ProfitPress Mega CDROM2 …eeware (MSDOS)(1992)(Eng)/ProfitPress-MegaCDROM2.B6I/MISC/HANDICAP/FLIP306D.ZIP/INTRO.DOC

Text File | 1990-02-04 | 5.6 KB | 117 lines

SECTION 3.0 INTRODUCTION

Flipper is a program which gives blind persons access to
IBM and compatible personal computers, using mainstream
application programs, such as word processors, database
programs, and spreadsheets.  These instructions are designed
to enable you to use Flipper to replace looking at the video
screen.  You will also need instruction in the use of your
computer, and the programs that you will use.  Flipper is
easy to learn, and with it you can make fast, efficient use of
your computer.

It is easy to remember Flipper's commands, because they are
laid out logically, with a simple command structure.  If you
do forget how to use a feature, you can ask Flipper to
refresh your memory.

After Flipper is started, it does a number of things for you
automatically.  For example, it will echo the keys that you
are typing.  It will also read off the output from programs
as it appears on the screen.  In programs which allow you
to move around the screen with the arrow keys, Flipper will
read off the material that you are moving over.  Flipper also
allows you to move a sentence at a time backwards or
forwards by pressing the left or right arrow keys while
holding down the alt key.  It will also read off the characters
that you are deleting using the backspace or delete keys.
Flipper is designed to anticipate as much as possible the
information that you need without your needing to stop and
ask for it.  Flipper will read and describe the IBM PC's full
character set including forms characters, paragraph markers,
foreign characters, etc., and you can turn any symbol on or
off.  Flipper can be fully customized, and a list of the
desired features can be automatically saved and reloaded
when you turn on the computer.

Special techniques are used to make Flipper very friendly
and automatic.  For example, you can tell Flipper to watch
a portion of the screen, and read it if it changes.  It
automatically adjusts for the speed of the computer and your
software, and you do not need to manually adjust it.  It will
work with difficult programs like mainframe communication
software (IRMA and similar products), spreadsheets,
database programs, as well as the broad range of word
processors and other programs that are available.  You can
do searches of the screen using wildcards for either
characters or enhancements.  With Flipper's features to
assist you, you can use the vast array of programs which are
available on the IBM PC and compatible computers.  All of
these features are available immediately, right out of the
box, with no programming or macros necessary.  For those
who wish, however, Flipper has a powerful feature
(AUTOKEY MODE) which allows the writing of very
sophisticated scripts which can control both it and the
application program.

Any output from Flipper can be stopped instantly by
pressing the alt key.  You can also read any preselected part
of the screen with a single command.  Any or all of
Flipper's features can be turned off, if you don't want them.

The help mode is started by pressing alt "H", or just "H" if
you are in the review mode.  The complete command
reference for Flipper is available in the help mode.
Different sections of the instructions are read when each of
the ten function keys are pressed.  The function keys are the
two columns of keys on the old style IBM keyboard on the
extreme left side. Newer IBM keyboards have the function
keys in a row above the number keys.  Key one is the index
to the topics on the various function keys.  In addition, the
other keys on the keyboard are echoed but not sent to the
application program while in the help mode, so it can be
used to explore the keyboard.  For example, if you need to
use the tilde key, and you do not know where it is, you can
go into the help mode, press keys until you find it, and then
you can leave the help mode and use the key that you
found.  Each help topic is organized with more basic
information first and more detailed information later.  You
can just press any key when you have heard enough about
a particular topic.  To leave any part of Flipper, including
the help mode, press alt space bar.  Flipper is written for
speed, coded in assembly language, and uses no overlays, so
it can be used with an inexpensive single disk drive system.

FLIPPER'S ELECTRONIC INDEX:

Included on the Flipper disc is a program called "LOOK"
and a file called "INDEX".  Together with the documentation
files for Flipper, they make up a system for looking up
information about Flipper.  To start up the electronic index,
give the command:

LOOK INDEX

at the DOS prompt.

You can then use the arrow keys, up and down to browse
through Flipper's index.  If you find a topic of interest, you
can then press "L", for look up.  You will then be popped
into the appropriate part of the instructions for Flipper.  If
you want, you can then press "T" to try different sections
which may also be relevant, or the escape key to go back to
the index.  You can also look at the instructions by pressing
the "H" key.  Press escape to leave help.  You can also use
"LOOK" to look at other text files.  You can not change
files with look, you can only browse through them.

ABOUT THE PROGRAMMER:

Dr. John Stephen Smith is an assistant professor at the
University of California, Berkeley, in the department of
Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.  The program
was developed in association with Cynthia Lowe, and with
feedback from several students at the university, especially
Jay Yi and Marc Sutton.  Many of Flipper's users have also
contributed valuable ideas.