The user may need other equipment,
such as an enlarging CCTV. There's a couple on the market that can do a split
screen with a computer and a camera viewing a paper document.
>
>        We are also trying to figure out a system to be compatible with our
>        Macintosh computers.  If anyone has any ideas towards that, please
>        let me know.
>
I understand the standard software on the MAC now allows enlarging a section
of the screen. Don't know about braille. For speech, I'm currently looking at
the Soundtrack 2 program, by Alistair Edwards, for the MAC, which also requires
Macintalk, a commercial software product.

>        Right now, I'm looking for the best prices on the best equipment I
>        can get.

I wonder if you have the problem we have in the Province of Quebec. What
happens here is that aids are allotted to a person, not an institution. This
results in a person having to bring his equipment to and from home, unless
the institution can provide the same type of equipment.

Best of luck!

Peter Jones     MAINT@UQAM     (514)-987-3542
"Life's too short to try and fill up every minute of it" :-)

Ann.Parsons@f204.n260.z1.fidonet.org (Ann Parsons) (02/04/90)

Index Number: 6600

Hi Anthony,
No, what I was refering to was the gentleman who said something like 
this, "having a sighted person run off chapters has been found to be 
effecacious". Iffecacious means effective, or well done, effecient, etc. 
Try World book dictiojnary, webster's etc.
I questioned his use of a sighted person to use the Kurzweil Machine, 
meant for the blind, in order to read and copy material for a blind 
person. I felt that if they had such a machine, then the blind people for 
whom it was designed ought to be using it.
Dat's all folks! babadee-babadah-badadee!!!! <grin>
See you on-line.
Ann P.

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Anthony.Casey@hnews.fidonet.org (Anthony Casey) (02/13/90)

Index Number: 6757

>No, what I was refering to was the gentleman who said something like
>this, "having a sighted person run off chapters has been found to be 
>effecacious". Iffecacious means effective, or well done, effecient, etc. 
>Try World book dictiojnary, webster's etc.

Ah, thanks. Another year, another word added to my ... um ... oh, what's a
good word? ... a list of words I have in my memory.

>I questioned his use of a sighted person to use the Kurzweil Machine, 
>meant for the blind, in order to read and copy material for a blind 
>person. I felt that if they had such a machine, then the blind people for 
>whom it was designed ought to be using it.

But surely (just to be argumentative), a device is a device is a device. And,
if it's useful to those who can see, why shouldn't they use it? Did you mean
blind people should exclusively use it?

Anthony

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