People who cannot use visual information use the computer with the aid of a screen review utility. Screen reader utilities take the information displayed visually on the screen and make it available through alternative media, such as synthesized speech or a refreshable Braille display. Screen review utilities often accept configuration files (also called set files or profiles) which tell it how to work correctly with particular applications. Most Windows screen review utilities provide access to MS-DOS.
| Product: | JAWS for Windows (JFW) |
| From: | Henter-Joyce, Inc., 2100 62nd Ave. N., St. Petersburg, FL 33702 |
| Phone: | 800-336-5658 or 813-528-8900 |
| Fax: | (813) 528-8901 |
| BBS: | (813) 528-8903 |
| Internet: | http://www.hj.com |
| Email: | info@hj.com |
| System: | Windows; Windows 95 compatible version in June 1996 |
| Languages: | Many languages available (worldwide distribution) |
| Price: | $795; discounts up to $300.00 for JAWS DOS users |
| Demo: | JWF Timed Evaluation (60 days) with all materials: $39.95. |
| Notes: | Originally released January 16, 1995. Easy to use with helpful Wizards and 3 user modes, beginner to advanced. Tutorial training set of seven 90-minute cassette tapes designed to teach JFW and Windows from the keyboard. Includes toll free technical support in North America. Also works with a wide variety of refreshable Braille. |
| Product: | outSPOKEN for Windows, brailleOUT for Windows |
| From: | Berkeley Access, 2095 Rose St., Berkeley, CA 94709 |
| Phone: | 510-883-6280 |
| TDD: | 510-540-0709 |
| Fax: | 510-883-6270 |
| Email: | osw@berksys.com |
| BBS: | Via the World Wide Web: http://access.berksys.com |
| System: | Windows; a Windows 95 version to be released in 1996 |
| Languages: | outSPOKEN: German, Italian, French, and Dutch; brailleOUT: English |
| Price: | outSPOKEN: $595; $295 competitive upgrade from all other Windows screen readers, as well as for outSPOKEN for Macintosh users; brailleOUT: $149 |
| Demo: | Available free by mail.; from dealers; by anonymous FTP download at access.berksys.com in /pub/osw/demo; and from Berkeley's WWW address. |
| Notes: | Both products are based on Berkeley's GUI Access Toolkit, available for third-party developers wishing to build screen readers or other utilities. They are interoperating products, made to work with eac h other. outSPOKEN supports more than 30 speech synthesizers and works with a variety of screen review packages for MS-DOS. Works in all screen modes, resolutions, and color settings. Original version released October 11, 1994; Version 1.2 will support Wi ndows 95 and TextAssist SoundBlaster cards. BrailleOUT is an interface to outSPOKEN for the ALVA, Navigator, and PowerBraille displays. Neither is copy protected. |
| Product: | Protalk32 |
| From: | Biolink Computer R&D Ltd., Suite 105, 140 W. 15th St.,
North Vancouver, B.C. V7M 1R6, Canada |
| Phone: | 604-984-4099 |
| Fax: | 604-985-8493 |
| BBS: | 604-985-8431 |
| System: | Windows 95/Windows, Windows NT |
| Languages: | French and German versions available |
| Price: | Windows 95/Windows: $995 (U.S.); Windows NT: $2495 (U.S.); replacement disks for Protalk are free for registered users; complete upgrade package is $150 (U.S.) |
| Demo: | Available via download from their BBS. |
| Notes: | Protalk32 is a 32-bit replacement of Biolink's version 1.0 screen reader, which was released in 1993. This new version works on the 16-bit Windows 3.1, plus 32-bit Windows 95. There is a separate 32-bit Windows NT version. Protalk32 works with any sound card supported by Windows, and with most hardware speech synthesizers and Braille displays. Utilizes hardware copy-protection key. |
| Product: | Screen Reader/2, Screen Reader/DOS |
| From: | IBM |
| Phone: | 800-426-3388 (Ordering); 800-426-4832 (Information) |
| System: | IBM® OS/2® 2.1 |
| Price: | $600 software only; $700 with external keypad |
| Status: | Version 1.2.1 for SRD/DOS and SRD/2 was released March 1995. Screen Reader/2 was released November 1995. |
| Notes: | Provides access to Windows-based applications when run under IBM's operating system. Screen Reader/2 version 1.2.1 can be used with both OS/2 and Windows applications. It requires a hardware speech synt hesizer. |
| Product: | ScreenPower® for Windows |
| From: | Telesensory Corp., P.O. Box 7455, Mountain View, CA 94043 |
| Phone: | 800-286-8484 or 415-960-0920 |
| Fax: | 415-969-9064 |
| BBS: | 415-335-1819 or 415-335-1820 |
| Email: | tele@netcom.com or 71545.213@compuserve.com |
| Internet: | http://www.telesensory.com |
| System: | Windows; a Windows 95 version to be released second quarter 1996 |
| Price: | $995 |
| Demo: | Available free by mail. |
| Notes: | ScreenPower for Windows provides complete tactile and audio access to Windows for blind users. With a Braille display and/or integrated speech output, each Windows element is identifiable and accessibl e. Element appearance, location, purpose, selection status, and relationship to other elements is accessible. SPWin's Explore Mode provides a consistent, easy-to-use interface, with the numeric pad and Braille display substituting for a mouse. Click, cut , drag, and paste screen items. SPWin lets users access hidden icons or windows without moving or closing applications. The system facilitates Windows Help by underlining hyperlinks for clear identification. Supports all synthesizers compatible with SSIL specification, and the SpeechPlus Prose board and Telesensory's BrailleMate. Plus, all Telesensory Braille displays, including Navigator and the PowerBraille line. |
| Product: | SLIMWARE Window Bridge |
| From: | Syntha-voice Computers Inc., 304 - 800 Queenston Rd., Stoney Creek, ON L8G 1A7 Canada |
| Phone: | 800-263-4540 (Ordering Hotline, Product Support) |
| 905-662-0565 (General Inquiries, Main Number) | |
| Fax: | 905-662-0568 |
| BBS: | 905-662-0569 |
| Internet: | FTP: synthavoice.on.ca |
| Email: | help@synthavoice.on.ca |
| System: | Windows 95, Windows, MS-DOS |
| Price: | $695 |
| Demo: | Available free by mail, BBS, or Internet |
| Notes: | Screen review program for the blind or deaf-blind. Works on all of the above operating systems with a single set of commands. Supports more than 40 speech synthesizers and more than 20 models of Braille displays. Designed for IBM 80-386 based systems or better, with MS-DOS 3.3 or later. Compatible with VGA video cards or better. System must have 4 MB of RAM, minimum. Requires hardware speech synthesizer or Braille display. Originally released July 1992; current version is 2.21. |
| Product: | VIRGO, VIRGO 2 |
| From: | BAUM Products GmbH, Schlos Langenzell, 69257 Wiesenbach, Germany |
| Phone: | +49 6223 49090 |
| Fax: | +49 6223 490999 |
| Email: | 100041.1215@compuserve.com |
| System: | VIRGO: Windows 3.1 and 3.11; VIRGO 2 (available in 1996): Windows 95
Recommended: 486 PC, 8MB RAM |
| Languages: | German, French, Italian, Swedish (translatable to others through LNG files) |
| Price: | VIRGO: DM4,750,-; VIRGO 2: unknown |
| Demo: | VIRGO: Free; request via email or fax |
| Notes: | The VIRGO screen review software provides a hierarchical, logical access to Windows. Compatible with all PC-based Braille lines via the optional VIRGO-Link package, and with all SSIL speech outputs. Us
er friendly package includes information lines, path function, synchronization of speech output, support of Drag & Drop, sorting options, and bookmarkers. Content of Braille display can be shown on the screen, for cooperation with sighted users. Sup
ports most graphic adapters/resolutions (VGA, SVGA, Hires).
The upcoming VIRGO 2 product provides extended functionality such as an interactive user configuration and improved user friendliness through optimal multimedia capabilities. It is 16- and 32-bit compatible, supports MS-SAPI and uses Visual Basic as its m acro language and VB for Applications.Data interchange through DDE and OLE Automation; all applications supporting macro and OLE Automation can be made VIRGO aware. |
| Product: | WINDOTS |
| From: | F.H. Papenmeier GmbH & Co. KG, Reha Div., P.O. Box 16 20, D-58211 Schwerte, Germany |
| Phone: | +49-2304-946-0 |
| Fax: | +49-2304-946-246 |
| Email: | fhp@rehatec.un.eunet.de |
| System: | Windows; a Windows 95 version to be released mid 1996 |
| Languages: | German and other European |
| Demo: | Demo is available free of charge. |
| Notes: | WinDOTS is a software package that allows blind people to access programs running under Windows. With its unique spatial access concept, WinDOTS transfers all elements needed for working with the graphi cal user interface - texts, icons, command buttons, etc., or the different windows in their frames - into a format which may be presented on a Braille display. The structure and the layout of the original Windows screen remain unchanged. WinDOTS works bes t with Papenmeier's two-dimensional Braille displays ( BRAILLEX-2D Screen with 80-cell Braille display, or BRAILLEX-2D Lite with 40-cell Braille display; both display units have a vertical display representing the structure of the screen data). A portable solution is also available with BRAILLEX Compact, a notebook computer with integrated 40-cell Braille display. A speech synthesizer can be added. Full mouse emulation is supported through routing keys. |
| Product: | Window-Eyes |
| From: | GW Micro, Inc., 725 Airport North Office Park, Fort Wayne, IN 46825 |
| Phone: | (219) 489-3671 |
| Fax: | (219) 489-2608 |
| BBS: | (219) 489-5281 |
| Email: | support@gwmicro.com |
| System: | Windows; a Windows 95 version is planned |
| Price: | $495 |
| Demo: | Available free by mail, BBS, or UUENCODED Email |
| Notes: | Window-Eyes is a flexible and configurable Windows-based screen reader. The design philosophies of the Vocal-Eyes screen reader for MS-DOS have been integrated as a base for Window-Eyes, and Vocal-Eyes users will appreciate the consistent user interface. Window-Eyes supports many speech synthesizers and is compatible with a variety of MS-DOS-based screen readers. It does not require any special screen or keyboard device driver and is not copy protected. |
| Product: | Windows Master |
| From: | Blazie Engineering, 105 E. Jarrettsville Rd., Forest Hill, MD 21050 |
| Phone: | 410-893-9333 |
| Fax: | 410-836-5040 |
| Price: | $495 |
| Demo: | Available free by mail. |
| Notes: | Allows you to control the PC using your personal digital assistant products from Blazie Engineering. Works with Braille Lite for speech and Braille access, or Braille 'n' Speak or Type 'n' Speak for voi ce access. |
| Product: | WINKLiNE |
| From: | Speech Systems for the Blind, 76 Wheaton Dr., Attleboro, MA 02703-6623 |
| Phone: | 508-226-0447 |
| Email: | 73030.3644@compuserve.com or s.theberge@genie.com |
| System: | Windows; a Windows 95 version is planned |
| Price: | $45 |
| Demo: | Available for $5 or downloadable from many information systems. |
| Notes: | Provides text-to-speech using any multimedia sound card supported by Windows. Identifies icons, menus, and controls, and echoes words as typed or as written to the screen. |
| Product: | WinVision |
| From: | Artic Technologies, 55 Park St., Troy, MI 48083 |
| Phone: | 810-588-7370 |
| Fax: | 810-588-5260 |
| BBS: | 810-558-1424 |
| System: | Windows |
| Price: | $495 |
| Demo: | Customers with Business Vision can get a demo version of WinVision at no charge. |
| Notes: | Originally released July 12, 1993, WinVision works as an interface to Artic Business Vision, so will work on any system supported by that product. WinVision, is currently under development as a standalo ne product. |
The following screen review utilities are not yet available but have been announced:
| Product: | ASAP for Windows |
| From: | MicroTalk, 917 Clear Creek Dr., Texarkana, TX 75503 |
| Phone: | 903-832-3471 |
| Fax: | 903-832-3517 |
| BBS: | 903-832-3722 |
| System: | Windows, Windows 95 |
| Languages: | Supports multiple languages |
| Price: | $595 |
| Demo: | A free demo copy will be available via their BBS. |
| Status: | In development, no release date announced. |
| Notes: | It will work with multimedia sound cards or hardware speech synthesizers and be highly configurable. |
| Product: | HAL5 for Windows 95 |
| From: | Dolphin Systems, P.O. Box 83, Worcester WR3 8TU England |
| Phone: | +44-1905-754577 |
| Fax: | +44-1905-754559 |
| BBS: | +44-1905-457767 |
| Email: | dolphin@dolsys.demon.co.uk or 100024.2535@compuserve.com |
| System: | Windows 95 version to be released at end of 1996 |
| Price: | Not announced |
| Demo: | Not currently available |
© 1994, 1995 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 and Windsurfer is a trademark of International
Business Machines Corporation. WiViK2 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.
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