AbsayD HOWTO file, updated through at least version 0.01.0000       1999.03.27
Distribution point: http://www.geocities.com/HotSprings/Sauna/4533/ABsayD.html

ABsayD is software running under Microsoft Windows 95 and 98 which tries to
assist the blind and vision-impaired learn typing or keyboarding skills. Its
use is entirely free to all persons, subject only to license restrictions.
This is a very simple program, but may adequately serve the needs of many
persons. For example, it could be used to help teach small children the names
of the various letters.

ABsayD works by using Microsoft Agent technology to speak aloud the name of
any key pressed. Lower-case letters are whispered to suggest they are smaller.

The program, ABsayD.exe, has been run on both Microsoft Windows 95(R) and 98(R).
There is no official support. You may send e-mail to the address shown on the
version page of the program file properties, (right-click on the program file
using Windows (file) Explorer and select "properties") but no reply is promised.
Any e-mail becomes the intellectual property of the program author, with unlimited
copyrights worldwide in any medium. We suggest that users help one another through
the UseNet newsgroup, alt.comp.blind-users, or through the #Ronolog (sic.) channel
on any IRC Network, preferably Undernet.

We apologize for the GeoCities ads on the distribution Web site which make access
harder for the blind. This business model makes it possible for GeoCities to host
the site at no charge to our project. GeoCities is also a nice hosting site because
it is so well known and well-supported. The blind can be spared the ad problem by
downloading the software directly from:
	http://www.geocities.com/HotSprings/Sauna/4533/AbsayD.zip

Dr. R. I. Feigenblatt
neohephaestus@geocities.com
The Hephaestus Project
http://www.geocities.com/HotSprings/Sauna/4533/

I N S T A L L A T I O N   P R O C E D U R E
===========================================

0. ABsayD should not be difficult to install by users with moderate computer skills.
   We hope some of them will take the time to help the blind learn how to use a computer
   keyboard. If Ronolog (q.v. http://www.geocities.com/HotSprings/Sauna/4533/ronolog.html)
   has been installed already, no added installation is needed for ABsayD; just run ABSAYD.EXE!

1. Download and install Microsoft Agent technology components
   (By the time you read this, they may already be installed on your PC.)
   The easiest way to get things started may be to go to this Web page with
	Microsoft Internet Explorer:
	http://www.microsoft.com/workshop/imedia/agent/TryMicrosoftAgent.htm
   The license agreement for Microsoft Agent can be found at the following
   Web site at the time this document is written:
	http://agent.microsoft.com/workshop/imedia/agent/eula.asp

   Alternately, do the following:
	Go to: http://www.microsoft.com/workshop/imedia/agent/agentdl.asp
	and download these four files (it will take up to an hour):

	1.1 	(Download the Microsoft Agent core components (.exe file, 395K))

	1.2	(Select a character -> Peedy (.exe file 3.3MB))
		(Download selected character)

	1.3	(Select a text-to-speech-engine -> Lernout &  Hauspie(R)
		TruVoice Text-To-Speech Engine - English (.exe file, 1MB))
		(Download selected engine)

	1.4	(Download the Speech Control Panel (.exe file, 840KB)) 

	If a download aborts, restart it. There is a good chance you can
	continue the download where you left off.

	Now, run the four programs which you downloaded.
		spchcpl.exe, tv_enua.exe, MSagent.exe, Peedy.exe
	They are installation programs and will install files
	in the appropriate places on your hard drive.

2. Start ABsayD.exe and enjoy! (See 3.)

3. If the program does not operate, your PC might be missing
Microsoft Visual Basic(R) 5.0 runtime components such as
MSVBVM50.DLL. The following versions of this file are
known to work with this program: (Hmm... file sizes DIFFER!)

	1,347,344 bytes	  07-19-97  4:55p MSVBVM50.DLL
	Product Version = 05.00.4319 (SP2)
	Comments = July 19, 1997

	1,355,776 bytes   05-11-98  8:01p MSVBVM50.DLL
	Product Version = 05.00.4319 (SP2)	
	Comments = July 19, 1997

If your system lacks MSVBVM50.DLL or other related runtime
files, download the following file, unzip it and run the
resultant program to update your system. As always, upgrading
is capable of breaking existing installed applications.

ftp://sunsite.doc.ic.ac.uk/packages/simtelnet/win95/dll/vb500a.zip

You can search http://www.download.com/ for alternative download sites.
If you do not have a tool for unzipping files, you can get WinZip(R)
at: http://www.winzip.com/

O P E R A T I O N   P R O C E D U R E
=====================================

1.	Make sure your sound system is working and available:
		speakers plugged in and turned up, no other programs using it, etc.
2.	Start ABsayD and then simply hit keys on the keyboard. As long as
	the window associated with the program has "focus", the program
	will tell you the name of each key you hit. Do not type too fast,
	because spoken speech is slow. Do not long hold down any keys which
	auto-repeat, as that will queue up very many copies of that key.
