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Tek Talk Presents An Unbelievably Comprehensive And Accessible Device

April 10, 2008 • Darrell Shandrow Hilliker

FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION

Tek Talk Presents An Unbelievably Comprehensive And Accessible Device
Monday, April 14, 2008

The Accessible News Wire April 10, 2008, Indianapolis, Indiana USA

If you think you’ve heard and seen everything, you may be surprised when you stop by the next Tek Talk training session sponsored by the Accessible World. Here is why.

Did you know there is now a portable device that recognizes flat and solid objects through the eyes of a digital camera! Did you know there is a hand-held device that is a real computer with Windows XP and 60GB Hard Disk, slightly bigger than a palm, able to recognize objects in less than ten seconds? Did you know a device exists that can read books, magazines and newspapers of any size and complexity up to two complete pages at a time, text on boxes, bottles, cans,  and medicines, as well as texts found on TVs and LCD displays? Whatever the camera frames, the device reads and can automatically adjust perspective, skew and shape of any object. It can correct the framing of the picture through voice messages such as “move the camera to the right”, “move the camera backwards” and (in the new version “turn the object 45 degrees to the right). It even has editing features, voice recognition (command and dictation) and voice recording, MP3 features, handwriting modules, bluetooth, wifi and much more. And because it has been developed specifically for the blind, visual impaired and dyslexics, it is completely accessible. Its name, you ask? SiRecognizer UMPC.
 
Don’t miss the demonstration of this unique product and Larry Gassman’s interview with Marco Gregnanin, C.E.O. ITEX, Rome, Italy
To ask questions following the formal presentation.

Contact:  Marco Gregnanin
Web:  http://www.itex.info,
Email:  m.gregnanin@itex.info,
Landline:  +39 / 06 / 50 53 318,
Skype:  m.gregnanin
MSN:  m.gregnanin@ecosrl.com


Date: Monday, April 14, 2008

Time:  5:00 p.m. Pacific, 6:00 p.m. Mountain, 7:00 p.m. Central, 8:00 p.m. Eastern and elsewhere in the world Tuesday 0:00 GMT.

Where: Tek Talk Conference Room at:

http://www.accessibleworld.org.

or use the Direct Link: 

http://conference321.com/masteradmin/room.asp?id=rsc9613dc89eb2

All Tech Talk training events are recorded so if you are unable to participate live at the above times then you may download the presentation or podcast from the Tech Talk archives on our website at
http://www.accessibleworld.org.

All online interactive programs require no password, are free of charge, and open to anyone worldwide having an Internet connection, a computer, speakers, and a sound card. Those with microphones can interact audibly with the presenters and others in the virtual audience.

If you are a first-time user of the Talking Communities online conferencing software, there is a small, safe software program that you need to download and then run.  A link to the software is available on every entry screen to the Accessible World online rooms.

Sign up information for all Accessible World News Wires and discussion lists are also available at our website: http://www.accessibleworld.org.


Media Contacts:

Robert Acosta, Chair, Planning Committee
818-998-0044
Email: boacosta@pacbell.net
http://www.helpinghands4theblind.com

Pat Price, Founder and Events Coordinator
The Accessible World Symposiums
Vision Worldwide, Inc.
317-254-1185
Skype: patprice1
Email: pat@patprice.org
http://www.accessibleworld.org

Media Contacts for Additional Information:
Robert Acosta, Chair, Planning Committee
Helping Hands for the Blind
818-998-0044
Email: boacosta@pacbell.net
http://www.helpinghands4theblind.com

Pat Price, Events Coordinator
The Accessible World Symposiums
317-254-1185
Skype: patprice1
Email: pat@patprice.org
http://www.accessibleworld.org

Categories: Uncategorized

Educational Testing Service (ETS) Seeks Low vision Users To Test Accessible GRE Prototype, Will Pay Honorarium + Travel

April 8, 2008 • Darrell Shandrow Hilliker

We're working on finalizing the self-voicing GRE. We need some individuals
with low vision to try it out for usability. We have tried earlier
prototypes with individuals who rely exclusively on synthetic speech to
access the test. However, the test includes a visual display with
magnification and color options. We'd like to identify some individuals
with low vision who customarily use a combination of audio AND screen
magnification to access computer content. We're interested not only in the
visual display itself but in how well it works in combination with the
speech, since we anticipate some test takers who will use both.
Although participants will not receive scores, we'd prefer that they have at
least 2 years of college so that they'll be comfortable with the academic
content of a grad school admissions test.
It'd take about half a day, we anticipate. There is an honorarium. We'd
prefer to find at least one or 2 people able to travel to Princeton on a
weekday for this; of course we'd cover transportation costs. If that's not
possible, we will be able to send materials for a few participants to try on
their own computers. These participants will then debrief by phone, either
while they're trying the test or afterward. We'd like the tryouts to be in
late April if at all possible.
Anyone interested is invited to email me:
mailto:Rloew@ets.org Rloew@ets.org
.
Thanks!
Ruth C. Loew, Ph.D.
Assistant Director
Office of Disability Policy, ETS
phone: 609-683-2984
fax: 609-683-2220

Categories: Uncategorized

Coming up on Main Menu for the week of April 9 – CSUN 2008 Discussion and Dolphin Product Updates

April 6, 2008 • Darrell Shandrow Hilliker
Hello Everyone,   
 
Coming up this week on a two hour Main Menu Live, we bring you discussion and product updates from the recently completed CSUN 2008 assistive technology conference.  In the first hour, Jamal Mazrui, Mika Pyyhkala and Pratik Patel join us to discuss their impressions and takeaways from CSUN 2008.  In the second hour, Dave Williams updates us all on the latest from Dolphin on Hal, Supernova and the rest of the company’s product line.
 
Here is how to participate in the show:   
 
The number to call into the show is 866-400-5333.   
You may email your questions to: mainmenu@acbradio.org
You may also interact with the show via MSN (Windows Live) Messenger. The MSN Messenger ID to add is: mainmenu@acbradio.org   
 
Would you like to interact with a group of Main Menu listeners about the topics heard on Main Menu and Main Menu Live? You can do this by joining the Main Menu Friends email list. The address to subscribe is: main-menu-subscribe@googlegroups.com
Come join an already lively group of users.   
 
Would you like to subscribe to podcast feeds for Main Menu and Main Menu Live? The RSS feeds to add to your podcatching application are:   
 
 
Main Menu can be heard on Tuesday evenings at 9:00 Eastern, 6:00 Pacific, and at 1 universal (GMT) on Wednesday mornings on the ACB Radio Main Stream channel.   
 
Follow this link to listen to the show:   
 
 
Jeff Bishop and Darrell Shandrow
The Main Menu Production Team
Categories: Uncategorized

CallBurner Recordings Broken After Upgrade to Skype 3.8 Beta

April 4, 2008 • Darrell Shandrow Hilliker

Users of Netralia’s CallBurner are urged to avoid upgrading Skype to the latest beta version 3.8. The audio in the CallBurner end of all recordings sounds like a cassette recorder playing at half speed. Netralia is continuing to work the problem, but no resolution is available at this time. It may be possible to restore proper recording functionality by rolling back to Skype 3.6.

Categories: Skype

Dial-A-Ride: Melissa – The right way to do business!

April 3, 2008 • Darrell Shandrow Hilliker
April 3, 2008
 
Dear Christine,
 
This message has been copied to Gary Bretz (RPTA), Karen Shandrow and Karl Stephens (city of Tempe ADA coordinator) for their review.  It represents an example of a happy contrast to the incident that took place on Easter Sunday.
 
At 11:23 this morning, I contacted your call center to arrange and cancel several trips for Karen and myself.  Melissa took the call.  Her attitude was professional and respectful throughout the transaction.  She was accomodating and empathetic, exploring options and making some practical adjustments for a couple of pickup times that were particularly adverse.  Melissa was accountable and proficient, admitting a couple of times her trainee status and asking questions of others, resulting in a couple of actions that delivered us a better experience than we might have had otherwise.  We couldn’t get everything exactly the way we would have liked to have it, but, frankly, that’s not exactly the point.  The important factor is that Melissa performed her job to the best of her ability, asked questions of co-workers when she needed assistance and took actions in the customer’s best interests whenever doing so was practical.  Karen has just arrived at home, and she agrees regarding Melissa’s professionalism.
 
Whenever we do business with anyone, including East Valley Dial-A-Ride, we expect the people to act in accountable and professional ways at all times.  The job performance of people like Alecia and Melissa, among others, represent solid examples of the things that are right about Dial-A-Ride.  We’d just like to see your organization doing more of these good things, and less of the bad.  Providing needed support, ensuring all employees receive and understand solid customer service oriented training, reinforcing positive actions and stamping out negative behaviors would go a very long way toward reaching a goal of accountable, courteous, dignified and professional service toward the taxpaying citizens with disabilities of the cities in the East Valley Dial-A-Ride coverage area.  It isn’t necessarily a matter of just “getting our way” but rather one of empathizing with the needs of your customers and treating them with respect and professionalism during all transactions.  I will always accept nothing less than this kind of treatment from anyone on your staff.
 
Best regards,
Darrell Shandrow
Accessibility Evangelist
BlindAccessJournal.com
Categories: Uncategorized

Coming up on Main Menu for the week of April 2 – GW Micro BrailleSense and Independent Shopping

April 1, 2008 • Darrell Shandrow Hilliker
Hello Everyone,  
 
This week on a two hour prerecorded Main Menu, we bring you the first two items from the recently concluded CSUN 2008 conference provided by Marlaina.  First, GW Micro demonstrates the new features in the updated BrailleSense note taker.  Second, a research team from Arizona State University tells us all about an independent shopping project.
 
Here is how to participate in the show:  
 
The number to call into the show is 866-400-5333.  
 
You may email your questions to:
mainmenu@acbradio.org
You may also interact with the show via MSN (Windows Live) Messenger. The MSN Messenger ID to add is:
mainmenu@acbradio.org  
 
Would you like to interact with a group of Main Menu listeners about the topics heard on Main Menu and Main Menu Live? You can do this by joining the
Main Menu Friends email list. The address to subscribe is:
main-menu-subscribe@googlegroups.com
Come join an already lively group of users.  
 
Would you like to subscribe to podcast feeds for Main Menu and Main Menu
Live? The RSS feeds to add to your podcatching application are:  
 
 
Main Menu can be heard on Tuesday evenings at 9:00 Eastern, 6:00 Pacific, and at 1 universal (GMT) on Wednesday mornings on the ACB Radio Main Stream channel.  
 
Follow this link to listen to the show:  
 
 
Jeff Bishop and Darrell Shandrow
The Main Menu Production Team
Categories: Uncategorized