From: [log in to unmask] (Bill Reif)
Newsgroups: alt.comp.blind-users


Those who haven't tried the Voxchat program for a while might be
interested to discover that there seems to have been a pickup in the
number of users lately, and even in the number of workable servers
that can be reached 24 hours a day.

Voxchat is a program that allows one to chat in real time using one's
voice.  Chat rooms can be either public or private, and can contain
well over 12 users on some servers.  The program is easy for a blind
person to operate -- simply use arow keys to navigate through the
server list or through the chat room list within a server.  Pres and
hold down the spacebar when you want to talk.  The program's ease of
use by the blind and other disabilities probably explains why a high
percentage of those one finds chatting are blind or have difficulty
using a mouse.  Best of all: the program is freeware!  Although
neither it nor the server software are currently being supported by
the developer, both are being used because configuration is easy.  To
use the program, you will need a computer running win95/NT, a sound
card, and a microphone attached to your sound card.  Setting the
sending/playback levels within the program is also pretty
streight-forward.  The program also integrates with your browser so
that a properly-formatted URL will run the program and take you to the
designated server.

The program is available through a number of sources, including Paul
Henrichson's site at ftp://ftp.thesocket.com/pub/henrich/voxchat.zip.
(Paul has quite a collection of games and other programs usable by the
disabled.)  You will also need an updated groups.ini file, which
contains the names of recently-added servers.  That can be obtained at
http://www.wcc.net/~peacemkr/vox.html along with a lot of other
information related to Voxchat.  Although much of the site uses Java,
I was able to navigate it and obtain most of the content using Lynx.
Finally: Window-Eyes users can obtain a helpful set file, which
configures it to speak the name of the person talking, at
ftp://ftp.gwmicro.com in the weset subdirectory.

Enjoy!!

--
Bill Reif
Springfield, Illinois



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