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<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Personal
Power:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>How
Accessible Computers Can Enhance Personal Life For Blind People<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><span
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>by Michael Feir<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Copyright
2008 by Michael Feir<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Special
thanks to Sean Shaw, Geoff Eden, Richard Bowden, Richard Hadfield, Ron and
Sylvia Schamerhorn. These good people took the time to review and make
suggestions about improvements to the guide prior to its publication. They have
caught numerous errors and given me a good many ideas for small but important
improvements. Any remaining errors or shortcomings of this guide are my
responsibility alone.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>This
document may be freely distributed<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>in
any format as long as the contents are not modified and the recipient user is
not charged a fee. It is to be given and shared freely.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>*Warning!
By using this guide, you take full responsibility for any consequences
resulting from the knowledge you gain from it. To make full use of your
computer, for example, you'll need to know how to manage files. I am not
responsible for what happens when that knowledge is misused to move files from
their rightful place or to delete needed files. Power comes with responsibility
and if you're going to have full control of your personal computer, you must
accept that it falls upon you to use that power wisely. I take great pains in
this guide to encourage people to think carefully about what they're doing and
warn them when I discuss areas where they could potentially get into trouble.
However, I cannot stop people from either ignoring my advice or misusing the
knowledge this guide imparts. Knowledge is a tool. Like a hammer, it can be
used both to build and to destroy.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>I write
this guide claiming no other professional expertise in this area except the
nearly two decades of personal experience I've gained as a user of access
technology. I represent no corporation and will not receive any money for this
guide. It has been a labour of conscience and passion for the subject. I
therefore accept no responsibility whatsoever for any damage done as a result
of people getting in over their heads or acting with malice to harm another
person's computer. You, the reader, must accept full responsibility for your
own actions. If you can't do that, don't read any more of this guide.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Note:
Now don't let this scare you. I'd divided the guide up into sections and
subsections to make things easier for you. To assist with quick and easy
navigation, the title of each section is preceded with two plus-signs in the
line above it. Divisions within a particular section are preceded by a single
plus-sign in the line above them. Using the search function of the software you
use to read this guide, you can move quickly through the document by looking
for the next or previous plus-signs. Lets take an example of how this works.
Say you already have a computer which is hooked up to the Internet and you have
a basic idea how to go places online already. I have a list of destinations I
specifically picked out for less experienced blind folks to help make certain
that their first experience online is both safe and encouraging. You can go to
the "getting Online", section and look ahead for the single
plus-sign. That gets you right to my list of destinations. And there you have
it. A simple way of getting to the sections you want nice and speedy. Sighted
users who print this guide for their reference should use a word processing
program which can automatically add in page numbers. These numbers can break up
the flow if the guide is being read via speech software. Braille formatting is
completely different as well. These reasons prompted me to favour the guide's
primary audience, blind owners of personal computers and not include page
numbering.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>+<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Contents:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Dedication<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>1--
Introduction<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>2--
Clearing Up Windows for Blind People<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>2.1--
Rummaging in Dialogue Boxes<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>2.2--
Exercising Authority with Pull down Menus<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>2.3--
The Task bar and System Tray<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>2.4--
Built-in Help<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>2.5--
Navigating Files and Folders<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>2.6--
Surviving Software and System Crashes<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>2.7--
The Control Panel<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>3--
Getting Online<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>3.1--
Finding Your Way<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>3.2--
Initial Online Destinations<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>4--
Protecting Your Computer<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>5--
Maintaining Your computer and Data<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>6--
Taking It All In: Online Media:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>6.1--
Listening To Music, Internet Radio and Video<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>6.2--
Pod casts<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>7--
Online Communities and Communication<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>7.1--
The Many Implications of Email<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>7.2--
Text and Voice Chat<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>7.3-
Instant Messengers<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>7.4--
Blogs and Forums<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>7.5--
Virtual Conventions and Symposiums<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>8--
Online Shopping<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>9--
Computer Games<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>10--
Looking For Accessible Software<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>11--
Free Speech Access<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>12--
Final Reflections<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>+<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Dedication:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Many
people are in some way directly or indirectly responsible for inspiring me to
write this guide. Far too many, in fact, to properly acknowledge all of them
here. I'll therefore give credit where credit is due in the following manner:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>First
of all, I thank Dolores and Brian Feir, my parents. They've always stood by me
and supported my various endeavours. In a world fixated on profit and earnings,
they taught me that doing work which helps other people has its own rewards. I
may not ultimately be able to earn a living but as long as I do my best to do
things which benefit others, I'll look back on a rewarding life very well
lived.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Consider
this guide to be my small way of paying the debt of gratitude I owe to the many
inspired teachers, friends and others who have shown me how to go beyond the
basics and think outside of the box regarding computers and the Internet. My
thanks to all of you who have taken the time to explain, commiserate, help me
out of a mess often of my own making, and encourage me to do the same for others.
Your patience, kindness and courage are all in these pages. Friends especially
are quite often the best medium for transferring knowledge as they explore life
and grow together. What initially look like disasters transform into triumphs
where good will and positive thinking win through. May all of those new to the
world of computers be fortunate enough to find and become friends such as I've
found and tried to be.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>I also
write this guide in honour of the Blind Explorers of Access Technology team.
These terrific people were all set to plunge into the fray and do some serious
good if only circumstances had been more favourable. Wherever fate has tossed
you, I hope your compassion for others and willingness to try has been properly
rewarded. This written document is in a very real sense a legacy of all our
dashed hopes. May it spread far and wide doing at least some of what we wanted
to accomplish in person.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Finally,
I would like to dedicate this guide to the Lake Joseph Centre and all who work
and rest therein. This very special lodge was built and is supported by the
CNIB and Lions Club. Both organizations saw the need for a place designed for
blind people to be able to independently enjoy vacations and other
character-building experiences. I've spent many pleasant weeks there since
childhood and plan on spending many more. Every time I go there, I'm able to
enjoy relaxation as well as find people who I can help in some way. For me,
that's a truly restorative combination. It also provides an excellent place to
sound out a good cross-section of the blind community discovering what we're
all about and what needs remain unfulfilled. It was here that I received the
idea and an often repeated request to write a guide for beginners. I hope that
what I've written here meets all of your needs.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>++<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>1--
Introduction:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>"I
didn't know I could search the Internet!" "But I'm totally blind!
There aren't games that I could play, are there?" "I thought I
couldn't use any of that online chat software!" "You can actually get
your groceries online?" Words like these, usually delivered in tones of
amazed wonder, have haunted me for years. I hear them all too often from blind
people who have been given or otherwise obtained accessible computers for their
personal use. If you're sighted, it's all but impossible to be ignorant of the
countless possibilities computers offer in terms of personal pleasure and
growth. Mainstream media is filled with depictions of people using them for
playing games, chatting online, searching the Internet, etc. The computer games
industry has been with us for well over two decades. Not knowing about their
availability would be very hard indeed. People who have lived through the past
twenty years have grown up having the world of computers sold to them as an
exciting place where plenty of opportunities for both work and pleasure were to
be had. Sadly, blind people don't always share this experience. They are often
left afraid to venture beyond what they have been shown how to do. Training is
typically geared towards education or employment. Any personal leisure or other
exploration is up to individuals. They are stuck with questions like:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>"What
activities are accessible?" "Might I screw up my computer by trying
something different?" "Who can I turn to for help if I need it
without having to pay a fortune?"<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Many
blind people are largely under the impression that computers are good for
education and work only. Given the current extremely high unemployment rates
experienced by the blind community, the magnitude of needlessly untapped
potential caused by this mistaken belief staggers me. Nothing could be further
from the truth. Essentially, computers and the Internet have given me a way of
reaching out and having a positive impact on people. These tools plus my
talents and effort have given me direction, enjoyment, purpose and meaning. If
you're willing to invest the time it takes to become a competent user, these
tools can help you in similar ways. Your computer is so much more than a mere
tool for getting work done. It can deepen your personal life in countless ways.
I'll show you how. Come with me on a journey of discovery into your computer's
potential and that of the digital world.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>This
isn't a crash course or cram session. I hope you find my more leisurely
approach helps ease any feelings of being overwhelmed by technology. I've
filled this guide with my own personal experiences so that people who are new
to computers and the Internet might better understand how these things can
become a part of their own personal lives. It's much more a tourist book than a
manual. You already have access to manuals. The problem with them is that they
can be quite daunting to people particularly when they lack any personally
appealing reason to make use of them. I've written this document to serve as
your bridge of humanity to help you cross the digital divide. Reading it should
provide you with a good basic overview of some new possibilities your personal
computer can open up to you. You'll have a better foundation to know which
sections of manuals might interest you and it won't be like jumping off a cliff
into the completely unknown. Relax and enjoy the trip.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>You
don't have to read this entire guide from end to end or learn a ton of
information over three or four tortuous training sessions. There's no clock to
beat nor money to pay. Take as long as you like to learn what you choose to
from this guide. We're all coming at this with different desires and different
awareness of what's out there. While novices who read this guide will hopefully
gain a good overall basic knowledge, others with more experience may find new
pursuits they never thought of. Even veterans of the digital world will
hopefully discover new sites to visit among the countless links I've included
in Personal Power. I'm not expecting everyone who reads these pages to become
the ultimate power-user. I just feel strongly compelled to make the road to
computer competence easier for you than it was for me. What your personal
interests are doesn't concern me. That you have a basic understanding and
ability to use computers to pursue those interests does. I want more people to
be aware of what their computers can do for them personally. If you choose not
to use that knowledge, that's perfectly fine. However, to make an informed
choice, that knowledge has to be available to you in the first place.
Currently, given understandable but misguided societal priorities, I don't
believe this is the case for many blind people. I hope to give you a proper
sense of why you would truly want to take time to master your accessible
computer and the Internet. That's my main goal with this guide; To make you
aware of what's out there for you so you can decide what's worth reaching for.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Computers
and the Internet are profoundly powerful tools. Even people who use them
extensively like me can't possibly use their absolute full potential. There are
aspects that simply don't interest me. That's true of everyone. There are,
however, basic things which owners of computers ought to be aware that they can
do and things which they ought to know how to do. I believe that every owner of
a personal computer should at the very least know how to:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>1.
Protect their computer from attack if they have any thoughts at all of using
the Internet.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>2.
Move, copy, and organize files.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>3.
Perform basic maintenance on their computers such as defragmenting their hard
drives and doing a disc cleanup.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>4.
Recover from a system crash without assistance or needless panic.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>5. Have
a good general grasp of what their computer can do for them and what software
they can use or obtain if they wish.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Sadly,
there seem to be a great many people both blind and sighted who lack this
knowledge. If you intend to make good use of your personal computer, you
definitely need to have it. For users of the Microsoft Windows operating
systems, I'll be going over those basics in my guide. Users of other operating
systems will, I hope, at least know what knowledge they need to obtain from
whoever provides the access alternative they've chosen.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Two
years is quite a long time to work on something which I firmly believe must be
given away freely to anyone interested if it is to have any impact at all on my
target audience. Some of you out there will naturally wonder what I stand to
gain from this. First and foremost, the clear conscience which comes of doing
what is right. My life and circumstances place me in an ideal position to
undertake this project. When one has a clear opportunity to effect good, it
behooves us to take action. One way or another, we must all pay our dues in
this world and keep the books of conscience balanced. Over the years, I've
derived a great deal of enjoyment from labours of love given freely away by
many other people. Also, I couldn't count the times that helpful and knowledgeable
people have gone the extra mile for me when I needed help. There are those who
think that people don't appreciate what they don't have to pay for. I've
learned the error of that short-sightedness first hand. Despite extensive
commercialization of the Internet over the past decade, a communal spirit of
sharing still remains strong online. It is a joy to contribute my time and
effort to bringing more people into that fold. I hope for a day when many more
blind people will stand up and be counted online by writing blogs,
participating in discussions, and initiating or contributing to larger
collaborative efforts. As this happens, I believe it will help us achieve more
in the offline world. It will also enhance the enjoyment I already get from
being connected. Finally, I also hope that it will stand me in good stead as I
embark on further projects which I hope to sell. These aren't strictly going to
be for blind people's enjoyment only but they will be made in a manner fully
accessible to them. There you are. My innate greed has been revealed in all its
many lovely shades.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Before
we get too far, I would strongly recommend you read sections 4 and 5 on
protecting and maintaining your computer. The online world is open to everyone
and this unfortunately includes criminals. There are also the digital
equivalent of monsters lurking within this new realm of human endeavour. I'm
completely serious about that. Viruses, worms, Trojans and spyware are no
laughing matter. While I can warn you of the dangers, I can't protect you from
them as much as I'd like to. The best I can do is direct you to defences you
can use to protect yourselves. Even if you can't afford to pay for a commercial
security package, there are steps you would be irresponsible not to take. If you
go on to the Internet for any length of time without taking precautions, don't
say I didn't warn you. For people whose training didn't leave them with a very
good grasp of the basics of the Windows operating system, the next section will
explain the desktop, start menu, and other fundamental elements. I don't intend
to reinvent the wheel here. These very basic concepts are explained quite well
in plenty of training material typically given with access technology. I just
intend to give that little extra nudge to people who either don't know how to
access these materials or just didn't have the motivation to bother using them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Here
are some of the other areas this guide will explore: Computer games have
advanced tremendously since the early days of access technology. People can
play car-racing games, arcade games like Pac-man, strategy and adventure games
which are self-voicing and use sound rather than text to convey similar
experiences to what sighted people can enjoy. I'll have a more in-depth section
about the kinds available later in this guide.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Online
shopping can be a very liberating addition to a blind person's life. It offers
a degree of independence that can be very difficult to achieve otherwise. While
shopping online, you are completely in charge of the experience. You can take
as long as you like looking at item descriptions. Section 8 discusses the
advantages of online shopping as well as doing it safely.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Here's
another simple example. I like listening to music while I write. There are
literally thousands of Internet radio stations broadcasting pretty much any
style of music you could want. Mostly, they are free to listen to and there are
very few if any commercials. All the software you need to tune in is completely
free. A little time, patience and minimal effort are all you'll have to expend
in order to enjoy your kinds of music while your at or near your computer.
There are also video streams and podcasts of potential interest to blind
people. Section 6 dives into the vast amount of online media and offers basic
instructions you'll need to access it. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>The
most common eventual cure for the new computer user's shortage of knowledge and
perspective is when they come into contact with the wider community of more
experienced users. There are quite a lot of us out there who can and often will
take the time to enlighten people about what we've either discovered or learned
from others. This, in most cases, requires that novices have the courage and
curiosity to go beyond their training at least enough to become proficient in
using the Internet. The Internet is a fantastic bridge-builder and is your
gateway to the shared collective outside-the-box experience of the world's
blind community. Borders just don't matter anymore. You can talk for hours to somebody
on the far side of the world without spending a cent on long-distance charges.
A major section of this guide looks at various methods of communicating online
such as email.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>For
people on a very tight budget, there are now a few different free screen
reading programs available on the Internet. These are still very much in
development and people shouldn't expect free screen readers to perform to the
same standards as their expensive commercial counterparts. However, that being
said, they are constantly being improved upon and all offer full access to
basic computer activities and areas. Section 11 of this guide discusses free
screen readers and their implications.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>I hope
this gives you an idea of the kinds of possibilities made available via
accessible computers and the Internet. You don't need to add more hardware to
the kinds of computers that are being funded in order to go on the Internet,
listen to music or other streaming broadcasts, play games, shop, etc. You just
need to know how to use what you've got<span style='mso-tab-count:1'> </span>
already. Good skills with typing and knowing your keyboard are two areas which
I can't recommend strongly enough that you work on. There are certainly typing
courses and the like, but there are far more engaging and fun ways of attaining
typing and keyboarding skills.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>It is
impossible for me to personally reach all the people who should be made more
aware of the power at their command. I therefore ask you to extend my reach.
Please feel free to give this guide to people who you think could benefit from
reading it. The more people this guide empowers to pursue their own interests
with their accessible personal computers, the greater the reward will be for my
efforts. If you have the facilities to translate this guide into alternative
formats like Braille or audio narration, you have my permission and deepest
thanks for doing this. I ask only that you do not modify what I've said. As
more blind people venture online and contribute to the vibrancy of that virtual
world, they will spread the knowledge to others. Time and personal
circumstances permitting, I'm always eager to hear from and help people where I
can. Contact me via email at:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>michael.feir@gmail.com<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>++<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>2--
Clearing Up Windows for Blind People<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>"Come
on! Do I really have to plough through that extensive training material I got
with my access technology?" Well I can't exactly hold a gun to your head
and make you but you really ought to give that training material a look. It's
written by very thoughtful experts in both the technology you have and in
teaching you how to make the best use of it. They do a very good job of going
over the basic concepts and are paid to be far more patient than I am. Many of
you find the prospect of ploughing through such material to be more daunting
than it actually is. What I hope to do in this section is not to recreate that
already finely crafted wheel. Instead, I aim to give you that glimmer of
understanding, that boost of confidence which will let you make your own more
informed choice. Nobody can stop you from just deciding not to proceed any
further. To simply give up and not look at the material provided you or the
rest of this guide is the first option. I of course hope you don't choose it.
If you're determined just to plunge in without benefiting from the aid of
manuals and such, perhaps this brief overview of the elements of Windows will
be enough of a push to get you started. You'll then be on the path I've chosen
to tread over the years. I should warn you that this path is full of
frustrations which could have been avoided by taking the time initially to get
an overarching grasp on the fundamentals using the provided training materials.
I hope you end up using this guide and the help provided to smooth your way.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>One
excellent source of more traditional and professional training is:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><a
href="http://www.blindcooltech.com/www.accesstechnologyinstitute.com">www.accesstechnologyinstitute.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>CathyAnne
provides excellent online training and resources. She offers a free course on
Windows XP fundamentals which has been pre-recorded. Just click on the links to
hear the various parts. You can also participate in live online training
programs which come with textbooks and other support. The Access Technology
Institute has become a widely recognized authority in providing training to
interested users as well as certified access technology trainers. You'll find
in-depth courses on everything from Microsoft Windows to designing a web site.
For people who are self-motivated and wanting a method of learning at their own
pace, it's definitely the place to go for the kind of thorough training owners
of personal computers ought to have. I'm just giving you enough of an
understanding of Windows to get you started in this section. I'm far more
interested in moving people beyond the basics and illustrating what you can do
once you've gained a level of competence with your access technology. CathyAnne
offers the kind of deep coverage of things such as the Microsoft Windows
operating system which I slowly pieced together over years of informal
experimentation. With her materials, it'll take you far less time.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>You may
also want to look at John Wilson's "From The Keyboard" tutorials and
guides. They are now offered freely on the Internet and contain a great deal of
useful information. You can find them at:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><a
href="http://web.onetel.net.uk/~fromthekeyboard/">http://web.onetel.net.uk/~fromthekeyboard/</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>If you
ever want to know how to do something or you get in to technical trouble, one
excellent place to turn to is the Adaptive Technology helpdesk. This telephone
hotline is run by the Chicago Lighthouse for the Blind. Anybody can call them
for help using any kind of access technology as long as it has something to do
with blindness or visual impairment. It doesn't matter whether it's for
personal interest or work-related. Also, it doesn't matter where you are. Ray
Campbell is the expert in access technology who runs this hotline. You can
email him at:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>ray.campbell@chicagolighthouse.org<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>or call
him at:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>888-825-0080
(voice/Relay)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Windows
presents its users with what is known as a graphical user interface. The screen
is divided up into different areas. The first thing you come to when Windows
loads is what is known as the desktop. Just like a person's actual desktop,
you'll find and place things on that surface which you think you'll want to use
on a regular basis. My actual desk has a telephone, headset, speakers, the
computer keyboard and monitor, Internet equipment, an external hard drive, a
drink-holder, and a soapstone bear. For the curious, that last item makes a
fabulous paperweight. Underneath the desk is a waste basket and a shelf
containing other items used less frequently. While we're at it, I also have a
shelving unit where yet more items may be kept readily available if needed.
Essentially, Windows lets you set up your digital environment in precisely this
way. The analogy is even more the case for sighted people than it is for users
of access technology. We do everything by keystrokes so we don't have that same
geographical sense of just zipping around here and there with the mouse and
such.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Items
are all represented by symbols called icons on the Windows desktop. People who
can see use a mouse to focus on and activate these icons by
"clicking" on them. Just as I might reach over and pick up the
telephone to my right, they can move to and click on the icon which opens their
email software. Once opened, the email software is in focus. It fills most of
the screen and the desktop fades into the background. Sighted users may have
these icons arranged any way they desire. This is less important for blind
users as the tradeoff is between the convenience of having items on the desktop
and the length of time it takes that desktop to load completely when you boot
your computer. The more icons you have on your desktop, the longer it's going
to take the computer to get everything loaded and looking sharp. If you ever
need to get to your desktop quickly, there's a handy shortcut. If you press and
hold down the windows key and then hit the letter d, you'll be taken instantly
to the desktop. Another key combination you should be aware of is holding down
the shift key and then pressing the tenth function key. This is the equivalent
of an application key which many keyboards possess. If you use that while on
the desktop but when no icons are in focus, you will be able to add new
shortcuts and do other things beyond the scope of this section. To get to an
icon on the desktop, type its first letter. This will cycle you through any
icons which start with the same letter.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Lets
look at your digital shelving where items less frequently used are placed. If
you press the special key called the "windows" key found on most
modern keyboards, you'll find yourself at what is known as the start menu. You can
also get there with the control-escape keyboard combination. Think of it like
the trunk of a tree. There are some items right on the tree trunk. Hitting the
enter key on them will access the item directly. For example, pressing the
enter key on "windows update" will take you directly to where you can
check for and install updates for your computer. Each time you come to an item
whose name includes the word "submenu" or something similar, these
menus branch out of the start menu. Within those submenu's, you might find
items even farther out like twigs on branches. Using the up and down arrows
will move you through options in a menu or submenu. The left and right arrows
should allow you to go into or out of the submenu's which branch off the start
menu. Continuing to go either up or down within a menu or submenu will cycle
through the items it contains starting over at the top or bottom depending on
your direction of travel. Once you're in a submenu, you can palso press the
first letter of the name of the option you want to go to. If no other option
exists having a name with the same first letter, that option will be
automatically activated without the need to hit the "enter" key to
choose it. Otherwise, you'll cycle between any options with the same first letter
and must hit "enter" to select the one you want. For example, one of
the first menus you'll come to in the start menu is an item called
"settings". This is a submenu so using the right arrow key should
move you into that. This submenu contains items which help you configure your
computer and other hardware connected to it. Feel free to look around. It's
pretty hard to do damage by mistake. Just don't change any options until you're
comfortable that you understand their results. From anywhere within the
"settings" submenu, hitting the letter C will get you directly into
an area called "control panel" which we'll be examining later.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>You
should also take a look through the "programs" menu. This is where
you can get at any software you have installed and where any associated things
like documentation are grouped together. Each company or program has an entry
in the "programs" menu. That might activate the program itself or
lead to a submenu of related items. I'm using a free program called Winamp at
the moment to listen to music while working on this guide. If I go into the
“programs” menu, I'll eventually come to a “winamp” submenu. In it, I'll find
three items. One option is to actually run Winamp. Another is “what's new”
which gives me an overview of any changes made in the current and previous
versions of Winamp. The last option lets me uninstall the software if I so
choose. That ought to help you understand how menus and submenu's work. Take
some time to look through the menus and submenu's on your system. Things might
work a bit differently depending on which version of Windows you have. The
basics will be the same though. Your access technology might use slightly
different terms to describe things to you. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Lets
try selecting one of the items in the settings menu. Go to the start menu using
the windows key or the control-escape combination. Next, go up or down until
you come to the "settings" menu. Move right into that menu. If you're
using Jaws, hitting the right arrow will get you into the settings submenu.
Now, go up or down through the options until you come to "Task bar and
start menu". Press the enter key on that and you'll arrive at the Task bar
and start menu properties dialogue box. We've arrived at a simple but excellent
example of what dialogue boxes in Windows are like.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>+<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>2.1--
Rummaging in Dialogue Boxes<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Dialogue
boxes allow you to hold conversations with the software you find them in. They
will pop up to inform you of information such as when an ongoing operation is
taking place or when an error has happened. Many dialogue boxes allow you to
set options which tell the software how to behave. The Task bar and start menu
properties dialogue box lets you tell Windows how you want these two key
elements to work. There are a number of controls commonly found in forms and
dialogue boxes. These include checkboxes, tabs, radio buttons, combo boxes, and
edit fields. The dialogue box I've chosen for us to examine contains two
separate tabs. These tabs separate groups of related controls. In this case,
one tab is called the "Task bar" tab and the other is called the
"start menu" tab. You'll start out in the Task bar group of controls.
To switch to the next group of controls, push the control-tab key combination.
This will put you in the "start menu" tab. Hitting control-tab again
will put you back to the Task bar tab. Within a tab, press the tab and shifted
tab keys to cycle through the available items. While you're in the "start
menu" tab, hit the tab key and you'll come to a pair of radio buttons. Radio
buttons are called that because they behave like the buttons on an
old-fashioned radio. Only one button can be active at a time. If one is chosen,
the others are inactive. These let you decide whether you want the ordinary
Windows start menu or whether you want a more classic one which looks and
behaves like those found in earlier versions of Windows.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>I
personally find that the classic view makes using keyboard navigation easier.
It used to be more necessary to change to classic styles with earlier versions
of Jaws for Windows which is the screen-reading software I prefer. However, as
of version 7.10, it is no longer necessary. I would assume that choosing the
classic style of start menu may help simplify things for blind people using
different access technology. There is also a "customize" button in
the same control group. This is not a radio button. You have to press the space
bar or the enter key in order to activate the button. It will let you add,
remove and change<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>things about your
start menu. Until you're a bit more experienced, I recommend you don't make any
changes other than to choose the classic style of start menu. To make this
change permanent, continue to tab through the items in the control group.
You'll encounter buttons labelled "ok", "cancel", and
"apply". These three buttons will be present in most dialogue boxes.
If you want to make changes permanent, you should always look for and activate
the "apply" button. You should do this before you hit the "ok"
button which will close the dialogue box. If you decide to cancel the changes
you've indicated in the dialogue box, use the cancel button. It will cancel any
changes made since you entered the dialogue box and will exit the dialogue box.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Checkboxes
can be checked or unchecked. Pressing the spacebar while on a checkbox will
either add a checkmark or remove one already present. You'll find these very
often in dialogue boxes as they are a quick way of telling the software whether
you want or don't want a given option. Combo boxes allow you to choose from a
list of options either by moving to the desired option as with a list of
options or by typing one or more letters of the option into the box. You'll
often find combo boxes which let you set numeric levels such as when setting
your computer's time and date. List boxes contain lists of options and can be
moved through using the arrow keys. Holding down the control key and tapping
the space bar allows the selection of one or more options to be made at once.
For instance, you could select a number of files in a list box that you want
copied. Don't let go of the control key until you're done selecting items. Edit
fields allow you to type in whatever is required. This might be a registration
code or a short description of a file. You will also encounter these elements
on many web sites.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Some
dialogue boxes will contain fields which can only be read and may not be
modified at all. For instance, you might get a dialogue box with a read-only
field which informs you that you have chosen a number out of the acceptable
range or that you've made an error while selecting options and need to fix it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>These
elements all make for a fairly intuitive way of communicating with the software
on your computer. There's never any need to rush while in a dialogue box. Take
your time and explore your options. Until you hit the "apply" button
and then hit "ok", no changes you make are permanent. You'll be
dealing with many of these dialogue boxes so take the time to get comfortable
with the basic control elements I've gone over here.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>+<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>2.2--
Exercising Authority with Pull down Menus<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Within
most Windows applications, you will be making extensive use of Pull down menus.
These give you access to options within the software. Each Pull down menu has
options related to its title. There are typically file, edit, view, and tools
menus. Some programs such as word processors may have more Pull down menus.
When you access a Pull down menu, using the up or down arrow will cycle up and
down the options. Imagine you have a set of blinds covering your windows but
that some fool as gone and sliced the blinds into vertical sections. A Pull
down menu is like one of those vertical sections. It can be pulled down and
will overlay part of the window or screen. Only one such menu can be active at
a time. You can't simultaneously select something in the file and edit menus
for instance. The file menu will disappear when you move over into the next
menu. The slat of those sliced up blinds which was the file menu will retract
into its fully rolled up state and you'd have to move back into the file menu
to pull it down again. This would let the edit menu retract. Here's how to use
these menus:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>First
of all, you have to tell the application that you want to go to the Pull down
menus. This can be done by hitting the alt key and letting it go. Assuming
we're dealing with a standard application, you'll find yourself in the leftmost
Pull down menu. This is usually called the "file" menu. To go into
that menu, hit the down arrow key. Work your way down through the options. Once
you're familiar with their order, you might find going up instead allows you to
reach an option more quickly. Let's say the file menu isn't what you're after.
Hit the right arrow and you'll go to the next menu. This may be the edit or
view menu. Once you've found the option you want, the return or enter key will
select it. It's pretty much that easy. Some options will lead you into
submenu's with more options. In this case, hitting enter or the right arrow
will get you into a submenu. Hitting the left arrow will close the submenu and
you'll be back on the Pull down menu the submenu branched off from. The escape
key will get you out of the Pull down menus and back to your application.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>In many
programs, you may find some entries in Pull down menus which open up dialogue
boxes where further options can be chosen. For instance, you'll often find an
"options" entry in the "tools" menu of word processors or
web browsers. It can pay large dividends in terms of less frustration if you
take some time to explore all the Pull down menus of an application before you
start to use it seriously. I've helped many people, both sighted and blind, by
informing them of options which they could themselves have found had they taken
the time to truly look around the applications they strove to use.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>+<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>2.3--
The Task bar and System Tray<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>In
simple terms, multi-tasking is doing more than one thing at once. Unless it's
extremely old, your computer will have the capacity to let you do this
extensively. Keeping track of what software you have running is made far easier
with the aid of the Task bar and system tray. As I work on this section of the
guide, I've instructed my computer to do a lot of other things. A nifty piece
of free software called Winamp is continuously selecting and playing random
pieces from my growing collection of instrumental music. I also have my email
client of choice, Outlook Express, open and periodically checking for any new
email messages. Additionally, I'm currently downloading a book from the digital
library of the Canadian National Institute for the Blind. As always, my AVG
Internet Security software is running in the background keeping watch for any
intrusions or other threats. Most of the time, my attention is primarily
focused on Jarte which is my current word processor of choice. Should I need
it, I have a wonderful dictionary/thesaurus program running in the background
awaiting my plea for enlightenment. For the curious, this software is called
The Ultimate Talking Dictionary and can be purchased at:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><a
href="http://www.blindcooltech.com/www.readingmadeeasy.ca">www.readingmadeeasy.ca</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>In a
very real sense, it's like having a personal staff at your command. The Task
bar is where programs which need to be where your primary attention is directed
reside. They're your front-line workers who you'll be interacting with the
most. These programs are where you do your main activity. For example, Jarte is
located on my Task bar if I've switched temporarily to my Internet browser in
order to start downloading the next of the many mp3 files which comprise the
book I'm going to read soon. After I've started the file downloading, I can use
the Task bar to quickly move back to Jarte and continue writing this guide.
Winamp is also on my Task bar. It can also reside in the system tray but I've
always preferred it to be in my Task bar as I like to have it be the centre of
focus when I decide to do anything more than skip a piece of music or pause it
to answer a phone call. When you're on the Task bar, hitting the left and right
arrow keys moves you between applications. Hitting the enter key will move you
into the application you're on so that it has focus and will be active. To get
to the Task bar quickly, hit the windows key and then hit the tab key to move
from the start button onto the Task bar. Think of it like a speedy rail service
between work sites you may need to access frequently. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Somewhat
similar to the Task bar is the system tray. It is where you can obtain access
to applications running in the background. Think of these like your watch or
your staff behind the scenes. They're things which are constantly standing by
and performing an action which you may need at any time. These programs run
quietly in the background unless you need to interact with them due to
circumstances. My system tray has four items in it at the moment. The first
item is an icon for my AVG Internet security software. It's constantly on the
lookout for possible threats as I run applications and make use of the web. The
next item is the volume control. Should I need to make adjustments there, I
have a fairly rapid means of accessing the various volume controls and options.
The Ultimate Talking Dictionary, my dictionary and thesaurus program, is also
represented in the system tray ready for that painful instant's notice when I
just can't think of the right word. The last item is for assisting in the safe
removal of any external hardware I might have attached. Currently, I have an
external hard drive connected to my computer for storage of files I don't need
to have right on the computer's hard drive. Above these items is an area called
the notification area. This is where you'll sometimes find messages telling you
that updates are ready to be installed or that you have new email.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>To get
to the system tray, you can use the windows key-b combination. However, your
screen reader might have special facilities to improve the ease of access to
this area. For Jaws users, holding down the insert key and pressing the f11 key
will take you to this. You will be able to right-click or left-click items
without the need to use a mouse. Right-clicking on items will typically bring
up a context menu in which you'll find options pertaining to the application of
interest. For instance, right-clicking on the volume icon will bring up a
context menu which can take you to your computer's audio properties among other
things. If you're using a screen reader without any special facilities for
dealing with the system tray, use the applications key to access those context
menus. Hitting the enter key or left-clicking with the mouse will usually fully
open an application residing in the system tray. For instance, when I do this
to the AVG Internet security control panel icon in the system tray, the full control
panel opens into a normal application which will have focus. I can then fully
access all of its features rather than the more limited options available to me
from the context menu from the system tray.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>+<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>2.4--
Built-in Help<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>For
Windows users, the f1 key is normally the key used to enter a program's online
help. It is one of the most important things for people wanting to teach
themselves to know about. Over the years, I've made extensive use of online
help and have generally found it to be very concise and more than adequate to
the occasion of need. The online help gives you enough of a brief explanation
of a topic for you to make progress or understand a concept. It isn't a
replacement for a full user manual. It's for folks who just want to quickly
learn how to do something or about a particular aspect of the software. For
instance, you might want to learn how to organize your messages in Outlook
Express. My first step is hitting the f1 key while in Outlook Express. This
opens the software's built-in help. I'm left on a tree view whose first topic
is an introduction to the software. I don't need that so I start downward using
the down arrow key. I come to a branch called "reading messages". I
hit the right arrow to open that branch and then head down to the various twigs
which are topics. In short order, I come to "organizing messages".
Hitting the enter key selects that topic. Since I use Jaws for Windows, I next
must hit the f6 key to get from the tree view to the topic I've chosen. There,
I find a page which gives me a brief introduction followed by direct links
which take me to any topics of interest. I need only hit the enter key on the
link about deleting messages to learn all about doing that. Another link
teaches me about using message rules to move messages into separate folders.
Yet another link gives an overview of how to block unwanted messages. When I'm
done with that topic, hitting the f6 key again will get you back into the tree
view. You can usually get out of help by hitting the alt key, holding it down
and hitting the f4 key. This is known as a key combination and there are many
of these you can use to get things done more quickly. Other access technology
may require you to use slightly different methods for accessing help. Make
certain that you learn how to access this either during your initial training
if you have that or from whoever you've obtained your access technology from.
It's one of those truly vital things you should know.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>You
should also find out whether your access technology of choice comes with more
built-in help as this may often be more relevant to your situation as a blind
computer user. Jaws for Windows, my screen reader of choice, provides an
abundance of this sort of what is called "context sensitive help". If
I need to know how to use something like a combo box or other Windows element,
I can hold down the insert key and hit the f1 key. I will then get a brief
helpful explanation if one is available for my current circumstances. This has
usually been all I've needed in order to proceed with what I was doing.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Particularly
in situations where personal training is either too expensive or unavailable,
These built-in help resources will be crucial to you getting the most out of
your computer. I hope this brief explanation will encourage you to make use of
them. Until you're able to get onto the Internet, this help in addition to
whatever technical support staff you're entitled to call may be all you have to
turn to during quandaries. Once you're on the Internet and have an Email
address, your options for getting help will open up tremendously. The next
major section deals as extensively as is possible with that process. Before we
get to that point, three more important stops await our attention in our speedy
tour of Windows basics.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>+<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>2.5--
Navigating Files and Folders<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Now, we
turn our attention to files and folders. Windows operating systems store files
in their own folders to keep everything organized. An icon on your desktop
called"My computer" will let you examine and manipulate the contents
of your hard drives. You can also reach this area by using the windows e key
combination. That is hitting the windows key and holding it down while pressing
the letter e. This will bring you to a very important area known as "my
computer" or "windows explorer". This is where you can manage
your files and any drives including hard drives and removable storage such as
flash drives. What you'll find is a tree view beside a list view. You will
always start at the "my computer" branch of the tree view. >From that
branch, you can go both up and down. Above "my computer", you'll find
a branch called "my documents" and another above that one called
"desktop". These branches are called folders. When you move to a
branch, the contents of the list view change to reflect the contents of the
branch you now occupy. Some items in the list view might themselves be folders.
Pressing the enter key on such a folder will make that folder be where you are
on the tree view. The list view will fill with the folder's contents.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Before
we get any farther, we should first make certain we're all on the same page.
The information in this area can be presented in some different ways. In an
effort to make things more simplified, I'll take you through how to set this view
up the way I have it. In the process, you'll learn why you might want to change
this to better suit you and how to make such changes.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>The
first step is to go to your hard drive. To do this, you have to go downward in
the "my computer branch making certain first that it is open. It will
likely be so by default. If it isn't, just hit the right arrow key and it'll
open. Next, hit the down arrow to start going through the contents of "my
computer". You may have a floppy drive. If there's no disc in it, your
computer might seem to freeze for a moment as this drive is checked for
contents. You may have to hit a cancel button which you can get to via tabbing
if necessary. However, chances are that you'll end up safe and sound on the c
drive. This drive is usually the master hard drive of your computer. Once on
this drive, hit the alt key and go over to the "view" menu using the
right arrow key. Go down until you come to an option called "detail"
and hit the enter key on that. This will make certain that items are organized
in a single line. You won't miss anything because you didn't think to look left
and right. You'll also find it easier to manipulate groups of files if they're
all in a single line. Going one option further down brings you to a submenu
which allows you to sort items in various ways. I prefer to have my folders
organized to show the most recently modified file on the bottom. However, you
might prefer to have your files organized by type of file or simply in
alphabetical and numerical order via their names.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Once
you've done all that, hit the alt key and go all the way over to the
"tools" menu. Go down to "folder options and hit the enter
key". There, you'll find you're placed in the "general" page.
This has a couple of sets of radio buttons. You should set your system to use
classic windows folders. The other setting I have is likely a default option to
have a single click select items and a double click open them. The other tab in
this dialogue box which might be of eventual use to you is the "view"
tab. I have changed a few settings in there. For instance, I have it set to
remember each individual folder's settings in case I find a reason to have a
folder behave differently than others. You can learn more about these settings
as well as the "file types" tab on your own via the Windows help
system. These options are beyond what a beginner will need but certainly may
prove useful as you become more of an advanced user. As usual, don't meddle
with what you don't fully understand until you've at least noted down what the
settings are so you can return things to that state if you have to. There is
actually a button you can use to restore things in this dialogue to their
default state called "restore defaults". Remember that to effect any
changes you make, use the "apply" button before hitting the
"ok" button.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Now
that we've gotten all that sorted out, it's time to quickly cover how to manage
files and folders. Files are stored on your hard drive or storage media in
folders. When you go to one of your hard drives on "my computer",
that is actually a folder which contains all of the contents of the drive known
as a "root". Within that folder are a number of files as well as
other folders which might well contain yet more folders. Think of a tree with
branches which each have smaller branches which each have twigs and then
leaves. To get to the files or leaves, you first have to go onto the right
branch and twig. One thing to be aware of is that the folder known as "my
documents" is a bit of a special case. It's a regular folder like any
other except that each user of a computer is given his or her own such folder.
As a result, you won't find the "my documents" folder by looking down
the list of folders on your main hard drive. Instead, you'll find that folder
as well as the desktop by going upward above the "my computer"
folder. This makes it easier for a computer to be shared among multiple users.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>When
you first get your computer, there won't be any files or folders suitable for
your experimentation. Until you have a good grasp of what's there and what it
all does, don't delete or move anything. This is one of the few areas in this
guide where I'll ask you not to meddle with things you don't understand. By
deleting the wrong thing, you could accidentally render software inoperable. I
don't believe in making extra work for people so I won't ask you to create a
bunch of files to get the hang of things with. I'll simply explain the basics
so you're ready to keep your files organized when you have some.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>As I
explained before, folders on your hard drive are where you'll find and add
files. There is the root folder which has folders branching off of it. These
branch folders may contain one or more folders branching from them as well as
files. For instance, I have my root folder called "c:". One of the
many branches leading from it is called "music". I don't go to the
organizational extremes some folks do with my large collection of mp3 files.
Some people make a separate folder for each artist and have each album in its
own folder branching from the particular artist. They further divide these into
folders for different styles of music. I divide my music into instrumental
music and songs. If I have many pieces of music from a single artist or band, I
may decide to put them all in a separate folder. For the most part though, I
tend to just stick everything in either "songs" or
"instrumental". While I'm writing, I tend to listen to instrumental
music as songs have a way of jarring my flow of creative thought. When I'm relaxing,
I'll listen to all kinds of music. If I'm entertaining guests, I stick to songs
only as this seems to be more conducive to a social atmosphere. All I have to
do is tell Winamp, the audio playing software I prefer, to play music from
either the "music" folder or the "songs" or
"instrumental" folders. One problem is that I can often end up with
songs in the "instrumental" folder and occasionally, instrumental
pieces in the "songs" folder. This is especially true with film
scores or game soundtracks which frequently feature both styles of music.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>When I
purchase new music, I tend to grab a whole lot from a given artist or band at
once. I have a folder made where anything I download is initially placed on my
main hard drive. Naturally, this folder is simply called "downloads".
The first thing I tend to do is copy these files onto my external hard drive
into the most reasonable folder for whatever I just purchased. Recently, I
bought the mp3s of the music from the first Narnia film. I'm actually not a big
Narnia fan but found the music in the show quite nifty. Of course, it's mostly
instrumental music so I copied it all into the "instrumental" folder.
To move files, you first have to select them. I have hundreds of files in my
"downloads" folder and only the last sixteen or so comprise the
Narnia soundtrack. I have my folders organized so that the most recent
additions are at the bottom. Therefore, I found the first file belonging to the
Narnia soundtrack. I then held down the shift key and pressed the "end"
key. This selected all of the files I wanted to copy. Sometimes, files you want
to move won't be consecutively in order. In that case, you can select files by
holding down the control key while moving up and down with the arrow keys. Keep
the control key held down until you're done selecting files. To select or
unselect a file, tap the space bar. When you're done selecting files, let go of
the control key. Next, decide whether you want to copy or paste the files into
a different location. You might also want to delete files. That's a simple
matter of hitting the "delete" key. You may be asked whether you're
certain you want to delete the files.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Copying
files means that the originals are left unchanged where they are and that
copies of them are made and placed in the new location. To tell Windows that
you want to copy files, after you've selected them, hit the control c key
combination. Once that's done, move through the tree view to the folder where
you want the copies to be placed. Tab so that you're in the list view. Finally,
hit the control v key combination. That's v as in victor. This tells windows to
paste the contents of the clipboard which are the files you selected before
hitting control c. If you want to move files from one location to another, The only
difference is that you hit the control x key combination after selecting the
files or contents to be moved. That's right. You can do this same thing to
pieces of text in a word processing document. You can also copy and paste
information from a web site or other programs and paste it into a document or
another input field. Nifty, isn't it?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Anyhow,
getting back to my example, the first thing I do is select the sixteen files
I'm interested in. Once that's done, I want to copy them to my external hard drive.
Therefore, I hit control c. The files are now in the clipboard and ready to be
copied. I go down my tree view of folders onto the e: drive which is my
external drive. I go into the "music" folder on it and into the
"instrumental" folder where I tab into the list view and then hit the
control v key to place copies of the files there. The files are still in my
clipboard and will remain so until I select something else and either copy or
cut that. I take advantage of this by next going to the "instrumental"
folder on the c: drive and press the control v key while in its list view to
copy the soundtrack there as well. My next step is to move the few songs in
that soundtrack to the "songs" folder on my c: drive. I'm not going
to bother doing this with my backup drive. However, I don't want to hear the
songs when I'm expecting instrumental music while writing. Going into the
"instrumental" folder, I navigate its list view until I reach the
first file in the Narnia soundtrack. I then hold down the control key and start
moving downward through the files. When I come to a song, I tap the spacebar to
select that file. I end up with three files selected when I release the control
key. I want to cut and paste these files rather than copy them so I hit the
control x key. I then go into the "songs" folder within the
"music" folder and go into its list view where I press the control v
key combination. The files are moved into that folder and are no longer in the
"instrumental" folder.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>That
pretty much completes our basic lesson in file management. It's quite safe to
practice navigating through the tree view and list view to your heart's
content. Just don't copy or cut and paste anything you haven't created. At
best, you could waste a lot of space. At worst, if you cut and pasted parts of
programs from their rightful places to somewhere else, you could do quite a bit
of damage by preventing them from working correctly. In most cases, Windows
should warn you before you do something potentially damaging on a large scale.
You can't accidentally do something which would, for instance, render your
computer inoperative. However, it might be possible to render your access
technology unworkable which would basically amount to the same thing. Before
you move or delete anything, have a good idea what it is and what it's for.
It's very important to take responsibility for your own computer.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>+<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>2.6--
Surviving Software and System Crashes<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Anybody
who's used Windows for any length of time has doubtless experienced a moment
such as I did during my final year at university. I was finishing up one of my
last assignments of the year. It was well into the early hours of the morning
upon which the paper was due. Oh come on! You know how that goes. Each year,
you say to yourself: "I'll do things better this year and not leave things
hanging until the last minute again." A major problem with earnest
promises to oneself like these is that they fail to take many mitigating
factors into account which would cause all but the most obtusely conscientious
and studious scholars to break them. I'm talking about those once in a lifetime
opportunities which suddenly present themselves right around when a paper is
due. A chance to see a great movie with a bunch of campus friends or that
fantastic keg party your fellow students decide to hold. You get the idea. I
had obviously cast aside my better judgement and had leapt at one or more such
opportunities. Now, I had to engage in the time-honoured student tradition of
burning the post-midnight oil in a last-ditch attempt to pull off a nicely
polished paper. It's called paying the piper...very dearly.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>To keep
my mind stimulated, I had Winamp playing music in the background. It was still
early days for that program and on top of that was my speech software and Outlook
Express. That was quite a lot for my little laptop to handle at the time.
Caught up in the creative rush born of desperation, I hadn't saved my nocturnal
strivings in quite some time. At least four hours of work were suddenly placed
in high jeopardy of being lost when Windows95 decided to crash on me. That
dreaded dialogue box opened to inform me that my system had experienced a fatal
error and needed to restart. I won't lie to you here. I went through that heady
cocktail of horror, anguish, desperation, the willingness to do whatever
penance the flipping universe demanded of me in order to save my work, etc.
Believe me when I tell you that I can completely sympathize with people who
panic in such circumstances. I've been there too. Those words, "fatal error",
can certainly have the effect of inspiring dread. Due to the frigging early
time of day, I couldn't even yell in frustration.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Fortunately,
I had been in a far less high-stakes situation earlier where another less
critical document was at risk of being lost. After the initial moment where my
emotions held sway, this occasion came back to me. I had discovered a
little-known truth about Windows. Crashes don't always completely stop
everything else from working. Nothing had gone wrong with Microsoft Word where
my work was being done. However, the dialogue box which informed me of the
fatal error was preventing me from accessing Microsoft word fully since it
dominated the screen. Fortunately, I had memorized the file saving dialogue box
in Microsoft Word and was able to save my work despite not getting audible
feedback for my actions. I then closed everything down that I could and
proceeded to restart my system.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Eventually,
all users of Windows operating systems will experience this sort of thing. It
comes with the territory. Having used the Windows operating system since my
days in university, I'm a seasoned veteran of these at times supremely
exasperating moments. My first such occasion has long since faded from memory.
The trappings of a program or system crash are somewhat dependant on the
circumstances. This is also the case when it comes to appropriate measures for
dealing with a crash. However, there are a few tried and true rules and
observations I can share with you to lessen the trauma. The most important
thing of all was illustrated well by the personal disaster I shared with you
above. It does you absolutely no good whatsoever to panic and act before
thinking.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Keep as
clear a head as possible and evaluate what has happened. Restarting your computer
immediately is only occasionally actually necessary. In particular, listen to
the name of whatever has crashed and think about what it is. If an application
you are running such as your music player has crashed, you will simply have to
hit the "close" or "ok" button to acknowledge that you've
read the dialogue which has alerted you to this situation. After the program
has closed, you can then run it again and things ought to work normally.
There's no need to restart your whole computer. The same is true if your word
processor decides to bite the big one. In that case, you'll potentially lose
any unsaved work. However, once the application has closed, you can just run it
again. Chances are that it will present you with a document containing
recovered material. However, it's best to get into the habit of saving your
work often or setting your word processor the task of doing that for you. Most
good word processors will have that option. If you maintain your system well,
truly serious crashes ought to be fairly rare. The most you will have to do
given normal circumstances is simply restart your computer.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Rather
than go right for the power switch, you may want to try shutting down normally.
If Windows is allowed to properly shut down, it has time to tidy things up.
There are some circumstances where it is impossible to shut down Windows
normally. In such cases, you'll need to manually force your computer to shut
down and/or reset depending on the buttons available on your computer tower. If
you push the power button and nothing happens, don't panic. Your computer isn't
rebelling and fighting for its life. It's a safety feature to prevent
accidental shutdown of your system. Hold the power button pressed for up to ten
seconds. Within that time, your computer will perform an emergency shutdown.
You can then hit the power button again and your computer will begin the
recovery process. If you need to either manually turn off your computer or use
the reset button, Windows doesn't have time to clean things up and will have to
check for any serious problems with the hard disc when you reboot your
computer.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>The
recovery procedures incorporated into Windows systems are quite good. I've only
ever ended up with a completely useless hard drive when the hardware actually
wore out due to extensive use. Just remember that it will take a while to
implement them particularly if you have a large hard drive. I've had my system
take around half an hour to go through this process after a particularly
serious crash. When you reboot after having to either reset or manually shut
down your computer, you won't hear the familiar Windows theme. The recovery
process will simply start and silently run its course before anything else is
loaded. Believe me. I know how tense and nerve racking that can be. Chances are
very unlikely that it'll take even close to half an hour in most circumstances.
Give it at least fifteen<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>minutes before
you perform a second emergency shutdown and restart.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>To
minimize crashes, it is important that you keep your operating system and
software up to date. You can have Windows automatically check for and download
critical updates for you if you're connected to the Internet. Alternatively,
you can go to the Windows Update site and have more control over what gets
downloaded or installed and when this happens. I strongly prefer this method.
In addition to critical updates, I can check for any non-critical hardware and
software updates which might improve my computer's functioning. I also have
full control over when things are installed so nothing else I might be doing
will be interfered with. You can also have Windows automatically check for and
install critical updates for you. This is one of many items we'll be looking
into in our final stop on this basic tour of Windows.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>The
Windows task manager can also be very helpful. You can access it by using the
control shift escape key combination. Hold down the control key plus the shift
key plus the escape key. Assuming you're able to access this utility when one
or more programs stop responding, you can force the crashed programs to close.
This frees up memory for the remaining software to use. Sometimes, however, a
crash will be so severe that you won't be able to use this approach. It's
always better to close programs down naturally when possible. Once you've
gotten into the task manager, you'll find yourself in the list of applications
currently running on your computer. Move through the list with the up and down
arrow keys. When you find the offending program, tab once and you'll find
yourself on a button called "end task". Hit the space bar or enter
key and it will attempt to do this. The task manager has quite a lot of options
in there as well as other tabs in addition to the "applications" tab.
You can also look at and end processes which might be causing problems in the
"processes" tab. Don't do this kind of thing lightly or you could
lock up or destabilize your system and have to restart. A lot of things in the
"processes" tab are things running behind the scenes like some components
of your security software. You'll also find any programs such as word
processors, speech access, etc which are in your "applications" tab.
Those are the two tabs you'll likely be using in the event of unresponsive
programs. There are also tabs which let you view statistics on your computer's
performance, networking communications, and the users on your system. Take the
time to look at the Pull down menus available in the task manager. One
potentially useful Pull down menu is the "shut down" menu which lets
you turn off, restart, or log off among other things.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Should
you ever do something you dearly wish you could undo, Windows provides a
utility which will let you take back that rash change. This utility is called
"system restore". It has saved my behind more times than I'd care to
admit. Some space on your hard drive will be used to maintain snapshots of your
system. Typically, ten percent of your hard drive space is reserved for this.
It's a very small price to pay for the ability to effectively turn back time.
If only the rest of life let us get away with that. The more space you allow
system restore to make use of on your hard drive, the more points it can
maintain for you to restore your system to. In practice, I have never felt that
I should alocate more than ten percent of the space on my hard drive to this.
If you need to change the space available to system restore or disable this
function entirely due to some virus infecting your computer or similar
circumstance, go to the "system" option in the control panel. You'll
find a series of tabs. One of these is devoted to the system restore option.
You can disable or enable the functionality and also set the amount of hard
drive space available to system restore.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Making
use of system restore is relatively simple. Just take your time and pay careful
attention. The interface of this utility is essentially a web page. You can
read it easily with your up and down arrow keys or other reading commands. The
initial page you start on briefly introduces the service and provides links to
further information and help. You will find a group of radio buttons. Selecting
the appropriate radio button so that it is checked will let you restore your
system to an earlier time, create a restore point, or undo your last restore.
Most often, you'll be using the first of these options. If you can use it,
you'll have no trouble with using the other two options.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Alright
then. Let's say you've just made what you thought would be a good change and
have found that you have in actuality messed things up considerably. Your
speech software won't read the screen correctly but will still let you use the
start menu. This has happened on several occasions to me. The first thing to do
is go to the programs menu and into the accessories submenu. From there, go to
the system tools submenu. Finally, go to the option which says "system
restore". Once you hit the enter key on that, you should be taken to the
system restore welcome page. First of all, we go down the page to the radio
buttons and make certain that the first one is checked. That's the button for
restoring your system to an earlier time. Next, You can either hold down the
alt key and press the letter n or go down to the "next" button and
hit the space bar or enter key when your cursor is on the button to activate
it. This takes you to the page where you must select the restore point you want
to use.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>This
calendar is the most challenging part of the process. You have to read down the
page until you come to the list of restore points. Below the calendar, you'll
find one or more restore points made by your system when things have happened.
You can move backward to previous months by clicking on the button above the
name of the current month and advance by using the button below the month name.
These buttons are labelled by Less Than and Greater Than symbols but whether
you hear that depends on your punctuation settings. As I look down my page of
the current month's restore points, I find one which was made at 2:14 PM when
my security software was updated. Jaws indicates that this entry is
"clickable". That means that hitting the enter key while on it should
select the entry. You can then hit the "next button or alt n. This is the
last page before your system will be restored. Near the top of the page, you
should see the restore point you selected. You will be instructed to save
anything you're working on before continuing. The restoration process will take
a moment to gather necessary information. It will then shut down and restart your
computer as part of the restoration process. Be patient here. It'll take longer
than it normally does to restart. If all goes well, you'll soon find yourself
up and running. You'll be on a page which informs you that the restoration is
complete and gives you a chance to undo the process if you desire. You can
simply close the page and continue using your computer. Not so scary after all,
is it?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Well,
folks, that's a quick overview of the techniques and tools I'm familiar with
for dealing with crashes and recovering from those miscalculated moves we all
make from time to time. I've prepared you as well as a guide like this can.
People who use other operating systems should be certain they find out about
similar facilities available to them. When things go wrong, you now have the
knowledge to hopefully avoid getting into trouble you can't get out of. If you
remember nothing else, remember to play it cool and don't let emotion carry the
day.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>+<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>2.7--
The Control Panel<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>When it
comes to teaching new people how to use their personal computers, many trainers
take a very conservative approach and don't teach people about things which
might let them mess up their computers if their clients act irresponsibly. I've
therefore met people who have been left unable to install new software or make
any major changes to their own machines because they weren't set up as the
owners of their computers. Instead, they had been given low-level user
identities. In effect, they were left hostage to another person's judgement that
they couldn't make responsible decisions about what to change or install. This
might also occur when parents or whole families are sharing a single computer.
On the whole, I take the position that the owner of the computer should have
full control over it. However, I've met people who even I would hesitate to
teach certain things to. Due to being very young, mentally challenged or for
other reasons, they are very likely to get themselves into trouble no matter
how conscientious the teacher might be.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>To make
full use of the Windows control panel, you'll need to be logged in as the owner
of the computer you're using. If somebody else is already in that position,
you'll have to convince him or her that you are indeed responsible enough to
use the powers granted to system owners or administrators wisely. Unless you
have a clear idea of what you're doing, don't mess around. The Windows control
panel is where you can make changes to how your system behaves, how resources
such as memory are used, and much more. It is certainly possible to make
changes which could render your computer inoperative without expert sighted
assistance. Users of access technology should be particularly careful making
changes to display settings among other things. In my experimentation, I have
sometimes made such changes and then been unable to read the screen properly
with Jaws for Windows. The system restore utility has been my salvation
countless times. Before you make any extensive changes in the control panel at
all on your own, I strongly recommend that you become familiar and comfortable
with using this extremely valuable utility. I discuss it in some detail at the
end of the preceding subsection which deals with surviving system and software
crashes.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>The
control panel presents itself as a folder. While you can use the view menu to
alter how the items in that folder are displayed, you cannot do other things
like move, delete or copy the items. Press the enter key to select an option.
Each option will take you to a dialogue box which lets you control a certain
aspect of your system. In these dialogue boxes, after you have made any
changes, use the "apply" button which you'll find past the
"ok" and "cancel" buttons to make your changes permanent.
After you hit the "apply" button, you should then hit the
"ok" button. To cancel any changes you have second thoughts about,
hit the "cancel" button.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>There
are a great many options in the control panel. The exact number depends
somewhat on the hardware and software installed. I have thirty-four entries in
my control panel. Needless to say, I'm not going to take you through each one
here. Instead, I will point out some of the options likely to be useful for
novices. I will also take a moment to warn you not to go into either the
display settings or the system options unless you're following clear
instructions or have a very good idea what needs to be changed. This is
particularly the case with the advanced options in the system dialogue. You
could render your computer unable to start at all by messing with options in
there. It gives you access to how memory is used, controls to various hardware
including your hard drive, and other key system areas. As long as you don't
change anything and always use the "cancel" button to exit that dialogue,
you are safe looking around. I always encourage this as you ought to know what
your options are and where they are. However, it is definitely an area where
extreme caution is in order.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>One
item of note is called "add/remove programs". It is very useful when
software you install doesn't have its own method for removing it when no longer
wanted. In that event, you would go to the "add/remove programs"
option. You would then be presented with a list of software installed on your
computer. I have found the list to be slow to load on computers with Windows XP
Home edition. To navigate through the list, you have to use the up and down
arrow keys. Unlike other lists of this nature, you cannot hit the first letter
of the name of the software you want to find in order to navigate more quickly.
It's a bit of a pain to have to use this method but it can at times be the only
method for removing or altering the installation options of software.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>The
date and time option in the control panel allows you, naturally enough, to set the
computer's date and time. This is easily done via the combo boxes which let you
set the hour, minute and second as well as the proper date. What you may not
have guessed is that there are other tabs besides the date and time tab you
start out in. You can tell the computer which time zone you're in via the time
zones tab. You can also get the computer to synchronize the time with one of
many servers attached to atomic clocks run by governments and large
corporations. You need to be connected to the Internet in order to make use of
the "Internet time" tab. However, you need not have a permanent
connection. You could connect to the Internet and then go into that dialogue
and instruct the computer to perform the synchronization manually. Those with
permanent Internet connections can have this done regularly automatically.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>The
sound and audio option in the control panel takes you to a very useful dialogue
box called "sound and audio properties". This is packed with options
to make your computer hum to your tune. You can tell it how many speakers you
have so that it adjusts its sound output accordingly. One thing you should
check for is that there isn't any software more specific to your particular
sound card. I use a Creative sound card and can therefore use the Creative
audio console. This is a very accessible way of controlling their sound cards
giving you many more specialized options. Other sound cards are likely to come
with such software. If you find that this is inaccessible or that your sound
card doesn't come with such software, the sound and audio properties dialogue
in the control panel will be of special use for you. People may also want to
set up sound schemes which assign sounds to events such as navigating through
menus, opening and closing programs, and starting or shutting down Windows
among many other things. You'll need to know where sound files are in order to
produce your own sound scheme. However, you may find that your system comes
with some already made for you to choose from.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>If you
have a laptop computer, it may come with one of those built-in mice installed
right in front of the bottom of the keyboard. These can be a real nuisance for
those of us who don't make use of mice. If you go to the "mouse"
option in the control panel, you can adjust a whole range of settings related
to these devices. This includes disabling your mouse which could prove useful
if you're finding that it interferes with your use of the computer. I found
this with my laptop and have since enjoyed a far more productive relationship
with it. You'll have to go to the "hardware" tab of the dialogue box
in order to find the "properties" button. Once in that dialogue,
you'll come to the part where you can enable or disable it. Should sighted
people need access to a mouse, you can always go in there again and enable it
for them. An easier option is to carry a USB mouse around with you and simply
plug it into a usb port when required.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>The
power option in the control panel lets you instruct your computer concerning
the use of energy. You can create a power scheme or choose one from a number
already pre-designed. Power schemes are a certain configuration of settings
which tell your computer such things as how long to wait before shutting off
parts of the computer. You might want the computer to shut down the hard drives
after fifteen minutes of inactivity for example. There are many different tabs
in this dialogue box and all sorts of options to customize. You'll most likely
find the default settings fine while starting out. However, it's a good idea to
look around and know your options in this area.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>The
other areas of the control panel will function much like these areas have. Look
around and explore all your options. Until you have a good idea what you're
doing, use the cancel button when you're finished with a dialogue to get back
out of it. This way, you can explore settings without making any changes.
Eventually, your competence will reach a point where you will start finding
good reasons to make use of what's in the control panel. Give it time and play
it safe.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>We have
now completed our basic tour of Windows. Users of the Windows Vista operating
system will doubtless find some things to be different than what I've described
here. However, according to what I've read, things should still be similar
enough for most of what I've written to be useful. You should now know enough
to be able to make some use of the rest of this guide. Keep in mind that this
is just enough for you to make basic use of Windows. Use other training material
and the built-in help to become truly competent users of your machines. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><span
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>++<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>3--
Getting Online:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>As
delivered, most computers will come with a basic set of software. This will
typically include some form of word processor, software related specifically to
installed hardware, programs which help you maintain the computer's
performance, and so-on. These programs are useful to the widest range of
computer owners. For the most part, these should be fully accessible to your
access technology. They include things like system maintenance utilities, basic
word processing, database and spreadsheet software. These certainly have their
uses. People might use a spreadsheet program like Excel to do their budget on.
They might keep track of information related to a collection they have in a
database. What you start out with depends on a whole range of factors including
which operating system you use, what is bundled with your computer, the kind of
computer you have, etc. It is therefore impossible for me to adequately cover
how to make effective use of this software in the guide. However, this software
will typically have plenty of built-in help. If you use other operating
systems, be certain that your initial trainers show you how to access your
computer's built-in help and documentation. Patience and the willingness to try
things out combined with this built-in help are what will pull you through the
initial period of using your computer for your own interests.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>To
truly begin to acquire the resources to get the most out of your computer, you
must venture beyond the confines of your hard drive and get yourself on the
Internet. There, you will find the information and software to make your
computer a more truly personally valuable machine to you. There are a number of
ways to go online. For most home users, these are dial up, DSL and cable
connections. Dial up connections use your existing phone line to connect you to
the Internet. This is normally the cheapest option available. It is also
painfully slow by today's standards. I can only recommend this type of
connection if you have no other affordable alternative. It's a lot better than
nothing at all but there are other disadvantages besides speed. While you're
connected to the Internet, your phone line will be busy. You'll also have to
disable call waiting while you're online or it may interfere with your
connection. I don't remember my dial up days very fondly at all. Most
downloading had to be done overnight so I could use my phone during the day.
Web sites took ages to load and checking E-mail was about the only thing which
seemed to go at a reasonable pace. Of course, if somebody sends you one or more
large attachments, you'll wonder what I might mean by "reasonable
pace". Want to listen to a trailer for a movie or game? Click on it, go
and get a drink and you might not have to wait too much longer after returning
to your keyboard and sitting down.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>DSL
access also uses your existing phone line. However, it does this in such a way
that you can still talk on the phone. The connection speed is much faster than
dial up. It's about the same as cable connectivity offers. Occasionally, I
experienced times when something went wrong with the filters which separate the
signals of normal telephone use from Internet use. This can cause static on the
line while you're talking and cause your Internet connection to be unreliable.
However, such problems are quite rare. Cable connectivity uses the same cable
as you use for receiving television. The speed is quite fast but may vary depending
on how many subscribers to cable Internet service are in your area. DSL and
cable services cost roughly the same. Find out what is available in your area
and consider what's best for you. The people who come to install the hardware
for either cable or DSL Internet service will make certain things are working
for you.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>While
the installation person is there, it is important to make certain you have the
information pertaining to your connection. For example, to set up an Email
account using an email program like Outlook Express, you need to know:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>1. The
name of the pop3 server. For instance, pop.myprovider.com<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>2. The
smtp server. For instance, smtp.myprovider.com<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>3. your
account information including your user name and password. These will let you
set up email accounts and manage your service.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>4. Any
important telephone numbers for technical support and customer care. If you
have trouble while you're getting up and going, these numbers can help you fill
in any gaps in the information you have and how to make use of it. Beyond
what's above in this section, I can't really help you more with the nuts and
bolts of getting online. It depends on the kind of system you're using, the
type of connection and specific provider you choose to deal with. If possible,
you should use a router to connect your computer to the Internet. This will
improve your security and make it safer to go online without running a firewall
if you have to. For more information on Internet security, see the next
section.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>+<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>3.1--
Finding Your Way:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Let us
assume that you're all wired up and are ready to enter the Internet. The first
topic of discussion has to be your web browser. This is the software which
retrieves information from the web and displays the sites you choose to visit.
Particular browsers may have different features, use different terminology and
be designed with different styles of interface. If you don't end up liking the
browser you start out with, you definitely have other options to choose from.
As you will likely be making extensive use of the Internet, it's important to
be comfortable with your browser. The Windows operating system comes with its
own browser called Internet Explorer. This is the browser which I personally
use. However, there are also the Firefox, Opera and Webbie browsers to point
out a few alternatives. I doubt that you could be given an access technology
solution for a computer which wouldn't include at least basic instructions on
how to use a browser. If you need more help, I refer you to these instructions.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>The
help offered within the browser may prove useful. However, users of access
technology should first look within the help or manual offered with the
specific access technology. For instance, I use the Jaws for Windows screen
reader. This gives me an abundance of specialized help which tells me how to
use Internet Explorer with Jaws. It even covers the basics of surfing the
Internet. Other screen readers will come with specific help related to them. I
know how daunting ploughing through help can seem though so I'll go over the
bare bones here.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>The
browser uses your Internet connection to take you to various sites on the
Internet. To get to a site, you need to either follow a link from the site
you're already on or go directly to its address. Don't panic if you can't think
of any addresses to visit. There are search engines to help people find places
of interest on the Internet. Enter a phrase, keywords or names into the entry
field on a search engine and it will find and display links to relevant sites
on a page made in seconds just for you. As with browsers, there are a
tremendous lot of different search engines out there. Some are designed to be
as friendly as possible to people using access technology. Others sadly aren't
very friendly at all. Many sites have convenient entry fields for searching the
rest of the Internet right from where you are.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>One of
the most widely known engines and also one of the most accessible is Google.
It's an excellent search engine for novices to use because the page is so
straight forward. There are advertisements but none which will cause any
trouble with screen readers. There are different ways of typing keywords or
phrases into search engines. You can separate keywords by commas which will
search for pages containing any or all of the words but not necessarily right
near each other. Putting a phrase in quotation marks will cause the search
engine to look for pages containing the exact words or phrase you typed in.
Search engines like Google have various settings which you can customize to
personalize your experience with the engine. A simple example of this is that
you can tell google how many results you want to be shown at once.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>You
can't do any harm by using a search engine. However, you should be aware that
the Internet is perhaps more unregulated than any physical location on the
planet. Anyone can put up a web site on whatever they want and there are a lot
of shady, sexual, pornographic and misleading sites out there. You have to be a
savvy consumer of the information you find even if it appears legitimate. It
doesn't usually take a lot of time or effort to find out about a site you've
found something of interest on. Legitimate sites will have links to pages which
explain all about them and the information presented. Remember too that good
information need not come from a government, library or other organization. We
all have knowledge about things which take our interest and the Internet lets
people share this wisdom freely. It is perhaps the most powerful catalyst for
sharing of information that the world has ever seen and blind people can
participate fully in this arena.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Here
are some excellent resources to get your online life started. Note that this is
not meant to be an exhaustive list and that I can only vouch for these links
being accurate up to the time that I publish this guide. On the bright side, I
have taken great pains to choose places designed for and often by blind people
which have proved to be popular and have stood the test of time. Barring disaster,
they'll be around for years to come. This should give novices a good first
online experience free of many of the annoyances and dangers out there. Have
fun looking around but keep in mind that you should get your computer protected
as soon as possible. I'll guide you through that in the next section.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>+<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>3.2--
Initial Online Destinations:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>For
each web site in this list, I'll provide its name, address and then a brief
description of what it offers. Once you've learned how, you can simply copy and
paste the link into the place in your browser where web addresses should be
typed. At first, you may have to remember and type in addresses. Fortunately,
many of the sites set up for and by the blind community have links to each
other. This will let you get around easier once you've taken the first step of
going to a site assuming it has a collection of links to others.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>ACB
Radio<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><span
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><a
href="http://www.blindcooltech.com/www.acbradio.org">www.acbradio.org</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>This
site is an incredibly successful project of the American Council for the Blind.
It features five Internet radio stations run by and especially for blind
people. One station, "Interactive", allows blind people to become
broadcasters. The Mainstream station features information shows as well as
interactive talk radio shows pertaining to blindness. The Treasure Trove
features continuous old-time radio broadcasts. The Cafe is dedicated
specifically to playing music by blind musicians. Listeners and broadcasters
are in around seventy countries. No better place exists to find out and
participate in what's happening in the blindness community.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Blind
Cool Tech<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><span
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><a
href="http://www.blindcooltech.com/www.blindcooltech.com">www.blindcooltech.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>This
site is the home of an ongoing pod cast to which anyone may contribute.
Thinking outside the box doesn't do this site justice. Taken directly from the
site's frequently asked questions "faq" section:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Blind
Cool Tech is a pod cast that brings some fun, education, and variety into your
mp3 player. The show provides interviews, brings you along on sound seeing
tours, and discusses life and cool technology, especially technology that blind
people can use. Most computers will already have the software necessary to play
mp3 files which are audio recordings of various things. A very interesting
treat for the ears and dirt simple to access even for beginners.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Blind
Planet:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><a
href="http://www.blindcooltech.com/www.blind-planet.com">www.blind-planet.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>This
relatively new site proclaims itself to be "the best blind community on
the net". While that may very well be debatable, the site creators have
certainly packed a lot of punch into their place on the Internet. You will find
facilities to create your own blog, type "shouts" [short messages for
all visitors of the site to see], sections on everything from books to software
and tutorials, facilities for voice chatting over the Internet, and much more.
One of my favourite features of the site is a news aggregator. This brings news
of interest to blind people in from all over the Internet and puts it all onto
a single page. It's like our own specialized newspaper which is updated every
twenty minutes presuming there's new content on any of numerous other sites it
collects information from. Hard to beat that for getting a quick sense of the
online blind community. That news collector is an absolutely fabulous gateway
to many sites which are treasure troves of useful information.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>For The
People:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><span
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><a
href="http://www.blindcooltech.com/www.for-the-people.com">www.for-the-people.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Note:
Dashes are between each word in the above link.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>This
Internet community is one of the most active serving the blind community. There
are ones which use better software, but the volunteers who run For The People
seem to know how to keep things safe, lively and friendly. Everyone must
register with the site before they can chat. Registration is free and means
that people are accountable for their conduct. You need to have a microphone
plugged into your computer. Membership is completely free of charge. Due to the
guidelines and moderators present, this community is also about as safe as
things get for children online.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>The
Hadley School for the Blind<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt;
margin-left:0in;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:
none'><a
href="http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001E940WicIrW7ITZAHa3nAelfE2RQcDlT5xDA-JE7iituHEeDJsoNyzrlnwd-WkZMF7KSWSXpnvFQizsOn5hlmcx0AN-Yty7q4ioBaVy7STl8=">http://www.hadley.edu</a></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt;
margin-left:0in;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:
none'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt;
margin-left:0in;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:
none'>As they say on their homepage: "The Hadley School for the Blind is
the largest worldwide distance educator of blind and visually impaired people,
their families and blindness service professionals. Founded in 1920 by William
Hadley and Dr. E.V.L. Brown, Hadley offers classes free of charge to its blind
and visually impaired students and their families and affordable tuition
classes to blindness professionals. Today, the school serves more than 10,000
students annually in all 50 states and 100 countries. Hadley relies on
contributions from individuals, foundations and corporations to fund its
programs."</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt;
margin-left:0in;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:
none'>The courses certainly include ones on the use of accessible computers as well
as a very wide range of other subjects.</p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>PCS
Games:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><a
href="http://www.blindcooltech.com/www.pcsgames.net">www.pcsgames.net</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Other
than the games offered by this company, the owner, Phil Vlasak, maintains a
list of all known accessible games. Click on the link which says
"fantastic windows games and where to find them". From there, you can
find and go to places which offer the kind of games you're interested in.
You'll also find other specific lists on Phil's page such as games for Apple
Mac computers.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>VIP
Conduit<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><a
href="http://www.blindcooltech.com/www.vipconduit.com">www.vipconduit.com</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>This
site is another of the more active and well-run Internet chat communities
especially designed and suited for blind people. It is supported and run by
paying members but a great deal of what goes on there is open to all comers.
This includes classes which help beginning computer users understand the
digital world they've just entered. The chat rooms are often moderated further
increasing community safety.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Tom
Lorimer's Whitestick Web site:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><a
href="http://www.blindcooltech.com/www.whitestick.co.uk">www.whitestick.co.uk</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>This
gentleman in the UK has put together a fantastic resource for all blind
Internet travellers. You'll find it to be a very interesting place to explore
in its own right as well as a gateway to many other helpful destinations known
for their accessibility or usefulness to blind people.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>++<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>4--
Protecting Your Computer<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>There
was no going back now. I had entered the command to completely format my hard
drive and thrown out nearly a hundred disks which I could simply no longer
trust. I was forced to live with a virus called Golgi2 on my computer for the
last half of the school year and had nobody but its author as well as myself to
blame. One of the disks full of games I was given contained this beastly little
extra in addition to its intended contents. My friend was completely unaware
that his computer was infected. Neither of us were using any anti virus
protection and would now pay a very stiff price for our impudence. I had read
that the Golgi2 virus would wait for certain conditions to be right and then
format my hard drive. I had nightmares about this happening in the middle of
class but didn't have what I would need to rebuild my system from the ground
up. After the year's end when at least there were no more assignments to get
done for the Summer, a good friend came over once the disks I needed arrived.
He would be able to help install a fresh copy of Dos and read the screen for me
until we got the computer talking again. The ticking sound the hard drive made
as all of my doomed data was destroyed along with the virus holding me hostage
was the scariest sound I had ever heard. Did my friend really know enough to
bring me out of this abyss? I had lost so much writing, numerous games which I
have never been able to find since, and some registration codes to software I
had purchased and would now have to re-acquire. Not a very fun start to my
Summer vacation. That was back in 1991. Here's the truly scary part of all
this. Things were a whole lot safer in those days.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>When
computers are truly personal, they become more than just the sum of their
parts. They're almost like another kind of home. They're set for your
preferences. The information and software on their hard drives is of particular
interest to you. While the computer itself is likely physically safe, the
information on it is what actually makes the machine as valuable to you as it
is. Any personal data should be both guarded and backed up in case of
catastrophic failure such as what I experienced all those years ago. These
days, you can be one of the most careful people on the Internet and still get
clobbered through no fault of your own.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>People
who write viruses and other malicious software are doing it out of a personal
desire to cause chaos. It's not like a nine-to-five job. At best, it's a
sadistic thrill. At worst, it's a criminal enterprise or an individual act of
cybernetic terrorism. Just like an athlete works at being the best in a given
sport, these people put immense effort and time into their chosen pursuit of
making their own hellish mark. Unscrupulous people including criminal
organizations and businesses desperate for advertising have dramatically
increased the dangers waiting online for the unprepared. While no amount of
security can completely shield you from them, you can take easy steps that will
make you a very hard target to attack.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Like
burglars in the real world, online intruders will look for the most value for
the least risk and effort in most cases. The more ego-driven hackers will more
likely go after corporations or try to thwart high-profile online security
companies. Undefended personal computers are easy prey and will be the first to
suffer attacks by the robotic army of viruses and spyware when these creations
are released. A recent article I read stated that half the personal computers
hooked up to broadband Internet connections were undefended. That's a lot of
easy money for spyware makers to rake in by getting their advertisement-spewing
software onto unsuspecting people's hard drives. Similarly, viruses can inflict
more damage and embed themselves more easily on undefended systems. Many
malicious programs spread by Email which seems to be from a trusted source but
was never knowingly sent by the apparently guilty party.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Viruses,
spam, spyware, information and identity theft are the dark side of the
Internet. Nobody should be online without being made aware of the very real
dangers out there. As long as you're aware of the dangers, you can protect
yourself quite well against them. Don't let anybody convince you that it's not
worth the risk going online. That's like saying that you should never talk to
strangers. Follow that advice far past childhood and you'll live quite a lonely
and pitiful existence. Life entails some risk. Deal with it properly by taking
reasonable precautions and you'll do fine.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>One of
the best things you can do to protect your personal computer is quite simply to
take personal charge of it. A lot of times, we let sighted people install
things which are beneficial to them but may have disastrous unintended
consequences for us. In one instance, a woman I was trying to help allowed her
brothers to pretty much have full control over her computer installing whatever
they wanted and changing any settings to suit them. This made it all but
impossible for the woman who this computer was purchased for to do anything
meaningful with it. She was in a situation where she didn't have the power to
stop them. Until that situation changed, there was absolutely no point in my
trying to help her at all.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>The
absolute worst case I've ever experienced where a sighted person inadvertently
caused major grief for a blind computer owner happened a couple of years ago. I
was privileged to have the opportunity to help a very smart young lad learn
about what his computer could do for him. We were looking forward to Summer
when there would be lots of time to show him the basics of the Internet and the
rewards out there. Sadly, while a sighted friend visited, they decided to look
for free games to try. There are plenty of excellent and safe places to acquire
these. However, they didn't make use of them. They also, like many of us,
didn't look at the license displayed during the installation of the game they
selected. This game was supported by what is known as spyware. In its attempt
to keep a steady stream of advertisements in front of this blind child who
couldn't see them anyhow, the spyware rendered his computer unstable, open to
further attack by viruses and almost completely useless online.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>To get
rid of the offending software, you had to type in a code which was displayed in
such a way that only sighted people could read it. This was to prevent the spyware
from being removed automatically. The poor kid had to live with this condition
until the end of the Summer when somebody was able to help enter the code at a
time when I could spend whatever additional time it took to get things secure
and back to normal. That's what can happen if you don't take proper
precautions. In another case, a sighted person decided to change from a classic
menu style and appearance which helps simplify things for blind users to a more
"normal" desktop and appearance. He sadly didn't return things to how
they were before leaving. This made life very hard for the blind user until he
could get another sighted person in who could see and explain what was going on
and help restore order and tranquility. Think of it like having somebody come
in and rearrange everything in your home to suit them. That's quite disturbing
to anybody blind or sighted. It can seem like such a small thing to grant
permission to sighted people to do things like the above examples. Unless and
until you have a good idea how to undo the potential damage and/or hardship
this can result in, my advice is to insist that nothing be changed. It's your
computer and it's important that you, the blind owner, feel comfortable taking
ownership and setting boundaries. Sighted people don't always know what's best
despite often thinking they do.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>There
are three essential components to a good defence. These are a firewall or best
possible equivalent, anti-virus software, and anti-spyware defence. Firewalls
attempt to prevent attackers from accessing your system. Think of them like
locks on windows and doors in your home. They're not going to stop someone who
is willing to smash their way in. However, they will make intruders consider
whether it's worth the effort it takes. Many firewalls will also hide your
computer's online presence making it less likely that it will be found and
singled out for attack in the first place. Unfortunately, many of the firewalls
available are not designed with accessibility in mind. This can be particularly
troublesome for novices. Lately, one of the best free personal firewalls became
impossible to register. Therefore, in view of the current situation regarding
firewalls, people are recommending that blind people use hardware firewalls or
routers with built-in security. A router is a device which connects to your
internet connection as well as to your computer. Any Internet trafic passes
through the router which makes certain that the trafic is legitimately from and
to your computer. Think of it like a middleman. If you're behind a router,
people can't directly access your computer without permission. There may be
times when you find that a router will interfere with some software you want to
run. To handle that, you should learn how to access your router's settings to
give you better control over its operations. How to access these settings will
differ depending on the router being used so I can't offer any further advice
here. For the average novice and intermediate computer user, I don't think you'll
need to do this under normal circumstances.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Users
of Windows XP or Vista should try using the firewall provided especially if
they are directly connected to the Internet without going through a router.
When programs try to access the Internet, a dialogue will appear alerting you
to this. You'll be able to decide whether to block or allow the program under
scrutiny to access the Internet. You should also check a box which says to
remember your choice so that the firewall won't ask you every time the program
accesses the Internet. As time passes, you won't be interrupted as often by the
firewall. The firewall built into Windows XP only looks at incoming information
and is therefore less secure than the more inaccessible free firewalls out
there. For users of Windows Vista, the prospects look much better as the
built-in firewall will examine both incoming and outgoing traffic. It is also
reported to be fully accessible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>In a
contest between spear and shield, there are going to be times when the shield fails.
When something gets past your firewall or router, it's up to your anti virus
and antispyware defences to kick in. They're like having armed guards on patrol
in your home. Fortunately, there are numerous free accessible options out there
for Windows users. In an effort to attract small businesses and larger
corporations, many providers of excellent defence software make free versions
available for personal use. I don't like to recommend anything I haven't used
successfully myself. I'll therefore point you towards the most blind-friendly
free anti virus and antispyware programs I've personally come across. Just keep
in mind that there are other choices out there if what works well for me
doesn't suit you for some reason.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>If
you're looking for alternatives to my anti virus and antispyware choices, your
best bet is to use a search engine like Google. Your first goal will be to
locate free anti virus and antispyware programs. You should next look for
reviews of these programs to get an idea of what people did and didn't like
about each of the alternatives you're considering. It's becoming more possible
to find reviews of such products done by fellow blind users. Always look for
this and take advantage of that experience where such information is available.
I have no experience with other operating systems such as Linux. However, I've
heard that software for it is generally quite accessible.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>For
many years now, I have used AVG's anti virus software. Anybody who decides to
follow my lead and use AVG products should be aware of the current situation.
Recently, AVG has updated to version 8 of its software products. Unfortunately,
they drastically changed their main interface from a splendidly accessible one
in version 7.5 to a doubtless more visually pleasant but far less intuitive one
in version 8. Despite this, now that the major issue with AVG and Jaws for
Windows has been resolved, I would still recommend that people give AVG8 a good
look. It's no longer the utter king of the castle in terms of accessibility that
it was previously but it's still quite good and usable.<span
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Learning how to change test settings and
other options will reward you with more control over options like which files
are tested, whether to add information to the bottom of your emails stating that
they have been scanned for viruses, change when tests and updates happen, and
much more. During tests, you'll notice your computer becoming sluggish as much
of its resources are called upon to scan files thoroughly but quickly. This can
at times be inconvenient should you need to work during such a time. While a
test is proceeding, there will be an icon in your system tray. Activating this
will open a screen showing the status of the test in progress plus giving you
options to pause, continue, or completely stop the test. This way, you can
pause a test while you're working on something and then let it proceed while
you're away from the computer. It is very important to have complete control
over automatic processes like this. Unless it's absolutely necessary to disable
your security software for a particular set of circumstances, I recommend you
always use your computer with its anti virus software active and running in the
background. AVGfree gives you quite a lot of control over its resident shield. Also,
you wouldn't want to grab some email and not have it scanned as it came in. AVG
also offers a free antispyware package. It is certainly a good thing to have
ready and up to date. However, it isn't as automatic as AVGfree and it'll be up
to you to take complete responsibility for upkeep and operation. That's why I
hesitate to recommend it for novice users.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>While
it's alright to have copies of more than one anti virus package on hand, you
should never run more than one at a time. They're both going to eat up
resources and may come into conflict with each other. Pick whichever software
you trust best and have that be your active anti virus defence. If it makes you
feel safer, have a second package handy for when something can't be handled by
your main one. I personally don't have another package installed. AVGfree has
earned a high level of trust by keeping both me and other people who I've
recommended it to safe from threats which have caused havoc on systems defended
by even other commercially sold defence software. However, I know of a few
online anti virus sites which offer free scan and cleanup. Once you're
comfortable with using the Internet, these tools should be fully accessible to
you. You can find AVGFree in both Windows and Linux versions at:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><span
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><a
href="http://www.blindcooltech.com/www.avg.com">www.avg.com</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>I
always recommend that people look at the available help and explore the options
in security programs. You can then do a lot more to tailor the operation of
those programs to suit you rather than having things the other way around at
times. However, assuming normal circumstances, you can simply install AVGFree
and leave it running confident that you're being well protected from viruses..
Updates will automatically be retrieved for you from the Internet. All of your
Email will be checked as you send and receive it. Your computer will be scanned
once a day for viruses. Any that are found are moved to the virus vault. One
alternative which has had favourable comments in terms of accessibility as well
as security is Avast. Avast is a competitive product to AVG and also offers a
free version of its software for personal home use. You can get it from:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><a
href="http://www.blindcooltech.com/www.avast.com">www.avast.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Defending
yourself against spyware is similar to protecting yourself against viruses.
Find a package that you feel the most comfortable with in terms of
trustworthiness first and accessibility a very close second. From personal
experience, I recommend Spybot Search and Destroy as your primary defence. Like
my recommendation for anti virus defence above, it is also free for personal
use. Just as AVG has gone to considerable trouble to make its software
accessible to blind users, so have the authors of Spybot. When you install the
software, there is a special setting for blind users which makes the program
far easier to use effectively. You choose this when it asks what type of
installation you want to have. Use the combo box to choose full installation
for blind users.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Like
other programs, you'll find a series of Pull down menus which let you access
different areas of Spybot. One of your first stops should be in the navigation
Pull down menu where you'll come to the settings submenu. Go into that menu and
down to the settings option. Hitting enter on that will bring up a tree view.
Each branch of the tree contains a different area of settings which govern how
Spybot behaves. The only absolutely crucial thing here is that you set the
software to automatically find and download updates whenever it is run. I find
the process of updating the software manually to be bothersome and likely
beyond the skill of novice users. Therefore, I'm very thankful that an
automatic way to do this is provided. You can also adjust such things as the
level of priority given to scanning for spyware over other programs running on
your computer, when it initiates a scan, and many other things. Have a good
look around that whole tree and set Spybot up just how you want it. Your
settings should be saved automatically for you. There is no "save
settings" button.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>As an
example of how a tree view works, let's take the "start program"
branch. You'll find it while going up and down on the trunk of the tree. This
contains the major categories of settings such as general settings, automation,
look and feel, etc. Going out onto a branch such as "program start"
will let you look at the twigs on that branch which are such things as whether
it should check for updates, run a scan, fix problems, etc automatically once
it is run. You can find Spybot Search and Destroy at:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><a
href="http://spybot.info/">http://spybot.info</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Another
very popular anti-spyware program is Lavasoft's Adaware. You can obtain a free
version of this for home use as well. Go to:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><a
href="http://www.blindcooltech.com/www.lavasoft.com">www.lavasoft.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>to
obtain a copy.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>++<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>5--
Maintaining Your Computer and Data<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Over
time, unless we're obsessive about organization, things will get moved to
different places as they're used in daily life. While computers like things
organized, they will also misplace information on their hard drives in the
interest of speed and efficiency. Just as we might leave a piece of mail
haphazardly on the counter as we lunge for a ringing phone, computers will do
this with data as we put them through their paces. While files are originally
created in an organized fashion, things change as space is recycled. Old
software is removed and new software is installed in space originally earmarked
for what was taken away. New files may be created or copied to the hard drive
which are of different sizes than their predecessors. Like the desk of an
overworked executive, the disorderly accumulation eventually impedes
performance. This process is known as fragmentation and there's just no
avoiding it over time.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Any
operating system in use today should have a tool for dealing with this problem.
In Windows XP, it can be found in the accessories menu under the system tools
submenu. It is called disk defragmenter. It will work best if as few other
programs running on the computer are accessing the drive to be defragmented as
possible. I typically disable my screen reader, Jaws For Windows, and instead
use the less powerful basic screen-reader built right into Windows called
Narrator. It seems not to need to access the hard drive nearly as much and
still works well enough to make use of basic Windows dialogs like those found
in the disk defragmenter. Defragmentation can take quite a long time as the
process has to reorganize all of the files on your hard drive. These days, hard
drives are quite large so you should be prepared not to be able to use your
computer while the process is going on. If you learn how to schedule tasks, you
can tell your computer to defragment the hard drive at a specific time of day
automatically. I know it's a pain to have to do this but procrastinating on
this investment in time will ultimately cost you more time. Your computer must
search longer to find things and you'll also lose the use of some space on your
drive as files become more disorderly.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>There
are also tools for cleaning up your hard drive, restoring your system to an
early state, and many other useful items. I have no doubt that other operating
systems have their own equivalents. The Disk Cleanup tool will help keep
Windows users free of needless extra files. You should run this tool which
you'll find in the system tools submenu in accessories about once a week or so.
It deletes temporary files, empties the recycle bin, and does a few more things
to un clutter your drive. The System Restore tool can be a real life-saver. Be
certain that this tool is enabled on your computer. If you install something
which adversely effects things or badly botch things in some other devastating
way, being able to effectively turn back time is a very useful thing. You
should set up the system restore tool to use around ten percent of your hard
drive to maintain safe points that you can return your computer to. For the
safety it offers, this loss of space is a very small price to pay.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Another
lesser known but very useful tool used to be called scandisk. Now, you have to
dig for it more. If you open Windows Explorer or My Computer and go to the hard
drive, for instance local drive c:, you can then hit the alt key and go up with
the up-cursor key. This should land you on Properties. Hit the
"enter" key and you'll be in a dialog with a number of tabs, some
useful information such as the amounts of used and free space on your drive,
and a number of options. The main thing to focus on here is the
"tools" tab. Once it is selected, you can navigate to the disk
cleanup, defragmenter, and an error checking tool. This last one is what runs
if you ever have to reset due to a lockup or can't shut down properly because
of a system crash. I typically use this error checking tool about once every
two months to check for errors on the hard drive. It can automatically fix
these and this can recover wasted space plus help safeguard your data against
being corrupted. I fervently hope that whatever the equivalent tool is in other
accessible operating systems isn't so hidden away. Maintaining the health of
your hard drive is an absolute must.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Don't
fill your main hard drive right up. To defragment efficiently, Windows XP needs
something like ten to fifteen percent of your hard drive to be free. Also, some
of your hard drive space is used for temporary files and for virtual memory. As
Windows runs, there are times when more memory is briefly needed than you have
physically in your computer. The hard drive is then used as a way to increase
the amount of random access memory or RAM available. Having your hard drive
absolutely full could prevent your whole system from running. Therefore, if you
ever look into managing the size of virtual memory yourself, be very careful to
leave enough for things to work. In general, you should leave it to Windows to
take care of that aspect of things for you.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>If you
delete things in Windows, they are put into the recycle bin. This should be
emptied every once in a while to free up disk space and permanently delete
what's in there. However, if you ever delete something you later wish you
hadn't, look in the recycle bin and restore items you want back. It's quite
hard to do something truly harmful by pure accident. This is certainly the case
with Windows. It loves asking users if they're truly certain they want to do
things. It can be annoying at times as one grows more competent but it can, on
occasion, provide that vital second's pause for thought. I have no experience
with other current operating systems in terms of how much hand-holding they
subject their users to.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>No
matter how well you maintain your hard drive, you're not invincible. You may be
hit with a virus that your defence software can't handle. You may experience a
hardware failure which renders your computer useless until the problem is
fixed. Hard drives themselves are known to sometimes fail with next to no
warning at all. While catastrophic events like the above are rarely
experienced, it only takes one such disaster to completely wreck your whole
day. Anybody who uses computers extensively will eventually experience the
mind-boggling humiliating anguish of wishing he or she had backed up important
files more frequently at some point. Veterans of modern computing are quick to
complain about little things which annoy them. However, it is relatively rare
that a true irreversible irredeemable disaster strikes. It isn't so surprising
then that we all, myself included, fall into that trap of thinking nothing is
going to happen to their system. Teenagers no longer have a monopoly on the
whole immortality complex. I can't count the number of elderly people who I've
asked about their computer's security only to be told that they just let their
kids take care of it or haven't bothered to do even that much. It's only after
they've lost that registration code to a piece of beloved software or found
that the memoirs they've been working on have become corrupted and can't be
accessed or some other painful disaster has happened that they become aware
that just as in real life, they're digitally vulnerable.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Backing
up your files is simply a matter of making copies of them on other media than
your hard drive. Windows XP doesn't come with very useful software for this.
Blind people have made use of software such as Nero or Roxio CD Creator. Other
operating systems may have better built-in support for backing up files easily.
The only such software designed from the ground up to be accessible and easy
for blind people to use which I've heard of is Accessible CD/DVD Creator from
Premier Assistive Technology. You can find it at:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><a
href="http://www.blindcooltech.com/www.readingmadeeasy.ca">www.readingmadeeasy.ca</a>
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>The
software must be purchased but there is a demo version which lets you burn a
certain number of CDs before becoming useless. Try this to make certain what
works for me will work for you. I especially like how it tells you when you've
tried to put too much on a CD or DVD. You must then choose items to remove
until you are no longer warned that you're over the capacity of your CD or DVD.
All of the menus and information are spoken out loud including the progress
percentage as you're actually burning a CD or DVD. Particularly for beginners,
having such software makes a great deal of sense and is in my humble opinion
well worth the cost.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>What
should you back up? Generally, you shouldn't have to back up any software that
you have a CD or DVD for. Your purchased copies of the operating system, office
suite of software, screen-reader, etc, is effectively already backed up for
you. Concentrate on information you'd truly hate to lose. Any important
documents you've written, registration codes to purchased software, important
Emails especially those containing passwords and such, and any purchased files
such as music or books. This is the kind of thing which causes so much anguish
when it's lost. As online shopping becomes more prevalent particularly when it
comes to entertainment, this practice becomes even more important. Once you've
made backup copies, make certain they're in a safe and secure place. While
it'll certainly be annoying to rebuild your digital kingdom from scratch if the
need actually arises, you will at least have all the building blocks handy.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Rounding
off our discussion of basic computer care, let's consider the physical machine
itself. While they're on, computers will tend to attract dust. If possible, you
should think about how dusty an area is when deciding where to put your
computer. Make certain that the air intake vents as well as the area where warm
air is expelled from the computer are clear of any obstacles. All of the cables
protruding from your computer are another area where some consideration and
knowledge can go a long way. I once found myself summoned to the aid of a very
panicked student who thought her computer was infected with a dreadful virus
which prevented her mouse from working at all. She was thinking of calling in a
professional to dig her out of the mess she thought herself in and lamenting how
much that might cost. I asked whether she had checked the mouse cable to make
certain that it was correctly plugged in. "Oh!" she said. That, of
course, was the real cause of her frustrations.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Cables
may come partially out of their ports or sockets at times and it's a good idea
to have a sense of what cable leads to what device. I've heard from quite a few
blind people who have called in costly technical help only to find that their
troubles were the result of cables which had silently come free of their ports
just enough to break the flow of information between a device and their
computers. These days, it's hard to go wrong with cables. Things which are
plugged into usb ports don't care which port they're plugged into. Use less
convenient ports for devices which will not have to be removed in normal
circumstances. Keep the ports you may have on the front of your computer for
use by items you only need to connect occasionally or which you may need to
remove for whatever reason. My front pair of usb ports are what I use to
connect my external hard drive and smaller flash drive. I would also use them
for a joystick or gamepad should I wish to use those kinds of things.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Make
certain that cables aren't in any danger of being pulled past their maximum
length. There shouldn't be any tension in connected cables. Also, it is a good
idea to keep tangle to a minimum. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>There's
nothing more frustrating than to have a perfectly working computer be rendered
absolutely useless due to a wrecked keyboard, severed speaker cable or some
other very inexpensive peripheral. If it is at all possible for you, keep a
spare keyboard and a set of headphones on hand. Should disaster strike and your
speakers short out or your keyboard be drenched in some delicious but
destructive thirst-quenching liquid, it's good to have backup options
available. Both spare keyboards and speakers can be had very inexpensively as
can headphones. It's a perfectly reasonable investment to make given all the
multitude of things your computer can do for you.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>++<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>6--
Taking It All In: Online Media:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>The
Internet is absolutely full of interesting and useful things to watch and
listen to. Most of this audio and video content is free for anybody to take
advantage of. You can download files containing things like movie trailers,
music, various radio shows, etc. If you're worried about hard drive space, much
of this content is streamed to you. Basically, this means that it arrives just
as it's needed and isn't actually stored permanently on your hard drive. When you're
finished listening to something which is being streamed such as your favourite
Internet radio station, any remaining information pertaining to what you were
hearing is wiped out as you close the player used to listen. You can therefore
do things like listen to music or news broadcasts while you're working without
fear that your hard drive will suddenly be full to capacity. This section will
take you through the various forms of online media and what you need to know in
order to make use of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>+<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>6.1--
Listening To Music, Internet Radio and Video<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>To
listen to any music files or broadcast streams including radio stations, you'll
need the proper software. Many players can handle more than one format.
However, each of the popular formats in widespread use has its own dedicated
player. I've always found that it's best to use the player designed especially
for a given format. Some players are more accessible or easier to use than
others. They all will work with many different formats and will try and convince
you to use them in place of other players. All of them have menus with various
options including one which lets you change the settings of the player such as
which kinds of files it will play. Don't panic if you don't get it right while
installing a player. Nothing is carved in stone.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Let's
start out with something easy. Perhaps one of the most widely recognized
formats ever created is known as mp3. This format has stood the test of time
very well and is most notably used for encoding songs. Normally, recording a
song in full cd quality would require something like forty megabytes for a song
of average length. That same song might only require five megs if you convert
it or record it directly into mp3 format. The best player for mp3 files which I
have ever come across is Winamp. You can get it by going to:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><a
href="http://www.blindcooltech.com/www.winamp.com">www.winamp.com</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Select
the link which says "player". The basic player is all you need to get
started. The Winamp Pro player must be paid for and offers enhancements which
you may want to learn more about. Once you've downloaded the free player known
as Winamp Basic, it's time to install it. Be certain to go through all of the
various options to make certain you're aware of what's being installed. Also,
look at the help in whatever access technology you've chosen specific to Winamp
and its installation. Jaws For Windows offers extensive instructions on
optimizing Winamp for use with Jaws. Much of this makes good sense regardless
of which technology you use to access your computer. Install only the classic
skin for Winamp. This skin alters the appearance of Winamp is far less
problematic for screen-reading software to handle than the modern more
graphically intensive skins. You can also uncheck the visualization checkbox.
That's even more eye candy which will do blind people absolutely no good at
all. I personally decided to uncheck the system tray icon agent, the winamp
dashboard, and a couple of other options in the library section. If you download
the full or bundled versions, there are other things which come with Winamp.
These include sample mp3 files, an offer for fifty free mp3s from an online
music service and a security monitor. There may be other things included by the
time you read this guide. Since I haven't tried out these extras, I leave it to
your judgement to choose which if any of these you install.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Winamp
is one of the most friendly players for blind people due to its ability to be
controlled completely with the keyboard. It'll probably take you a while to
become comfortable with all the keys. However, you don't have to use them right
away. If you hit the alt key, you get to the menu of Winamp. Unlike other
applications, Winamp has its Pull down menu like a tree with submenu's branching
out from the main trunk. After hitting the alt key, go down once to get to the
"winamp" menu. Hitting the right arrow or the enter key gets you into
the main trunk of the menu. Moving down gets you to the next option or submenu
branching from the trunk. The "play" menu lets you select what you
want to play. The "playback" menu is farther down the main trunk and
you can access all of the options such as play, pause, move to the previous or
next track, etc. To help you get started quickly, here's a brief summary. The l
key gets you into a dialogue where you can choose a file to play. A capital l
gets you to a dialog where you can select a folder. All files within that
folder will then be played. The z, x, c, v, and b keys respectively let you go
to the previous file, play the current file, pause a file, stop a file, and
advance to the next file. The s key turns on or off shuffle mode which plays
files in folders or play lists in random order. The r key toggles repeat mode
on and off. Another handy key to know is holding down the control key and
hitting p. This gets you to preferences where you can customize a great deal
about how Winamp behaves.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Once
you have Winamp installed, you're all set to grab some mp3 files or tune in to
thousands of stations. There are some free mp3s right on the Winamp site. Go to
the "audio" link. Next, go to the heading saying "free mp3
downloads". Below that, you'll find numerous songs which you can practice
downloading and playing. The musical taste might leave a little to be desired
but you can't beet the price.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>A good
first stop to find some Internet radio stations is at:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><a
href="http://www.blindcooltech.com/www.sky.fm">www.sky.fm</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>They
run a number of very good radio stations which you can listen to for free. There
are occasional commercials but they're far less lengthy or intrusive than what
you'd hear on FM stations. There aren't any headings to make navigation easier.
However, you can quickly go down the page until you start finding information
about stations. Find a link which says "buttons/blue_96K" if you have
cable or DSL Internet. If you have a dial up connection, you should look for
the yellow 24k links. Those will give you stations which transmit at slower
speeds and are optimized for dial up connections. The 32K links will work with
Windowsmedia player and should be fine for dial up listeners as well. There!
Hopefully, that was enough to bring<span style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</span>some nice tunes your way. You might also want to venture onto:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><a
href="http://www.blindcooltech.com/www.shoutcast.com">www.shoutcast.com</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>They
have thousands of stations of pretty much any kind including spoken audio
stations for news. One of the best which I have ever come across is KCRW
Worldnews. They feature material from the BBC as well as from NPR making for a
very interesting listening experience for people into world events. You can
search for specific stations or search by genre. After you've narrowed down
your genre and any other criteria, look for the "tunein" link. That
should get you going nicely on that site.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>For
quick and easy access to commercial radio stations broadcasting on the
Internet, blind listeners may want to look at Bill Sparks's Radio Lookup. This
is a searchable list of English radio stations from fifteen countries. To check
it out, go to:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><a
href="http://www.blindcooltech.com/www.billsparks.org">www.billsparks.org</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>For
people who enjoy spoken audio books, I have a nifty recommendation for you.
Check out:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><a
href="http://www.blindcooltech.com/www.audiobookradio.net">www.audiobookradio.net</a>
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>This
station continuously broadcasts audio books for the enjoyment of all. There is
a schedule which will help avid readers tune in at the right times to enjoy
entire books they're particularly interested in.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Finally,
you'll also want to look at the major national broadcasters such as the BBC,
CBC and NPR. To access the BBC content, one very simple solution is packaged
with the free Thunder screen reader you can get from:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><a
href="http://www.blindcooltech.com/www.screen">www.screen</a> reader.net<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>If you
install that, you will also get a number of other programs which you can find
in the "accessible" Pull down menu which branches off from your
"programs" menu. The programs you want to look at are called
"bbc listen again" and "bbc live radio". Tuning in just
doesn't get any easier than this. When you're more comfortable on the Internet,
you can visit the sites and become more informed about what's on tap. Go to:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>British
broadcasting service radio<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><a
href="http://www.blindcooltech.com/www.bbc.co.uk/radio">www.bbc.co.uk/radio</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>the
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation radio:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><a
href="http://www.blindcooltech.com/www.cbc.ca/radio">www.cbc.ca/radio</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>The
American National Public Radio<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><a
href="http://www.blindcooltech.com/www.npr.org">www.npr.org</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Another
very useful place to visit is Voiceprint. This is a national reading service
run in Canada staffed by volunteer readers. It is broadcast on television and
is also available over the Internet. The site also has a great deal of local information
about happenings in places all over Canada. The audio stream you can tune into
features the same content as you hear broadcasted over the television. Look at
the schedule on the site to determine when items of potential interest to you
are going to be presented. Don't forget about the archives of past shows
maintained on the Voiceprint site. There are doubtless similar services run in
other countries. To take advantage of this fantastic resource, go to:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><a
href="http://www.blindcooltech.com/www.voiceprintcanada.com">www.voiceprintcanada.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Those
interested in happenings beyond our planet should check out:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><a
href="http://www.blindcooltech.com/www.nasa.gov">www.nasa.gov</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Look
for a link called "Nasa TV". You can tune in to a video broadcast
which includes sounds and commentary of events in space. If NASA has a mission
underway or something is happening on the International Space Station, chances
are you can follow along as things unfold.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Your
experience with Winamp as well as the sites above should prepare you for
dealing with the other various media players and sites which make use of them.
It's not rocket science. Just be certain that you're aware of any extras which
sometimes come with these players. They aren't dangerous but may not be
designed with accessibility in mind. The BBC makes extensive use of Reelplayer
but has a very different and accessible means of accessing its various streams
and material. The CBC in Canada uses Windowsmedia Player. Any of the major
radio stations or national broadcast services go to great lengths to make
accessing their content as easy as possible. In most cases, users of other
operating systems should be able to find means of playing the content. I,
however, am not well-equipped to offer any more direct advice as I can for
Windows users.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>I've
derived hundreds of hours and learned a great deal listening to Internet radio.
The choice available is absolutely staggering. Many blind people are trying
their hand and Internet broadcasting themselves. Some have even made money
doing this. If you have creative talent, the Internet is a great place to share
it. If you don't have all the skills, time, hardware or money, you may find
other enthusiasts could use your help with their projects or they with yours.
Great things have resulted from such collaborations online. A particularly good
place to start for people looking to get into Internet broadcasting is ACB
Radio. Go to:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><a
href="http://www.blindcooltech.com/www.acbradio.org">www.acbradio.org</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>The
people involved in that effort are very supportive. I wish any of my readers
who choose to share their interests through this medium the very best of luck.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Taking
advantage of video streamed over the Internet is just like audio. You may have
to download and install the correct player to receive the video. Depending on
the format, you may be able to download a video file which can give you control
over which player to use. For instance, mpg and mp4 files can be played in
Winamp. This lets you jump around, pause and control the volume. Sometimes,
sites which offer video content use their own proprietary player which is often
integrated into your web browser. A good example of this is the Flash plugin.
Depending on your access technology, this can limit your ability to control
playback. Other than in very obscure cases, you should always be able to play
video content. Starting play is typically simply a matter of clicking on the
appropriate link or button on a site. You may find controls right on the site
that let you influence play. Efforts are proceeding to make video content
generally more friendly to access technology.<span style="mso-spacerun:
yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>+<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>6.2--
Pod casts<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Pod
casts are named because of an mp3 player made by apple called the Ipod. They
are audio or video presentations made using formats compatible with such
portable players. Mostly, the audio ones are mp3 files and video Pod casts are
mp4 or mpg files. You can play these like any other audio file on your computer
once you download them. There are two ways of doing that. You can go directly
to the site on which they reside and download them just like ordinary files.
However, if you understandably don't want to have to keep visiting a bunch of
sites to check if a new file has been posted, there's an easier way. Just find
an accessible pod catcher program. It can be used to more easily obtain your
favourite Pod casts. Some browsers also have methods of keeping updated with
this kind of content.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>In a
nutshell, Pod casts combine audio and video content with a technology called
RSS. This stands for really simple syndication and lives up to its name. To
subscribe to a pod cast, you need its URL or uniform resource locator. Some pod
cast programs have directories which let you search for and subscribe to Pod
casts within them rather than going to various web sites and looking through
them for the appropriate information.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>For the
purposes of this guide, we'll use Accessible Pod catcher which is part of the
WebbIE package of software for Windows. It is free software. To obtain it, go
to:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><a
href="http://www.webbie.org.uk/">http://www.webbie.org.uk</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>and
download the complete WebbIE package. You don't have to install everything if
you don't want to. In fact, you could just install the accessible pod catcher
if that's all you'll need.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>The
first thing we'll need is a sample pod cast. Fortunately, there are thousands
of them around. Lets get you subscribed to the Blind Cool Tech pod cast as it
will very likely be of some interest to you. The first step is to get to where
the actual URL to the pod cast is. Go to:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><a
href="http://www.blindcooltech.com/www.blindcooltech.com">www.blindcooltech.com</a>
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>with
your browser. There are an awful lot of links on this page but you want one
very close to the top. You could do a search for the "subscribe" link
or the word "subscribe". Choose whatever method is easiest with your
browser. Next you want to activate that link usually by clicking on it or
hitting the carriage return key. Once you've done that, you have to find out
the address you've reached. If you're using Internet Explorer, you can tab
until you get to the address field. You can then select and copy the address
into the clipboard. Next, run the accessible pod catcher program. Hit the alt
key to get to the bar of Pull down menus and go right once. That brings you to
the Pod casts menu. Go down to reach the "add pod cast" option and
press Enter. You'll then be asked for the pod cast's name. It doesn't matter if
you get it exactly right as long as you know what it is. Press Enter after
typing in the name. You'll then be asked for the web site or URL. You can then
paste the address into that edit field and press Enter. You have now added a
pod cast. In case you have difficulty finding that link, it is:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><a
href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/blindcooltech">http://feeds.feedburner.com/blindcooltech</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Many
pod cast subscription links end in a .xml. There doesn't seem to be any hard
and fast rule about that.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>The
next thing to do is tab over to the "get pod cast" button and hit
Enter. That will cause Accessible Pod catcher to download the information about
each file currently available. Each file is a presentation posted on a given
day. You can tab over to the second of two list views. The first contains the
Pod casts available. This is where you select Blind Cool Tech from the
available Pod casts. The second list contains the shows. You might want to hear
a live recording of a tour of somebody's place, thunder storms, fireworks, a
software or hardware review, or whatever else turns your crank. The diversity
of what blind people feel is worth recording for everyone interested to hear is
mind-boggling. After you picked your show, tab over to the play button and hit
enter on that. You can also pause and stop. For greater control, you should hit
the alt key and go down to the "save" option where you can save a pod
cast to a folder on your hard drive. I recommend creating a folder specifically
for Pod casts. The file may take a few minutes to be fully downloaded. Once the
file has been saved, you can use Winamp or whatever player you prefer to hear
it. Video files may have to be renamed as they often have an "m4v"
extension which doesn't signify anything. I suspect that the file type is an
mp4 most of the time and will usually change the extension to mp4 and use
Winamp to play the file. Winamp is, however, a very versatile player and it
wouldn't surprise me to learn that I was wrong about the exact file type.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Other
than the above, Pod casts are pretty straight-forward. Check out the pod cast
directory in the program menu where Accessible Pod catcher resides. It's a
totally separate program. If you want or need to use the web to find new Pod
casts independent of a facility built into your pod catcher program, you may
like:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><a
href="http://www.blindcooltech.com/www.podcastalley.com">www.podcastalley.com</a>
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>I hope
you enjoy this very accessible and fascinating form of Internet media.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>++<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>7--
Online Communities and Communication<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>As
blind people, we can be especially prone to isolation. In a world designed for
cars, getting around can be more of a problem than it is for our sighted
contemporaries. Many of us have a surfeit of time on our hands while our
sighted contemporaries have all the freedom of action one could want but
precious little time to make use of this.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Fortunately,
geographical barriers are a thing of the past in the online world. The only
factors are time, commitment and level of interest. Chances are that there will
be a discussion list, forum, chat, blog or something relating directly to
things of interest to you. You may also decide to create your own online
presence. There are numerous places where you can start up an Email list,
create a blog, host a chat, and more. This normally won't even cost you any
money. You are, in effect, paying for your platform of choice with the time and
effort it takes to provide content of interest to others. This is especially
the case when you use services which are supported by advertising. For example,
many blog sites and hosts of email lists receive revenue for allowing companies
to have links posted on their sites or at the bottom of email messages sent to
list subscribers. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Before
we begin our examination of these truly interactive parts of Digital World,
past experience and common sense obligate me to offer some general safety
advice. The most crucial thing to keep in mind at all times is that whatever
you write online is instantly and irrevocably in the public eye. Even if you
are able to delete an entry from a blog five minutes after writing it, people
may already have read what you regret having written. I made many editorial
mistakes which will be available for anybody to laugh at for all time during my
editorship of Audyssey Magazine. You'll learn about some of these in the
following sections as I delve more deeply into the various types of
communication methods and communities you can make use of. Think very carefully
about how much you are comfortable with being in the public sphere before you
put yourself there. Over the years, I've made several choices which have
resulted in my having achieved a certain low level of fame. I tend to be an
open and honest person so this doesn't trouble me a great deal. I enjoy getting
to know and helping people so I've made it quite easy for them to contact me.
Once you've made the decision to put yourself in that position, it's very hard
to undo. The word about you will be out there. More likely than not, any
writing or other work you've put online will survive there long after you've
moved on. Be especially careful about revealing personal information. My
experience over the past decade during which I've been active online has been
extremely<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>positive. I've certainly
encountered my share of spam, viruses and such. However, I've only had one
incident where somebody tried to impersonate me in order to cause some chaos.
More serious forms of identity theft certainly take place online. It can
absolutely happen to you. You have been warned.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>+<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>7.1--
The Many Implications of Email<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>For me,
university was where I finally hit my social stride. When I went home for the
four-month Summer break between terms during my second and third years, I
became acutely aware of just how much social life seemed to lag. I began to
feel like I needed a new project of some sort which was personally satisfying
unlike my quest for relatively meaningless marks. Computer games have
fascinated me all my life. So too has writing. Around that time, I had recently
discovered a very well-done email magazine about interactive fiction otherwise
known as text adventures. These sorts of games appealed to both my love of
words and of play. One of the things I was strongly taken with about the
magazine was how its editor always strived to go beyond merely reviewing and
announcing new works of interactive fiction. Eileen Mullin wanted people to
analyze and think about the games they created and enjoyed in a broader
context. She succeeded admirably in this. I was deeply inspired to see if I
could reach out to the blind community and get them thinking similarly about accessible
computer games.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Creating
the very first issue of Audyssey magazine kept me pleasantly busy for around a
month and a half. I wasn't really certain what to expect when I sent it out
onto the Internet. I first put it up on Compuserve in the forum they had for
disabilities. I had my first responses within a matter of days and these were
very encouraging. I decided to send it to an Email list I belonged to called
Skyclub. This list was run by the Canadian National Institute for the Blind and
had become a very popular list among blind Canadians even in those early days.
I sent my rather large first issue onto this list in eager anticipation of
further praise and perhaps some material for the next issue. I had never
experienced a flame war before and that was precisely what I had unwittingly
started. A number of people had absolutely no interest in accessible games and
resented such a very large message on that subject. They pointed out that some
people had to pay by the kilobyte for their connections and my magazine was
huge as compared to normal messages. Several people considered leaving the list
if such postings were to be tolerated in the future. I quickly offered my
sincere apologies to any who I had inconvenienced. However, the sparks were
already flying as a large number of my first fans came to my defence. It took
three or four days before it all calmed down again.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Fortunately,
the magazine was circulated to the point that by its third issue, a reader had
stepped forward to take charge of Internet distribution. That took a lot of
weight off my shoulders as I had absolutely no idea how to go about this
efficiently and responsibly at the time. Once Audyssey Magazine had its own
Email list, everything changed. Readers could now sign up to receive issues as
they were ready. I began to receive far more feedback than I could have
imagined when I worked on the first issue. As time went by, things just got
bigger and bigger. I eventually had a staff of volunteers to help keep the
magazine going and maintain its quality. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>A
community discussion list was started almost exactly two years after the first
issue was published. People could then communicate with fellow dedicated
readers in between issues. Suddenly, I was more of a community leader than I
was an editor. My eight years in this capacity taught me a great deal about
responsibility, leadership, friendship and about what a powerful force for good
the Internet could be. At one point, we were being read in at least fourteen
countries around the world. The readership included lawyers, musicians,
parents, teachers, kids and teens. A Russian librarian and a retired US senator
were among the people who found fun through the thing I had done merely to
stave off boredom. The community became a source people could turn to even for
help or answers completely unrelated to games. If you were in a bind or needed
to know something, chances were that somebody on the Audyssey discussion list
could and would offer help in timely fashion.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Naturally,
I'm very proud of what I and those who believed in the community that grew out
of Audyssey Magazine have accomplished. I'm even more profoundly thankful for
the new horizons this experience opened to me. I can't think of a better
example of the enormous power the Internet opens up to all of us. This is what
can happen when it becomes possible and relatively easy for blind people to
contribute to a cause larger than themselves. The Internet eliminates all
geographical barriers. Perhaps, you have a keen interest in something. Why not
share it with the online world? It costs nothing but time and effort and the
rewards can be life-changing. They've certainly been so for me.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>There
are many different Email lists and Email magazines which you can receive and
participate in on an absolutely equal footing with everyone else regardless of
your disability. Nobody will be able to tell if you can't type very fast. You
can check the spelling of your messages and take your time editing before
sending them. Email is one of the most simple ways of participation online. On
Tom Lorimer's site at:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><a
href="http://www.blindcooltech.com/www.whitestick.co.uk">www.whitestick.co.uk</a>
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>you
will find a "Join a mailing list" link which will present you with a
larger collection of lists whose topic you might be interested in.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Before
you go too deeply into these lists, you should be aware that most of them have
their own policies which all members are expected to uphold. These will likely
be sent to you after you subscribe to the list. It's always a good idea to save
a copy of these rules in addition to any information such as user names,
passwords, methods of subscribing and leaving, etc. Keep in mind that people
won't always interpret the emotion behind your words correctly. Email is so
easy and quick to type up that people treat it much like casual speaking.
Unfortunately, it lacks the ability to convey tone of voice. As a result,
things can become heated rather unexpectedly. Particularly when you're offering
criticism or explaining something, take the extra thirty seconds to make as
certain as you can that people won't misinterpret your well-meant remarks as
attacks. This problem can very frequently occur and get out of control on Email
lists. It's best to approach things in these online communities with a very
thick skin. Even if somebody responds aggressively or insultingly to a message,
keep in mind that the original message's intent might have been misunderstood.
Always remember that what you write is not necessarily private. Lists keep
archives of messages which can be searched by other members or quite often by
anybody at all. Also, once you've sent a message, there is no taking it back.
Your words are out there now and there's nothing you can do but offer an
apology if you later regret what you've written.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Keep in
mind that you shouldn't give away sensitive information such as your bank
account, home address or the like via Email unless there's a specific need to.
Also, never respond directly to an Email which appears to come from your bank,
PayPal, or another financially or personally important place. Always go to the
appropriate web-site with your browser. Don't click on a link provided in the
Email. Chances are that it is spam. The genuine bank or other online place of
business likely hasn't sent the message and had no idea that you have it.
PayPal users may get quite a number of these messages. I certainly have. Some
of these may indeed be genuine. That's why it's a good idea to go to your
account once in a while and make certain that everything is normal. I got a
number of messages once saying that the policy of using PayPal had changed and
that I needed to update my account. I finally decided to go to PayPal at:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><a
href="http://www.blindcooltech.com/www.PayPal.com">www.PayPal.com</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>and
check on whether these reminders were real or not. I was surprised to see that
indeed they were. I only had a short time to update my policy before my use of
PayPal would have been limited. The only time you should click on a link in
such messages is when it makes sense that you couldn't go through the web site.
A good example of this is when you're verifying Email addresses. PayPal needed
me to verify that my Email address was genuine and provided a link in an Email
they sent me. By clicking on that link, I quickly indicated that my address was
in fact legitimate. The email with the link arrived very shortly after I signed
up so I knew it was genuinely from PayPal. It made sense for me to click on
that link. As long as you think before blithely clicking on links in messages
and have Internet security software running, you should be quite safe from the
more nasty effects of the plague of spam out there.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Despite
its drawbacks including spam, Email is a fantastic addition to life for people
wanting to expand their horizons and learn more. There are many different
programs<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>called Email clients which
will let people send and receive mail. Users of Windows operating systems will
start with Outlook Express or Windows Mail if they are using Vista. They may
also make use of Eudora as an example of an accessible alternative. Outlook
Express has certainly been more than adequate for my needs.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Let's
go on a brief tour of my email client of choice as I check my email, read any I
might receive and send a message. Your email client might have different menus
and slightly different names for things but the basics will always be the same
since the purpose of all email clients is the same. The first thing to do is
open the client. I've elected not to have an icon for it on my desktop so I go
to the start menu and into the "programs" menu. I then type the
letter o. Since nothing else uses that letter currently, I'm taken directly
into the program as it launches. I've configured it so that I always start in
my in box. This change is made in the "options" dialog which you can
get to by going over to the tools menu. This is only one of several folders.
You can make more folders for certain messages if you want to have your email
more organized. This can be very useful once you've joined one or more email
lists which are high-traffic. There are times when you just want to look at
email sent specifically to you rather than the groups you belong to. That's
getting a little ahead of ourselves. For now, all email will be placed in your
in box. Any mail waiting to be sent will be in your out box. There are also
folders for draft copies of messages, sent items, and deleted messages. If you
accidentally delete a message in Outlook Express, it will still be in the
"deleted items" folder until you empty that folder or close Outlook
Express. If you want to prevent items in the "deleted items" folder
from being permanantly deleted until you specifically order the folder emptied,
you can inform Outlook Express of your wish in the "options" dialogue
box. Go to the "maintenance" tab and you'll find the checkbox which
you can uncheck so that items aren't deleted when Outlook Express closes.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>To see
if I have any new email, I go to the tools menu using the alt key and then
arrowing right over the file, edit and view menus. I then arrow down to the
"send and receive" submenu. Arrowing right opens this menu and puts
me on the first option which is "send and receive all". That's what
I'd like to do so I hit the enter key. You may notice that there is a shortcut key
for doing this. I could do the same thing by simply hitting control-m. Learning
these shortcut keys for tasks you do often can save you time and keystrokes in
the long run. However, you should take the time to explore the menus in your
software and become familiar with what they have to offer. When Outlook Express
has finished retrieving my new mail, I hear a small doorbell-like sound
indicating this. Looking in my in box, I find a message from Tom Peters. He
belongs to an initiative run by American libraries using accessible software to
host online events which anybody can attend. Emails are like forms with
different headers or fields containing information. The first field shows who
the message is from. The next field displays the date and time the message was
sent assuming things are set up the same way. It's possible to change the
layout of information as well as which information is shown. The next field
shows who the message was sent to. In this case, the message is addressed to
the OPAL email list to which I belong. The next field is where the subject is
displayed. A message has a subject line which should let you know briefly what
the message is about. This lets you see if you're interested enough to read the
message without having to open it up. As this particular announcement doesn't
interest me, I elect to delete the message. It's now moved into my deleted
items folder.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Had I
chosen to read the announcement, I would have hit the enter key which would
open the message and place me at the top of the message body. This is where the
text of the message is. I could then read the message using the down arrow or
the key combination which lets me read an entire document continuously. You may
have things configured so that messages automatically start being read to you.
It all depends on what your access technology has been set up to do. In some
cases such as if you're using Thunder, you may have to configure your client to
read messages as plain text rather than as html. In outlook Express, you do
this in the "options" dialogue which you get to via the "tools
menu. Go to the "read" tab using the left and right arrows once
you're positioned on the "general" tab. When you get to the
"read" tab, use the tab key to cycle through the items in that
section. There's a checkbox which tells Outlook Express to read all messages as
plain text. Hit the space bar to check or uncheck the box. Remember to tab to
the "apply" button and hit the space bar. This applies your changes
if you've made them. You can then go to the ok button. Links won't be active if
you're reading messages in plain text so you'll have to copy and paste links to
sites instead of just clicking on them. That as well as hearing all sorts of
extra characters will be the most obvious effects of reading messages
containing HTML as plain text. All those weird characters actually tell the
computer to display things in a different way. If your access technology can
handle HTML messages as most can, you shouldn't hear all the strange
characters. Those are pretty much the basics of reading emails. It's quite
simple really. Now, let's look at writing an email.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>There
are a few different ways of composing an email. You can create one from
scratch, reply to an email you've been sent, or forward an email to one or more
people. Your email client will have options for doing all of these. Let's take
the case of sending an original message since the other options are essentially
doing the same thing with more information included. To send a new message
using Outlook Express, I use the control-n shortcut. I could also go into the
"file" menu using the alt key, go down to the "new"
submenu, and then right which gets me to "new mail message". Hitting
enter on that will open a new message form and put you on the "to"
field. Assuming you've set up Outlook Express, it will fill in the
"from" and "date" headers. To go between parts of an email,
use either tab or shift-tab to cycle through the sections. After I fill in the
"to" header with the email address of the person I want to contact, I
hit the tab key to get to the next field. You may encounter fields labelled
"cc" and "bcc". This is "carbon copy" or
"blind carbon copy". If you want to send the same message to more
than one person, use one of these fields. Separate multiple email addresses
with semicolons. The difference is as follows: If you put addresses of
additional recipients in the "cc" field, people receiving your
message will be able to see the addresses of other people who received it. This
isn't always desired as people may not want others to know their email address.
Also, you personally might not want people to know who else is receiving the
message. Simply use the blind carbon copy or bcc field to enter the addresses
of people you want to receive your message and they won't see each other's
addresses. The next field over is where you put the subject of your message.
This single line should contain a brief phrase which lets the reader know what
your message is about. For instance, a subject might say<span
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>"yesterday's game" or
"your farming ideas". This lets the potential reader decide whether
and/or when to read the message. The next field is where you write the body of
your message. After that's done, the email can be sent on its way.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>That
ought to give you enough of a basic working knowledge of email to get you
started. A little patience and consulting with the online help of your
particular client of choice will let you master this form of communication
quite quickly and painlessly. Creating folders and message rules, attaching
pictures or other files, creating a signature which appears on all your
messages, etc, are typically options which a little effort and time will allow
you to take advantage of. Go through all the menus of your email client of
choice and don't be afraid to use the built-in help. Searching for terms you
don't understand as well as help or guides for the software you've chosen will
also potentially prove useful. Finally, you can now use email to seek help from
friends or other people who use the same software as you. It's time we moved on
to cover other areas of Internet communication.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>+<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>7.2--
Text and Voice Chat<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Things
were really starting to get going in accessible games. The community of gamers
was well into the hundreds and a number of game developers had arisen. I had
recently joined a community called Audio-tips and was very impressed with being
able to talk to people at no cost no matter where they were as long as they
were members of the site. One night, I decided to start a weekly chat session
about accessible games. I hadn't given very much notice of this to anybody so I
was quite surprised at the eventual turn-out of some thirteen of us. This
included at least two game developers. Many more of these would attend in
future chat sessions. As more game developers joined the band-wagon, more of
their fans showed up in hopes of being able to talk to them. It was such an
amazing enhancement going from text sent back and forth interpreted by
synthetic speech to being able to truly talk to each other. I already felt a
keen responsibility for the community I had unwittingly started with my
magazine. This made it all hit home that much more powerfully. Short of
actually attending a physical gathering, it was as close as we could all get
and a whole lot better than simple email. You could hear the excitement as
developers discussed their plans and they could get an immediate sense of what
their fans thought. These were real people who were passionate enough about
accessible games to coordinate their schedules so they could attend. That sense
of exhilarating novelty has since faded somewhat but the effectiveness of such
tools has only grown with time as more people sign up with one or more of these
special sites set up for blind people to communicate in this manner.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>This
communication is made possible by many different programs. Most of these
involve installing what is called a chat client on your computer. This software
connects your computer to a central server set up to facilitate communication
between people. I've been using this kind of communication since the early
1990's when it was done over phone lines and bulletin-board systems. Today, the
Internet has completely removed the need to worry about distance and costs of
any kind. You can communicate freely for as long as you like with people from
anywhere in the world as long as they too are similarly hooked into the
Internet and have the same chat client. If you have a microphone and a
multi-channel sound card, you can talk to people directly. Any modern personal
computer will likely have a multi-channel sound card built into it. Only people
using older equipment are likely to find that their sound card won't let them
use a screen-reader and chat via voice over the Internet at the same time. This
works even between large numbers of people. I've attended countless events and
classes run using this kind of technology.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>To take
part in chat communities, you'll typically have to register at the web site
hosting the community. In some instances, you will merely be asked to type in
your name whenever you enter a chat room. An example of this is Our place which
is run by ACB Radio. No registration is required to talk in those rooms.
However, this means that there is no real accountability. People can enter any
name they like and nobody is moderating the rooms in case there are
trouble-makers. These people are out there. Sadly, it's not hard to completely
wreck a good conversation in progress. The communities which make their users
register to use their facilities are run by groups of people who keep things
orderly and hold people accountable for their conduct. Events and rooms are
more likely to have people in them who are entrusted with moderator powers. If
people use foul language in a room meant to be safe for children or decide to
hold down the key and babble inanely, these moderators can step in and restore
order. Registration is normally free. Sometimes, there are two levels of
membership where you can participate in some events or enter certain rooms only
after paying a membership fee. It all depends on who runs the community and
what purpose it serves.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>In most
cases, people take turns holding down a key in order to talk. They then release
the key when they've finished speaking and somebody else has a turn. It is
usually also possible to type text into a chat window. Newcomers should be
aware that just because it's possible to type text rather than talk, it's not
always encouraged. This is because people find it hard to listen to the
synthetic voice they'll likely be using to operate their computer in addition
to the voice of whoever's talking. Until you find out otherwise, it's usually
best not to type text unless people ask you for information or you urgently
need to say something. For instance, you might want to type the word
"break" so that people know you want to talk. This is good if you
have to leave for some reason and don't want to simply disappear without saying
goodbye. Also, if you get a phone call, you can type in a note to tell people
that. This way, they'll know why you haven't answered them or why you might not
have heard everything that was said.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>I'll
now go through each of the main voicechat communities set up to be accessible
to blind people. There may very well be more out there which I'm unaware of.
However, this should give you a number of safe places to start out. Each new
listing will be preceded by a double asterisk. If a community description
doesn't appeal to you, simply skip to the next double-asterisk and read on.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>**Audio
tips<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><a
href="http://www.blindcooltech.com/www.audio-tips.com">www.audio-tips.com</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>This
community is set up to be a free and safe place for people to chat with each
other. It makes use of a special chat client designed to be as friendly to
access technology as possible. The owners of the community insist that people
use their real names. Events include movies, bible studies, singing, and more.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>**For
The People:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><a
href="http://www.blindcooltech.com/www.for-the-people.com">www.for-the-people.com</a>
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Note:
Dashes are between each word in the above link.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>This
Internet community is one of the most active serving the blind community. There
are ones which use better software, but the volunteers who run For The People
seem to know how to keep things safe, lively and friendly. Everyone must
register with the site before they can chat. Registration is free and means
that people are accountable for their conduct. You need to have a microphone
plugged into your computer. Membership is completely free of charge. Due to the
guidelines and moderators present, this community is also about as safe as
things get for children online.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>**Our
Place:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><a
href="http://www.blindcooltech.com/www.ourplace.acbradio.org">www.ourplace.acbradio.org</a>
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>ACB
Radio has set up this collection of chat rooms for people to use. Some are
named for specific purposes but the only time I've ever seen any degree of
control be exercised is when a room is used for recording events for broadcast
on ACB Radio. Otherwise, they're open to absolutely anybody and no registration
is required. You should use some caution in these rooms as there's no way of
telling whether people are using their real names.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>**The
Zone Bbs<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><a
href="http://www.blindcooltech.com/www.zonebbs.com">www.zonebbs.com</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>This
community is set up to resemble a bulletin board system or BBS in terms of its
atmosphere. However, it takes full advantage of the modern Web interface.
Headings, combo boxes and links are the order of the day. The Zone features a
very simple and effective instant messenging system allowing people on the site
at the same time to communicate directly with the whole group or each other
more privately. To update the messages displayed on the site, one need only
refresh the page or click on a link taking people to a different area of the
site. It doesn't get much more simple than that. People can also communicate
via voicechat if they don't mind installing and setting up a chat client called
Ventrillo.. Excellent instructions are provided on the site. One thing to note
about the Ventrillo experience is that it allows for more than one person to
talk at the same time. That can be a bit confusing if too many people are in
the same room. It's quite different than most other communities which make
people take turns having the floor. You can also call the Zone by phone.
Forums, games and more can be found on the Zone. While you can decide to become
a paying member, you don't have to. A group of people on the Zone keep things
orderly and make certain there is accountability.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>**Vip
Conduit<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><a
href="http://www.blindcooltech.com/www.vipconduit.com">www.vipconduit.com</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>This
member-supported community is extremely well-run and has a wide variety of
scheduled events to keep it lively. There are many different rooms to suit
various topics and there are people in charge of moderating things to keep
everyone accountable. Paying for membership entitles you to increased access to
events and some other bonuses. However, there are rooms and events available
for non-paying members. The chat software used by this site is extremely
accessible and was designed by blind people for blind people. There are scripts
for users of Jaws for Windows. These are helpful but it is quite possible to
use the chat software without them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>+<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>7.3--
Instant Messengers<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>These
chat communities are an excellent thing for hooking up with other blind people.
However, not too many sighted folks seem to use them. They generally prefer the
use of what are known as instant messengers. These programs are usually free to
obtain and use. They are normally left running in the background while your
computer is on. Once you and someone you want to contact have exchanged the
user names or email addresses used to identify each other, you'll be able to
tell when a person is available and communicate with them. Some instant
messengers like Windows Live Messenger allow you to talk via voice, send small
voice clips back and forth, share files, and do other things than simply type
to each other. All instant messengers allow that last capability by definition.
I would include Skype in the same category of software despite its being
designed mainly for voice communication. It also keeps track of which contacts
are online and available.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Which
messengers are accessible to you depends on the access technology choices
you've made and the operating system you're using. Windows users have many
different options. I've never been a particularly keen user of these programs
and can therefore only offer general advice on their use. Fortunately, there is
always built-in help or fellow users to be referred to for specific
instructions. Most of these programs are free to obtain and use. That's right!
You can be in Canada and know when your friend in England is also online and
available to chat. You can then chat for as long as you like without anybody
paying long distance charges. It's a wonder the phone companies are still in
business.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>You'll
naturally be wondering why it is that I don't have one of these programs
running constantly. Basically, it's because they often directly intrude into
other things you're doing. I do a lot of writing and other activities on the
computer which require that I not be distracted from my thoughts. I'll be
working away when suddenly, some well-meaning fool on my list of contacts
decides it's time to strike up a typed conversation with me. One second, I'm
hearing what I expect to hear my computer saying as I put it through its paces.
The next, it starts announcing whatever they've typed in. I could be in the middle
of reading the most absolutely profound piece of wisdom in months and that'll
suddenly change to: "Hi Mike. What's up?" I might have finally
conquered my writer's block and thought of a brilliant idea. However, before I
can write enough of it down for it to be safe, my instant messenger feels the
need to tell me that person x has just signed in or out. That pronouncement
completely derails my train of thought. The best idea I've had in days is
destroyed in the wreckage never to occur to me again. There's nobody to blame
but me for not remembering that I had set my instant messenger to automatically
sign me in when I booted my computer and was online. That's why I don't run any
of those messengers unless there's somebody I specifically want to contact.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>I also
find it somewhat difficult juggling two or more separate conversations at once
when everyone talks with the same synthetic voice. I know, damn it! That makes
me a grumpy old dinosaur from another era. Frantically trying to read a
conversation history whose content is continuously added to while formulating
an answer which may well already be inappropriate to the current context just
isn't where the fun is at for me. It leaves me feeling like a digital deer
caught in cybernetic headlights about to be turned into road kill on the
information superhighway. Once you've become widely known for something you've
done online, you should be very careful who you let onto your contacts list.
Often, before I whittled down the contacts on my list, I had the experience of
logging in to talk to one person only to have six or seven people seem to all
pounce on me at once for a chat. That can be somewhat disconcerting given my
inability to keep multiple threads of separate conversation going smoothly in
my brain.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>In all
fairness, there are a lot of ways you can take charge of the situation with
instant messengers. You can only actually be signed in when you choose to be
and just have the program loaded. You can also change your status displayed to
other users which can say that you're busy, away, etc. If users are being too
bothersome, you can block them and delete them from your list of contacts. You
have quite a lot of control over your experience as long as your familiar with
all your options. Many blind people I've talked with have no problem carrying
on six or seven different conversations while working and listening to music at
the same time. While I have the computer skills to do that, my mind just
couldn't cope with all those different streams of input at once. I must be
getting old. Before you start using your instant messenger or messengers of
choice, take the time to explore the software and be familiar with your
options, privacy settings, etc. Like security software, this is one of those
cases where you definitely want to be the master of it rather than the other
way around.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Lets
have a look at a very popular instant messenger called Skype. Of all such
software I've messed around with so far, it has come to be a favourite. The
developers are aware of their blind users and have gone to some trouble to make
their software more accessible. Additionally, there may very well be special
files produced to increase the functionality of Skype with whatever screen
reader you may have chosen. There are such files for Jaws for Windows as well
as Windoweyes. To download this free software, go to:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><a
href="http://www.blindcooltech.com/www.skype.com">www.skype.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>The
site does quite a good job of giving you the instructions you'll need to
download and install Skype on your system. Once you do this, you'll be guided
through the process of setting up a Skype account. Skype allows you either to
type messages or talk to other users of Skype if you have a microphone hooked
up to your computer. With a microphone, you can even make calls to people on
normal telephones. However, doing this will cost you money and you'll need to
buy what is called "skype credit". Doing this is very simple. Keep in
mind, however, that any minutes you purchase will only be available for use for
the next 120 days. If you make no use of that time prior to this, any minutes
you might have will be forfeit. You will be given a warning via email before
this happens. As long as you're talking or text-chatting with other Skype users
via the software, you never have to pay a cent.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>When
Skype opens, the first thing you'll find yourself on is a list of contacts. I'm
assuming here that you have Skype fully open and not residing in your system
tray. One of the first things you should do is to use the "skype test call
centre" to make certain that your microphone volume is set so that you can
be clearly heard when chatting. To call the test service, find the appropriate
contact in the list and press the enter key on it. Follow the instructions
you'll hear and then listen to see how you sound. You're pretty much all set
after this has been done successfully. There are a vast number of options in
the Pull down menus. You should also pay a visit to the "options"
dialogue box which you can access under the "tools" menu. In that
dialogue box, you'll find a number of tabs containing many things which may be
of interest to you. Also take the time to look through each Pull down menu and
get to know this very useful and popular software.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Skype
has facilities to let you search for users or participate in public chats which
anybody may start up and host. Regarding the facility to start up and
participate in these public chats, finding ongoing public chats may not be
easy. I can find no central point where currently running public chats are kept
track of so you'll hopefully be made aware of any which interest you by the
people who decide to host them. Finding people for private chatting is
conversely very simple to do. A facility for searching through the users online
and available for chat can be found right in the Skype software. I've staved
off boredom by chatting with people in many different countries. You can even
chat with more than one person at a time simultaneously so that it's like being
in a room full of people who can all talk at once. A lot of material has
already been created concerning using Skype while blind. Therefore, I see no
need to re-invent the wheel here. If you're interested, one source of further
help and information is at:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><a
href="http://www.blindcooltech.com/www.blind-geek-zone.net">www.blind-geek-zone.net</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>You'll
find that the more popular instant messengers work similarly to Skype in most
respects. They'll use slightly different terms for things and have their
options organized differently. However, once you've mastered one of these
programs, getting a basic grasp on others won't be hard at all. They're an
excellent way of keeping in touch with distant friends and relatives. Also,
what better way of getting some technical help from a trusted computer-savvy
acquaintance than by talking over an instant messenger client while both of you
are at your computers? The only real dislike I have for them is that they
present one more way that you're potentially always reachable by people. If
you're not careful about setting boundaries, people can start expecting that
you'll always be available. This happens to a certain extent already with email
of course. People will freak out when they don't get an answer from you within
the hour as if you should just always drop everything in order to pay attention
to incoming calls or emails. The programs themselves are very easy to use.
You'll quickly find out that the real trick is making certain that you
integrate them in a reasonable manner into your life. I leave that entirely to
your own skill and judgement and wish you the very best of luck.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>+<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>7.4--
Blogs and Forums<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Web
logs or "blogs" as they're commonly called are essentially journals
which the owner decides to post on the Internet for a given audience to read. This
audience might consist of the owner's friends and associates. More commonly,
the audience consists of anybody who's connected to the Internet and interested
in whatever the blog is about. At the owner's discretion, readers may post
comments on whatever the owner has written as well as each other's comments.
The blog's owner has the ability to remove comments he or she deems unsuitable.
Some blogs such as my own are public diaries of the lives of their owners.
Others are started in order to cover a field of interest such as technology.
Seeking information on pretty much any topic using a search engine such as
Google will no doubt direct you to one or more blogs. There are many sites
which allow people to create blogs for free. Two of these where blind people
have constructed blogs are:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><a
href="http://www.blindcooltech.com/www.livejournal.com">www.livejournal.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>and<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><a
href="http://www.blindcooltech.com/www.blogspot.com">www.blogspot.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Unfortunately
for blind people, many blog sites rely on CAPTCHA technology to combat their
vulnerability to spam. This requires users to enter a code printed in such a
way as to be impossible for machines to read but possible for humans. While
this may very well cut down on spam and junk entries posted to blogs, it
effectively blocks blind people from making independent use of sites which
choose to employ this method of defence. Some sites will have an audible
alternative which can be used where the code is spoken in a distorted fashion
which is still understandable. Novices might find it very hard to type in what
they hear quickly enough. I'm about as much a veteran as one can be and I find
it frustrating. However, I give the industry credit for at least making such a
method available and hope that you're lucky enough to stumble onto sites which
go to the trouble of providing it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>To
write a blog is to truly wield and project the power of words. Make no mistake
about it. Words posted on blogs have had very real consequences both for their
owners as well as for those who have been written about in such spaces.
Friendships have been destroyed, marriages ruined and businesses damaged by
false information. Blogs have been used as evidence in court cases. Write with
care lest your words come back to haunt you one day. It's all too easy to post
entries in a blog while angry. I should know. Given the concerns I have about
their abuse, I started my own blog at the toughest time possible. At the
beginning of 2007, my marriage of five years came to an end. It was a decision
mutually arrived at. Nevertheless, it still hit me like a ton of bricks.
Momentous turning points in life like that unleash a whole lot of raw negative
emotion. Before things had come to that point, I had no idea I could sink to
such emotional depths. I was incredibly angry at everything from adverse
circumstances to numerous people up to and including my wife and myself for
being daft enough to think it could have ever worked in the first place. Add to
that the most extreme lack of sleep I've ever experienced and you've got all
the ingredients for regrettable words. It would have been the most natural
imprudent thing in the world to lash out with the weapons I'm most skilled in
using. Tranquility and a healthy perspective are now thankfully firmly in hand.
I can look back with some pride and forward in full confidence that I haven't
written in anger things which would have been unfair to others.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Writing
a blog was probably the best kind of therapy I could have found. It forced me
to truly face my darkest thoughts and take ownership of them. Did I really
believe this or that enough to have it out there for anybody to read? I tend to
gravitate toward positive thinking about life in general and people in mine. As
a result, I've often started entries fairly negatively and written myself out
of frustration into far more uplifted contentment.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>While
security and user login procedures will likely differ between blog writing
sites, the basics of posting to a blog are both standard and simple. You need
to be comfortable with filling out forms online because that is in essence what
you'll do in order to post a blog entry. You don't necessarily need to fill out
everything in order. For instance, you can write the actual entry before you
choose a subject or title which will serve as a heading for and link to the
entry. Blogs often have a combo box with a list of moods you can choose from.
Other possible features might let you control who can read your blog and who is
allowed to post comments to a given entry. I use a site especially set up for
blind people to write blogs on. You can too. It's completely free and friendly
to access technology. Check it out at:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><a
href="http://www.blindcooltech.com/www.blindspots.net">www.blindspots.net</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Here
are a few more noteworthy blogs written by blind people. Visiting them will
give you a feel for how blogs work in general and are an excellent entry point
into the online blind community at large:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><a
href="http://www.blindcooltech.com/www.blindbargains.com">www.blindbargains.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>This
site deals mainly with online shopping. Its owner keeps a lookout for bargains
of special interest to blind people and alerts visitors to them. You'll also
find other articles on the site which deal mainly with technology of particular
use to blind people. A very interesting place to check out every couple of days
or so.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><a
href="http://www.blindcooltech.com/www.therangerstation.blogspot.com">www.therangerstation.blogspot.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>This
blog is written by "some dude in the access technology industry" as
he himself puts it. It mainly concerns his viewpoint on what's happening with
such things as screen-readers, portable reading devices, and anything else he
might happen to find noteworthy. I've always found his take on things to be
very interesting and tend to keep a lookout for new entries he might post.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><a
href="http://www.blindcooltech.com/www.blindaccessjournal.com">www.blindaccessjournal.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>This
blog is written by a blind couple who discuss accessibility issues and how they
deal with day to day life as far as accessibility goes. They are very
passionate about being accessibility evangelists and have called much-needed
attention to concerns with businesses as they have arisen. Keep tabs on this
blog and you'll have a good idea of issues which may confront you as you
venture out online.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><a
href="http://www.blindcooltech.com/www.blindconfidential.blogspot.com">www.blindconfidential.blogspot.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>This
blog began focused on technology issues as related to blindness but has
broadened dramatically in scope. It now deals with all manner of topics which
are blindness related and nothing is too controversial. Fiction, essays and
stories can all be found there as well as many in sites from the blog's owner.
These personal glimpses into his life add an overarching dose of humanity to
the proceedings.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Forums
are run by sites wanting to provide a means for interested people to have
ongoing discussions on given topics. Once people register and are approved by
the forum moderator or owner, they can join in ongoing threads of discussion or
start new threads which others may comment on. It's a lot like belonging to an
email list. The quality of discussion depends upon the participants as well as
how attentive the moderator or owner is to signs of trouble.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Keep in
mind that it is absolutely impossible to have a lively ongoing discussion while
being completely secure from troublemakers. Unless one or more people are put
in charge of approval of every single posting, there's just no way. Parents and
others responsible for children should take this into consideration before
allowing children to sign up for forums. Steps such as banning offending
members and deleting offensive messages can certainly be taken after the fact
but there's no way to absolutely prevent such content which wouldn't also
inhibit or drastically slow down conversation. Look for these forums on the
sites of many accessible game developers and organizations. Another popular
place for them is on social networking sites. Before directly contacting
individuals, forums provide an excellent place where people can post their
opinions and respond to those of others. Looking at various postings people
have made can give a basic sense of their character. As with blogs, good skills
in navigating web sites and filling in forms are what is required to make use
of forums. In the technical aspects, these two forms of interactivity are very
similar to each other. Typically, there are more limitations such as the length
of what can be posted on forums. Conversation flow tends to be fairly rapid and
transient.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>+<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>7.5--
Virtual Conventions and Symposiums<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Ordinarily,
I love hot weather. The heat wave we experienced in early June of 2005 was
beyond even my liking though. There was no chance at all I would get any
writing done. Computer games were similarly far too taxing to contemplate
seriously. Despite having our fans on full blast, the apartment was very
stuffy. I needed something to keep me stimulated without requiring too much
brain power on my part. I also needed a large and extremely cold drink.<span
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Fortunately, both of these needs could be
met. Taking up a very large ice tea, I began looking through recent emails for
any announcements of online events I could go to. As splendid luck would have
it, the Ocusource Expo was taking place during this extreme heat from June 8
through the 11. Everything was made to be very simple from the registration
process to entering draws for giveaways to visiting booths of agencies and
vendors to doing presentations. Especially considering this was a first-time
event, it went incredibly smoothly.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>All
sorts of interesting and innovative people gave presentations. The keynote
address was delivered by one of the pioneers of descriptive movies and
television. An organization in the States which offered blind people training
for careers in hospitality, a man who escaped the World Trade Centre on
September 11 with the help of his guide dog and fellow workers, and many other
people gave lectures and answered peoples' questions directly. Representatives
from many key access technology companies were also participating. There were
drawings for prizes each day which I could easily enter into via the web site.
In the evenings, they had entertainment including Pat Boone, a famous singer.
We not only heard him sing but also had a chance to ask questions and talk with
him. I found it absolutely incredible that this technology could be used to
stage such a powerful event bringing all sorts of people who helped to shape
the lives of blind people across North America together. I was able to talk to
numerous interesting people including both guests and convention staff. A
highlight for me was talking with Steve Baum who was responsible for the
development of Kurzweil1000 which is the reading software I use for making
sense of printed documents.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>I was
also able to volunteer to make a presentation on accessible games. The staff
quickly found a time slot for me and explained what I needed to know to act as
a moderator. Using the Ocusource technology, I was able to take my audience
directly to the various web sites I discussed in my speech. Rough and ready as
my presentation was, it seems to have been generally well received. I can't
imagine a more powerful means for getting information directly to interested
people than what Ocusource had running there.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>I've
attended many other events since which have involved guest speakers, panels of
experts, interviews and classes. Wile they've certainly all been very
interesting and rewarding, nothing since has matched that first Ocusource Expo
in sheer scope and majesty. The presentations from that event are still
available to be listened to. While much of the information is now somewhat
dated, you can learn much that is still useful and get a sense of what can
happen when people decide to use accessible chat technology to its fullest
potential. Go to:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><a
href="http://www.blindcooltech.com/www.letsgoexpo.com">www.letsgoexpo.com</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>and
look at the past events section of the calendar. There, you'll find the Ocusource
expo. The full schedule is what you'll want to go to. From there, just click on
any link to an event and you should be able to hear it. Not nearly as thrilling
as attending live was but nevertheless interesting.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Presently,
there are two other places specially set up for this style of online event
which I am aware of. These events take place in chat rooms and are typically
open to everyone. There are also archives of past events and you may find other
related material such as presentation notes. One of these places is:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><a
href="http://www.blindcooltech.com/www.accessibleworld.org">www.accessibleworld.org</a>
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>It is
most widely known for its Tech Talk Training sessions where speakers discuss
various technological and computer-related topics with anybody who wants to
attend. This is an excellent and completely free resource and novices should
definitely take advantage of it. Recently, I've attended a presentation on a
new GPS navigation device called the Trekker Breeze. A representative from
Humanware, the company responsible for producing this aid, gave a good sense of
the device's capabilities and then answered questions from listeners after
concluding his remarks. On another occasion, I had the distinct pleasure to
spend an evening talking with Jim Kitchen. He is a true pioneer in accessible
games and a most remarkable individual.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>People
should also look at:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><a
href="http://www.opal-online.org/">http://www.opal-online.org</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>where
all kinds of interesting presentations, classes, lectures and so forth take
place. This site is fully accessible but isn't strictly for blind people. OPAL
stands for online programming for all libraries and it lives up to that
acronym. Everything from books to emerging mediums like blogs to technology and
how it effects libraries is talked about. Keep an ear on upcoming events which
may be of interest to blind people. I once attended a nice online workshop
about writing one's memoirs. As I'm presently working on an autobiographical
book, it was most useful. Having the ability both to talk to each other and
type in any important information as text which appears in everyone's chat
window makes these chat clients very suitable for running classes and
presentations.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>++<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>8--
Online Shopping<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>I've
never particularly liked shopping for its own sake. I have friends who'd
cheerfully spend entire days in stores if the occasion presented itself. That
would drive me right around the bend. There has to be a specific purpose or
item I'm after to get me out there shopping. The advent of online shopping has
certainly given marketers more of a fair crack at me these days. Getting there
and back isn't an issue. You also don't have well-intentioned people trying to
influence your buying decisions. You know what I'm talking about. The friends and
family who might not mention that scrumptious candy because they're worried
about your weight or the people who want to help you but are pressed for time.
No such troubles come at us blind consumers who take the online route. We can
explore every virtual aisle from end to end taking as much time as we need. We
are, of course, still reliant on the people working on these shopping sites to
write accurate and truthful descriptions of products and provide key
information such as instructions for using them. To offset that, however, we
have the Internet. People often write reviews of products as well as other
information about them for others to read. Search engines are incredibly useful
for finding all the positive and negative things about a product or shopping
site. There have even been occasions where I've decided on impulse to purchase
items while surfing the Internet.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>When it
comes to gift purchases, I am especially appreciative of the independence
online shopping affords me. I can do my Christmas shopping without anybody else
having a clue what I'm thinking of for them. I don't have to be a burden to
already overworked and stressed people as I do my last-minute preparations. I
can take as long as I like to go over product descriptions and search for other
ideas for people. If an amazing idea for a present strikes me at five AM in the
morning, I can pursue it right away. Just keep in mind that items may take a
while to ship. Don't literally wait until the last minute or you'll not be able
to play Santa terribly well. Also, don't pick the kind of gift whose very
nature undoes all that nice secrecy.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>My
ex-wife loves expensive and special coffees. I found a fantastic place online
with a terrific selection of flavoured coffee. Nearly everything went well. The
site was fully accessible and I was able to pick and purchase precisely what I
wanted without difficulty. The gift arrived in very timely fashion. However,
you just take a crack at hiding the delicious smell of said coffee from your
significant other in a one-bedroom apartment and see how far you get. She of
course knew what she was getting long before I wanted her to despite my best
efforts to the contrary.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Before
you begin to take advantage of online stores, we'll just take a moment to go
over some safety basics. Make certain that you are comfortable with using the
Internet. You've got to be proficient at using things such as forms, combo
boxes, radio buttons, and the like. I would go so far as to recommend that
people interested in online shopping go to the next section where I discuss
accessible computer games and become proficient playing some of the online
games. I can't think of a better way to learn how to use all of the necessary
web site elements without becoming bored to tears. If you have no stomach for
games and decide just to try diving right in, you'll do fine as long as you're
both careful and patient. There's no way you're going to accidentally buy
anything and suddenly find boxes of stuff you didn't want arriving at your
door. Until you provide the information, an online site will have no idea who
you are or how to bill you. Just stick to the more well-known sites until
you're more comfortable and experienced. Many of these have gone to the effort
of making their sites more accessible to blind people. Online stores have
different policies regarding returning items and may use different shipping
methods. Before you make any purchases, make certain you're comfortable with
these. Also, keep in mind that until you go to the checkout, you don't actually
buy anything. Items are merely added to your shopping cart. You can always view
your cart and edit its contents.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Having
a credit card isn't an absolute necessity for online shopping but it certainly
provides an easy and widely accepted method of payment. Other options include
using a debit card which is becoming more widely accepted. PayPal provides a
means of payment either directly from a bank account or through a credit card
which doesn't require online merchants to learn your personal bank or credit
numbers. Regardless of how you choose to pay for what you purchase, make
certain you have a way of checking your bank and credit card balances as well
as reviewing recent transactions without needing anybody's assistance to do so.
It is very unlikely but conceivable that your banking or credit card
information could be stolen by hackers. Keeping track of your personal balance
will at least clue you in more quickly that this may have happened. You might
also want to use a third-party payment service like PayPal. Most online stores
accept it and only PayPal has to know about your credit card information this
way. This adds an extra layer of security. PayPal along with most credit cards
offer consumers protection against the possibility of credit card fraud. As
long as you take proper precautions, you ought to have a good online shopping
experience. While it's important to be aware of the danger, it is equally
important to keep it in its proper perspective. PayPal or any major credit card
offer their users protection from theft. Check on your balance regularly and
have the information you need to quickly alert your chosen service should you
suspect charges for things you didn't purchase. There's probably more of a
chance you'll get robbed or have your bank information swiped while you're
physically out shopping.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Most
sites will let you browse and even add items to your shopping cart prior to
registering with them. This lets you determine your comfort level with the
mechanics of a particular online shopping destination before giving them any of
your information. I've done extensive online shopping for over five years and
never had my details misused in any way. However, there's no point in signing
up for places you're not comfortable using. There should be plenty of
information available to you on a site as well as reviews and comments posted
to the Internet by users of a given online destination. I typically don't go
overboard with the research. However, I don't often stray from well-established
places unless I'm after things such as audiodramas or other products which are
more off the beaten path. There are many items obtainable only online which are
well worth taking the cybernetic equivalent of roads less travelled. A few very
well known places to get started with are:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><a
href="http://www.blindcooltech.com/www.amazon.com">www.amazon.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><a
href="http://www.blindcooltech.com/www.bestbuy.com">www.bestbuy.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><a
href="http://www.blindcooltech.com/www.ebay.ca">www.ebay.ca</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><a
href="http://www.blindcooltech.com/www.futureshop.ca">www.futureshop.ca</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Most
major retail outlets will have sites for people to purchase online from. If you
find that you appreciate a certain brand of store in the real world such as
Futureshop, you'll likely find the online site to be useful for checking on
what new products might be available instead of having to actually go to the
place. Also, take advantage of the "more info" and other links
associated with items. When shopping for groceries, you may find useful information
such as preparation instructions and ingredients. One blog called Blind
Bargains is a place run by blind people keeping track of online bargains and
sites which are particularly relevent to blind customers. Go to:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><a
href="http://www.blindcooltech.com/www.blindbargains.com">www.blindbargains.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>and
check them out.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Nothing
prevents stores from doing things differently. However, here's how you'll find
they generally work. When you go to their site, you don't have to sign in
before you start searching and adding things to your shopping cart. You'll find
a search form where you can type in precisely what you're looking for should
you know the name of it. If not, you can browse by categories or departments.
There will either be links leading to each such category or a combo box which
lets you select. Many stores have both methods available. Once you're in the
category you're interested in, you can look at the products. There may be
several pages of products which you will often be able to have sorted in
various ways. For instance, you can sort items by price, brand or other such
denominator.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Let's
go to:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><a
href="http://www.blindcooltech.com/www.discovery.ca">www.discovery.ca</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>as an
example. On that site for the Discovery Channel for television, you'll find a
few links which lead to their online shop. This sells a wide range of books,
dvds of their shows, toys, and more. Lets suppose I'm interested in their dvd
selection. I can look for the link which will take me to the dvd department.
Once there, I can look at bestsellers, specific shows, or go to the "new
and just aired" section. I'm interested in recent additions so I decide to
click on that link. One of the first things I come to is the sorting combo box.
I can sort everything by best seller or popularity, price from high to low or
vise versa, or by alphabetical order. I believe that what I'm interested in
acquiring will be fairly popular so I decide to leave it sorted by best seller.
There are a total of fifty-three items available. I'm happy to find a
"view all" link which puts all of the items up at once instead of
separating them by pages one has to use a combo box, numbered links or
"next/previous" links to wade through. You may prefer having such
divisions to more quickly navigate to what you're after. I don't end up finding
what I'm interested in there. Chances are good that the Race to Mars and Mars
Rising documentaries haven't been released in dvd sets just yet. I'm writing
this not even two months after the shows have premiered.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Not
quite ready to give up, I decide to check out the dvds by subject. I go there
and find the "earth and space" category. There are 68 dvds in it so I
choose to "view all" as is my preference. Alas, I'm correct that they
haven't yet been released. However, while browsing through, I found the Cosmos:
Carl Sagan DVD Set. I remember hearing a bit about that series. As I recall,
the series was said to be quite captivating. I decide to give it a closer look
despite its $129 price. I click on its link. This takes me to another page
where a heading lets me quickly go directly to where information about the
product starts. If you can, take advantage of things like headings to more
quickly move around web-pages to what you're interested in. I hit the insert-f6
combination which Jaws uses to bring up a list of any headings on the current
page. The first one is what I want so I tab over to "go to heading"
and hit enter on that. There's quite a lot of information including product
description, a preview clip, price, episode titles, the fact that the entire
series is 13 hours, and a number of reviews submitted by obviously very happy
customers in this case. I decide to listen to the preview clip and click on
that link. It comes up nicely. I enjoy a few minutes and believe I may
eventually save up some money and acquire it. However, it's well outside the
price range at which I might have bought it on impulse. Had I wanted to, I
would have looked for the "add to cart" link. Other sites have a
button instead of a link. Some call it a shopping basket, shopping cart, etc.
You'll have to review a site more thoroughly until you get used to how things
are handled on it. There will be slightly different terminology and other such
minor differences.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Once I
had added any items I wanted to the cart, it would be time to go to the
checkout process. At this stage, if you have an account set up at the store
already, you should log in. This will greatly simplify making your purchases as
things like your address, email, and possibly your credit card information will
be already present. Otherwise, many places will let you simply fill in that
information and make your purchase without registering an account with the
store. I'll typically set up an account at most online stores which I suspect I'll
be buying more than one time from. After you've registered with a site, you'll
be able to log in using your user id such as your email address or name plus
your password. A good habit to get into is to save any emails you receive when
creating such accounts so that you have a record of your user identification on
sites you plan on shopping from. I also have a file with passwords and such
information all in one place. Keep any emails you receive after making a
purchase. They can be helpful should any problems come up and you need to prove
you purchased an item. I've never had such an issue in nearly ten years of
online shopping. However, better safe than sorry. This is particularly the case
if you're buying digital goods such as mp3s or software.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>I hope
this gives you a good idea of how online shopping works and what you can expect
when visiting online stores. Keep common sense in mind and you ought to do just
fine. Online retailers had to overcome a lot of initial consumer fears about
buying things online. This has left a legacy where, for the most part, stores
go out of their way to take care of their customers. There are usually numbers
you can call if you have any questions as well as email addresses and feedback
forms. Shipping and return policies are very clearly laid out for people to
read. The newfound sense of consumer independence I've gained has given me at
least an inkling of what these people who can spend entire days browsing stores
must experience. Added to this is that online shopping gives us a means of
obtaining many things which would never make it onto store shelves. Audiodramas
are a terrific example of this. Take a cybernetic stroll to:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><a
href="http://www.blindcooltech.com/www.zbs.org">www.zbs.org</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>You'll
find many audio treats there which you'd never otherwise have come across in a
million years. When you download any digital content such as from this site, be
certain that you right-click on the download links you'll be given. While using
Internet Explorer, this lets you "save target as". This way, you'll
save the file to your hard drive rather than have it open as soon as it has
finished downloading. Don't worry if you don't get it right the first time. ZBS
and other sites will usually give you more than one chance to download something
you bought. You'll be able to download items for a given period of time or a
number of times before your download links become invalid. Using Jaws for
Windows, go to the link which will either say "download", or be an
actual file name like audiodrama.zip. Next, hold in the insert key or the caps
lock key if you're using Jaws on a laptop. While holding the jaws key in, hit
the number nine. That will simulate right-clicking with a mouse. The number
eight is the left-click should you ever need that. This will bring up a context
menu. Go down through it with the down arrow key until you come to the
"save target as" option. Hit the enter key on that and make certain
you're satisfied with the file name as well as where it will be saved. I have a
"downloads" folder on my computer where I save things to. I can then
know where everything new will arrive and move it to other folders after I've
safely obtained it. Buying digital content is pretty much that simple.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Purchasing
other items is conceptually the same. The only change is that you need to
consider shipping costs versus how quickly you need the item. You'll have a
choice of shipping methods most of the time. Best of luck to you in your online
shopping adventures.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>++<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>9--
Computer Games<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Computer
games are a major part of today's culture. In fact, it is often remarked that
people spend more money on games than they do on movies. Even people who don't
play video games know the basic idea of Space Invaders or Pac man. While the
computer games industry for sighted people has been growing for the past three
decades, the accessible games industry couldn't even formally be called one. It
has only had around a decade of serious expansion of content as dedicated
individuals have begun to explore what is possible and what profits there might
be in producing accessible games. We're just beginning to scratch the surface.
The average blind person would most likely not know about even the most
successful accessible games produced specifically for their enjoyment. This is a
shame. In my experience, there's no better way to truly learn about and become
comfortable with computers. We learn best when we're having so much fun that we
aren't even consciously aware that we're doing that at all.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Don't
make the mistake of comparing apples to oranges. You won't find orchestral
music, movie-quality sound and Hollywood actors doing voices for audio games.
The market just can't support that kind of thing. That having been said, don't
assume that you won't be in for high-quality fun. Developers have accomplished
quite a lot with limited resources. The best art in the world can't make up for
poor implementation and game play mechanics. Different doesn't mean dummed down
or inferior. These accessible games are an excellent way for newcomers to
computers to learn and practice important skills and get comfortable with their
machines.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>When I
started playing computer games, text-based games were pretty much all there was
for blind people. Things have certainly expanded since then. Modern sound cards
and mainly the Windows operating system have made it possible for developers to
produce sound-based games. Now, it's possible to play everything from Pinball
and Pac-Man to racing cars, shooting aliens and driving tanks. This section
will introduce you to these two types of games, text and sound-based games. In
addition, you'll learn about games you can play via the Internet with people
around the world. It has been an absolute pleasure for me to have been a part
of helping this still very young industry to emerge. If there's enough of a
call for it, I may eventually write more of a book on accessible games and my
experience with them. In the meantime, those wanting more to read about
accessible games than I've written in this guide should go to the following
three sites on the web:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><a
href="http://www.blindcooltech.com/www.pcsgames.net">www.pcsgames.net</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Go to
this site and to the link called "fantastic games for windows and where to
find them". Phil Vlasak is the proprietor of PCS Games and keeps a
comprehensive and well-maintained list of available accessible games. This
includes free games as well as commercially sold games produced by himself and
his fellow developers. There are also games for other operating systems and
accessible devices.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><a
href="http://www.blindcooltech.com/www.audiogames.net">www.audiogames.net</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>This
site features up-to-date news on accessible games as well as all issues of
Audyssey Magazine. In addition, it features more reviews of various games plus
articles of interest to people considering game development or research in this
area.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><a
href="http://www.blindcooltech.com/www.audyssey.org">www.audyssey.org</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>This
site is run by the people currently responsible for the distribution of
Audyssey Magazine and the management of the Blind Gamers list. This email list
is populated by the most enthusiastic readers of Audyssey. If you have
questions about accessible games, the people you'll encounter on that list
ought to have the answers you're after.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>I'm not
about to sit here and cover every accessible game on the planet. There are well
over a hundred now even if you don't count the hundreds of text-based games out
there. The links I've given you above will pretty much do that for me. However,
here are some sites which offer free accessible games to get you started:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><a
href="http://www.blindcooltech.com/www.kitchensinc.net">www.kitchensinc.net</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Perhaps
one of the most universally popular people in the accessible games scene today,
Jim Kitchen has been producing free games for the blind community since the
days of Dos. You'll find a wide variety of games for the taking on his site
from Monopoly to Pong. For novices in accessible games, this site is one you
truly shouldn't miss. Be certain to follow all instructions when installing his
games.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><a
href="http://www.blindcooltech.com/www.7128.com">www.7128.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>This
company produces many different games and offers a free demonstration set to
get people started. You'll also find other resources such as links to other accessible
games sites. Relatively new, this company has some fresh ideas and tends to
focus on more simple slower-paced games.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><a
href="http://www.blindcooltech.com/www.usagames.us">www.usagames.us</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>This
company is run by a generous developer. He has not only decided to produce a
totally free turn-based strategy game. He has also set aside a section on his
site where free games produced by other developers who can't host their
creations themselves can be downloaded. I particularly direct your attention to
some offerings from the former company Danzgames. All games from that company
are now designated as freeware thanks to Dan Zingaro's good will. Thanks to
Thomas Ward's generocity, you can partake in Mr. Zingaro's legacy. There are a
couple of fantastic word games as well as Superdeakout, a superb example of
what an accessible arcade game can be like. To go directly to these free
offerings, go to:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><a href="http://www.usagames.us/danz-games.php">http://www.usagames.us/danz-games.php</a><br
style='mso-special-character:line-break'>
<![if !supportLineBreakNewLine]><br style='mso-special-character:line-break'>
<![endif]><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>That
ought to get your itch for fun taken care of in the short term. Now, I'll go
over the three categories of text-based games, sound or audio games, and the
new frontier of online games.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>+<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>9.1--
Text-based Games:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>There
wasn't much to explore in the one-room flat in Sarajevo. The only prominent
furniture was an old dresser with a locked drawer. Faded art adorned the walls
and an open window looked down to a street with a nearby cafe. I had been
transported through time after correctly fitting a piece of a jigsaw puzzle
into its proper spot plus making a few more deductions about how to proceed.
Ending up in such an unassuming spot seemed a bit of a let-down after my sharp
thinking. However, it was one of those times where quality wins over quantity.
The attractive stranger who had lured me here from the 1999 New Year's Eve
party I had started the game in was finally here and wanting to meet me. At
last, I'm able to find out what all the fuss is about. The inventor of a time
machine has staged the largest new Year's party in history in order to unlock
the doorway of time. A monumental event was necessary to give the traveller a
starting point from which he/she could hop to other major events in history
like a surfer on waves. This gives Black a chance to attempt to change history.
It becomes clear that the flat my antagonist and I are standing in was chosen
so that World War I could be prevented. Black wants to kill the terrorist who
is supposed to shoot the archduke and his wife. My antagonist brings in a
sniper rifle for me to use. Good God! I was attending a New Year's party and
now suddenly find myself at a turning point in history with a loaded rifle. The
archduke's carriage pulls into view and stops. Suddenly, time is very much of
the essence.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Either
through my action or inaction, somebody is about to die. If I shoot the
archduke, history will be preserved. World War I will happen just as it
actually did. If I shoot the terrorist, history will change drastically. Who
knows what happens when that Pandora's box gets opened up? If I do nothing,
Black will shoot the terrorist. Should I shoot Black in order to preserve
history as I've known it? Could I actually shoot someone who I find attractive
given any provocation? Black is a character whose author, Graham Nelson, took pains
to present as gender-neutral. I, being heterosexual, think of Black as a she.
My next move will decide the fate of millions. However, I can take days to
think over the ramifications if I wish. This is a piece of interactive fiction
otherwise known as a text adventure. In such games, you are the central
character in a story presented to you in text by the computer. You control the
game by typing commands which generate responses from the computer as you try
to advance the plot and solve puzzles.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>The events
I've described to you are the prelude to a journey through key events in
twentieth century history which took me around two years of fairly constant
playing to finally complete. In a quest to keep history from changing, I was
lead on a pursuit through time to the sinking of the Titanic, Britain's
decryption lab during World War II, the lab where Fleming discovered
penicillin, a landing on the moon, and many more puzzle-filled key historical
moments. It was another one of those experiences which brought history alive
for me in a powerful way. Now, there was an ethical as well as an interactive
dimension to it. There was also a text-based sixteen-piece jigsaw puzzle to be
solved where the pieces were hidden in various historical settings. I was able
to solve some sections in less than an hour. Others kept me stumped for months
at a stretch. There were perhaps five occasions where I simply had to look at a
walk through of the game to get the solution of a puzzle whose machinations
absolutely stumped me or give up on the game entirely. The section on the
Titanic was particularly poignant and frustrating. I had no real sense of what
that ship was actually like until I could move around part of it and have my
surroundings described to me. I suddenly had a much clearer sense of how
massive the ship was and a new in site into the horrific disaster. I had no
idea that the band kept playing even as the ship sank. A couple of the puzzles
in that section kept me there for quite some time as I tried to figure out exactly
what Black had changed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>There
are literally hundreds of these text-based games around on the Internet.
Stories ranging from romance to mystery to fantasy to comedy await you. Games
come in different lengths and levels of difficulty. There are games for people
of all ages. Not all of them are up to such superb quality as Jigsaw or the
excellent adventures produced by Infocom back when this form of entertainment
was in its glory. These adventures used to make their best authors a handsome
living. Now, most such games are produced and given freely away for all to
enjoy since there's not enough money in the art anymore. I've always been a
strong advocate for introducing this wonderful mentally stimulating form of
entertainment to blind people. It's a fantastic way to learn good typing skills
while becoming engaged in something which is far more fun and can ultimately be
very meaningful in its own right. The deep satisfaction I experienced upon
completing Jigsaw after a two-year struggle was tremendous. These adventures
were what truly inspired me to start learning more about my computer and how to
type faster on it. I began to type faster not out of a sense of having to
master a skill but because I wanted to know what happened next and was
impatient to know what my actions would result in. I doubtless learned a lot
more about objects and places than I'm fully conscious of while playing these
games. Absolutely everything is described and manipulated by words. Having to
grapple with the textual world rather than just absorb it like an ordinary
story makes for a very interesting and often personally meaningful experience.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>There
are a few central points for interactive fiction on the Internet which you
should be aware of. The first place to look for free text adventures is at:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><a
href="http://www.blindcooltech.com/www.ifarchive.org">www.ifarchive.org</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>This is
the main repository for the many enthusiasts of interactive fiction around the
world. There are likely more than a thousand games awaiting you there. Keep in
mind that there are several different programming languages these games are
written in. Some are for different computers. You'll need to find interpreters
which will both run whichever kind of game you're interested in and will do so
in a manner which is accessible to your technology. To play Jigsaw and hundreds
of other games written in zcode, you can use the Winfrotztts interpreter. To
obtain this, go to:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><a
href="http://www.blindcooltech.com/www.binaryrevelations.com/iftts">www.binaryrevelations.com/iftts</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>This
special version of Winfrotz will speak the text of games out loud using any
Sappi voice you have on your computer. There are many places you can obtain
additional voices. Depending on the access technology choices you've made, you
may already have several voices to choose from. One thing you should know about
Winfrotztts is that it won't do as well at helping you to navigate a game's
built-in help and hints. This is accessed by typing in the words
"help", "hint", or "about" in most interactive
fiction. To successfully use these menus, you have two options. you can simply
count how many moves forward through the menu you need to make to select the
option of interest. That can be hard when there are a lot of options. The other
approach is to use your access technology on top of Winfrotztts. Within the
help and hints menus, you hit the N or P key to go to the next or prior option.
You then hit the Enter key to select a choice. Using your access technology
while within a menu, read through the options with your review cursor. This
way, you aren't moving the actual computer cursor and can find out which option
it points to. Beside a selected option, you'll find a greater<span
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>than symbol.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Finally,
I should also point you to the only known source for commercial interactive
fiction. Malinche Entertainment has produced a number of more lengthy
interactive fiction adventures and sells them at a very reasonable cost. If you
run into trouble, you can always send the author of the games a request for
personalized hints written especially for you. This service is available to all
customers. Check them out at:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><a
href="http://www.blindcooltech.com/www.malinche.net">www.malinche.net</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>These
adventures aren't all the text-based entertainment there is. You can also find
role-playing games like Nethack. It uses text symbols to form maps of the rooms
and levels of a massive dungeon which you can adventure in. This can work very
well with some screen-readers as well as braille displays. I can't think of a
more amusing way to become an expert at using your screen review capabilities.
If you become confused, you can rout your review cursor to your pc cursor and
you'll find the at-sign representing your game character. Playing Nethack is
about as unconventional a use of your access technology as you're likely to
ever discover. There are also doubtless other more unconventional text-based
games out there waiting to be found. Near the end of 2007 as I was working on
this guide, another such treasure was found. It is called Smugglers 3<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>You can
find it at:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><a
href="http://www.nielsbauergames.com/index.html">http://www.nielsbauergames.com/index.html</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>It is a
space exploration and trading game which puts you in command of a ship in a
universe at war. You'll need to be very familiar with your access technology in
order to make use of this game. Learn how to use your in dependant cursor to
review the screen and click on buttons. This game was not designed to be
accessible but is so by accident. The author of the game is now aware of his
blind audience and future versions of the game will hopefully reflect this
awareness.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>+<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>9.2--
Audio Games<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>The
attack was like nothing I had ever experienced before. Alien ships of three
different types descended hoping to land before I could destroy them. One group
descended straight down at a fairly high speed. There were a couple of them and
one was less than two seconds from successfully landing. Another alien much
closer to my position had raised its shield rendering it invulnerable to my
lasers for a few seconds. I lunged across to zap the one on the far right which
was almost on the ground. However, I had previously used too much of my turbo
power and it ran out before I could get under the alien. Another similar vessel
had snuck down the far left side and landed. I had been so focused on the other
two that I had completely failed to notice that one.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>As I
tried to scoot under the shielded ship quickly enough to take it out, I heard
the whirring sounds on the far left and right sides of the playing field as the
two successful landers turned into walkers. Their clunking footsteps began to
move slowly closer. If they got too close, they could drain my energy quickly
by zapping me. I checked my energy state and discovered it was getting on the
low side. Meanwhile, my possible salvation appeared above me in the form of an
enemy flying saucer. If I could shoot it, these ships dropped items which would
give me advantages if I could grab them before they disappeared. Flying saucers
descended relatively slowly but wavered all over the place. It was currently
right near the ship with shields. I headed that way and managed to shoot both
the shielded ship and the saucer.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>The
explosions nearly masked the appearance of two new ships. One was another
shielded ship and the other was armed with a powerful laser cannon. Also
dropping from the sky was the item blown free of the destroyed saucer. It
landed with a thump and its homing beacon activated emitting a constant beeping
alert. I had to get the item before time expired and it disappeared.
Unfortunately, it was very close to the walker approaching from the left.
Getting too close to that could end my game. I figured there was still a chance
that I could reach the item. However, I would have to pass under the
laser-armed vessel to do so. Wishing I hadn't already exhausted my turbo power,
I headed left. Tensing, I heard the rising whine as the enemy's laser cannon
powered up. This was going to be very close. I had to time it so I passed under
it just before it fired so it would shoot the wrong way. The clump clump of the
left-most lander was getting ever closer and the homing beacon beeped urgently.
I succeeded in avoiding the deadly laser blast from above and fired while
moving under the shielded ship destroying it. The item was just about to
disappear when I managed to grab it. It turned out to be the energy boost I
needed. However, in grabbing it, I had come within range of the lander which
proceeded to zap me. I quickly fired on it with my horizontal lasers hitting it
four times to destroy it. However, this gave the other vessel which had fired
the laser at me the opportunity to land and transform into another walker.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Situations
like that one are common in the game Aliens in the Outback now sold by Draconis
Entertainment. Check this game out as well as several other high-quality audio
games at:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><a
href="http://www.blindcooltech.com/www.dracoent.com">www.dracoent.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Plenty
more auditory action awaits you in a multitude of other arcade-style audio games
as well. You can race other cars around a track, drive a tank, be chased by
ghosts through a maze, shoot it out with monsters, and much more. All of these
games use 3d or stereo sound to portray the action taking place as well as your
surroundings. While proceeding through a maze, for instance, indicator noises
will tell you when it is possible to turn and which ways. You'll hear enemies
moving around and the locations of items. Should you be using headphones or own
surround-sound speakers, many games will take advantage of this to give you an
even more absorbing experience. Naturally, it is very important that you set up
your speakers correctly or play these games with headphones. Having left and
right speakers on the wrong sides or having surround sound speakers positioned
crookedly might not matter as much to sighted people. However, when you're
using sound to determine which direction an enemy is approaching from, having
the positions right becomes very critical indeed. In the free racing game Topspeed2
for example, you'll hear your opponents all around you as they start their
engines prior to beginning the race. There are also accessible versions of
board and card games, puzzles, pinball, and even a strategy game similar to
Warcraft in development.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>That
last game lets you command knights, peasants, archers and more units in a fully
audio environment. You must mine resources, build structures, fashion your army
and fight opponents which can be either computer controlled or other actual
players over the Internet. You'll be concentrating on directing your peasants
when a group of enemy archers might suddenly approach and begin to attack them.
You can set a force of your own soldiers moving with a few quick commands but
will they get there in time to save anyone? Many audio games are given away
completely for free. Others are sold commercially. The Internet is your main
gateway to a whole lot of fun. Just go to the sites I provided in the
introduction to this section on computer games and you'll have quite a lot to
choose from.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>One
audio game which truly was a turning point in accessible games was Shades of
Doom. This game was produced by GMA Games and is still available commercially
at:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><a
href="http://www.blindcooltech.com/www.gmagames.com">www.gmagames.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>It was
designed with a lot of input from the blind gaming community. The game was
meant to be similar to Doom which was a very popular game in the sighted world.
Many people mistakenly thought that Dave Greenwood's intention was to make a
precise copy of Doom in accessible format which is absolutely untrue. Shades of
Doom lets you move through levels of a complex where an experiment has gone
horribly wrong. You must fight many mutants and find clues as well as
data-wafers which will allow you to ultimately shut down the experiment.
Everything happens in real time. As you move around, so do monsters who may
have weapons. You'll be trying desperately to swing around and aim at an
approaching enemy and have to dodge its shots at you. The action can get very
intense particularly during higher levels of the game. Wind sounds tell you
where corridors branch off as well as the echo's of your footsteps. Equipment
in rooms will often emit sound to further differentiate locations and give
players a positional awareness. Monsters coming up from behind players will
have jungle drum sounds overlaying their regular noises to make it clear that
they're behind the player. You can begin to appreciate how much thought went
into the use of sound as a means of conveying positional information. Novices
should be familiar with their keyboards before trying this game and be prepared
to make quick use of a lot of buttons. It may be easier to play Shades of Doom
with headphones initially.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Pinball
was another smash hit when it was made accessible initially by James North. He
was responsible for many of the most pioneering accessible games. Sadly, James
North's company, ESP Softworks, went out of business some time ago.
Fortunately, his games are now the property of Draconis Entertainment which
continues to sell and occasionally update them. There are two pinball
collections. ESP Pinball Classic contains the original six accessible pinball
tables. These have themes ranging from Soccer to a haunted house. The somewhat
more advanced ESP Pinball Extreme contains six brand new tables. You can wrack
up points serving drinks in a bar filled with wacky patrons, shoot down enemy
planes in the Top Gun table and enjoy four additional tables. This collection
also features the ability to be expanded. The first such expansion consists of
three tables which are added to the six already in ESP Pinball Extreme. By far,
the favourite among these three tables in the Pinball Party Pack is Old Man
Stanley's House. In this table, you score points for trashing the home of a
naturally annoyed elderly gentleman. You must do as much as possible to cause
chaos while not letting the destructive consequences go too far. Use your ball
to smash his plasma tv, mess around in his bathroom, set his oven on fire and
even rummage in his drawers if you can get the ball to go to the correct areas.
A surprisingly satisfying and harmless way to appease that gleeful
destructiveness within us all.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>That's
just a small sampling of what's on offer. Some styles of game are far more
abundant than others. There are many Space Invaders style games as well as a
number of versions of Sudoku. A few racing games have emerged over the years.
Sports games haven't been explored very much yet. The most well-known one of
those is a version of Bowling. A number of maze games have also been produced.
You can't hurt your computer in any way by trying these games. Developers have
gone to great lengths to make the process of installing their games very
simple. This is also true when it comes to purchasing a game you would like to
own the full copy of.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>+<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>9.3--
Online Games<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>The
latest craze to sweep the blind gaming world was Texas Holdem. I had certainly
been drawn in by the powerful experience of being able to communicate and play
this interesting Poker variant with people from anywhere at all. I had been
asked a number of years ago whether a company offering a game you had to pay a
subscription fee to would survive in the blind community. There hadn't seemed
much chance of that given the tight economic conditions blind people had
experienced for as long as I could remember. People certainly were willing to
pay to own games. That had long since been proven despite ongoing piracy faced
by accessible game developers. I didn't think too many blind people would be
willing to continue forking over even a little cash month after month just to
keep playing a game. A company putting out games based on that income method
wouldn't last six months, I had thought. Thanks to being gloriously wrong in my
assessment, this weekend wasn't the long boring stretch of time it would
otherwise have been.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Despite
hearing all of my companions via the same synthetic voice, conversation had
been interesting and friendly. I had become acquainted with a minister in
Texas, the cousin of a blinded veteran waiting to play with him, a teenager
from New York about to head off to university, and a couple of housewives who
had met through the All inPlay games years before and had become fast friends.
All of them had been eager to participate in the event launching this exciting
new game. You never knew what cards would turn up nor what sort of people would
drop in to participate. I had spent a very pleasant and stimulating Friday
evening attending this free tournament held by<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><a
href="http://www.blindcooltech.com/www.allinplay.com">www.allinplay.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>to
launch their latest creation. It was open to everyone. This included sighted
people since that was part of the company's success. They had built inclusive
games in order to attract sighted people who might want to play with their
blind acquaintances. The interest this game had generated staggered me. The
virtual tables were near full most of the time. It was Saturday afternoon and I
had begun to hanker for more card action and less talk. Accordingly, I had
joined a high-stakes fast table for the first time.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Two
kings were what I had to work with. Nobody made any aggressive moves during the
first round but neither did anybody fold. The flop came down and included two
kings. This was terrific as it gave me a hand of four of a kind. It didn't get
much better than that. The next round was more lively as everyone made fairly
substantial raises. However, my faith in the four of a kind hand I held
remained unshaken. The pot was now quite sizeable. With eight players raising
substantially above what was required to remain in the game, whoever came out
on top would already find him or herself well ahead in an attempt to win the
tournament. The next card was revealed as an ace. That didn't do anything for
me but clearly did for others. People began to raise the absolute maximum
allowed. Eight of us were at the table so things took on gigantic proportions
very quickly. Before I knew what was happening, I was in way over my head. The
rush was incredible as everyone found themselves in an essential life or death
struggle for chips.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>I was
balanced precariously on a knife-edge of luck and there was no ducking out now.
I was in all the way. It was absolutely exhilarating. Considering that no
actual money was involved and all the chips were merely a digital
representation of nothing more valuable than a sense of pride in one's skill as
a gambler, I wouldn't have thought I could care as much whether I won or lost.
I remember reflecting on how true that saying was about not knowing what one
had until it was gone. Now that it was completely out of my control, it
suddenly mattered greatly that I be able to continue playing in the tournament.
How could I lose with four of a kind and four kings to boot? At last, the final
card was revealed to be a queen. Everyone went through another round of
raising. I couldn't raise any more since all I had was already put into the
pot. However, I would still win a tremendous amount if I were victorious. How
could I lose with four kings? The answer was as simple as it was devastating.
That ace had let somebody get a royal flush which clobbered my four kings. In
the blink of an ear, I was out of the tournament. No real money is used by
players of All inPlay. Once you've paid your subscription, it's all a matter of
pride. That was ultimately all I had just lost.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>While I
edited my magazine, one of the most frequent questions I had been asked was
whether there were any accessible racing games. For quite a while, I had to
answer that none were available. Over time, a couple of more arcade-style
racing games did emerge. Mach 3, produced and given freely away by Jim Kitchen,
achieved a very high level of popularity. The enemy cars were just obstacles on
the tracks and didn't try to out-race players. However, there were actual
tournament races held via email with everyone sending in their results to a
person tasked with being the judge. It was a fairly clunky way of handling
things and people began to wonder whether anybody would come out with a game
which would let people race each other online. I figured if anybody was going
to do that, it would be one of the commercially motivated people running an
actual business wanting to make a profit. The demand for it was so obviously
present. However, the first such game produced was done by a group of
enthusiasts in Europe who gave the game away for free to the delight of all.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>I have
no idea whether we had any sighted people join our list in the heyday of this
game's popularity. Hopefully, seeing all the messages from excited blind online
racers about negotiating hairpin turns at full speed, the difficulty
controlling motor cycles, various cars and how they handled in adverse
conditions, and trying to force opponents to smash into the side of the track
didn't alarm anybody too greatly. It certainly made for a surreal experience
for me. Actually setting up games involving more than a couple of human players
was an exercise in coordination and you had to know a little about computer
security if you were running the game behind a firewall or router. Despite
those inhibitions, many people would post information about the servers they
were running in hopes of having people drop in and participate. These days,
it's harder to find servers for a game. However, you'll still occasionally come
across discussion of Topspeed 2 from time to time. Another version is
apparently being worked on at the time of this guide's publication in 2008.
Assuming they can make it easier to find and hook up with potential fellow
racers, this game has very high prospects to be another smash hit. You can
check out the current Topspeed 2 game at:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><a
href="http://www.playinginthedark.net/">http://www.playinginthedark.net</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>There
are a number of online games accessible to blind people. Many like those
offered by All inPlay have been designed specifically to be accessible. Things
are getting off to a slow start in terms of online multi-player experiences as
developers are just beginning to seriously explore what can be done in this
area. However, this is not the case in the sighted world. Some of the
multi-player text-based games have been accessible to the blind for a couple of
decades. Many of these are known as multi-user dungeons or simply
"muds". If you're looking for advice on how to approach these, I'm
afraid I have none to offer you. Being an English major as well as someone
fascinated by random chance, I know better than to expose myself to such a
potentially powerful addiction. Were I ever to stumble into a mud I actually
liked, people might not see much of me. For those of stronger courage, I refer
you to the earlier issues of Audyssey Magazine where you'll find some articles
and reviews written by experienced blind players of these games. To get you
started though, check out a new accessible program for playing these muds. It's
called Vipmud and can be obtained from:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><a
href="http://www.blindcooltech.com/www.gmagames.com">www.gmagames.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>You can
also go to:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><a
href="http://www.blindcooltech.com/www.mudconnect.com">www.mudconnect.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Still
other games online are what are known as "browser-based" games. You
simply need an accessible web browser to play these games. They are a fabulous
way to gain proficiency using interactive elements of web sites such as buttons,
combo boxes, edit fields and the like. One such game is:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><a
href="http://www.blindcooltech.com/www.sryth.com">www.sryth.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>It is
actually a single-player fantasy game. Its creator has gone to great lengths to
make his textual world accessible to blind players. I can't think of a better
and more engaging game for novices to learn Internet skills by playing. Much of
the game is available for free. Certainly, there is enough there to let novices
become veterans of Internet elements. For a very reasonable fee, far more
adventures and other perks are made available to players who find that they
like the game and wish to contribute.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>If
you're looking for a more extensive list of accessible online games, check out
the one hosted at Tom Lorimer's site. Go to:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><a
href="http://www.blindcooltech.com/www.whitestick.co.uk">www.whitestick.co.uk</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>and you
can find quite an extensive list of online games known to be accessible to the
blind. Chances are that there will be something out there of interest to you.<span
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>++<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>10--
Looking For Accessible Software<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>There
is a tremendous lot of software out on the Internet. Much of it is absolutely
free for people to download and use. If you find something which is designated
as freeware, that means that you are free to download, share and use it to your
heart's content. There are absolutely no costs nore strings attached. This
guide is released in that same spirit. The only thing that I or most freeware
creators would object to is if somebody modified what they had done or simply
released it and took credit themselves for creating the freeware.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Other
software is called "shareware". Users may freely download and try out
the software but must purchase a full version to continue using it after the
demonstration expires or to unlock the software's full potential. In many
instances, this free or low-cost software will be completely adequate or even
better suited to an individual's needs than the higher-priced commercial
offerings. There's a persistent myth that it's pointless to try any of this
software out since it likely won't be accessible. There's certainly a grain of
truth to that. Sight is the world's predominant sense and much of this software
is designed with graphical attractiveness which makes it impossible for people
using access technology to take advantage of. Anybody who decides to look
outside the box for accessible freeware or shareware is in for many
disappointments. You'll install many programs, work with them for a while
trying to see if there's any way at all of making it work for you and then come
to the inescapable conclusion that it was a hopeless cause from the start.
However, more often than not, efforts along these lines can eventually prove
quite spectacularly rewarding. Here are three good examples of what I mean:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>I
wanted a personal calendar for my computer. The access technology people all
seem to be focused on making Microsoft Outlook's calendar accessible. That's
all well and good for a lot of people but I didn't want to have to use
Microsoft Outlook. I am perfectly content with Outlook Express for my personal
email needs and wanted a completely separate calendar program. Google is my
search tool of choice and I began entering keywords into it in hopes of
striking gold. I started with "blind, calendar, windows, software,
free". A bit on the lengthy side of searches and too specific to produce
anything worth-while as it turned out. There just didn't seem to be anything
written specifically to be accessible for blind people.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Taking
a different tack, I decided to look for free personal calendar software for
Windows. One of the more promising early finds was a free program called
Sunbird. It was somewhat problematic even for a veteran like myself to make use
of and I certainly couldn't have recommended it to novice users. It was
workable but not without a lot of frustration. Pressing onward in my search, I
came to Eurosoft's free program Calendar Magic. Having tried and discarded
somewhere around ten other free calendar programs, I ran it expecting more of
the same bad luck to continue. However, I found that one feature after another
proved to be fully accessible without any effort at all. The software contained
far more than a mere calendar. It had many different calculators, measurement
conversions, and many other utilities. Most information and results were
displayed in edit fields allowing for easy reading via the arrow keys. Things
were accessed using standard Windows-style menus, checkboxes, radio buttons
etc. You can learn more about this extraordinary find at:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><a
href="http://www.stokepoges.plus.com/index.htm">http://www.stokepoges.plus.com/index.htm</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Here's
another example. I was a happy user of Microsoft Word for quite some time.
However, I couldn't afford to keep it updated. When I installed my version of
Microsoft OfficeXP onto my latest desktop computer, I found that Microsoft Word
wouldn't work for me anymore. It wouldn't stay open even long enough for me to
accept the license. There is also the issue of how long Microsoft Word can take
to open when you need it. I figured there had to be a free word processor out
there with a spell checker and a status line which would work well with screen
readers. A few free text editors have been designed for blind people. Edsharp
and Text pal are two examples. However, neither of these has a status line
which will inform you of what page, line and column you're on. They had all
sorts of other features but didn't have the basic feature I needed. Continuing
my search on Google, I tried a number of free word processors for sighted
people. A few were completely inaccessible. A more promising early find was
Ruff Draft. This one would certainly do in a pinch. However, I was completely
astounded by a program called Jarte.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Jarte
is a free word processor which makes use of the engine which Microsoft used to
build Word pad. However, it had added many features to this completely
accessible free offering such as the status line I wanted. The author even has
a screen reader detection feature which removed the more visual elements. It
doesn't get any better than this. Jarte opens up very quickly when I need it.
No more than half a second after I hit the shortcut key I've created for it,
Jarte is open and ready for work. Far less loaded with features than Microsoft
Word, I believe Jarte has those features which average users will need for
their personal writing. I'd far sooner have new users start with it rather than
Word. Jarte would have done fine had I used it during my university career. It
is robust without being over-bloated with features most people are rarely if
ever going to need. You can find this excellent free word processor at:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><a
href="http://www.blindcooltech.com/www.jarte.com">www.jarte.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Choosing
the right keywords while using search engines like Google to look for freeware
or low-cost shareware can make all the difference. Think carefully about what
you hope to find. Separate keywords with commas and a space. For example, you
might search for"<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>blind,
music player, software, free<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>if you
were interested in alternative free software to use to play digital music such
as mp3 files. In an ideal world, you would find software which is known to be
accessible to blind people using access technology. As we make our presence
known to authors of software online, we should see that kind of thing happen
more often. However, in many cases, you'll have to just look for what you're
after without specifying accessibility. For example, you might try:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>free,
word processor, simple<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>This
would possibly result in you finding programs like Jarte.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Sometimes,
you'll discover programs which are very close to being accessible or which you
feel could be made accessible. If this happens, try contacting the author of
the software with your thoughts. My experience with this has been quite good. I
have actually had a lot of success in getting them to make changes to improve
accessibility. Once these authors are aware of interest in their work from
blind people, they are usually eager to make their software more accessible.
The search queries I've offered as examples here are of the most basic kind.
Search engines like Google are very powerful and have many advanced options and
ways of telling them what you are and are not looking for. You'll find plenty
of help and information about how to make the best use of search engines right
on their sites.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>While
it's a shame that so much software is rendered inaccessible to us due to
aesthetics, it is even more of a shame that perfectly useable software goes
unknown about by blind people for never having been tried. I hope that the
examples of my own success in this area given above will inspire more blind
people to invest some time in searching for freeware or shareware relevant to
their personal interests. There are doubtless many more discoveries to be made
and shared. If you strike gold in your explorations, be certain that you spread
the word. Money is very tight for many blind people and knowing about free or
low-cost alternatives can make a tremendous difference. There is no central clearing
house for this kind of thing. However, in the section called "Getting
Online", I provided a number of links to some of the more popular sites
set up for blind people. Another place to give and receive information about
new software finds is at:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><a
href="http://www.blindcooltech.com/www.blindcooltech.com">www.blindcooltech.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>This
pod cast is quite well known and is there for people to share all kinds of
their experiences via audio recordings. If you're not up to doing those, you
may want to look at:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><a
href="http://www.blindcooltech.com/www.topdotenterprises.com">www.topdotenterprises.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>There,
you'll find a resource called "top tech tidbits". This is a
newsletter posted online and emailed to interested people. They welcome
information about accessible software to be passed along in upcoming issues
published weekly.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><span
style='mso-tab-count:1'> </span>++<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><span
style='mso-tab-count:1'> </span>11-- Free Speech Access<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>There
are many instances where it could be very helpful to have access to free screen
readers. Some people simply can't afford the numerous commercially available
alternatives. Perhaps, you'll need to access the Internet or use somebody
else's computer and can't make use of your regular speech access. You may want
to get your feet wet in this whole digital ocean without spending the big bucks
first and not like the idea of using one of the demonstration copies of
commercial software. These tend to run for a fixed amount of time and then stop
working until you reset your computer for another period of time to be made
available. This is a fairly common practise as it allows people to get a sense
of what the full product can do for them without essentially giving them that
full product. Totally free screen readers don't put you in such an
uncomfortable position. You can take as long as you like and don't have to
worry that your computer will suddenly stop talking due to an arbitrary timer.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>For
those of us fortunate enough to have commercial speech software at our command,
consider this. Even the best software will occasionally lock up or stop
speaking for no apparent reason. When that happens, it's very nice indeed to be
able to call up one of the free screen readers for a bit of emergency duty.
There are also occasions when you may need to access a different computer.
Often, commercial packages will naturally be protected by security which deters
people from installing it on more than a couple of computers. There are no such
restrictions when you're using the free screen-reading alternatives. The only
major drawbacks are software quality and not having access to as rapid
technical support if you need it. All of the producers of the free screen
readers are eager for feedback. However, they may have very different
priorities and your particular issue may not be deemed very urgent in the grand
scheme of things. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>For
Windows users, three current initiatives to produce free speech access to
computers have attracted a fairly high level of attention. These are named
Thunder, NVDA, and System Access To Go. Each of them approaches things a little
differently. All of them are produced by conscientious people who want to try
to erase the digital divide faced by less fortunate members of the blind
community. For all three projects, there is enough work already done to make
them useful but a lot of development still ongoing. If you make use of one or
more of them, keep watch on their respective web sites for any updates which
might come along at any time.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Let's
start with Thunder. It was the first of these projects to attract my attention.
The group producing Thunder have the overall goal of bringing basic access to
word processing, the Internet and the Windows operating system. They don't
claim that it will work well with all programs. How versatile Thunder
eventually becomes depends on the funding they receive and what the community
of users does with it. Thunder is open-source software. It comes bundled with
companion software which lets you use the Internet, listen to Pod casts, tune
into radio stations broadcasting over the Internet, and other things. A lot of
help files have been made available for it and Thunder's manual is a very easy
read. One excellent feature Thunder has is a system that constantly watches for
errors which would stop speech output. When one happens, Thunder will likely
correct the problem given a moment's patience and be back talking again without
the user having to do anything. Overall, I believe Thunder would make a good
place to start in order to begin to gain familiarity with computers. Over time,
I would expect the limitations of Thunder to begin to confine people who want
to go much beyond the basics. You can obtain Thunder free of charge at:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><a
href="http://www.blindcooltech.com/www.screen">www.screen</a> reader.net<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>NVDA,
which stands for "Non-visual Desktop Access", is an attempt to produce
a full free open-source screen reader. This attempt is off to an absolutely
splendid start. In general, NVDA does at least an adequate job of accessing
most things. There are certainly still issues, bugs and problems to work out.
NVDA will also work with Internet Explorer and Firefox. Unlike Thunder, you
won't have to use a more specialized web browser. While Thunder is kept
intentionally extremely simplified, NVDA offers a great deal more flex ability
for people whose personal interests might require it. Novices should find NVDA
another very good starting option which will provide somewhat more room to
expand than Thunder. The learning curve is just a little steeper. You can
obtain NVDA by going to:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><a
href="http://www.blindcooltech.com/www.nvda-project.org">www.nvda-project.org</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>The
third option has appeared on the scene most recently but has paradoxically been
in development the longest. It's actually a variant of a commercial screen
reader called System Access developed by a corporation called Serotek. This
corporation's overall slant leans far more towards personal use and enjoyment
of accessible computers than other major access technology companies. They have
a lot to offer even users of other screen readers. Check them out at:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><a
href="http://www.blindcooltech.com/www.serotek.com">www.serotek.com</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Recently,
Serotek created a non-profit foundation called AIR, Accessibility Is a Right.
This foundation makes Serotek's System Access To Go screen reader available
free of charge to anyone with a stable Internet connection. It is by far the
best free screen reader currently available in terms of robust features and
ease of use. Extensive help is available. Any settings people prefer can be
saved on a server which is constantly connected to the Internet. You can go to
any computer with Internet access, be talked through starting up the screen
reader and then use your account and pin numbers to have your preferences go
into effect on that computer. System access to go will work with both the Internet
and with applications running on the local computer you're on.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Whatever
you do though, don't close the window of the browser you used to start the
speech. Believe me. It's quite easy to do by accident while trying to close
other applications or windows you want to get rid of. Leave that browser window
used to launch the screen reader open no matter what. You see, there's a heck
of a catch to this free ride. If that browser is closed or if the connection to
the Internet is lost even for an instant, so is your speech access. You will be
told that System Access is shutting down and those will be the last words you
hear. To restore speech access, you'll have to go to the web site and
reactivate System Access To Go before continuing whatever you were doing before
suddenly losing speech. That can be most annoying while you're in the middle of
doing stuff. This is my only concern with recommending System Access to Go for
novices. They may not be able to open and use a web browser unassisted for the
first while. One approach to this is to obtain another free screen reader and
have it ready to be easily activated. Either memorize how to get to the icon
which launches that screen reader or make a shortcut to it with a hotkey which
you can enter. For instance, I've got NVDA installed on my system so that
hitting the control alt n key combination activates it when I need speech and
Jaws has conked out on me. To use System Access to Go, go to:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><a
href="http://www.blindcooltech.com/www.satogo.com">www.satogo.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>You
will be given all the instructions you need when you go there as long as you're
running a computer with sound capability and the volume is at a reasonable
level. After you close down speech or it is shut down due to a poor Internet
connection, no trace of the software will be left on the computer. You'll have
to go to the site again to get it all up and running the next time you need it.
Another possible benefit for some people will be the free screen magnification
capabilities built into the software.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>For
souls far braver than I, there are the Linux and Apple Mac options. I've had
absolutely no experience with these. However, I will direct you to where you
can learn more about these choices. To learn about Voiceover, the screen reader
built right into Apple's Tiger and Leopard operating systems, go to:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><a
href="http://www.blindcooltech.com/www.apple.com/accessibility/voiceover">www.apple.com/accessibility/voiceover</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Linux
has also gained some popularity among blind users. There are a growing number
of accessible programs which can be used. One tremendous advantage is in
affordability. Linux itself is absolutely free as are the screen readers which
are available for it. Due to the number of different speech access alternatives
for Linux, I will simply recommend that you make use of a search engine on the
Internet. Type in something like "Linux, blind users", or
"Linux, screen reader", and you'll find useful information in very
short order. One alternative growing in popularity is called Orca. You can
check it out at:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>live.gnome.org/Orca<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>++<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>12--
Personal Reflections:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Congratulations,
reader. Assuming you've read through the guide to this point, you've learned
all it can teach you about computers and the online world. Take some time to
think about all you've learned and what you might want to achieve with that
knowledge. All that remains is to reflect on the road we've travelled together.
I eagerly await hearing about or interacting with the results of your own
online journeys to come. Meanwhile, for the curious, here are my own
reflections at the end of this journey:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Two
years ago, I sat eating at a table in the dining hall of the Lake Joseph Centre
where I was on vacation. I had struck gold that evening both with the food
served as well as the company with whom I enjoyed it. I casually mentioned that
I often listened to the radio dramas presented by the BBC which they made
available for anyone to hear online. An older lady originally from Britain was
astonished to learn how simple it would be for her to do that. She had missed
hearing a show called The Archers. The BBC makes an astonishing amount of
excellent documentaries, comedies, news and more available freely to everyone.
My ex wife and I had discovered this at some point by sheer accident while bored
one day. I gave a few more examples of the audio entertainment and
mind-expanding stuff I had found over the years. That morning, I had tuned into
NASA TV online to catch live coverage of the space shuttle landing. I had also
just downloaded a new and apparently free screen reader called Thunder which I
had yet to experiment with very much. Accessible games, online shopping, and
other topics I've touched on in this guide also came up that night as we ate.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Things
were drawing to a close when somebody suggested that I would do the blind
community a great service if I would help make other blind people aware of
these opportunities by writing down my personal online journey. The rest of the
table agreed. Before the week was done, over twenty other people had put in
their specific requests for this project. That's how this journey started. It's
been a very rewarding process for me. In an effort to share what wisdom I had
found, I learned quite a few new things. Additionally, I've found some very
interesting new friends and had many stimulating conversations along the way.
Having this guide's completion as a goal to strive for kept me anchored when
the rest of my life went through drastic rather painful change.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Halfway
through writing the guide, I returned to Lake Joseph with what I had done so
far and let some visitors there hear parts of it. They liked what they heard
but wanted more basic information to be included. I had wrongly assumed that
people would have been taught the basics of Windows or would know how to find
out what they didn't know. For many of the people I met that year, the rest of
my work would be utterly useless to them since what training they had received
was too overwhelming for them to absorb. They had no idea what the start menu
was or the desktop. I was somewhat horrified at that and set out to include
enough of this basic information to get people going. You have to be able to
find your way around the box in order to start thinking outside of it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>How to
give people the information needed while still honouring my original goal of
bringing a level of personal interest and liveliness to the experience has
proved quite a challenge for me. A document simply can't replace having living
friends who can share the learning experience with you. However, I hope that
I've at least given you the motivation and means to help find those friends.
Immediate personal motivation is what I feel the blind community has truly
lacked when it comes to using accessible computers. The current generation of
sighted adults grew up with computers being their buddies. They learned a whole
lot about the technology they work with today by simply having fun with it. For
them, it wasn't about learning how to work with computers. That was simply
incidental. Just like I learned how to type around 90 words per minute by
playing text adventures, they grew comfortable with technology in a similarly
more playful way. When we're having fun and personally interested in something,
our passion will carry us farther than the best instructions or teaching will.
It's that simple. If my guide has made you think: "Wow! I could have a lot
of fun with this stuff!", then I've succeeded in my quest.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>There
is so much room out there for us to participate and contribute. All of the
jargon and techno speak can be a bit hard to absorb at first. However, once
you're moving in the traffic on the information superhighway, I suspect you
might well be amazed how ultimately human that online world is. We're not all a
bunch of ultrageeks and technical wizards. Quite the opposite in fact. You'll
find everyone from students to retirees, gamers to gardeners, concerned parents
to techno-savvy businessmen on the Internet. They're all in pursuit of goals as
old as time itself. Information, romance, stimulating conversation, amusement,
understanding, money, fame... All of these are available with the right
knowledge, time, resources and effort. The Internet gives us all a place where
we can speak and be heard. That, I believe, is its greatest gift to blind people
the world over. If I've managed to convince even a small number of you to step
up and make your presence known online, then I've accomplished what I've set
out to do.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>It
isn't all pretty. The Internet certainly has its dark side. Criminals have
quickly moved into this territory as well. That's why I took such pains to
illustrate what can happen if people don't take precautions while online.
There's another side to this too. Unlike the physical world, there are no hard
and fast barriers preventing blind people from engaging in criminal activity.
They aren't placed at such an extreme disadvantage as they would be in a world
where everyone else can see what they are doing. Sometimes, I can't help
thinking that it won't be too long at all before I hear some news story about a
frustrated blind person who decides to commit a major Internet crime. The
overall societal conditions are certainly present for that to happen. There are
an awful lot of us with plenty of time and talent on our hands who find it
impossible to obtain honest work despite sincere sustained effort. While I was
growing up, everyone was very optimistic that this new accessible information
age we were advancing into would be a great equalizer for blind people. Sadly,
I think we've ultimately been somewhat disillusioned of that. Technology in and
of itself is just a tool. Overall attitudes about blind people need to change
drastically in western society before we'll see a meaningful reduction in
unemployment. Also, as that happens, the attitudes of us blind people must also
change becoming more open to new possibilities offered. It's a very large
chicken and egg problem which I believe will take a long time to solve. Adding
to it is the total lack of job security out there for anybody whether they're
blind or sighted.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>What
Internet access does for us is to open up a sphere where we can more easily
present ourselves and participate. It also lets blind people across the planet
talk directly to each other as well as sighted people breaking down the isolation
many of us experience. The younger generation of blind people will, I think,
not experience the same profound lack of awareness of the exciting
possibilities technology offers us which my generation and the one preceding it
has. They'll know about the forums for discussion, sources of information,
accessible games, free software, etc. Their friends and family will be more apt
to bring them early into the digital age. If I were to go forward in time
twenty years, I don't believe I would experience the same lack of knowledge
which prompted me to write this guide. It's a temporary problem whose solution
I hope I've managed to help speed up much as others have helped me. In time,
we'll reach a point where our online presence will start to make a much larger
difference to our offline prospects. People will come face to face with who we
are and what we're capable of on their and our own terms. They'll know us for
the individual people we are rather than thinking of us collectively as
"blind people". It'll take time and effort but ultimately, we'll get
there.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><span
style='mso-tab-count:1'> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>When
I'm given a gift, I naturally have an urge to enjoy it as much as I can. At the
same time, I have a strong compulsion to share that gift with others.
Encountering so many people who couldn't do what I've been able to over the
years made me profoundly aware of just how fortunate a man I am in so many
ways. My life is full of many wonderful friends and a very supportive family. I
felt absolutely compelled to do something that would give people a fighting
chance to find some of the life satisfaction I had achieved and largely taken
for granted. At last, I believe I've done this to the best of my ability. I've
found the redemption I hoped to find through this project and can now explore
other things without a sense that I've neglected my duty.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Basically,
I see this guide as a finished thing. I have no inclination or plans to produce
an improved version some time in the future. I've done what my conscience and
sense of fairness has compelled me to do in this area. There are other creative
frontiers which beckon me onward. Should anybody want me to personally attend
or speak to groups of people about topics I've covered in this guide, I would
be happy to do so either online or off as long as transportation and scheduling
arrangements can be made. I've had some opportunities in the past to do this
sort of thing and have been well received so far. While I've worked on this
guide, I've put other projects on the slow burner. I plan to spend the Summer
months of 2008 recharging my creative engine and doing what I can to spread the
guide as widely as possible. I'll also keep myself available for any
opportunities which having published this guide might present me with. In my
experience, attempting to do good tends to present one with interesting and
rewarding opportunities to do still more. God seems to work like that. Assuming
nothing sweeps me into it by the Autumn, I'll move on to a very different,
ambitious and creative project whose planning is already well underway.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>All of
us have knowledge, creativity, enthusiasm and talent we can share. In a very
real sense, that has become my vocation in life. Following that calling has
taken me to some interesting experiences and places. Over and above the
possibilities and the knowledge I've shared here, I hope to have given you a
sense of why it matters that we step forward and be a positive part of the
information age even if that doesn't lead to material reward. If more of us do
this, I believe it will greatly speed up that change of attitudes we need to
see in overall society. The online world is so much a part of conversation
these days. People turn to Google or some other online resource to find out
about all sorts of things. Searching for games accessible to blind people will
certainly bring you to the magazine I started as well as other things I've
written in the past. Because I thought to put a profile about me online and
enter the social networking scene, I'm not in the social limbo I felt plunged
into when my marriage ended. A very special woman read that profile and liked
it enough to add it to her favourites list. I was alerted to that and the rest
has been very happy history. What knowledge might you have to offer the online
world? You never know what your efforts could eventually lead to once you've
engaged with it. I'm not saying you'll always strike gold or that everything
will be roses and light. It certainly hasn't been for me. Ultimately, what I'm
trying to say is that the online world is a place very much worth taking the
time to engage with. Best of luck to all my readers. Perhaps, I'll hear from
some of you eventually. I'd like that very much. Thank you for your time and
attention.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Michael
Feir<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Mississauga,
Ontario, Canada<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Spring,
2008<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;
text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>michael.feir@gmail.com<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt;
margin-left:0in;mso-pagination:none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:
none'><a href="http://www.blindspots.net/blog.php?user=13">http://www.blindspots.net/blog.php?user=13</a><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><span style='mso-tab-count:
2'> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></p>
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