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.
Serious Problems with BlindAccessJournal.com Domain!
There appear to be serious DNS problems with blindaccessjournal.com on some name servers around the world at the moment. A ticket has been opened with the registrar. In the meantime, please access the journal at http://journal.shandrow.com. Realizing that those having difficulties may not see this post, I will also be publishing a short podcast to the RSS feed containing the same information. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Letter to Milog’s Developers Asking About Accessibility
Dear Milog support,
My name is Darrell Shandrow. I have been a ham for almost twenty years now. I happen to be blind. This year I will be participating in Field Day with the Scottsdale Amateur Radio Club. The club uses your Milog software for logging QSOs. After downloading and installing a demo of the software, I have found it almost totally inaccessible to either the JAWS or Window-Eyes screen readers. These are the two leading applications for a blind person to use in order to gain access to the applications running on a PC. There is minimal tab key navigation in dialogue boxes and menus, and the focus is not tracked as I utilize the arrow keys. I am hoping that an “accessibility” option exists in the program which might enable this application to work for blind hams. If so, could you please explain how I may enable Milog to be usable with my screen reader? If this is not currently available, please, by all means, start working with blind hams to make your software accessible.
At best, the inaccessibility of Milog is going to force me to log contacts in a manner that will be different from the other three operators in our 4F classification. At worst, an attempt could possibly be made to exclude me from participation due to this inaccessible technology. I’m leaving for Field Day tomorrow morning at 8:00 AM Pacific time. Please respond by e-mail before that time or feel free to call me by telephone anytime this evening or tonight at 480-966-0922. If you have to leave a voice mail, rest assured I’ll call you back right away. Thanks in advance for your consideration.
73
Darrell Shandrow
NU7I