In a message dated 96-08-21 12:27:51 EDT, RTCCPU@aol.com writes:
<< Subj: System requirements
Date: 96-08-21 12:27:51 EDT
From: RTCCPU@aol.com
(stuff deleted)
Hi folks - I'm helping a blind friend set up his computer - he has a 486, 33
Mhz, 4 Mb RAM, and VGA monitor. He purchased the system back in 1992 and
never finished setting it up for himself. Now that system may not be
adequate. He can afford a new system! Should he get something much better -
like a Pentium with 16 Mb of RAM, 32 bit sound card, CD ROM, etc.
Perhaps it would be best if you could tell me what system is used by
a blind person you might know. Thanks in advance for any help you can give
me.
Sincerely - Rich Carman (RTCCPU) >>
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FChambers@aol.com responds:
Hello Rich!
I'm legally blind, and use a 486, 33, 5MB, VLB, multiedia kit, etc.
Artic Technologies of Troy, MI. makes the speech synthesizer and software
that I use to navigate in DOS and Windows.
I can wholeheartedly reccommend Artic's Business Vision and WinVision as
truley wonderful applications. I'm not using the newest versions, but they
work fairly flawlessly.
That is, I can navigate in ALL Windows applications and most of the DOS
applications that I used to use before switching to Windows. It's great, not
because Windows is awesome, but merely because Windows is the "industry
standard," and Artic's stuff improves my competitiveness in the workplace.
I would suggest another 4 megs of RAM. The prices are *SO* cheap now. I
recently bought 4 1Mb SIMMS for $10 each. Artic's stuff isn't as memory
hungry as the other speech systems I've heard of, but having more memory
will probably make applications run quicker. I recall how shocked I was at
how much slower Windows applications ran than corresponding DOS applications.
(I still haven't gotten around to installing my new memory, but hope it
speeds my stuff up.)
Let me suggest one Artic product that *I* would *LOVE* to own. That is one
of their brand new Braille-keyed TransType. (I think that's what they call
it.) OK, this little gadget is about as big as a small paperback book with
keys on the 'cover.' You can get one of three optional keypads. One, a
small QWERTY board; the second, a fairly standard Braille-writer kind of
arrangement; and lastly, a more modern, ergonomic configured Braille keypad.
This palmtop computer is also an external speech synthesizer that works with
any PC.
Picture this: I'm travelling to an appointment on a bus. I pull this little
gadget out of my pocket, and check my calendar that's stored in memory. I
think of a few questions and points of discussion for my appointment, so I
just key them into the simple text editor or note keeper applications. After
my interview, I can walk into a library, plug the Transport into a terminal,
and have access to the online card catalog, Netscape, or what have you.
I want one of these machines, and cannot wait until I figure out a way to
afford one. Not that they are expensive. They are just under $1,000. At
the NFB convention in last month, I was quoted $985.
Go to Webcrawler (or any web browser) and search for ARTIC.
Good luck,
Fred
Frederick M. Chambers The Center for Regenerative Studies
FChambers@aol.com California State Polytechnic University
Phone: 909/468-1942 4105--202 W. Univ. Dr. Cal Poly; 91768
CAA, NAA, NFB, TU http://www.csupomona.edu/crs/
For info on our aquaculture: aquaculture@CSUPomona.Edu
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