VIBUG MEETING MINUTES

Date of Meeting: March 11, 2000

The meeting was called to order by Amy Ruell at 1:00 PM. The minutes were read; as requested, the minutes shall be amended as follows.

Please note that Jim, and not Jeff, asked whether there was a way to fix tapes which squeaked as the were running on recorders.

Amy announced that the mailing list has been updated. She again reminded people to let her or Jeff Turner know about changes in phone number, address, or E-mail address. Amy told people that minutes of the past few VIBUG meetings were now on the Web page. Also, minutes from the most current meeting will be placed on the Web page two weeks prior to the next meeting so that members will have the opportunity to review meeting minutes before the next meeting. Amy encouraged anyone WISHING TO ESTABLISH OR RENEW memberships to please give their checks to Jim Roberts.

Maria Reuters stated that she could not at this time commit to teaching computer classes, as she was currently searching for different employment. She apologized for being unable to teach the next Word Class, and was looking for a volunteer to do it for her. She said she would talk with anyone who was interested in doing so. Additionally, Amy announced that she would be teaching an introductory class on Internet Explorer with JFW 3.5 at 11:00 A.M. prior to the April meeting. All interested persons should contact Amy to register. She also stated that anyone who was interested in teaching computer classes should contact either Cheryl Comings or Amy Ruell to discuss this issue. Amy indicated that the new multi-channel sound card will be installed by the next meeting. Tim Comings will be demonstrating digital audio production with Goldwave.

VIBUG presented Maria Reuters with a token of appreciation for the work she had done on preparing for and teaching the classes. Amy announced that Tim had put Here-Me-Voice Presence on our web page. She stated that to use it you only need to have a microphone and a sound card. This program allows people who have the program on their system to talk with each other. Real Eyes of Kansas City has had it on their page for a while. They are interested in conducting a meeting with our group. She stated that perhaps we could arrange to talk with them during one of their meetings, and vise versa. She indicated that we could do a trial run first. We will have a set-up at NBP so that those who cannot access the program at home may participate in the experience. To activate the program, one must go to our Web site, go to the appropriate link and click on it. The program will then download automatically. Too use it, simply hold down F9 to talk. Tim and Amy said it was possible to link Web Pages together with this program. Amy will get the information Tim needs so that he can do this.

Amy announced that it is possible to load power Braille into the Navigator and then it could be used with windows. The group then began a discussion about what to do with this device. Options discussed included renting it, giving it to a deaf-blind individual or organization, holding onto it as a group for six months to a year for use in demonstrations, selling it, and letting people borrow it. The group decided that the Navigator would be kept on the cart with the computer if it will fit, and if not that Amy would store it in her house.

Amy announced that there is a new release of Slim Window-Bridge which has just come out. She also told people about the study about absolute pitch which is currently being conducted.

She announced that Firetalk scripts can be obtained from the JFW homepage.

In our question and answer portion we discussed the problems that occur when we loose speech either because the Windows Operating System has determined the program has performed an illegal operation and will be shut down, or because we lose speech because the hourglass has appeared on the screen. . It was recommended that control alt delete be tried. This would allow for us to shut down and restart the computer. Also it was suggested that Alt-E will sometimes allow people to "end tasks", but that that process would not speak. Therefore, one could try using control alt delete, and then hitting the tab key three times, then hitting enter. Dos users were advised that Como is the appropriate program to be used when using Dos for Internet service. With Windows, the software needed to establish Internet connections comes with your system. Magic with JFW was demonstrated, and the meeting was adjourned at 3:15 PM

Respectfully Submitted,

Jeanette Kutash

Clerk