Voice of Vision
Volume 5 Number 3 -- July 1997

Welcome to Voice of Vision, GW Micro's quarterly newsletter. 
Subscription information can be found at the end of this issue.

We've had such response to certain articles we're including a few
of those from issues of the past year which readers have told us
they found especially useful.  In addition, the newsletter
includes its usual announcements and helpful hints. 

This issue has been sent to you free of charge.  Regular
subscribers will have another issue added to the end of their
subscription, so a year's subscription will include five issues.

____________________
Window-Eyes 2.0 - It's finally here!
by Doug Geoffray

On May 7, 1997 Window-Eyes Version 2.0 was released!  It is
loaded with many new features and many improvements.  There are
so many changes that I couldn't possibly discuss them all here. 
However, I will discuss the more popular and powerful changes
since version 1.1, and there are a lot of them!

We showed a beta of Window-Eyes 2.0 for the first time last March
during CSUN.  This is a very popular show held each March in Los
Angeles.  The response was extremely positive.  The main comment
was, "I wish you could have come out with it earlier but I knew
it would be worth the wait."  I apologize for the delay in
releasing 2.0 but I am sure you will also agree that it was worth
the wait.  Let me discuss some of the new features.

Of course the biggest improvement is the support for Windows 95. 
Version 2.0 will support both 3.1x and 95.  Many people are
asking us, is 2.0 a 32 bit application?  My answer is both yes
and no.  In order to do certain tasks under 95, we need 32 bit
code.  But to remain compatible with 3.1x, we also need 16 bit
code.

By not being 100% 32 bit, is the performance suffering?  Are
there disadvantages?  Not really.  Remember, the majority of
Windows 95 is 16 bit code.  Sure, if Window-Eyes were fully 32
bit code, it would run a bit faster but it probably would not
even be noticeable.  In fact, you will find that version 2.0 is
much faster than version 1.1.  We have optimized several key
areas giving it a much more responsive feeling.

With 95 support comes support for the 95 controls.  Controls like
tree views, list views, tab controls, and the many other new
controls offered by Windows 95.  We have also added full support
for the Win32s controls.  Win32s is the 16 bit equivalent to many
of the controls found in 95.  This automatic support makes many
new applications talk right out of the box with little or no
customization.

A new auto graphic labeling feature has been added.  If the
application you are using uses tooltips, Window-Eyes can be
instructed to automatically get the tooltip and label the graphic
with the text.  A tooltip is a visual label that is displayed as
the mouse moves over a graphic image.  Now, with the press of a
single keystroke, Window-Eyes will automatically find all those
tooltips and label the graphics.  Obviously, this is great for
new applications, especially when sighted assistance is not
possible.

Application context sensitive help has been added.  This is a
feature that allows you to give context sensitive help for
certain areas within an application.  Although this is
technically not a screen reader function, it sure can make using
a new or unfamiliar application more friendly.  When you hit the
help hot key, you are presented with a Window-Eyes dialog box. 
The main area in the dialog box is an edit box that displays the
help information.  Of course this information is read as well. 
Because it is in an edit box, you can read either the entire
thing or cursor through it at your leisure.  You can also very
easily change the text if you wish.

Along with using the mouse pointer to review the screen, we have
added a WE cursor.  This acts just like the mouse pointer but it
is an invisible pointer.  By being invisible it will not affect
the application.  With some applications, just the act of moving
the mouse over a certain area can cause a screen change.  Not
with the WE cursor.  There is a simple hot key which will toggle
the normal hot keys from using either the mouse pointer or the WE
cursor.  You can also easily route one cursor to the other.

A new line filter option allows you to quickly skip certain lines
when you are reading.  A perfect example of this is using any
sort of email application like Eudora.  When a user responds to a
message, the previous text is entered with each line starting
with a greater than symbol.  If you want to skip the reading of a
line that starts with a greater than, this is the feature.  This
feature is extremely easy to setup and is very flexible.

A new feature has been added to route the mouse or WE cursor to
marked text.  Remember those pesky spell check options within
your word processor?  Typically, the misspelled word is
highlighted within your text while focus is given to a dialog
with optional words and many other options.  The problem is if
you want to read text relative to the misspelled word, it was
very difficult.  Now, this can be done with a single key press or
better yet, automatically via a hyperactive window.

Window-Eyes still has its fifty standard user windows and ten
hyperactive windows.  The hyperactive windows are now fully
functional.  A few new commands have been added once a
hyperactive window triggers.  For example, you can now execute
any hot key.  It is amazing how useful hyperactive windows can be
in certain cases.  Not only are they useful but they are easy to
setup.  Whether you are setting up a hyperactive, float, or
standard user window, Window-Eyes easily allows you to do it. 
These windows can automatically adjust when the Microsoft window
is moved or resized.  This is a powerful and useful feature that,
surprisingly, not all windows screen readers support.

Setting the voices (rate, pitch, volume, and tone) globally has
been greatly simplified.  The verbosity settings are much easier
to set as well.  In general, much of the user interface has been
enhanced to allow the user a friendly and easy access to the
wealth of Window-Eyes options.

There will be different keyboard layouts available.  Many users
love our current scheme but many do not.  Especially laptop
users.  We have therefore provided a couple other different
layouts.  But of course you always have total control of how you
want the keyboard lade out.  Through the hot key menu, you have
instant and easy access to your specific wants and needs.

Stability has always had a high priority with us.  Version 2.0 is
no exception.  We have taken every step to insure that
Window-Eyes is as stable as possible.  Many of the beta testers
have told us they believe Window-Eyes is one of, if not the, most
stable Windows screen reader on the market.

Although DOS is on its way out, there are many cases where it may
be preferred or necessary.  Using DOS boxes has been stabilized
even further.  Having Window-Eyes running and Vocal-Eyes in
several DOS boxes is not only a possibility, it is a reality.

With each release of Window-Eyes we have improved the speed and
responsiveness.  With version 2.0, we have again achieved a
noticeable speed increase.  Many "old time" DOS users have always
preferred the responsiveness of the DOS screen readers such as
Vocal-Eyes.  Responsiveness can no longer be a reason for staying
with DOS.  The responsiveness of Window-Eyes is extremely close
to that of Vocal-Eyes.

We realize some of these new features are offered in other
Windows screen readers.  However, we feel that simply having the
ability is only a small portion of what needs to be done.  The
features also need to be easily accessible.  In other words, can
the average user initiate a feature or does it require a computer
scientist?  We feel that we have not only offered a complete
array of features and flexibility but also the ease of use.  This
is not an easy task but we believe we have achieved it in
Window-Eyes.

The list of new features and enhancements goes on and on but I
hope I have given you a taste for some of the new items.  We are
very excited to be able to offer a strong and powerful 95 screen
reader.  Although version 2.0 is a bit slow in coming out, we
felt it was better to have a strong and flexible product that was
late than offer a weak and unfriendly product that was on time.
If you purchased your original copy of Window-Eyes on or after
February 1, 1997, the upgrade is free.  If your current copy of
Window-Eyes was purchased prior to February 1, 1997, the upgrade
is $75.00 plus shipping.  The upgrade will consist of a new disk
which should be installed over your existing copy and a new tape
tutorial.  The disk will include the new 2.0 manual as well as a
file (README.TXT) which will describe the changes since version
1.1.  You can purchase a 2.0 manual on tape (4-track) or print
for $10.00 per format.

I would like to add the following since this article was first
published.

The comments we have received with version 2.0 have been
extremely positive.  However, we have continued to make
improvements and enhancements.  For example, we have since added
a feature that makes the system tray (located at the right side
of the task bar) completely accessible.  Most users aren't even
aware of the system tray simply because it has not been
accessible in the past.

We have also added an elegant way of switching from synthesizer
to synthesizer on the fly.  With a simple dialog located off the
file menu, you can select any of the Window-Eyes supported
synthesizers, and any necessary information pertinent to that
synthesizer.  Once you select the OK button, that new synthesizer
will be used.

There are many other features and enhancements that have been
added.  All these features will be offered to existing 2.0 users
at no cost.  This won't be available for a couple of months.  I
do not want to put out a specific date for obvious reasons.  In a
few weeks we will be offering a public beta of the new version. 
This beta can ONLY be retrieved from our FTP site.  If you do not
have access to an FTP site, unfortunately you will not be able to
work with this beta.  However, once we start shipping, we would
be glad to send you the upgrade.

Please stay in touch.  Window-Eyes is getting better and better
with each new day!

____________________
Getting to the Internet
by Crista Earl

So you've heard a lot about the Internet lately.  How can you
avoid it?  Every time you hear a news show or read a magazine
somebody's telling you to learn more at www.something.somewhere. 
Your first question regarding the Internet might be, "If I were
to decide I wanted to use the Internet, how would I go about it?"

There are a number of answers to that question.  First, you need
to know what options are available in your area.  Second, you
need to decide whether you want to access the Internet through
DOS or through Windows.

To use the Internet, you first must have an Internet account. 
You can think of this account as something like the account you
have with the cable television company.  You call the cable TV
company, tell them you want service, they do whatever it is at
their end, you plug the cable into your television at your end,
and there is nothing to do but pay the bill each month.  With an
Internet account, they do whatever they do at their end and they
usually send you software to install on your computer.  Then you
use your trusty modem and phone line to connect.  Unlike cable
television, there is no special hardware necessary at your end. 
The software the Internet company (called a provider) sends you
is probably not even anything you couldn't buy or download any
number of places.

You'll want to get an account with a provider that can give you a
local phone number to call.  If you live in an area with few
providers, this may limit your other service options.

While you're looking for a provider you need to be asking a few
questions.  If you're determined to use DOS to access the
Internet, you need to ask providers if they offer a "shell"
account as one of their options.  If so, this means that you'll
be able to access the text on the Internet only, not the graphics
and not the sound files.  But, you'll be able to use Vocal-Eyes
in DOS and not have to bother with Windows.

One of the most important pieces of software you'll need for this
adventure is a "browser."  This is what you use to go wandering
around looking at articles and looking for things.  The browser
is what interprets the information on the Internet and, among
other things, displays it on the screen.

Netscape is currently the most popular browser for Windows.  It
is fairly speech-friendly and very powerful.  If you decide to
use Windows to access the Internet, your provider will more than
likely send you a CD or a set of floppies containing Netscape and
other software.

If you'd rather use Vocal-Eyes than Window-Eyes while accessing
the Internet, you'll probably find the browser you're offered is
actually a UNIX program called Lynx.  To use Lynx, you use your
modem and some sort of ordinary telecommunications software such
as Telix, Commo, Procomm Plus, or whatever you're comfortable
with to call the access number that your provider gives you. 
Once connected, you select Lynx from a menu or type "lynx" at a
prompt to run the browser.

Now there is the issue of expense.  The going monthly rate for
unlimited Internet access in most areas appears to be $19.95. 
Many providers, however, have special promotional offerings that
let you have the first month for much less.  Some offer both a
shell account and a PPP account (that's what you generally use
when accessing the Internet through Windows) for the same price,
others offer them separately and you need to pay for them
separately if you want both.

The equipment you plan to use comprises the remainder of the
expense.  If you have a slow computer with little memory and a
slow modem, you'll want to get a shell account or upgrade your
machine.  If you have at least a 486 with 8 megabytes of memory
and a 14.4 kbps modem, you might consider using Netscape with
Windows.

Netscape gives you far more power than Lynx and greatly
simplifies many of the activities you'll do while on line.  It
allows you to download files directly to your own system instead
of having to move them first to a UNIX system and then to yours. 
It, because it is a Windows program, allows you to pop out for a
moment, unzip a file you've just acquired, check that it's what
you wanted, and return to your on-line session without missing a
beat.  It allows you to browse new sites while downloading a
file.  It allows you to download several files at once (you'll
need a fair amount of memory to do much of this).  If you have a
sound card, it lets you play sound files, including radio
broadcasts, while connected.

If you only want to search for and read articles and don't have
any interest in learning Windows, you won't realize the benefits
of Netscape.  Lynx might be a better choice for you.

Assuming you decide to go with Netscape, the first thing to do is
to decide what it is you're going to do for your first session. 
The simplest thing to do is to look at a web site.  A web site is
simply a document, sometimes a very complex document, that
someone has written and put on a computer somewhere in such a way
that it can be read by your browser.  Your local radio station
probably has one.  Maybe your library does.  Maybe the company
you work for.  For your first attempt, let's go to a web site
you've heard about instead of trying to search for one.

Go ahead and startup Netscape.  It will ask you for your
password.  You know what it is because the person you spoke with
at the Internet provider gave it to you or asked you to make one
up for yourself.  Type it in, answer any other questions the
program asks, and press the enter key.

The program will first use your modem to dial the phone number
that connects you to the Internet, and then run Netscape for you. 
You'll know you're in Netscape because Window-Eyes will say
"Custom Control Frame Netscape" and then the name of the first
page that comes up.  This is probably your provider's home page
(a home page is basically a type of web site).

If you don't plan on viewing the pictures and graphics that come
up on the next screens, you can turn them off.  Pictures take a
lot of time to come across the phone lines.

To turn off the loading of graphics, press the Alt key to
activate the menu.  Press the letter "O" for options.  Netscape's
Options menu will come down.  Use the up and down arrows to move
to "Auto Load Images."  If you've just installed Netscape, this
is checked.  Press the enter key to uncheck it and return to the
page that was loaded automatically.

For your first web site, let's choose something without a lot of
clutter.  We'll choose the USA Today site.  Its URL (universal
resource locator, or simply its address) is www.usatoday.com. 
So, press Control-L to bring up a dialog which prompts for the
location.  Type 

www.usatoday.com

and press enter.  As soon as the page comes on the screen,
Window-Eyes will read as much of it as is shown.  You'll hear
something like "College Football... In-Depth Coverage of every
Division I football program... Top News... Scores... Stocks..." 
Some of the items on the screen are headlines.  Others are links
to other documents.

What is a link?  What do you do with it?  Simply put, a link is a
mark in the document which shows you that you can move to another
document.  They are usually displayed as underlined text in
Netscape.  Stored in the document along with the text of the link
is the address of another document or file.  That document or
file might be on the same site or it might be somewhere else in
the world.  The author of the document you're reading thought
these other items might be of interest to you.

In the case of USA Today, most of the links on the "Front Page"
are links to articles or lists of articles in the magazine.

To move from link to link, press the Tab key.  If you want to
back up, press Shift-Tab.  Window-Eyes reads each link as you
land on it.  When you find one of interest, click the left mouse
button or press the center key on the numeric keypad.

Your hard drive will work for a moment as the new document is
loaded and Window-Eyes will read you the first page.  If you wish
to continue reading the same page, just press the page-down key.

What if you run out of time before you finish reading?  Of
course, you can get back to the site you're viewing the same way
you arrived here now, but what if you forget the URL?  Some of
them can be quite lengthy.  Netscape has a bookmark feature that
allows you to bounce back to this point.

To place a bookmark on the USA Today page, simply press the Alt
key to activate Netscape's menu, "B" to bring down the Bookmark
menu, and "A" to add the bookmark.

Now that you've added this site to your bookmark list, let's try
another type of site.  Switchboard allows you to look up the
phone number and address of nearly anyone in the United States. 
To go there, press Control-L to bring up the location dialog
again, and type in the URL

www.switchboard.com

followed by the enter key.  Do you notice that many commercial
web sites have names that you can almost anticipate?  Try
guessing the URL for GW Micro or Arkenstone (hint:  Arkenstone is
an ORGanization and not a COMpany).

After you press enter, Netscape takes you to the Switchboard
site.  You'll find a few links on the first screenful, but you'll
probably have to press page-down to get to the good stuff.  There
you'll find links labeled "Find People" and "Find Businesses."

Try finding your own listing. Press Tab or Shift-Tab to move to
"Find People" and press the center key on the numeric keypad to
click the left mouse button.  The Switchboard search form will
appear.  Window-Eyes will read the directions to you and
Switchboard will wait for you to do something.

A "form" is exactly what you probably think it is.  The site
you're visiting needs information from you in order to do its job
and is presenting you with a means of supplying the details. 
It's called a form because it is modeled after a printed form. 
Imagine you're requesting that a service look up this information
and that you must submit the request in writing.  You write the
person's name in the blank provided, the city and state in their
respective spaces on the form, and hand over the piece of paper.
Someone takes it, performs the search, and brings back the
answer.

Switchboard works exactly the same way, except that there is a
computer with a database at the other end instead of a person. 
You must position your caret in the right part of the form and
type in the right information.  When you're done, you must press
the "Search" button and wait for an answer.

Simply press Control-Tab and Window-Eyes will move to the first
"control" in the form.  This is an edit box for the last name of
the person for whom you are searching.  Type in the last name. 
Press Control-Tab again and Window-Eyes will move you to the
first name field.  Type it in.  Since you're looking for yourself
and you most likely know where you live, move to the city and
state fields and fill them in.  The last control on the form is
the "Search" button.  Once there, press the left mouse button
(center key) to click on it and execute the search.

Switchboard finds up to eight entries which match your search. 
If you have a common name and didn't specify the city, there
could be a lot of you out there.  You'll need to press the
Page-Down key to hear some of them.  If you'd like to look at the
next eight, click on "Next Page" (move to it by pressing the Tab
key).

Would you like to zoom back to the USA Today site?  Press Alt to
activate the Netscape menu, "B" for Bookmark, and press the up
arrow to go to the last item in the list.  Unless you've strayed,
this is the Switchboard entry you just made.  Arrow up one more
time and you'll find the USA Today bookmark.  Press the enter key
and Netscape will whisk you back to the magazine.

Space does not allow us to look at all the many things you can do
on the Internet.  Now that you know how to look at a site and
fill out a form, you'll turn into an Internet expert in no time. 
Let us know where your home page is when you've finished setting
it up.

____________________
What is Active accessibility?
by Doug Geoffray

If you have been following the Graphical User Interface (GUI)
arena you surely have heard the term "Active accessibility."
Although many may have heard the term, I believe few understand
what Active Accessibility is and how it is going to help. 
Hopefully, I will be able to explain on a high level why Active
accessibility is so important.

First, let me start by stating what Active accessibility is not.
It is not a stand-alone application.  In other words, Active
accessibility does not replace your screen reader, large print,
or voice recognition application.  Active accessibility can not
be used with Windows 3.1x.  Currently, Active accessibility is
only supported under Windows 95 although NT support is scheduled
sometime later in 1997.

Active accessibility specifications are basically architecture
and interface standards which support the integration of
accessibility tools (such as a screen reader) with
accessibility-aware applications (such as a word processor).
Stated another way, it is a tool which allows an accessibility
tool to talk with an off-the-shelf application.  Microsoft is
responsible for designing and implementing this technology
although they have had much input from accessibility vendors.  So
why is it important for a screen reader to talk with an
application program?  Well, who knows better about what is
displayed on the screen than the application that placed it
there?  So it only makes sense to ask the application what the
images on the screen actually represent.

If Word, for example, placed a pretty little graphic on the
screen, Window-Eyes would need to guess at what it is.  Not only
the name of the image but what the image is capable or not
capable of doing.  But if Window-Eyes were allowed to say: "Hey
Word, what is this image you placed on the screen?"  Then Word
could say: "Hey Window-Eyes how's it going?"  Okay, they really
don't get this friendly but it could say: "The image you are
referring to is a checkbox.  It is currently unselected.  The
field name for this checkbox is "blah" and the field data is
"blah blah."

This type of communication is very exciting.  No more guessing at
what is going on.  The user no longer needs to spend hours and
hours figuring out what the application is doing.  The blind user
doesn't need sighted assistance to label graphic images.  It's
just all-around good stuff.  Or, using Microsoft's terminology,
it's really cool.

So if Active accessibility allows this friendly communication
channel between the accessibility tool and applications,
shouldn't everything just work beautiful?  Shouldn't Window-Eyes
be super intelligent about every application and speak exactly
what you want to hear?  As a blind user, shouldn't you be able to
use any off-the-shelf application with Window-Eyes as good as
your sighted co-worker?

Theoretically, the answer to this question is yes.  But we know
the difference between theoretical and "real world" situations.
Active accessibility is very new.  As I said before, Active
accessibility is simply a communication channel.  If the
application program was not written to handle this communication,
Active accessibility is, for the most part, totally useless for
that application.

In other words, every application on the market would need to be
modified to be Active accessibility aware.  Obviously this will
take time.  Even with Microsoft itself it will take years before
they incorporate Active accessibility fully within each of their
applications.  However, the new Office 97 uses Active
accessibility.  This in itself is very important since this new
release of Office is extremely visual and different than any
other Windows application on the market.

Microsoft is placing pressure on other software manufacturers to
incorporate this technology.  For example, in order for a third
party software manufacturer to use the Microsoft logo, it needs
to adhere to certain requirements from Microsoft.  Currently
those requirements strongly suggest the application be Active
accessibility aware.  Microsoft has hinted that sometime in the
future this will go from "strongly suggest" to "it must" be
Active accessibility aware.

It only makes sense for a new application to incorporate this
technology.  This would automatically make that application
accessible for all types of disabilities.  However, convincing
manufacturers to upgrade existing applications may be more
difficult.

So far I have mainly shown Active accessibility as an interface
between an accessibility tool and an application program.  This
is certainly a big part, but the other important aspect is the
integration of the accessibility tool and the operating system
itself.

Under Windows 3.1x it is relatively easy to get, or hook, into
the operating system.  This allows the screen reader, for
example, to see what exactly is going on.  However, by allowing
an application to hook into the operating system on this level
sacrifices both system integrity and security.  The Windows 95
operating system has improved on this but not as much as Windows
NT.  Window-Eyes for example would not be allowed to hook into
Windows NT as it does with Windows 3.1x and 95.  One of the main
design goals of NT is to make the system as stable and secure as
possible.  This means if you have an ill-behaved application, it
won't take down the entire system.  You simply close down the
badly behaved application.  All the other applications will be
untouched.

Because of this security, the only way for accessibility aids to
reliably get the needed information is to use Active
accessibility.  All operating systems from 95 on up will
eventually incorporate Active accessibility as a core component
to the operating system.  Assuming you are using an accessibility
aid which supports Active accessibility (such as Window-Eyes) you
are guaranteed access to the operating system and its tools.
Also, if you are using an Active accessibility aware application
you will again be guaranteed access to that application.

I strongly believe the future of Windows and blind people is not
as gloomy as many believe.  Granted, the road is extremely rocky
today but in the near future things will improve.  As long as
Microsoft continues integrating Active accessibility in its own
products and pressures other software manufacturers to do the
same - the future looks very promising.  I know GW Micro is doing
everything it can with Window-Eyes to help this process.

____________________
Announcements
New Product

CrissCross Technologies announces a new series of audio tutorials
designed to help speech users learn to use Windows 3.1x and
Windows 95.  The tutorials use a relaxed, conversational style
and take listeners through the basics of starting up Windows and
into using screen-reader features to simulate mouse movement. 
Installing new software, searching for information in the Windows
help system, and many more topics are discussed.  "Speaking of
Windows...3.x" is recorded on four ninety-minute cassettes and
sells for $50.00.  "Speaking of Windows 95" is on six cassettes
and sells for $60.00.

For more information, or to place an order, contact GW Micro.

Window-Eyes 2.0

Window-Eyes 2.0 was released on May 7, 1997.  The price is
$495.00 plus shipping until August 1st.  After August 1, 1997 the
price is $595.00 plus shipping.  If you purchased your original
copy of Window-Eyes on or after February 1, 1997, the upgrade is
free.  If you purchased your original Window-Eyes prior to
February 1, 1997, the upgrade is $75.00 plus shipping.  The
upgrade will consist of a new disk which should be installed over
your existing copy and a new tape tutorial.  The disk will
include the new 2.0 manual as well as a file (README.TXT) which
will describe the changes since version 1.1.  You can purchase a
2.0 manual on tape (4-track) or print for $10.00 per format.

____________________
Subscription Information

Voice of Vision is published four times a year in large print, on
audio cassette, on 3.5-inch PC diskette, and in Braille.  You can
receive a subscription for $10.00 for each format.  VV is also
available on GW Micro's bulletin board and ftp site at no charge. 
Payment can be made by check, MasterCard, Visa, American Express,
or Discover.  Send checks and format specifications to the
address below.

We seek reader input.  If we use an article you've submitted,
you'll receive a year's subscription at no charge.  

Please send articles on IBM compatible diskette or in print to:

     GW Micro, Inc.
     725 Airport N. Office Park
     Fort Wayne, IN  46825

If you have any questions or comments, please contact us at:
Voice: (219) 489-3671
Fax: (219) 489-2608
BBS: (219) 489-5281
Web Page: www.gwmicro.com
FTP Site: ftp.gwmicro.com
EMail: vv@gwmicro.com
