Library Hi Tech: Volume 11 Issue 1

Personal computer price and performance

Walt Crawford

Price and performance: that was the theme of Crawford's first Library Hi Tech article on PCs, way back in 1984. It's still an important theme, and one of the most unpredictable…

Adaptive technologies for accommodating persons with disabilities: Introduction

Jane Berliss, Richard R. Jones, Scott Flechsig, Mary A. Roatch, William H. Kneedler, E.J. Sizemore, Ann Neville, Tracey Datray, Phillip White, James E. Knox, Jane Berliss

When it comes to establishing a computing environment that genuinely accommodates the range of human abilities, librarians are both cognizant of needs and capable of fulfilling…

Adaptive computer technology: An overview

Richard R. Jones

The use of computers in many areas of daily life is now a fact. Banking, sales, transportation, education, and recreation are all influenced by the use of computers. The…

Converting text to Braille

Richard R. Jones, Scott Flechsig

In the past, conversion of a printed text to Braille has been a slow, painstaking process. Trained transcriptionists, using a Braille Writer, manually translated each character or…

Phoenix public library—special needs center

Mary A. Roatch

During the 1980s' Decade of the Disabled, legislation, advocacy activities, and special programs stimulated increased awareness of the rights of people with disabilities for…

Speech synthesis + online library catalog = “talking catalog”

William H. Kneedler, E.J. Sizemore

Launching a talking catalog takes some time, but it is not technically difficult.

Planning for equal intellectual access for blind and low‐vision students

Ann Neville, Tracey Datray

Introduction Adaptive technology offers exciting possibilities for visually impaired people to have independent intellectual access to information sources, whether in print or…

ALPS: Electronic accommodations for students with disabilities at Purdue University

Phillip White

The Purdue University Libraries have created a more favorable learning environment for Purdue's visually impaired, learning disabled, and physically disabled students by offering…

The University of Michigan barrier free computer users group

James E. Knox

Increasingly, a large number of functions on the campuses of post‐secondary educational institutions are becoming reliant on the use of computers. In 1986, a user group was formed…

Resource list for adaptive technology in libraries

Jane Berliss

Note: No endorsement is meant or implied by inclusion on any of these lists. “Additional References and Resources” follow the article by Kneedler and Sizemore, in this issue of LHT…

Mens et manus at work: The distributed library initiative at MIT

Greg Anderson

Most buildings at MIT are connected, and the long hallway which runs the length of the main complex is called the “infinite corridor.” This design was intentional when the…

Buying your next (or first) PC: What matters now?

Walt Crawford

There's never been a better time to buy a PC, whether it's your first system, a replacement, or an addition. Values have improved enormously in the past year, and you can now get…