November , 1996

1. Latest Version of What's New



2. Closing the Gap Conference Highlights:
• The new JAWS for Windows95 2.0(Henter Joyce) is a tremendous product. It is for Windows95 and upgrade from JFW version 1 is $95. I saw an almost flawless performance with Internet Explorer and Excel. It has real good in context help that holds your hand as you learn how to use the program.
• Ai Squared was showing their beta version of the next Zoomtext. It looks like they will have three versions to choose from: one is the current type of zoomtext, another is Zoomtext with built-in speech output and the last one will add scanner support and form filling capability. It is scheduled for release in early 1997.
• A new company called Advanced Access Devices was showing off a laptop about the size of a large phonebook. The SuperBraille comes with speech and 40 char. braille display, CD-ROM, 4 PCMCIA slots, hard drive, video output, 586 processor 16 megs of ram, built-in speakers, disk drive and full-size querty keyboard. All this in a 7 pound package for a mere $11,000.
• Microsoft made a big play for customers. They were pushing what they called "ActiveX accessibility". They are claiming to have vastly improved their cooperation with special needs developers. ActiveX Accessibility (formally known as OLE Accessibility) is Microsoft's strategic initiative to improve the accessibility of their applications and computer software. Microsoft provided a free breakfast and media show for the entire conference.


3. Focus on Vision
- FOVEA is certified by the Texas Commission for the Blind to instruct in DOS, Windows 3.1 and Windows 95 using screen enlargement, speech, & tactile adaptions.
PO Box 150069, Arlington, Texas 76015-0069
Voice: 817- 572-3135 Toll Free Phone: 800-786-3789
FAX: 817 561-6900   EMAIL: fov@focusonvision.com


4. Seedlings Braille Books for Children is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization dedicated to providing high quality, low-cost Braille books for children. From Contemporary Literature to well-loved Classics, Seedlings offers over 270 low-cost Braille books for children ages 1 to 14!
   P.O. Box 51924, Livonia, MI 48151-5924
   Phone: (800) 777-8552 FAX: (313) 427-8552
   Email: seedlink@aol.com


5. High-Tech Help for the Blind by Peter Tyson
6. NFB NET is the official BBS voice of the National Federation of the Blind and exists to disseminate news and information of interest to federationists, other interested blind and sighted persons, and persons working in the field of blindness. It is also our goal to facilitate information and idea exchanges via computers and modems. You can also telnet to 206.11.202.33. Modem: 612-696-1975    Fidonet 1:282/1045.



7. STARGART'S DISEASE



8. Vermont Project for Students with Deaf-Blindness - The Project offers on-site technical assistance, training, and family support, through the I-Team, to children who are included on the D-B Census.



9. Windows NT:

Low Vision: Microsystems Software - MAGic-NT has been announced but is not yet available. It will work on Windows NT version 3.5 or higher and will support up to 16x magnification.
Speech: Biolink Computer R&D: Protalk32


1. Previous What's New Editions:
   Vol. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 9 and 10

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Last October 31, 1996
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