Assistive Technology Low Vision » Indiana Assistive Technology Blog

GW Micro Presents the BookSense DS

Assistive Technology Products No Responses »

Jul 222010

Stack of Books

The BookSense DS is the only book player to have an OLED (organic light emitting diode) display. An OLED display can be used to produce higher contrast ratios to help those with low vision. This new device has the accessibility to read books and word documents, play music, read DAISY textbooks, and play material from the Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic. The BookSense has 4GB of built in memory, and it also has the ability to accept higher capacity memory cards for maximum storage of books and music.

The OLED display is great for teachers and students who have learning difficulties. Teachers are able to use the display to see what students are doing, or see what the BookSense is saying. Students are able to use the device to follow along on the screen to read a document or textbook. Students are also able to see or hear textbooks, and they are even able to adjust the reading speed to make reading easier and more enjoyable.

The BookSense is a good choice for educators, students, and any blind or visually impaired person to easily access music, books, and documents. The item is not yet on the market, and the price is still to be determined.

You can find an educational video on the BookSense and more information on the device on the GW Micro Website.

accessABILITY: Senior Technology Fair

Assistive Technology Products, Events, Organizations No Responses »

Jun 152010

Handheld Magnifier

WHAT: Senior Technology Fair

WHERE: To be held at the American Legion, located at: 8725 E. 38^th Street

WHEN: Date: June 18, 2010

Time: 1:00 p.m. 4:00 p.m.

See the newest most innovative technology for legally blind and totally blind seniors.
Learn how accessABILITY and other community partners can help make your life more independent.
Make new friends and get involved in community activities that will keep you in the know.

**Refreshments will be served and door prizes will be given to our lucky seniors.

Presenters:

Wade Wingler – Director of Assistive Technology at Easter Seals Crossroads
Bob Roe - Low Vision Community Guide for the accessABILITYs Older Blind Program

Fred Edwards – Blinded Veterans Association

Lee Martin – National Federation of the Blind & Indiana Coordinator for Newsline

IMAG & Indiana Mobility Accessibility Group
Vision Aid Systems/The Low Vision Store, Amy and Bob Frey — Business Representatives

Indiana State Library —Autumn Gonzalez/Regional Librarian

All are welcome. For more information contact: Jean Brown at 317-362-8306 or jb007@iquest.net

Product Review: RNIB PENfriend

AT Loan Library, Assistive Technology Products 1 Response »

Jun 102010

PENfriend

If you like the LiveScribe Pulse Smartpen for taking notes at lectures, you’re going to love this assistive technology device for labeling household objects! The PENfriend from Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) can record personal messages that are recalled by touching the tip of the pen to a label. A person with low vision or print disability could record audible cooking instructions on a box of Hamburger Helper, for example. Let’s try it out!

The PENfriend only has four buttons, so it’s pretty uncomplicated and easy to use. To turn it on, hold down on the top button for about three seconds. After you hear a beeping sound, you can get started. Adjust the volume with the second button (you can turn it up pretty loud for those who are hard of hearing). The third button is for changing the mode, which I’ll talk about later.

The fourth button is what you press to record messages, which I will walk you through now. Let’s pretend the sample label on the packaging is on a bottle of prescription medicine. All I have to do to create a recording is touch the tip of the pen to the PENfriend label and press the bottom button until I hear a beep. While still holding the button, I can say the name of the medicine, what it’s for, when I need to take it, what the dosage is, if I need to take it with food, etc. Once I’m done, I let go of the button. Now any time I touch the PENfriend to that label, I will hear my recorded message!

There are four different modes on the PENfriend. The default mode is the recording function when you first turn the device on. Hold the third button down for a few seconds to switch to the Print setting. This function is still in development, so we’ll skip it for now. Hold the button down again to access the MP3 function. In this mode, you can listen to music transferred from your computer.

You can re-record over your messages as many times as you want, and there is no limit to how long each message is. The pen has 1 GB of memory, so you can record up to 70 hours. If you run out of labels that came with the pen, you can buy replacement packs.

Imagine how useful this device could be! You can organize your food, music, movies, paperwork, and record notes or shopping lists. If you think you’d like to try it for yourself, head on over to the INDATA Loan Library and check one out. You can also purchase one from Independent Living Aids.

Assistive Technology for Older Americans Month

AT Basics, Assistive Technology Products 1 Response »

May 252010

Did you know that May is Older Americans Month? If you know someone facing challenges due to aging, consider assistive technology. Maybe they could use a grab bar for the tub, or some adaptive cooking utensils. We’ve gathered up a list of items from MaxiAids to give you an idea of what might be helpful to a person who is aging.

Low Vision Calender

Low Vision Calender from MaxiAids

“What is today’s date?” This calender is perfect for being able to know the date just by glancing at it. Its large numbers are easy to read and you can hang it on the wall or prop it up on your desk.

Jitterbug J Cell Phone

Jitterbug J from MaxiAids

The more cell phones they come out with, the more complicated they are to use! This Jitterbug cell phone is stripped of all the fancy extras that an older person might not care about anyway. Every choice can be made by pressing the Yes or No buttons, the text on the screen is large print, and the speaker has reduced background noise for better sound quality.

Single Super Grip Handle

Single Super Grip by MaxiAids

This piece of assistive technology can help you get in and out of the tub easily, without fear of slipping. Its sturdy suction cup will attach to a smooth surface by pressing it down and flipping the switch. Get a grip!

Voice Recording Key Finder

Voice Recording Key Finder by MaxiAids

You will never lose your keys again with this great device. All you have to do is whistle and this key chain will beep to help you find it. You can also record short reminders about where you parked, or driving directions.

Tomato/Onion Slicing Guide

Tomato/Onion Slicer by MaxiAids

Slicing up veggies can be tricky if you don’t want to cut your fingers. This guide will hold your food in place and prevent injury while it helps you make consistent slices.

These are just a few examples offered by MaxiAids. Didn’t see anything that suits you? Check out their website and browse the many types of assistive technology devices available!

Click here to learn about the history of Older Americans Month.

Movies with Descriptions: Accessibility in Entertainment

Accessibility Services, Assistive Technology Products No Responses »

May 202010

Remember the Media Access Group at WGBH? We wrote about them in our Accessible Movie Theaters post a while ago. Now we are pleased to discover that this fine organization has complied a comprehensive list of movies that are available on DVD with audio description.

Audio description allows for more accessibility among people with disabilities. Without it, a person with low vision would not be able to enjoy films in the same capacity that people without low vision do. Audio description typically narrates characters, actions, scenery, and is careful not to overlap the movie’s dialog. This is done by the Descriptive Video Service (DVS).

If you buy a DVD through Amazon via the Media Access Group website, the nonprofit organization will receive a portion of the proceeds.

Some of the DVDs listed include Up, Cinderella Man, 500 Days of Summer, Avatar, Julie & Julia, Public Enemies, and Toy Story. Click here for the complete list.

Accessibility Features on the iPad

Accessibility Reviews, Assistive Technology Products 3 Responses »

May 192010

iPad

The INDATA team just got an iPad! We quickly learned that this is a wonderful assistive technology device that is easy for almost anyone to use. Not only is it conveniently lightweight, making it very portable, but it also has several accessibility attributes available for people with disabilities. I’ll take you through some of these features now.

Getting to the Accessibility menu is just a couple of taps away! First, tap the Settings button on the home page. The screen will besplit into two sections, and you will see “Accessibility” on the right side. From there you will be given different options to personalize your user experience on the iPad. The first option is for VoiceOver.

VoiceOver menu on iPad

VoiceOver is a great tool for people who have low vision, a print disability, or any type of disability that makes reading a challenge. When turned on, VoiceOver will read aloud the items you tap on the screen. This mode changes your gestures a little; for instance now you must double-tap to access something.

For those who struggle with reading black print on a white background, you can easily flip the colors so that the text is white on a black background. You can also use Zoom, which will magnify the screen for you. After activating Zoom, just double-tap the screen with three fingers to magnify whatever it is you wish to get a closer look at. Then you can drag the screen up or down with three fingers to scroll. Another great tool on the iPad is Closed Captioning for watching movies and shows, which you can turn on under the Video menu.

The last feature I want to mention is the word prediction tool. Typing on the iPad may take some getting used to, so this is very useful for avoiding typos. As you type, any time you hesitate a word suggestion will pop up, which you can select by pressing the Enter button.

Word prediction on the iPad

The iPad is similar to its predecessors, the iPhone and iPod touch, however the larger screen makes reading, typing, and controlling the applications much easier for people with disabilities. We look forward to seeing how this device can be used to help others gain independence.