h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Morning Edward


Thanks for popping over and trying to explain the intracies of Pcs and things to me - I really appreciated it..but I didn't really understand much of it, either

It's not you; it's me. I'm Dyslexic to begin with, which doesn't help, but I also have a total blind spot for written instructions...I need to do it or learn it Hands on, as such I need to "see" or feel stuff tactiley - THEN it's in the hindbrain and I can realate to the next set of instructions; eventually

And...well...PCs are virtual, arn't they? You can read, but you can't see the moving parts, so it takes me a lot longer than yer average bear toget the hang of things - I'm still struggling with the concepts of Files and Folders after 3 years! I almost understand the theory, but putting it into practice is difficult for me. They both begin with "f" and I haven't found a mnenomic thingy I can utilise yet.

I will do, eventually. Suddenly the penny will drop and I'll be able to do it. But sometimes it takes a lot longer than I'd like.

I sort of deal with the Shape of words rather than the actual spellings. If I type a word enough times I can look at it afterwards and see if the shape's right. If the shape is right, then (possibly - not always) I've got the spelling right, too.

Which is a shame because I've got a tree load of stuff on paper I'd really love to get onto the computor, and share.

Computors don't make me feel stupid, merely very challenged. They're a wonderful tool, and if I keep trying to learn, in a way I can relate to, then eventually I can utilise it to my advantage

But I really do appreciate you taking time out and sharing your knowledge. It was nice of you.

Ah, yes...I see your problem.

It's interesting for me because of my job: A3213127. Also...I'm having a battle myself at the moment. I'm trying to learn some techie stuff and am having real problems getting people to talk to me in a way I can understand.

Out of interest...have you tried text-to-speech software? I've heard that it helps some people with dyslexia.

I've heard of that, too, but right this moment, don't understand enough "basics" in order to plumb the programme in.

Yes.. I could ask my sons, or my friends, to (and after a bit of sighing) then I know they would, but I like to be as independent as possible; I love the ability to write/type even though I do find it difficult. Gives me a wonderful sense of achievment; I'd passed all my O levels before it was even noticed I had difficulties; shorthand totally defeated me because I wrote it in mirror image but tried to read it back phoenetically. Sussed!

- or possibly,I'm just too darned stubborn to ask Pride is a blessing *and a curse, but there you are!

Having said that, as my eldest has really awful problems physically writing (dyslexia can be inherited and he got a good dose of it) it will certainly benefit us both; I may well swallow my pride and raise a mortgage and get one. That's another problem - lack of funds. But let's not go there; it really is tooo depressing for a Monday!

That article about Egonomics was fascinating - very clear; I really envy anyone with that ability to think so tidilly, and so very practically. I can do one or the other, but simultaneously and at the same time...welll.. I'm still learning!

Now...there's possibly some free/cheap test-speech software available. There damned well should be, because it's a basic accessibility feature for many. I'll have a dig around and let you know.

Has your son been statemented? If so...the education authorities should provide it.

test-speech? I meant text-to-speech!

Ah! Thought so! Text-to-Speech comes free with Microsoft.

Let me know what version of Windows you have and I'll see if we can work out how to make it work.

It does sound a little like Stephen Hawkings, though.

Ooooh! A Steven Hawkings of my very own - that sounds wonderful!

Next time I turn the Pc off, I'll look and see what type it is. It's probably a Windows XP, but I'd sooner not say that "definately" until I've checked.

Nope... couldn't get my son Statemented - he wasn't disruptive enough in class, and even when I pushed, his tests showed him to be Borderline (and therefore not bad enough to be helped or supported. Very frustrating for him.

He had a 6 week course outside school to offer him coping skills, but that was about it; the thing that encouraged him the most to enjoy reading was after listening to a Terry Pratchett Novel on talking books.

He can read fine... form filling he has problems with (I showed him "my" way of coping with that, and that's helped him a bit) but his writing is erratic, and bless him, spelling is phonetic. And like most dyslexic people, he's very clever in certain fields.

It's the basic stuff we have trouble with, like reading or writing or numbers and Directions!

A lot of it is confidence issues, I think... but he's doing alright; joining the Army next month; half of me is very proud of him. The other half is a little afraid I'm going to lose the lad I know totally, once he's gone through basic training.

It really is very kind of you to look into this Text Speak for me. In truth, I had absolutely no idea where to start!


If you ever need any poems written or general quiestions about Aromatherapy or alternitive medicine answered, please feel free to ask. It would be great to return the compliment, and I'm pretty competent at things like that.


Next time I'm in, I'll be able to tell you what type of PC thingummy bob I've got,; p'raps we can take it from there?

Have a good evening!

Morning Edward

It *is* a Windows Xp that I have.

Ah...Windows XP *does* have text-to-speech...but it's crap! It doesn't read the pages, only the menus.

I'll keep on doing some digging and see if I can find anything Shareware (ie free).

Oooh..... Thankyou!

I *like* free!

Although even if it read the menues, that'd be alright - it's things like lists that blow my head up. Actual bodies of text arn't too much of a problem, oddly enough!

Yes...I can understand that from what (little) I know about dyslexia.

However...the Microsoft one really is quite dire. I played with it yesterday. But I've got interested now, so I'll carry on digging.