Adventures in Assistive Technology

From The New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/25/science/25shirt.html?_r=1

John Volakis wants to make the world hands-free.

The director of the ElectroScience Laboratory at Ohio State University, he is trying to end the need for cellphone hardware like the Bluetooth earpiece by fabricating communication devices out of something that most states require we carry with us all the time anyway: clothing.

"You won’t have to hold your cellphone to your ear," said Dr. Volakis, an electrical engineer. "We’ll eliminate all that. It will be part of your attire."

His effort is part of a broad technological effort to make "smart textiles": wearable fabrics with embedded electronics that can collect, store, send and receive information. His lab is focusing on the sending-and-receiving part, trying to transform military apparel, hospital gowns, even everyday T-shirts into antennas.

Aside from enabling a science fiction luxury — simply speaking into your collar when you want to talk to somebody — antenna clothing could offer covert communication for soldiers, wireless monitoring for the sick and much better reception in general.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/25/science/25shirt.html?_r=1

Posted by jla134 at 02:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

From NewScientist: http://www.newscientist.com/blogs/onepercent/2011/10/tablet-app-puts-braille-keyboa.html

The lack of tactile feedback makes typing on a touchscreen difficult at the best of times, but the problem is even worse for blind and visually impaired users. That's set to change thanks to Adam Duran, a student on a summer course at Stanford University who has come up with a Braille keyboard for tablets.

The standard QWERTY keyboard on most tablets requires you to find small keys on a smooth, glass screen without any touchable clues to guide you. Instead, Duran's app offers a standard eight-key Braille keyboard that appears wherever you place your fingers on the screen.

That means you don't have to worry about locating the keys and can just start typing Braille code, in which combinations of the keys are used to type letters, numbers, and symbols. The tablet provides feedback by reading out each letter as it is typed. Users can also choose from a variety of specialised keyboard layouts, such as one for chemical formulae.

Currently, Braille typists rely on expensive dedicated devices that can cost over $6,000 and have few other uses. "Your standard tablet has more capability at a tenth the price," says Duran, but adds there are "technical and legal hurdles to address" before the keyboard becomes widely available.

Posted by jla134 at 01:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

From mashable: http://mashable.com/2011/10/05/tech-disabled/

Adaptive technology is a fairly new term, but the basic idea is not. Some adaptive devices are simple, like the cane, which has a history as old as mankind itself. Others seem to come more from the realm of science fiction.

However mundane or complicated, all are a testament to human determination, creativity and ambition. Here, we look at seven high-tech assistive devices and how they’re helping those with disabilities lead full and fulfilling lives.

For full details and images of each device, please visit the mashable site: http://mashable.com/2011/10/05/tech-disabled/

1. The DynaVox EyeMax System

2. The Kapten PLUS Personal Navigation Device

3. The Car for the Blind

4. Google’s Driverless Car

5. The DEKA Robotic Arm

6. Cochlear Implant

7. The iBot Stair-Climbing Wheelchair

Posted by jla134 at 03:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

From boston.com: http://articles.boston.com/2011-09-20/business/30180956_1_steering-wheel-research-car-computer

It can talk, see, drive and no longer needs a human being to control it by remote. The car of the future — completely computer-controlled — is on the streets of Berlin.

All summer, researchers from the city's Free University have been testing the automobile around the German capital.

The vehicle maneuvers through traffic on its own using a sophisticated combination of devices, including a computer, electronics and a precision satellite navigation system in the trunk, a camera in the front, and laser scanners on the roof and around the front and rear bumpers.

"The vehicle can recognize other cars on the road, pedestrians, buildings and trees up to 70 meters (yards) around it and even see if the traffic lights ahead are red or green and react accordingly," Raul Rojas, the head of the university's research group for artificial intelligence, told reporters at a presentation Friday.

Posted by jla134 at 11:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

From PCWorld: http://www.pcworld.com/article/240168/26foottall_rubiks_cube_is_even_harder_to_solve.html#tk.rss_main

It first appeared at Burning Man, providing a guiding light in the wastes, and now it's coming to Seattle's Pacific Science Center. What is it? Why, it's a huge 26-foot Rubik's cube that can actually be solved. It takes 3 people, however, and they stand apart from each other (60ft-Burning Man, 30ft-PacSci) and each participant only gets to rotate one axis. Created by Groove Studios, they call it the "Groovik’s Cube."

As the Groovik site puts it:

"Groovik's Cube offers a unique new playing mode consisting of three players who must collaborate to solve the classic Rubik's cube puzzle. The cube is controlled via three touch screen interfaces located around the cube, with each interface capable of rotating only one axis of the cube - no single player can solve the cube alone."

I know what you're thinking, because I thought it too: The giant cube doesn’t rotate and turn in the air as if it were being solved by Yoda. The cube, which is built from steel and fabric, is lit from the inside with powerful LEDs, so it just has to change the color being displayed to reflect the moves made by the players.

Not having to move and rotate an enormous steel Rubik's cube also allows people, as in 3 of them, to compete for the fastest solving time possible. The Groovik's Cube has only been solved 6 times with the fastest time so far was at Burning Man, surprisingly enough, where 3 people puzzled it out with a time of just 46 minutes. I wonder how long it took them to find threepeople at Burning Man who could work together well enough to solve the massive Rubik's cube.

Weighing in at a little over 2 tons (4500 lbs), the huge cube can be mounted on a steel pole and secured by guy-lines. Surprisingly, all the lights in the cube use only as much energy as 2 hair dryers. It's pretty impressive considering how bright the cube looks in some of the pictures.

They're building a Groovik for the Pacific Science Center right now, and as of this writing, there are three videos up showing the first few days of construction in quick time-lapses. We've embedded the most recent one above, but check out the Pacific Science Center's YouTube channel for the earlier ones.

Posted by jla134 at 10:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

From appedica.com: http://www.appedia.com/news/208.html

A team of researchers have recently invented an iPhone app that allows users who are paralyzed or disabled to control wheelchair movements by reading their brain activity.

A seven-member team of five students and two lecturers from the School of Engineering of Singapore's Republic Polytechnic have created an app that allows smartphones to read and interpret signals from the brain, sending and communicating movement commands to a wheelchair, which can move forward, backwards, right or left.

Users must focus on an object at a distance to propel and direct the wheelchair, which comes to a pause only when the user stops focusing.

The movement control iPhone app requires a special headset that converts brain waves to electrical signals that the iPhone can read, as well as a powered wheelchair fitted with a control box.

The entire process, from detecting the stimulation to the execution of the movement, takes about five seconds, and users must be specially trained to use the app.

The beta version of the prototype runs at approximately $5,000, but the team is hoping to bring down the cost by collaborating with industry partners, which may allow the product to come to market by the end of next year.

One issue that the developers are currently troubleshooting is the high fatigue factor that operating the wheelchair via iPhone can face. The process of focusing on an object to propel the wheelchair to move can tire users quickly, but the research team is working to solve the issue.

But while the iPhone app may still have to work out some kinks, the team at Republic Polytechnic still has created an app that will bring movement to the disabled with a combination of technology and altruism.

Posted by jla134 at 04:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

From mobiledia.com: http://www.mobiledia.com/news/97589.html

A new service, JayBee, helps those unable to communicate audibly express themselves via text messages, in another example of how mobile technology allows a greater range of social interaction for the disabled.

Mobile marketing firm Txtlocal partnered with Time Is Limited, or TIL, to create the JayBee system, which lets disabled users write and read texts using hand movements, touch screen commands, head movements and even eye blinks. These gestures recall specific predictive phrases, like 'Come quickly,' or 'I need help,' which the user's phone then reproduces with a realistic-sounding human voice.

The Txtlocal platform's integration with JayBee's system, allowing users to send text messages instantly to mobile phones and receive them back, creating a text conversation. The system also 'learns' users' communication patterns with technology initially used by TIL in its space industry endeavors.

The system is now being tested on those, like scientist Stephen Hawking, with motor neuron disease. So far, successful trials show JayBee's ability to help users send instant messages to care-givers, family and friends. The device gives those affected with speech loss a higher-quality of life by allowing them to communicate more efficiently.

Txtlocal and JayBee are the latest innovations in a growing field using of technologies that aim to increase disabled users' freedom and communication.

This spring, students at the University of Toronto developed the MyVoice app, which is similar to JayBee. It incorporates users' location data to pinpoint an appropriate pre-loaded sentence or phrase.

MyVoice uses GPS to tag certain phrases like, 'medium skim latte' and associates them with a location, like the user's regular coffee shop, for added convenience. Also, like the JayBee system, users can customize MyVoice to reflect their personalities.

Both MyVoice and JayBee use communication devices and texting capability to enhance the lives of the disabled, bringing them into an increasingly connected world.

Posted by jla134 at 04:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

From mobiledia.com: http://www.mobiledia.com/news/97666.html

New display technology is allowing users to 'feel' touch screens, giving the blind a way to interact with mobile devices.

Senseg's E-Sense technology, being developed in Sweden, recreates the sensation of different textures on touch screen devices. It uses 'tixels,' or 'tactile pixels,' to generate an electric field a few millimeters above the device's surface, enabling skin to feel finely tuned sensations replicating different textures.

The technology is similar to the concept of haptic feedback, which vibrates to confirm that a finger touch has been accepted, but has even farther-reaching implications.

Braille reading would be one immediate application for the technology. The blind and visually-impaired would be able to take advantage of the tactile-pixel technology, assisting them in reading messages on touch screen devices like smartphones. Down the road, the technology may even allow people to, for example, touch the face of a newborn baby or hold the hand of the long-lost friend.

Senseg said the technology may also create knobs, buttons and other tactile elements for the increasingly-popular mobile gaming market. Handset makers, currently struggle for placement of controls on the limited space of smartphones, may also find a use for tactile displays.

The emerging technology follows the larger trend of integrating human senses into electronic gadgetry. Earlier this year, Apple reportedly started developing a voice interface, after its purchase of Nuance, maker of the popular Dragon dictation software.

Senseg's E-Sense technology is reportedly inexpensive and relatively easy to implement, with Toshiba the first company to sign up to explore ways the feature in its products.

As other companies partner with the Swedish company, the discovery that the touch screen doesn't have to be flat may revolutionize the digital device market in much the same way Columbus' similar conclusion about the shape of the earth affected mapmaking centuries ago.

Posted by jla134 at 03:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Aroga is hitting the road with Technomania!

Date/Time: September 28, 2010 / 8:30am - 4:30pm
Location: Saskabilities, 2310 Louise Ave, Saskatoon, SK

Technomania is an opportunity to get hands on experience with the latest developments in assistive technology hardware and software and to talk to the experts about your specific needs.

Hope to see you there!

Posted by cab870 at 01:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

eType is a program auto-completes your words as you type them, similar to WordQ. Word predication programs such as these can enable students to type faster which then boosts their level of confidence in their writing. According to the eType website, the program works with almost every program, browser and Web site, including: Microsoft Word, Outlook, Gmail, Facebook and Twitter. The website also boasts that eType is an online multi-language dictionary that can give translations and word substitutes to virtually any language in the world.The best part about eType is that it is free! You can download it from the eType website, but you must become a member first. Check it out by clicking on the link below, or check out the demo video first.

http://www.etype.com/Default.aspx#

Posted by cab870 at 09:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

RJ Cooper & Associates have come out with a iPad mount that clamps to almost any surface such as a desk or wheelchair tube. The clamp is attached to an movable mini-arm so that it can be adjusted to a variety of positions. The iPad is attached to the mount by Super-Velcro or a Bumper Case, both of which are sold by RJ Cooper. This mount would also work for a light-weight netbook. Check it out by clicking on the link below.
http://www.rjcooper.com/ipad-mount/index.html

Posted by cab870 at 10:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

WritePad, created by the PhatWare Corporation, is a text editor for the iPhone that uses handwriting recognition input. It recognizes cursive, print, and mixed handwriting styles. To enter the text you can simply write with your finger or a stylus on the iPhone screen in either landscape or portrait mode. In addition, you can use simple finger gestures to select text, cut, copy, paste, insert special characters such as space and return, open the spell checker for the selected word, and correct recognized text.

Check out the WritePad website and demo by clicking on the link below.

http://www.phatware.com/index.php?q=product/details/writepad

Posted by cab870 at 03:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This what I want for Christmas!

The enTourage eDGe is the world's first dualbook, meaning that it has two separate screens, that combine an e-reader with a netbook.

The e-reader screen is used with a stylus that can underline or highlight text, take notes in the margin, pull up a blank piece of e-paper for solving math problems, or open a link for a video that is then displayed on the opposite LCD screen. The LCD (netbook) screen features a virtual keyboard, as well as an audio recorder and a video camera. From this side you can send e-mails and instant messages, and browse the Internet.

The enTourage eDGe will sell for $490 USD, but won't be available until February 2010. They are taking pre-orders for the device, but it is not available for shipping to Canada yet. Hopefully it will be soon!

Check out Specs and comparisons on the enTourage eDGe website by clicking on the link below.

http://www.entourageedge.com/

Here are links to a couple of articles that give more in depth information.

CNN Tech Article
Boston Globe Article

Posted by cab870 at 11:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Nuance Communications just announced the availability of its Dragon Dictation App for iPhone. The app allows users to speak emails and text messages instead of typing them, dramatically extending the way users stay connected to friends and family. Dragon Dictation also works with the iPhone clipboard, allowing users to speak naturally and easily paste it into their other apps, including Facebook and Twitter.

This App is currently free for a limited time, so download it now before you have to pay! Click on the website below to get the download.

www.dragonmobileapps.com/applications.html

Coming soon is the Dragon Search App for iPhone which will allow users to search online content using their voice. Users speak their search queries and will get simultaneous results from search engines and websites like: Google, YouTube, iTunes, and Wikipedia. I will post again when it is available for download.

Posted by cab870 at 09:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The RNIB (Royal National Institute of Blind People) has recently introduced a new lablel-making device that lets you easily record information that syncs to special self-adhesive labels. It can be used to label food items, film and music collections, and household objects. It can also be used to organise letters and paperwork as well as record shopping lists or leave audio messages.

To use, you simply allocate one of the coded self-adhesive labels and record and store your message on the PenFriend. To playback hold the PenFriend over the label - it announces recordings specific to each label. There is no limit to the length of each message, and the pen as up to 70 hours of recording time available.

This product is available for purchase through the CNIB Webstore. Check out the link below for more information.

http://webstore.cnib.ca/item_detail.aspx?ItemCode=LIV0513210000


The RNIB has created a demonstation video on Youtube that you can watch below.

Posted by cab870 at 09:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This updated version has added more research-based writing tools to support students at every stage of the writing process: planning, drafting, revising and proofreading. These new tools include:

Column Notes – allows you to take notes using two or three column strategies to be better organized while reading or attending class lectures. In addition, when reading a document within Kurzweil 3000, you can use highlighters to select information and extract to specific columns to organize information.

Brainstorm – enables you to jumpstart your thinking process and get ideas out and linked to other ideas in a graphical way.

Outline – provides an alternative to the Brainstorm view with a text-based hierarchical view of your ideas.

Draft – is for creating and revising writing assignments from a blank draft, from new Writing Templates as well as from Brainstorm diagrams and Outlines

There are also Writing Templates, based on some of the most common writing tasks such as Compare/Contrast and Persuasive essays.

Posted by cab870 at 02:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

After a bit of a hiatus, AAT is finally back on track!

First up is SeroTalk, an interactive blog that features twice-monthly podcasts, and links to awesome software and
online resources. Topics range from the accessibility features of the new SnowLeopard OS for the MAC to a builder who builds homes from the ground up without eyesight.

SeroTalk is an entity of the Serotek Corporation, a company that develops blind and low vision computer accessibility products.

Check it out by clicking on the link below, and let me know what you think!

http://serotalk.com/

Posted by cab870 at 02:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Need help with your assistive technology? Drop-in to the Assistive Technology Room on Tuesdays from 2:00-3:30pm to get the help you need.

The AT Room is located on the ground floor of the Murray Library Learning Commons in Room G19.

Posted by cab870 at 02:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

HumanWare, the makers of the Zoom-Twix, have recently created a DeafBlind Communicator to provide communication options to deaf-blind individuals. The DBS system consists of two separate components, the BrailleNote and a DB-Phone. The DB-Phone is a specialized cell phone with a visual display and a QWERTY keyboard that also has unique deafblind software installed in it. These two components communicate wirelessly with each other using Bluetooth.

This technology will enable the deaf-blind community to have face-to-face conversations with store clerks, waiters, friends, and other sighted individuals.

The BBC News recently published an online article with videos of the DeafBlind Communicator in action. Click on the link below to check it out.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8183838.stm

Click on the link below to check out the DeafBlind Communicator on the HumanWare website.

http://www.humanware.com

Posted by cab870 at 11:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

AssistiveWare, the makers of Proloquo2Go, have a web site about gaming on Mac OS X. This website is created by and for Mac users with disabilities and provides information on how people with physical disabilities can enjoy the latest and greatest games on Mac OS X.

The site has three main sections:

(1) Feature articles about general gaming topics
(2) Reviews discussing individual games
(3) Short descriptions of games with a special focus on their accessibility

Some of the fun games you can download from thier website are: CakeMania, Bejeweled, and World of Warcraft.

Check out the website by clicking on the link below.

http://www.assistivegaming.com/

Posted by cab870 at 02:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Microsoft's hardware division has always pushed the envelope, and its latest prototype is no exception: this pressure-sensitive keyboard looks exactly like a normal 'board, but each key can register up to eight levels of pressure, opening up all kinds of interesting possibilities. Sure, there's a gaming demo, where pushing buttons harder makes you run faster or jump higher, but that's sort of old hat -- we're super intrigued by the typing corrector, which uses the pressure difference between keys you mean to type and keys you accidentally graze to fix your mistakes. Definitely interesting stuff, and we're sure to see more novel uses in October when Microsoft opens its first Student Innovation Contest by showcasing student projects made using keyboard prototypes. (Taken from Engadget).

I definitely see how the typing corrector feature would benefit users with upper-body mobility issues. It will be interesting to see where this ends up!

Posted by cab870 at 08:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This voice recognition software allows BlackBerry users to control applications like email, calendar, memos, tasks and contact notes using only their voice. I don't have a BlackBerry, so I have not tested it. However, the MyCaption website has posted great (although maybe subjective) reviews. Visit the MyCaption website to download a free trial, and let me know what you think!

http://mycaption.com/products/blackberry

Posted by cab870 at 02:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

You can buy a variety of hardware and software products that make the iPhone more accessible. Back in January I blogged about Proloquo2Go, an AAC application for iPhone and iPod Touch for people who have difficulty speaking. Here are few other products that are available:

soundAMP
With soundAMP you can instantly improve your hearing. soundAMP is an AT application that transforms your iPhone into an interactive hearing device. It uses the built-in microphone or headset with mic to amplify nearby sound. You can adjust volume and tone, and even “repeat” a recent conversation.

Soft-Touch Stylus for iPhone and iPod touch
Using the Soft-Touch Stylus, you can type, tap, and scroll effortlessly without worrying about scratching the high-resolution display on iPhone or iPod touch.

VoiceOver
The same VoiceOver screen reader made popular on the Mac is now a standard feature on iPhone 3GS. iPhone 3GS displaying VoiceOver settings. The VoiceOver and Speak Hints buttons are on. Three instructions appear: To select an item touch it. To tap the selected item, double-tap. To scroll, flick three fingers.

For more information, check out the Apple Accessibility webpage by clicking on the link below.

http://www.apple.com/accessibility/

Posted by cab870 at 10:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Keeping in tune with their commitment to accessibility, Apple has designed the new iPhone 3GS to be easier for those with visual, auditory, or other physical disabilities to use the iPhone. Accessibility features include:

VoiceOver
Zoom
White on Black
Mono Audio
Speak Auto-text

Learn how to use these features by checking out the Accessibility Features section of the iPhone How To webpage. Clicking on the link below will take you there.

http://www.apple.com/iphone/how-to/#accessibility.iphone3gs-accessibility-features

Posted by cab870 at 11:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I read a funny technology update on a dog-bark translator called BowLingual. The original BowLingual claimed to be able to translate your pooch's barks into human language readable on a handheld translator. The new version of this technology has been updated to include vocalization of said translation, so you can hear exactly why your dog is barking so much. Unfortunately, the BowLingual is currently only available in the Japanese language, which means that you’ll still have no idea what Spotty is saying unless you have a Japanese-to-English translator as well.

Wikipedia has a great entry about the BowLingual. Click on the link below to check it out.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BowLingual

Posted by cab870 at 11:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The DirectVoxx Muso is add-on for the iPod and iPhone that is designed to let you access your music with voice commands. The Muso doesn't require any voice training, and lets you demand particular tracks, scan through playlists, pause and resume playing music speaking in natural language like: "play Romantic Traffic by the Spoons." The only problem with the Muso is that it only works with the IPod Nano, and it's price tag is $159.00, making it almost as expensive as the iPod itself. Click on the link below for more information.

http://www.directvoxx.com/Products.htm

Check out the video to see it in action.

Posted by cab870 at 09:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

PowerTalk is a free program that automatically speaks any presentation or slide show running in Microsoft PowerPoint for Windows. Just download and install PowerTalk, and when you open and run the presentation as usual, it will speak the text on your slides. PowerTalk is also able to speak hidden text attached to images.The speech that is provided by the standard synthesized computer voices are those that are provided with Windows.

Download PowerTalk from the Oats website by clicking on the link below.

http://www.oatsoft.org/Software/PowerTalk

Posted by cab870 at 09:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

On Wednesday, Apple officially kicked off its 2009 back-to-school promotion, which offers a free 8GB iPod touch to students and educational staffers who purchase a qualifying Mac.

Here are the terms & conditions:

• You must purchase your Mac computer and iPod from the Apple Online Store, an Apple Retail Store, or an Apple Authorized Campus Store. Products purchased at other locations are not eligible for this offer.
• Your purchase must be made between May 27, 2009, and September 8, 2009, to be eligible. Your claim must be postmarked by October 8, 2009.
• Your computer and iPod purchases must appear on the same receipt. Online orders may ship separately. In this case, include all relevant invoices.
• The Campus Computer Store is an Apple Authorized Campus Store, and you can find them at the bottom escalator in Lower Place Riel. Visit their website for additional information! http://ccs.usask.ca/

Click on the link below to get the rebate coupon.

http://images.apple.com/ca/promo/

Posted by cab870 at 11:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

AssistiveWare is a company that creates Mac-focused assistive technology software. Part of their website is dedicated to a series of vodcasts (video podcasts) about people who use AssistiveWare AT in their daily lives. The website states that the videos show how people use AT to communicate, express their creativity, play games and live thier lives. Some of these videos are quite fascinating, and show that there is no reason why people with physical, vision, speech or language impairments cannot use the same creative and educational software as every other Mac OS X user. Although these are great videos, they are not captioned, which is a significant oversight for an AT company.

Click on the link below to view the videos.

http://www.assistiveware.com/videos.php

Posted by cab870 at 10:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Assignment Calculator Tool from the University of Minnesota Libraries is a time management tool that breaks down research assignments into a series of manageable steps, while providing expert tips for success. All you need to do is enter the assignment start date, due date, and the subject of the paper, and it will give an outline of what needs to be done when. It also lets you print the schedule and sign up to receive email reminders to help keep you on track. Check it out by clicking on the link below.

http://www.lib.umn.edu/help/calculator/

Posted by cab870 at 01:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

TheSage English Dictionary and Thesaurus is a complete dictionary and multifaceted thesaurus of the English language. The complete package includes the definition, thesaurus, and examples, and can look up words directly from almost any program (IE, Word, Firefox, Outlook, etc.).

The Dictionary comprises more than 145,000 references with multiple detailed definitions as well as a large collection of examples of usage. It also contains encyclopedic information and academic knowledge. The Thesaurus encompasses synonyms, antonyms, hypernyms, hyponyms, meronyms, and holonyms.

TheSage has a tabbed interface which allows multiple definitions and searches to be quickly available, as well as history and session record keeping, and options that allow customization of the appearance of TheSage.

And the best part is that you can download it for free! The download version runs locally, and does not use your Internet connection. An online version has recently been released, but this version only consults the definition database, and not the thesaurus.

Check out the Sequence Publishing website for download information.

http://www.sequencepublishing.com/thesage.html

Posted by cab870 at 03:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

So what does Twitter have to do with AT? Like many other social media services, it has issues with accessibility. The main problem with Twitter is that it lacks an accessible interface making Tweeting quite difficult for those who use screen readers like JAWS.

Enter Dennis Lembrée, the owner of web development company Check Engine USA. Dennis's interest in social media accessibility issues led him to create Accessible Twitter works just like Twitter with an accessible interface. The screen layout has been simplified and made consistent, and also has keyboard-accessible links, making it work seamlessly with screen readers. Check out Accessible Twitter through the link below.

http://www.accessibletwitter.com/

Posted by cab870 at 02:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Whether you use it or not, understand it or not, like it or not, Twitter is the hottest thing in social networking right now. Tweets and Twitter are brought up in almost every conversation I have lately, and it is not small wonder; the service is said to have over 25 million active users sending millions of tweets a day. This may seem like a small number compared to Facebook's 200 million active users, but it is enough to make Twitter the third most used social networking tool after Myspace and Facebook. If you can't quite figure Twitter out, here are the basics from Wikipedia::

Twitter is a free social networking and micro-blogging service that enables its users to send and read other users' updates known as tweets. Tweets are text-based posts of up to 140 characters in length which are displayed on the user's profile page and delivered to other users who have subscribed to them, known as followers.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twitter

You may be asking yourself What does Twitter have to do with assistive technology? Stay tuned to find out, and in the meantime, you can register for a Twitter account at the website listed below.

http://twitter.com/

Posted by cab870 at 02:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

As you might have noticed, I use Odiogo as a means of turning my text posts into audio, and I also blogged about the Odigo program in a previous posting. Odiogo works really great, but it is not the only TTS tools for your blog. Check out these programs to see which one would suit your blog the best. They all have free and upgrade versions available.

iSpeech - Another text-to-speech conversion service similar to Odiogo

Jott - Can convert blog feeds to audio and let you listen to them on your cell phone

GhostReader - Does text to speech for the Mac platform

Posted by cab870 at 03:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

There are numerous sources out there where you can find free e-books, but probably the best known source is "Project Gutenberg". Founded in 1971, the library has grown from a few books to over 28,000 items as of March 2009. Most of the items in its collection are the full texts of public domain books, and wherever possible, the releases are available in plain text. There are also other formats included, such as HTML, PDF and Plucker. Most releases are in the English language, but many non-English works are also available. Titles include: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Metamorphosis, and Pliny, the Younger. Check out the PG collection for yourself by clicking on the link below.

http://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Main_Page

There is also a Project Gutenberg Canada, a collection of e-books in the Canadian public domain. Authors include Catherine Parr Traill and Stephen Leacock.

http://www.gutenberg.ca/

Posted by cab870 at 04:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Whilst doing some research online, I came across the Braille Tattoo designed by Klara Jirkova, a student at the University of the Arts in Berlin. The tattoo is a series of implantable surgical steel, titanium, or medical plastic beads that are placed under the skin. The tattoo can then be read via touch. The New York Times ran an article about the braille tattoo, which you can read below.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/09/magazine/09_8_tatoo.html?ref=magazine

Posted by cab870 at 11:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)