
SECTION 3.0 INTRODUCTION

This section describes what Flipper is and what it can do,
without being specific about how.  Once you have read this
section for background information, we will continue with
specific instructions and tutorials.

Flipper is a program which gives blind persons access to IBM
and compatible personal computers, using mainstream
application programs, such as word processors, database
programs, and spreadsheets.  These instructions are designed to
enable you to use Flipper to replace looking at the video screen. 
You will also need instruction in the use of your computer, and
the programs that you will use.  Flipper is easy to learn, and
with it you can make fast, efficient use of your computer.

It is easy to remember Flipper's commands, because they are
laid out logically, with a simple command structure.  If you do
forget how to use a feature, you can ask Flipper to refresh your
memory.

After Flipper is started, it does a number of things for you
automatically.  For example, it will echo the keys that you are
typing.  It will also read off the output from programs as it
appears on the screen.  In programs which allow you to move
around the screen with the arrow keys, Flipper will read off the
material that you are moving over.  Flipper also allows you to
move a sentence at a time backwards or forwards by pressing
the left or right arrow keys while holding down the alt key.  It
will also read off the characters that you are deleting using the
backspace or delete keys. Flipper is designed to anticipate as
much as possible the information that you need without your
needing to stop and ask for it.  Flipper will read and describe
the IBM PC's full character set including forms characters,
paragraph markers, foreign characters, etc., and you can turn
any symbol on or off.  Flipper can be fully customized, and a
list of the desired features can be automatically saved and
reloaded when you turn on the computer.

Special techniques are used to make Flipper very friendly and
automatic.  For example, you can tell Flipper to watch a portion
of the screen, and read it if it changes.  It automatically adjusts
for the speed of the computer and your software, and you do not
need to manually adjust it.  It will work with difficult programs
like mainframe communication software (IRMA and similar
products), spreadsheets, database programs, as well as the broad
range of word processors and other programs that are available. 
You can do searches of the screen using wildcards for either
characters or enhancements.  With Flipper's features to assist
you, you can use the vast array of programs which are available
on the IBM PC and compatible computers.  All of these features
are available immediately, right out of the box, with no
programming or macros necessary.  For those who wish,
however, Flipper has a powerful feature (DEFINE) which will
conduct an interview as to what types of things you want Flipper
to do, so you can add features, and set up your computer
precisely the way you want.

Any output from Flipper can be stopped instantly by pressing
the alt key.  You can also read any preselected part of the
screen with a single command.  Any or all of Flipper's features
can be turned off, if you don't want them.

References to Flippers commands assume that you are using the
default configuration.  Most of the commands outside of review
mode can be changed, if you wish.  If you are using a
configuration specific to an application, refer to the
documentation with that configuration for additional commands
and changes.

The help mode is started by pressing alt H, or just H if you are
in the review mode.  The command reference for Flipper is
available in the help mode. Different sections of the instructions
are read when each of the ten function keys are pressed.  

Function key one is the index to the topics on the various
function keys.  Other keys on the keyboard are echoed but not
sent to the application program while in the help mode, so it can
be used to explore the keyboard.  For example, if you need to
use the tilde key, and you do not know where it is, you can go
into the help mode, press keys until you find it, and then you
can leave the help mode and use the key that you found.  Each
help topic is organized with more basic information first and
more detailed information later.  You can just press any key
when you have heard enough about a particular topic.  To leave
any part of Flipper, including the help mode, press alt space
bar.  

Flipper will guide you through any changes you want to make,
and you may not even need to refer to any of the instructions. 
You can attach an action or a sequence of actions to any key,
any of ten reaction zones or cursor changes.  Flipper can read
sentences or paragraphs, current, forward or backward, even if
they are partially or totally off the screen.  Configurations can
make applications talk as though they were written for speech. 
Flipper can react to pop up windows, cursor movements and
changes, and other events.  Configurations are automatically
loaded when programs are started.

Many other hidden features are included, such as the ability to
adjust automatically to screen sizes larger that 25*80.  You can
also edit any of Flipper's messages, including key names and
symbol names.

FLIPPER'S ELECTRONIC INDEX:

Included on the Flipper disc is a program called LOOK and a
file called INDEX.  Together with the documentation files for
Flipper, they make up a system for looking up information about
Flipper.  To start up the electronic index, give the command:

LOOK INDEX

at the DOS prompt.

You can then use the arrow keys, up and down to browse
through Flipper's index.  If you find a topic of interest, you can
then press L, for look up.  You will then be popped into the
appropriate part of the instructions for Flipper.  If you want,
you can then press T to try different sections which may also be
relevant, or the escape key to go back to the index.  You can
also look at the instructions by pressing the H key.  Press
escape to leave help.  You can also use LOOK to look at other
text files.  You can not change files with look, you can only
browse through them.

ABOUT THE PROGRAMMER:

Dr. John Stephen Smith is an Associate Professor at the
University of California, Berkeley, in the department of
Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.  The program was
developed in association with Cynthia Lowe, and with feedback
from several students at the university, especially Jay Yi, Robert
Gonzales, and Marc Sutton.  Carla Campbell's efforts were also
important, especially in the areas of quality, consistency and
speed.  Many of Flipper's users have also contributed valuable
ideas. 

