Leah:

I have found that the vertical monitor adjustment alone does not meet all
positioning needs.  Having the ability to adjust forward and backward
position of the viewing area has tremendous benefit.  I suggest you try and
lighten the load of at least one of the 21" monitors by acquiring a LCD
monitor instead. This can be hugely expensive but you may be able to save a
bit on budget by not having all height adjustable stations. The lighter load
than then be positioned much easier by using forward and backward moving
flat surfaces and perhaps a monitor arm.

I am envious your opportunity to design a new Centre (sorry that's Center
for you).  Good Luck!

Mike Arnold
e-mail/courriel: [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]> 
Tel:    (819) 997-2903
Fax:    (819) 953-5995

Adaptive Computer Technology Program    Programme de Technologie
Informatique Adaptée
ACT, Technology Specialist (SID)                Spécialiste en technologie,
TIA (DGSI)
Environment Canada                      Environnement Canada
Les Terrasse de la Chaudière                  Les Terrasse de la Chaudière
10 Wellington Street, 2nd Floor                 10, rue Wellington, 2e étage
Hull, QC        K1A 0H3                         Hull, QC        K1A 0H3


                -----Original Message-----
                From:   Leah Monger [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
                Sent:   Thursday, January 27, 2000 11:42 AM
                To:     [log in to unmask]
                Subject:        Furniture for Adaptive Technology Lab in New
Library

                Hi:  We're in the process of building a new library, and
I've been assigned
                the task of compiling specifications for the furniture for
the adaptive
                technology lab that we're including in the new building.
Other than making
                sure that workstation heights are adjustable, I'm not
finding very much in
                the literature to assist me.  Here's what we're considering
so far.  I'm
                particularly interested in furniture issues right now, but
any criticisms
                of the proposed software configurations would be welcome as
well.  Any
                suggestions or comments to help us out?  Thanks!

                1) Workstation for CCTV

                2) PC Workstation with 21" monitor, Arkenstone and scanner
(which we
                currently have), Jaws for Windows, ZoomText Xtra Level 2,
VisAbility

                3)  PC Workstation with 21" monitor, Dragon Dictate (which
we currently
                have), Jaws for Windows, ZoomText Xtra Level 2

                4)  PC Workstation with 21" monitor, Alva Braille Display
Terminal, 45 cell
                desktop, Duxbury Braille Translation, Jaws for Windows,
ZoomText Xtra Level
                2

                5)  Juliet Braille Printer with acoustical sound enclosure

                6)  Large screen TV (50"?) and VCR with closed captioning

                7)  Talking calculator

                8)  2 4-track tape players (which we might want to configure
to record from
                a PC screen reading program)

                At the moment, we're thinking that the TV should go on a
TV/VCR cart.  For
                the rest of the equipment, we're thinking of specifying
workstation tables
                with the following features:  motorized height adjustment
with a range of
                at least 25"-35" inches, 30"-60" table top space, adjustable
keyboard
                trays, rounded edges and corners, and locking casters for
mobility.  There
                is some concern that the workstation with a scanner should
be on a larger
                table.  Are 72" wide, height adjustable tables available?
Another thought
                was an L-shaped workstation?  Are there L-shaped
workstations that are
                height adjustable?  We're also considering recommending that
one of the PC
                workstations be mounted on an ErgoPod.  Any thoughts on this
idea?

                The furniture bid is going to specify ergonomic chairs for
the whole
                building (maybe Aeron chairs?), and I think we're slated to
get standard
                issue chairs for the lab.  The only other furniture we're
suggesting right
                now is at least one, and maybe two, lockable storage
cabinets for storing
                headphones, braille paper, track balls, manuals, print
brochures about the
                lab, etc.

                Thanks for your input!

                Leah Monger
                Head of Library Systems & Operations
                Timme Library
                Ferris State University
                1201 S. State St.
                Big Rapids, MI 49307
                (231)591-2947

                EASI's online workshop on adaptive technology,
                Barrier-free Educational Technology, begins Jan. 31.
                Making your info tech accessible is the right thing to do,
                and it is the law.  For information, go to
                http://www.rit.edu/~easi and click on workshops.

EASI's online workshop on adaptive technology,
Barrier-free Educational Technology, begins Jan. 31.
Making your info tech accessible is the right thing to do,
and it is the law.  For information, go to
http://www.rit.edu/~easi and click on workshops.