Mega CD-ROM 1/megacd_rom_1.zip/megacd_rom_1/HANDICAP/BIG26.ZIP/BIG.DOC

Text File | 1989-07-15 | 25KB | 572 lines

,oj off

                        THE BIG UTILITIES

                           Version 2.6

                Copyright 1989 by Jack L Bellamy

        Magnifying Utilities for the Visually Handicapped


I. INTRODUCTION

The BIG family of text mode magnifying utilities is being
developed to aid people whose eyesight is significantly impaired.
The project was started because a friend became a victim of
macular degeneration. This is a condition of rapidly declining
vision (over a period of months or weeks).  The result is a
visual handicap that makes it virtually impossible to use a
personal computer.

While originally intended as a means of allowing someone with
declining visual capability to continue to use a computer, it
might also open the computer world to visually handicapped people
who have never used a computer before.  If you have normal sight
and know of someone who might be able to use these utilities,
learn how it works first and then show it to your friend with
restrained optimism.  Having reasonably normal sight myself, I
cannot evaluate how useful these programs might be to those who
need them.

Hardware aids are of various kinds, generally requiring an
investment of $2000 or more. There is at least one software
package available at a list price of $495.  The BIG collection of
utilities is available as shareware, giving the recipient an
opportunity to evaluate its usefulness first and, if desired,
become a registered user for a nominal fee that barely covers the
cost of distribution.  But more about that later.


II.  THE CURRENT DISTRIBUTION

The archive file or distribution diskette should contain the
following files:

BIG.EXE: a memory resident text mode screen magnifier.
BIG.DOC: this file.
BIGMONO.EXE: a text magnifier for systems without graphics.
BIGMONO.DOC: documentation for BIGMONO.EXE.
TYPER.EXE: a touch typing teaching aid for graphics screens.

If you distribute this software package, please see that the
recipient gets all of the above files.


III. BIG VERSUS BIGMONO

Unfortunately, some personal computers do not have a graphics
capability.  Typically, these are the ones having the IBM
Monochrome Display Adapter (MDA).  So a special memory resident
text mode screen magnifier had to be written for this adapter.
It's called BIGMONO.EXE.

BIGMONO.EXE is a memory resident text mode magnifier that
constructs the characters by using one of the IBM upper block
characters in a rectangular grid, similar to the way a dot matrix
printers works.  The characters are crude in appearance to
someone who has normal eyesight, but they serve the purpose.
There is no way for the user to vary the magnification factor.
You get one size, which is about a third the height of the PC
screen.  Although I may later develop other utilities for this
adapter, doing so will take lower priority than expanding the
graphics compatible collection.

BIG.EXE is also a memory resident text mode magnifier. It stores
the text appearing on your text mode screen and rewrites it in a
stroked font in a graphics mode.  You can adjust the magnifi
cation to suit your needs and move about the "enlarged" screen to
read all of it.  When you press escape, the original text mode
screen is restored so that you can continue to make entries via
the keyboard.

BIG.EXE is compatible with CGA, EGA, VGA, and Hercules compatible
adapters.  It will not work on a system with the IBM MDA.
BIGMONO will work with all five of these adapters.

BIGMONO was the first utility developed, but it has become
something of a special case.  For further information on using
BIGMONO, please read the file BIGMONO.DOC.  The file you are
reading now deals only with the use of BIG.EXE on a computer with
a graphics capability.


IV. THE "FAMILY" CONCEPT

Beginning with version 2.4 of BIG, the concept of a family or
group of software utilities has been employed.  When two or more
utilities are included, the presumption is that a single user
will use all of them and will need the same magnification factor
for all of them.  Therefore, a system has been devised to
preserve the current magnification factor, no matter which
utility is being used.

Currently, both BIG and TYPER carry the full capability for
determining the magnification factor initially.  Later on, when
we add the capability to change screen colors and set up other
parameters, these tasks may be moved to a separate installation
program.

Briefly,  each program saves the current magnification factor in
a file BIG.SYS every time the magnification factor is set by the
initial process, changed on the fly by special keystrokes during
program execution, or set on the command line when starting the
program.  Thereafter, each time the program is executed, it will
look for BIG.SYS to determine the default magnification factor.
The process will be described in more detail in the next section.


V. STARTING BIG (OR TYPER)

BIG.EXE and TYPER.EXE both are executed in the same manner.  The
only difference between the way the two programs are loaded is
that BIG.EXE is loaded into memory, becomes resident, and can be
called up with hot keys at any time without losing or altering
the non-magnified text screen, while TYPER.EXE must be called up
from the DOS prompt each time it is used.

BIG is installed into memory by typing "BIG" from the drive and
directory in which the file BIG.EXE resides.  Don't type the
quotes. TYPER is executed by typing "TYPER" from the drive and
directory in which the file TYPER.EXE resides.  For both of these
programs to use a common BIG.SYS file, both EXE files must be
located in the same drive and directory.

Do not activate BIG from any shell (that is from within another
program which allows you to execute commands).  There may be some
problems if you do. Also since BIG is a memory resident program,
you may find some incompatibilities with other memory resident
programs.  These can sometimes be resolved by changing the order
of loading the various memory resident programs.

Both programs will provide magnifications ranging from 1 to 12
for Hercules, EGA, and VGA adapters and from 1 to 7 for CGA
adapters.  A magnification of 1 is a little more than twice the
size of normal PC letters.  The maximum magnification provides
letters large enough to fill the screen including upper case
letters and lower case descenders.  It is to the user's advantage
to use the smallest magnification possible, since as magnifica
tion is increased, fewer letters will appear on the screen and
more time will be required to read a line or a full screen.

If you know the magnification you require or wish to override the
default magnification contained in BIG.SYS, you may activate BIG
or TYPER by typing the program name followed by a space and then
the magnification factor.  For example, if a magnification factor
of 7 meets your needs, simply type "BIG 7" without the quotes and
BIG will come up with a magnification factor of 7.

To start with, you should go through the initialization process
by typing the program name without a command line parameter.
Either BIG or TYPER may be used.  The program will give you
instructions in the maximum magnification for your adapter.
These instructions are to hit the return key if you can read the
type and to hit the y or Y key when the magnification is reduced
to an unacceptable level.

After the instructions have been presented, the program  then
displays the legend "M=11" with a magnification factor of 11 if
you have a Hercules, EGA, or VGA compatible adapter.  If you have
a CGA adapter, the program displays the legend "Mag = 6" with a
magnification of 6.   Each time you hit the return key, the
magnification factor is reduced by 1.  When you can no longer
read the type comfortably, hit the y key and the magnification
factor will be set to the current value plus one (that is, to the
last value that was acceptable).

Since BIG.EXE is memory resident, you cannot reset the
magnification factor from the command line a second time in the
same session.  There is no need to, since both programs allow you
to change the magnification at anytime by appropriate keystroke
combinations.  TYPER, on the other hand, will always respond to a
command line change.

Anytime you set or change the magnification factor, the program
will write (or change) a file called "BIG.SYS" containing that
magnification factor. This file is placed in the directory where
the calling program resides. Thereafter, when you type the
program name on the command line without a parameter, BIG.SYS is
read to determine the default magnification.

The priorities are as follows:

(1) If you type "BIG x" or "TYPER x", the program updates the
BIG.SYS file if it exists or creates one if it does not with x as
the recorded magnification factor.  The program is then executed
with a magnification factor of x.

(2) If you type "BIG" or "TYPER", the program will search for a
file BIG.SYS in the same directory where the program resides.  If
it finds such a file, it will use the magnification factor
contained therein and bring the program up.   If it does not find
BIG.SYS, it will go through the process described above to
determine the default magnification factor.


VI. USING BIG.EXE

After BIG.EXE has been loaded into memory, you will be returned
to the DOS prompt.  Thereafter, when you wish to view the text
screen in large letters, simply press the Ctrl-Left Shift hot
key combination to activate the program.  Activation refers to
going from the DOS prompt or an application to the scan mode.
Deactivation as used herein refers to returning to the DOS prompt
or application from the scan mode.  You must be in an 80 column
text mode to activate BIG.

When activated by hitting the hot keys, BIG saves the entire
screen and the current cursor position, deactivates the keyboard
(except for certain keys), and displays  the beginning of the
current row with the selected magnification factor.  When the ESC
key is hit, deactivation takes place.  Upon deactivation, the
screen is restored, the cursor is returned to the saved position,
and full control of the keyboard is restored.

If the magnification factor is small enough, more than one line
will be displayed on the screen, starting with the cursor row at
the bottom.  This may or may not be desirable.  For example, if
you are trying to read through a document by scrolling through
each line and then on to the next, it will slow you down if the
program must write four or five lines for each new one you read.
In version 2.3 you could limit the display to only the current
line by installing BIG by typing "BIG x c" without the quotes,
where x is the magnification factor and c is any character.  This
command line option is no longer available.

You may, however, toggle this mode by hitting the F10 key at any
time in the scan mode.  Thus if you are in the single line mode
at a low magnification and want to see multiple lines hit, the
F10 key.  If you are in the multiple line mode and want to see
only a single line, hit the F10 key.


VII. ACTIVE KEYS FOR BIG.EXE

When BIG has been activated by hitting the hot keys, only the
keys on the keypad, the F10 key, the tab key, and the ESC key are
activated.  The active key combinations are as follows:

ALT-UP ARROW:  This increases the magnification factor by 1 up
to a magnification factor of 12.  (SHIFT-UP ARROW does the same
thing.)

ALT-DOWN ARROW:  This decreases the magnification factor by 1
down to a magnification factor of 1.  (SHIFT-DOWN ARROW does the
same thing.)

[NOTE: The magnification factor may be changed at any time that
you are in the scan mode.  It will remain at the current value
until you change it, even if you deactivate the scan mode and
then reactivate it.  Changing the magnification causes the
BIG.SYS file to be updated.  To get the arrow keys, Numlock must
not be on.]

ESC:  This key leaves the scan mode, reactivates the key board,
and returns you to the DOS prompt or application.

F10:  Toggles between the single line and multiple line mode for
those magnifications where more than one line may be viewed at a
time.

[NOTE: In moving through a document with the cursor keys, think
of the keys as they relate to how you would move your eyes, NOT
how the words would move.]

LEFT ARROW: This key scrolls the scan window to the left toward
the start of the row. If you try to go beyond the start of the
row, a tone will sound and the scan window will move no further.

RIGHT ARROW: This key scrolls the scan window to the right toward
the end of the row.  If you try to go beyond the end of the row,
a tone will sound and the scan window will move no further. (See
Right Tab for information on continuing to the next line.)

LEFT (OR SHIFTED-)TAB:  This is the same as the left arrow except
that the movement is several characters to the left.  The number
of characters moved is dependent on the magnification.  It is
conceivable that a character (or part of a character) can be
missed when using the tab key.  If this happens, use the arrow
keys to recover the lost character.  If you attempt to go beyond
the beginning of the line, a tone will sound and the scan window
will move no further.

RIGHT (OR UNSHIFTED-)TAB:  This is the same as the right arrow
except that the movement is several characters to the right. The
number of characters moved is dependent on the magnification.  It
is conceivable that a character (or part of a character) can be
missed when using the tab key.  If this happens, use the arrow
keys to recover the lost character.  If you attempt to tab past
the end of the line, the scan window will move to the beginning
of the next line unless you are on the last line of the screen.

UP ARROW: Moves to the same position in the row above the current
row.  If you attempt to move above the top line, a tone will
sound and the scan window will remain on the top line.

DOWN ARROW:  Moves to the same position in the row below the
current row. If you attempt to move below the bottom row, a tone
will sound and the scan window will remain on the bottom row.

PAGE UP: The PgUp key moves the scan window up by the number of
rows that CAN be displayed at the current magnification.

PAGE DOWN: The PgDn key moves the scan window down by the number
of rows that CAN be displayed at the current magnification.

[NOTE: There are cases where the user can easily forget where he
is.  Typically, this happens when you scan into an area of
blanks.  You may even think the program is not working,  as you
load the buffer with cursor movements and the screen stays
blank.  The four key combinations below are designed to help you
find yourself.]

HOME: Hitting the home key will move the scan window to the start
of the top row (row 1, column 1).

END: Hitting the end key will move the scan window to the start
of the bottom row (row 25, column 1).

SHIFT-5: Either the left or right shift in combination with the 5
on the numeric keypad will display the current row and column for
the lower left hand corner of the scan window.  The display will
disappear after a short time.

SHIFT-HOME: Either the left or right shift in combination with
the home key will display the original cursor position (before
activating the scan window).

If you are editing a document and want to change a certain spot,
move to it in the scan mode and find both the original cursor
position and the current position of the scan window.  By taking
the difference between the rows and also between the columns, you
can determine how to move the cursor when you return to the
editor.


VII. USING TYPER

When you first execute TYPER, you will be rewarded with
a blank screen.  When you type, the characters will appear one
after another across the screen until the line is full.
Thereafter, the characters already present on the screen will
scroll to the left to make room for additional characters you
add.  Should you make a mistake, press the backspace key to back
up and retype the last character.

The program allocates enough memory to hold up to eighty
characters.  If you could type more than that, you would
overwrite other parts of memory with potentially disastrous
results.  To prevent that, you will hear a little beep when you
have typed about 68 characters.  At 78 characters the program
terminates.

When you want to start a new line, press return.  The screen will
go blank and you can start all over.  This also resets the
character counter to zero.

The program is not intended to be a touch typing tutor, but
merely an aid that will let you see what you're typing while you
learn where the keys are.  You can teach yourself using TYPER or
you can use it as a practice aid while taking lessons.

Hand position is important.  You will want to put your left index
finger on the "f" key and spread the other three fingers on "d",
"s", and "a" on the same row.    Your right index finger goes on
the "j" with the remaining three fingers of the right hand on the
"k", "l", and ";" keys.  These are the normal or reference
positions for the left and right hands.  The object is to learn
to find all the other keys from this rest position.

Some keyboards have aids to help you find the reference keys.
For example, the keyboard I am using now has a little raised bump
on the "f" and "j" keys to help you find the reference positions
for each hand.  It also has a bump on the "5" key on the numeric
keypad.  If yours does not, you can put a piece of tape on each
of these three keys.

Function keys and separate cursor key pads can be located by
familiarizing yourself with the layout of the board.  If you
press  the screen will clear and the name of the key
will appear on your screen for a brief moment.  Combinations of
Alt, Ctrl, or Shift in combination with these keys have no effect.
One exception is that shift in combination with the keypad keys
produces the numbers, the same as when Numlock is on.


VIII. ACTIVE KEYS FOR TYPER.EXE

When using TYPER, all of the normal typewriter keys are active.
That is, the alphabetic, numeric, and punctuation keys are active
and will write to the screen.  The ten functions keys, the tab
key, the cursor keys, the insert key and the delete key all cause
the screen to clear and the name of the key will be displayed for
a second or two.  A few other keys are active for special
purposes. These are as follows:

ALT-UP ARROW:  This increases the magnification factor by 1 up
to a magnification factor of 12.

ALT-DOWN ARROW:  This decreases the magnification factor by 1
down to a magnification factor of 1.

[NOTE: The magnification factor may be changed at any time.  It
will remain at the current value until you change it.  Changing
the magnification causes the BIG.SYS file to be updated. BIG.EXE
uses both the above Alt key combinations and Shift key
combinations to change magnification.  The shift key combinations
will not work here.]

ESC:  This key terminates the program.

BACKSPACE: When at least one character appears on the screen,
the left arrow will cause the last character to be erased.  You
may then type it over.

RETURN: This erases the line you have been working on and starts
you over at the left side of the screen.

The Alt and Ctrl keys in combination with other keys do not
produce anything. The Shift keys work only in combination with
the normal typewriter keys and the numeric keypad. Ctrl, Shift,
Alt, Capslock, Numlock, and Scroll Lock by themselves produce no
output and their locations must be determined by other means.

IX. UPGRADES

This program is continually being upgraded.  Beginning with
version 2.0, the graphics mode version BIG has been included. The
non-graphics version BIGMONO has been released previously in
versions 1.1, 1.2, and 1.3.

Another utility planned for future versions will be a program
to read a file directly without having to load it to the screen.
For example, if you have a file named "TEXT", you simply type
"BIGREAD TEXT" and the file will be scanned in the default
magnification from beginning to end with some options of
stopping, backing up, etc.  This program is almost ready for
release now.

Another utility interactive option in the scan mode.  This will
allow the user to make entries in large letters without having to
switch between the scan mode and the normal mode repeatedly.
This will take a while.

Finally, a text editor will be developed.  This will at first be
a line editor, similar to "EDLIN".  Later it will be a full
document editor with word wrap.  We shall not attempt to include
a lot of enhancements and frills in this editor.  We simply want
to make an editor that will allow the user to generate plain text
documents.

My computers include one with the IBM MDA (non-graphics) adapter,
one with a Hercules compatible adapter, and an EGA system.  I do
not have a computer with a CGA video adapter.  I have attempted
to adapt the program to a CGA system with limited exposure to
such a system.  If you have a CGA system, I would appreciate your
comments on how well the program works on your system.

Your comments and suggestions are solicited, whether you register
your copy or not.  In addition to suggestions about the program
itself, please let me know what programs you have used it with
and whether or not there are any incompatibilities.

REGISTRATION

The BIG collection is distributed as shareware.  You may use it
for evaluation purposes only.  You may copy it and distribute to
others as often as you please provided:

  1. You do not alter it in any way.

  2. You distribute this notice and documentation along with it.

As a minimum any distribution should include these files:
    BIG.EXE
    BIGMONO.EXE
    TYPER.EXE
    BIG.DOC
    BIGMONO.DOC

If you upload this to a bulletin board, please upload BIG25.ARC
(if you have it) which includes the aforementioned files.

The shareware concept provides for the dissemination of useful
software without the high cost of advertising, packaging, and
distribution.  You have the opportunity to try out a program
before you spend any money.  Please do not abuse the shareware
concept.

If you find that BIG or BIGMONO is useful, you are requested to
make a contribution of $10 to support further development of
computer aids for the visually impaired.  In addition to the
manhours required to develop these programs, there are additional
expenses involved in distributing these programs, such as long
distance calls for uploading to bulletin boards and mailings of
diskettes.  Your contribution will entitle you to a copy of this
documentation printed in large type and to any updates occurring
within one year of the date of your registration.

Please send your contribution to

  J L Bellamy
  Consultant
  1851 Nelson Road
  Scotts Valley, California 95066
  [phone]


COMMUNICATIONS

The most recent version of BIG will always be available on the
Video Vision Bulletin Board, [phone], Roel Sarceno, Sysop.
In southern California the most recent version will always be on
the Ocular Skisis Bulletin Board, [phone], a public
service BBS dealing with vision problems operated by Dr. Michael
Larkin.  Look for it in a file called "BIGxx.ARC" where xx is a
numeric indicating the version.  Both BIG and BIGMONO will be
provided.

You may write to me at the above address, leave a message on the
Video Vision BBS, or contact me through Compuserve (71620,234).

UPDATE HISTORY

Version 2.0:

  Added graphics version.
  Changed how the program works when you reach the edges of the
  window.

Version 2.1:

  Changed documentation to describe what's coming in version
  3.0.

Version 2.2:

  First version making special provision for the CGA adapter.

Version 2.3:

  Added notation about southern California BBS.

Version 2.4:

  Introduced the concept of a configuration file to hold the
  default magnification.

Version 2.5:

  Added version 1.0 of TYPER.EXE to the collection and amended
  BIG.DOC.  Modified BIG.EXE so that magnification can be changed
  on the fly by Alt-up arrow and Alt-down arrow (as well as
  Shift-up arrow and Shift-down arrow).  This was done so that
  TYPER.EXE.

Version 2.6:

  Added the capability to display special key names to TYPER and
  changed the erase key from left arrow to backspace.

                         <<<<<<<>>>>>>>