Re: history of window eyes
Hi david: I agree with you totally. As a trainer of assistive technology for the blind since the mid 1980s, I felt that it was a lot easier to train people on Windows thant in DOS because of the uniformity of most commands. Kevin Huber On 10/20/16, David Goldfield via Talk wrote: > What I'm about to say might almost be considered heresy by some but, to > be honest, I felt like I was the only blind computer user on the entire > planet who never took to Wordperfect for DOS. Had I given it more of a > chance I likely would have warmed up to it. I just found the whole > command set so unintuitive. It seemed like some commands required you to > press home, home pageup or home, home, pagedown and, to me, this just > never made sense. I'm so glad that Word and other Windows-based word > processors have not only provided us with standard keyboard commands but > ones which seem far ore intuitive. > > >David Goldfield, > Assistive Technology Specialist > > Feel free to visit my Web site > WWW.DavidGoldfield.Info > > On 10/18/2016 11:38 AM, Jim via Talk wrote: >> Hi! >> >> I sure do! I used WP from 5.0 through 6.2 for dos and briefly ran >> WP7.0 on a windows 98 system. It just seemed to be easier to use for >> some reason. Catch Ya All Later! de >> >> . >> >> >> On 18-Oct-16 00:36, Kevin Barry via Talk wrote: >>> Many of us still miss word perfect. >>> >>> On Tuesday, October 18, 2016, David Goldfield via Talk < >>> talk@lists.window-eyes.com> wrote: >>> I'd like to add a few tidbits to this most fascinating thread. In addition to the Windows screen readers which were mentioned, Synthavoice's Window Bridge came out sometime in 1992, if my memory is correct. While I have not used that screen reader, another one that many have forgotten is Windows Master, which was produced by Blazie Engineering for Windows 3.1. I began working for Blazie Engineering in May of 1991 and, at that time, they had a DOS screen reader called Speaksys. Speaksys cost $150 and only supported the Braille 'n Speak as a synthesizer. However, it was unique in that it also allowed the Bns to be used for Braille input to a PC and I believe it even supported Grade 2 input. Eventually, the screen reader was enhanced with new features to try and bring it in line with other DOS screen readers at that time. Its name was changed to PCMaster and its price was raised to $395. Eventually, a talented programmer named Daehee Lee was hired to write a Windows version of this screen reader, which was called Windows Master. It also used a Bns for output (and I think input) and supported the SSIL library of synthesizers as well. I believe Windows Master came out in the summer of 1992 and may well have been the third or fourth Windows screen reader at that time, although I'm certainly willing to be corrected if this is incorrect. Actually, I vaguely remember hearing about what I think was the first Windows screen reader before Window Bridge, although its name now escapes me and I don't think it lasted more than a few years. This thread reminds me of a blog post from Chris Hoffstader (sp) who talked about the importance of those of us who have memories of this technology to document it online for posterity. I thought he had established a wiki for that purpose but my recent searches aren't locating it. David Goldfield, Assistive Technology Specialist Feel free to visit my Web site WWW.DavidGoldfield.Info On 10/17/2016 11:18 PM, Jeff Samco via Talk wrote: > Yes, Malcom Holser wrote the original Vocal-Eyes for my use. Malcom > was very gifted in many ways. He was a coworker as I worked as an > interpretive ranger in Yosemite. In 1985 we went in together and > purchased a used IBM PC 8086 with 256 KB of RAM and 2 double-sided > 5.25-inch floppy disc drives. Since it was used it only cost us > $3,000! Malcolm learned to program in assembler in writing Vocal-Eyes. > I also believe I was the first user of a screen reader to use Word > Perfect and alerted them to how well it worked with a screen reader. I > offered various suggestions to improve its accessibility. Many screen > reader users used this elegant and powerful word processor. > > Jeff > > At 11:41 AM 10/17/2016, you wrote: >> I might add that Malcolm, who worked as a ranger at Yosemite near >> Fresno where I lived at the time, initially called his PC >> screenreader Vocal-Eyes and I was one of the beneficiaries. He had >> originally designed it for a fellow ranger at Yosemite who was only >> partially sighted. I still see his name on the lists occasionally. >> Bill Grimm was then naming all his software releases Whatever-talk, >> so when Malcolm teamed up with Computer Aids, the progra
Re: history of window eyes
I saw out spoken in 1991 or so, maybe even earlier. - Curtis Delzer, HS. K6VFO San Bernardino, CA On Mon, 17 Oct 2016 23:47:39 -0500 Larry Higgins via Talk wrote: > Another one that some may remember a bit more than I do was Berkeley Systems > OutSpoken. If I remember correctly Berkeley Systems was sold to the Alva > people. I think it came out some time in 1994, so was written for 3.1, and > after that, I don't think it was any further developed > > Anyway, I remember having a demo of that program, but didn't have much in the > way of software to play around with at the time, but I think it read the > interface reasonably well. No more than that I able to share . > > On 10/17/2016 10:52 PM, David Goldfield via Talk wrote: > > I'd like to add a few tidbits to this most fascinating thread. > > > > In addition to the Windows screen readers which were mentioned, > > Synthavoice's Window Bridge came out sometime in 1992, if my memory is > > correct. While I have not used that screen reader, another one that many > > have forgotten is Windows Master, which was produced by Blazie > > Engineering for Windows 3.1. I began working for Blazie Engineering in > > May of 1991 and, at that time, they had a DOS screen reader called > > Speaksys. Speaksys cost $150 and only supported the Braille 'n Speak as > > a synthesizer. However, it was unique in that it also allowed the Bns to > > be used for Braille input to a PC and I believe it even supported Grade > > 2 input. Eventually, the screen reader was enhanced with new features to > > try and bring it in line with other DOS screen readers at that time. Its > > name was changed to PCMaster and its price was raised to $395. > > Eventually, a talented programmer named Daehee Lee was hired to write a > > Windows version of this screen reader, which was called Windows Master. > > It also used a Bns for output (and I think input) and supported the SSIL > > library of synthesizers as well. I believe Windows Master came out in > > the summer of 1992 and may well have been the third or fourth Windows > > screen reader at that time, although I'm certainly willing to be > > corrected if this is incorrect. Actually, I vaguely remember hearing > > about what I think was the first Windows screen reader before Window > > Bridge, although its name now escapes me and I don't think it lasted > > more than a few years. > > > > This thread reminds me of a blog post from Chris Hoffstader (sp) who > > talked about the importance of those of us who have memories of this > > technology to document it online for posterity. I thought he had > > established a wiki for that purpose but my recent searches aren't > > locating it. > > > > > > > >David Goldfield, > > Assistive Technology Specialist > > > > Feel free to visit my Web site > > WWW.DavidGoldfield.Info > > > > On 10/17/2016 11:18 PM, Jeff Samco via Talk wrote: > >> Yes, Malcom Holser wrote the original Vocal-Eyes for my use. Malcom > >> was very gifted in many ways. He was a coworker as I worked as an > >> interpretive ranger in Yosemite. In 1985 we went in together and > >> purchased a used IBM PC 8086 with 256 KB of RAM and 2 double-sided > >> 5.25-inch floppy disc drives. Since it was used it only cost us > >> $3,000! Malcolm learned to program in assembler in writing Vocal-Eyes. > >> I also believe I was the first user of a screen reader to use Word > >> Perfect and alerted them to how well it worked with a screen reader. I > >> offered various suggestions to improve its accessibility. Many screen > >> reader users used this elegant and powerful word processor. > >> > >> Jeff > >> > >> At 11:41 AM 10/17/2016, you wrote: > >>> I might add that Malcolm, who worked as a ranger at Yosemite near > >>> Fresno where I lived at the time, initially called his PC > >>> screenreader Vocal-Eyes and I was one of the beneficiaries. He had > >>> originally designed it for a fellow ranger at Yosemite who was only > >>> partially sighted. I still see his name on the lists occasionally. > >>> Bill Grimm was then naming all his software releases Whatever-talk, > >>> so when Malcolm teamed up with Computer Aids, the program was renamed > >>> Screen Talk. When Doug Geoffrey took over Computer Aids, he named his > >>> screen reader Vocal-Eyes. Apparently Malcolm had no objection to > >>> that. Actually Doug wasn't even aware that the name had been used by > >>> Malcolm. Later GW Micro released Window-Eyes for Windows as, as you > >>> know, Vocal-Eyes was a DOS screen reader. > >>> > >>> Dave > >>> > >>> At 04:02 AM 10/17/2016, you wrote: > I don't have time to write a very long message, but here's a little > of the story. > In the early 1980s Bill Grimm formed a company, Computer Aids > Corporation, to create software for the Apple II family of > computers. They teamed up with Malcolm Holser to create a screen > reader for DOS called Screen-Talk, which was released in 1985, which > I bought and
RE: history of window eyes
The number you wrote is 12039264 what is the link? For eudora -Original Message- From: Talk [mailto:talk-bounces+r.kurlander=verizon@lists.window-eyes.com] On Behalf Of Curtis Delzer via Talk Sent: Tuesday, November 1, 2016 4:01 PM To: Dave Basden ; Window-Eyes Discussion List Cc: 'Window-Eyes Discussion List' Subject: Re: history of window eyes Hi, do you all remember tiny talk? A version needed for whatever synthesizer you had installed? At least that is what I remember. I had it available on my BBS, another memory, (should say several memories), running, finally evolved into EzyCom, and I think I ran FrontDoor, for the input to the system because had FidoNet. 1:203.9264 - Curtis Delzer, HS. K6VFO San Bernardino, CA On Mon, 17 Oct 2016 11:41:46 -0700 Dave Basden via Talk wrote: > I might add that Malcolm, who worked as a ranger at Yosemite near Fresno where I lived at the time, initially called his PC screenreader Vocal-Eyes and I was one of the beneficiaries. He had originally designed it for a fellow ranger at Yosemite who was only partially sighted. I still see his name on the lists occasionally. Bill Grimm was then naming all his software releases Whatever-talk, so when Malcolm teamed up with Computer Aids, the program was renamed Screen Talk. When Doug Geoffrey took over Computer Aids, he named his screen reader Vocal-Eyes. Apparently Malcolm had no objection to that. Actually Doug wasn't even aware that the name had been used by Malcolm. Later GW Micro released Window-Eyes for Windows as, as you know, Vocal-Eyes was a DOS screen reader. > > Dave > > At 04:02 AM 10/17/2016, you wrote: > >I don't have time to write a very long message, but here's a little >of the story. > >In the early 1980s Bill Grimm formed a company, Computer Aids >Corporation, to create software for the Apple II family of >computers. They teamed up with Malcolm Holser to create a screen >reader for DOS called Screen-Talk, which was released in 1985, which >I bought and used. In 1986 Screen-Talk was linked with ProKey, a >macro program, and its functionality was extended. Somewhere in >there, Doug Geoffray was hired as a programmer. In 1988 Computer >Aids released the Sounding Board, an ISA-compatible speech >synthesizer that used the SSI-263 speech chip that was common in >those days. Dan Wyrick did major work on that project. Near that >time Bill Grimm died. > >Dan and Doug put together a new company, GW Micro and marketed the >new-generation DOS screen reader as Vocal-Eyes. > >The first Windows 3.0 screen reader was OutSpoken, released in the >summer of 1992. Later came Automatic Screen Access for Windows and >JAWS for Windows. Window-Eyes 1.0 came out quite late, in late 1995. >It worked with Windows 3 and 3.1, even though Windows 95 was already >out and had no screen reader support from anyone at first. >Window-Eyes 2 was the first W-E version to support Windows 95, and >came out in the spring of 1997, I think. > >The revision history of Window-Eyes is on the GW Micro website, >going way back; it is instructive to read it to see where we have come from. > > > > > >Lloyd Rasmussen, Kensington, MD > >http://lras.home.sprynet.com > >-Original Message- From: Drew Clark via Talk > >Sent: Monday, October 17, 2016 3:56 AM > >To: Window-Eyes Discussion List > >Subject: history of window eyes > > > >hi, > > > >i am interested to find out the history of window eyes, who created > >it and how it was started. is there any webpage/audio podcast that > >interviews the g and the w behind gw micro? > > > >thanks > > > > > >-- > >Sent using window eyes. > > > >___ > >Any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of >the author and do not necessarily represent those of Ai Squared. > > > >For membership options, visit >http://lists.window-eyes.com/options.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com/lras%40spryne t.com. > >For subscription options, visit > >>http://lists.window-eyes.com/listinfo.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com > >List archives can be found at > >>http://lists.window-eyes.com/private.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com > >___ > >Any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of >the author and do not necessarily represent those of Ai Squared. > > > >For membership options, visit >http://lists.window-eyes.com/options.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com/dave%40basden .us. > >For subscription options, visit > >>http://lists.window-eyes.com/listinfo.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com > >List archives can be found at > >>http://lists.window-eyes.com/privat
Re: history of window eyes
Hi, do you all remember tiny talk? A version needed for whatever synthesizer you had installed? At least that is what I remember. I had it available on my BBS, another memory, (should say several memories), running, finally evolved into EzyCom, and I think I ran FrontDoor, for the input to the system because had FidoNet. 1:203.9264 - Curtis Delzer, HS. K6VFO San Bernardino, CA On Mon, 17 Oct 2016 11:41:46 -0700 Dave Basden via Talk wrote: > I might add that Malcolm, who worked as a ranger at Yosemite near Fresno > where I lived at the time, initially called his PC screenreader Vocal-Eyes > and I was one of the beneficiaries. He had originally designed it for a > fellow ranger at Yosemite who was only partially sighted. I still see his > name on the lists occasionally. Bill Grimm was then naming all his software > releases Whatever-talk, so when Malcolm teamed up with Computer Aids, the > program was renamed Screen Talk. When Doug Geoffrey took over Computer Aids, > he named his screen reader Vocal-Eyes. Apparently Malcolm had no objection > to that. Actually Doug wasn't even aware that the name had been used by > Malcolm. Later GW Micro released Window-Eyes for Windows as, as you know, > Vocal-Eyes was a DOS screen reader. > > Dave > > At 04:02 AM 10/17/2016, you wrote: > >I don't have time to write a very long message, but here's a little >of the > >story. > >In the early 1980s Bill Grimm formed a company, Computer Aids >Corporation, > >to create software for the Apple II family of >computers. They teamed up > >with Malcolm Holser to create a screen >reader for DOS called Screen-Talk, > >which was released in 1985, which >I bought and used. In 1986 Screen-Talk > >was linked with ProKey, a >macro program, and its functionality was > >extended. Somewhere in >there, Doug Geoffray was hired as a programmer. In > >1988 Computer >Aids released the Sounding Board, an ISA-compatible speech > >>synthesizer that used the SSI-263 speech chip that was common in >those > >days. Dan Wyrick did major work on that project. Near that >time Bill Grimm > >died. > >Dan and Doug put together a new company, GW Micro and marketed the > >>new-generation DOS screen reader as Vocal-Eyes. > >The first Windows 3.0 screen reader was OutSpoken, released in the >summer > >of 1992. Later came Automatic Screen Access for Windows and >JAWS for > >Windows. Window-Eyes 1.0 came out quite late, in late 1995. >It worked with > >Windows 3 and 3.1, even though Windows 95 was already >out and had no screen > >reader support from anyone at first. >Window-Eyes 2 was the first W-E > >version to support Windows 95, and >came out in the spring of 1997, I think. > >The revision history of Window-Eyes is on the GW Micro website, >going way > >back; it is instructive to read it to see where we have come from. > > > > > >Lloyd Rasmussen, Kensington, MD > >http://lras.home.sprynet.com > >-Original Message- From: Drew Clark via Talk > >Sent: Monday, October 17, 2016 3:56 AM > >To: Window-Eyes Discussion List > >Subject: history of window eyes > > > >hi, > > > >i am interested to find out the history of window eyes, who created it > >and how it was started. is there any webpage/audio podcast that > >interviews the g and the w behind gw micro? > > > >thanks > > > > > >-- > >Sent using window eyes. > > > >___ > >Any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of >the > >author and do not necessarily represent those of Ai Squared. > > > >For membership options, visit > >>http://lists.window-eyes.com/options.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com/lras%40sprynet.com. > >For subscription options, visit > >>http://lists.window-eyes.com/listinfo.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com > >List archives can be found at > >>http://lists.window-eyes.com/private.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com > >___ > >Any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of >the > >author and do not necessarily represent those of Ai Squared. > > > >For membership options, visit > >>http://lists.window-eyes.com/options.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com/dave%40basden.us. > >For subscription options, visit > >>http://lists.window-eyes.com/listinfo.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com > >List archives can be found at > >>http://lists.window-eyes.com/private.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com > > ___ > Any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author > and do not necessarily represent those of Ai Squared. > > For membership options, visit > http://lists.window-eyes.com/options.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com/curtis%40calweb.com. > For subscription options, visit > http://lists.window-eyes.com/listinfo.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com > List archives can be found at > http://lists.window-eyes.com/private.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/a
Re: history of window eyes
I believe my first window-eyes was 3.1, and that was with a buddy. :) I had A S A P for dos, and vocal-eyes also which I'd bought back in the windows 95 days, then 98, then XP for probably 11 years. :) Fascinating stuff to hear some of the history. I had an Artic synthesizer, and business/vision software in the very beginning, but you know how it goes; the internet intrudes and then you find out about all the other "good" stuff. :) - Curtis Delzer, HS. K6VFO San Bernardino, CA On Tue, 18 Oct 2016 09:37:15 -0400 Pamela Dominguez via Talk wrote: > Well, before vocal eyes, on my first dos computer, I had Artic vision. Pam. > > -Original Message- From: Bob Hicks via Talk > Sent: Monday, October 17, 2016 1:58 PM > To: 'Tom Fairhurst' ; 'Window-Eyes Discussion List' > Subject: RE: history of window eyes > > Yeas, I also had ScreenTalk before Window Eyes and I believe I used an Echo > synthesizer with it. > > Best Regards, > > Bob Hicks > > > -Original Message- > From: Talk > [mailto:talk-bounces+bob=seeinghandassociation@lists.window-eyes.com] On > Behalf Of Tom Fairhurst via Talk > Sent: Monday, October 17, 2016 9:53 AM > To: Drew Clark ; Window-Eyes Discussion List > > Subject: Re: history of window eyes > > Hi, Drew. While I believe we should not spend much more time on list for > this, I bought my first home computer frojm Computer Aids Corporation in > 1989. It had ScreenTalk installed on it. I have used Vocal-Eyes and > Window-Eyes ever since. > > -Original Message- > From: Drew Clark via Talk > Sent: Monday, October 17, 2016 2:56 AM > To: Window-Eyes Discussion List > Subject: history of window eyes > > hi, > > i am interested to find out the history of window eyes, who created it and > how it was started. is there any webpage/audio podcast that interviews the g > and the w behind gw micro? > > thanks > > > -- > Sent using window eyes. > > ___ > Any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author > and do not necessarily represent those of Ai Squared. > > For membership options, visit > http://lists.window-eyes.com/options.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com/tfairhurst%40k > c.rr.com. > For subscription options, visit > http://lists.window-eyes.com/listinfo.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com > List archives can be found at > http://lists.window-eyes.com/private.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com > > > - > No virus found in this message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 2016.0.7797 / Virus Database: 4664/13227 - Release Date: 10/17/16 > > ___ > Any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author > and do not necessarily represent those of Ai Squared. > > For membership options, visit > http://lists.window-eyes.com/options.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com/bob%40seeingha > ndassociation.com. > For subscription options, visit > http://lists.window-eyes.com/listinfo.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com > List archives can be found at > http://lists.window-eyes.com/private.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com > > > ___ > Any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author > and do not necessarily represent those of Ai Squared. > > For membership options, visit > http://lists.window-eyes.com/options.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com/geodom%40optonline.net. > For subscription options, visit > http://lists.window-eyes.com/listinfo.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com > List archives can be found at > http://lists.window-eyes.com/private.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com > > > - > No virus found in this message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 2016.0.7797 / Virus Database: 4664/13228 - Release Date: 10/17/16 > ___ > Any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author > and do not necessarily represent those of Ai Squared. > > For membership options, visit > http://lists.window-eyes.com/options.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com/curtis%40calweb.com. > For subscription options, visit > http://lists.window-eyes.com/listinfo.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com > List archives can be found at > http://lists.window-eyes.com/private.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus ___ Any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Ai Squared. For membership options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/options.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com/archive%40mail-archive.com. For subscription options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/listinfo.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com List archives can be found at http://lists.window-eyes.com/private.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com
Re: history of window eyes
Hi there! I actually did like Word Perfect for DOS. I used it in colledge to write all my term papers and someone there actually created a macro for setting up the papers in the proper format. When I finally went to windows, 'windows98' I had a version of Word Perfect which I used until I broke down and purchased Office 95. My first and only DOS screen reader was something called TinyTalk which I really liked if nopt for any other reason than the fact that it was very cheap in comparison to the other screen readers at that time. I also used a program called Procom for amateur packet radio and some basic internet work. WOW, how far we have come since those days! Thanks for the walk down memory lain! Have A Good 1! de . On 21-Oct-16 10:01, Rod Hutton via Talk wrote: Hi Pam and David, Oh, yes, I remember them, and what a trip down memory lane that was. I also remember placing those commands in macros since I disliked all that key punching. (grin) Thanks for the trip, Rod -Original Message- From: Talk [mailto:talk-bounces+rod_hutton=hotmail@lists.window-eyes.com] On Behalf Of Pamela Dominguez via Talk Sent: Friday, October 21, 2016 9:30 AM To: David Goldfield ; Window-Eyes Discussion List Subject: Re: history of window eyes I actually don't remember the commands you are talking about. Pam. -Original Message- From: David Goldfield via Talk Sent: Thursday, October 20, 2016 10:02 PM To: wohlg...@gmail.com ; Window-Eyes Discussion List Subject: Re: history of window eyes What I'm about to say might almost be considered heresy by some but, to be honest, I felt like I was the only blind computer user on the entire planet who never took to Wordperfect for DOS. Had I given it more of a chance I likely would have warmed up to it. I just found the whole command set so unintuitive. It seemed like some commands required you to press home, home pageup or home, home, pagedown and, to me, this just never made sense. I'm so glad that Word and other Windows-based word processors have not only provided us with standard keyboard commands but ones which seem far ore intuitive. David Goldfield, Assistive Technology Specialist Feel free to visit my Web site WWW.DavidGoldfield.Info On 10/18/2016 11:38 AM, Jim via Talk wrote: Hi! I sure do! I used WP from 5.0 through 6.2 for dos and briefly ran WP7.0 on a windows 98 system. It just seemed to be easier to use for some reason. Catch Ya All Later! de . On 18-Oct-16 00:36, Kevin Barry via Talk wrote: Many of us still miss word perfect. On Tuesday, October 18, 2016, David Goldfield via Talk < talk@lists.window-eyes.com> wrote: I'd like to add a few tidbits to this most fascinating thread. In addition to the Windows screen readers which were mentioned, Synthavoice's Window Bridge came out sometime in 1992, if my memory is correct. While I have not used that screen reader, another one that many have forgotten is Windows Master, which was produced by Blazie Engineering for Windows 3.1. I began working for Blazie Engineering in May of 1991 and, at that time, they had a DOS screen reader called Speaksys. Speaksys cost $150 and only supported the Braille 'n Speak as a synthesizer. However, it was unique in that it also allowed the Bns to be used for Braille input to a PC and I believe it even supported Grade 2 input. Eventually, the screen reader was enhanced with new features to try and bring it in line with other DOS screen readers at that time. Its name was changed to PCMaster and its price was raised to $395. Eventually, a talented programmer named Daehee Lee was hired to write a Windows version of this screen reader, which was called Windows Master. It also used a Bns for output (and I think input) and supported the SSIL library of synthesizers as well. I believe Windows Master came out in the summer of 1992 and may well have been the third or fourth Windows screen reader at that time, although I'm certainly willing to be corrected if this is incorrect. Actually, I vaguely remember hearing about what I think was the first Windows screen reader before Window Bridge, although its name now escapes me and I don't think it lasted more than a few years. This thread reminds me of a blog post from Chris Hoffstader (sp) who talked about the importance of those of us who have memories of this technology to document it online for posterity. I thought he had established a wiki for that purpose but my recent searches aren't locating it. David Goldfield, Assistive Technology Specialist Feel free to visit my Web site WWW.DavidGoldfield.Info On 10/17/2016 11:18 PM, Jeff Samco via Talk wrote: Yes, Malcom Holser wrote the original Vocal-Eyes for my use. Malcom was very gifted in many ways. He was a coworker as I worked as an interpretive ranger in Yosemite. In 1985 we went in together and purchased a used IBM PC 8086 with 256 KB of RAM and 2 double-
RE: history of window eyes
Hi Pam and David, Oh, yes, I remember them, and what a trip down memory lane that was. I also remember placing those commands in macros since I disliked all that key punching. (grin) Thanks for the trip, Rod -Original Message- From: Talk [mailto:talk-bounces+rod_hutton=hotmail@lists.window-eyes.com] On Behalf Of Pamela Dominguez via Talk Sent: Friday, October 21, 2016 9:30 AM To: David Goldfield ; Window-Eyes Discussion List Subject: Re: history of window eyes I actually don't remember the commands you are talking about. Pam. -Original Message- From: David Goldfield via Talk Sent: Thursday, October 20, 2016 10:02 PM To: wohlg...@gmail.com ; Window-Eyes Discussion List Subject: Re: history of window eyes What I'm about to say might almost be considered heresy by some but, to be honest, I felt like I was the only blind computer user on the entire planet who never took to Wordperfect for DOS. Had I given it more of a chance I likely would have warmed up to it. I just found the whole command set so unintuitive. It seemed like some commands required you to press home, home pageup or home, home, pagedown and, to me, this just never made sense. I'm so glad that Word and other Windows-based word processors have not only provided us with standard keyboard commands but ones which seem far ore intuitive. David Goldfield, Assistive Technology Specialist Feel free to visit my Web site WWW.DavidGoldfield.Info On 10/18/2016 11:38 AM, Jim via Talk wrote: > Hi! > > I sure do! I used WP from 5.0 through 6.2 for dos and briefly ran > WP7.0 on a windows 98 system. It just seemed to be easier to use for > some reason. Catch Ya All Later! de > > . > > > On 18-Oct-16 00:36, Kevin Barry via Talk wrote: >> Many of us still miss word perfect. >> >> On Tuesday, October 18, 2016, David Goldfield via Talk < >> talk@lists.window-eyes.com> wrote: >> >>> I'd like to add a few tidbits to this most fascinating thread. >>> >>> In addition to the Windows screen readers which were mentioned, >>> Synthavoice's Window Bridge came out sometime in 1992, if my memory is >>> correct. While I have not used that screen reader, another one that >>> many >>> have forgotten is Windows Master, which was produced by Blazie >>> Engineering for Windows 3.1. I began working for Blazie Engineering in >>> May of 1991 and, at that time, they had a DOS screen reader called >>> Speaksys. Speaksys cost $150 and only supported the Braille 'n Speak as >>> a synthesizer. However, it was unique in that it also allowed the >>> Bns to >>> be used for Braille input to a PC and I believe it even supported Grade >>> 2 input. Eventually, the screen reader was enhanced with new >>> features to >>> try and bring it in line with other DOS screen readers at that time. >>> Its >>> name was changed to PCMaster and its price was raised to $395. >>> Eventually, a talented programmer named Daehee Lee was hired to write a >>> Windows version of this screen reader, which was called Windows Master. >>> It also used a Bns for output (and I think input) and supported the >>> SSIL >>> library of synthesizers as well. I believe Windows Master came out in >>> the summer of 1992 and may well have been the third or fourth Windows >>> screen reader at that time, although I'm certainly willing to be >>> corrected if this is incorrect. Actually, I vaguely remember hearing >>> about what I think was the first Windows screen reader before Window >>> Bridge, although its name now escapes me and I don't think it lasted >>> more than a few years. >>> >>> This thread reminds me of a blog post from Chris Hoffstader (sp) who >>> talked about the importance of those of us who have memories of this >>> technology to document it online for posterity. I thought he had >>> established a wiki for that purpose but my recent searches aren't >>> locating it. >>> >>> >>> >>> David Goldfield, >>> Assistive Technology Specialist >>> >>> Feel free to visit my Web site >>> WWW.DavidGoldfield.Info >>> >>> On 10/17/2016 11:18 PM, Jeff Samco via Talk wrote: >>>> Yes, Malcom Holser wrote the original Vocal-Eyes for my use. Malcom >>>> was very gifted in many ways. He was a coworker as I worked as an >>>> interpretive ranger in Yosemite. In 1985 we went in together and >>>> purchased a used IBM PC 8086 with 256 KB of RAM and 2 double-sided >>>> 5.25-inch floppy disc drives. Since it was used
Re: history of window eyes
I actually don't remember the commands you are talking about. Pam. -Original Message- From: David Goldfield via Talk Sent: Thursday, October 20, 2016 10:02 PM To: wohlg...@gmail.com ; Window-Eyes Discussion List Subject: Re: history of window eyes What I'm about to say might almost be considered heresy by some but, to be honest, I felt like I was the only blind computer user on the entire planet who never took to Wordperfect for DOS. Had I given it more of a chance I likely would have warmed up to it. I just found the whole command set so unintuitive. It seemed like some commands required you to press home, home pageup or home, home, pagedown and, to me, this just never made sense. I'm so glad that Word and other Windows-based word processors have not only provided us with standard keyboard commands but ones which seem far ore intuitive. David Goldfield, Assistive Technology Specialist Feel free to visit my Web site WWW.DavidGoldfield.Info On 10/18/2016 11:38 AM, Jim via Talk wrote: Hi! I sure do! I used WP from 5.0 through 6.2 for dos and briefly ran WP7.0 on a windows 98 system. It just seemed to be easier to use for some reason. Catch Ya All Later! de . On 18-Oct-16 00:36, Kevin Barry via Talk wrote: Many of us still miss word perfect. On Tuesday, October 18, 2016, David Goldfield via Talk < talk@lists.window-eyes.com> wrote: I'd like to add a few tidbits to this most fascinating thread. In addition to the Windows screen readers which were mentioned, Synthavoice's Window Bridge came out sometime in 1992, if my memory is correct. While I have not used that screen reader, another one that many have forgotten is Windows Master, which was produced by Blazie Engineering for Windows 3.1. I began working for Blazie Engineering in May of 1991 and, at that time, they had a DOS screen reader called Speaksys. Speaksys cost $150 and only supported the Braille 'n Speak as a synthesizer. However, it was unique in that it also allowed the Bns to be used for Braille input to a PC and I believe it even supported Grade 2 input. Eventually, the screen reader was enhanced with new features to try and bring it in line with other DOS screen readers at that time. Its name was changed to PCMaster and its price was raised to $395. Eventually, a talented programmer named Daehee Lee was hired to write a Windows version of this screen reader, which was called Windows Master. It also used a Bns for output (and I think input) and supported the SSIL library of synthesizers as well. I believe Windows Master came out in the summer of 1992 and may well have been the third or fourth Windows screen reader at that time, although I'm certainly willing to be corrected if this is incorrect. Actually, I vaguely remember hearing about what I think was the first Windows screen reader before Window Bridge, although its name now escapes me and I don't think it lasted more than a few years. This thread reminds me of a blog post from Chris Hoffstader (sp) who talked about the importance of those of us who have memories of this technology to document it online for posterity. I thought he had established a wiki for that purpose but my recent searches aren't locating it. David Goldfield, Assistive Technology Specialist Feel free to visit my Web site WWW.DavidGoldfield.Info On 10/17/2016 11:18 PM, Jeff Samco via Talk wrote: Yes, Malcom Holser wrote the original Vocal-Eyes for my use. Malcom was very gifted in many ways. He was a coworker as I worked as an interpretive ranger in Yosemite. In 1985 we went in together and purchased a used IBM PC 8086 with 256 KB of RAM and 2 double-sided 5.25-inch floppy disc drives. Since it was used it only cost us $3,000! Malcolm learned to program in assembler in writing Vocal-Eyes. I also believe I was the first user of a screen reader to use Word Perfect and alerted them to how well it worked with a screen reader. I offered various suggestions to improve its accessibility. Many screen reader users used this elegant and powerful word processor. Jeff At 11:41 AM 10/17/2016, you wrote: I might add that Malcolm, who worked as a ranger at Yosemite near Fresno where I lived at the time, initially called his PC screenreader Vocal-Eyes and I was one of the beneficiaries. He had originally designed it for a fellow ranger at Yosemite who was only partially sighted. I still see his name on the lists occasionally. Bill Grimm was then naming all his software releases Whatever-talk, so when Malcolm teamed up with Computer Aids, the program was renamed Screen Talk. When Doug Geoffrey took over Computer Aids, he named his screen reader Vocal-Eyes. Apparently Malcolm had no objection to that. Actually Doug wasn't even aware that the name had been used by Malcolm. Later GW Micro released Window-Eyes for Windows as, as you know, Vocal-Eyes was a DOS screen reader. Dave At 04:02 AM 10/17/2016, you wrote: I don't h
RE: history of window eyes
I started out on Windows 3.1 with the Text Assist/Singing DecTalk, then, I went to windows 98 with the JAWS screen reader because that was what the institute who provided equipment to schools here had. I used the demo of Window-Eyes from about 2001 to 2005, then bought it in 2007. I also tried Simply Talker 98 and 2000 , the x inexpensive $50 screen reader. Simply Talker is now obsolete. Then, I also used NVDA from 2012 to present, alongside of JAWS, and Window-Eyes. Before Window-Eyes, I was what we would call a staunche JAWS user and that was all I knew. -Original Message- From: Talk [mailto:talk-bounces+skyt=shaw...@lists.window-eyes.com] On Behalf Of David Goldfield via Talk Sent: Thursday, October 20, 2016 7:10 PM To: wohlg...@gmail.com; Window-Eyes Discussion List Subject: Re: history of window eyes In many ways, Tinytalk was way ahead of its time. Most DOS screen readers were charging around $500 for a single user license and there were few exceptions. Technically, you could use ASAP at no cost if you were willing to put up with regular "nag" messages encouraging you to buy it. However, at that time you either paid full price for a license or you dealt with a demo version which would time out after 20 or 30 minutes, followed by a reboot for another 20 or 30 minutes. Tinytalk, like ASAP, could be used for free if you were willing to put up with a slight pause at startup and, as you say, only cost $75.00. A shareware screen reader in the DOS era was almost unheard of. Now, with offers like the Window-eyes offer for users of Microsoft Office and other free and low-cost alternatives, this type of license is more common now but Tinytalk may well have been the first, or at least one of the few, to offer this in the 1990s. David Goldfield, Assistive Technology Specialist Feel free to visit my Web site WWW.DavidGoldfield.Info On 10/18/2016 11:25 AM, Jim via Talk wrote: > Hi there! > > My first windows screen reader was Artic Winvision. Yes I do like > Window-Eyes, but I thought that Winvision was the easiest to configure > on the fly as well as use straight from the box. We have come along > ways since then, and I really do appreciate the ease of use with W.E. > My first and only DOS screen reader was called TinyTalk. It was > referred to as the poor man's screen reader since I only paid $75 for > it. Just a bit of my history with screen readers. Have a Good 1! de > > . > > > On 18-Oct-16 10:54, Pamela Dominguez via Talk wrote: >> Window bridge was the first windows screenreader I got for my first >> windows computer, which was a Gateway 2000, with windows 98. Pam. >> >> -Original Message- From: David Goldfield via Talk >> Sent: Monday, October 17, 2016 11:52 PM >> To: Jeff Samco ; Window-Eyes Discussion List >> Subject: Re: history of window eyes >> >> I'd like to add a few tidbits to this most fascinating thread. >> >> In addition to the Windows screen readers which were mentioned, >> Synthavoice's Window Bridge came out sometime in 1992, if my memory is >> correct. While I have not used that screen reader, another one that many >> have forgotten is Windows Master, which was produced by Blazie >> Engineering for Windows 3.1. I began working for Blazie Engineering in >> May of 1991 and, at that time, they had a DOS screen reader called >> Speaksys. Speaksys cost $150 and only supported the Braille 'n Speak as >> a synthesizer. However, it was unique in that it also allowed the Bns to >> be used for Braille input to a PC and I believe it even supported Grade >> 2 input. Eventually, the screen reader was enhanced with new features to >> try and bring it in line with other DOS screen readers at that time. Its >> name was changed to PCMaster and its price was raised to $395. >> Eventually, a talented programmer named Daehee Lee was hired to write a >> Windows version of this screen reader, which was called Windows Master. >> It also used a Bns for output (and I think input) and supported the SSIL >> library of synthesizers as well. I believe Windows Master came out in >> the summer of 1992 and may well have been the third or fourth Windows >> screen reader at that time, although I'm certainly willing to be >> corrected if this is incorrect. Actually, I vaguely remember hearing >> about what I think was the first Windows screen reader before Window >> Bridge, although its name now escapes me and I don't think it lasted >> more than a few years. >> >> This thread reminds me of a blog post from Chris Hoffstader (sp) who >> talked about the importance of those of us who have memories of this >> technology to document it online for posterity. I thought he had >&g
Re: history of window eyes
In many ways, Tinytalk was way ahead of its time. Most DOS screen readers were charging around $500 for a single user license and there were few exceptions. Technically, you could use ASAP at no cost if you were willing to put up with regular "nag" messages encouraging you to buy it. However, at that time you either paid full price for a license or you dealt with a demo version which would time out after 20 or 30 minutes, followed by a reboot for another 20 or 30 minutes. Tinytalk, like ASAP, could be used for free if you were willing to put up with a slight pause at startup and, as you say, only cost $75.00. A shareware screen reader in the DOS era was almost unheard of. Now, with offers like the Window-eyes offer for users of Microsoft Office and other free and low-cost alternatives, this type of license is more common now but Tinytalk may well have been the first, or at least one of the few, to offer this in the 1990s. David Goldfield, Assistive Technology Specialist Feel free to visit my Web site WWW.DavidGoldfield.Info On 10/18/2016 11:25 AM, Jim via Talk wrote: > Hi there! > > My first windows screen reader was Artic Winvision. Yes I do like > Window-Eyes, but I thought that Winvision was the easiest to configure > on the fly as well as use straight from the box. We have come along > ways since then, and I really do appreciate the ease of use with W.E. > My first and only DOS screen reader was called TinyTalk. It was > referred to as the poor man's screen reader since I only paid $75 for > it. Just a bit of my history with screen readers. Have a Good 1! de > > . > > > On 18-Oct-16 10:54, Pamela Dominguez via Talk wrote: >> Window bridge was the first windows screenreader I got for my first >> windows computer, which was a Gateway 2000, with windows 98. Pam. >> >> -Original Message- From: David Goldfield via Talk >> Sent: Monday, October 17, 2016 11:52 PM >> To: Jeff Samco ; Window-Eyes Discussion List >> Subject: Re: history of window eyes >> >> I'd like to add a few tidbits to this most fascinating thread. >> >> In addition to the Windows screen readers which were mentioned, >> Synthavoice's Window Bridge came out sometime in 1992, if my memory is >> correct. While I have not used that screen reader, another one that many >> have forgotten is Windows Master, which was produced by Blazie >> Engineering for Windows 3.1. I began working for Blazie Engineering in >> May of 1991 and, at that time, they had a DOS screen reader called >> Speaksys. Speaksys cost $150 and only supported the Braille 'n Speak as >> a synthesizer. However, it was unique in that it also allowed the Bns to >> be used for Braille input to a PC and I believe it even supported Grade >> 2 input. Eventually, the screen reader was enhanced with new features to >> try and bring it in line with other DOS screen readers at that time. Its >> name was changed to PCMaster and its price was raised to $395. >> Eventually, a talented programmer named Daehee Lee was hired to write a >> Windows version of this screen reader, which was called Windows Master. >> It also used a Bns for output (and I think input) and supported the SSIL >> library of synthesizers as well. I believe Windows Master came out in >> the summer of 1992 and may well have been the third or fourth Windows >> screen reader at that time, although I'm certainly willing to be >> corrected if this is incorrect. Actually, I vaguely remember hearing >> about what I think was the first Windows screen reader before Window >> Bridge, although its name now escapes me and I don't think it lasted >> more than a few years. >> >> This thread reminds me of a blog post from Chris Hoffstader (sp) who >> talked about the importance of those of us who have memories of this >> technology to document it online for posterity. I thought he had >> established a wiki for that purpose but my recent searches aren't >> locating it. >> >> >> >> David Goldfield, >> Assistive Technology Specialist >> >> Feel free to visit my Web site >> WWW.DavidGoldfield.Info >> >> On 10/17/2016 11:18 PM, Jeff Samco via Talk wrote: >>> Yes, Malcom Holser wrote the original Vocal-Eyes for my use. Malcom >>> was very gifted in many ways. He was a coworker as I worked as an >>> interpretive ranger in Yosemite. In 1985 we went in together and >>> purchased a used IBM PC 8086 with 256 KB of RAM and 2 double-sided >>> 5.25-inch floppy disc drives. Since it was used it only cost us >>> $3,000! Malcolm learned to program in assembler in writing Vocal-Eyes. &
Re: history of window eyes
What I'm about to say might almost be considered heresy by some but, to be honest, I felt like I was the only blind computer user on the entire planet who never took to Wordperfect for DOS. Had I given it more of a chance I likely would have warmed up to it. I just found the whole command set so unintuitive. It seemed like some commands required you to press home, home pageup or home, home, pagedown and, to me, this just never made sense. I'm so glad that Word and other Windows-based word processors have not only provided us with standard keyboard commands but ones which seem far ore intuitive. David Goldfield, Assistive Technology Specialist Feel free to visit my Web site WWW.DavidGoldfield.Info On 10/18/2016 11:38 AM, Jim via Talk wrote: > Hi! > > I sure do! I used WP from 5.0 through 6.2 for dos and briefly ran > WP7.0 on a windows 98 system. It just seemed to be easier to use for > some reason. Catch Ya All Later! de > > . > > > On 18-Oct-16 00:36, Kevin Barry via Talk wrote: >> Many of us still miss word perfect. >> >> On Tuesday, October 18, 2016, David Goldfield via Talk < >> talk@lists.window-eyes.com> wrote: >> >>> I'd like to add a few tidbits to this most fascinating thread. >>> >>> In addition to the Windows screen readers which were mentioned, >>> Synthavoice's Window Bridge came out sometime in 1992, if my memory is >>> correct. While I have not used that screen reader, another one that >>> many >>> have forgotten is Windows Master, which was produced by Blazie >>> Engineering for Windows 3.1. I began working for Blazie Engineering in >>> May of 1991 and, at that time, they had a DOS screen reader called >>> Speaksys. Speaksys cost $150 and only supported the Braille 'n Speak as >>> a synthesizer. However, it was unique in that it also allowed the >>> Bns to >>> be used for Braille input to a PC and I believe it even supported Grade >>> 2 input. Eventually, the screen reader was enhanced with new >>> features to >>> try and bring it in line with other DOS screen readers at that time. >>> Its >>> name was changed to PCMaster and its price was raised to $395. >>> Eventually, a talented programmer named Daehee Lee was hired to write a >>> Windows version of this screen reader, which was called Windows Master. >>> It also used a Bns for output (and I think input) and supported the >>> SSIL >>> library of synthesizers as well. I believe Windows Master came out in >>> the summer of 1992 and may well have been the third or fourth Windows >>> screen reader at that time, although I'm certainly willing to be >>> corrected if this is incorrect. Actually, I vaguely remember hearing >>> about what I think was the first Windows screen reader before Window >>> Bridge, although its name now escapes me and I don't think it lasted >>> more than a few years. >>> >>> This thread reminds me of a blog post from Chris Hoffstader (sp) who >>> talked about the importance of those of us who have memories of this >>> technology to document it online for posterity. I thought he had >>> established a wiki for that purpose but my recent searches aren't >>> locating it. >>> >>> >>> >>> David Goldfield, >>> Assistive Technology Specialist >>> >>> Feel free to visit my Web site >>> WWW.DavidGoldfield.Info >>> >>> On 10/17/2016 11:18 PM, Jeff Samco via Talk wrote: Yes, Malcom Holser wrote the original Vocal-Eyes for my use. Malcom was very gifted in many ways. He was a coworker as I worked as an interpretive ranger in Yosemite. In 1985 we went in together and purchased a used IBM PC 8086 with 256 KB of RAM and 2 double-sided 5.25-inch floppy disc drives. Since it was used it only cost us $3,000! Malcolm learned to program in assembler in writing Vocal-Eyes. I also believe I was the first user of a screen reader to use Word Perfect and alerted them to how well it worked with a screen reader. I offered various suggestions to improve its accessibility. Many screen reader users used this elegant and powerful word processor. Jeff At 11:41 AM 10/17/2016, you wrote: > I might add that Malcolm, who worked as a ranger at Yosemite near > Fresno where I lived at the time, initially called his PC > screenreader Vocal-Eyes and I was one of the beneficiaries. He had > originally designed it for a fellow ranger at Yosemite who was only > partially sighted. I still see his name on the lists occasionally. > Bill Grimm was then naming all his software releases Whatever-talk, > so when Malcolm teamed up with Computer Aids, the program was renamed > Screen Talk. When Doug Geoffrey took over Computer Aids, he named his > screen reader Vocal-Eyes. Apparently Malcolm had no objection to > that. Actually Doug wasn't even aware that the name had been used by > Malcolm. Later GW Micro released Window-Eyes for Windows as, as you > know, Vocal-Eyes was a DOS screen reader. > > Dave >
Re: history of window eyes
I'm quite enjoying this walk down memory lane and sincerely hope that the VFO staff who monitor this list doesn't mind this thread. For me, Vocal-eyes 1.1 was the first screen reader I ever used. In 1991, I was planning to get my first computer and I borrowed a five-volume book from NLS covering DOS (I think it might have been called Mastering DOS.) I decided to absorb as much as I could from that book prior to getting that IBM XT so that, when I turned on the computer, I'd be armed with at least some knowledge. Around February 1991, I acquired a used IBM XT with a 10 megabyte hard drive and a 5.25 floppy drive. Armed with a trusty Braille 'n Speak classic, I began learning how to use Vocal-eyes from the excellent (and I do mean excellent) user manual, read by Doug Geoffray. Since then, I've learned that writing product documentation is more of an art than a science. It's quite a delicate balance because you have to write to be understood by novices and experts alike, keeping the interest of the novice and, at the same time, not boring the nerds and the experts. As we all know, software documentation is a mixed bag. It's admittedly difficult to write manuals and please all of the people all of the time and, in my opinion, not everyone can do it. For that reason, Vocal-eyes was a great first screen reader, not only because of its functionality but due to its amazing manual. It was thorough and yet fun. I was both a total newbie but an eager nerd who wanted to know as much as I could and the documentation hit me on all levels. It was a well-packaged product, in every sense of the word. While functionality is certainly critical, packaging can really make a difference in whether someone likes or hates the product. GW Micro did everything quite nicely, from the manual, its recording quality, nice packaging and, of course, easy to use software. David Goldfield, Assistive Technology Specialist Feel free to visit my Web site WWW.DavidGoldfield.Info On 10/19/2016 1:45 AM, Micallef Michael at FITA via Talk wrote: > Waw what a nostalgia this morning, I remember that my first computer that > ever used was the Amstrad PC with 5.25inch floppy disk and with the votrax > type n' talk speech synthesizer. Later I switch to the double talk speech > synthesizer and the ASAP for dos screen reader, at that time the WordPerfect > 5.1 word processor was the best accessible word processor for us the blind. > Although today I'm feeling comfortable with Microsoft word, but I'm still > missing that WordPerfect for DOS. > > Anyway, as they say, every good thing, sometimes comes to an end. Now it is > the time for window eyes unfortunately. > > > > > > Michael Micallef > Officer in charge of ICT Accessibility Certification > and ICT Training for Persons with a Visual Impairment > > Foundation for Information Technology Accessibility (FITA) > > Email: > Office: > URL: > FB: > michael.mical...@gov.mt > +356 2599 2343 > http://www.fitamalta.eu > http://on.fb.me/1hCRTAx > > Kindly consider your environmental responsibility before printing this e-mail > > > > > > > > > > > -Original Message- > From: Talk > [mailto:talk-bounces+michael.micallef=gov...@lists.window-eyes.com] On Behalf > Of Jim via Talk > Sent: Tuesday, 18 October 2016 17:25 > To: Pamela Dominguez; Window-Eyes Discussion List > Subject: Re: history of window eyes > > Hi there! > > My first windows screen reader was Artic Winvision. Yes I do like > Window-Eyes, but I thought that Winvision was the easiest to configure > on the fly as well as use straight from the box. We have come along > ways since then, and I really do appreciate the ease of use with W.E. > My first and only DOS screen reader was called TinyTalk. It was > referred to as the poor man's screen reader since I only paid $75 for > it. Just a bit of my history with screen readers. Have a Good 1! de > > . > > > On 18-Oct-16 10:54, Pamela Dominguez via Talk wrote: >> Window bridge was the first windows screenreader I got for my first >> windows computer, which was a Gateway 2000, with windows 98. Pam. >> >> -Original Message- From: David Goldfield via Talk >> Sent: Monday, October 17, 2016 11:52 PM >> To: Jeff Samco ; Window-Eyes Discussion List >> Subject: Re: history of window eyes >> >> I'd like to add a few tidbits to this most fascinating thread. >> >> In addition to the Windows screen readers which were mentioned, >> Synthavoice's Window Bridge came out sometime in 1992, if my memory is >> correct. While I have not used that screen reader, another one that many >> have forgotten is Windows Master, which wa
RE: history of window eyes
Sure did! I had a TI 99/4A with the speech synthesizer, then I bought an Echo GP, and used it with the TI for a while, so I could play Infocomm Games and run in Extended Basic and do a few other things. Actually, only one game, Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Then, I switched to the Apple IIe, then, to the PC. Even kept the Echo GP for a while until I got a DoubleTalk with my PC. Anyway, that was a while back. -Original Message- From: Talk [mailto:talk-bounces+joseph.norton=gmail@lists.window-eyes.com] On Behalf Of Bob Hicks via Talk Sent: Wednesday, October 19, 2016 9:15 AM To: 'Micallef Michael at FITA' ; 'Window-Eyes Discussion List' Subject: RE: history of window eyes Surely some else had the TI 99/4A with the speech module! Best Regards, Bob Hicks -Original Message- From: Talk [mailto:talk-bounces+bob=seeinghandassociation@lists.window-eyes.com] On Behalf Of Micallef Michael at FITA via Talk Sent: Wednesday, October 19, 2016 1:46 AM To: wohlg...@gmail.com; Window-Eyes Discussion List ; Pamela Dominguez Subject: RE: history of window eyes Waw what a nostalgia this morning, I remember that my first computer that ever used was the Amstrad PC with 5.25inch floppy disk and with the votrax type n' talk speech synthesizer. Later I switch to the double talk speech synthesizer and the ASAP for dos screen reader, at that time the WordPerfect 5.1 word processor was the best accessible word processor for us the blind. Although today I'm feeling comfortable with Microsoft word, but I'm still missing that WordPerfect for DOS. Anyway, as they say, every good thing, sometimes comes to an end. Now it is the time for window eyes unfortunately. Michael Micallef Officer in charge of ICT Accessibility Certification and ICT Training for Persons with a Visual Impairment Foundation for Information Technology Accessibility (FITA) Email: Office: URL: FB: michael.mical...@gov.mt +356 2599 2343 http://www.fitamalta.eu http://on.fb.me/1hCRTAx Kindly consider your environmental responsibility before printing this e-mail -Original Message- From: Talk [mailto:talk-bounces+michael.micallef=gov...@lists.window-eyes.com] On Behalf Of Jim via Talk Sent: Tuesday, 18 October 2016 17:25 To: Pamela Dominguez; Window-Eyes Discussion List Subject: Re: history of window eyes Hi there! My first windows screen reader was Artic Winvision. Yes I do like Window-Eyes, but I thought that Winvision was the easiest to configure on the fly as well as use straight from the box. We have come along ways since then, and I really do appreciate the ease of use with W.E. My first and only DOS screen reader was called TinyTalk. It was referred to as the poor man's screen reader since I only paid $75 for it. Just a bit of my history with screen readers. Have a Good 1! de . On 18-Oct-16 10:54, Pamela Dominguez via Talk wrote: > Window bridge was the first windows screenreader I got for my first > windows computer, which was a Gateway 2000, with windows 98. Pam. > > -Original Message- From: David Goldfield via Talk > Sent: Monday, October 17, 2016 11:52 PM > To: Jeff Samco ; Window-Eyes Discussion List > Subject: Re: history of window eyes > > I'd like to add a few tidbits to this most fascinating thread. > > In addition to the Windows screen readers which were mentioned, > Synthavoice's Window Bridge came out sometime in 1992, if my memory is > correct. While I have not used that screen reader, another one that > many have forgotten is Windows Master, which was produced by Blazie > Engineering for Windows 3.1. I began working for Blazie Engineering in > May of 1991 and, at that time, they had a DOS screen reader called > Speaksys. Speaksys cost $150 and only supported the Braille 'n Speak > as a synthesizer. However, it was unique in that it also allowed the > Bns to be used for Braille input to a PC and I believe it even > supported Grade > 2 input. Eventually, the screen reader was enhanced with new features > to try and bring it in line with other DOS screen readers at that > time. Its name was changed to PCMaster and its price was raised to $395. > Eventually, a talented programmer named Daehee Lee was hired to write > a Windows version of this screen reader, which was called Windows Master. > It also used a Bns for output (and I think input) and supported the > SSIL library of synthesizers as well. I believe Windows Master came > out in the summer of 1992 and may well have been the third or fourth > Windows screen reader at that time, although I'm certainly willing to > be corrected if this is incorrect. Actually, I vaguely remember > hearing about what I think was the first Windows screen reader before > Window Bridge, although its name now escapes me and I don't think it > laste
RE: history of window eyes
Surely some else had the TI 99/4A with the speech module! Best Regards, Bob Hicks -Original Message- From: Talk [mailto:talk-bounces+bob=seeinghandassociation@lists.window-eyes.com] On Behalf Of Micallef Michael at FITA via Talk Sent: Wednesday, October 19, 2016 1:46 AM To: wohlg...@gmail.com; Window-Eyes Discussion List ; Pamela Dominguez Subject: RE: history of window eyes Waw what a nostalgia this morning, I remember that my first computer that ever used was the Amstrad PC with 5.25inch floppy disk and with the votrax type n' talk speech synthesizer. Later I switch to the double talk speech synthesizer and the ASAP for dos screen reader, at that time the WordPerfect 5.1 word processor was the best accessible word processor for us the blind. Although today I'm feeling comfortable with Microsoft word, but I'm still missing that WordPerfect for DOS. Anyway, as they say, every good thing, sometimes comes to an end. Now it is the time for window eyes unfortunately. Michael Micallef Officer in charge of ICT Accessibility Certification and ICT Training for Persons with a Visual Impairment Foundation for Information Technology Accessibility (FITA) Email: Office: URL: FB: michael.mical...@gov.mt +356 2599 2343 http://www.fitamalta.eu http://on.fb.me/1hCRTAx Kindly consider your environmental responsibility before printing this e-mail -Original Message- From: Talk [mailto:talk-bounces+michael.micallef=gov...@lists.window-eyes.com] On Behalf Of Jim via Talk Sent: Tuesday, 18 October 2016 17:25 To: Pamela Dominguez; Window-Eyes Discussion List Subject: Re: history of window eyes Hi there! My first windows screen reader was Artic Winvision. Yes I do like Window-Eyes, but I thought that Winvision was the easiest to configure on the fly as well as use straight from the box. We have come along ways since then, and I really do appreciate the ease of use with W.E. My first and only DOS screen reader was called TinyTalk. It was referred to as the poor man's screen reader since I only paid $75 for it. Just a bit of my history with screen readers. Have a Good 1! de . On 18-Oct-16 10:54, Pamela Dominguez via Talk wrote: > Window bridge was the first windows screenreader I got for my first > windows computer, which was a Gateway 2000, with windows 98. Pam. > > -Original Message- From: David Goldfield via Talk > Sent: Monday, October 17, 2016 11:52 PM > To: Jeff Samco ; Window-Eyes Discussion List > Subject: Re: history of window eyes > > I'd like to add a few tidbits to this most fascinating thread. > > In addition to the Windows screen readers which were mentioned, > Synthavoice's Window Bridge came out sometime in 1992, if my memory is > correct. While I have not used that screen reader, another one that > many have forgotten is Windows Master, which was produced by Blazie > Engineering for Windows 3.1. I began working for Blazie Engineering in > May of 1991 and, at that time, they had a DOS screen reader called > Speaksys. Speaksys cost $150 and only supported the Braille 'n Speak > as a synthesizer. However, it was unique in that it also allowed the > Bns to be used for Braille input to a PC and I believe it even > supported Grade > 2 input. Eventually, the screen reader was enhanced with new features > to try and bring it in line with other DOS screen readers at that > time. Its name was changed to PCMaster and its price was raised to $395. > Eventually, a talented programmer named Daehee Lee was hired to write > a Windows version of this screen reader, which was called Windows Master. > It also used a Bns for output (and I think input) and supported the > SSIL library of synthesizers as well. I believe Windows Master came > out in the summer of 1992 and may well have been the third or fourth > Windows screen reader at that time, although I'm certainly willing to > be corrected if this is incorrect. Actually, I vaguely remember > hearing about what I think was the first Windows screen reader before > Window Bridge, although its name now escapes me and I don't think it > lasted more than a few years. > > This thread reminds me of a blog post from Chris Hoffstader (sp) who > talked about the importance of those of us who have memories of this > technology to document it online for posterity. I thought he had > established a wiki for that purpose but my recent searches aren't > locating it. > > > > David Goldfield, > Assistive Technology Specialist > > Feel free to visit my Web site > WWW.DavidGoldfield.Info > > On 10/17/2016 11:18 PM, Jeff Samco via Talk wrote: >> Yes, Malcom Holser wrote the original Vocal-Eyes for my use. Malcom >> was very gifted in many ways. He was a coworker as I worked as an >> interpret
Re: history of window eyes
I started using Vocal-eyes 2.0 in late 1991. Hard to believe it will be 25 years soon since then. GW micro was a great company and I always love dealing with it. It doesn't look good now, and I will just say, I shall never, ever, use Jaws. I do not care about new management or new ownership. It is tainted beyond repair with me. Besides that, there are certain things they still cannot do right. I will continue to use what I have, and perhaps use NVDA if necessary. At some point, I expect to transition to iOS full-time. Doug was and is a wonderful person and we all benefited greatly from his efforts. On Wednesday, October 19, 2016, Micallef Michael at FITA via Talk < talk@lists.window-eyes.com> wrote: > Waw what a nostalgia this morning, I remember that my first computer that > ever used was the Amstrad PC with 5.25inch floppy disk and with the votrax > type n' talk speech synthesizer. Later I switch to the double talk speech > synthesizer and the ASAP for dos screen reader, at that time the > WordPerfect 5.1 word processor was the best accessible word processor for > us the blind. Although today I'm feeling comfortable with Microsoft word, > but I'm still missing that WordPerfect for DOS. > > Anyway, as they say, every good thing, sometimes comes to an end. Now it > is the time for window eyes unfortunately. > > > > > > Michael Micallef > Officer in charge of ICT Accessibility Certification > and ICT Training for Persons with a Visual Impairment > > Foundation for Information Technology Accessibility (FITA) > > Email: > Office: > URL: > FB: > michael.mical...@gov.mt > +356 2599 2343 > http://www.fitamalta.eu > http://on.fb.me/1hCRTAx > > Kindly consider your environmental responsibility before printing this > e-mail > > > > > > > > > > > -Original Message- > From: Talk [mailto:talk-bounces+michael.micallef = > gov...@lists.window-eyes.com ] On Behalf Of Jim via Talk > Sent: Tuesday, 18 October 2016 17:25 > To: Pamela Dominguez; Window-Eyes Discussion List > Subject: Re: history of window eyes > > Hi there! > > My first windows screen reader was Artic Winvision. Yes I do like > Window-Eyes, but I thought that Winvision was the easiest to configure > on the fly as well as use straight from the box. We have come along > ways since then, and I really do appreciate the ease of use with W.E. > My first and only DOS screen reader was called TinyTalk. It was > referred to as the poor man's screen reader since I only paid $75 for > it. Just a bit of my history with screen readers. Have a Good 1! de > > . > > > On 18-Oct-16 10:54, Pamela Dominguez via Talk wrote: > > Window bridge was the first windows screenreader I got for my first > > windows computer, which was a Gateway 2000, with windows 98. Pam. > > > > -Original Message- From: David Goldfield via Talk > > Sent: Monday, October 17, 2016 11:52 PM > > To: Jeff Samco ; Window-Eyes Discussion List > > Subject: Re: history of window eyes > > > > I'd like to add a few tidbits to this most fascinating thread. > > > > In addition to the Windows screen readers which were mentioned, > > Synthavoice's Window Bridge came out sometime in 1992, if my memory is > > correct. While I have not used that screen reader, another one that many > > have forgotten is Windows Master, which was produced by Blazie > > Engineering for Windows 3.1. I began working for Blazie Engineering in > > May of 1991 and, at that time, they had a DOS screen reader called > > Speaksys. Speaksys cost $150 and only supported the Braille 'n Speak as > > a synthesizer. However, it was unique in that it also allowed the Bns to > > be used for Braille input to a PC and I believe it even supported Grade > > 2 input. Eventually, the screen reader was enhanced with new features to > > try and bring it in line with other DOS screen readers at that time. Its > > name was changed to PCMaster and its price was raised to $395. > > Eventually, a talented programmer named Daehee Lee was hired to write a > > Windows version of this screen reader, which was called Windows Master. > > It also used a Bns for output (and I think input) and supported the SSIL > > library of synthesizers as well. I believe Windows Master came out in > > the summer of 1992 and may well have been the third or fourth Windows > > screen reader at that time, although I'm certainly willing to be > > corrected if this is incorrect. Actually, I vaguely remember hearing > > about what I think was the first Windows screen reader before Window > > Bridge, although its name now escapes me and I don
RE: history of window eyes
Waw what a nostalgia this morning, I remember that my first computer that ever used was the Amstrad PC with 5.25inch floppy disk and with the votrax type n' talk speech synthesizer. Later I switch to the double talk speech synthesizer and the ASAP for dos screen reader, at that time the WordPerfect 5.1 word processor was the best accessible word processor for us the blind. Although today I'm feeling comfortable with Microsoft word, but I'm still missing that WordPerfect for DOS. Anyway, as they say, every good thing, sometimes comes to an end. Now it is the time for window eyes unfortunately. Michael Micallef Officer in charge of ICT Accessibility Certification and ICT Training for Persons with a Visual Impairment Foundation for Information Technology Accessibility (FITA) Email: Office: URL: FB: michael.mical...@gov.mt +356 2599 2343 http://www.fitamalta.eu http://on.fb.me/1hCRTAx Kindly consider your environmental responsibility before printing this e-mail -Original Message- From: Talk [mailto:talk-bounces+michael.micallef=gov...@lists.window-eyes.com] On Behalf Of Jim via Talk Sent: Tuesday, 18 October 2016 17:25 To: Pamela Dominguez; Window-Eyes Discussion List Subject: Re: history of window eyes Hi there! My first windows screen reader was Artic Winvision. Yes I do like Window-Eyes, but I thought that Winvision was the easiest to configure on the fly as well as use straight from the box. We have come along ways since then, and I really do appreciate the ease of use with W.E. My first and only DOS screen reader was called TinyTalk. It was referred to as the poor man's screen reader since I only paid $75 for it. Just a bit of my history with screen readers. Have a Good 1! de . On 18-Oct-16 10:54, Pamela Dominguez via Talk wrote: > Window bridge was the first windows screenreader I got for my first > windows computer, which was a Gateway 2000, with windows 98. Pam. > > -Original Message- From: David Goldfield via Talk > Sent: Monday, October 17, 2016 11:52 PM > To: Jeff Samco ; Window-Eyes Discussion List > Subject: Re: history of window eyes > > I'd like to add a few tidbits to this most fascinating thread. > > In addition to the Windows screen readers which were mentioned, > Synthavoice's Window Bridge came out sometime in 1992, if my memory is > correct. While I have not used that screen reader, another one that many > have forgotten is Windows Master, which was produced by Blazie > Engineering for Windows 3.1. I began working for Blazie Engineering in > May of 1991 and, at that time, they had a DOS screen reader called > Speaksys. Speaksys cost $150 and only supported the Braille 'n Speak as > a synthesizer. However, it was unique in that it also allowed the Bns to > be used for Braille input to a PC and I believe it even supported Grade > 2 input. Eventually, the screen reader was enhanced with new features to > try and bring it in line with other DOS screen readers at that time. Its > name was changed to PCMaster and its price was raised to $395. > Eventually, a talented programmer named Daehee Lee was hired to write a > Windows version of this screen reader, which was called Windows Master. > It also used a Bns for output (and I think input) and supported the SSIL > library of synthesizers as well. I believe Windows Master came out in > the summer of 1992 and may well have been the third or fourth Windows > screen reader at that time, although I'm certainly willing to be > corrected if this is incorrect. Actually, I vaguely remember hearing > about what I think was the first Windows screen reader before Window > Bridge, although its name now escapes me and I don't think it lasted > more than a few years. > > This thread reminds me of a blog post from Chris Hoffstader (sp) who > talked about the importance of those of us who have memories of this > technology to document it online for posterity. I thought he had > established a wiki for that purpose but my recent searches aren't > locating it. > > > > David Goldfield, > Assistive Technology Specialist > > Feel free to visit my Web site > WWW.DavidGoldfield.Info > > On 10/17/2016 11:18 PM, Jeff Samco via Talk wrote: >> Yes, Malcom Holser wrote the original Vocal-Eyes for my use. Malcom >> was very gifted in many ways. He was a coworker as I worked as an >> interpretive ranger in Yosemite. In 1985 we went in together and >> purchased a used IBM PC 8086 with 256 KB of RAM and 2 double-sided >> 5.25-inch floppy disc drives. Since it was used it only cost us >> $3,000! Malcolm learned to program in assembler in writing Vocal-Eyes. >> I also believe I was the first user of a screen reader to use Word >> Perfect and alerted them to how well
RE: history of window eyes
Hi Doug. I have been using Window-Eyes since 2007. Since then, I have been able to use Window-Eyes last year to do a 6-month internship, teaching adaptive technology to sighted staff and also using it for some students. In edition, I got my Window-Eyes certification. Great work Doug! Thanks, Sky. -Original Message- From: Talk [mailto:talk-bounces+skyt=shaw...@lists.window-eyes.com] On Behalf Of Doug Geoffray via Talk Sent: Tuesday, October 18, 2016 11:36 AM To: Dennis Long; Window-Eyes Discussion List Subject: Re: history of window eyes Dennis and all, I've been getting this question a lot lately. Here is how I've been and continue responding until I know more: We are still early in the merger between Ai Squared and VFO so it is a bit early to know how all this will ultimately play out. But please rest assured no matter what happens, we will make sure that Window-Eyes users will not be left behind. As we continue we will certainly make clear what our plans are moving forward and how this may or may not impact you. But again, we will not take your years of loyalty for granted. Regards, Doug On 10/18/2016 2:14 PM, Dennis Long wrote: > Doug is there any word if window Eyes will be staying around? > - Original Message - From: "Doug Geoffray via Talk" > > To: > Sent: Tuesday, October 18, 2016 9:15 AM > Subject: Re: history of window eyes > > >> Just wanted to correct a few things (smile). >> >> Malcolm created Screen-Talk which later became Screen-Talk Pro (linked >> with ProKey). As stated, he may of wanted to call this Vocal-Eyes but >> Bill Grimm didn't like that name, at the time. I had nothing to do with >> Screen-Talk. I did create most of the Apple 2 software such as >> Braille-Out which later turned to Braille-Talk, and Word-Talk and >> File-Talk and Term-Talk (prior to Term-Talk it was Talking Transend) and >> several other smaller things as well as the TTS engine for all Sounding >> Board variants. I also created all the software for the Small-Talk >> portable computer, except for the Calc-Talk module, ah, fun times >> (smile). >> >> In 1988 I started from scratch with Vocal-Eyes. This was completely >> different from the work Malcolm did. I almost finished Vocal-Eyes when >> Bill Grimm got burnt out and decided to close Computer Aids, which >> officially closed November 1989. I had started working at Computer Aids >> in the early 80's as a contractor and around 1983 started full time as >> an employee. Dan Weirich started around 1987ish and worked on the >> hardware. So after Computer Aids closed in 1989, Dan and I started GW >> Micro February 15, 1990. I spent another 6 or so months finalizing >> Vocal-Eyes and released it right after that. As for Bill Grimm, he did >> die but it was a few years later...I can't remember the exact year but >> it was around 1994 or 95. >> >> We started working on Window-Eyes around 1994 and released 1.0 in >> October 1995. >> >> Doug >> >> On 10/17/2016 2:41 PM, Dave Basden via Talk wrote: >>> I might add that Malcolm, who worked as a ranger at Yosemite near >>> Fresno where I lived at the time, initially called his PC screenreader >>> Vocal-Eyes and I was one of the beneficiaries. He had originally >>> designed it for a fellow ranger at Yosemite who was only partially >>> sighted. I still see his name on the lists occasionally. Bill Grimm >>> was then naming all his software releases Whatever-talk, so when >>> Malcolm teamed up with Computer Aids, the program was renamed Screen >>> Talk. When Doug Geoffrey took over Computer Aids, he named his screen >>> reader Vocal-Eyes. Apparently Malcolm had no objection to that. >>> Actually Doug wasn't even aware that the name had been used by >>> Malcolm. Later GW Micro released Window-Eyes for Windows as, as you >>> know, Vocal-Eyes was a DOS screen reader. >>> >>> Dave >>> >>> At 04:02 AM 10/17/2016, you wrote: >>>> I don't have time to write a very long message, but here's a little >>>> of the story. >>>> In the early 1980s Bill Grimm formed a company, Computer Aids >>>> Corporation, to create software for the Apple II family of computers. >>>> They teamed up with Malcolm Holser to create a screen reader for DOS >>>> called Screen-Talk, which was released in 1985, which I bought and >>>> used. In 1986 Screen-Talk was linked with ProKey, a macro program, >>>> and its functionality was extended. Somewhere in there, Doug Geoffray >>>> was hired as a programmer. In 1988 C
Re: history of window eyes
Hi Doug, I've used vocal-eyes and then Window-eyes since 1992. Glad you guys are on the level with us. Vinny -Original Message- From: Doug Geoffray via Talk Sent: Tuesday, October 18, 2016 11:36 AM To: Dennis Long ; Window-Eyes Discussion List Subject: Re: history of window eyes Dennis and all, I've been getting this question a lot lately. Here is how I've been and continue responding until I know more: We are still early in the merger between Ai Squared and VFO so it is a bit early to know how all this will ultimately play out. But please rest assured no matter what happens, we will make sure that Window-Eyes users will not be left behind. As we continue we will certainly make clear what our plans are moving forward and how this may or may not impact you. But again, we will not take your years of loyalty for granted. Regards, Doug On 10/18/2016 2:14 PM, Dennis Long wrote: Doug is there any word if window Eyes will be staying around? - Original Message - From: "Doug Geoffray via Talk" To: Sent: Tuesday, October 18, 2016 9:15 AM Subject: Re: history of window eyes Just wanted to correct a few things (smile). Malcolm created Screen-Talk which later became Screen-Talk Pro (linked with ProKey). As stated, he may of wanted to call this Vocal-Eyes but Bill Grimm didn't like that name, at the time. I had nothing to do with Screen-Talk. I did create most of the Apple 2 software such as Braille-Out which later turned to Braille-Talk, and Word-Talk and File-Talk and Term-Talk (prior to Term-Talk it was Talking Transend) and several other smaller things as well as the TTS engine for all Sounding Board variants. I also created all the software for the Small-Talk portable computer, except for the Calc-Talk module, ah, fun times (smile). In 1988 I started from scratch with Vocal-Eyes. This was completely different from the work Malcolm did. I almost finished Vocal-Eyes when Bill Grimm got burnt out and decided to close Computer Aids, which officially closed November 1989. I had started working at Computer Aids in the early 80's as a contractor and around 1983 started full time as an employee. Dan Weirich started around 1987ish and worked on the hardware. So after Computer Aids closed in 1989, Dan and I started GW Micro February 15, 1990. I spent another 6 or so months finalizing Vocal-Eyes and released it right after that. As for Bill Grimm, he did die but it was a few years later...I can't remember the exact year but it was around 1994 or 95. We started working on Window-Eyes around 1994 and released 1.0 in October 1995. Doug On 10/17/2016 2:41 PM, Dave Basden via Talk wrote: I might add that Malcolm, who worked as a ranger at Yosemite near Fresno where I lived at the time, initially called his PC screenreader Vocal-Eyes and I was one of the beneficiaries. He had originally designed it for a fellow ranger at Yosemite who was only partially sighted. I still see his name on the lists occasionally. Bill Grimm was then naming all his software releases Whatever-talk, so when Malcolm teamed up with Computer Aids, the program was renamed Screen Talk. When Doug Geoffrey took over Computer Aids, he named his screen reader Vocal-Eyes. Apparently Malcolm had no objection to that. Actually Doug wasn't even aware that the name had been used by Malcolm. Later GW Micro released Window-Eyes for Windows as, as you know, Vocal-Eyes was a DOS screen reader. Dave At 04:02 AM 10/17/2016, you wrote: I don't have time to write a very long message, but here's a little of the story. In the early 1980s Bill Grimm formed a company, Computer Aids Corporation, to create software for the Apple II family of computers. They teamed up with Malcolm Holser to create a screen reader for DOS called Screen-Talk, which was released in 1985, which I bought and used. In 1986 Screen-Talk was linked with ProKey, a macro program, and its functionality was extended. Somewhere in there, Doug Geoffray was hired as a programmer. In 1988 Computer Aids released the Sounding Board, an ISA-compatible speech synthesizer that used the SSI-263 speech chip that was common in those days. Dan Wyrick did major work on that project. Near that time Bill Grimm died. Dan and Doug put together a new company, GW Micro and marketed the new-generation DOS screen reader as Vocal-Eyes. The first Windows 3.0 screen reader was OutSpoken, released in the summer of 1992. Later came Automatic Screen Access for Windows and JAWS for Windows. Window-Eyes 1.0 came out quite late, in late 1995. It worked with Windows 3 and 3.1, even though Windows 95 was already out and had no screen reader support from anyone at first. Window-Eyes 2 was the first W-E version to support Windows 95, and came out in the spring of 1997, I think. The revision history of Window-Eyes is on the GW Micro website, going way back; it is instructive to read it to see where we have come from. Lloyd
Re: history of window eyes
Doug, Just wanted to thank you for the response to this question. Great that we did get a response from someone in the staff, considering all the speculation and concerns on the list lately. Understandably, a merge takes time, and many things have to be sorted out. Yet, I do think many people have been concerned about the missing of Win-Eyes mentioned, or refered to, when people from VFO are interviewed, or on contact forms. Perhaps something the main staff might want to change first of all, since that would lead to people more relaxing. Tons of talk about Jaws and ZT, nothing about WE, well you cannot help the community starting to spin rumors and speculations. Add to it, noone from the staff told anything, except from us seeing one by one leaving. So, once again, great that we got some words on the matter, from the staff. Hopefully that will calm people for yet another piece of time, knowing that you pretty much might know little as the rest of us. On 10/18/2016 8:36 PM, Doug Geoffray via Talk wrote: > Dennis and all, > > I've been getting this question a lot lately. Here is how I've been and > continue responding until I know more: > > We are still early in the merger between Ai Squared and VFO so it is a > bit early to know how all this will ultimately play out. But please > rest assured no matter what happens, we will make sure that Window-Eyes > users will not be left behind. As we continue we will certainly make > clear what our plans are moving forward and how this may or may not > impact you. But again, we will not take your years of loyalty for granted. > > Regards, > Doug > > On 10/18/2016 2:14 PM, Dennis Long wrote: >> Doug is there any word if window Eyes will be staying around? >> - Original Message - From: "Doug Geoffray via Talk" >> >> To: >> Sent: Tuesday, October 18, 2016 9:15 AM >> Subject: Re: history of window eyes >> >> >>> Just wanted to correct a few things (smile). >>> >>> Malcolm created Screen-Talk which later became Screen-Talk Pro (linked >>> with ProKey). As stated, he may of wanted to call this Vocal-Eyes but >>> Bill Grimm didn't like that name, at the time. I had nothing to do with >>> Screen-Talk. I did create most of the Apple 2 software such as >>> Braille-Out which later turned to Braille-Talk, and Word-Talk and >>> File-Talk and Term-Talk (prior to Term-Talk it was Talking Transend) and >>> several other smaller things as well as the TTS engine for all Sounding >>> Board variants. I also created all the software for the Small-Talk >>> portable computer, except for the Calc-Talk module, ah, fun times >>> (smile). >>> >>> In 1988 I started from scratch with Vocal-Eyes. This was completely >>> different from the work Malcolm did. I almost finished Vocal-Eyes when >>> Bill Grimm got burnt out and decided to close Computer Aids, which >>> officially closed November 1989. I had started working at Computer Aids >>> in the early 80's as a contractor and around 1983 started full time as >>> an employee. Dan Weirich started around 1987ish and worked on the >>> hardware. So after Computer Aids closed in 1989, Dan and I started GW >>> Micro February 15, 1990. I spent another 6 or so months finalizing >>> Vocal-Eyes and released it right after that. As for Bill Grimm, he did >>> die but it was a few years later...I can't remember the exact year but >>> it was around 1994 or 95. >>> >>> We started working on Window-Eyes around 1994 and released 1.0 in >>> October 1995. >>> >>> Doug >>> >>> On 10/17/2016 2:41 PM, Dave Basden via Talk wrote: >>>> I might add that Malcolm, who worked as a ranger at Yosemite near >>>> Fresno where I lived at the time, initially called his PC screenreader >>>> Vocal-Eyes and I was one of the beneficiaries. He had originally >>>> designed it for a fellow ranger at Yosemite who was only partially >>>> sighted. I still see his name on the lists occasionally. Bill Grimm >>>> was then naming all his software releases Whatever-talk, so when >>>> Malcolm teamed up with Computer Aids, the program was renamed Screen >>>> Talk. When Doug Geoffrey took over Computer Aids, he named his screen >>>> reader Vocal-Eyes. Apparently Malcolm had no objection to that. >>>> Actually Doug wasn't even aware that the name had been used by >>>> Malcolm. Later GW Micro released Window-Eyes for Windows as, as you >>>> know, Vocal-Eyes was a DOS screen reader. >>>> >>&
RE: history of window eyes
And we are so grateful to you, Doug, and others like you who invested so much time and effort into making computers accessible. I recall when Windows was about to be introduced and the blind media were so despondent, claiming that blind people would never be able to access the Windows system, but thanks to folk like you, they were proved wrong. When I think of all the things I use my computer for, I cannot begin to tell you just how much I appreciate the freedom and independence your hard work has made possible. Thank you so much! Alison ___ Any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Ai Squared. For membership options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/options.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com/archive%40mail-archive.com. For subscription options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/listinfo.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com List archives can be found at http://lists.window-eyes.com/private.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com
Re: history of window eyes
Dennis and all, I've been getting this question a lot lately. Here is how I've been and continue responding until I know more: We are still early in the merger between Ai Squared and VFO so it is a bit early to know how all this will ultimately play out. But please rest assured no matter what happens, we will make sure that Window-Eyes users will not be left behind. As we continue we will certainly make clear what our plans are moving forward and how this may or may not impact you. But again, we will not take your years of loyalty for granted. Regards, Doug On 10/18/2016 2:14 PM, Dennis Long wrote: > Doug is there any word if window Eyes will be staying around? > - Original Message - From: "Doug Geoffray via Talk" > > To: > Sent: Tuesday, October 18, 2016 9:15 AM > Subject: Re: history of window eyes > > >> Just wanted to correct a few things (smile). >> >> Malcolm created Screen-Talk which later became Screen-Talk Pro (linked >> with ProKey). As stated, he may of wanted to call this Vocal-Eyes but >> Bill Grimm didn't like that name, at the time. I had nothing to do with >> Screen-Talk. I did create most of the Apple 2 software such as >> Braille-Out which later turned to Braille-Talk, and Word-Talk and >> File-Talk and Term-Talk (prior to Term-Talk it was Talking Transend) and >> several other smaller things as well as the TTS engine for all Sounding >> Board variants. I also created all the software for the Small-Talk >> portable computer, except for the Calc-Talk module, ah, fun times >> (smile). >> >> In 1988 I started from scratch with Vocal-Eyes. This was completely >> different from the work Malcolm did. I almost finished Vocal-Eyes when >> Bill Grimm got burnt out and decided to close Computer Aids, which >> officially closed November 1989. I had started working at Computer Aids >> in the early 80's as a contractor and around 1983 started full time as >> an employee. Dan Weirich started around 1987ish and worked on the >> hardware. So after Computer Aids closed in 1989, Dan and I started GW >> Micro February 15, 1990. I spent another 6 or so months finalizing >> Vocal-Eyes and released it right after that. As for Bill Grimm, he did >> die but it was a few years later...I can't remember the exact year but >> it was around 1994 or 95. >> >> We started working on Window-Eyes around 1994 and released 1.0 in >> October 1995. >> >> Doug >> >> On 10/17/2016 2:41 PM, Dave Basden via Talk wrote: >>> I might add that Malcolm, who worked as a ranger at Yosemite near >>> Fresno where I lived at the time, initially called his PC screenreader >>> Vocal-Eyes and I was one of the beneficiaries. He had originally >>> designed it for a fellow ranger at Yosemite who was only partially >>> sighted. I still see his name on the lists occasionally. Bill Grimm >>> was then naming all his software releases Whatever-talk, so when >>> Malcolm teamed up with Computer Aids, the program was renamed Screen >>> Talk. When Doug Geoffrey took over Computer Aids, he named his screen >>> reader Vocal-Eyes. Apparently Malcolm had no objection to that. >>> Actually Doug wasn't even aware that the name had been used by >>> Malcolm. Later GW Micro released Window-Eyes for Windows as, as you >>> know, Vocal-Eyes was a DOS screen reader. >>> >>> Dave >>> >>> At 04:02 AM 10/17/2016, you wrote: >>>> I don't have time to write a very long message, but here's a little >>>> of the story. >>>> In the early 1980s Bill Grimm formed a company, Computer Aids >>>> Corporation, to create software for the Apple II family of computers. >>>> They teamed up with Malcolm Holser to create a screen reader for DOS >>>> called Screen-Talk, which was released in 1985, which I bought and >>>> used. In 1986 Screen-Talk was linked with ProKey, a macro program, >>>> and its functionality was extended. Somewhere in there, Doug Geoffray >>>> was hired as a programmer. In 1988 Computer Aids released the >>>> Sounding Board, an ISA-compatible speech synthesizer that used the >>>> SSI-263 speech chip that was common in those days. Dan Wyrick did >>>> major work on that project. Near that time Bill Grimm died. >>>> Dan and Doug put together a new company, GW Micro and marketed the >>>> new-generation DOS screen reader as Vocal-Eyes. >>>> The first Windows 3.0 screen reader was OutSpoken, released in the >>>> summer of 1992. Later came Autom
Re: history of window eyes
Doug is there any word if window Eyes will be staying around? - Original Message - From: "Doug Geoffray via Talk" To: Sent: Tuesday, October 18, 2016 9:15 AM Subject: Re: history of window eyes Just wanted to correct a few things (smile). Malcolm created Screen-Talk which later became Screen-Talk Pro (linked with ProKey). As stated, he may of wanted to call this Vocal-Eyes but Bill Grimm didn't like that name, at the time. I had nothing to do with Screen-Talk. I did create most of the Apple 2 software such as Braille-Out which later turned to Braille-Talk, and Word-Talk and File-Talk and Term-Talk (prior to Term-Talk it was Talking Transend) and several other smaller things as well as the TTS engine for all Sounding Board variants. I also created all the software for the Small-Talk portable computer, except for the Calc-Talk module, ah, fun times (smile). In 1988 I started from scratch with Vocal-Eyes. This was completely different from the work Malcolm did. I almost finished Vocal-Eyes when Bill Grimm got burnt out and decided to close Computer Aids, which officially closed November 1989. I had started working at Computer Aids in the early 80's as a contractor and around 1983 started full time as an employee. Dan Weirich started around 1987ish and worked on the hardware. So after Computer Aids closed in 1989, Dan and I started GW Micro February 15, 1990. I spent another 6 or so months finalizing Vocal-Eyes and released it right after that. As for Bill Grimm, he did die but it was a few years later...I can't remember the exact year but it was around 1994 or 95. We started working on Window-Eyes around 1994 and released 1.0 in October 1995. Doug On 10/17/2016 2:41 PM, Dave Basden via Talk wrote: I might add that Malcolm, who worked as a ranger at Yosemite near Fresno where I lived at the time, initially called his PC screenreader Vocal-Eyes and I was one of the beneficiaries. He had originally designed it for a fellow ranger at Yosemite who was only partially sighted. I still see his name on the lists occasionally. Bill Grimm was then naming all his software releases Whatever-talk, so when Malcolm teamed up with Computer Aids, the program was renamed Screen Talk. When Doug Geoffrey took over Computer Aids, he named his screen reader Vocal-Eyes. Apparently Malcolm had no objection to that. Actually Doug wasn't even aware that the name had been used by Malcolm. Later GW Micro released Window-Eyes for Windows as, as you know, Vocal-Eyes was a DOS screen reader. Dave At 04:02 AM 10/17/2016, you wrote: I don't have time to write a very long message, but here's a little of the story. In the early 1980s Bill Grimm formed a company, Computer Aids Corporation, to create software for the Apple II family of computers. They teamed up with Malcolm Holser to create a screen reader for DOS called Screen-Talk, which was released in 1985, which I bought and used. In 1986 Screen-Talk was linked with ProKey, a macro program, and its functionality was extended. Somewhere in there, Doug Geoffray was hired as a programmer. In 1988 Computer Aids released the Sounding Board, an ISA-compatible speech synthesizer that used the SSI-263 speech chip that was common in those days. Dan Wyrick did major work on that project. Near that time Bill Grimm died. Dan and Doug put together a new company, GW Micro and marketed the new-generation DOS screen reader as Vocal-Eyes. The first Windows 3.0 screen reader was OutSpoken, released in the summer of 1992. Later came Automatic Screen Access for Windows and JAWS for Windows. Window-Eyes 1.0 came out quite late, in late 1995. It worked with Windows 3 and 3.1, even though Windows 95 was already out and had no screen reader support from anyone at first. Window-Eyes 2 was the first W-E version to support Windows 95, and came out in the spring of 1997, I think. The revision history of Window-Eyes is on the GW Micro website, going way back; it is instructive to read it to see where we have come from. Lloyd Rasmussen, Kensington, MD http://lras.home.sprynet.com -Original Message- From: Drew Clark via Talk Sent: Monday, October 17, 2016 3:56 AM To: Window-Eyes Discussion List Subject: history of window eyes hi, i am interested to find out the history of window eyes, who created it and how it was started. is there any webpage/audio podcast that interviews the g and the w behind gw micro? thanks -- Sent using window eyes. ___ Any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Ai Squared. For membership options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/options.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com/lras%40sprynet.com. For subscription options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/listinfo.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com List archives can be found at http://lists.window-eyes.com/private.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com ___
Re: history of window eyes
Me too, and if it hadn't been for trying out that demo of Window-Eyes, I think I might have given up on Windows altogether. What a difference! On 10/18/2016 9:54 AM, Pamela Dominguez via Talk wrote: Window bridge was the first windows screenreader I got for my first windows computer, which was a Gateway 2000, with windows 98. Pam. -Original Message- From: David Goldfield via Talk Sent: Monday, October 17, 2016 11:52 PM To: Jeff Samco ; Window-Eyes Discussion List Subject: Re: history of window eyes I'd like to add a few tidbits to this most fascinating thread. In addition to the Windows screen readers which were mentioned, Synthavoice's Window Bridge came out sometime in 1992, if my memory is correct. While I have not used that screen reader, another one that many have forgotten is Windows Master, which was produced by Blazie Engineering for Windows 3.1. I began working for Blazie Engineering in May of 1991 and, at that time, they had a DOS screen reader called Speaksys. Speaksys cost $150 and only supported the Braille 'n Speak as a synthesizer. However, it was unique in that it also allowed the Bns to be used for Braille input to a PC and I believe it even supported Grade 2 input. Eventually, the screen reader was enhanced with new features to try and bring it in line with other DOS screen readers at that time. Its name was changed to PCMaster and its price was raised to $395. Eventually, a talented programmer named Daehee Lee was hired to write a Windows version of this screen reader, which was called Windows Master. It also used a Bns for output (and I think input) and supported the SSIL library of synthesizers as well. I believe Windows Master came out in the summer of 1992 and may well have been the third or fourth Windows screen reader at that time, although I'm certainly willing to be corrected if this is incorrect. Actually, I vaguely remember hearing about what I think was the first Windows screen reader before Window Bridge, although its name now escapes me and I don't think it lasted more than a few years. This thread reminds me of a blog post from Chris Hoffstader (sp) who talked about the importance of those of us who have memories of this technology to document it online for posterity. I thought he had established a wiki for that purpose but my recent searches aren't locating it. David Goldfield, Assistive Technology Specialist Feel free to visit my Web site WWW.DavidGoldfield.Info On 10/17/2016 11:18 PM, Jeff Samco via Talk wrote: Yes, Malcom Holser wrote the original Vocal-Eyes for my use. Malcom was very gifted in many ways. He was a coworker as I worked as an interpretive ranger in Yosemite. In 1985 we went in together and purchased a used IBM PC 8086 with 256 KB of RAM and 2 double-sided 5.25-inch floppy disc drives. Since it was used it only cost us $3,000! Malcolm learned to program in assembler in writing Vocal-Eyes. I also believe I was the first user of a screen reader to use Word Perfect and alerted them to how well it worked with a screen reader. I offered various suggestions to improve its accessibility. Many screen reader users used this elegant and powerful word processor. Jeff At 11:41 AM 10/17/2016, you wrote: I might add that Malcolm, who worked as a ranger at Yosemite near Fresno where I lived at the time, initially called his PC screenreader Vocal-Eyes and I was one of the beneficiaries. He had originally designed it for a fellow ranger at Yosemite who was only partially sighted. I still see his name on the lists occasionally. Bill Grimm was then naming all his software releases Whatever-talk, so when Malcolm teamed up with Computer Aids, the program was renamed Screen Talk. When Doug Geoffrey took over Computer Aids, he named his screen reader Vocal-Eyes. Apparently Malcolm had no objection to that. Actually Doug wasn't even aware that the name had been used by Malcolm. Later GW Micro released Window-Eyes for Windows as, as you know, Vocal-Eyes was a DOS screen reader. Dave At 04:02 AM 10/17/2016, you wrote: I don't have time to write a very long message, but here's a little of the story. In the early 1980s Bill Grimm formed a company, Computer Aids Corporation, to create software for the Apple II family of computers. They teamed up with Malcolm Holser to create a screen reader for DOS called Screen-Talk, which was released in 1985, which I bought and used. In 1986 Screen-Talk was linked with ProKey, a macro program, and its functionality was extended. Somewhere in there, Doug Geoffray was hired as a programmer. In 1988 Computer Aids released the Sounding Board, an ISA-compatible speech synthesizer that used the SSI-263 speech chip that was common in those days. Dan Wyrick did major work on that project. Near that time Bill Grimm died. Dan and Doug put together a new company, GW Micro and marketed the new-generation DOS screen reader as Vocal-Eyes. The first Windows 3.0 screen re
Re: history of window eyes
The first screen-reader that I used was ASAP written by Larry Skutchan. This was another dos screen-reader that worked very well with word perfect 5.1 and some other programs. Then Larry came out with a windows version of his screen-reader ASAW which worked with windows 3.1 and windows 95. I started using Window-eyes 3.1 with windows 98 and I've been using it ever since. I hope to keep using Window-eyes for many years to come. Jeff Weiss -Original Message- From: Larry Higgins via Talk Sent: Monday, October 17, 2016 11:47 PM To: David Goldfield ; Window-Eyes Discussion List ; Jeff Samco Subject: Re: history of window eyes Another one that some may remember a bit more than I do was Berkeley Systems OutSpoken. If I remember correctly Berkeley Systems was sold to the Alva people. I think it came out some time in 1994, so was written for 3.1, and after that, I don't think it was any further developed Anyway, I remember having a demo of that program, but didn't have much in the way of software to play around with at the time, but I think it read the interface reasonably well. No more than that I able to share . On 10/17/2016 10:52 PM, David Goldfield via Talk wrote: I'd like to add a few tidbits to this most fascinating thread. In addition to the Windows screen readers which were mentioned, Synthavoice's Window Bridge came out sometime in 1992, if my memory is correct. While I have not used that screen reader, another one that many have forgotten is Windows Master, which was produced by Blazie Engineering for Windows 3.1. I began working for Blazie Engineering in May of 1991 and, at that time, they had a DOS screen reader called Speaksys. Speaksys cost $150 and only supported the Braille 'n Speak as a synthesizer. However, it was unique in that it also allowed the Bns to be used for Braille input to a PC and I believe it even supported Grade 2 input. Eventually, the screen reader was enhanced with new features to try and bring it in line with other DOS screen readers at that time. Its name was changed to PCMaster and its price was raised to $395. Eventually, a talented programmer named Daehee Lee was hired to write a Windows version of this screen reader, which was called Windows Master. It also used a Bns for output (and I think input) and supported the SSIL library of synthesizers as well. I believe Windows Master came out in the summer of 1992 and may well have been the third or fourth Windows screen reader at that time, although I'm certainly willing to be corrected if this is incorrect. Actually, I vaguely remember hearing about what I think was the first Windows screen reader before Window Bridge, although its name now escapes me and I don't think it lasted more than a few years. This thread reminds me of a blog post from Chris Hoffstader (sp) who talked about the importance of those of us who have memories of this technology to document it online for posterity. I thought he had established a wiki for that purpose but my recent searches aren't locating it. David Goldfield, Assistive Technology Specialist Feel free to visit my Web site WWW.DavidGoldfield.Info On 10/17/2016 11:18 PM, Jeff Samco via Talk wrote: Yes, Malcom Holser wrote the original Vocal-Eyes for my use. Malcom was very gifted in many ways. He was a coworker as I worked as an interpretive ranger in Yosemite. In 1985 we went in together and purchased a used IBM PC 8086 with 256 KB of RAM and 2 double-sided 5.25-inch floppy disc drives. Since it was used it only cost us $3,000! Malcolm learned to program in assembler in writing Vocal-Eyes. I also believe I was the first user of a screen reader to use Word Perfect and alerted them to how well it worked with a screen reader. I offered various suggestions to improve its accessibility. Many screen reader users used this elegant and powerful word processor. Jeff At 11:41 AM 10/17/2016, you wrote: I might add that Malcolm, who worked as a ranger at Yosemite near Fresno where I lived at the time, initially called his PC screenreader Vocal-Eyes and I was one of the beneficiaries. He had originally designed it for a fellow ranger at Yosemite who was only partially sighted. I still see his name on the lists occasionally. Bill Grimm was then naming all his software releases Whatever-talk, so when Malcolm teamed up with Computer Aids, the program was renamed Screen Talk. When Doug Geoffrey took over Computer Aids, he named his screen reader Vocal-Eyes. Apparently Malcolm had no objection to that. Actually Doug wasn't even aware that the name had been used by Malcolm. Later GW Micro released Window-Eyes for Windows as, as you know, Vocal-Eyes was a DOS screen reader. Dave At 04:02 AM 10/17/2016, you wrote: I don't have time to write a very long message, but here's a little of the story. In the early 1980s Bill Grimm formed a company, Computer Aids Corporation, to create software for t
Re: history of window eyes
Hi! I sure do! I used WP from 5.0 through 6.2 for dos and briefly ran WP7.0 on a windows 98 system. It just seemed to be easier to use for some reason. Catch Ya All Later! de . On 18-Oct-16 00:36, Kevin Barry via Talk wrote: Many of us still miss word perfect. On Tuesday, October 18, 2016, David Goldfield via Talk < talk@lists.window-eyes.com> wrote: I'd like to add a few tidbits to this most fascinating thread. In addition to the Windows screen readers which were mentioned, Synthavoice's Window Bridge came out sometime in 1992, if my memory is correct. While I have not used that screen reader, another one that many have forgotten is Windows Master, which was produced by Blazie Engineering for Windows 3.1. I began working for Blazie Engineering in May of 1991 and, at that time, they had a DOS screen reader called Speaksys. Speaksys cost $150 and only supported the Braille 'n Speak as a synthesizer. However, it was unique in that it also allowed the Bns to be used for Braille input to a PC and I believe it even supported Grade 2 input. Eventually, the screen reader was enhanced with new features to try and bring it in line with other DOS screen readers at that time. Its name was changed to PCMaster and its price was raised to $395. Eventually, a talented programmer named Daehee Lee was hired to write a Windows version of this screen reader, which was called Windows Master. It also used a Bns for output (and I think input) and supported the SSIL library of synthesizers as well. I believe Windows Master came out in the summer of 1992 and may well have been the third or fourth Windows screen reader at that time, although I'm certainly willing to be corrected if this is incorrect. Actually, I vaguely remember hearing about what I think was the first Windows screen reader before Window Bridge, although its name now escapes me and I don't think it lasted more than a few years. This thread reminds me of a blog post from Chris Hoffstader (sp) who talked about the importance of those of us who have memories of this technology to document it online for posterity. I thought he had established a wiki for that purpose but my recent searches aren't locating it. David Goldfield, Assistive Technology Specialist Feel free to visit my Web site WWW.DavidGoldfield.Info On 10/17/2016 11:18 PM, Jeff Samco via Talk wrote: Yes, Malcom Holser wrote the original Vocal-Eyes for my use. Malcom was very gifted in many ways. He was a coworker as I worked as an interpretive ranger in Yosemite. In 1985 we went in together and purchased a used IBM PC 8086 with 256 KB of RAM and 2 double-sided 5.25-inch floppy disc drives. Since it was used it only cost us $3,000! Malcolm learned to program in assembler in writing Vocal-Eyes. I also believe I was the first user of a screen reader to use Word Perfect and alerted them to how well it worked with a screen reader. I offered various suggestions to improve its accessibility. Many screen reader users used this elegant and powerful word processor. Jeff At 11:41 AM 10/17/2016, you wrote: I might add that Malcolm, who worked as a ranger at Yosemite near Fresno where I lived at the time, initially called his PC screenreader Vocal-Eyes and I was one of the beneficiaries. He had originally designed it for a fellow ranger at Yosemite who was only partially sighted. I still see his name on the lists occasionally. Bill Grimm was then naming all his software releases Whatever-talk, so when Malcolm teamed up with Computer Aids, the program was renamed Screen Talk. When Doug Geoffrey took over Computer Aids, he named his screen reader Vocal-Eyes. Apparently Malcolm had no objection to that. Actually Doug wasn't even aware that the name had been used by Malcolm. Later GW Micro released Window-Eyes for Windows as, as you know, Vocal-Eyes was a DOS screen reader. Dave At 04:02 AM 10/17/2016, you wrote: I don't have time to write a very long message, but here's a little of the story. In the early 1980s Bill Grimm formed a company, Computer Aids Corporation, to create software for the Apple II family of computers. They teamed up with Malcolm Holser to create a screen reader for DOS called Screen-Talk, which was released in 1985, which I bought and used. In 1986 Screen-Talk was linked with ProKey, a macro program, and its functionality was extended. Somewhere in there, Doug Geoffray was hired as a programmer. In 1988 Computer Aids released the Sounding Board, an ISA-compatible speech synthesizer that used the SSI-263 speech chip that was common in those days. Dan Wyrick did major work on that project. Near that time Bill Grimm died. Dan and Doug put together a new company, GW Micro and marketed the new-generation DOS screen reader as Vocal-Eyes. The first Windows 3.0 screen reader was OutSpoken, released in the summer of 1992. Later came Automatic Screen Access for Windows and JAWS for Windows. Window-Eyes 1.0 came out quite late, in late 1995. It worked with Windows 3 and 3
Re: history of window eyes
My first screenreader was for the Apple II + and was written by Street Electronics to accompany their Echo II speech synthesizer. Dave At 06:47 AM 10/18/2016, you wrote: My first screen reader was Artic Business Vision on a IBM ps2 model 30. -Original Message- From: Grant Metcalf via Talk Sent: Monday, October 17, 2016 10:27 PM To: Larry Higgins ; Window-Eyes Discussion List Subject: Re: history of window eyes I finally remembered the DOS screen reader I used before WindowEyes. It was Provox, written by Chuck Hallenbach. Truthfully, Grandpa DOS often wishes he could go back to those good old days! Smile! I still have my version 7 copy and just maybe I will do back. Grant Metcalf A.K.A. Grandpa DOS Email: the.g...@att.net ___ Any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Ai Squared. For membership options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/options.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com/russ94577%40gmail.com. For subscription options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/listinfo.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com List archives can be found at http://lists.window-eyes.com/private.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com ___ Any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Ai Squared. For membership options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/options.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com/dave%40basden.us. For subscription options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/listinfo.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com List archives can be found at http://lists.window-eyes.com/private.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com ___ Any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Ai Squared. For membership options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/options.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com/archive%40mail-archive.com. For subscription options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/listinfo.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com List archives can be found at http://lists.window-eyes.com/private.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com
Re: history of window eyes
Hi there! My first windows screen reader was Artic Winvision. Yes I do like Window-Eyes, but I thought that Winvision was the easiest to configure on the fly as well as use straight from the box. We have come along ways since then, and I really do appreciate the ease of use with W.E. My first and only DOS screen reader was called TinyTalk. It was referred to as the poor man's screen reader since I only paid $75 for it. Just a bit of my history with screen readers. Have a Good 1! de . On 18-Oct-16 10:54, Pamela Dominguez via Talk wrote: Window bridge was the first windows screenreader I got for my first windows computer, which was a Gateway 2000, with windows 98. Pam. -Original Message- From: David Goldfield via Talk Sent: Monday, October 17, 2016 11:52 PM To: Jeff Samco ; Window-Eyes Discussion List Subject: Re: history of window eyes I'd like to add a few tidbits to this most fascinating thread. In addition to the Windows screen readers which were mentioned, Synthavoice's Window Bridge came out sometime in 1992, if my memory is correct. While I have not used that screen reader, another one that many have forgotten is Windows Master, which was produced by Blazie Engineering for Windows 3.1. I began working for Blazie Engineering in May of 1991 and, at that time, they had a DOS screen reader called Speaksys. Speaksys cost $150 and only supported the Braille 'n Speak as a synthesizer. However, it was unique in that it also allowed the Bns to be used for Braille input to a PC and I believe it even supported Grade 2 input. Eventually, the screen reader was enhanced with new features to try and bring it in line with other DOS screen readers at that time. Its name was changed to PCMaster and its price was raised to $395. Eventually, a talented programmer named Daehee Lee was hired to write a Windows version of this screen reader, which was called Windows Master. It also used a Bns for output (and I think input) and supported the SSIL library of synthesizers as well. I believe Windows Master came out in the summer of 1992 and may well have been the third or fourth Windows screen reader at that time, although I'm certainly willing to be corrected if this is incorrect. Actually, I vaguely remember hearing about what I think was the first Windows screen reader before Window Bridge, although its name now escapes me and I don't think it lasted more than a few years. This thread reminds me of a blog post from Chris Hoffstader (sp) who talked about the importance of those of us who have memories of this technology to document it online for posterity. I thought he had established a wiki for that purpose but my recent searches aren't locating it. David Goldfield, Assistive Technology Specialist Feel free to visit my Web site WWW.DavidGoldfield.Info On 10/17/2016 11:18 PM, Jeff Samco via Talk wrote: Yes, Malcom Holser wrote the original Vocal-Eyes for my use. Malcom was very gifted in many ways. He was a coworker as I worked as an interpretive ranger in Yosemite. In 1985 we went in together and purchased a used IBM PC 8086 with 256 KB of RAM and 2 double-sided 5.25-inch floppy disc drives. Since it was used it only cost us $3,000! Malcolm learned to program in assembler in writing Vocal-Eyes. I also believe I was the first user of a screen reader to use Word Perfect and alerted them to how well it worked with a screen reader. I offered various suggestions to improve its accessibility. Many screen reader users used this elegant and powerful word processor. Jeff At 11:41 AM 10/17/2016, you wrote: I might add that Malcolm, who worked as a ranger at Yosemite near Fresno where I lived at the time, initially called his PC screenreader Vocal-Eyes and I was one of the beneficiaries. He had originally designed it for a fellow ranger at Yosemite who was only partially sighted. I still see his name on the lists occasionally. Bill Grimm was then naming all his software releases Whatever-talk, so when Malcolm teamed up with Computer Aids, the program was renamed Screen Talk. When Doug Geoffrey took over Computer Aids, he named his screen reader Vocal-Eyes. Apparently Malcolm had no objection to that. Actually Doug wasn't even aware that the name had been used by Malcolm. Later GW Micro released Window-Eyes for Windows as, as you know, Vocal-Eyes was a DOS screen reader. Dave At 04:02 AM 10/17/2016, you wrote: I don't have time to write a very long message, but here's a little of the story. In the early 1980s Bill Grimm formed a company, Computer Aids Corporation, to create software for the Apple II family of computers. They teamed up with Malcolm Holser to create a screen reader for DOS called Screen-Talk, which was released in 1985, which I bought and used. In 1986 Screen-Talk was linked with ProKey, a macro program, and its functionality was extended. Somewhere in there, Doug Geoffray was hired as a programmer. In 1988 Computer A
Re: history of window eyes
Window bridge was the first windows screenreader I got for my first windows computer, which was a Gateway 2000, with windows 98. Pam. -Original Message- From: David Goldfield via Talk Sent: Monday, October 17, 2016 11:52 PM To: Jeff Samco ; Window-Eyes Discussion List Subject: Re: history of window eyes I'd like to add a few tidbits to this most fascinating thread. In addition to the Windows screen readers which were mentioned, Synthavoice's Window Bridge came out sometime in 1992, if my memory is correct. While I have not used that screen reader, another one that many have forgotten is Windows Master, which was produced by Blazie Engineering for Windows 3.1. I began working for Blazie Engineering in May of 1991 and, at that time, they had a DOS screen reader called Speaksys. Speaksys cost $150 and only supported the Braille 'n Speak as a synthesizer. However, it was unique in that it also allowed the Bns to be used for Braille input to a PC and I believe it even supported Grade 2 input. Eventually, the screen reader was enhanced with new features to try and bring it in line with other DOS screen readers at that time. Its name was changed to PCMaster and its price was raised to $395. Eventually, a talented programmer named Daehee Lee was hired to write a Windows version of this screen reader, which was called Windows Master. It also used a Bns for output (and I think input) and supported the SSIL library of synthesizers as well. I believe Windows Master came out in the summer of 1992 and may well have been the third or fourth Windows screen reader at that time, although I'm certainly willing to be corrected if this is incorrect. Actually, I vaguely remember hearing about what I think was the first Windows screen reader before Window Bridge, although its name now escapes me and I don't think it lasted more than a few years. This thread reminds me of a blog post from Chris Hoffstader (sp) who talked about the importance of those of us who have memories of this technology to document it online for posterity. I thought he had established a wiki for that purpose but my recent searches aren't locating it. David Goldfield, Assistive Technology Specialist Feel free to visit my Web site WWW.DavidGoldfield.Info On 10/17/2016 11:18 PM, Jeff Samco via Talk wrote: Yes, Malcom Holser wrote the original Vocal-Eyes for my use. Malcom was very gifted in many ways. He was a coworker as I worked as an interpretive ranger in Yosemite. In 1985 we went in together and purchased a used IBM PC 8086 with 256 KB of RAM and 2 double-sided 5.25-inch floppy disc drives. Since it was used it only cost us $3,000! Malcolm learned to program in assembler in writing Vocal-Eyes. I also believe I was the first user of a screen reader to use Word Perfect and alerted them to how well it worked with a screen reader. I offered various suggestions to improve its accessibility. Many screen reader users used this elegant and powerful word processor. Jeff At 11:41 AM 10/17/2016, you wrote: I might add that Malcolm, who worked as a ranger at Yosemite near Fresno where I lived at the time, initially called his PC screenreader Vocal-Eyes and I was one of the beneficiaries. He had originally designed it for a fellow ranger at Yosemite who was only partially sighted. I still see his name on the lists occasionally. Bill Grimm was then naming all his software releases Whatever-talk, so when Malcolm teamed up with Computer Aids, the program was renamed Screen Talk. When Doug Geoffrey took over Computer Aids, he named his screen reader Vocal-Eyes. Apparently Malcolm had no objection to that. Actually Doug wasn't even aware that the name had been used by Malcolm. Later GW Micro released Window-Eyes for Windows as, as you know, Vocal-Eyes was a DOS screen reader. Dave At 04:02 AM 10/17/2016, you wrote: I don't have time to write a very long message, but here's a little of the story. In the early 1980s Bill Grimm formed a company, Computer Aids Corporation, to create software for the Apple II family of computers. They teamed up with Malcolm Holser to create a screen reader for DOS called Screen-Talk, which was released in 1985, which I bought and used. In 1986 Screen-Talk was linked with ProKey, a macro program, and its functionality was extended. Somewhere in there, Doug Geoffray was hired as a programmer. In 1988 Computer Aids released the Sounding Board, an ISA-compatible speech synthesizer that used the SSI-263 speech chip that was common in those days. Dan Wyrick did major work on that project. Near that time Bill Grimm died. Dan and Doug put together a new company, GW Micro and marketed the new-generation DOS screen reader as Vocal-Eyes. The first Windows 3.0 screen reader was OutSpoken, released in the summer of 1992. Later came Automatic Screen Access for Windows and JAWS for Windows. Window-Eyes 1.0 came out quite late, in late 1995. It worked with Windows 3 and 3.
Re: history of window eyes
Oh, I loved wordperfekt. I knew much more about that than I have ever learned about Microsoft word! Pam. -Original Message- From: Jeff Samco via Talk Sent: Monday, October 17, 2016 11:18 PM To: Dave Basden ; Window-Eyes Discussion List Subject: Re: history of window eyes Yes, Malcom Holser wrote the original Vocal-Eyes for my use. Malcom was very gifted in many ways. He was a coworker as I worked as an interpretive ranger in Yosemite. In 1985 we went in together and purchased a used IBM PC 8086 with 256 KB of RAM and 2 double-sided 5.25-inch floppy disc drives. Since it was used it only cost us $3,000! Malcolm learned to program in assembler in writing Vocal-Eyes. I also believe I was the first user of a screen reader to use Word Perfect and alerted them to how well it worked with a screen reader. I offered various suggestions to improve its accessibility. Many screen reader users used this elegant and powerful word processor. Jeff At 11:41 AM 10/17/2016, you wrote: I might add that Malcolm, who worked as a ranger at Yosemite near Fresno where I lived at the time, initially called his PC screenreader Vocal-Eyes and I was one of the beneficiaries. He had originally designed it for a fellow ranger at Yosemite who was only partially sighted. I still see his name on the lists occasionally. Bill Grimm was then naming all his software releases Whatever-talk, so when Malcolm teamed up with Computer Aids, the program was renamed Screen Talk. When Doug Geoffrey took over Computer Aids, he named his screen reader Vocal-Eyes. Apparently Malcolm had no objection to that. Actually Doug wasn't even aware that the name had been used by Malcolm. Later GW Micro released Window-Eyes for Windows as, as you know, Vocal-Eyes was a DOS screen reader. Dave At 04:02 AM 10/17/2016, you wrote: I don't have time to write a very long message, but here's a little of the story. In the early 1980s Bill Grimm formed a company, Computer Aids Corporation, to create software for the Apple II family of computers. They teamed up with Malcolm Holser to create a screen reader for DOS called Screen-Talk, which was released in 1985, which I bought and used. In 1986 Screen-Talk was linked with ProKey, a macro program, and its functionality was extended. Somewhere in there, Doug Geoffray was hired as a programmer. In 1988 Computer Aids released the Sounding Board, an ISA-compatible speech synthesizer that used the SSI-263 speech chip that was common in those days. Dan Wyrick did major work on that project. Near that time Bill Grimm died. Dan and Doug put together a new company, GW Micro and marketed the new-generation DOS screen reader as Vocal-Eyes. The first Windows 3.0 screen reader was OutSpoken, released in the summer of 1992. Later came Automatic Screen Access for Windows and JAWS for Windows. Window-Eyes 1.0 came out quite late, in late 1995. It worked with Windows 3 and 3.1, even though Windows 95 was already out and had no screen reader support from anyone at first. Window-Eyes 2 was the first W-E version to support Windows 95, and came out in the spring of 1997, I think. The revision history of Window-Eyes is on the GW Micro website, going way back; it is instructive to read it to see where we have come from. Lloyd Rasmussen, Kensington, MD http://lras.home.sprynet.com -Original Message- From: Drew Clark via Talk Sent: Monday, October 17, 2016 3:56 AM To: Window-Eyes Discussion List Subject: history of window eyes hi, i am interested to find out the history of window eyes, who created it and how it was started. is there any webpage/audio podcast that interviews the g and the w behind gw micro? thanks -- Sent using window eyes. ___ Any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Ai Squared. For membership options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/options.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com/lras%40sprynet.com. For subscription options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/listinfo.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com List archives can be found at http://lists.window-eyes.com/private.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com ___ Any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Ai Squared. For membership options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/options.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com/dave%40basden.us. For subscription options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/listinfo.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com List archives can be found at http://lists.window-eyes.com/private.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com ___ Any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Ai Squared. For membership options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/options.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com/j
Re: history of window eyes
My first screen reader was Artic Business Vision on a IBM ps2 model 30. -Original Message- From: Grant Metcalf via Talk Sent: Monday, October 17, 2016 10:27 PM To: Larry Higgins ; Window-Eyes Discussion List Subject: Re: history of window eyes I finally remembered the DOS screen reader I used before WindowEyes. It was Provox, written by Chuck Hallenbach. Truthfully, Grandpa DOS often wishes he could go back to those good old days! Smile! I still have my version 7 copy and just maybe I will do back. Grant Metcalf A.K.A. Grandpa DOS Email: the.g...@att.net ___ Any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Ai Squared. For membership options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/options.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com/russ94577%40gmail.com. For subscription options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/listinfo.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com List archives can be found at http://lists.window-eyes.com/private.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com ___ Any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Ai Squared. For membership options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/options.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com/archive%40mail-archive.com. For subscription options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/listinfo.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com List archives can be found at http://lists.window-eyes.com/private.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com
Re: history of window eyes
When did Winvision from Artic come out? -Original Message- From: David Goldfield via Talk Sent: Monday, October 17, 2016 8:52 PM To: Jeff Samco ; Window-Eyes Discussion List Subject: Re: history of window eyes I'd like to add a few tidbits to this most fascinating thread. In addition to the Windows screen readers which were mentioned, Synthavoice's Window Bridge came out sometime in 1992, if my memory is correct. While I have not used that screen reader, another one that many have forgotten is Windows Master, which was produced by Blazie Engineering for Windows 3.1. I began working for Blazie Engineering in May of 1991 and, at that time, they had a DOS screen reader called Speaksys. Speaksys cost $150 and only supported the Braille 'n Speak as a synthesizer. However, it was unique in that it also allowed the Bns to be used for Braille input to a PC and I believe it even supported Grade 2 input. Eventually, the screen reader was enhanced with new features to try and bring it in line with other DOS screen readers at that time. Its name was changed to PCMaster and its price was raised to $395. Eventually, a talented programmer named Daehee Lee was hired to write a Windows version of this screen reader, which was called Windows Master. It also used a Bns for output (and I think input) and supported the SSIL library of synthesizers as well. I believe Windows Master came out in the summer of 1992 and may well have been the third or fourth Windows screen reader at that time, although I'm certainly willing to be corrected if this is incorrect. Actually, I vaguely remember hearing about what I think was the first Windows screen reader before Window Bridge, although its name now escapes me and I don't think it lasted more than a few years. This thread reminds me of a blog post from Chris Hoffstader (sp) who talked about the importance of those of us who have memories of this technology to document it online for posterity. I thought he had established a wiki for that purpose but my recent searches aren't locating it. David Goldfield, Assistive Technology Specialist Feel free to visit my Web site WWW.DavidGoldfield.Info On 10/17/2016 11:18 PM, Jeff Samco via Talk wrote: Yes, Malcom Holser wrote the original Vocal-Eyes for my use. Malcom was very gifted in many ways. He was a coworker as I worked as an interpretive ranger in Yosemite. In 1985 we went in together and purchased a used IBM PC 8086 with 256 KB of RAM and 2 double-sided 5.25-inch floppy disc drives. Since it was used it only cost us $3,000! Malcolm learned to program in assembler in writing Vocal-Eyes. I also believe I was the first user of a screen reader to use Word Perfect and alerted them to how well it worked with a screen reader. I offered various suggestions to improve its accessibility. Many screen reader users used this elegant and powerful word processor. Jeff At 11:41 AM 10/17/2016, you wrote: I might add that Malcolm, who worked as a ranger at Yosemite near Fresno where I lived at the time, initially called his PC screenreader Vocal-Eyes and I was one of the beneficiaries. He had originally designed it for a fellow ranger at Yosemite who was only partially sighted. I still see his name on the lists occasionally. Bill Grimm was then naming all his software releases Whatever-talk, so when Malcolm teamed up with Computer Aids, the program was renamed Screen Talk. When Doug Geoffrey took over Computer Aids, he named his screen reader Vocal-Eyes. Apparently Malcolm had no objection to that. Actually Doug wasn't even aware that the name had been used by Malcolm. Later GW Micro released Window-Eyes for Windows as, as you know, Vocal-Eyes was a DOS screen reader. Dave At 04:02 AM 10/17/2016, you wrote: I don't have time to write a very long message, but here's a little of the story. In the early 1980s Bill Grimm formed a company, Computer Aids Corporation, to create software for the Apple II family of computers. They teamed up with Malcolm Holser to create a screen reader for DOS called Screen-Talk, which was released in 1985, which I bought and used. In 1986 Screen-Talk was linked with ProKey, a macro program, and its functionality was extended. Somewhere in there, Doug Geoffray was hired as a programmer. In 1988 Computer Aids released the Sounding Board, an ISA-compatible speech synthesizer that used the SSI-263 speech chip that was common in those days. Dan Wyrick did major work on that project. Near that time Bill Grimm died. Dan and Doug put together a new company, GW Micro and marketed the new-generation DOS screen reader as Vocal-Eyes. The first Windows 3.0 screen reader was OutSpoken, released in the summer of 1992. Later came Automatic Screen Access for Windows and JAWS for Windows. Window-Eyes 1.0 came out quite late, in late 1995. It worked with Windows 3 and 3.1, even though Windows 95 was already out and had no screen reader support from anyone at firs
Re: history of window eyes
Well, before vocal eyes, on my first dos computer, I had Artic vision. Pam. -Original Message- From: Bob Hicks via Talk Sent: Monday, October 17, 2016 1:58 PM To: 'Tom Fairhurst' ; 'Window-Eyes Discussion List' Subject: RE: history of window eyes Yeas, I also had ScreenTalk before Window Eyes and I believe I used an Echo synthesizer with it. Best Regards, Bob Hicks -Original Message- From: Talk [mailto:talk-bounces+bob=seeinghandassociation@lists.window-eyes.com] On Behalf Of Tom Fairhurst via Talk Sent: Monday, October 17, 2016 9:53 AM To: Drew Clark ; Window-Eyes Discussion List Subject: Re: history of window eyes Hi, Drew. While I believe we should not spend much more time on list for this, I bought my first home computer frojm Computer Aids Corporation in 1989. It had ScreenTalk installed on it. I have used Vocal-Eyes and Window-Eyes ever since. -Original Message- From: Drew Clark via Talk Sent: Monday, October 17, 2016 2:56 AM To: Window-Eyes Discussion List Subject: history of window eyes hi, i am interested to find out the history of window eyes, who created it and how it was started. is there any webpage/audio podcast that interviews the g and the w behind gw micro? thanks -- Sent using window eyes. ___ Any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Ai Squared. For membership options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/options.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com/tfairhurst%40k c.rr.com. For subscription options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/listinfo.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com List archives can be found at http://lists.window-eyes.com/private.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2016.0.7797 / Virus Database: 4664/13227 - Release Date: 10/17/16 ___ Any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Ai Squared. For membership options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/options.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com/bob%40seeingha ndassociation.com. For subscription options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/listinfo.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com List archives can be found at http://lists.window-eyes.com/private.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com ___ Any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Ai Squared. For membership options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/options.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com/geodom%40optonline.net. For subscription options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/listinfo.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com List archives can be found at http://lists.window-eyes.com/private.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2016.0.7797 / Virus Database: 4664/13228 - Release Date: 10/17/16 ___ Any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Ai Squared. For membership options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/options.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com/archive%40mail-archive.com. For subscription options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/listinfo.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com List archives can be found at http://lists.window-eyes.com/private.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com
Re: history of window eyes
Hi, thanks doug for responding. that is what i want. On 10/18/2016 9:15 PM, Doug Geoffray via Talk wrote: Just wanted to correct a few things (smile). Malcolm created Screen-Talk which later became Screen-Talk Pro (linked with ProKey). As stated, he may of wanted to call this Vocal-Eyes but Bill Grimm didn't like that name, at the time. I had nothing to do with Screen-Talk. I did create most of the Apple 2 software such as Braille-Out which later turned to Braille-Talk, and Word-Talk and File-Talk and Term-Talk (prior to Term-Talk it was Talking Transend) and several other smaller things as well as the TTS engine for all Sounding Board variants. I also created all the software for the Small-Talk portable computer, except for the Calc-Talk module, ah, fun times (smile). In 1988 I started from scratch with Vocal-Eyes. This was completely different from the work Malcolm did. I almost finished Vocal-Eyes when Bill Grimm got burnt out and decided to close Computer Aids, which officially closed November 1989. I had started working at Computer Aids in the early 80's as a contractor and around 1983 started full time as an employee. Dan Weirich started around 1987ish and worked on the hardware. So after Computer Aids closed in 1989, Dan and I started GW Micro February 15, 1990. I spent another 6 or so months finalizing Vocal-Eyes and released it right after that. As for Bill Grimm, he did die but it was a few years later...I can't remember the exact year but it was around 1994 or 95. We started working on Window-Eyes around 1994 and released 1.0 in October 1995. Doug On 10/17/2016 2:41 PM, Dave Basden via Talk wrote: I might add that Malcolm, who worked as a ranger at Yosemite near Fresno where I lived at the time, initially called his PC screenreader Vocal-Eyes and I was one of the beneficiaries. He had originally designed it for a fellow ranger at Yosemite who was only partially sighted. I still see his name on the lists occasionally. Bill Grimm was then naming all his software releases Whatever-talk, so when Malcolm teamed up with Computer Aids, the program was renamed Screen Talk. When Doug Geoffrey took over Computer Aids, he named his screen reader Vocal-Eyes. Apparently Malcolm had no objection to that. Actually Doug wasn't even aware that the name had been used by Malcolm. Later GW Micro released Window-Eyes for Windows as, as you know, Vocal-Eyes was a DOS screen reader. Dave At 04:02 AM 10/17/2016, you wrote: I don't have time to write a very long message, but here's a little of the story. In the early 1980s Bill Grimm formed a company, Computer Aids Corporation, to create software for the Apple II family of computers. They teamed up with Malcolm Holser to create a screen reader for DOS called Screen-Talk, which was released in 1985, which I bought and used. In 1986 Screen-Talk was linked with ProKey, a macro program, and its functionality was extended. Somewhere in there, Doug Geoffray was hired as a programmer. In 1988 Computer Aids released the Sounding Board, an ISA-compatible speech synthesizer that used the SSI-263 speech chip that was common in those days. Dan Wyrick did major work on that project. Near that time Bill Grimm died. Dan and Doug put together a new company, GW Micro and marketed the new-generation DOS screen reader as Vocal-Eyes. The first Windows 3.0 screen reader was OutSpoken, released in the summer of 1992. Later came Automatic Screen Access for Windows and JAWS for Windows. Window-Eyes 1.0 came out quite late, in late 1995. It worked with Windows 3 and 3.1, even though Windows 95 was already out and had no screen reader support from anyone at first. Window-Eyes 2 was the first W-E version to support Windows 95, and came out in the spring of 1997, I think. The revision history of Window-Eyes is on the GW Micro website, going way back; it is instructive to read it to see where we have come from. Lloyd Rasmussen, Kensington, MD http://lras.home.sprynet.com -Original Message- From: Drew Clark via Talk Sent: Monday, October 17, 2016 3:56 AM To: Window-Eyes Discussion List Subject: history of window eyes hi, i am interested to find out the history of window eyes, who created it and how it was started. is there any webpage/audio podcast that interviews the g and the w behind gw micro? thanks -- Sent using window eyes. ___ Any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Ai Squared. For membership options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/options.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com/lras%40sprynet.com. For subscription options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/listinfo.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com List archives can be found at http://lists.window-eyes.com/private.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com ___ Any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily repres
Re: history of window eyes
Just wanted to correct a few things (smile). Malcolm created Screen-Talk which later became Screen-Talk Pro (linked with ProKey). As stated, he may of wanted to call this Vocal-Eyes but Bill Grimm didn't like that name, at the time. I had nothing to do with Screen-Talk. I did create most of the Apple 2 software such as Braille-Out which later turned to Braille-Talk, and Word-Talk and File-Talk and Term-Talk (prior to Term-Talk it was Talking Transend) and several other smaller things as well as the TTS engine for all Sounding Board variants. I also created all the software for the Small-Talk portable computer, except for the Calc-Talk module, ah, fun times (smile). In 1988 I started from scratch with Vocal-Eyes. This was completely different from the work Malcolm did. I almost finished Vocal-Eyes when Bill Grimm got burnt out and decided to close Computer Aids, which officially closed November 1989. I had started working at Computer Aids in the early 80's as a contractor and around 1983 started full time as an employee. Dan Weirich started around 1987ish and worked on the hardware. So after Computer Aids closed in 1989, Dan and I started GW Micro February 15, 1990. I spent another 6 or so months finalizing Vocal-Eyes and released it right after that. As for Bill Grimm, he did die but it was a few years later...I can't remember the exact year but it was around 1994 or 95. We started working on Window-Eyes around 1994 and released 1.0 in October 1995. Doug On 10/17/2016 2:41 PM, Dave Basden via Talk wrote: > I might add that Malcolm, who worked as a ranger at Yosemite near > Fresno where I lived at the time, initially called his PC screenreader > Vocal-Eyes and I was one of the beneficiaries. He had originally > designed it for a fellow ranger at Yosemite who was only partially > sighted. I still see his name on the lists occasionally. Bill Grimm > was then naming all his software releases Whatever-talk, so when > Malcolm teamed up with Computer Aids, the program was renamed Screen > Talk. When Doug Geoffrey took over Computer Aids, he named his screen > reader Vocal-Eyes. Apparently Malcolm had no objection to that. > Actually Doug wasn't even aware that the name had been used by > Malcolm. Later GW Micro released Window-Eyes for Windows as, as you > know, Vocal-Eyes was a DOS screen reader. > > Dave > > At 04:02 AM 10/17/2016, you wrote: >> I don't have time to write a very long message, but here's a little >> of the story. >> In the early 1980s Bill Grimm formed a company, Computer Aids >> Corporation, to create software for the Apple II family of computers. >> They teamed up with Malcolm Holser to create a screen reader for DOS >> called Screen-Talk, which was released in 1985, which I bought and >> used. In 1986 Screen-Talk was linked with ProKey, a macro program, >> and its functionality was extended. Somewhere in there, Doug Geoffray >> was hired as a programmer. In 1988 Computer Aids released the >> Sounding Board, an ISA-compatible speech synthesizer that used the >> SSI-263 speech chip that was common in those days. Dan Wyrick did >> major work on that project. Near that time Bill Grimm died. >> Dan and Doug put together a new company, GW Micro and marketed the >> new-generation DOS screen reader as Vocal-Eyes. >> The first Windows 3.0 screen reader was OutSpoken, released in the >> summer of 1992. Later came Automatic Screen Access for Windows and >> JAWS for Windows. Window-Eyes 1.0 came out quite late, in late 1995. >> It worked with Windows 3 and 3.1, even though Windows 95 was already >> out and had no screen reader support from anyone at first. >> Window-Eyes 2 was the first W-E version to support Windows 95, and >> came out in the spring of 1997, I think. >> The revision history of Window-Eyes is on the GW Micro website, going >> way back; it is instructive to read it to see where we have come from. >> >> >> Lloyd Rasmussen, Kensington, MD >> http://lras.home.sprynet.com >> -Original Message- From: Drew Clark via Talk >> Sent: Monday, October 17, 2016 3:56 AM >> To: Window-Eyes Discussion List >> Subject: history of window eyes >> >> hi, >> >> i am interested to find out the history of window eyes, who created it >> and how it was started. is there any webpage/audio podcast that >> interviews the g and the w behind gw micro? >> >> thanks >> >> >> -- >> Sent using window eyes. >> >> ___ >> Any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the >> author and do not necessarily represent those of Ai Squared. >> >> For membership options, visit >> http://lists.window-eyes.com/options.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com/lras%40sprynet.com. >> For subscription options, visit >> http://lists.window-eyes.com/listinfo.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com >> List archives can be found at >> http://lists.window-eyes.com/private.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com >> __
Re: history of window eyes
I finally remembered the DOS screen reader I used before WindowEyes. It was Provox, written by Chuck Hallenbach. Truthfully, Grandpa DOS often wishes he could go back to those good old days! Smile! I still have my version 7 copy and just maybe I will do back. Grant Metcalf A.K.A. Grandpa DOS Email: the.g...@att.net ___ Any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Ai Squared. For membership options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/options.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com/archive%40mail-archive.com. For subscription options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/listinfo.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com List archives can be found at http://lists.window-eyes.com/private.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com
Re: history of window eyes
Another one that some may remember a bit more than I do was Berkeley Systems OutSpoken. If I remember correctly Berkeley Systems was sold to the Alva people. I think it came out some time in 1994, so was written for 3.1, and after that, I don't think it was any further developed Anyway, I remember having a demo of that program, but didn't have much in the way of software to play around with at the time, but I think it read the interface reasonably well. No more than that I able to share . On 10/17/2016 10:52 PM, David Goldfield via Talk wrote: I'd like to add a few tidbits to this most fascinating thread. In addition to the Windows screen readers which were mentioned, Synthavoice's Window Bridge came out sometime in 1992, if my memory is correct. While I have not used that screen reader, another one that many have forgotten is Windows Master, which was produced by Blazie Engineering for Windows 3.1. I began working for Blazie Engineering in May of 1991 and, at that time, they had a DOS screen reader called Speaksys. Speaksys cost $150 and only supported the Braille 'n Speak as a synthesizer. However, it was unique in that it also allowed the Bns to be used for Braille input to a PC and I believe it even supported Grade 2 input. Eventually, the screen reader was enhanced with new features to try and bring it in line with other DOS screen readers at that time. Its name was changed to PCMaster and its price was raised to $395. Eventually, a talented programmer named Daehee Lee was hired to write a Windows version of this screen reader, which was called Windows Master. It also used a Bns for output (and I think input) and supported the SSIL library of synthesizers as well. I believe Windows Master came out in the summer of 1992 and may well have been the third or fourth Windows screen reader at that time, although I'm certainly willing to be corrected if this is incorrect. Actually, I vaguely remember hearing about what I think was the first Windows screen reader before Window Bridge, although its name now escapes me and I don't think it lasted more than a few years. This thread reminds me of a blog post from Chris Hoffstader (sp) who talked about the importance of those of us who have memories of this technology to document it online for posterity. I thought he had established a wiki for that purpose but my recent searches aren't locating it. David Goldfield, Assistive Technology Specialist Feel free to visit my Web site WWW.DavidGoldfield.Info On 10/17/2016 11:18 PM, Jeff Samco via Talk wrote: Yes, Malcom Holser wrote the original Vocal-Eyes for my use. Malcom was very gifted in many ways. He was a coworker as I worked as an interpretive ranger in Yosemite. In 1985 we went in together and purchased a used IBM PC 8086 with 256 KB of RAM and 2 double-sided 5.25-inch floppy disc drives. Since it was used it only cost us $3,000! Malcolm learned to program in assembler in writing Vocal-Eyes. I also believe I was the first user of a screen reader to use Word Perfect and alerted them to how well it worked with a screen reader. I offered various suggestions to improve its accessibility. Many screen reader users used this elegant and powerful word processor. Jeff At 11:41 AM 10/17/2016, you wrote: I might add that Malcolm, who worked as a ranger at Yosemite near Fresno where I lived at the time, initially called his PC screenreader Vocal-Eyes and I was one of the beneficiaries. He had originally designed it for a fellow ranger at Yosemite who was only partially sighted. I still see his name on the lists occasionally. Bill Grimm was then naming all his software releases Whatever-talk, so when Malcolm teamed up with Computer Aids, the program was renamed Screen Talk. When Doug Geoffrey took over Computer Aids, he named his screen reader Vocal-Eyes. Apparently Malcolm had no objection to that. Actually Doug wasn't even aware that the name had been used by Malcolm. Later GW Micro released Window-Eyes for Windows as, as you know, Vocal-Eyes was a DOS screen reader. Dave At 04:02 AM 10/17/2016, you wrote: I don't have time to write a very long message, but here's a little of the story. In the early 1980s Bill Grimm formed a company, Computer Aids Corporation, to create software for the Apple II family of computers. They teamed up with Malcolm Holser to create a screen reader for DOS called Screen-Talk, which was released in 1985, which I bought and used. In 1986 Screen-Talk was linked with ProKey, a macro program, and its functionality was extended. Somewhere in there, Doug Geoffray was hired as a programmer. In 1988 Computer Aids released the Sounding Board, an ISA-compatible speech synthesizer that used the SSI-263 speech chip that was common in those days. Dan Wyrick did major work on that project. Near that time Bill Grimm died. Dan and Doug put together a new company, GW Micro and marketed the new-generation DOS screen reader as Vocal-Eyes. The first Windows 3.0 screen reader was
Re: history of window eyes
Many of us still miss word perfect. On Tuesday, October 18, 2016, David Goldfield via Talk < talk@lists.window-eyes.com> wrote: > I'd like to add a few tidbits to this most fascinating thread. > > In addition to the Windows screen readers which were mentioned, > Synthavoice's Window Bridge came out sometime in 1992, if my memory is > correct. While I have not used that screen reader, another one that many > have forgotten is Windows Master, which was produced by Blazie > Engineering for Windows 3.1. I began working for Blazie Engineering in > May of 1991 and, at that time, they had a DOS screen reader called > Speaksys. Speaksys cost $150 and only supported the Braille 'n Speak as > a synthesizer. However, it was unique in that it also allowed the Bns to > be used for Braille input to a PC and I believe it even supported Grade > 2 input. Eventually, the screen reader was enhanced with new features to > try and bring it in line with other DOS screen readers at that time. Its > name was changed to PCMaster and its price was raised to $395. > Eventually, a talented programmer named Daehee Lee was hired to write a > Windows version of this screen reader, which was called Windows Master. > It also used a Bns for output (and I think input) and supported the SSIL > library of synthesizers as well. I believe Windows Master came out in > the summer of 1992 and may well have been the third or fourth Windows > screen reader at that time, although I'm certainly willing to be > corrected if this is incorrect. Actually, I vaguely remember hearing > about what I think was the first Windows screen reader before Window > Bridge, although its name now escapes me and I don't think it lasted > more than a few years. > > This thread reminds me of a blog post from Chris Hoffstader (sp) who > talked about the importance of those of us who have memories of this > technology to document it online for posterity. I thought he had > established a wiki for that purpose but my recent searches aren't > locating it. > > > >David Goldfield, > Assistive Technology Specialist > > Feel free to visit my Web site > WWW.DavidGoldfield.Info > > On 10/17/2016 11:18 PM, Jeff Samco via Talk wrote: > > Yes, Malcom Holser wrote the original Vocal-Eyes for my use. Malcom > > was very gifted in many ways. He was a coworker as I worked as an > > interpretive ranger in Yosemite. In 1985 we went in together and > > purchased a used IBM PC 8086 with 256 KB of RAM and 2 double-sided > > 5.25-inch floppy disc drives. Since it was used it only cost us > > $3,000! Malcolm learned to program in assembler in writing Vocal-Eyes. > > I also believe I was the first user of a screen reader to use Word > > Perfect and alerted them to how well it worked with a screen reader. I > > offered various suggestions to improve its accessibility. Many screen > > reader users used this elegant and powerful word processor. > > > > Jeff > > > > At 11:41 AM 10/17/2016, you wrote: > >> I might add that Malcolm, who worked as a ranger at Yosemite near > >> Fresno where I lived at the time, initially called his PC > >> screenreader Vocal-Eyes and I was one of the beneficiaries. He had > >> originally designed it for a fellow ranger at Yosemite who was only > >> partially sighted. I still see his name on the lists occasionally. > >> Bill Grimm was then naming all his software releases Whatever-talk, > >> so when Malcolm teamed up with Computer Aids, the program was renamed > >> Screen Talk. When Doug Geoffrey took over Computer Aids, he named his > >> screen reader Vocal-Eyes. Apparently Malcolm had no objection to > >> that. Actually Doug wasn't even aware that the name had been used by > >> Malcolm. Later GW Micro released Window-Eyes for Windows as, as you > >> know, Vocal-Eyes was a DOS screen reader. > >> > >> Dave > >> > >> At 04:02 AM 10/17/2016, you wrote: > >>> I don't have time to write a very long message, but here's a little > >>> of the story. > >>> In the early 1980s Bill Grimm formed a company, Computer Aids > >>> Corporation, to create software for the Apple II family of > >>> computers. They teamed up with Malcolm Holser to create a screen > >>> reader for DOS called Screen-Talk, which was released in 1985, which > >>> I bought and used. In 1986 Screen-Talk was linked with ProKey, a > >>> macro program, and its functionality was extended. Somewhere in > >>> there, Doug Geoffray was hired as a programmer. In 1988 Computer > >>> Aids released the Sounding Board, an ISA-compatible speech > >>> synthesizer that used the SSI-263 speech chip that was common in > >>> those days. Dan Wyrick did major work on that project. Near that > >>> time Bill Grimm died. > >>> Dan and Doug put together a new company, GW Micro and marketed the > >>> new-generation DOS screen reader as Vocal-Eyes. > >>> The first Windows 3.0 screen reader was OutSpoken, released in the > >>> summer of 1992. Later came Automatic Screen Access for Windows and > >>> JAWS for Windows. Window-Ey
Re: history of window eyes
I'd like to add a few tidbits to this most fascinating thread. In addition to the Windows screen readers which were mentioned, Synthavoice's Window Bridge came out sometime in 1992, if my memory is correct. While I have not used that screen reader, another one that many have forgotten is Windows Master, which was produced by Blazie Engineering for Windows 3.1. I began working for Blazie Engineering in May of 1991 and, at that time, they had a DOS screen reader called Speaksys. Speaksys cost $150 and only supported the Braille 'n Speak as a synthesizer. However, it was unique in that it also allowed the Bns to be used for Braille input to a PC and I believe it even supported Grade 2 input. Eventually, the screen reader was enhanced with new features to try and bring it in line with other DOS screen readers at that time. Its name was changed to PCMaster and its price was raised to $395. Eventually, a talented programmer named Daehee Lee was hired to write a Windows version of this screen reader, which was called Windows Master. It also used a Bns for output (and I think input) and supported the SSIL library of synthesizers as well. I believe Windows Master came out in the summer of 1992 and may well have been the third or fourth Windows screen reader at that time, although I'm certainly willing to be corrected if this is incorrect. Actually, I vaguely remember hearing about what I think was the first Windows screen reader before Window Bridge, although its name now escapes me and I don't think it lasted more than a few years. This thread reminds me of a blog post from Chris Hoffstader (sp) who talked about the importance of those of us who have memories of this technology to document it online for posterity. I thought he had established a wiki for that purpose but my recent searches aren't locating it. David Goldfield, Assistive Technology Specialist Feel free to visit my Web site WWW.DavidGoldfield.Info On 10/17/2016 11:18 PM, Jeff Samco via Talk wrote: > Yes, Malcom Holser wrote the original Vocal-Eyes for my use. Malcom > was very gifted in many ways. He was a coworker as I worked as an > interpretive ranger in Yosemite. In 1985 we went in together and > purchased a used IBM PC 8086 with 256 KB of RAM and 2 double-sided > 5.25-inch floppy disc drives. Since it was used it only cost us > $3,000! Malcolm learned to program in assembler in writing Vocal-Eyes. > I also believe I was the first user of a screen reader to use Word > Perfect and alerted them to how well it worked with a screen reader. I > offered various suggestions to improve its accessibility. Many screen > reader users used this elegant and powerful word processor. > > Jeff > > At 11:41 AM 10/17/2016, you wrote: >> I might add that Malcolm, who worked as a ranger at Yosemite near >> Fresno where I lived at the time, initially called his PC >> screenreader Vocal-Eyes and I was one of the beneficiaries. He had >> originally designed it for a fellow ranger at Yosemite who was only >> partially sighted. I still see his name on the lists occasionally. >> Bill Grimm was then naming all his software releases Whatever-talk, >> so when Malcolm teamed up with Computer Aids, the program was renamed >> Screen Talk. When Doug Geoffrey took over Computer Aids, he named his >> screen reader Vocal-Eyes. Apparently Malcolm had no objection to >> that. Actually Doug wasn't even aware that the name had been used by >> Malcolm. Later GW Micro released Window-Eyes for Windows as, as you >> know, Vocal-Eyes was a DOS screen reader. >> >> Dave >> >> At 04:02 AM 10/17/2016, you wrote: >>> I don't have time to write a very long message, but here's a little >>> of the story. >>> In the early 1980s Bill Grimm formed a company, Computer Aids >>> Corporation, to create software for the Apple II family of >>> computers. They teamed up with Malcolm Holser to create a screen >>> reader for DOS called Screen-Talk, which was released in 1985, which >>> I bought and used. In 1986 Screen-Talk was linked with ProKey, a >>> macro program, and its functionality was extended. Somewhere in >>> there, Doug Geoffray was hired as a programmer. In 1988 Computer >>> Aids released the Sounding Board, an ISA-compatible speech >>> synthesizer that used the SSI-263 speech chip that was common in >>> those days. Dan Wyrick did major work on that project. Near that >>> time Bill Grimm died. >>> Dan and Doug put together a new company, GW Micro and marketed the >>> new-generation DOS screen reader as Vocal-Eyes. >>> The first Windows 3.0 screen reader was OutSpoken, released in the >>> summer of 1992. Later came Automatic Screen Access for Windows and >>> JAWS for Windows. Window-Eyes 1.0 came out quite late, in late 1995. >>> It worked with Windows 3 and 3.1, even though Windows 95 was already >>> out and had no screen reader support from anyone at first. >>> Window-Eyes 2 was the first W-E version to support Win
RE: history of window eyes
The Eyes on Success had a show captioned The Evolution of Screen Readers! I suggest you visit their website and search for this show. It should be fun to listen to! Incidentally, I was a student at Indiana University Bloomington back in 1984 when Computer Aids Corporation was well-strung all over the airwaves. I found computers intimidating then and didnj't delve into it. Besides, their price killed far too many mocking birds and, as a poor student, I had to play my cards differently! Sincerely, Olusegun Denver, Colorado --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus ___ Any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Ai Squared. For membership options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/options.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com/archive%40mail-archive.com. For subscription options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/listinfo.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com List archives can be found at http://lists.window-eyes.com/private.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com
Re: history of window eyes
Yes, Malcom Holser wrote the original Vocal-Eyes for my use. Malcom was very gifted in many ways. He was a coworker as I worked as an interpretive ranger in Yosemite. In 1985 we went in together and purchased a used IBM PC 8086 with 256 KB of RAM and 2 double-sided 5.25-inch floppy disc drives. Since it was used it only cost us $3,000! Malcolm learned to program in assembler in writing Vocal-Eyes. I also believe I was the first user of a screen reader to use Word Perfect and alerted them to how well it worked with a screen reader. I offered various suggestions to improve its accessibility. Many screen reader users used this elegant and powerful word processor. Jeff At 11:41 AM 10/17/2016, you wrote: I might add that Malcolm, who worked as a ranger at Yosemite near Fresno where I lived at the time, initially called his PC screenreader Vocal-Eyes and I was one of the beneficiaries. He had originally designed it for a fellow ranger at Yosemite who was only partially sighted. I still see his name on the lists occasionally. Bill Grimm was then naming all his software releases Whatever-talk, so when Malcolm teamed up with Computer Aids, the program was renamed Screen Talk. When Doug Geoffrey took over Computer Aids, he named his screen reader Vocal-Eyes. Apparently Malcolm had no objection to that. Actually Doug wasn't even aware that the name had been used by Malcolm. Later GW Micro released Window-Eyes for Windows as, as you know, Vocal-Eyes was a DOS screen reader. Dave At 04:02 AM 10/17/2016, you wrote: I don't have time to write a very long message, but here's a little of the story. In the early 1980s Bill Grimm formed a company, Computer Aids Corporation, to create software for the Apple II family of computers. They teamed up with Malcolm Holser to create a screen reader for DOS called Screen-Talk, which was released in 1985, which I bought and used. In 1986 Screen-Talk was linked with ProKey, a macro program, and its functionality was extended. Somewhere in there, Doug Geoffray was hired as a programmer. In 1988 Computer Aids released the Sounding Board, an ISA-compatible speech synthesizer that used the SSI-263 speech chip that was common in those days. Dan Wyrick did major work on that project. Near that time Bill Grimm died. Dan and Doug put together a new company, GW Micro and marketed the new-generation DOS screen reader as Vocal-Eyes. The first Windows 3.0 screen reader was OutSpoken, released in the summer of 1992. Later came Automatic Screen Access for Windows and JAWS for Windows. Window-Eyes 1.0 came out quite late, in late 1995. It worked with Windows 3 and 3.1, even though Windows 95 was already out and had no screen reader support from anyone at first. Window-Eyes 2 was the first W-E version to support Windows 95, and came out in the spring of 1997, I think. The revision history of Window-Eyes is on the GW Micro website, going way back; it is instructive to read it to see where we have come from. Lloyd Rasmussen, Kensington, MD http://lras.home.sprynet.com -Original Message- From: Drew Clark via Talk Sent: Monday, October 17, 2016 3:56 AM To: Window-Eyes Discussion List Subject: history of window eyes hi, i am interested to find out the history of window eyes, who created it and how it was started. is there any webpage/audio podcast that interviews the g and the w behind gw micro? thanks -- Sent using window eyes. ___ Any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Ai Squared. For membership options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/options.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com/lras%40sprynet.com. For subscription options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/listinfo.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com List archives can be found at http://lists.window-eyes.com/private.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com ___ Any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Ai Squared. For membership options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/options.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com/dave%40basden.us. For subscription options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/listinfo.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com List archives can be found at http://lists.window-eyes.com/private.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com ___ Any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Ai Squared. For membership options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/options.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com/jsamco%40jps.net. For subscription options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/listinfo.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com List archives can be found at http://lists.window-eyes.com/private.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2016.0.77
RE: history of window eyes
Yep, term talk was very cool indeed. Anyone remember transcend or the talking version of sensable speller? 73 Butch WA0VJR Node 3148 Wallace, ks. On Mon, 17 Oct 2016, Joseph Norton wrote: Sorry, not ProTalk. I meant to say TermTalk. Sorry for the confusion. -Original Message- From: Joseph Norton [mailto:joseph.nor...@gmail.com] Sent: Monday, October 17, 2016 3:09 PM To: 'Butch Bussen' ; 'Window-Eyes Discussion List' ; 'Lloyd Rasmussen' Subject: RE: history of window eyes I bought ProTalk for my Apple IIe, and was very pleased with it. I did try ProTerm from Larry Skutchan (MicroTalk), but, it did not perform the way I wanted in certain situations. ProTalk, written by Doug Geofrey was what I stuck with. / Conversely, on the PC side, I used ASAP for DOS, but, almost exclusively Window-Eyes, from 1999 onward. Wow! Almost 17 years have passed since I started using Window-Eyes. I've still got my Window-Eyes 3.1 disc, now an ISO in OneDrive, just in case I need it. Doubt if I ever will, but, I hate to throw anything away. It survived a house fire, since I had it stored in a bank safe-deposit box at the time. Anyway, I've had lots of computer fun, and, did not have to use the shark to do it. -Original Message- From: Talk [mailto:talk-bounces+joseph.norton=gmail@lists.window-eyes.com] On Behalf Of Butch Bussen via Talk Sent: Monday, October 17, 2016 2:09 PM To: Lloyd Rasmussen ; Window-Eyes Discussion List Subject: Re: history of window eyes I got my first apple 2 e in 1983 and bought programs from Bill. I don't know the exact year, but it was about that time Doug started working part time for Bill. He was still in College as I recall. I know Doug was greatly involved in developing small talk which I think came out in 1985. 73 Butch WA0VJR Node 3148 Wallace, ks. On Mon, 17 Oct 2016, Lloyd Rasmussen via Talk wrote: I don't have time to write a very long message, but here's a little of the story. In the early 1980s Bill Grimm formed a company, Computer Aids Corporation, to create software for the Apple II family of computers. They teamed up with Malcolm Holser to create a screen reader for DOS called Screen-Talk, which was released in 1985, which I bought and used. In 1986 Screen-Talk was linked with ProKey, a macro program, and its functionality was extended. Somewhere in there, Doug Geoffray was hired as a programmer. In 1988 Computer Aids released the Sounding Board, an ISA-compatible speech synthesizer that used the SSI-263 speech chip that was common in those days. Dan Wyrick did major work on that project. Near that time Bill Grimm died. Dan and Doug put together a new company, GW Micro and marketed the new-generation DOS screen reader as Vocal-Eyes. The first Windows 3.0 screen reader was OutSpoken, released in the summer of 1992. Later came Automatic Screen Access for Windows and JAWS for Windows. Window-Eyes 1.0 came out quite late, in late 1995. It worked with Windows 3 and 3.1, even though Windows 95 was already out and had no screen reader support from anyone at first. Window-Eyes 2 was the first W-E version to support Windows 95, and came out in the spring of 1997, I think. The revision history of Window-Eyes is on the GW Micro website, going way back; it is instructive to read it to see where we have come from. Lloyd Rasmussen, Kensington, MD http://lras.home.sprynet.com -Original Message- From: Drew Clark via Talk Sent: Monday, October 17, 2016 3:56 AM To: Window-Eyes Discussion List Subject: history of window eyes hi, i am interested to find out the history of window eyes, who created it and how it was started. is there any webpage/audio podcast that interviews the g and the w behind gw micro? thanks -- Sent using window eyes. ___ Any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Ai Squared. For membership options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/options.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com/lras%40sprynet .com. For subscription options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/listinfo.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com List archives can be found at http://lists.window-eyes.com/private.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com ___ Any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Ai Squared. For membership options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/options.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com/butchb%40shell world.net. For subscription options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/listinfo.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com List archives can be found at http://lists.window-eyes.com/private.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com ___ Any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Ai Squared. For
RE: history of window eyes
Sorry, not ProTalk. I meant to say TermTalk. Sorry for the confusion. -Original Message- From: Joseph Norton [mailto:joseph.nor...@gmail.com] Sent: Monday, October 17, 2016 3:09 PM To: 'Butch Bussen' ; 'Window-Eyes Discussion List' ; 'Lloyd Rasmussen' Subject: RE: history of window eyes I bought ProTalk for my Apple IIe, and was very pleased with it. I did try ProTerm from Larry Skutchan (MicroTalk), but, it did not perform the way I wanted in certain situations. ProTalk, written by Doug Geofrey was what I stuck with. / Conversely, on the PC side, I used ASAP for DOS, but, almost exclusively Window-Eyes, from 1999 onward. Wow! Almost 17 years have passed since I started using Window-Eyes. I've still got my Window-Eyes 3.1 disc, now an ISO in OneDrive, just in case I need it. Doubt if I ever will, but, I hate to throw anything away. It survived a house fire, since I had it stored in a bank safe-deposit box at the time. Anyway, I've had lots of computer fun, and, did not have to use the shark to do it. -Original Message- From: Talk [mailto:talk-bounces+joseph.norton=gmail@lists.window-eyes.com] On Behalf Of Butch Bussen via Talk Sent: Monday, October 17, 2016 2:09 PM To: Lloyd Rasmussen ; Window-Eyes Discussion List Subject: Re: history of window eyes I got my first apple 2 e in 1983 and bought programs from Bill. I don't know the exact year, but it was about that time Doug started working part time for Bill. He was still in College as I recall. I know Doug was greatly involved in developing small talk which I think came out in 1985. 73 Butch WA0VJR Node 3148 Wallace, ks. On Mon, 17 Oct 2016, Lloyd Rasmussen via Talk wrote: > I don't have time to write a very long message, but here's a little of > the story. > In the early 1980s Bill Grimm formed a company, Computer Aids > Corporation, to create software for the Apple II family of computers. > They teamed up with Malcolm Holser to create a screen reader for DOS > called Screen-Talk, which was released in 1985, which I bought and > used. In 1986 Screen-Talk was linked with ProKey, a macro program, and > its functionality was extended. Somewhere in there, Doug Geoffray was > hired as a programmer. In 1988 Computer Aids released the Sounding > Board, an ISA-compatible speech synthesizer that used the SSI-263 > speech chip that was common in those days. Dan Wyrick did major work > on that project. Near that time Bill Grimm died. > Dan and Doug put together a new company, GW Micro and marketed the > new-generation DOS screen reader as Vocal-Eyes. > The first Windows 3.0 screen reader was OutSpoken, released in the > summer of 1992. Later came Automatic Screen Access for Windows and > JAWS for Windows. > Window-Eyes 1.0 came out quite late, in late 1995. It worked with > Windows 3 and 3.1, even though Windows 95 was already out and had no > screen reader support from anyone at first. Window-Eyes 2 was the > first W-E version to support Windows 95, and came out in the spring of 1997, I think. > The revision history of Window-Eyes is on the GW Micro website, going > way back; it is instructive to read it to see where we have come from. > > > Lloyd Rasmussen, Kensington, MD > http://lras.home.sprynet.com > -Original Message- From: Drew Clark via Talk > Sent: Monday, October 17, 2016 3:56 AM > To: Window-Eyes Discussion List > Subject: history of window eyes > > hi, > > i am interested to find out the history of window eyes, who created it > and how it was started. is there any webpage/audio podcast that > interviews the g and the w behind gw micro? > > thanks > > > -- > Sent using window eyes. > > ___ > Any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the > author and do not necessarily represent those of Ai Squared. > > For membership options, visit > http://lists.window-eyes.com/options.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com/lras%40sprynet .com. > For subscription options, visit > http://lists.window-eyes.com/listinfo.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com > List archives can be found at > http://lists.window-eyes.com/private.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com > ___ > Any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the > author and do not necessarily represent those of Ai Squared. > > For membership options, visit > http://lists.window-eyes.com/options.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com/butchb%40shell world.net. > For subscription options, visit > http://lists.window-eyes.com/listinfo.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com > List archives can be found at > http://lists.window-eyes.com/private.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com > > _
RE: history of window eyes
I bought ProTalk for my Apple IIe, and was very pleased with it. I did try ProTerm from Larry Skutchan (MicroTalk), but, it did not perform the way I wanted in certain situations. ProTalk, written by Doug Geofrey was what I stuck with. / Conversely, on the PC side, I used ASAP for DOS, but, almost exclusively Window-Eyes, from 1999 onward. Wow! Almost 17 years have passed since I started using Window-Eyes. I've still got my Window-Eyes 3.1 disc, now an ISO in OneDrive, just in case I need it. Doubt if I ever will, but, I hate to throw anything away. It survived a house fire, since I had it stored in a bank safe-deposit box at the time. Anyway, I've had lots of computer fun, and, did not have to use the shark to do it. -Original Message- From: Talk [mailto:talk-bounces+joseph.norton=gmail@lists.window-eyes.com] On Behalf Of Butch Bussen via Talk Sent: Monday, October 17, 2016 2:09 PM To: Lloyd Rasmussen ; Window-Eyes Discussion List Subject: Re: history of window eyes I got my first apple 2 e in 1983 and bought programs from Bill. I don't know the exact year, but it was about that time Doug started working part time for Bill. He was still in College as I recall. I know Doug was greatly involved in developing small talk which I think came out in 1985. 73 Butch WA0VJR Node 3148 Wallace, ks. On Mon, 17 Oct 2016, Lloyd Rasmussen via Talk wrote: > I don't have time to write a very long message, but here's a little of > the story. > In the early 1980s Bill Grimm formed a company, Computer Aids > Corporation, to create software for the Apple II family of computers. > They teamed up with Malcolm Holser to create a screen reader for DOS > called Screen-Talk, which was released in 1985, which I bought and > used. In 1986 Screen-Talk was linked with ProKey, a macro program, and > its functionality was extended. Somewhere in there, Doug Geoffray was > hired as a programmer. In 1988 Computer Aids released the Sounding > Board, an ISA-compatible speech synthesizer that used the SSI-263 > speech chip that was common in those days. Dan Wyrick did major work on that project. Near that time Bill Grimm died. > Dan and Doug put together a new company, GW Micro and marketed the > new-generation DOS screen reader as Vocal-Eyes. > The first Windows 3.0 screen reader was OutSpoken, released in the > summer of 1992. Later came Automatic Screen Access for Windows and JAWS for Windows. > Window-Eyes 1.0 came out quite late, in late 1995. It worked with > Windows 3 and 3.1, even though Windows 95 was already out and had no > screen reader support from anyone at first. Window-Eyes 2 was the > first W-E version to support Windows 95, and came out in the spring of 1997, I think. > The revision history of Window-Eyes is on the GW Micro website, going > way back; it is instructive to read it to see where we have come from. > > > Lloyd Rasmussen, Kensington, MD > http://lras.home.sprynet.com > -Original Message- From: Drew Clark via Talk > Sent: Monday, October 17, 2016 3:56 AM > To: Window-Eyes Discussion List > Subject: history of window eyes > > hi, > > i am interested to find out the history of window eyes, who created it > and how it was started. is there any webpage/audio podcast that > interviews the g and the w behind gw micro? > > thanks > > > -- > Sent using window eyes. > > ___ > Any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the > author and do not necessarily represent those of Ai Squared. > > For membership options, visit > http://lists.window-eyes.com/options.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com/lras%40sprynet .com. > For subscription options, visit > http://lists.window-eyes.com/listinfo.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com > List archives can be found at > http://lists.window-eyes.com/private.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com > ___ > Any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the > author and do not necessarily represent those of Ai Squared. > > For membership options, visit > http://lists.window-eyes.com/options.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com/butchb%40shell world.net. > For subscription options, visit > http://lists.window-eyes.com/listinfo.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com > List archives can be found at > http://lists.window-eyes.com/private.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com > > ___ Any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Ai Squared. For membership options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/options.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com/joseph.norton% 40gmail.com. For subscription options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/listinfo.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com
Re: history of window eyes
I might add that Malcolm, who worked as a ranger at Yosemite near Fresno where I lived at the time, initially called his PC screenreader Vocal-Eyes and I was one of the beneficiaries. He had originally designed it for a fellow ranger at Yosemite who was only partially sighted. I still see his name on the lists occasionally. Bill Grimm was then naming all his software releases Whatever-talk, so when Malcolm teamed up with Computer Aids, the program was renamed Screen Talk. When Doug Geoffrey took over Computer Aids, he named his screen reader Vocal-Eyes. Apparently Malcolm had no objection to that. Actually Doug wasn't even aware that the name had been used by Malcolm. Later GW Micro released Window-Eyes for Windows as, as you know, Vocal-Eyes was a DOS screen reader. Dave At 04:02 AM 10/17/2016, you wrote: I don't have time to write a very long message, but here's a little of the story. In the early 1980s Bill Grimm formed a company, Computer Aids Corporation, to create software for the Apple II family of computers. They teamed up with Malcolm Holser to create a screen reader for DOS called Screen-Talk, which was released in 1985, which I bought and used. In 1986 Screen-Talk was linked with ProKey, a macro program, and its functionality was extended. Somewhere in there, Doug Geoffray was hired as a programmer. In 1988 Computer Aids released the Sounding Board, an ISA-compatible speech synthesizer that used the SSI-263 speech chip that was common in those days. Dan Wyrick did major work on that project. Near that time Bill Grimm died. Dan and Doug put together a new company, GW Micro and marketed the new-generation DOS screen reader as Vocal-Eyes. The first Windows 3.0 screen reader was OutSpoken, released in the summer of 1992. Later came Automatic Screen Access for Windows and JAWS for Windows. Window-Eyes 1.0 came out quite late, in late 1995. It worked with Windows 3 and 3.1, even though Windows 95 was already out and had no screen reader support from anyone at first. Window-Eyes 2 was the first W-E version to support Windows 95, and came out in the spring of 1997, I think. The revision history of Window-Eyes is on the GW Micro website, going way back; it is instructive to read it to see where we have come from. Lloyd Rasmussen, Kensington, MD http://lras.home.sprynet.com -Original Message- From: Drew Clark via Talk Sent: Monday, October 17, 2016 3:56 AM To: Window-Eyes Discussion List Subject: history of window eyes hi, i am interested to find out the history of window eyes, who created it and how it was started. is there any webpage/audio podcast that interviews the g and the w behind gw micro? thanks -- Sent using window eyes. ___ Any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Ai Squared. For membership options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/options.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com/lras%40sprynet.com. For subscription options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/listinfo.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com List archives can be found at http://lists.window-eyes.com/private.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com ___ Any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Ai Squared. For membership options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/options.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com/dave%40basden.us. For subscription options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/listinfo.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com List archives can be found at http://lists.window-eyes.com/private.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com ___ Any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Ai Squared. For membership options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/options.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com/archive%40mail-archive.com. For subscription options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/listinfo.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com List archives can be found at http://lists.window-eyes.com/private.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com
Re: history of window eyes
I got my first apple 2 e in 1983 and bought programs from Bill. I don't know the exact year, but it was about that time Doug started working part time for Bill. He was still in College as I recall. I know Doug was greatly involved in developing small talk which I think came out in 1985. 73 Butch WA0VJR Node 3148 Wallace, ks. On Mon, 17 Oct 2016, Lloyd Rasmussen via Talk wrote: I don't have time to write a very long message, but here's a little of the story. In the early 1980s Bill Grimm formed a company, Computer Aids Corporation, to create software for the Apple II family of computers. They teamed up with Malcolm Holser to create a screen reader for DOS called Screen-Talk, which was released in 1985, which I bought and used. In 1986 Screen-Talk was linked with ProKey, a macro program, and its functionality was extended. Somewhere in there, Doug Geoffray was hired as a programmer. In 1988 Computer Aids released the Sounding Board, an ISA-compatible speech synthesizer that used the SSI-263 speech chip that was common in those days. Dan Wyrick did major work on that project. Near that time Bill Grimm died. Dan and Doug put together a new company, GW Micro and marketed the new-generation DOS screen reader as Vocal-Eyes. The first Windows 3.0 screen reader was OutSpoken, released in the summer of 1992. Later came Automatic Screen Access for Windows and JAWS for Windows. Window-Eyes 1.0 came out quite late, in late 1995. It worked with Windows 3 and 3.1, even though Windows 95 was already out and had no screen reader support from anyone at first. Window-Eyes 2 was the first W-E version to support Windows 95, and came out in the spring of 1997, I think. The revision history of Window-Eyes is on the GW Micro website, going way back; it is instructive to read it to see where we have come from. Lloyd Rasmussen, Kensington, MD http://lras.home.sprynet.com -Original Message- From: Drew Clark via Talk Sent: Monday, October 17, 2016 3:56 AM To: Window-Eyes Discussion List Subject: history of window eyes hi, i am interested to find out the history of window eyes, who created it and how it was started. is there any webpage/audio podcast that interviews the g and the w behind gw micro? thanks -- Sent using window eyes. ___ Any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Ai Squared. For membership options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/options.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com/lras%40sprynet.com. For subscription options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/listinfo.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com List archives can be found at http://lists.window-eyes.com/private.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com ___ Any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Ai Squared. For membership options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/options.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com/butchb%40shellworld.net. For subscription options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/listinfo.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com List archives can be found at http://lists.window-eyes.com/private.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com ___ Any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Ai Squared. For membership options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/options.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com/archive%40mail-archive.com. For subscription options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/listinfo.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com List archives can be found at http://lists.window-eyes.com/private.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com
RE: history of window eyes
I still have my 1994 IBM computer running Windows 3.1 and, I think, Vocal-Eyes three point zero. Maudlin, eh? -Original Message- From: Talk [mailto:talk-bounces+fenderwal=sbcglobal@lists.window-eyes.com] On Behalf Of Pamela Dominguez via Talk Sent: Monday, October 17, 2016 11:34 AM To: Drew Clark; Window-Eyes Discussion List Subject: Re: history of window eyes I can tell you that before window eyes came out, the dos screenreader used to be called vocal eyes. Pam. -Original Message- From: Drew Clark via Talk Sent: Monday, October 17, 2016 3:56 AM To: Window-Eyes Discussion List Subject: history of window eyes hi, i am interested to find out the history of window eyes, who created it and how it was started. is there any webpage/audio podcast that interviews the g and the w behind gw micro? thanks -- Sent using window eyes. ___ Any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Ai Squared. For membership options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/options.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com/geodom%40opton line.net. For subscription options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/listinfo.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com List archives can be found at http://lists.window-eyes.com/private.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2016.0.7797 / Virus Database: 4664/13226 - Release Date: 10/17/16 ___ Any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Ai Squared. For membership options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/options.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com/fenderwal%40sb cglobal.net. For subscription options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/listinfo.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com List archives can be found at http://lists.window-eyes.com/private.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com ___ Any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Ai Squared. For membership options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/options.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com/archive%40mail-archive.com. For subscription options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/listinfo.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com List archives can be found at http://lists.window-eyes.com/private.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com
RE: history of window eyes
Yeas, I also had ScreenTalk before Window Eyes and I believe I used an Echo synthesizer with it. Best Regards, Bob Hicks -Original Message- From: Talk [mailto:talk-bounces+bob=seeinghandassociation@lists.window-eyes.com] On Behalf Of Tom Fairhurst via Talk Sent: Monday, October 17, 2016 9:53 AM To: Drew Clark ; Window-Eyes Discussion List Subject: Re: history of window eyes Hi, Drew. While I believe we should not spend much more time on list for this, I bought my first home computer frojm Computer Aids Corporation in 1989. It had ScreenTalk installed on it. I have used Vocal-Eyes and Window-Eyes ever since. -Original Message- From: Drew Clark via Talk Sent: Monday, October 17, 2016 2:56 AM To: Window-Eyes Discussion List Subject: history of window eyes hi, i am interested to find out the history of window eyes, who created it and how it was started. is there any webpage/audio podcast that interviews the g and the w behind gw micro? thanks -- Sent using window eyes. ___ Any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Ai Squared. For membership options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/options.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com/tfairhurst%40k c.rr.com. For subscription options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/listinfo.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com List archives can be found at http://lists.window-eyes.com/private.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2016.0.7797 / Virus Database: 4664/13227 - Release Date: 10/17/16 ___ Any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Ai Squared. For membership options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/options.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com/bob%40seeingha ndassociation.com. For subscription options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/listinfo.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com List archives can be found at http://lists.window-eyes.com/private.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com ___ Any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Ai Squared. For membership options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/options.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com/archive%40mail-archive.com. For subscription options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/listinfo.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com List archives can be found at http://lists.window-eyes.com/private.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com
Re: history of window eyes
I believe Window-eyes 1.0 came out around September of 1995, give or take a few months. Beyond that, I'm not qualified to go into the history of the product. As someone already indicated, the DOS screen reader which came before it was Vocal-eyes. I remember using 1.1 of that program in 1991. David Goldfield, Assistive Technology Specialist Feel free to visit my Web site WWW.DavidGoldfield.Info On 10/17/2016 12:33 PM, Pamela Dominguez via Talk wrote: > I can tell you that before window eyes came out, the dos screenreader > used to be called vocal eyes. Pam. > > -Original Message- From: Drew Clark via Talk > Sent: Monday, October 17, 2016 3:56 AM > To: Window-Eyes Discussion List > Subject: history of window eyes > > hi, > > i am interested to find out the history of window eyes, who created it > and how it was started. is there any webpage/audio podcast that > interviews the g and the w behind gw micro? > > thanks > > ___ Any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Ai Squared. For membership options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/options.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com/archive%40mail-archive.com. For subscription options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/listinfo.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com List archives can be found at http://lists.window-eyes.com/private.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com
Re: history of window eyes
I can tell you that before window eyes came out, the dos screenreader used to be called vocal eyes. Pam. -Original Message- From: Drew Clark via Talk Sent: Monday, October 17, 2016 3:56 AM To: Window-Eyes Discussion List Subject: history of window eyes hi, i am interested to find out the history of window eyes, who created it and how it was started. is there any webpage/audio podcast that interviews the g and the w behind gw micro? thanks -- Sent using window eyes. ___ Any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Ai Squared. For membership options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/options.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com/geodom%40optonline.net. For subscription options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/listinfo.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com List archives can be found at http://lists.window-eyes.com/private.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2016.0.7797 / Virus Database: 4664/13226 - Release Date: 10/17/16 ___ Any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Ai Squared. For membership options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/options.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com/archive%40mail-archive.com. For subscription options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/listinfo.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com List archives can be found at http://lists.window-eyes.com/private.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com
Re: history of window eyes
Hi, Drew. While I believe we should not spend much more time on list for this, I bought my first home computer frojm Computer Aids Corporation in 1989. It had ScreenTalk installed on it. I have used Vocal-Eyes and Window-Eyes ever since. -Original Message- From: Drew Clark via Talk Sent: Monday, October 17, 2016 2:56 AM To: Window-Eyes Discussion List Subject: history of window eyes hi, i am interested to find out the history of window eyes, who created it and how it was started. is there any webpage/audio podcast that interviews the g and the w behind gw micro? thanks -- Sent using window eyes. ___ Any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Ai Squared. For membership options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/options.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com/tfairhurst%40kc.rr.com. For subscription options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/listinfo.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com List archives can be found at http://lists.window-eyes.com/private.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2016.0.7797 / Virus Database: 4664/13227 - Release Date: 10/17/16 ___ Any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Ai Squared. For membership options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/options.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com/archive%40mail-archive.com. For subscription options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/listinfo.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com List archives can be found at http://lists.window-eyes.com/private.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com
Re: history of window eyes
I don't have time to write a very long message, but here's a little of the story. In the early 1980s Bill Grimm formed a company, Computer Aids Corporation, to create software for the Apple II family of computers. They teamed up with Malcolm Holser to create a screen reader for DOS called Screen-Talk, which was released in 1985, which I bought and used. In 1986 Screen-Talk was linked with ProKey, a macro program, and its functionality was extended. Somewhere in there, Doug Geoffray was hired as a programmer. In 1988 Computer Aids released the Sounding Board, an ISA-compatible speech synthesizer that used the SSI-263 speech chip that was common in those days. Dan Wyrick did major work on that project. Near that time Bill Grimm died. Dan and Doug put together a new company, GW Micro and marketed the new-generation DOS screen reader as Vocal-Eyes. The first Windows 3.0 screen reader was OutSpoken, released in the summer of 1992. Later came Automatic Screen Access for Windows and JAWS for Windows. Window-Eyes 1.0 came out quite late, in late 1995. It worked with Windows 3 and 3.1, even though Windows 95 was already out and had no screen reader support from anyone at first. Window-Eyes 2 was the first W-E version to support Windows 95, and came out in the spring of 1997, I think. The revision history of Window-Eyes is on the GW Micro website, going way back; it is instructive to read it to see where we have come from. Lloyd Rasmussen, Kensington, MD http://lras.home.sprynet.com -Original Message- From: Drew Clark via Talk Sent: Monday, October 17, 2016 3:56 AM To: Window-Eyes Discussion List Subject: history of window eyes hi, i am interested to find out the history of window eyes, who created it and how it was started. is there any webpage/audio podcast that interviews the g and the w behind gw micro? thanks -- Sent using window eyes. ___ Any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Ai Squared. For membership options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/options.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com/lras%40sprynet.com. For subscription options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/listinfo.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com List archives can be found at http://lists.window-eyes.com/private.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com ___ Any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Ai Squared. For membership options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/options.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com/archive%40mail-archive.com. For subscription options, visit http://lists.window-eyes.com/listinfo.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com List archives can be found at http://lists.window-eyes.com/private.cgi/talk-window-eyes.com