> The Science Access project has developed a Windows 95 program that
> can be used on a small notebook computer as a powerful scientific
> calculator, including the ability to compute and plot functions
> y(x). The plot is visible on the screen and can also be "viewed"
> conveniently in audio.

> The audio plot displays y vs. x by mapping the x axis to time and the
> y axis to tone. Preliminary results from [Comparison tests] made by
> several hundred sighted undergraduate and graduate students have
> indicated that simple audio graphs of this type are almost as
> effective in conveying information as visual graphs.

Similar functionality is also available as an option
under function key F8 in "The vOICe Learning Edition -
Seeing with your Ears" software, running on Windows 95,
98 or NT and available from

   http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/Peter_Meijer/winvoice.htm

The audio function plot option is to be used in combination
with a screen reader such as Jaws for Windows in order to
access the regular Windows dialog box controls. Note: this
software requires a PC camera connected to the PC in view
of its normal more general use for hearing printed graphs
and even hearing your visual environment.

Back to math function plotting:

The vOICe's audio function plot dialog allows you to
specify a symbolic function such as 5*sin(x) and set
x and y ranges for plotting, with or without hearing
the x and y axes. All the usual mathematical functions
such as sin(x), sqrt(x) and exp(x) are supported, using
a common C-like syntax. Constants like pi and e are
predefined and can be entered as #pi and #e.

Individual points of the specified function can also
be evaluated and results accessed via your screen
reader.

A brief description of the function plot option is
given on the web page

   http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/Peter_Meijer/winvoic2.htm

Requests for extensions will be considered for future
releases.

Best wishes,

Peter Meijer


E-mail: [log in to unmask]
Soundscapes from The vOICe - Seeing with your Ears!
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/Peter_Meijer/


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