Wyatt, 'BUILDING AN ACCESSIBLE CD-ROM REFERENCE STATION', INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND DISABILITIES v1n01 URL = http://hegel.lib.ncsu.edu/stacks/serials/itd/itd-v1n01-wyatt-building IT&D V1N1 Article 2 920 lines (c 1994 R. Wyatt and C. Hamilton) BUILDING AN ACCESSIBLE CD-ROM REFERENCE STATION Rochelle Wyatt and Charles Hamilton Washington Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped 821 Lenora Street, Seattle, Washington 98129 INTRODUCTION The Washington Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped created a CD-ROM reference station to provide access to reference materials. The project tests commercial CD-ROM products in conjunction with adaptive technology and provides ways for patrons who cannot read standard print to use reference materials and obtain hard copy in accessible formats. We are pleased to share some of the experiences, observations and recommendations that have come out of this project. In this article, we will discuss the hardware and software used and provide information on vendors when the products described are not widely available. The prices listed are what was paid at the time the products were purchased. Keep in mind that prices change very quickly. The CD-ROM station is located in our lobby, an area easily accessible by the public. Patrons are encouraged to come and try it out, although we will assist patrons in obtaining information if they are unable to drop by. The station is frequently used by the staff for reference work or just for fun. The original plan for the CD-ROM station was to build a system that library patrons with little or no vision could use without assistance. To that end, we put together a menu system that would guide patrons through the process of using the CD-ROM products and producing output in regular print, large print and Braille. At the touch of any key, patrons are welcomed to the library and provided with information on how to use the system. They can choose to view the screen's standard text mode, to enlarge the screen text from 1.4 to 12 times standard size, or to access information via voice synthesis. Creating menus is a simple process using DOS batch file techniques. By using multi- disk CD-ROM changers that treat each CD as a separate disk, we were able to develop batch files that open each program without requiring any physical swapping of CDs. We also developed online help for each menu item. Help batch files display text files that describe using a CD-ROM or accessibility product, step by step. These files are adapted from the manufacturer's documentation, and have been expanded to discuss accessibility issues for each product. Printed copies of this help information is also available at the station in regular print, large print and Braille. In order to provide users with several choices of hard copy, the system is set up with a a Braille embosser as well as a laser printer that can produce standard and large print. Both are connected via an automatic data switch. Through a free utility called PRN2FILE, we have redirected all printing into a specific file. When users "print" while in the CD-ROM products, the information they want is saved to this file. Upon exiting the program, users are presented with a menu that offers them the choice of printing in regular print, large print or Braille. Making a print choice is as easy as responding with one key after being prompted for a choice. Each menu choice sends the appropriate code to the data switch and the appropriate setup string to the printer. Then it automatically prints the file. The main accessibility problems seem to be related to interactions between the speech software and the search programs used by the CD-ROM products. Each program has a different format and a different way to access the information. None of the programs were set up to be used with screen access, so some work better than others. Because of the limitations of accessibility products, and because some patrons are not comfortable using computers, we developed a job description and advertised for volunteers to assist patrons in using the station. To date, we have five very qualified and enthusiastic patron/volunteers who assist others three days a week. EQUIPMENT Description Micro computer - 486 33Mhz 130 megabyte SCSI hard drive (We have used only 60 megabytes of this space to date) 4 megabytes of RAM (memory) (We are now using 8 megabytes, which mainly increases the speed of applications under Microsoft Windows) 5.25" floppy drive 3.5" floppy drive Video Card OAK VGA with 512K memory Monitor NEC Multisync 6FG 21" 1024 X 768 This is a high resolution, flat screen monitor. This size is probably overkill, especially when using a screen enlargement program, but it's a real attention-getter. Microsoft-compatible mouse Screen-enlargement program users can use the mouse with many of the CD-ROM products, in Windows, and to navigate in the magnified screen. CD-ROM drives Two Pioneer DRM-604X CD-ROM changers (each changer holds six CDs). They are daisy-chained together and attach to a SCSI interface card inside the computer. The Pioneer CD changers are expensive, but worth it. They allow us to have 12 different programs available, without having to load and eject CDs. This certainly makes it easier for the patrons, as well as the less technically-sure staff. They also have an easy-to-use feature that disables the magazine eject, helping to prevent the CDs from walking out the door. Laser printer Panasonic KX-P4430. This printer is used for both large print and regular print. VersaPoint Braille printer/embosser from TeleSensory Systems. VersaPoint TeleSensory Systems, Inc. 455 North Bernardo Avenue P.O. Box 7455 Mountain View, CA 94039-7455 1-800-227-8418 DECtalk PC voice synthesizer The DECtalk speech synthesizer is, by far, the most understandable, flexible, and expensive of the speech hardware with which we are familiar. It features seven different voices; an internal dictionary that allows it to recognize and correctly pronounce a large number of words; and the ability to control talking speed, emphasis, use of punctuation and spelling. On the downside, the product has a reputation for being difficult to install, although it was pre-loaded by the vendor when we bought the computer. It uses unusual interrupt and port address settings, which may create problems when adding additional peripherals. The documentation is skimpy, at best. DECtalk PC Digital Equipment Corporation 1-800-343-4040 Surge and spike protector Started with two Isobar protectors--barely enough outlets to plug all the equipment into. We now use a console-type protector (the Isobars are plugged into this), which has a master switch that turns everything on and off. Emco Autoswitch This is used to make it easier for patrons to print materials in the format they prefer. They do not have to manually set the switch; through the batch files, the computer "knows" where to send the information. Cost HARDWARE Price (each) Total 486/33 Micro computer, including: 2,100.00 2,100.00 4 MB RAM Maxtor 130 MB SCSI hard drive 1.2 and 1.44 floppy drives SCSI controller card 16 bit VGA card with 512K RAM Mouse Keyboard Autoswitch box 6' parallel printer cable One surge suppresser MS - DOS Panasonic KX P4430 Laser Printer 955.00 955.00 Pioneer 6 disk changers 1,465.00 2,930.00 NEC 6FG 21" SVGA Monitor 2,635.00 2,635.00 DECtalk PC 1,680.00 1,680.00 Stereo headphones 17.00 17.00 Versapoint Braille Embosser 4,500.00 4,500.00 Delivery and Installation of all products was included One year on-site service 500.00 500.00 HARDWARE TOTAL: $13,852.00 $15,317.00 SOFTWARE Operating System Software Operating System MS DOS 5.0 Memory Management Program QEMM 6 from Quarterdeck. Memory management is a must, since the CD-ROM drives, the DECtalk and the sound card all require drivers for operation. This product has worked very well and is fairly easy to use. Quarterdeck Office Systems 1-800-354-3222 Print Redirection program PRN2FILE is a freeware program that redirects output from CD programs to a file that is then automatically formatted and output in Braille, large print, or regular print, depending on which format is selected. Batch File Enhancer KEY-FAKE is another freeware program that allows keystrokes to be sent from batch files to the CD-ROM software programs. Communication Program PC-VT is a shareware communication program that allows us to turn the CD-ROM station into an accessible terminal for the library's Online Public Access Catalog. The program also allows transfer of data between the station and our Kurzweil Personal Reader. Accessibility Software Screen Enlargement Program MAGic Deluxe. We tried several screen enlargement programs, and found MAGic Deluxe the easiest to use (it has been compatible with every piece of software we've tried, including Windows programs). Also, it was less expensive than the other screen enlargement programs we tried. We can provide a free working demo copy of this software (it's fully functional, but only lasts 20 minutes before one needs to reboot to use it again). Microsystems Software may still provide free demos, too. MAGic Deluxe magnifies screen text and graphics from 1.4 to 12 times normal size. It includes programs for DOS and Windows. The program is extremely easy to set up and use. Simple hotkeys allow users to magnify and change sizes. Once magnified, users can move around the screen with the mouse or the arrow keys. The program also has a "pan" function that moves across the screen line-by-line. The display can be stopped and started, and the display speed can be changed. The program operates smoothly with the CD-ROM products and was less expensive than some other magnification programs. The only problem we've experienced with this program is an occasional lockup when the screen is magnified while changing from a text to a graphic screen. We recommend that users return to unmagnified mode before displaying a picture or other graphic. Some patrons have requested being able to magnify a portion of the screen while the rest remains unmagnified. This feature is included in the Windows version of MAGic. MAGic Deluxe Microsystems Software Inc. 600 Worcester Road Framingham, MA 01701-5342 (508) 879-9000 Braille Translation Program Hot Dots 3.0. Correct translation to Braille requires manual manipulation by skilled Braille transcribers. Any computerized program will make errors of translation and of format. Generally, though, Hot Dots appears to do a fairly good job of translation for short pieces of text of the sort found in most reference materials. It will not work very well with tables and other complicated formats. We have added a disclaimer to Braille materials explaining the limitations of electronic translation. Although output may not be formatted perfectly, it has met our patrons' needs without any complaints. We've heard that Hot Dots' big sister, Mega Dots, is even better. Hot Dots Raised Dot Computing 408 South Baldwin Avenue Madison, Wisconsin 53703 (608) 257-9595 or TeleSensory Systems, Inc. 455 North Bernardo Avenue P.O. Box 7455 Mountain View, CA 94039-7455 1-800-227-8418 Screen Reader The most consistent problems that we have encountered in setting up the CD-ROM station seem to be related to the software packages needed to read screen text aloud. We have tried three: VOS, Jaws and Flipper. All three have their advantages and disadvantages. We ended up using VOS because it worked with the hardware and software we have. (At this writing, we are waiting for an upgrade to Flipper that is supposed to be compatible with the version of DECtalk we have.) Those with simpler systems may wish to use a different program, since VOS is somewhat difficult to operate, and its documentation is sometimes confusing and not well-written. Many of the difficulties encountered can be traced to the CD-ROM software rather than the speech software. The following types of programs are likely to create difficulties when using speech: - Programs that do not use a standard cursor to show screen location. Many menu-oriented software packages let users move around the screen using the arrow keys, and use reverse video or different screen colors to display the active choice. While most screen reading programs can be set up to read, say, only the box with white letters and a red background, setting such parameters for each CD-ROM program separately is a difficult and time- consuming task. Several of our blind users have preferred to learn the appropriate keystrokes by rote ("RIGHT ARROW twice, then DOWN ARROW once, then ENTER") and, as one user said, "take on faith" that they are in the right place. - Programs that make heavy use of the function keys. Several of the speech programs that we tried use the function keys to adjust the synthesizer. If the CD-ROM software wants to use the same function keys, conflicts may arise. At the least, the user must press another key combination to "pass through" the keystroke to the CD-ROM software. - Programs that do not use display in text mode. Even programs that do not run under Windows are beginning to use a graphics mode to display text. Most screen programs cannot read screens that are not displayed in the DOS text mode. In conclusion, voice synthesis can be extremely useful, but it is limited, not easy to learn, and it sometimes leads to system conflicts. If your budget permits, and your users read Braille, refreshable Braille displays are an expensive, but easier-to-use, alternative. VOS purchased through: Computer Conversations, Inc. 6297 Worthington Road SW Alexandria, OH 43001 614) 924-2885 FLIPPER >From Omnichron Raised Dot Computing 408 South Baldwin Madison, WI 53703 608-257-9595 System Software Costs SOFTWARE: Price Flipper $395.00 Hot Dots $350.00 Screen Magnification (MAGic Deluxe) $225.00 MS DOS (came with the computer) QEMM memory management software $68.33 __________ SOFTWARE TOTAL: $1038.33 IV. EQUIPMENT AND SOFTWARE ADD-ONS, ORDERED LATER 1. Four extra megabytes of memory. CD programs are memory hogs. Although the programs work as is, we are hoping that with the memory management program, we'll be able to increase the speed and efficiency of the computer and continue to add CD products. 2. Command Center surge protector, so that we can turn everything off with one button. 3. Braille translation program. Originally we had thought that computer Braille would do just fine. It will work, however, patrons often must be taught how to read it, if it is unfamiliar to them. The new Braille translation programs (especially the upgraded version of Hot Dots, called MegaDots) are so easy to use, that it is worthwhile to offer the patrons Grade 2 Braille - and it saves on expensive Braille paper! 4. Media Vision Pro Audio Studio 16 sound card. This will allow patrons to hear the sound produced by the multimedia products, such as Groliers Encyclopedia. There is also a Windows screen access program, called PROTALK, that allows users who are blind or visually impaired to access Windows programs using a standard sound card instead of the specially designed voice synthesizers. 5. Security cables to connect the equipment to the furniture. Although this won't stop a serious thief from using wire cutters and hauling something off, it should prevent the quick snatch. 6. Shareware DOS screen saver. 7. Glare screen. See the furniture section for a discussion of screen glare and placement. 8. Large print overlay for the keyboard. Data-Cal (1-800- 223-0123) makes overlays that are high quality and adhere well, but the print is not all that much bigger than the original size, at least for letters and numbers. Where such labels would be most useful--for example, on special keys like the backslash-- print size is not all that different, or the key's function is abbreviated rather obscurely, like "P/U" for Page Up. We have used these labels sparingly, for the same reason as the Braille labels, see below. 9. Braille overlay for the keyboard. We've tried making our own, but can't seem to get them to stay on the keyboard very long, so we ordered the overlays from Data-Cal. These labels are placed on top of the large print ones. We've been warned by Braille users not to put Braille labels on every key--only those keys that help orient and on the keys that seem to be in a different place on each keyboard. Apparently, having too many labels is very distracting. A major shortcoming of the Data-Cal Braille labels is that the set lacks labels for some important keys, like the backspace, backslash, and tab. In addition, the shift key is labeled only with the Braille capital sign (dot 6), which is not very helpful. 10. Flipper screen reading program to replace VOS. VOS conflicts with many of the CD programs and the technical support for VOS has been pretty much non-existent. As mentioned earlier, we are awaiting an update to Flipper that will work with the PC version of DECtalk. 11. Headphones for sound output. 12. A library site license for PC-VT Terminal Emulation software. This has been our favorite communication software for accessible stations. It has been easy to use and is transparent. This is the software that allows the PCs to talk to the VAX. We simply hook the same cable that would go to a VT220 (RS232, 25 pin with the same pin configuration) to a serial port on the PC, load PC-VT and voila, another terminal. FURNITURE AND SYSTEM LOCATION Description The furniture we chose was very expensive and by no means the only option. We chose the MayLine Hamilton Single Pedestal Workcenter over the less expensive options for several reasons. This computer desk meets ADA recommendations for wheelchair accessibility. It has an easy-to-use power switch for height adjustment, rather than a hand crank that would require more strength on the part of the user. It is also well-built and large enough to hold all the peripherals attached to the computer. MayLine/Hamilton Single Pedestal Workcenter 30" X 60" surface; 16" D X 60" L rear shelf including 36" shelf support. MayLine/Hamilton The Mayline Company, Inc. 619 N. Commerce Street P.O. Box 728 Sheboygan, WI 53082-0728 (414) 457-5537 Cost MayLine/Hamilton Single Pedestal Workcenter: $1,500.00 Ergonomic Chair: $150.00 System Location and Setup Beside the usual considerations for location in a public facility -- security, visibility, etc. -- libraries should consider other factors when selecting a location for an accessible workstation. One that turns out to be of great importance, particularly to low-vision users, is lighting. Due to physical accessibility and power availability considerations, we placed our station so that users are facing large display windows. The outside light proved to be very distracting, so we put a wall hanging behind the monitor to block light from the sides. The glare screen has proved not to be very popular. Many users prefer to remove it because it decreases the amount of light displayed on the screen. Instead, we turned off a light directly above the screen which caused much of the glare. CD ROM PRODUCTS Some issues to consider when selecting software: - Software interfaces have changed considerably in the last few years. The increasing popularity of graphic user interfaces (GUIs) on Macintoshes and in Microsoft Windows have both advantages and disadvantages for large print users -- and overwhelming disadvantages for speech users. For this reason, we have selected only CD-ROM products that display in text mode. - Since GUIs require the user to read and move about the screen in a non-linear fashion, large-print users find that the cursor or active choice is often not visible. On the other hand, GUIs such as Windows can be set up to increase screen print size without the use of a separate large-print program. - Some users find mice and other pointing devices difficult to use. The mouse cursor can be hard to see, even for those with normal vision. - Screen-reading programs that can read aloud screens that display in graphics mode have just recently become available, and are not yet reliable. In general, we recommend CD software that does not run under Microsoft Windows or that displays in graphic mode rather than text mode. We also recommend CD products that are not totally menu-oriented, that is, if they use menus and a mouse, they also have equivalent keyboard commands that are easy to locate and use. Descriptions ABLEDATA 1992 This product is a database of products for people with disabilities. The database can be searched by product name, manufacturer and function. As of this writing, the 1993 edition of this database is due momentarily. ABLEDATA is menu-driven, with menus in different parts of the screen depending on location within the program. Speech programs must be set to locate highlighted text so that users can navigate correctly. ABLEDATA Information Systems 2701 University Avenue B1-374 Madison, WI 53705 (608) 263-2309 Bible Library This program proves that a CD is only as good as its search software. Even without the additional complexities of large print or speech synthesis, the Bible Library is extremely difficult to use. It is necessary to use the online help at just about every step. Reviews indicate that the recently-produced New Bible Library has an improved interface; we have not yet tested it. CD-BLND (the catalog of the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped) The version we tested is a prototype. Regular issues are expected soon and prices have not yet been set. This program is somewhat disappointing for speech users. To search, the user fills in a form, moving from field to field (author, title, subject, etc.) using the TAB key. The active field changes color on the screen, and our speech program could not locate the active field. Speech users must take on faith that they are in the right place or re-read the screen once they have filled in a field. Other problems that we have encountered: As with World of Poetry, heavy use of the function keys may cause interference between the speech program and the search program. Occasionally, speech users began hearing garbage characters not displayed on the screen if they read too close to the bottom of the screen. If a user leaves the program for several minutes, the screen becomes unreadable, necessitating a restart of the program. CD-BLND Reference Section National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped Library of Congress Washington, DC 20542 (202) 707-5100 Countries of the World Family Doctor Great Literature Personal Library Series Total Baseball World Fact Book These five CDs use the same search software, called DiscPassage. Menu-oriented, it uses changes in screen colors to indicate the active screens, which can lead to some difficulties in navigation using speech. Generally easy to use. Electronic Home Library This program, which includes full texts of literary classics, has an unusual interface. When a user presses the up or down arrow while in a list, the list moves up and down while the cursor remains stationary. The advantage of this setup for speech or large-print users is that they can continue to read the same line while navigating. Granger's World of Poetry This program is generally easy to use, although some users prefer screen colors that are easier on the eyes. World of Poetry makes heavy use of the function keys, as do many speech programs, which can cause conflicts. The New Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia, 1992 Edition Although this program is menu-oriented, its keyboard shortcuts are easy to understand and use. Navigation is relatively easy. Printing works well. This program has been a hit with large-print and speech users. Discs not currently being used: CD-NewsBank We tested this product, which includes news articles covering national and international issues and events, and found it to be generally compatible with the speech and large-print programs. We did not purchase it because of its high cost and because many other libraries have similar products available. Prices vary widely, depending on the number of subjects included and the frequency of updates. CD-NewsBank NewsBank, Inc. 58 Pine Street New Canaan, CT 06840-5426 (800) 762-8182 Guinness Disk of Records This disk, although not requiring Windows, is completely graphical in nature. It is useless with speech, and is extremely slow to display. We removed it for these reasons. Poem Finder This product has somewhat more citations than the Granger World of Poetry, but it does not include poem texts or quotations, as Granger does. Patrons seem to appreciate immediate access to the actual texts. In addition, Poem Finder's interface is less than intuitive, so we have removed it in favor of Granger's. Regional Economic Information System This disk is published by the U. S. Department of Commerce and takes the prize for having the most difficult interface of any of the CD products we tried. A Commerce staffer told us that most users take the raw data and import it into spreadsheets for further manipulation and that the department doesn't really expect the interface to be used very much. The disk has some very interesting data on income, unemployment and the like, but between the interface and the difficulties encountered in printing tables in large print or Braille, we decided to remove the disk. Regional Economic Information System U. S. Department of Commerce Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Economic Measurement Division (BE-55) Washington, DC 20230 (202) 254-6630 Cost ABLEDATA Two-issue subscription (one year) $50.00 Microsoft Bookshelf (DOS Edition) $130.00 Includes American Heritage Dictionary, Bartletts Quotations, Columbia Concise Encyclopedia, Columbia Quotations, Rogets Thesaurus, World Almanac Total Baseball $49.90 Countries of the World Encyclopedia $395.00 Columbia Grangers World of Poetry $699.00 Great Literature Personal Library $39.95 Groliers Multimedia Encyclopedia $400.00 Multimedia World Fact Book $29.95 Family Doctor $59.60 Electronic Home Library $79.95 Library Bible Library $69.99 Not using: CD-NewsBank prices vary Guinness Disc of Records $49.00 Poem Finder $300.00 Regional Economic Information System $35.00 VII. CONCLUSIONS Notwithstanding some accessibility limitations, this project has been very well received, and has been worth the effort it has taken to put the station together. For many of our patrons, CD- ROMs are the only way that they can have access to reference materials. We have been able to provide additional assistance to our patrons through the use of volunteers. Patrons who do not have basic familiarity with computer operations, and others who cannot easily use the system without assistance, can be helped by volunteers who are asked to: - assist patrons in using the system, use the CD-ROM products to conduct searches and print materials for patrons who cannot visit in person, - maintain and upgrade the system, the online and printed instructions, and assist the library staff with special projects that can be simplified using this technology. A description of this volunteer position is included as Appendix B. As an additional benefit, the CD-ROM station has been used for experiments with a number of technologies. With a simple hard-wired connection to our mainframe computer and a terminal- emulation program, the station has been turned into an accessible terminal for our Online Public Access Catalog. We were also fortunate enough to have a Kurzweil Personal Reader (a device that scans printed materials and reads them aloud) donated to the library. This has been attached to the CD-ROM station via a serial cable that allows us to scan printed material, send it to the computer, and print the results in regular print, large print or Braille. We can also take electronic texts and convert them to audio tape via the Kurzweil. Finally, we have used the CD-ROM station to make electronic texts available. An increasing number of books are available in electronic form and may be read by our patrons at the CD-ROM station. FUNDING The acquisition of the hardware for this station was funded through gift funds from Seattle Public Library (our administrative agency). The CD-ROM products were funded by the Friends of Seattle Public Library. The Americans with Disabilities Act focus on accessibility issues makes community- based funding of accessible technology an appealing project for service groups and grant proposals. For more information, feel free to contact Charles Hamilton or Rochelle Wyatt at the Washington Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, 821 Lenora Street, Seattle, WA 98129; telephone: 206-464-6930; Internet: wlbph@guest.nwnet.net. We will be happy to discuss this project with you. APPENDIX A. LETTERS TO VENDORS Following are letters requesting bids from vendors. These are not the actual letters that were sent out. We have to go through Seattle Public Library's Finance Office for this process now, so the information was added to their boilerplate before being sent to vendors. We wanted one vendor to provide, install and set up everything (except furniture) so we wouldn't have problems with one vendor blaming another if one product didn't work with another. We chose the accessibility products and sent out product information to the vendors. The vendor who won the bid learned the access software and did a great job of setting things up and troubleshooting compatibility problems. FURNITURE Request for Bid Letter The Washington Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped would like to purchase a computer desk for its accessible CD-ROM workstation. The desk must be accessible by individuals using wheelchairs. Mayline Hamilton has a line of computer furniture that meets the ADA specifications for accessibility. The model that we are interested in purchasing is: Mayline-Hamilton Single Pedestal Table with power height adjustment, 26" to 41" Catalog No: 12560 30"D X 60"L work surface, 16"D X 60"L rear shelf. Includes 36" shelf support. Please include in your bid, as a separately priced item, a fully ergonomic task chair with the following: Pneumatic height adjustment (16" - 21") Single lever backrest pivot/seat tilt Backrest height adjustment Padded seat and full backrest Armrests Please include freight and shipping and state sales tax. We would appreciate hearing from you by Wednesday, August 12. If you have questions please feel free to call me at 464-6930. Rochelle Wyatt EQUIPMENT AND OPERATING SYSTEM SOFTWARE Request for Bid Letter The Washington Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped will provide an accessible CD-ROM reference station to its patrons who are print handicapped. In order to do so we need to purchase the equipment, programs, furniture and miscellaneous items needed to provide this service. In this Request for Bid we are asking for bids on the hardware, software and furniture portion that will form the base unit (software reference programs will be purchased separately). I have listed what we feel are the required components on the enclosure. Any additional components required to make the system function effectively may be added. Please detail the additional components with complete descriptions and prices, separate from the items listed. The total price must reflect a complete, operating system (keyboard, power supply, cables, connectors, etc.) and all parts must function together. All components must be new and must be repairable using standard, nationally recognized parts. Unit must be 100% compatible AT. Selection shall be based on the following: Component quality and reliability Price Completeness of package System warranty Ability to provide in-house service for the first year Priority will be given to vendors who are able to provide the most complete package. Washington Library for the Blind will provide information on the preferred products and their vendors, for accessible items such as the Braille printer/embosser, the speech synthesizer, accessible software and the wheelchair accessible table, etc. in order to assist vendors in bidding on the whole package. More than one configuration option may be submitted. Prices quoted must be good for at least 90 days from date of bid. Please respond by July 1, 1992. If you have questions, please call me at 464-6930. Thank you, Rochelle Wyatt Computer Operations Washington Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped APPENDIX B. TECHNOLOGY MENTOR: VOLUNTEER JOB DESCRIPTION POSITION TITLE: Technology Mentor DEPARTMENT: Readers' Services GOAL OF POSITION: To provide technical assistance to patrons using WLBPH's CD-ROM reference station and to assist patrons in using adaptive technologies. FUNCTIONS OF POSITION: Provide in-person, individual assistance to patrons wishing to search and reproduce information stored on CD-ROM. Train patrons in use of CD-ROM station. Record comments, difficulties, and recommendations of patrons for system improvement and pass these on to staff. QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS: Experience in operating IBM-compatible computers necessary. Experience in using CD-ROM software, screen magnification software, and/or screen reading (talking) software very helpful. Ability to explain technical information simply and to work patiently with those unfamiliar with computers and adaptive technology. Ability to interact in a helpful, friendly and professional manner with patrons and staff, in person and by telephone. Ability to evaluate, record and communicate problems and recommendations for improvement. TIME COMMITMENT: At least one four-hour shift per week during regular business hours (8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday - Friday) by arrangement, for six months. Ability to keep same schedule each week very helpful. WORK SITE: WLBPH SUPERVISOR: Charles Hamilton, Program Coordinator. *********************************************