README for Parakeet
-------------------
A Cocoa-based screen reader application for Mac OS X.
Version 0.2 (14/10/2003)

Application built using Project Builder 2.1 (December 2002 Developer Tools).


System Requirements
-------------------
This software will run on any machine capable of running Mac OS X 10.2.  For best results a 400 MHz G3 with 128 MB of RAM is recommended.  To make use of the software you will also require some form of sound output (built-in speakers, external speakers, head-phones etc.).


Licensing Information
---------------------
This software is to be released under the GPL.  Further details will follow in later revisions.  Use this software at your own risk.  The authors assume no responsibility for any damages or losses caused by this software.


Usage
-----
To run the Parakeet software, double click the "Parakeet" application icon.

(i)   Ensure that the sound volume of the Mac is not off.  If it is you won't hear anything!
(ii)  Check the "Enable access for assistive devices" checkbox located on the Universal Access system preferences panel.  If this isn't checked Parakeet will not load.
(iii) Parakeet currently uses the default system voice and speed for TTS output.  To change these settings go to the Speech system preferences panel.
      
When running Parakeet:
(i)   The "Start" and "Stop" buttons start and stop Parakeet from speaking to you.
(ii)  Holding down the command (the one with an Apple on it) key and pressing the F10 key will toggle Parakeet between speaking and not speaking to you.


Development History
-------------------
Rev. 0.2 (14/10/2003)
- Correctly implemented speaking of the current application that the cursor is over
- Added support for the Dock and Finder applications
- Added support for the menus

Rev. 0.1 (22/08/2003)
- Initial development and beta-testing



Bugs, suggestions and corrections to:
-------------------------------------
Mr. Greg Howell (Project Student)
gjhowell@optusnet.com.au

Mr. Iain Murray (Project Supervisor)
iain@ece.curtin.edu.au


Credits
-------
AUC (Apple University Consortium)
http://auc.uow.edu.au/
For providing the hardware and software grant used to develop this application.

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Curtin University of Technology
http://www.ece.curtin.edu.au/
This software was developed as part of Greg Howell's final year Computer Systems Engineering project.

The parakeet icon was created using a free image from:
http://www.freeclipartpictures.com/


Feedback
--------
Thank-you for taking the time to test Parakeet.  It would be greatly appreciated if you could spend a few moments providing some feedback on the application.  All feedback will be considered for future revisions.  Please fill in the blanks below and email this section to the address provided at the bottom.

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Name:	
Email address:
(will be kept confidential)

Mac Model:
Processor type:
Processor Speed:
RAM installed:
OS Version:

Comments:
(include both bugs and suggestions)






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Email this feedback to:
Greg Howell
gjhowell@optusnet.com.au

(either as an attachment or as the text of the email)

Thanks for you help!