Discontinued products manufactured by MicroTalk Software (listed alphabetically)

1. ASAP: AUTOMATIC SCREEN ACCESS PROGRAM
   --- DISCONTINUED. (Verified 05/2006) RETAINED IN DATABASE FOR REFERENCE. --- ASAP: Automatic Screen Access Program is a voice output screen reader program designed to provide speech access to DOS-based software applications for individuals who are blind or have low vision. The program employs intelligent analysis to decide what part of the screen catches a sighted user's eye and then announces that material automatically. It focuses automatically on light bars, cursors, and pop-up windows in order to create a user-friendly environment. A "quick review" function allows the user to obtain spellings and determine a letter by its phonetic pronunciation using the computer's numeric keypad; the "auto read" feature is designed to let the user read an entire document with a single command; "turbo browse" allows the user to skip over repetitive text they might not want to hear over and over again; a "lexicon" mode helps to distinguish pronunciations of proper names and difficult to pronounce words and acronyms; and a "column detection" feature permits the user to restrict reading to a particular column of interest on the screen. COMPATIBILITY: For use on IBM and IBM-compatible computers. SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS: DOS operating system; the program uses at least 35K. OPTIONS: This software is available by itself or in two packages. The standard package includes a speech synthesizer board with external speaker that fits into a normal computer slot. The second package includes a portable, battery-operated synthesizer that connects to a computer by one of its serial or parallel ports. This configuration is suitable for use on notebook and micro channel computers.
2. ASAW: AUTOMATIC SCREEN ACCESS FOR WINDOWS
   --- DISCONTINUED. (Verified 05/2006) RETAINED IN DATABASE FOR REFERENCE. --- ASAW: Automatic Screen Access for Windows is a screen reader program designed for use by individuals who are blind or have low vision. This program announces text in sync with the application in use. It analyzes on-screen text and activity to determine what should be spoken. This program utilizws the numeric keypad at the end of a standard computer keyboard to review text already shown. The review screen keys are intended to be simple and logical. Other major features include the capability to support standard mouse operations, the capability to tailor each application's speech and retain settings from session to session, image recognition analysis that enables the user to assign system-wide labels, and two methods of silencing speech to enable the user to skip directly to the text of interest. A manual is included in ASCII format. OPTIONS: A version that works with Windows 3.1 may be downloaded from the manufacturer's web site. COMPATIBILITY: For use on IBM and compatible computers. SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS: Windows 95, 98, or ME. For Windows 95, Pentium processor running at 350 megahertz (MHz) and 32 MB of RAM; for Windows 98 or ME, and 64 MB or more. The version for Window 3.1 requires a 386 processor and 4 MB of RAM.
3. PROBRAILLE
   --- DISCONTINUED. (Verified 12/2002) RETAINED IN DATABASE FOR REFERENCE. --- ProBRAILLE is a software program that translates standard text into grade I, II or BANA computer braille on a braille embosser and reverse translates text back into normal English. When used with ProWords MicroTalk's word processing software, ProBRAILLE automatically starts the word processor and loads the translated file ready for embossing. Other word processor program users must manually load the file and print it with their word processing program when the translation is complete. ProBRAILLE's options features include levels of translation, back translation and number of useful DOS operations like copying or locking file. COMPATIBILITY: For use on any Apple II computer. SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS: Minimum of 128K of RAM and one disk drive; an Echo, SlotBuster, or DoubleTalk speech synthesizer. A braille embosser is suggested.
4. PROTERM TALKING TERMINAL
   --- DISCONTINUED. (Verified 12/2002) RETAINED IN DATABASE FOR REFERENCE. --- ProTERM Talking Terminal is a machine language program that sends and receives text or programs to other computers via LAN, telephone and modem or other access devices. The program allows any text that appears on the screen to be spoken, including data transfered to the user's computer from another. Files created on a computer with ProTERM in operation can also be transferred to another system transparently. ProTERM can be run under the ProDOS operating system, in which case it will load automatically when the computer is turned on. ProTERM has the option of reading every keystroke as it is entered, and undesired characters can be shut off so that they won't read aloud. ProTERM also has an abbreviation expansion option. COMPATIBILITY: For use on Apple IIe, IIc, IIc+ or IIgs computers. SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS: Minimum of 128K of RAM (Random Access Memory) and one disk drive. An Echo, SlotBuster or DoubleTalk speech synthesizer external modem or internal Data Link super Serial Card (Apple IIe only).
5. PROWORDS TALKING WORD PROCESSOR
   --- DISCONTINUED. (Verified 12/2002) RETAINED IN DATABASE FOR REFERENCE. --- The ProWORDS Talking Word Processor Program is designed to edit, read and print braille using speech synthesis, with an optional text translation feature. The program works with units natural to English - words, sentences, and paragraphs. The basic and advanced commands are simple to use. Formatting commands include margin adjustments, line and space adjustments, page search, six different running headers, indicators that specify section names to be included in the table of contents, and conditional formatting that permits one thing to be printed in ink and another to be printed in braille. The word processor program may also be used with ProBRAILLE and MicroTalk's braille translator (see separate entries). ProWORDS supports the same flexibility with braille formatting. COMPATIBILITY: For use on Apple IIe, IIc, IIc+ or IIgs computers. SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS: Minimum of 128K of RAM, one disk drive. An Echo, SlotBuster or DoubleTalk speech synthesizer printer is suggested.
6. WORDS VERSION 2
   --- DISCONTINUED. (Verified 07/93) RETAINED IN DATABASE FOR REFERENCE. --- Talking word processor program for Apple computer with voice output. Requires Apple IIc or Apple IIe wit 128K RAM, one disk drive, and ECHO speech synthesizer. Written in 6502 machine language, runs under the ProDOS operating system.

ABLEDATA, 8630 Fenton Street, Suite 930, Silver Spring, MD 20910. 1-800-227-0216. Maintained for the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research of the U.S. Dept. of Education by Macro International Inc. under Contract No. ED-02-CO-0038.
The records in ABLEDATA are provided for information purposes only. Neither the U.S. Department of Education nor Macro International Inc. has examined, reviewed, or tested any product, device, or information contained in ABLEDATA. The Department and Macro International Inc. make no endorsement, representation, or warranty express or implied as to any product, device, or information set forth in ABLEDATA. The views expressed on this site do not necessarily represent the opinions of the Department of Education, the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, or Macro International Inc.