[nabs-l] I clicker

[Jamie Principato]

We use those here at FSU and they've created some problems for blind
students here. First, the original iClicker isn't accessible. Basically
you're holding a thin bar with six buttons and an LED light on the front.
The buttons are marked with raised letters, and from top to bottom go
On/Off, A, B, C, D, E (the letters would be used for answer choices). If you
can identify raised letters well enough or just memorize the order, you're
set there. The problem is a small one. When you turn the device on in class,
you have to connect to a channel being used for that class. You do this by
holding down the on/off button until the LED light indicating the device is
on starts to flash. Then you type in a letter code given to you by the
professor, and if you connected succesfully, the LED light will give you
some sort of signal and go solid again. The light also indicates visually
whether your answer was submitted successfully or not, when your battery is
low, and when the device is on or off (and it does get turned on
accidentally if left in a bag or binder or pocket for any period of time).
This means you may need help from sighted peers to properly opperate the
device and troubleshoot errors.

The company that makes the iClicker has an accessible model available. This
model gives vibrating signals instead of lights. I think it's poor design
for these to be two separate products since the vibrating version would work
for both blind and sighted students equally, but at least it's available.
The problem is that these devices, if bought by ordinary people through the
company, are extremely expensive. The university bookstores buy the lighted
versions in bulk, and at least at FSU, I was told that they did not purchase
any accessible models as well and still have not done so. You might ask your
bookstore or disability services office if an accessible iClicker is already
available for you to purchase (at the rate students normally pay for the
iClicker from the bookstore) or borrow. If not, I'd ask if they can get one,
or a few, for students in need at your university, or switch to keeping the
vibrating versions in stock at the bookstore since they work well for
sighted students too.

On Thu, Jun 2, 2011 at 10:45 AM, Darian Smith <dsmithnfb at gmail.com> wrote:

> Hi all,
>  A friend was asking me about a  device called the  I clicker.
> Wondering if you all g have heard of such a thing and how   accessable
> you believe it to be?
>  Thanks,
>  Darian
>
> --
> Darian Smith
> Skype: The_Blind_Truthas vi
> Windows Live: Lightningrod2010 at live.com
> Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/goldengateace
>
> "The purpose of life is a life of purpose.
>
> — Robert Byrne
>
> _______________________________________________
> nabs-l mailing list
> nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> nabs-l:
>
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/blackbyrdfly%40gmail.com
>