CD ROM Paradise Collection 4/CD ROM Paradise Collection 4 1995 Nov.iso/music/video096.zip/CHAP1.DOC

Text File | 1986-12-09 | 18KB | 395 lines

Video Voice Version 0.9  December 9, 1986
Grassroots Computing, P O Box 460, Berkeley, CA 94701
(415 644-1855)


                            Chapter 1

              GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT VIDEO VOICE


A.  Video Voice is a SCREEN-FOLLOWING PROGRAM.

     A screen-following program is a special kind of computer
program.  It examines the contents of the video monitor's screen
and makes the information that is on the screen available to a
blind computer user by means of a speech synthesizer.

     We have tried to make Video Voice simple to use. But for
beginners, mastering the idiocyrncracies of computers is often
frustrating. Our advice is to be patient.  You must learn a
little about computers, a little about other software, a little
about speech devices and a little about reading computer manuals.
Don't give up and don't try to learn it all in one day.

B.  What equipment is required to run Video Voice?

     1.  Video Voice will run properly on TRUE COMPATIBLES, also
known as IBM clones.  We at Grassroots Computing have made Video
Voice as compatible as possible.  We wish it could run on
everybody's computer.  If Video Voice does not run properly on
your non-IBM computer, it is probably because the computer is not
compatible enough.  Send us a letter giving as much technical
information about your computer as possible, and we will try to
make Video Voice run properly with it.

     Video Voice has been tested (and works fine) on the
following computers:
          IBM PC and XT
          Toshiba T1100 +
          AT&T 6300
          Kaypro model 16, model 2000, Kaypro PC
          Compaq Deskpro PC
          Leading Edge Model D
          Radio Shack model 1200
          many of the no-name clones

     If you try to run Video Voice on some other machine, please
tell us about it.

     Video Voice does not run on the PCjr. If enough people
ask for it, we will try to make it work.  The PCjr is not nearly
as compatible as people assume.

     It also does not run on the HP Vectra.  Hewlett Packard has
a habit of including "enhancements" that make many of their MS
DOS machines non-compatible.  If you try to use Video Voice on
any HP machines, please tell us how successful you were.  That
way we can get a list of those HP machines that Video Voice works
with, and those that it does not.

     Video Voice should work fine on the IBM PC Portable, the IBM
Convertible and the IBM AT.  Please call us if you have any
difficulties on these machines.

     2.  Your computer must have a video-display adapter
installed.  It is not necessary to have a video monitor turned on
or even attached to the video-display card, but a video-display
card must be installed.  Some computers (primarily the lap-top
portables) already have video-display circuitry built in, in
which case the video-display adapter is not necessary.

     3.  If your synthesizer uses a serial port, your computer
must have an Asynchronous Communications Adapter, also called an
RS232 port.

     If your synthesizer uses a parallel port, your computer must
have a Parallel Communications Adaptor.

     Both of these adapters are usually contained on a
Multifunction Card, which usually has additional memory as well.

     4.  The synthesizer must be attached to the computer by an
appropriate communications cable.  Video Voice will communicate
with your speech syntheizer either through your computer's
parallel or serial port, depending on the brand and model of the
synthesizer.  Each synthesizer requires its own special cable
design.  The cables can be purchased from the manufacturer of the
speech synthesizer you are using, from Grassroots Computing, or
be custom made by a qualified electronics technician.  DO NOT TRY
TO MAKE THE CABLE YOURSELF -- AN IMPROPERLY MADE CABLE COULD
DAMAGE YOUR EQUIPMENT.

     The IBM parallel port uses a non-standard connector, so you
will probably have to get an IBM-to-Centronics parallel cable
adapter to connect with the custom parallel cable.

     The serial ports on some computers use a DB 9 connector
instead of the DB 25 connector which is more common on personal
computers.  If this is the case, you must acquire a DB 9 to DB 25
converter to use your serial synthesizer.

     5.  Your computer must have adequate memory.  Fortunately,
add-on memory is relatively cheap these days.  Many programs
require massive amounts of memory and DOS is getting bigger with
each version.  256 K is the smallest practical amount of memory.
We seriously suggest that you install at least 512 K and
preferably 640 K of memory in your computer.  If you can afford
it, get a couple "meg" of RAM.

C.  What comes in the Video Voice package?

     The package you receive from Grassroots Computing contains
several items.

     1. One or more floppy disks containing the program and the
files needed to run Video Voice on your computer.  It does NOT
contain any DOS (disk operating system) files.  Additional files
contain the Video Voice manual, which can be output to a printer,
brailler, or speech synthesizer. (only parts of the manual are
included with version 0.9 -- more will be coming soon)

     2.   One or more cassettes.  The instructions on how to use
Video Voice are contained on the cassettes.  Some of the
cassettes are not completely filled.  The cassettes are recorded
in Library of Congress format -- 4 track at 15/16ths inches per
second.

     3.   A note in braille to remind you that a braille version
of selected parts of the documentation is available at extra
cost.

     4.   Print documentation in a three-ring binder. (Note -- if
you purchased Video Voice prior to January 1, 1987 at the special
$100.00 cash price, print documentation is not included.)

     5.   A User-Support registration card.  You are NOT a
registered owner of Video Voice until you have returned the
registration card to Grassroots Computing.  Please answer the
questions on the card for our User Support Department to be
able to provide rapid and thorough assistance.  Only registered
owners can call the Grassroots Computing Hotline for assistance.
See appendix P of this manual for further information about user
support. (appendix P not written yet)

     6.  Some miscellaneous sales brochures about Grassroots
Computings products.

D.  What files are on the disk?

     1.  VIDVOICE.COM is the file that contains the Video Voice
program.

     2.  VIDVOICE.000 is a companion overlay file required by
Video Voice.

     3.  LCOM.EXE is a background program that MUST be loaded
before VIDVOICE.COM is run.  LCOM.EXE coordinates communications
between the computer and the synthesizer when the serial port is
used.  IF YOU HAVE BEEN USING SOME OTHER VERSION LCOM.EXE, YOU
MUST REPLACE IT WITH THIS NEW VERSION.

     4.  GRCONFIG.YAK is the database that stores all the set-up
information that Video Voice uses. The text file GRCONFIG.DOC has
further information about GRCONFIG.YAK.

     5.  GRCONFIG.COM is a program that makes it easier for you
to change GRCONFIG.YAK to your special needs. (not written yet)

     6.  R-U-THER.COM is a special program that will help you set
up Video Voice the first time you use it. (not written yet)

     7. PRACTICE.TXT is a text file for you to practice on. (not
written yet)

     8. VV.BAT is a batch file which automatically loads LCOM and
Video Voice for you when you type VV on your keyboard.  The
contents of VV.BAT can be made part of your AUTOEXEC.BAT file.

     9. HARDVV.BAT is a batch file which automatically loads LCOM
and Video Voice for you when you use a hard disk system.  The
contents of HARDVV.BAT can be made part of your AUTOEXEC.BAT
file.  If you do not include it in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file, rename
it to VV.BAT, and type vv on your keyboard to run Video Voice.

    10. README is a text file that contains up-to-date
information about any changes that have been made to Video Voice
and that has not yet been included in the documentation.

     11. There are a number of files which contain the chapters
and appendices of the Video Voice documentation.  These are
"straight ASCII" files that can be printed on any printer.

E.   What synthesizers does Video Voice work with?

     1.  A speech synthesizer is required to produce the speech
output.  Video Voice is designed to work with the Echo PC / GP,
the Votrax PSS and PSS model B, the DECtalk, the MicroVox and the
IntexTalker, and the Votalker and SynPhonix.

     2.   Video Voice works with the Echo PC manufactured by
Street Electronics.  The Echo GP is the same synthesizer, with a
different cable; if you attach an Echo PC cable to an Echo GP, it
behaves like an Echo PC.  Video Voice has been especially written
to take advantage of the Echo's ability to change speed,
inflection, and pitch.

     Video Voice works fine with the older Echo parallel speech
synthesizers, which are, unfortunately, rather rare.

     It is possible to run Video Voice with the Echo PC2 internal
card speech synthesizer, but due to the design of the
synthesizer, results are generally unsatisfactory.  We do not
recommend the use of the Echo PC2, and do not include it as one
of the options.

     3.  Video Voice has been highly customized to work with the
Votrax Personal Speech System.  It can take advantage of the
Votrax speed and pitch contols.  It can run either in serial or
parallel.  It can control the Votrax's internal clock to produce
chimes or announce the time on the quarter hour.

     If you have a Votrax PSS model B, be sure that you have
"firstsyn = Votrax-B" in the GRCONFIG.YAK file.

     Video Voice can even use the Votrax as a very sophisticated
switching device to send data to a printer or brailler, under
computer control.  Computer controlled switching to a single
parallel device is possible if the Votrax PSS is run from the
serial port.  If the Votrax PSS is run from the parallel port and
a special Votrax cable is used, it is possible to control one
additional serial device and one additional parallel device with
the Votrax PSS acting as an electronic switch-box.  Contact
Grassroots Computing for more information and pricing.

     If you run your Votrax PSS in parallel, it is crucial that
you be sure you have the proper parallel cable.  We know of six
computers that have been badly damaged by use of a Votrax PSS
with an incorrect parallel cable.  This problem is not present if
you run your Votrax PSS in serial.

     Video Voice has not been tested (as of 9 December 1986) with
the Votrax Type'N'Talk.

     4.   Video Voice has been customized to take advantage of
the fine speech quality and multiple voices of the DECtalk
syntheize manufactured by Digital Equipment Corportation.

     Video Voice controls the speed of DECtalk's speech.

     With Video Voice, you can switch back and forth between the
voice personalities that the DECtalk has available.

     5.   Video Voice can be used with the MicroVox and the
IntexTalker.  These machines are relatively primitive, but quite
usable.

     6.  Video Voice can be run with both the Votalker and the
SynPhonix internal synthesizer cards.  We have just received our
cards and Version 0.9 ( 9 December 1986) is still a bit buggy
when run with these synthesizers.  If you use either of these
synthesizers, please call us for an update to the most recent
version.  The main thing to remember is that you must use a shut-
up command (shift-shift or prefix-escape) and wait for the
synthesizer to be quiet before re-booting your computer.  Video
Voice does not support PortTalk at this time.

     7.  Other models of speech synthesizers will be supported
in the future if enough users express interest.

     6.   Most of the above synthesizers are available for purchase from
Grassroots Computing.

F.   What programs does VideoVoice not work with?

     1.  A screen-reading program only works with CHARACTER
OUTPUT.  It cannot interpret GRAPHICS OUTPUT.

     Microcomputers have two main ways of representing data on
the video monitor's screen.  These are character output, and
graphics output.

     There is a third way, vector output, that is only used radar
screens and very expensive techincal computers.  We are not
concerned with vector output.

     Character output is the most commonly used technique for
representing data on a screen.  It is used by almost all programs
that display text on the screen.  It's most obvious use is for
displaying letters, numbers, and punctuation marks.

     It is also frequently used to display special symbols, such
as Greek letters used in mathematics, characters that have been
designed to form the four corners, top, bottom, and sides of a
box, special technical symbols, etc.

     All character output is restricted to displaying specific
letters, numbers, punctuation, and special symbols.  The shape of
each character has been pre-defined and cannot be changed.
Neither can the size of the character be changed when it is
displayed on the video monitor's screen.

     Since the computer displays whole characters on the screen,
screen-reading programs can perceive the characters as whole
units, and inform the speech synthesizer of what it found on the
screen.

     Graphics output is used to display pictures on the screen.
Usually the graphics can be displayed in color.  It is sometimes
used to display letters, numbers, and punctuation, but this is
unusual, unless there is something special about the shape or
size of the character.

     Graphics output is composed of thousands of little dots of
light that are beamed onto the back of the display screen.  Each
dot of light is controlled separately.  Because of this, it is
impossible for a screen-following program to interpret the dots
of light as specific characters.  GRAPHICS PROGRAMS CANNOT BE
READ BY SCREEN-READING PROGRAMS.

     Because the following programs use graphics, they cannot be
used with Video Voice.

     a.  MicroSoft Word (in graphics mode, load Word with the /c
option to make it compatible with Video Voice)
     b.  any CAD (computer aided design) program
     c.  any program that allows variations in character shape or
size

     2.  Video Voice will not make much sense when used with
arcade-type games.  It probably will not work at all.

     3.  Video Voice will not work with any program that uses a
self-booting disk.  Some games are self-booting, and cannot be
used with Video Voice.

     The most notable of these games are the older versions of
the Infocom text adventure games.  New versions are no longer
copy protected and work fine with Video Voice.  If you have one
of the older versions, there is a public domain program called
ZORKTOOLS that will convert your Infocom game so that it will
work with PC-DOS and MS-DOS.  If you use ZorkTools to convert
your Infocom game, it will run with Video Voice with no problem.
PLEASE, DO NOT use ZorkTools to make copies of Infocom games you
have not paid for, or to distribute them to others.  Doing so is
illegal.  If fear of the law isn't enough -- just remember, if
the programmer doesn't get paid for his labors, why should he
bother to keep writing those wonderful programs for us to use?

     4.  Video Voice will not work with any operating system
other than PC-DOS or MS-DOS.  It will not work with UNIX, or any
of the CP/M operating systems.

     5.  Video Voice will not work properly with certain programs
that "steal the keyboard interrupt."  The early versions of XY-
Write were notorious for this problem.

     The program SmartCom, which is provided with the Hayes
SmartModems, is another example.  SmartCom has other problems as
well, so WE DO NOT RECOMMEND SMARTCOM TO ANYBODY.  PC-Talk not only
costs very little but it also does a superb job of handling your
telecommunications needs.  If your computer communicates directly
with a mainframe or mini computer, we suggest you try the
terminal emulator program PCVT, which is also public domain.

     Macro processor programs such as ProKey, SmartKey, SuperKey,
etc. tend to be among the "sleaziest" programs on the market,
from the programmer's point of view.  They may or not work
successfully with Video Voice, depending on versions numbers.  If
you can get a copy of Version 3 of ProKey, that version is the most
useful to blind people.  Version 4 some "improvements" that make
it much more difficult for the visually impaired to use.

     There are a few others that "steal the keyboard interrupt",
but thankfully they are becoming less common.

     6.  Some background processors (programs that "wait in the
background" and then "pop-up" when they are needed) will cause
"traffic conflicts" inside the computer.  Many of these programs
instruct you to make sure that it is the last background
processor loaded into your computer.

     In general, stay away from these kinds of programs, or at
least try the program before you buy it.  If you have a problem
with this kind of program, make sure that Video Voice is loaded
before the offending background processor.  If you still have
problems, tell us about the program, so that we can warn others
to avoid it.

     SideKick is in this category, the calculator works fine by
using the Video Voice FIND BOX command, but the notepad is only
accessible in review mode, because of the nasty tricks SideKick
does to the real-time cursor.


(Grassroots form CHAP1.DOC 12/09/86)