Computer Talk was a Talking Cassette magazine that ran from at least 1985 until 2009 for people interested in blind accessible computer technology.

David Calderwood and the VDU (Visually Disabled User) group ran Computer Talk until October 1988. The second era tapes started in January 1989 run by Julia and Frank Cosgrove from Newcastle ending in 2009.

Many thanks to Julia Cosgrove for agreeing for me to back-up and share the Computer Talk cassettes on-line. https://groups.tavip.org.uk/discussion/msg/23409088/

Please contact oneswitch@gmail.com if you have Computer Talk recordings from 1988 or before.


WIP: Convert PDFs to readable PDFs
WIP: Take notes on cassette contents.



1989 January Notes: First edition.


1989 April Notes: SIDE1 9:46 Michael Cassidy Teletext updates.
SIDE2 19:00 Eureka A4 computer (Milan Hudecek) - Czech-Australian - all in one aid for the blind (Ray Hossan) - included a blind music composer software. More info plus an image of Stevie Wonder using one here: https://www.robotron.net.au/eureka.htm


15 copies sent out by Ray Hossan (hopes that "it will probably build up again" - and back copies available). Mike Cassidy "secretary desk" news - talks of the Apollo speech programme for the BBC Micro/Master with the related Dolphin Systems help-line, and gives a demonstration. Mention of the cheaper Mimic system. Teletext access 10 mins in. 
SIDE 2 - 19 minutes - 


1989 August Notes: 14:20 ish - funny adjustment of Votrax speech "are you happy?"
SIDE 2 - Write music competition ~16mins BT Gold - dialing in to get e-mails


1989 October: 2min BBC Telesoftware closed on CEEFAX August 1989 (Michael Cassidy). 38min music winner.



1991: January - BBC to PC change... Talking Teletext and side 2, voice recognition demo on an IBM PC.
1991: October - towards end of side 1, Frank (and Julia's) BBC Micro memories. Machine still very useful.


1992: April Side 1 - Triangle Speech Board - including (towards the end) 12 Days of Christmas and Abide with Me.
SIDE 2 - around 30 mins in - Michaelangelo virus mentioned. Optacon screen reading mention - moving to Word Perfect?


1992: July Side 1 - Around 25 minutes in - transferring from BBCs to IBM and some of the problems.



July 1993 - 7:40 mins in - end of BBC Master 128k 1993 

Jan 1993 - CD-Rom - 15 mins - Sherlock Holmes example - Lionel 83 year old in Kent

Apr 1993 side 2 - 28 mins in - interesting hand-scanner trying to read a CD case cover.



1999: January Side 1 - David Calderwood memories of early blind accessible micro computer use, and a bit on setting up Computer Talk.
1999: Various internet and CD-Rom Encycopedia help and demonstrations.