While Karen learns a new software application called Phone Max to enable her to access information displayed to hotel employees on their telephones, I am dealing with a new application called Apropos that adds greater management capabilities to our Cisco voice over Internet telephone system. In the past, we have all taken for granted our abilities to pick up a telephone and use its tactile buttons to answer or place calls. What happens when the entire telephone system is digital and dependent on potentially inaccessible telephone hardware or soft phones?
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Beating the Odds at Every Turn: Emily’s Inspirational Story
Emily is an inspiration to us all. Her story is one more of hundreds of thousands of reasons why we must continue to press for the accessibility we need to enable us to participate fully in the world around us. Keep up the great work, Emily! We at the Blind Access Journal wish you great success on your journey. If there’s anything we in the technology sector of the blind community can do to assist you, let us know.
Freedom Scientific Releases PAC Mate Firmware Version 3.0
Freedom Scientific has just released the long awaited version 3.0 firmware update to the PAC Mate BX and QX products. Featuring PAC Mate desktop remote PC control, keyboard lock, support for AOL Instant Messenger and automatic Braille scrolling, this update is available for download free of charge to holders of ASA (software maintenance agreements) or owners of PAC Mate units still under their original warranty. Otherwise, the cost is $115. Check out Freedom Scientific’s web site right away to learn about and download this exciting new update!
CastBlaster Public Beta Inaccessible Despite Previous Assurances
Despite previous assurances of accessibility by Adam Curry and company, several blind testers have reported that CastBlaster is actually inaccessible with today’s modern screen readers such as JAWS and Window-Eyes! The blind community is quite willing to pay to play with solid podcasting software, but only if it is reasonably accessible. Podcasting is a natural fit for blind people; it would be a real shame if the CastBlaster folks end up taking it away from us. If CastBlaster’s accessibility problems do not get resolved, this will represent yet another case where the blind community will be locked out of equal participation.
Field Day Live – Part 2
Listen to the second part of the live Field Day coverage. This longer recording includes some actual two way Morse Code contacts. Enjoy! 73
Field Day Live – Part 1
Check out this two part podcast of recorded coverage directly from the Field Day site inside the Emergency Operations Center. You will hear live Morse Code radio traffic as it happened, along with my commentary attempting to explain some of the action.
Commentary about Field Day, construction work and Jonathan Mosen’s family tragedy.
Check out more commentary about Field Day 2005, some talk about construction near the bus stop and my attempts to reserve judgment after reading the news on Jonathan Mosen’s Mosen Explosion blog. I have returned to my 9:00 to 6:00 work shift; yay! That extra sleep sure does feel great!
Post Field Day Update
Check out the first post Field Day update podcast. Though some details and results are included, this is not the promised final Field Day episode. It has been a fun though exhausting weekend. 73
Saturday Afternoon Field Day Update
Check out this Saturday afternoon update live from the EOC. Unfortunately, due to poor cell coverage underground, the audio is quite broken.
Final FieldDay Preparation and Problems with blindaccessjournal.com domain.
Listen to this podcast covering final Field Day preparations and DNS issues with blindaccessjournal.com. As an update, it appears the registrar may already be acting on my trouble ticket, as my name server now seems to point to the right place. Interesting.