Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!yale!bunker!hcap!hnews!101!460!Donald.Breda From: Donald.Breda@f460.n101.z1.fidonet.org (Donald Breda) Newsgroups: misc.handicap Subject: Re: speech and windows Message-ID: <16280@bunker.UUCP> Date: 6 Dec 90 04:15:22 GMT Sender: wtm@bunker.UUCP Reply-To: Donald.Breda@f460.n101.z1.fidonet.org Distribution: misc Organization: FidoNet node 1:101/460 - VI/BUG, Holbrook MA Lines: 44 Approved: wtm@bunker.UUCP Index Number: 12361 [This is from the Blink Talk Conference] DM> Don: Could you give us a report on the recent DM> braille Research and Literacy conference held in Boston? DM> I understand many topics including graphical interfaces DM> were discussed, and that even WordPerfect Corporation was DM> represented. DM> --Daveed-- Well I couldn't even begin to really give you a report on the conference since I was only able to attend a part of it.ARTS has written up the conference procedings and the articles submitted by some of the presenters, and I believe he will make them available. We discussed the braille code and the trends in the computer market. Basicly pointing out how braille can only represent a small even tiny portion of the standard ansi character set as it stands today. That character set will be growing considerably in a short time and that will put us in even a worse position. No one would say that all characters in the set should necessarily be represented in braille, but we have to work towards goals such as that to make braille robust. We put forth the idea that braille is not currently a part of the ansi standard character set and it certainly should be. We are working to get things in line to make the evolution of braille and its character set a part of the ANSI standards as it should be. With the new technologies such as ISDN, which in another 10 to 20 years could make our lives much easier, it is imparative that we make braille consistant, and robust enough to be able to put it in ISDN as just another one of the forms of media that data can be transmitted in. I suggest that you call Petter Duran at (617)482-8248, and ask him if he will be selling the conference pappers and talks, I am not sure. I know that he has spent months transcribing the discussions and articles from that conference and putting them in to braille. I think he will send them back to the presenters first to get there okay, then probably release them. Take care. ... Abled, Blinktalk and sSilver xpress in Boston 9600 HST -- Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!101!460!Donald.Breda Internet: Donald.Breda@f460.n101.z1.fidonet.org Brought to you by Super Global Mega Corp .com