APPENDIX K
TIPS FOR VOCAL-EYES USERS WITH LEARNING
DISABILITIES

Vocal-Eyes was originally written with the totally blind user in mind.  Over
time, however, many new applications for Vocal-Eyes have been found. 
In talking with users, we found that many did not have visual impairments
at all, but had dyslexia, dysgraphia, or other learning disabilities.  

After working with researchers at Ball State University and with end users
around the country, we added a feature to Vocal-Eyes, Visual Tracking, 
which we think strengthens its functionality in this area.  

What is the advantage of using Visual Tracking?  According to the
research done at Ball State and elsewhere, a user who can simultaneously
see and hear text can read with greater fluidity and comprehension.  This
ability also increases reading speed.

Pop up your Vocal-Eyes control panel by pressing CTRL-BACKSLASH and
select your Screen menu (number one).  Move to option ten, Visual
Tracking, and press ENTER to see the submenu.  If Visual Tracking is
"off," the default, press ENTER twice to turn it to "INVERSE."  This
means that any word which you ask Vocal-Eyes to speak will be
highlighted in an inverse color set, e.g. black on white instead of white on
black.  

For example, you're in your favorite word processor.  The text on the
screen is yellow on black.  You press CTRL-P to read the current
paragraph.  You will see each word highlighted in black letters on a yellow
background as it is spoken.  

You will see highlighted text any time you press any of your "read" hot
keys such as read current, previous, or next sentence, window zero, etc. 
Your cursoring keys which perform these functions will also highlight the
words.  This will occur whether you are in review mode, using the VE
cursor, or simply in "interactive" or "application" mode.  You will also see
the words being highlighted when a hyperactive window reads.  When
you use your read to end hot key the text will also be highlighted word by
word.    

You can change the colors used for the highlighted text.  Return to the
Visual Tracking submenu and turn the first option to "User define."  Move 
to option 2 and press ENTER to view the color palate and choose the
foreground color you would like.  Move to option three and choose your
background color in the same way.

Now when you read text the words will be highlighted in the color you
selected.  If you like this color set, don't forget to save your .SET file. 
See section 4.4.10 for an explanation of the Visual Tracking feature.

Note:  the Visual Tracking feature is supported only by synthesizers which
support indexing.  For a list of these, see Appendix F.