Blind News Digest # 1199
Bill McGarry
Issue # 1199
Tuesday, January 30, 1996
Today's Topics:
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Tech magazine: Bitstream (fwd)
Skiing for the blind in the New England area
Re: parking question
Re: Listing of all specialist software for blind people
Netherlands for the visually handicapped
Problems with ZOOMTEXT 5.1
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Subject: Tech magazine: Bitstream (fwd)
From: rsmi...@WILLAMETTE.EDU (Robin K Smithtro)
For Immediate Release
1/3/96
ShrinkWrap Computer Products is announcing the return of
Bitstream, a bi-monthly magazine for blind and other people who
are interested in accessible computer and other high technology.
Bitstream will now take the form of a cassette based
publication and will be produced in the standard audio format at
the standard audio speed. This is a change from the earlier
floppy disk format. We at ShrinkWrap feel that audio cassette
will make Bitstream more available to more people. It will also
provide a medium for delivering "live" demonstrations, interviews
and other interesting presentations.
ShrinkWrap Computer Products is a vendor and consultant
dealing with a wide variety of adaptive products. It is our
sincere intention to openly state our biases and affiliations
with respect to the information we present. Bitstream on
cassette, like the earlier disk based version will not be an
advertising medium for ShrinkWrap. We will welcome announcements
of general interest from all providers of adaptive technology.
The main focus of Bitstream will be for the user of PC
compatible computer equipment who is employing speech or braille
access to the computer's output. A heavy emphasis will be placed
on the access problems faced by the evolution of the graphical
user interface.
The PC focus, however, will not be a limitation. We will
actively encourage and welcome contributions to the magazine on a
variety of subjects. These may include access to any sort of
information, mobility aids or even high tech tools or appliances.
We will avoid the area of consumer electronics. Depending on
reader feedback, we may begin to include some features on amateur
radio.
Bitstream on cassette will begin publication in March or
April, 1996. It is essential that we get a commitment from a
core group of initial subscribers. Six bi-monthly issues of
Bitstream on 90 minute tapes will cost $22.
If you are able to subscribe using a credit card, the card
will not actually be charged until near the release of the first
issue. It will, however, be very helpful to get an good
estimation of the number of subscribers we will have.
If you would like to subscribe, you can call us at 703-620-
4642. We can be reached via Electronic Mail at
"72456...@Compuserve.COM". Our postal address is
ShrinkWrap Computer Products
11706 Saddle Crescent Circle
Oakton, VA 22124
Please make checks payable to ShrinkWrap Computer Products.
Thank you.
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Subject: Skiing for the blind in the New England area
From: matt...@panix.com (John R. Mattioli Jr.)
Organization: Pitney Bowes, Shipping & Weighing Systems, Shelton, CT
Greetings,
I am looking for ski areas in the New England and New York areas that
have good ski programs for blind skiers. I have been quite discouraged so far.
Might anyone be able to suggest resorts that have guide programs?
Any assistance would be much appreciated!
John
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Subject: Re: parking question
From: mm...@ix.netcom.com (Mary Fowler )
Organization: Netcom
In <39...@handicap.news> ECZ...@MVS.OAC.UCLA.EDU (Dotti Warren) writes:
>
>Index Number: 39053
>
>I have recentely been informed of a case in litigation in NY
>regarding disabled parking. The question is the validity of
>charging for disabled parking in that is used in connection with
>the performance of one's job. I was wondering if anyone of the
>legal eagles out there knows more about the subject? I have to pay
>to park and the bus situation is such that i would have to walk up
>a very long bank of stairs to use the public transit so i have to
>drive and park. although some may not find $40 a month a
>prohibitive cost, it sure seems like it is to me. In addition,
>there is an ongoing war with delivery vehicles for the only close
>spots so paying for something you dont really get is starting to
>bother me a great deal. Any one have any additional info.? I think
>the case is Lyon vs ACLU.
>
>any help appreciated
>dotti warren
>ucla
>
............................. End of Dotti's note ...............
Dotti: Are you ever able to find parking on the street? You probably
know that you can park there for free if you have a placard. When we
park in a parking structure we always have to pay the same as everyone
else. I haven't heard of any.
Oh, one more thing. Sometimes a person with a disability has been able
to persuade a city to arrange for a blue curb parking spot right where
they need it. Would you be able to try that? When I worked at NASA
Ames in Silicon Valley, CA, one person in our department has the painful
kind of arthritis which younger people get. A parking space was
arranged right by the entry that he used. Mary
--
On the Internet we do not speak for the commissions.
Mary Marshall 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: Re: Listing of all specialist software for blind people
From: 7672...@CompuServe.COM (R Narain)
Organization: CompuServe, Inc. (1-800-689-0736)
That sounds great, keep us posted!
I am legally blind and use Close View on the Mac, does
anyone know if IBM has any comparable programs?
--
:)
:]
:>
R Narain
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Subject: Netherlands for the visually handicapped
From: kari...@cc.helsinki.fi (Kari Ojala)
Organization: University of Helsinki
I'm visiting Netherlands on February, and would like to know about any
special services for the visually handicapped people there. (discounts
on fares, enlarged maps etc.) Any help appreciated. A e-mail- or
WWW-address of the National organization for the visually handicapped
people wold be nice.
Kari
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Subject: Problems with ZOOMTEXT 5.1
From: p...@oce.nl (Peter Verhoeven)
I now uses ZOOMTEXT 5.1 as screen magnifier running under MS-DOS and
microsoft WINDOWS.
It seems that in this new release of the software, there are several
points witch are minor than previous releases. I've Ai Squared asked for
there comments on this problems but i've get no answer until today.
There are three problems i want to mention here:
Problem 1: SWITCHING BETWEEN WINDOWS AND MS-DOS
When open a full DOS box in WINDOWS and i go back to windows with EXIT
ALT+TAB or CTRL+ESC the computer hangs! In previous releases (ZOOMTEXT
1.44) this was not a problem. The only problem in version 1.44 was, that
when you went to MS-DOS the dos screen let some colors of windows behind.
A solution for the hanging problem is to open not a full DOS session but
a dos window.
Problem 2: bad scrolling with hot keys ALT + Arrow keys.
In ZOOMTEXT 5.1 there are blabally two ways to scroll. With the mouse and
witch the hot keys. In ZOOMTEXT 5.1 the scrool facility is minor than in
previous releases. That is a pitty because of the importance of
scrolling. It is now under ZOOMTEXT 5.1 very difficult to scroll with the
hot keys Alt + Arrow keys. One press When you press once on these keys
there seems to occur nothing. When you pres 1000 times on this keys maybe
you are half away the screen. When you hold the keys pressed you jump to
the border and could not read anything. The scrolling with hot keys was
good in previous release. Why did Ai Squared this? Or do i something
wrong?
Problem 3: Zoomout works not good
An other important facility is the zoomout function. When i pres zoomout
CTRL + SHIFT + Z i get the zoomout tool. When i press the left mouse
button i can zoomout and position de zoomout windows on an other position
of the screen. I get a problem when i want to stay on that new position
witch is mostly the case. I can press SHIFT + CTRL + v to stay there but
this is not always successful. When the ZOOMTEXT toolbox is opend i shell
never come on my new position. In previous releases the zoomout feature
worked very good.
Can someone tell me why Ai Squared has change these things. Are there
more ZOOMTEXT users over the world who have problems with these points.
Are there ZOOMTEXT users who know a solution for this problems? Please
let me know it!!!
I will also say that there are very positive points in the new ZOOMTEXT
release 5.1. The software follows now always the different cursors and
menu's. The software runs now under different screen resolution. The
software runs now under 256 colors. You can define different
magnification screens primary and secundary windows.
I think it is the best screen magnifier for windows on this moment.
Half february there comes a new release of LUNAR witch runs also under
WINDOWS 95 maybe LUNAR will become a serious concurrent for ZOOMTEXT
because LUNAR has no problems with switching between DOS and WINDOWS.
Follows always the cursors and has a good scroll facility.
Peter Verhoeven
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End of Issue # 1199 of the Blind News Digest
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