Date: Sun, 11 Jun 95 19:08:10 -0400 From: Bob Broedel To: als@huey.met.fsu.edu Subject: ALSD197 ALS-ON-LINE =============================================================== == == == ----------- ALS Interest Group ----------- == == ALS Digest (#197, 11 June 1995) == == == == ------ Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) == == ------ Motor Neurone Disease (MND) == == ------ Lou Gehrig's disease == == ------ maladie de Charcot == == == == This e-mail list has been set up to serve the world-wide == == ALS community. That is, ALS patients, ALS researchers, == == ALS support/discussion groups, ALS clinics, etc. Others == == are welcome (and invited) to join. The ALS Digest is == == published (approximately) weekly. Currently there are == == 730+ subscribers. == == == == To subscribe, to unsubscribe, to contribute notes, == == etc. to ALS Digest, please send e-mail to: == == bro@huey.met.fsu.edu (Bob Broedel) == == Sorry, but this is *not* a LISTSERV setup. == == == == Bob Broedel; P.O. Box 20049; Tallahassee, FL 32316 USA == =============================================================== CONTENTS OF THIS ISSUE: 1 .. Accessibility Products 2 .. Trace booth at RESNA (1) ===== Accessibility Products ========== Date : Fri, 9 Jun 1995 21:36:18 -0500 (CDT) >From : Beth Chambers Subject: Accessibility Products I have been receiving the ALS newsletter on line for a few months. My brother in Phoenix has ALS, and through some of the Web page references I found the following information. I was wondering if anyone on the mailing list has heard of and/or used these products, and has any further information on them - good or bad. My brother can only blink his eyes, and has been using a single switch optical interface on a DOS based laptop through Words Plus and a voice synthesizer. He would like to be able to use Windows and windows programs if there are mouse/keyboard drivers that could be controlled by blinking. He knows Morse Code, and could use that for 'typing' letters; maybe someone knows if there are different or better systems. Anyway - here is the information I found - maybe it will also be helpful to others as well. Thanks, Beth Chambers - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - (from the Trace R&D Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison) Access Pack for Windows 3.0/3.1 Trace R&D Center University of Wisconsin-Madison Introduction There are many software solutions for providing access to PC-DOS and MS-DOS computers for people with physical impairments. Currently there are access programs that provide features such as StickyKeys (for individuals who type with one finger, a headstick, or a mouthstick), SlowKeys (for individuals who tend to accidentally hit keys), Auto-Repeat Adjustment (for individuals who are slower at releasing keys), MouseKeys (for individuals who cannot use the mouse) and Emulating Interfaces (for individuals who cannot use the keyboard at all but can use a communication aid that has a serial port). However, none of these software solutions work with Windows applications running under Microsoft Windows. A solution was developed by the Trace R&D Center to provide these features for Microsoft Windows 3.0 and 3.1. This was accomplished by rewriting the keyboard and mouse device drivers--the software routines which interpret signals coming from the keyboard and mouse. Why Windows adaptations are needed For computers running PC-DOS or MS-DOS, software solutions for providing computer access rely on the fact that these operating systems allow Terminate and Stay Resident (TSR) programs to exist, and that these TSR programs can hook into the keyboard, mouse, serial port, timer, and/or other software and hardware interrupts. However, when using Microsoft Windows, the TSR approach is not compatible. Windows takes over many of the software and hardware interrupts and replaces them with its own. Windows reinstalls the original interrupts only when exiting out of Windows or when running a non-Windows application from within Windows. Therefore, the special access software TSR's do not work under Windows, when the user is running Windows applications. The project Working versions of the revised keyboard and Microsoft mouse device drivers for Windows 3.0 and 3.1 were created. The features included in the current package are: 1. StickyKeys: The capability to execute multiple key operation (such as Shift-key) with a single finger or stick. 2. RepeatKeys: Control over auto-repeat of keys, including the rate at which keys repeat and the duration for which a key must be pressed before the auto-repeat commences. 3. SlowKeys: Control over the amount of time a key must be pressed before the computer accepts it as input. 4. MouseKeys: Option of using the numeric keypad on the computer in place of the mouse. 5. BounceKeys: Prevents double characters from being typed if you bounce on a key while pressing or releasing it. 6. SerialKeys: Capability to perform all keyboard and mouse functions from an external assistive device (such as a communication aid) connected to the computer's serial port. 7. ToggleKeys: Produces a "beep" when the Caps Lock, Num Lock, or Scroll Lock keys are activated. 8. ShowSounds (Sound Sentry feature): Gives a visual indication on the screen when the computer makes a sound; for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. 9. TimeOut: Lets the Access Pack be set to turn off if the computer is unused for a certain length of time (for public workstations). The new keyboard device driver implements StickyKeys, SlowKeys, RepeatKeys, BounceKeys and ToggleKeys. The keyboard device driver, in conjunction with the mouse device driver, implements MouseKeys. Serial port access or SerialKeys, follows the General Input Device Emulating Interface (GIDEI) Standard, to provide transparent access for communication aids which can transmit serial ASCII characters. A Windows 3.0 application program, called "access.exe", was also written to allow adjustment of the different parameters within each enhancement feature. You can select the various parameters within each enhancement feature and save them to a disk file which Windows will load each time it boots up. In this way, each user can customize Windows for his or her specific needs. The revised keyboard and mouse drivers, the application program, and an electronic text document (manual which can be printed) together comprise the "Access Pack" Software Package. To order or find out more. . . The Access Pack Software can be obtained either by downloading from computer bulletin boards or by calling Microsoft and ordering disks. The Access Pack for Microsoft Windows is available on the Microsoft Windows Driver Library as ACCP.EXE or ACCP.ZIP. If you want to download the Access Pack using your modem, it is available from CompuServe, GEnie, Microsoft On-line, various user group bulletin boards, including BBSs on the Association of PC User Groups (APCUG) network, and the electronic download service maintained at Microsoft. The phone number for the electronic download service is (206) 936-6735; it is open seven days a week from 2:30 AM to 1:00 AM. Modem settings are: - 1200,n,8,1 - 2400,n,8,1 - 9600,n,8,1 (V.32, V.32bis, V.42, V.42 bis) The Access Pack can also be retrieved over the Internet, via Anonymous FTP, from FTP.MICROSOFT.COM. Retrieve the file ACCP.EXE from the /SOFTLIB/MSLFILES directory. If you wish to order the Access Pack on disk, or if you have further questions about the software, you can call Microsoft Product Support Services at (206) 637-7098. Customers who are deaf or hard of hearing can call the text telephone (TT/TDD) number at (206) 635-4948. Customers outside the United States should contact the Microsoft subsidiary in their country. The Access Pack software was designed and programmed by the Trace Research and Development Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, S-151 Waisman Center, 1500 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI, 53705, (608) 262-6966, TT/TDD (608) 263-5408. If you have suggestions or comments about the design of the software, please feel free to contact the Trace Center. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - (from Microsoft) Accessibility Products for Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Windows NT - Gregory C. Lowney This section lists some of the products which are available to make the Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Windows NT operating systems more accessible to people with disabilities. While Microsoft attempts to include all known products in these categories, the list may not be exhaustive, and Microsoft does not in any way endorse the products described nor take responsibility for the accuracy of this information. On-screen keyboard utilities: Some individuals with motion impairments cannot use a standard keyboard, but they may be able to use one or more switches, or point using a mouse or a headpointer. An on-screen keyboard is a program which displays a list of choices to the user and allows them to select those choices using a point-and-click, point-and-dwell or simple clicking interface. A common use of this technique is to display a picture of a keyboard, and allow the user to choose keys which will be typed into the current application, allowing even a user with a single switch to do anything that one could do with a keyboard. Variations in this category include morse-code input systems and single- or double-switch systems. On-screen keyboards for Microsoft Windows are available from the following companies: Product:Eek! OMS Development 610-B Forest Ave. Wilmette, IL 60091 Phone: 708- 251-5787 or 800-831-0272 Fax: 708-251-5793 Price: $89.95 Demo: Demo version available for $5, applicable towards purchase. Notes:Eek! is an on-screen keyboard for Windows. It can be used in click mode, and can be customized for specific applications. Product: GUS! Talking Keyboard for Windows GUS! Communications 3838 West King Edward Ave. Vancouver, B.C. Canada V65-1N1 Phone: 604-224-6699 Fax: 604-224- 5516 Notes: Combines an on-screen keyboard for typing into a large-print editing window, accompanied by digitized and synthesized speech. It is not designed for controlling other Windows-based applications. It works with any multimedia sound card. Product: HandiKEY For Windows Microsystems Software, Inc. 600 Worcester Road Framingham, MA 01701 Phone: 800-828-2600 Phone: 508-879-9000 Fax: 508-879-1069 BBS: 508-875-8009 Price: $395 (plus $5 shipping) Notes: HandiKEY is an on- screen keyboard for Windows which also includes word prediction, sticky keys and speech output. It can be used in direct select mode with a mouse, joystick or trackball or in manual or automatic scanning mode. Also supports three or five switch interface. Product: Mouse Keys World Communications 245 Tonopah Drive Fremont, CA 94539 Phone: 510-656-0911 Fax: 510-656-3005 Notes: Mouse Keys is an on-screen keyboard for Windows which also includes word prediction. It can be used in either click or dwell mode. Supports French, German, Spanish and Italian. Product: My-T-Mouse Future Technologies 1061 E. Flamingo Rd. Suite 8 Las Vegas, NV 89119 Phone: 702-733-2022 Fax: 800-546-3926 Email: 73061.647@compuserve.com Notes: My-T-Mouse is designed to provide the user with complete access to the computer using only a pointing device. It includes many features optimized for mouse access, such as keystroke macros, built-in calculator, fast controls for common editing operations, and fully functional 101 key keyboard with 20 international keyboard layouts. Adjustable to nine size ranges. Product: Screen Keyboard (SKB) Microsoft Corporation One Microsoft Way Redmond, WA 98052-6399 Phone: 800-426-9400 Fax: 206-936-7329 Notes: SKB is a component of Microsoft Windows for Pen Computing. It supports click mode only, and does not come with word prediction capability. It is not distributed separately at this time. Product: SAW (Switch Access to Windows 3) ACE Centre Ormerod School Waynefleet Rd Headington, Oxford OX3 8DD Phone: 08865 63508 Fax: 0865 750188 Email: acecent@dircon.co.uk Price: $150 (Runtime) $500 (Designer) Demo: Demo version available at no charge. Notes:SAW enables comprehensive access to Windows 3 using switch, mouse, trackerball and optical pointers through on- screen "selection sets", grids of icons, letters or words which, when selected, carry out a full range of internal or external commands. Pre- designed selection sets for some popular applications are available, along with sets for CD-ROMs and text accelerators. Product: SofType Access Technology, Inc. 8445 Keystone Crossing Suite 165 Indianapolis, IN 46240 Phone: 317-465-1275 Fax: 317-578-4604 Price: $129 Demo:available Notes: SofType is an on-screen keyboard for Windows. It supports typing into DOS windows, word completion, AutoClick, and is configurable by the user. It requires a mouse or any Windows supported pointing device. Product: WiViK Windows Visual Keyboard Prentke Romich Company 1022 Heyl Road Wooster, OH 44691 Phone: 800-262-1984 or 216-262-1984 Fax: 216-263-4829 Price: Sells for $275 base, or $375 with word prediction and abbreviation expansion additions. Notes: The WiViK Visual Keyboard for Windows 3.1 is an on-screen keyboard for Windows which also includes word prediction and word completion. It can be used in either click or dwell mode. It is totally configurable, including buttons for macros. It can also be used with non- Windows-based applications when displayed in a window. It can display up to 400 keys per page, and up to 50 pages of keys (limited by memory). Any key can have up to 750 keystrokes. It also has a macro language very similar to WordBasic. Their shipping product includes 18 international keyboards, and word prediction which can be extended from any text file. Keyboard enhancement utilities Keyboard enhancement utilities are products which modify the behavior of the Windows keyboard to make it easier to use for individuals with disabilities. These are keyboard enhancement utilities which are designed for the Microsoft Windows operating system: Product:Access Packs for Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Windows NT Microsoft Corporation One Microsoft Way Redmond, WA 98052-6399 Phone: 800-426-9400 Fax: 206-936-7329 BBS: 206-936-6735 TDD: 800-892-5234 Price: Available at no charge by mail or via numerous download services. Notes:Access Pack for Microsoft Windows provides a variety of features for people with limited dexterity or who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. These features include: Allow single-finger typing of SHIFT, CTRL, and ALT key combinations. Ignore accidental keystrokes. Adjust the rate at which a character is repeated when you hold down a key, or turn off character repeating entirely. Prevent extra characters if you unintentionally press a key more than once. Enable you to control the mouse cursor by using the keyboard. Enable you to control the computer keyboard and mouse by using an alternate input device. Provide a visual cue when the computer beeps or makes other sounds. Access Pack for Microsoft Windows is available as file ACCP.EXE , and Access Pack for Microsoft Windows NT is available as file WN0789.EXE. Product: Dvorak Keyboard Layouts Microsoft Corporation One Microsoft Way Redmond, WA 98052-6399 Phone: 800-426-9400 Fax: 206-936-7329 BBS: 206-936-6735 TDD: 800-892-5234 Price: Available at no charge by mail or via numerous download services. Notes: Microsoft distributes Dvorak keyboard layouts that make the most frequently typed characters on a keyboard more accessible to people who have difficulty using the standard iQWERTYi layout. There are three Dvorak layouts: one for two-handed users, one for people who type with their left hand only, and one for people who type with their right hand only. You do not need to purchase any special equipment in order to use these features. Windows and Windows NT already supports the two-handed Dvorak layout, which can be useful for coping with or avoiding types of repetitive-motion injuries associated with typing. To get this layout, choose International from the Windows Control Panel. The two layouts for people who type with one hand are distributed as Microsoft Application Note GA0650 and the files is called GA0650.EXE. Product: HandiWORD and HandiWORD Deluxe For Windows Microsystems Software, Inc. 600 Worcester Road Framingham, MA 01701 Phone: 800-828-2600 Phone: 508- 879-9000 Fax: 508-879-1069 BBS: 508-875-8009 Price: HandiWORD: $295.00 - HandiWORD Deluxe: $395.00 (plus $5 shipping) Notes: Keyboard rate enhancement via Word prediction /abbreviation expansion for Windows (DOS versions available). Version 3.01.0 supports speech output of word choices. Deluxe version provides foreign language support. Completely end-user customizable. Sticky-key utility built into software. Product: HandiSHIFT For Windows Microsystems Software, Inc. 600 Worcester Road Framingham, MA 01701 Phone: 800-828-2600 Phone: 508-879-9000 Fax: 508-879- 1069 BBS: 508-875-8009 Price:$ 49 (plus $5 shipping) NotesSticky key utility for DOS/Windows. Allows serial depression of Control-Shift-Alt keys. Adjusts key repeat rate. Includes SeeBEEP visual beep utility. Product: KeyREP Prentke Romich Company 1022 Heyl Road Wooster, OH 44691 Phone: 800-262-1984 or 216-262-1984 Fax: 216-263-4829 Notes: KeyREP Rate Enhancement Package for keyboard users of Windows 3.1. It provides word prediction and abbreviation expansion. KeyREP works with any keyboard and any application running under Winows 3.1 except MS-DOS windows. Copyright 1994 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Microsoft, MS-DOS and Visual Basic are registered trademarks and Windows is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation. IN CUBE is a trademark of Command Corp., Inc. Kurzweil VOICE is a trademark of Kurzweil Applied Intelligence, Inc. Dragon Systems and DragonDictate are registered trademarks of Dragon Systems, Inc. IBM and OS/2 are registered trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation. WiViK is a registered trademark and KeyREP is a trademark of The Hugh MacMillan Rehabilitation Center. This document is for informational purposes only. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IN THIS DOCUMENT. (2) ===== Trace booth at RESNA ========== Date : Thu, 8 Jun 1995 16:30:04 -0500 >From : curbcuts@trace.wisc.edu (Project Info Curbcuts) To : Multiple recipients of list Subject: Trace booth at RESNA Comment: List for Discussion of Universal Access to Information Systems The Trace Research and Development Center at the University of WI-Madison will be sponsoring a booth at the RESNA '95 Conference, to be held at the Vancouver Trade & Convention Center in Vancouver, BC, Canada, June 9-14, 1995. Trace staff will be available to provide general information about the Center, as well as to demonstrate and answer questions on The Cooperative Electronic Library on Disability (CO-NET), and the prototype of the *talking fingertip* technique for making kiosks accessible for people who have visual impairments. The Trace Booth is #211. The *talking fingertip* technique will also be demonstrated at the SIG-11 Developers Forum at RESNA on Sunday, June 11, from 2:30 - 4:45. Trace Research and Development Center S-151 Waisman Center 1500 Highland Ave. Madison, WI 53705 Phone: (608) 262-6966 TDD: (608) 263-5408 Fax: (608) 262-8848 Email: info@trace.wisc.edu For more information about RESNA, please contact: RESNA 1700 N. Moore Street, Suite 1540 Arlington, VA 22209-1903 Phone: (703) 524 -6686 FAX: (703) 524-6630 TTY: (703) 524-6639 === end of als 197 ===