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Category: AT Reviews

ACB 2011 wrap-up featuring Piano Tuning School and STEPP, part 2

Published July 20, 2011 by L. Legendary

In part 2 of my ACB 2011 wrap-up, I’m sharing two intriguing means by which to get an edge on the competition, either vocationally or scholastically.

 

Looking for work?  It isn’t often that you find a direct employment opportunity at a trade show, but I was fascinated by the Piano Tuning School.  Listen, we are all aware that the US economy is pathetic right now, and I don’t need to remind anyone that the job market for people with disabilities is more competitive than ever, if for no other reason than people who have disabilities are competing with many more non-disabled and highly qualified individuals than ever.  The job market is brutal, disabled or not.  why not give yourself an edge with a skill you can learn now, use now, and also use as needed in the future?  What’s wonderful about this group is that they teach you everything you need to know about how to tune pianos, but the best news is, you don’t need to know how to  play the piano to do this work.  Did you know that changes in weather can cause a piano to become out of tune?  So can moving one from one place to another, and any number of other factors.  Piano tuners are needed!  Hey, I need one!  I just moved my piano to my new home, and now it sounds horrible.  Call this place, and get yourself a really useful skill.  Not sure how you would get to all those warbly, out of tune pianos?  No problem!  They’ll even hook you up with mobility training.  Love these guys.  Call them!

 

 School of Piano Technology

 

The training sessions are split into two 10 month periods, preceded by hearing and aptitude testing.  You can live near the school, which is located in Vancouver, Washington.  On the web site, you’ll find all the info you need, and when I met the gentlemen at the ACB event, I realized that these are dedicated, passionate folks seeking to improve the lives and livelihoods of people who are blind or visually impaired.  It’s worth a closer look.

 

One of the innovative new ways for students to gain equal access to educational materials is via the  STEPP program.  STEPP stands

for Student E-rent Pilot Project, which offers a unique new way for students to easily and affordably get textbooks.  Kevin Chao,

a program consumer, student advisor and program quality assurance specialist, shares his experiences.  Whether you are a student

or an educator, you may want to STEPP up to this new idea.
 
"I would like to share two fantastic resources for any college student
or instructor, which I think should be advocated for, encouraged, and
utilized by all.  Like most, I’ve used human readers, scanned books, used RFB&D, and
worked with disabled students services to get eTextBooks from
publisher. All these things served their purposes and time, and it’s
time to move on.”

 

Chao continues:  “In fall of 2010, I broke away from the status quo, which includes: not
using RFB&D, not scanning textbooks,  and not having to be so reliant
on disabled student services. Two companies have made this possible:
CourseSmart and AMAC.  This has allowed equal access, independence,
and a true forward studying experience.  It’s never been possible for
us as blind students, instructors, or even providers to use an
innovative eTextBook service.”

 

Here are some of the program highlights:

* CourseSmart for mainstream, accessible, and highly marked-up eTextBooks
* Alternative Media Access Center (AMAC) for affordable, high-quality,
and efficient braille and tactile graphics for textbooks, exams,
handouts, assignments, etc

 

www.CourseSmart.com is a mainstream accessible eTextBook rental
service, which all students can take advantage of. This includes
students with or without print-related disabilities (blind, low
vision, learning disabled).

 

CourseSmart
* Mainstream access to eTextBooks
* Affordable, timely, and true access
* in-book, chapter, or section searches.
*Very effectively and easily  navigate table of contents (chapters,
sections, etc)
* Jump to specific page
* Highly tagged/marked-up: headings 1-5 for structured navigation,
alttext for description of graphics, table for formatted
representation of data, and lists for nicely formatted bullet points.
* Accessibility@CourseSmart.com is extremely committed to problem-solving.
* Works with Windows (NVDA and JAWS); Mac OS X and iOS (VoiceOver);
Internet Explorer, Firefox, and Safari.

www.amac.uga.edu Alternative Media Access Center (AMAC) will
work with institutions to provide braille, tactile graphics, and
remediated eText. AMAC has very high-quality and standards and will lift
stress off DSS, allowing DSS to focus on providing service, not
content.

 

Alternative Media Access Center (AMAC)
* DSS, institutions, organizations, and companies have no excuse not to
provide braille, tactile graphics, or other alternative media.

 

"The program is affordable, and offers excellent technical support."  Says Chao.  "This is the now and future of how students,

instructors, and all in post-secondary education will obtain, work with, and enjoy accessible
course material."

 

More info?  Here’s the STEPP site:

 

STEPP up to the future

 

Want   to ask Kevin some questions about the program?  Find him on Twitter:  @KevinChao89.   Another wrap-up post to follow.  Thanks for reading.

 

LL

 

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ACB11 wrap-up featuring Optelec, A T Guys, part 1

Published July 18, 2011 by L. Legendary

Arthur C. Clarke is famous for saying that any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.  That is precisely how I feel whenever I spend time at one of the many assistive technology conferences held throughout the year.  I always come away with a feeling that it won’t be long before any type of disability is indistinguishable from ability.  Assistive technologies have become so useful, so impressive, so…magical, I just cannot wait to see what’s next. 

 

At this year’s 50th anniversary of the American Council of the Blind conference and exhibition, I was a first-time exhibitor.  Busy selling my  Elegant Insights Braille Creations jewelry and accessories, I did not have as much time as I had hoped to wander the exhibit hall.  When I did manage a quick walk-through, though, I was duly intrigued and impressed by the booths I did visit.  Here is a wrap up of just a few of the great tools that I think are worth a closer look.

 

The new ClearReader+ from Optelec just about made me cry.  Even after reading through the web site, posting the press release and tweeting with Optelec, I was amazed when I saw it in action.  The ClearReader+ is really a complete tool for both people who have some vision, and those who don’t.  it can be used as a full-featured CCTV, as well as a full-featured OCR scanner.  Brilliant.

 

Check out Optelec ClearReader info here.

 

My shopping list also includes a couple of super cool products from A T Guys.  A T Guys offers affordable technology products to enhance the lives of the blind and visually impaired. Their product line includes accessible cell phone software, bar code scanners, iPhone screen protectors, the iBill money identifier, and accessible games. A T Guys also features products from some of the leading technology manufacturers including GW Micro, Duxbury Systems, Hims, the Sendero Group, and KNFB Reading Technology.

 

I was crazy about the iBill money identifier.  It is very small, ladies, you will not object to carrying this in your purse.  It was just a bit thicker than my Olympus DS-50, and it was as accurate as it was easy to use.  The best news, though, is the price.  It’s only $99!  I’m sold.  

 

Also on the must-have list is the bar code scanner.  Again, it is small and connects via USB cable to a laptop.  The bar code reader works with Windows, Mac, and Linux-based computers as well as the BrailleNote, Pac Mate, BrailleSense, and Icon/BraillePlus.  The software is free, and there is no cost for a database update.  This is cool:  The scanner is omnidirectional, making it simple for anyone, especially users who are blind, to easily find an item’s bar code.  Again, i was particularly impressed by the price.  It’s only $299, a fraction of what others cost.

 

Here’s how to get yours:

A T Guys
(269) 216-4798
www.atguys.com
Email: support@atguys.com
Skype: atguys
Twitter: atguys

 

Stay tuned this week for part 2 of my ACB11 wrap-up.

 

LL

 

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Latest ZoomText release and I E 9: Not so fast

Published May 9, 2011 by L. Legendary

You’d think by now I would have learned.  In my defense, though, I was out of town for awhile, and when I returned, I was greeted by my computer with the dreaded, "New updates are available" prompt.  Normally, this would not distress me, but in this case I was informed that 20 "important" updates and 5 "optional" updates were available.  Did I look at the list and judiciously choose which updates to install?  No.  You probably already know where I’m going with this.

among the 20 important updates were two in particular that have created a problem for users of ZoomText screen reader, as am I.  One was the most recent update to Internet Explorer, the other was the most recent update to ZoomText.  The latest update to ZoomText is version 9.19.1, which does not support the other important update, the latest release of Internet Explorer, version 9.  Let ‘er rip, I thought, pressing the "install now" button and walking away.  Mistake.

If you have also done this, you now know that ZoomText Magnifier/Reader will not work in conjunction with the latest I E release.  Specifically, the speech component of ZT does not function consistently, particularly when filling in data fields, using the App Reader tool, or when writing email.  At first, I was unable to get ZoomText to speak the letter characters under the cursor when using the arrow keys, even while in my word processor.  I called A I Squared tech support, and was told to try the cursor detect toggle, CTRL+ALT+SHFT+d.  After invoking that hotkey combination while in the document, I was prompted to answer "yes" or "no" to the question asked, and I selected "yes."  That worked perfectly.  However, the same trick did not work for reading email, or entering data into edit boxes or when using the App Reader. 

The upshot is, ZoomText release 9.19.1 does not work with Internet Explorer 9, and the only way to solve the problem is to uninstall I E 9.  Sorry.

If you go to the A I Squared web site blog page, you can read the post on how exactly to do this, if you need tips.  There is also a video on that page, where tony from tech support walks you through the process.  It isn’t hard to do, but it is disappointing that ZoomText users will be unable to take advantage of the new features of I E 9.  Just a friendly reminder:  When attempting any sort of major alteration to your versions and setttings, do set a system restore point and make a backup before proceeding.  Just looking out for my friends, here.  
               
Here is the link to the AI Squared blog post and video:

www.aisquared.com/blog/2011/04/zoomtext-tech-support-tip-uninstalling-internet-explorer-9/

 

Good luck, and let me know if you discover any work-arounds. 

 

LL

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Here’s an accessible desktop app to help you weave a web of words

Published March 7, 2011 by L. Legendary

Ever since I began writing regularly, I’ve been searching for an enhanced dictionary and thesaurus tool that would be available inline with my word processor.  Unsure of exactly what I wanted, I was willing to go the CD ROM route, but I preferred a plug-in that would not necessitate leaving the desktop; perhaps a software download that would allow me access to a better selection of definitions and synonyms than those available in the various writing programs that I use. the issue, as always, has been one of accessibility. There are some great editor’s products and writing tools available, but not to me, since I use a screen reader. I finally found one in the form of a free download called Word Web.
 
Word Web is a little gem that can plug in to almost any word processor you are using.  One feature that was important to me is the ability to stay on the desktop, and not be forced online to get a synonyms list, if my word processor did not have a built-in thesaurus.  Case in point, Jarte, which is one of my favorite programs.  When in Jarte, I can now just click on the thesaurus option and Word Web pops right up in my document. It is easy to use, although I do admit that it is not necessarily intuitive, until you realize that the menu structure is that of a system of tabs.  You can tab to various options, then make your choice from what appears in the tab.

 
Word Web offers a free download, subject to the user agreement.  The basic paid version, Word Web Pro, without add-ons, is only $20. While the free version will certainly get you where you need to go, I recommend the paid version if you are a serious writer who needs access to advanced tools such as collegiate dictionaries and an augmented selection of words, pronunciations and variations.

 

What makes Word Web unique is that you are not stuck with the short list of obvious choices that are typically found in most word processors.  You are also given a list of examples of usage, nearest words, synonyms, and other types of the chosen word.  I have found this particularly useful when I’ve written myself into a corner, produced a perfectly horrible sentence, and have needed a way out.  By showing me other versions of the same word, and examples of how I might use it, I can obliterate the offending prose and rework the sentence to my satisfaction.  If you purchase Word Web, there is an included list of audio pronunciations that is professionally recorded and would be very useful to anyone, but especially non-native English speakers.  What a great idea.  Also,since there are times when the text-to-speech synthesizer in a screen reader program doesn’t get the pronunciation exactly right, having the Word Web audio as verification could be a lifesaver.

 

Get it here:  Word Web

 

LL   

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A new and accessible way to fully interact with Facebook via email

Published February 24, 2011 by L. Legendary

I’ve now written a few reviews of apps or services that will allow you to conduct some aspect of your business or social networking life by way of your email inbox.  If you are like me and spend more time communicating on your desktop than on the web, then you likely have tried a couple of these services.  My latest foray into this particular product genre had been Tweety Mail, which enables users to use Twitter through any email inbox.

 

If you have used an app with a more limited scope such as Tweet Beep, or have tried a more robust option such as Nutshell mail, you may want to take a look at this new offering by the people who brought you Tweety Mail.  It’s called the Friend Mail, and the current version is a beta release.  However, the site  claims this stage will be a short one, and the service will be fully realized in just a few weeks.

 

Right now, the service is free, although a pay for premium features version will likely soon follow.  As the name suggests, The Friend Mail allows you to fully interact with your Facebook account via your email inbox.

 

What makes this service attractive for me  is the ability to post updates and review activity not only on my FB profile account page, but I can access my fan pages as well.  By sending an email to page@thefriendmail.com, you can post an update to all of your fans.  By sending an email to news@thefriendmail.com, you can collect twenty updates from your account profile news stream.  There are email addresses for specific activity whether posting and commenting or sharing and liking.  You can even schedule activity for maximum engagement throughout the day.  The sign-up process takes only a minute, the process is accessible, and so far all of my efforts to interact with my FB account and pages have been a breeze.  If you’ve been looking for a way to post a Facebook update to your fan page via email,  The Friend mail is for you.

      

Go here to check it out: The Friend Mail

 

LL

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Jarte 4.1 now available! Accessible freeware works your words

Published October 1, 2010 by L. Legendary

If you are a screen reader user and have  had difficulty finding an accessible word processor ever since you upgraded to Windows Vista, take a look at Jarte.  There are plenty of reasons to like Jarte, which by the way, is spelled with an ‘e’ at the end for my text-to-speech friends.  It’s by Carolina Road Software, and it’s free.  The newest version, 4.1 has lots of great new features, some of which have previously appeared only in the paid version, Jarte Plus.

 

I’ve tried using Open Office, but I found that it did not work well with my version of ZoomText.  Perhaps one might have better luck with  JAWS, but I’ve tried several versions of both Open Office and ZT with no result.  One of the aspects of Jarte I appreciate is that it supports a screen reader mode that seems to happily cohabitate with ZoomText, and Jarte behaves very similarly to the old versions of MS Word from the XP days. 

 

Here is the “what’s new” list, taken directly from the jarte.com web site:

An optional Quick Bar feature has been added that provides instant access to a number of frequently used features.
In addition to left aligned tabs, Jarte’s ruler now supports right, center, and decimal aligned tabs.
A new Stay on Top option has been added to the Options menu.
A global hot key can be defined for the Clip List menu. This makes it easy to access the Clip List while using programs other than Jarte.
A new Paste Board feature displays a special document tab that automatically records everything copied to the clipboard.
A new Line Guide feature displays a colored, translucent, moveable, horizontal bar that can be used to highlight a line of interest in a document.
Jarte’s interface background pattern can be changed to one of the installed backgrounds, extra backgrounds provided on the Jarte web site, or to any custom background. Previously, this feature was exclusive to Jarte Plus.
Jarte’s various color selection palettes now include a new row of color selection buttons to which the user can assign custom colors.
Jarte now supports the keyboard’s Scroll Lock key. When Scroll Lock is enabled document scrolling can be performed using the up and down arrow keys. The Scroll Lock state is displayed in the status bar. This feature can be disabled.
Jarte will now automatically mirror the left and right page margins, and the header and footer lines, between odd and even pages when printing double-sided printouts.
If the "underline" font attribute is selected for the header/footer font then Jarte will draw a solid line across the printed page under the header line and above the footer line.
Jarte will now perform a descending order sort when the Sort feature is selected while pressing the Shift key.
Clicking the "Go to Top" button on the Find Bar while pressing the Shift key will now cause the text cursor to move to the bottom of the page instead of the top.
Pressing the Shift key while the mouse is positioned over a tab causes the full file path of the document to be displayed in Jarte’s title bar.
The position of a table column can now be easily moved via the Edit Table window.
The Options menu on Jarte’s Find Bar now includes "Insert Carriage Return" and "Insert Tab" items which make it easy to include those characters in the search text.
The status bar can now switched to a text based status bar. This may be preferred by users who use Jarte’s Minimal Layout. Right click on the status bar and select "Use Text Status Bar".
Double clicking an empty area next to the tabs will now start a new document.
Many other small tweaks and enhancements have been added.

 

Here’s the link:         

Download Jarte

 

Considering that this little gem is free, it is wonderfully robust and feature-rich.  Happy writing!

 

LL 

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Apple iphone Voice Over demo will blow you away

Published April 22, 2010 by L. Legendary

I have to admit, I was very impressed with this.  Watch this You Tube video and you’ll be amazed by the accessibility features on the Apple iphone.  If you’ve not looked in that direction because you were unaware of the usability for people with vision loss, I think this video will convince you to take a closer look.  Amazing. 

 

 

Voice Over demo

 

If you are a gadget-hound like I am, I just don’t know how anyone could settle on just one of anything.  I absolutely love my Moto Q and Mobile Speak, but watching this video just kills me. 

 

LL

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Windows Live Writer for easier editing?

Published April 5, 2010 by L. Legendary

I’m experimenting with Windows Live Writer today.  I’ve been having trouble with my blog posts, as they appear to have oddly placed hard line breaks that disrupt the visual flow and readability.

 

What looked interesting about this program is that it may add a layer of accessibility to the Word Press platform that bridges the gap between the admin “back door” area and the use of a word processor.  I’ve been having trouble with html conflicts, so I switched to a text editor, and now I have the word wrap/line break issues.  I’ve now tried Word, Word Pad, Notepad, Jarte and email, both html and plain text.  None of the results look particularly good, so I’m testing out Windows Live Writer. 

 

This program offers more than a text editor in that there is some formatting and editing features that text editors do not have.  These include font formatting, colorizing , previewing posts and  spell check. 

 

You can also easily insert video and links, and add a variety of plugins that make publishing even easier and more flexible. 

 

If you  are having issues with any of the programs you are using now but need something better than the admin interface in your blog’s dashboard, give this a try.

 

LL

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