From: Kelly Pierce 
Subject: computer user network news #16
Internet?
     The Internet is the gateway to the information age.  It is the
library, Newspaper, school, job, catalog, bank, workshop, and
theater of the future.  It is an assortment of links, icons, color
bars, and web-pages.  It is the armchair traveller, the teachers
toolkit, and the
visually impaired person's virtual worldwide new frontier.
     It is also a huge imposing maize and a source of fear, and
tribulation for those who feel shut out of its tenacious grip.
     It is accessible to blind and visually impaired people.  We
can learn to live with it, and can't afford to live without it if
we want to participate in the world around us.
     To demonstrate that it is not too difficult to navigate, and
that our adaptive technology tools can help us get there from
here, we took members of this rivetted audience there--using screen
enlargement, spoken text and real-time audio.  Then we showed them
how we did it.
     Finally, we showed how they too can cast the Internet.
                            --------
TEAMWORK
                         by Nate Branson
     The activities of the teams listed below are the muscles of
Digit-Eyes.  To express interest in participating as part of any of
the teams, contact the team leader by leaving a message on our
voice-mail line, and be sure to indicate to whom you want to speak. 
The number is 312-458-9006.  For dates and times of upcoming
meetings, see DATES TO REMEMBER at the end of this newsletter. 
     
     Lynx Squad.  Kelly Pierce, chairperson of the Lynx Squad, was
part of the Internet panel that presented at Discovery '97, the
Chicago low vision conference in October.  Before a group of
several dozen people, he focused on many basic aspects of the Net. 
"People were excited," Pierce notes, "to find that even without
sight, they could  navigate the Net and gather information.
     
  In November at the regularly scheduled Lynx Squad meeting, Pierce
instructed a much smaller group in the art of getting on line.  He
helped them select an Internet service provider (ISP), signed them
up for pre-e-mail accounts, and aided them in filling out the form
on-line.  "So there is nothing that beats a hands-on experience,
and persons actually being able to get the tools to go on-line on
their own." 
     Outreach.  Heading up the Outreach Team, Jim Ferneborg's
duties are to spread the word about Digit-Eyes in every media form. 
Print and radio were used to inform the public about the December
Digit-Eyes openhouse.  He, along with Pennie Lilly, put together
the ad that ran on Cris Radio. Jim stated that a concentrated
effort will be made via the media to inform the public about topics
at the monthly Saturday meetings.  "Presenting timely topics and
publicizing them," he said, "will encourage a higher attendance." 
     Peer Training.  Dave Porter, spearheading the Peer Training
team, reports that eighteen people attended the latest meeting of
Computers for Dummies.  Pennie Lilly was the speaker, and the topic
was How to Navigate a WordPerfect Document.
     The seminar on the first Saturday in November consisted of a
lecture by Dave about the Minnesota Closing the Gap conference. 
One of the more intriguing new items he encountered there was the
placing of transmitters inside of signs that announced the signs'
messages.  An individual with a special listening device would be
told if he had just found a lavatory or a conference room.  Dave
found this device most helpful as he, equipped with two receivers,
journeyed around the conference site.  
     Senior Team.  Doris Berry reports that this team will be up
and running in the coming year. To ascertain the level of interest,
questionnaires have been sent out, and all the responses have not
yet been tabulated.  From her experience as co-facilitator of the
senior support group which meets at Blind Service Association, she
estimates that there is a substantial interest.
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                SHARE YOUR TALENTS AND KNOWLEDGE
     This newsletter is meant to be a vehicle for communication of
information and ideas.  
     We hope you will share in the dialogue by putting your
thoughts in writing. We welcome how-to information, reviews of such
resources as technology-related books, software, tutorials, etc. 
We encourage you to try your hand at writing.  If you've never done
it before, we'll do our best to help you out.  
     Please submit your articles to Cindy Brown, at Digit-Eyes,
Blind Service Association, eleventh floor, 22 West Monroe Street,
Chicago, Illinois 60603.  They should be either on 3.5-in.
diskettes (ASCII or WP5.1), or Braille, or audio cassette tape. 
The deadline for the next issue is Wednesday, February 4, 1998 at
noon; but if you miss the deadline, send your contribution anyway,
and we'll save it for the next issue.  We look forward to hearing
from you.
                            --------
                              KUDOS
     We want to acknowledge the work of network participants and
other volunteers who are, for the most part, behind the scenes, but
whose contributions are essential to the functioning of this
organization.  We will mention them in somewhat alphabetical order.
Larry Bickhem--for recently taking on the job of checking the
     voice-mail line and delivering them to the appropriate
     individuals.
BSA staff--for coordinating support services for the Network, such
     as addressing envelopes, etc.
Anna Byrne--for taking minutes for the Cognoscentae meetings (not
     an easy job with this group).
Carlos Hranicka--in addition to being a member-at-large of the
     cognoscentae,  for helping out with room arrangements, etc.,
     has  helped in the recording of seminars, and the duplicating
     of   newsletter tapes. 
Dan Neuwelt--in addition to being facilitator this past year for
     the Cognoscentae, has been in charge of the duplication of
          newsletter tapes. 
Gilbert Reeves, John Donahue, and Patrick Crippen--for reading the
     newsletters on tape.
Doris Sayed-Ahmed--a seemingly tireless BSA volunteer, in addition
     to helping out with random Network events, for having been a
     superb    proofreader for our newsletter for much of this
     past year; and to John Donahue, jr. for sitting in for her
     this last time.     
Monique Williams--for helping out at the Dcember openhouse.
 
     If there are others whose names do not regularly appear as
bylines in this newsletter but whose names and contributions should
be mentioned in the next newsletter, please contact Cindy Brown
through the voice-mail line: 312-458-9006.
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                    THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND?
                    contributed by Anna Byrne
     Dedicated to the frustrated computer user:
1.  Definition of computer:  A device designed to speed up and
     automate  errors.
2.   Will the Information Superhighway have a rest spot?
3.  "Press any key to continue or any other key to quit."
                            --------
                               FYI 
     The following radio and television shows may be of interest to
our readers:
Sundays--11:00 AM, "TV.com," ABC, channel 7 in Chicago;
Sundays--3:30 PM, "Life on the Internet," WYCC, Channel 20, 
     Chicago; 
Sundays--4:00 PM, "Computer Chronicles," WYCC, Channel 20 in
     Chicago;
Tuesdays--9:00 PM, "Real Computing," WDCB, 90.5-FM, Glen Ellyn;
Fridays--8:30 PM, "Computer Chronicles," WYCC, Channel 20, Chicago;
Saturdays--2:00 PM, "CNN Computer Connection," CNN (Cable News
     Network).
Saturdays--8:00-11:00 PM, "Kim Komando," WLS-Talk-Radio, 890-AM. 
 
     If you know of other technology-related shows that are not
included here, please contact Cindy Brown through the voice-mail:
312-458-9006.  
                            --------
                           TREASURES!
    Planning on upgrading to a Pentium and wishing for a home for
your 486? 
    Got a Braille 'N' Speak classic you aren't using any more? an
old synthesizer? an out-of-date, beginner-ready copy of a computer
tutorial? 
  
     List what you've got in the Treasures column,  the Computer
Network's home for wonderful things that their current owners have
used and loved and don't need any more! Anna Byrne is your contact
person. You can reach her by leaving your name and phone number on
the BSA voice-mail line, and be sure to indicate you want to speak
to Anna Byrne.  That number is: 312-458-9006. 
For Sale:
IBM-PC, American Megatrend 386 with 4 meg RAM;
running DOS 6.2;
includes keyboard, but no monitor;
excellent working condition.
$200.00, or best offer;
to be picked up in Chicago, or buyer will pay shipping charges.
Contact: Cindy Brown: 773-769-3913, ext. 551. 
For the asking (plus mailing charges):
Tutorial audio cassette tapes--
JAWS for DOS, version 2.3;
6 tapes, including basic training, Smart Screen, and Macro
training.
Contact: Cindy Brown: 773-769-3913 ext. 551. 
                            --------
                       DATES TO REMEMBER!
     The following events take place at 22 West Monroe Street in
Chicago, unless otherwise specified.  For more up-to-date
information, you can also check the voice-mail information line:
312-458-9006.  
     Sat., Jan. 3, 1998--no monthly seminar.  
     Thurs., Jan. 8, 1998, 6:00-8:00--Lynx Squad; ninth floor
(Internet discussion).
     Wed., Jan. 14, 1998, 5:30-7:30--Cognoscentae (governing board)
meeting; ninth floor (all are welcome).
     Thurs., Jan. 15, 1998, 10:00-noon--Senior Team meeting; ninth
floor. 
     Thurs., Jan. 22, 1998, 6:00-8:00--Computers for Dummies (for
beginners).   
     Wed., Feb. 4, 1998, noon--deadline for newsletter articles;
c/o Cindy Brown, eleventh floor, Will-Call drawer. 
     Wed., Feb. 4, 1998, 5:30-7:30--All Write meeting; ninth floor
(for all who are interested in helping out with newsletter).
     Thurs., Feb. 5, 1998, 6:00-7:30--Openhouse for new members;
ninth floor. 
     Sat., Feb. 7, 1998, 10:00 AM-12:30 PM--seminar, topic TBA;
ninth floor (all welcome).    
     Wed., Feb. 11, 1998, 5:30-7:30--Cognoscentae (governing board)
meeting; ninth floor (all are welcome).
     Thurs., Feb. 12, 1998, 6:00-8:00--Lynx Squad; ninth floor
(Internet discussion). 
     Thurs., Feb. 19, 1998, 10:00-noon--Senior Team meeting; ninth
floor.
  
     Thurs., Feb. 26, 1998, 6:00-8:00--Computers for Dummies; ninth
floor (for beginners). 
     Thurs., March 5, 1998, 6:00-7:30--Openhouse for new members. 
     Sat., March 7, 1998, 10:00 AM-12:30 PM--Seminar, topic TBA;
ninth floor (all are welcome). 
     Wed., March 11, 1998, 5:30-7:30--Cognoscentae (governing
board) meeting; ninth floor (all are welcome). 
     Thurs., March 12, 1998, 6:00-8:00--Lynx Squad; ninth floor
(Internet discussion).
     Thurs., March 19, 1998, 10:00-noon--Senior Team meeting; ninth
floor. 
     Thurs., March 26, 1998, 6:00-8:00--Computers for Dummies;
ninth floor (for beginners). 
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