Blind News Digest # 1185
Bill McGarry
Issue # 1185
Tuesday, November 28, 1995
Today's Topics:
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XC Skiing with/for Visually Impaired People
Re: Slates? Grade 3 Braille?
dot six
maps for the blind
Re: Maps for Blind People
Re: COLOR PERCEPTION - HELP!
Software for blind people to read flow charts
Glasses for Visually Impaired
Phil Scovell's blt563
Blind Wrestler
Re: Blind Wrestler
Tactile Graphics
PC-Info for Italian Blind People
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Subject: XC Skiing with/for Visually Impaired People
From: jmi...@cass.ma02.bull.com (John Luke Mills)
Organization: Bull Worldwide Information Systems.
This winter New England Regional Ski for Light is again planning two
weekend long cross-country ski trips. Once again we are recruiting
for new guides and visually impaired participants. If this
opportunity sounds attractive to you, please contact me using the
information after the trip listings. Training is provided for both
new guides and new participants as needed.
Guides do not need to have any experience working with visually
impaired people, but must have at least intermediate cross-country
skiing skills.
The following is the major run down on the trips.
1996 WINTER EVENTS
January 19 - 21, 1996 North Conway, NH
We will be staying at the Cranmore Mountain Lodge in North Conway, NH.
We will be skiing at a local ski touring center. The cost of the
weekend, including: Friday night pizza, two nights lodging, Saturday
dinner, breakfast both Saturday and Sunday, box lunches on both
Saturday and Sunday, skiing and all taxes and gratuities, is $125 per
person. Lodging will be 2-4 per room.
February 23 - 25, 1996, Twin Mountain, NH
We will be staying at a new motel close to the ski touring center at
Bretton Woods, NH. The name of the motel is Paquette's Motor Inn in
Twin Mountain. Breakfasts and dinner will be at the Inn. The cost of
the weekend, including lodging, Saturday dinner, breakfast both
Saturday and Sunday, skiing and all taxes and gratuities, is $85 per
person. Lodging will be double occupancy. Lunches are available at
the ski touring center at your own cost.
Although Guide Dogs are welcome on the trips, there are restrictions
that may eliminate your participation in the Sunday activities. Guide
Dogs are not allowed on ski trails for safety reasons. On Sunday
(after check-out time in the AM) you will be responsible for attending
to your dog as there are no local kennels. Please consider this when
deciding to bring your dog or not.
Transportation will be available by car pooling. You will be contacted
about a week prior to departure to make travel arrangements. It is
assumed that guides will be available to drive unless they otherwise
specifically notify the travel coordinator. Please let us know how
many passengers that you will be able to take. All passengers are
expected to "chip in" for gasoline.
The due date to apply for either or both trips is December 15, so if
you are interested contact me as soon as possible.
I can be reached via email at:
via phone at:
home (508) 858-3820 work (508) 294-3693
or via US mail at:
John Luke Mills
P.O. Box 586
Nutting Lake, MA 01865
Guiding is a great way to meet some really wonderful people, enjoy the
outdoors, and do something good. I started guiding cross-country
skiers with this group two winters ago. (I like it so much, I spent a
whole week in Colorado doing it last winter and will spend a week in
South Dakota this winter!) Guiding is now the most rewarding part of
the whole winter for me. I was stunned at how differently I saw the
world when I had to see for someone else as well. It was like
doubling the volume. I can't express how rewarding this has been.
Most visually impaired participants seem to find this an extremely
positive experience. For some beginners, it is truly
transformational. I will never forget Suzzie in Colorado. I sat with
her at diner on the first night. She was so shy and drawn into
herself it was almost impossible to have a conversation with her. She
seemed to be having great difficulty simple getting around in this
fairly large resort/hotel. Her facial expressions were sullen.
At the end of the week, it was difficult to recognize her. She was
smiling non-stop, full of energy, extremely outgoing, curious about
EVERYTHING going on around her. She also didn't have any problems
getting around the hotel anymore. It is the most amazing change I
have ever seen in a person.
What more can I say. This is a great experience for both the guides
and the visually impaired participants.
--
)
o /
> / )__ __
/ / / ) )
/ ( / ( (
(__/
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Subject: Re: Slates? Grade 3 Braille?
From: blackb...@delphi.com (Kathy Blackburn)
Organization: Delphi (in...@delphi.com email, 800-695-4005 voice)
You should be able to find a Grade III Braille course from the Hadley School
for the Blind In Winnetka, Illinois.
Sincerely,
Kathy Blackburn
Austin, TX
Internet: Blackb...@delphi.com
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Subject: dot six
From: sk...@northend.com (Skip Lombardi)
Hi. Laurie Hudson here, using Skip Lombardi's E-mail address. Thanks
for getting back to us. Here's what's up. I believe that it was through
you that we acquired a Braille font. It's fabulous - replaces all kinds of
verbiage about Braille cells in my reports and makes for some handsome
worksheets for sighted kids. The probelm is that I sorely need a capital
letter sign (dot six alone.) Is there a way to create that or other
customized dot configurations within the Braille font?
Thanks so much,
a Braille teacher out there
_________________________________________
Join me in my personal war against technology gone out-of-control
FAX, E-Mail or call my pager for more information
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Subject: maps for the blind
From: cto...@freenet.hamilton.on.ca (Clifford Tooher)
Organization: Hamilton-Wentworth FreeNet, Ontario, Canada.
Hi, I saw an interesting article the other night on maps for the blind.
It has been killed, I would like to know who sent it. I am a producer of
a disabilities show here in Hamilton ON Canada. I think it's an
interesting topic to explore. Whoever posted the article, please contact me.
Cliff Tooher
Executive Producer, AWARE
93.3 CFMU
P.S. Anyone else interested in this show can drop me a line.
--
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Subject: Re: Maps for Blind People
From: Ch...@gilliard.compulink.co.uk (Chris Gilliard)
Organization: CIX
> The RNIB (Royal National Institute for the Blind) in London should also
> be able to help.
I purchased some plastic film in A4 sheets from the RNIB, London a
while ago. When drawn on with a stylus, it leaves a raised line behind, so
can be used for any freehand raised line drawing, as well as permanent
Braille embossing.
They have a raised-line map service as well.
--
<sb>
Chris Gilliard Stanmore, London, U.K.
e-mail Ch...@gilliard.compulink.co.uk
<sb>
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Subject: Re: COLOR PERCEPTION - HELP!
From: coet...@icdc.fr (Alain Coetmeur)
Organization: Informatique CDC
In article <37...@handicap.news> ke...@empyr.dircon.co.uk (kevan winch) writes:
>
> I am trying to find information on the Giles Archer lantern test for
> determining color perception.
>
> I have a negligible red-green anomaly which is preventing me from pursuing
> certain career paths. What I would like to do is to build / buy a Giles
> Archer lantern and investigate the possibility of 'training' my eyes to
> consistently recognise red and green correctly. I have failed such a test
> already, but only by a fraction. I am convinced that whilst I am unable
> to instantly identify red & green under extreme conditions (tiny aperture
> and very dim light), this may be because I am *looking* for 'red' and
> 'green'. I *DO* see a difference between them, but not the most obvious,
> i.e. one is red, the other green !
>
> I would therefore like to build / buy lantern testing equipment to enable
> me to study the colors that I cannot 'see' to look for a reliable way to
> correctly identify them.
>
> I would be *Extremely* grateful for *ANY* information, leads, ideas, etc.
my 1 cents idea.
maybe is it not permited, but why not use a
red or green filter to indicate you which is what.
if when you put a red and a green filter the one filter on which
the light less faded is of the same color as the light.
why not put light colored filters drawings on glasses
and use them as a discrimination tool
naively I'll paint a red-filteringing R letter on one part of a glass.
a green-filtering G letter just beside or even together...
if the R is lighter the the G, and quite as light as transparent
then the light is red, and vice-versa...
this is quite unrealistic, but can be the begining
to a usable device...
--
=============================================================
coet...@icdc.fr (Alain Coetmeur, Informatique-CDC R&D dept.)
[Dislaimer: Opinions expressed here are my own... ]
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Subject: Software for blind people to read flow charts
From: 099...@cosmos.wits.ac.za (Alan McLachlan)
Organization: University of the Witwatersrand
Derek Moloto, a blind student at the University of the
Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, would like to study
Business Management.
Can anybody tell me if Derek will be able to use the DECtalk speech
Synthesizer or Alva Braille display with the following things:-
1. Typing into flow charts.
2. The Microsoft product called ACCESS.
3. And LOTUS 123 Version 5.
Please will you E-mail me with any suggestions.
Thanks in advance.
Alan McLachlan
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Alan J. McLachlan
Disabled Students' Programme
University of the Witwatersrand
Private Bag 3
WITS
2050
Rep of South Africa
Telephone Number: INTERNATIONAL 27+11+(716-3211)
Fax Number: 27+11+(716-3227)
E-Mail: 099...@COSMOS.WITS.AC.ZA
---------------------------------------------------------------------
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Subject: Glasses for Visually Impaired
From: 10027...@compuserve.com (Reuven Nisser)
Hello All,
I am not a specialist in this field but I just read an article in PC Magazine
regarding a new instrument which helps fitting glasses to work with computer
screen.
They say that you can get additional information about it at Internet address
pri...@teleport.com
Regards, Reuven
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Subject: Phil Scovell's blt563
From: sha...@bga.com (Jim Shaffer)
Organization: Real/Time Communications - Bob Gustwick and Associates
I've put Phil Scovell's Blind Library of Text files, #563, up
on my home page. This replaces the older version.
--
Jim Shaffer
Austin, TX
email: sha...@bga.com
Phone: (512)835-1431
home page: http://www.realtime.net/~shaffer/
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Subject: Blind Wrestler
From: bradf...@aol.com (Bradfo1800)
Organization: America Online, Inc. (1-800-827-6364)
I am currently coaching a blind wrestler and was wondering if anyone has
any tips. I think he has a chance of being a good wrestler and I want to
provide him the best benefits I can.
Thank you for your help.
Brad
Bradf...@AOL.com
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Subject: Re: Blind Wrestler
From: mm...@ix.netcom.com (Mary Fowler )
Organization: Netcom
In <38...@handicap.news> bradf...@aol.com (Bradfo1800) writes:
>
>Index Number: 38471
>
>I am currently coaching a blind wrestler and was wondering if anyone has
>any tips. I think he has a chance of being a good wrestler and I want to
>provide him the best benefits I can.
>
.......... Years ago I had a guitar teacher who had had polio & used
crutches. He was also an award winning fencer. He fenced left handed
and stood in 1 place & let the other person move around. He often took
people by surprise, which helped. Fencing is certainly not
wrestling, but some of this may be transferrable. Mary
--
On the Internet we do not speak for the commissions.
Mary Fowler Mayor's Commission on Disabled Persons
James Gonsalves Mayor's Commission on Human Relations
Terry Morgan JG's Assistant
330 19th Street, Suite 50, Oakland, CA 94612-3406
mm...@ix.netcom.com
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Subject: Tactile Graphics
From: qu...@peg.apc.org (tim connell)
The following article is being sent for general information and to encourage
feedback from people who use tactile graphics or are involved in their
production.
There has been a product available in Australia for a few years now called
Picture Braille. If you haven't heard of it, I will give a description
shortly. There are about to be some major and exciting changes to the
product that will enable images scanned on any scanner, or that exist in
electronic form in commercial products such as Corell Draw, to be
automatically converted to a braille file for embossing. We would appreciate
input from people, with comments suggestions or any other relevant
information.
Picture Braille in its present form consists of software and hardware. The
software is a standard drawing program, similar in complexity and function
to Paintbrush or MS Draw. All regular drawing functions are available from
an icon based menu. Picture Braille presently comes with a hand scanner, a
software key or "dongle" and a mouse. The hand scanner has a half card that
needs to be installed on a desk top PC (IBM or compatible). The software
must have either the scanner or dongle to function properly. With the
dongle, Picture Braille can operate on either a laptop or desktop.
The whole idea of Picture Braille is that images scanned from a print copy,
or drawn from scratch within Picture Braille, can be turned into a tactile
graphic. Editing of the file can take place using the regular drawing
features, and the file is then converted into an ascii braille file. As a
braille file, very fine editing can take place; right down to individual
dots as they will appear on the final embossed copy. Also braille labels can
be added and placed wherever appropriate on the diagram. A menu of eight
textures (different dot patterns) is available to provide additional
information about the image.
Once editing and labelling are finished, the file is then sent to an
embosser (most commercially available embossers are supported). If there are
any changes required once the final output has been examined, these can be
quickly done on the screen and the file re-sent to the embosser. The file is
then stored in a directory chosen by the user. Operation of the whole system
is straightforward, and no specialist computer knowledge is required. There
is a simple, one line instruction given for every function.
Apart from the obvious advantages in producing tactile images quickly and
easily, Picture Braille has the really important adavantage that it enables
the image to be placed in context with-in a regular braille text file. Hence
the common practice of having images at a different location to the
supporting text can be avoided.
OK, so this is how Picture Braille operates now. The major change that will
become available in early 1996, is the ability to take any file that is in a
.PCX format into Picture Braille and convert it into a braille graphic.
Naturally there will be some limitations, mostly to do with the type of
image, (high contrast line drawings translate the best), however it will
make a wide range of materials accessible. There will be a filtering system
for composite graphics whereby colours can be selected, and this will help
make many more complex graphics tactually meaningful.
The .PCX format is available with most scanning systems and most drawing
programs. What we are really not sure about is the level of technical skills
residing with the people that are traditionally making tactile graphics. We
do know this varies greatly from country to country.
We would like to hear from people regarding their experiences with or
knowledge of making tactile graphics, and what peoples expectations would be
for a product such as Picture Braille. Also information on who should be
targeted (individuals and organisations) would be appreciated.
Tim Connell
Quantum Technology
Tel: +61 2 684 2077
Fax: +61 2 684 4717
Email: qu...@peg.apc.org
Snailmail: P.O. Box 390, Rydalmere 2116 Australia
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Subject: PC-Info for Italian Blind People
From: 10064...@dub-news-svc-4.compuserve.com (Alberto A. VILLA)
Organization: AAVILLA StatMath Consulting
Dear Reader, I am an italian supporter of blind people.
I am not blind and none of my friends is blind.
But I find out, because I am a statistician, what a blind can do by
PC and a speech synthetizer.
I knew that in Italy very few people were conscious of the capabilities of
PC and blind people with them.
For this reasons, I organized a public event by mean of which I
made some advertising to these, well known for you, capabilities
and by mean of which I collected some funds to gift an informatica
schoolroom, several introductory courses to PC, to Office
Automation and to Internet Navigation and a prototype of fully
automated office for blind people to suggest, as a standard, to our
firms.
I appeared in some famous italian talk-show, I was cited in a lot
of newspapers articles and interviewed by radios, TV-news and
press. Now I am looking for few simple information, because I have
to solve a lot of simple problems that none in Italy has faced and
blind people asked to me for their solution.
Can you kindly help me?
I am alone in this hard work and you solved the most of the small
problem we are now facing. I am volunteer with few time because I
have to work for myself too. Not only for instance, first questions
are:
1) do you know software, producer & dealer of a package that writes
music on "pentagramma"? ( some blind musicians ask for this to me )
2) do you know software, producer & dealer of a package that makes
right translation from Italian to English and viceversa? (main
matter of italian blind to access Internet and linked info for
blinds is that they do not know english and they need an initial
help)
3) which are your experiences about Speech Synthetizer for Windows,
which is the best?
4) is it possible to load software part of a Speech S. for W. and
to work by mean of a sound card with speakers only? Can
this improvement lower cost of blind-PC?
Thanks you very much.
Alberto A. VILLA
10064...@compuserve.com
vi...@vm.uni-bocconi.it
!^NavFont02F06500007MGHHM52D42C
--
dr. Alberto A. Villa
Contract Professor
Statistical Methodology
BOCCONI University
Milan ITALY
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End of Issue # 1185 of the Blind News Digest
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