Hi Subramani It doesn't do much good using the old screen reader. They need hardware synthesizers. However knowledge of DOS is a big asset. I still use a good deal of DOS command under Windows. I routinely search for files using DOS than the File Find in Windows. It is much faster and you can get to your file much quickly this way.
Screen like NVDA is free and pretty good, then why move backward. I'll touch on other aspects in one of the postings Harish ----- Original Message ----- From: "Subramani L" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, December 20, 2007 10:54 AM Subject: Re: [AI] history of computer education for blind in india > Yes you are right about tweaking legacy stuff. In a recent conference by > Microsoft Research India, I heard a Pakistani scientist, Umar Saif from > Lahore University of Management Sciences speak about using a network > layer (which was used in the early part of internet development) to > by-pass ISP's and transfer large files at the dial up modem speed. > > I heard that broadband remains out of the reach of many ordinary > Pakistanis who use dial up connections whose speeds are not more than 10 > or 15 KBPS and through this approach --called peer-to-peer > connectivity-- people can connect to the individual host computer and > pass on even the larger files. I forgot the exact name of the network > layer router they use for this. > > By the way, it is a suggestion from someone who doesn't know much about > deployment of technologies-- is it possible to use these legacy > technology to improve penetration of computers among visually challenged > persons, assuming that this would cut cost and perhaps allow them to > slowly get use to the computers? Am asking this out of curiosity, please > pardon my ignorance. > > Subramani > > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Harish > Kotian > Sent: Wednesday, December 19, 2007 9:21 PM > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: [AI] history of computer education for blind in india > > Hi Subramani > Certainly not, I still have DOS running on my other system which runs > Win98 > on it. > > DOS apps do run in the MsDOS box of WINx systems. Sometimes legacy apps > > need to be tweeked up. So, it needs to be kept going. > > Harish. > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Subramani L" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Wednesday, December 19, 2007 10:13 AM > Subject: Re: [AI] history of computer education for blind in india > > >> Interesting stuff Harish, what a journey? For someone who started >> straight with Windows 95 and JAWS, this sounds like Charles Babbage or >> even Darwin kind of stuff! >> >> By the way, what ever has happened to DOS Hal? Is it in the museum? >> >> Subramani >> >> >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Harish >> Kotian >> Sent: Tuesday, December 18, 2007 10:31 PM >> To: [email protected] >> Subject: Re: [AI] history of computer education for blind in india >> >> Hi all >> >> I joined the RBI in 81 as a telephone operator when I was in the > middle >> of >> HSC which is equivalent to 12th std. Telephonist was sort of the only >> job >> available to the educated blind then. It was a fun job, but I was >> feeling >> intelectually choked as it was a very mechanical type of work. >> >> I looked for some alternatives and I fancied for the IAS and I learnt > in >> the >> west, the blind were also into programming. This fired my imagination >> and >> started digging info on it. I got convincedI could make it. >> >> The next task was to get myself trained in programming. None of the >> institutes would admit me. Even those who were then technologically > savy >> >> pronounced it was impossible for a blind to do programming. >> >> To make a long story short, I got admission to one institute the owner >> of it >> was my father's friend. >> >> I started with COBOL language.I had no access technology at all. I > would >> >> write my programme in Braille, read it out to the computer operator, > who >> >> would key it in and tell me the output. It was a very frustrating way > to >> >> work on as I got into major miscommunication problems. >> Despite it all, I topped the class. >> >> The trend that time was to learn the major languages one after > another. >> I >> however, took a different path. I gave myself a break and practised > the >> language very intensively and only thereafter moved to the other >> language. I >> gained immensely by this approach. >> >> Computer time during those days was very precious and scarce, some >> gentle >> souls, did give it to me. I later came across a person, who owned a >> Apple >> system which had built in speech synthesizer. I was very thrilled to >> hear >> it. However I learnt later, it could only be used in games and no > screen >> >> reader in it. These were all all 8 bit processors and few other > systems >> too >> came in the market with like capabilities. I had my hands on most of >> them as >> and when they hit the market. >> >> >> I came across a person in Canada who was willing to sell a second hand >> terminal. Those days even that costed a fortune and there was lots of >> restriction importing anything. I did not buy it although I felt very >> bitter >> missing on it. >> >> Years later, at Blind Graduates forrum of India we bought the Mimmic >> speech >> synthesizer with HAL screen reader. I had access to it. This was the >> biggest >> moment and turning point in my life.It was the first time, I could > work >> on >> the computer absolutely independently. I had the synthesizer but no >> computer. At National center for software technology NCST an Premier >> institution offered unlimited access to their systems. My father would >> bring >> the synthesizer to the railway station in the evening after my job, >> Thereafter we would head to NCST and I would spend some hours there. >> Most of >> the sundays I would spend there. >> >> After being sufficiently proficient with it, I bought my own system. > It >> was >> a 16 bit PC with 512 KB RAM running at 10 mhz with 2 5 1/4 floppy > drives >> of >> 360 KB each. No hard disk at all. Years later I bought a 20 MB hard >> disk. I >> kept this system going until 96 when I got transfered to Bangalore. >> >> Honestly, this system was very fast compared to the resources we drive >> now. >> >> I came across very interesting gears. When we started computer classes >> at >> BGFI, we were gifted with an Apple system No access technology of >> course, It >> had a built in Basic interpretor it was connected to the Black and > White >> TV >> as a monitor. >> >> I had got a very novel screen reader which did not drive a speech >> synthesizer. Its output was in Morse code using PC's speaker. The > lowest >> >> speed it could go to was 10 WPM. This too was fast for me. A friend of >> mine >> brought the speed down to 5 WPM using reverse engineering and working > on >> a >> binary file. >> >> My college friend gave me a lap top, it turned out it had only >> wordprocessing capability and no possibility to run a screen reader. I >> returned it to her not finding use for it. >> >> Arround early 90's I learnt somebody had developed a speech > synthesizer >> at >> Bangalore, primarily for defense use. When I tested it, I found It to >> be >> unsuitable for screen reader. Later, I got yet another information >> someone >> else had developed a speech synthesizer. I somehow felt this is the >> right >> place and I took a train for Bangalore. I went to Advanced electronics > I >> was >> greeted by Kashinathan he showed me the synthesizer. It was a built >> arround >> Mimic synthesizer and was available for a fraction of its cost. He > took >> me >> to the designer of it from IISE. Unfortunately, I can't remember his >> name >> now. He was a very dedicated soul and had designed many gadgets for > us. >> During that period, many blind persons bought this synthesizer and I >> made >> available the DOS Hal screen reader, of which I got regular updates, > as >> I >> had the licensed version. >> >> Some time later, an important IC used in the synthesizer went off >> production. He again designed another synthesizer for which I sourced >> its >> supplier from Bombay. This IC too met with a similar fate. >> >> My fingers are really hurting now and I shall continue it another day > if >> the >> story seems interesting enough. >> >> Warmly >> Harish. >> >> >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Pamnani" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> To: <[email protected]> >> Sent: Tuesday, December 18, 2007 5:34 PM >> Subject: Re: [AI] history of computer education for blind in india >> >> >> Come on Harish its time you told the whole story with all the >> difficulties >> and the technology used. >> Kanchan Pamnani >> Advocate & Solicitor >> 9, Suleman Chambers, >> Battery Street, Colaba, >> Mumbai - 400 039. >> >> >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Suhas Karnik" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> To: <[email protected]> >> Sent: Tuesday, December 18, 2007 1:16 PM >> Subject: Re: [AI] history of computer education for blind in india >> >> >> >> mahendra,nafisa and harish will join me in saying that probably blind >> graduates forum of india is the pioneering organisation in initiating >> computer trainig for the blindin india.way back in 1987 the BGFI > weekend >> training sessions in Smt Kamala mehta school for blind girls at dadar >> mumbai >> nafisa and harish were associated with those training > programme.dorabji >> tata trust donated a speech synthesizer which was from england named > hal >> . >> thereafter harish joined main streamed computer training institution >> .later >> in year 1990 with the initiative of ratnakar raje the indian guild for >> handicapped in colabaration with national society for equal > opportunity >> to >> the handicapped started dos based computer training programme in > mumbai >> where harish was one of the faculty members.me and nafisa were the >> students >> of first batch . the intresting thing about this training programme > was >> the >> students were given a decent stypend to cover the conyenance charges. >> Amities >> Suhas v karnik.> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: >> [email protected]> Date: Mon, 17 Dec 2007 12:31:42 +0530> >> Subject: Re: [AI] history of computer education for blind in india> > >> Hello,> > I think, Computer was used by the vlind people in the early >> nineties in> India. As far as I heard, K. Ramkrishna was one of the >> early >> users. Harish> kotian also used the DOS-based tiny talk in the > nineties. >> As >> regards> Kolkata, NAB started here a small venture in 1992 or 1993. > But >> it >> did not> continue for long and I never found anybody using a pc until >> 2000 >> in> Kolkata. In fact, computer was too costly in the nineties for >> personal >> use.> > NAB again started computer education here in the year 2000 and > I >> was >> a> student of that year. Mohammed Asif Iqbal, a fellow member on our >> list, >> was> our teacher at NAB. I hope, Harish and Ramkrishna will be able to >> tell >> more> about the beginning of computer education in India.> > Best >> regards,> >> > Amiyo.> > Cell: +91-9433464329> > ----- Original Message -----> > From: >> "sriram kalyanaraman" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>> To: >> <[email protected]>> Sent: Monday, December 17, 2007 > 11:37 >> AM> >> Subject: Re: [AI] history of computer education for blind in india> > >> >>> >> Samarthanam , Matruchaya and NAB started computer education in >> Bangalore.> >> You could write to them for more details. In Chennai, NIVH and > Ability> >> foundation have computer traning centers. You should not only discuss >> about> >> English computer education but also regional language education. IITM >> and> >> some other institituions developed this software. Vidya Vriksha taught >> this> >> to interested students (as far as IITM software.)> > Central > Univesrity >> Hyderabad has a center along with CEFOL.> >> > Best wishes,> > K. >> Sriram> >> >> > Subramani L <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:> > It's a pitty >> that >> no >> one got write a book on the subject. Besides> > academic interest, > this >> would serve as an authentic record for the work> > done in India.> >> >> >> Subramani> >> > -----Original Message-----> > From: >> [EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >> [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Vetrivel> >> >> Adhimoolam> > Sent: Saturday, December 15, 2007 8:20 PM> > To: >> [email protected]> > Subject: Re: [AI] history of > computer >> education for blind in india> >> > I think that's correct. Also I have >> to >> say that NAB Delhi played a> > crucial> > role in identifying and >> prioritizing appropriate screen reading> > softwares> > for visually >> challenged in India. Say for example the hole transition> > from> > MS >> das >> to Windows based screen readers like JAWS. So computer education> > > for> >>> >> visually challenged should also be analyzed in the context of the> > >> evolution> > of the screen readers themselves.> >> > ----- Original >> Message -----> > From: Dinesh Kaushal> > To: 'K Ramkrishna' ; >> [email protected]> > Sent: Saturday, December 15, 2007 > 7:45 >> AM> >> > Subject: Re: [AI] history of computer education for blind in india> >>>> >> >> > Well I took training in NAB delhi in May 1996, and I think NAB > delhi> >>> >> started> > it in 1995 or 1994, I am sure it started in or before 1995> >>>> >> >> > Regards> > Dinesh Kaushal> >> > blog at> > >> dineshkaushal.blogspot.com> >> >> > -----Original Message-----> > From: >> [EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >> [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of K> > >> Ramkrishna> > Sent: Saturday, December 15, 2007 10:14 AM> > To: >> [email protected]> > Subject: Re: [AI] history of > computer >> education for blind in india> >> > Dear Vimal,> >> > I may not be able >> to >> tell you the entire story of computer education for> > the> > blind in >> India. But, I would like to mention that the Indian Association> > > for> >>> >> the Visually Handicap (IAVH) in Mumbai, started the first such > venture> >>> >> in> > our country in November 1997. The project was funded by IDBI and >> HDFC> >> > bank> > and the center was established at the university clubhouse > in >> Churchgate> > Mumbai. Mr. Ram Agarwal of Karishma Enterprises, Mr. >> Prakash >> Didwania,> > Mr.> > Arwind Bhartia and myself were the founder > trusties >> of >> IAVH and our> > mission> > was to avail the access and other > technology >> products and services to> > the> > blind and these shouldn't be denied >> to >> them, just because they couldn't> > afford such expensive things. >> Subsequently, Victoria Memorial school for> > the> > blind with the >> support >> of IBM and Voice Vision of Mumbai started> > computer> > education for >> the >> blind. NAB New Delhi also has such facilities. IAVH> > also> > started >> this >> in Huydrabad, but this couldn't be run for long. Rest,> > other> > >> members >> can respond.> > ----- Original Message -----> > From: "vimaldengla"> > >> To:> >> > Sent: Friday, December 14, 2007 3:44 PM> > Subject: [AI] history of >> computer education for blind in india> >> >> > > dear friends,> > > >> please >> tell me the details about the computer education for the blind,> > > >> when >> was it started and who played the main role in starting the> > > >> computer >> education in India. please send me the complete history of> > > the >> computer >> education of the blind in India.> > > you can send the reply to my >> personal >> id [EMAIL PROTECTED],> > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] from vimal dengla >> mob. >> 09414244549.> > > To unsubscribe send a message to> > > >> [EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > with the subject >> unsubscribe.> > >> >> > > To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other >> changes,> > > please visit the list home page at> > > >> > http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org> >>> > >> in> > >> >> >> > To unsubscribe send a message to >> [EMAIL PROTECTED]> > with> > the subject >> unsubscribe.> >> >> > To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other >> changes,> >> > please> > visit the list home page at> >> > >> > http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.i >>> > >> n> >> >> > To unsubscribe send a message to >> [EMAIL PROTECTED]> > with> > the subject >> unsubscribe.> >> >> > To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other >> changes,> >> > please> > visit the list home page at> >> > >> > http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.i >>> > >> n> > To unsubscribe send a message to >> [EMAIL PROTECTED]> > with the subject >unsubscribe.> >>>> >> > To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other >> changes,> > >> please visit the list home page at> >> > >> > http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.i >>> > >> n> >> > To unsubscribe send a message to >> [EMAIL PROTECTED]> with the subject unsubscribe.> >>>> > >> To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes,> >> please visit the list home page at> > >> > http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.i >> n> >> >> >> >> > ---------------------------------> > 5, 50, 500, 5000 - >> Store N >> number of mails in your inbox. 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