Look 'n Feel
>From the Disabled/Special Needs and Visually Impaired/Blind User 
Groups of The Boston Computer Society
Jan/Feb '92
Volumne 2, Number 2

Inside
	Highlights of AT '91
	From The Editor
	Computer Access with Speech
	MegaMeeting & MacAccess
	Left Handed Keyboards
	AT '91: Vendor's List

Look 'n Feel
Contributors
	Nancy Kellogg-Steele
	Jamal Mazrui
	Charlotte Corbett
	
Special thanks to the Massachusetts Easter Seal Society for the photograph 
on page one.

==========

Highlights of Assistive Technology '91

	Assistive Technology '91 was held on September 26th, in 
Marlborough, Massachusetts. This was the second annual, statewide, 
cross-disability conference on assistive products for people with 
disabilities. This year's theme was "Independence Through Choices," with 
the idea that an informed consumer will be best suited to choosing 
products that promote independence.
	The conference featured booths from over 40 vendors representing 
assistive devices, services, and equipment for people with disabilities. 
Twenty workshops and product demonstrations were held over the course 
of the day. Workshop topics covered the utilization of assistive technology 
for communication, computers, recreation, funding, mobility, and work. 
Demonstrations of hundreds of products as simple as a dinner plate with 
suction cups to a computer operated by voice were provided to a diverse 
audience.
	The keynote address was given by Dr. Irving Zola, a professor of 
sociology at Brandeis University. An afternoon panel of individuals with 
disabilities shared their experiences with obtaining and using assistive 
technology. Over 300 people attended including individuals with 
disabilities, family members, and service providers. The event was a 
cooperative venture of D/SNUG, the ADD-Tech and RES-Tech programs at 
Seaside Education Associates, the Massachusetts Assistive Technology 
Partnership, the Massachusetts Developmental Disabilities Program, the 
Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission, the PROJECT TECH program of 
the Massachusetts Easter Seal Society and the Adaptive Computing Lab at 
the University of Massachusetts at Boston.
	On pages 9 - 11, you will find a list of vendors who exhibited their 
computer products.

==========

Wizard of Oz & the Yellow Brick Road
Editorial by Charlotte Corbett

	The road to finding computer access solutions can be compared to 
Dorothy's trip down the Yellow Brick Road. A calamity hits, a falling house 
as a result of a tornado, and you're no longer in Kansas. Munchkins tell 
you to see the Wizard of Oz, but the only suggestion they give you is, 
"follow the Yellow Brick Road."
	If Dorothy had traveled this road alone, how do you think she would 
have fared with wicked witches, flying monkeys, and poppy fields? These 
pitfalls do not only occur in cinematography, they occur in the real world, 
disguised as misinformation, lack of funding, and total frustration. Of 
course this all pre-supposes someone has pointed us to the correct path. 
	The road to success for Dorothy was not what lay at the end of the 
Yellow Brick Road, it was the journey she took with her friends, Scarecrow, 
Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion. Each member had a different end goal in 
mind, yet by working together through sharing experiences, laughter and 
tears they found their pot of gold (oops, wrong story).
	Members of the BCS have their own end goals. Whether it is reading 
the screen, using the keyboard, or learning how to use the computer, it is 
the journey that enriches us. If we do not deviate from the path, how can 
we learn about other opportunities out there? If we continue to be a group 
of users, with our only commonality being a subscription to "Look 'n 
Feel," how can we grow? Finding computer access solutions means 
changing our focus from a group of users individually seeking the Wizard 
of Oz to a users group travelling down the Yellow Brick Road. To 
accomplish this we must share our experiences, laughter, and tears. 
Participate in this newsletter. Send your questions, your access solutions, 
your thoughts and opinions.

==========

Computer Access With Speech
by Jamal Mazrui

Based on a Workshop Presented at the Yankee Ingenuity Conference
Portland, Maine, July 9, 1991

	With the development of personal computers in the 1980's came the 
growth of adaptive technology as well. The "information age" has been 
especially relevant to blind and visually impaired people because 
information stored on computer is not intrinsically visual: the electronic 
"bits and bytes" can be output visually to a screen, but they can 
alternatively be output in synthetic speech, braille, or large print. While 
braille and large print access meet significant needs, speech access is the 
most popular because of its relatively low cost and usefulness to visually 
impaired persons whether or not they know braille or see enough to read 
large print. 
	A speech access system consists of hardware, a speech synthesizer, 
and software, a screen reader program. The speech synthesizer produces 
audible robotic speech whenever the screen reader program sends it 
characters to pronounce. Various screen reader commands, executed by 
the blind user, allow different portions of the screen to be read. Rate, 
tone, punctuation, and other speech settings can be selected by the user 
to determine how text is read. Speech synthesizers range in price from 
about $250 to $1500, mainly depending on how human-like the voice 
sounds. Speech quality is not nearly as important as a first time listener 
might think: one gets used to the voice just like learning a foreign accent. 
A good mid-range synthesizer can be bought for about $500. Screen 
reader programs generally cost about $500 as well, making the cost of a 
good speech access system about $1000. Considering that this gives a 
blind user access to 95% of all IBM compatible software, it is a bargain! 
	Four major applications are especially useful to blind computer 
users: DOS (the Disk Operating System), word processing, database 
management, and telecommunications. Although all text based (as 
opposed to graphics based) software can be accessed with speech, a wide 
range exists in how coherently and efficiently the screen reader can 
verbally convey the visual display of a program to the blind user. 
Software is thus referred to as more or less "speech friendly" depending 
on how much configuring of the screen reader is required to operate it in 
a practical manner. For example, having to execute four screen reader 
commands every time one wants to know what menu option is currently 
highlighted would not be practical to most users. 
	DOS is used to manage the collection of files on a hard or floppy 
disk, including copying, renaming, and deleting files. Luckily, it is 
extremely friendly using the default settings of any screen reader. 
WordPerfect (by WordPerfect Corporation in Orem, Utah) is fortunately 
both the most popular word processor on the market and the most speech 
friendly, commercial word processor. Due to the intensiveness of word 
processing as an application (about 75% of all computer use), some word 
processors have been developed specifically to be friendly to blind users 
working with speech. With WordPerfect, however, one can take advantage 
of the sophisticated features of a commercial word processor without a 
big sacrifice in speech friendliness. This is partly because virtually all 
screen readers have added capabilities to make using WordPerfect as 
convenient as possible. 
	The access problem facing a blind computer user may be divided 
into one of input and output. Without seeing the keyboard, what keys 
should I press to communicate to the computer? Without seeing the 
screen, what is the computer communicating to me? The input problem is 
readily solved by touch typing, memorizing the layout of the keyboard as 
any good typist doesQthere is no need to put braille or raised letters on 
keys. The output problem is addressed through a combination of methods 
by which the screen reader verbally communicates the most relevant 
portion of the screen at any given time. These methods may be termed 
review mode, cursor tracking, hot keys, and monitoring. 
	Review mode is a way of interrupting the operation of the word 
processor or other application in order to execute commands to inspect 
the screen by line, word, or character or to search the screen for a 
particular word or phrase. Its drawback is that commands such as editing 
corrections cannot be sent to the application while in this mode, causing a 
delay in exiting review mode, making any changes, and then re-entering 
review mode to check that the changes occurred as intended.  
	Cursor tracking is the automatic association of reading commands 
with application commands. For example, each time the down arrow key 
is pressed, the screen reader reads the line that the cursor lands on. 
Similarly with other application keys for which the relevant information 
to be spoken can be predicted. 
	Hot keys are a way of reading portions of the screen without 
entering review mode. The screen reader may include hot keys for 
reading the whole screen, the line, word, or character under the cursor, or 
some user-defined "window" of the screen. Hot keys are usually 
combinations of the Alt or Control key with a letter of the alphabet, such 
as Alt-l to read the current line. Their drawback is in keyboard conflicts 
with the application, e.g., if it uses Alt-l to load a file.  
	Monitoring is a way to telling the screen reader to be continuously 
checking a certain part of the screen for a specified change and then 
automatically executing a screen reader command if that change occurs. 
For example, most screen readers can be configured to monitor the status 
line in WordPerfect and then automatically read it if it changes. In this 
way, the function keys in WordPerfect are made speech friendly. Prompts 
such as "Document to be saved:" by pressing F10 are automatically read 
because they cause the status line to change. Some screen readers permit 
more precise changes to be monitored and more sophisticated responses 
to be enacted. 
	Another application, database management, is common on 
computers because of the ease of searching, sorting, and summarizing 
data once entered with such software. The efficiency gains for a blind 
person are potentially greater since braille and tape means of storing data 
tend to be more cumbersome than print. If the database is not designed 
logically and maintained consistently, however, problems in data 
coherence and relevance can result that are harder to correct than paper 
files. 
	In an effort to ensure database integrity and friendliness in a 
mailing list application, I developed a software package called "The 
Contact Tracking System" using the Foxbase programming language.  It is 
intended to be powerful in features, visually, and speech friendly by 
default with any screen reader. Features include an unlimited number of 
names, address, and phone numbers; division of contacts into business, 
personal, or any other user-defined categories; mailing labels; envelope 
printing; and form letter generation.  On-line help is available at any time 
by pressing the F1 key.  Choices can be selected by pressing the first letter 
(e.g., 'a' to add a record) or by highlighting the choice with the arrow keys 
and then pressing Enter. 
	Verbal output is intended to be optimum for maximum efficiency:  
not too much and not too little.  Every time a different mode of the 
application is entered, a verbal summary of the full visual display is 
given.  In an editing mode, each time the cursor moves to a different field, 
the name of the field and its current value are automatically spoken (e.g., 
"City: Portland"). 
	Other database applications I have developed with the same user 
interface include a music library, home inventory manager, and 
information and referral systemQtracking organization, service, 
publication, and equipment resources available to the blind and visually 
impaired.  These database applications are by no means the only route for 
effective speech access to databases by blind computer users.  They are 
simply my best attempt, using my knowledge and experience, at designing 
speech and visually friendly systems.  I am interested in developing other 
general use or custom built applications for individuals or organizations 
desiring this service. 
	The fourth and final computer application I will discuss is 
telecommunications. The primary limitation of blindness, in my opinion, 
is the inability to readily read the printed word. Though it does not 
eradicate this problem, telecommunications can make considerable in-
roads by enabling blind persons to electronically acquire a wide range of 
traditionally printed text, obtained from other computers also connected 
to a standard phone line by a simple modem. Computers at local as well 
as long distances now store and make available newspapers, government 
regulations, and vendor catalogs. Most have electronic mail capabilities as 
well, facilitating meetings and discussions by people with similar interests 
in remote locations. For blind persons, social as well as print barriers are 
reduced since their disability is not known online unless or until they 
wish to disclose it. 
	Telecommunications software, fortunately, tends to be nearly as 
easy as DOS to access with speech. Once the software is configured, it 
takes only a few simple keystrokes to select, dial, and connect to another 
computer. Once connected, the screen reader easily intercepts and routes 
to the speech synthesizer a copy of all text being transmitted to the local 
screen by the remote computer. 
	Unfortunately, learning to configure the telecommunications 
software is often a significant obstacle, much more so than actually 
accessing it with speech. A number of interrelated technical terms must be 
generally understood to diagnose and correct connection problems. A few 
hours of individual assistance from an experience user go a long way in 
jumping this learning curve. A comfortable and productive plateau is then 
usually reached by the self-reinforcing attractions of this new frontier.
	For more information on computer access with speech, contact:
	Jamal Mazrui
	Access Success
	745 Somerville Ave., Apt. 2
	Somerville, MA 02144
	Phone: (617) 666-9856

==========

MegaMeeting VI & MacAccess
March 28 & 29, 1992
	The time is fast approaching for MegaMeeting VI. It promises to be 
the best MegaMeeting ever, sponsored by the Macintosh Users Group of 
the BCS and Computing Services of the University of Massachusetts at 
Boston. It will be held at the Clark Athletic Center of UMass/Boston's 
Harbor Campus. This year we will be featuring a dual track program of 
Macintosh related products in general and those for people with 
disabilities. Because the Macintosh is such a versatile and accessible 
machine, there is plenty of overlap between the two tracks. We're calling 
it MacAccess and will keep you posted these events & others.
==========

Left-Handed Keyboards

The Curative Workshop Rehabilitation Center in Green Bay Wisconsin 
asks, "about a keyboard designed for a left-handed typist."

	Keyboards come in many shapes, sizes, and layouts. The only reason 
for the standard keyboard design, called QWERTY, is tradition. Before the 
advent of the QWERTY design, fast typists using manual typewriters would 
have to stop their work and un-jam the keys, hence slowing down 
productivity. Today there are no mechanical justifications for the design, 
except for the slow learning curve required to learn a new keyboard 
layout.
	An alternative to the standard keyboard design is the DVORAK 
layout. The DVORAK keyboard is designed based on frequency of letter of 
usage and ease of reach. Below are four diagrams of keyboard layouts 
(QWERTY, DVORAK Simplified, DVORAK for left handed use, and DVORAK 
for right handed use). Although none of these are strictly designed for 
single handed use, you can see how much easier each layout is by visually 
typing the word "the."
	Creating a DVORAK layout can be accomplished many ways. Many 
popular macro programs allow you to redefine keys. The easiest method is 
to purchase software designed specifically to convert your keyboard, or to 
purchase a DVORAK keyboard. In most cases, software is cheaper than 
hardware. If you buy a keyboard you need to carry it around to each 
computer you use.
	The two companies listed below provide software to convert your 
QWERTY keyboard into a DVORAK. In addition, Dvorak International also 
provides information on software typing training for these keyboards and 
a listing of other companies that provide custom keyboards.

	Typewriting Institute for the Handicapped
	3102 W. Augusta Avenue
	Phoenix, AZ 85021
	602-939-5344

	Dvorak International
	11 Pearl Street
	Brandon, VT 05733
	802-347-6020

(diagram of QWERTY Layout))
(diagram of DVORAK Simplified)
(diagram of DVORAK Left Handed Layout)
(diagram of DVORAK Right Handed Layout)

	In addition to keyboards specifically designed for a left handed 
typist there are some other strategies and products which may be helpful. 
These are less complex than reconfiguring the keyboard, particularly if 
you don't have a person with a technical background to rely on. Tutorial 
programs which teach one handed typing skills on a standard QWERTY 
keyboard have been developed for children and adults. Following are two 
vendors to contact:

	Keyboarding for the Physically Handicapped
	Gregg/McGraw-Hill
	1221 Avenue of the Americas
	New York, NY 10020
	800-262-4729

	Keyboarding With One Hand
	Educational Electronic Techniques
	1088 Wantagh Avenue
	Wantagh, NY 11793
	800-433-8872

	One Handed Typing Tutorial
	Innovative Computer Software
	1388 Springwater Drive
	Fairbanks, AK 99712

	One-Handed Typing
	Mr. Matthew Jones
	P.O. Box 82729
	Fairbanks, AK 99708

	Another strategy that might be helpful would be the use of a mini-
keyboard. (Typically a mini-keyboard is 5 x 8 inches in size, each key 1/4 
- 1/2 inch.) If the user has trouble reaching all areas of the standard size 
keyboard, but has good dexterity, can be used in conjunction with a mini-
keyboard configuration or a one handed typing tutorial. Contact the 
following vendor for more information.

	TASH Inc.
	70 Gibson Drive - Unit 12
	Markham, ON L3R 4C2
	Canada
	416-475-2212

==========

	If you have any questions, are searching for a particular product, or 
just need to know more about your computer, write:
	Look 'n Feel
	c/o D/SNUG
	The Boston Computer Society
	One Kendall Square
	Building 1400
	Cambridge, MA 02139

==========

AT '91: Vendor's List

Add-Tech
Services provided include information and referral on assistive 
technology, individual on-site, at home or at work, consultation on 
assistive technology needs, and a monthly newsletter.
Mellissa Chalmers
P.O. Box 341
Lincoln Center, MA 01773
800-875-7990

Adaptive Communication Systems, Inc. 
Distributor of augmentative devices for speech impaired persons. ACS 
provides voice output devices, and computer access.
Dewitt Zuse
62 Orchard View Road
Guilford, CT 06437
203-453-4820

Articulate Systems, Inc.
Voice Navigator II
The voice user interface.
Control any Macintosh application by voice, using spoken commands to 
execute any function normally performed with your keyboard and mouse. 
Voice Navigator II recognizes any voice, any accent, any language.
Phyllis Cheng
Articulate Systems, Inc.
600 West Cummings Park, Suite 4500
Woburn, MA 01801
617-935-5656
800-443-7077

CAST Inc.
CAST, a not for profit organization, works with children and adults whose 
disabilities interfere with the full expression of their capacities for 
education, employment, or development. Assessment and training 
services are offered for individuals of all ages and with a wide range of 
special needs.
Katie Barnes, P.T
Tim Dubuque, M.Ed., O.T.R./L.
39 Cross Street
Peabody, MA 01960
508-531-8555

Connecticut Rehabilitation Engineering Center
A center for technology resources, its mandate is to examine technology 
service delivery models and to provide rehabilitation technology 
education and information to the public.
Richard G. Cerna; Delmar Weston; Brian Pells
78 Eastern Boulevard
Glastonbury, CT 06033
203-657-9954

Massachusetts Assistive Technology Partnership Center
The Massachusetts Assistive Technology Partnership promotes public 
awareness of assistive technology, increases access to information and 
training on assistive technology, and seeks to improve funding and 
resources related to assistive technology. It is a cross-disability project for 
all ages.
Judy Brewer
Massachusetts Assistive Technology Partnership Center
Gardner 529, Children's Hospital
484 Main Street
Worcester, MA 01608
508-751-6344

Res-Tech
Project Res-Tech is a federally funded research project which is studying 
the impact of generic assistive products on enhancing the quality of life 
for individuals with disabilitites.
James McCormack; Steve Tello
P.O. Box 341
Lincoln Center, MA 01773
617-893-7990

Special Connections
Special Connections is a subscription database and newsletter service to 
connect buyers and sellers of "nearly new" medical or assistive 
equipment. The database includes equipment for physically challenged 
children and adults, assistive communication devices, computers, hospital 
beds, vans and more.
David Seltzer
P.O. Box 6702
Holliston, MA 01746
508-429-3926
800-634-LINK

Synergy, Inc.: Adaptive Technology Services/Adaptive Innovations
Synergy, Inc. is dedicated to providing state-of-the-art computer 
technology to empower persons with disabilities. They provide assessment 
and training and develop innovative hardware and software.
Dawn Russell, M.A., CCC-SLP;
John Hachey; Emily Hoeffell, Ed.D.
66 Hale Road
East Walpole, MA 02032
508-668-7424

TeleSensory
TeleSensory's products meet a wide variety of needs for people with visual 
disabilities Q at school, at work, and at home. The TSI product line 
includes Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) systems, computer 
magnification systems, speech systems for access to MS-DOS computers, 
braille systems, optical character recognition (OsCaR) systems, and 
Optacon tactile display system.
Gayle Yarnell
101 South Main Street
Randolph, MA 02368
617-986-6132

Zygo Industries
Zygo Industries is a leading developer/manufacturer/distributor of 
augmentative communication aids worldwide. This conference will 
highlight its newest digital recording/playback devices for spontaneous 
interaction.
Geraldine Reardon
P.O. Box 1008
Portland, OR 97207-1008
800-234-6006
Tel/FAX: 603-427-0659

==========

	This newsletter is a joint publication of the Disabled/Special Needs 
and Visually Impaired/Blind User Groups of The Boston Computer Society. 
All items are copyright 1991 The Boston Computer Society except where 
otherwise copyrighted. Mention of products, services, or organizations in 
no way constitutes an endorsement by D/SNUG, VIBUG, or the Society. We 
acknowledge all copyrights and reproduce them for editorial purposes 
only. Opinions expressed in this newsletter are not necessarily those of 
D/SNUG, VIBUG, or the BCS. To join The Boston Computer Society, contact 
the Society at One Kendall Square, Cambridge, MA 02139-1562, (617) 
252-0600.
	For information on reproducing material in this newsletter, please 
contact the Publications Manager, The Boston Computer Society, 1 Kendall 
Square, Cambridge, MA 02139-1562.
