[Nfbmt] Fwd: [BVALAG#738] AFB ACCESS WORLD REPORT NEW TECHNOLOGY BLIND
Jerry Hutch
modrepro at mt.net
Sun Mar 17 18:02:21 UTC 2013
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: [BVALAG#738] AFB ACCESS WORLD REPORT NEW TECHNOLOGY BLIND
Date: Fri, 15 Mar 2013 12:18:18 +0000
From: Tom Zampieri <TZampieri at bva.org>
Reply-To: bva-lag+owners at googlegroups.com
To: bva-lag at googlegroups.com <bva-lag at googlegroups.com>
March 15, 2013
For all BVA membership and key contacts the following information is
from American Foundation Blind AFB ACCESS NEWS, on technology updates
conference.
Conference Review
CSUN 2013 Wrap-up: What's New from The 28th Annual International
Technology and Persons with Disabilities Conference
J.J. Meddaugh
During the last week of February, an estimated 3,000 to 4,000 people
attended the 28th Annual International Technology and Persons with
Disabilities Conference
<http://www.csun.edu/cod/conference/2013/sessions/index.php> held at the
Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego. CSUN is the largest gathering of
industry professionals, teachers, technology vendors, researchers, and
others interested in access technology in the field, and companies often
use the conference as a launching point for their latest products and
services.
This year, we spent three full days in the exhibit hall attempting to
soak in all that CSUN had to offer. While it's virtually impossible to
see and try everything that was being shown, we'll do our best to
highlight some of the most promising and latest innovations shown at
this year's conference. AFB also sponsored audio podcasts provided by
Blind Bargains <http://www.blindbargains.com/audio/>, and we've linked
to relevant audio interviews and demonstrations throughout this article,
which you can listen to for further information.
The Accessible TI-84 Plus Graphing Calculator
One of the biggest innovations to be displayed on the hardware side was
the Accessible TI-84 Plus Graphing Calculator
<http://www.blindbargains.com/audio.php?m=8159>. The American Printing
House for the Blind has collaborated with Orbit Research, makers of the
iBill Money Identifier and the Orion Scientific Calculator, to create a
fully-accessible version of this popular mainstream device, which is
nearly ubiquitous in high schools. This is accomplished by attaching a
small hardware keypad on the end of the calculator which provides a
DECTalk speech chip and software to control the audio output. Graphs can
be represented in several ways, the most notable being an audio mode
where the X and Y axes are represented by panning from left to right and
pitch, respectively. Graphs can also be sent to a braille embosser or be
represented numerically. Basically, all of the regular buttons on the
calculator work as expected and give accessible output. In addition,
haptic feedback is included as an option and may be utilized for a
variety of functions. This model was chosen, in part, because it is
allowed to be used when taking standardized tests. The calculator is
being tested now and should be available later this year. Pricing
information is not currently available.
A New Victor Stream
HumanWare was demonstrating its second generation Victor Reader Stream
<http://www.blindbargains.com/audio.php?m=8211>, an update to the hugely
popular digital book player. The device is roughly 30 percent smaller
than the original unit but retains a virtually identical button layout,
making it simple for users to transition to the newer model. Among the
included improvements is an 802.11N Wi-Fi chip, which is largely
included for future enhancements. Currently, one can download firmware
updates and National Library Service keys using a wireless connection,
but free firmware updates will likely include ways to download digital
book content as well. HumanWare has also addressed a couple of the main
criticisms of the original Stream by including a clock and allowing for
USB charging, the latter meaning that a dedicated proprietary power
supply is no longer required to charge the unit. Acapela now provides
the text-to-speech voice for the unit providing higher-quality speech
though the recorded prompts are still used as well. Of note, due to a
decision by Audible, support for the popular audiobook service is
currently not included, but since Audible appears to be changing course,
this could change in the near future. The new Stream retails at $369 and
is available now.
Accessible GPS Returns to Mobile Devices
As Nokia and Windows Mobile phones were phased out, many users lamented
the loss of fully-accessible GPS solutions, including Wayfinder Access
and Mobile Geo. While turn-by-turn navigation from Navigon and Google
and a patchwork of location apps filled some of this void, the search
for a full-featured accessible GPS solution for modern cell phones
continued. This is quickly changing, however, as the American Printing
House for the Blind and the Sendero Group are in the process of
releasing apps for Android and iOS devices.
APH recently released Nearby Explorer
<http://www.blindbargains.com/audio.php?m=8191>, a completely accessible
GPS app originally created for the BraillePlus 18 PDA and, now, released
for Android phones and tablets. Users can learn contextual information
about what is around them, such as the current street name, nearest
intersection, and nearby points of interest, provided by a local
database and Google Places. While traveling, items can be selected to be
spoken automatically, so the phone or tablet can be stored in a pocket.
In addition to pedestrian and vehicular navigation, it includes support
for many public transit agencies, allowing for browsing through the
nearest bus and train stops and gaining route and stop information.
Points of interest, whether on a street or in the middle of a field or
parking lot, can be saved as favorites and returned to later. A Geo Beam
feature allows you to point your device in a specific direction to hear
nearby streets or points of interest. The map data is stored directly on
the device, allowing for use in areas where there is no phone or data
coverage. It's available now for $99 from Google Play.
iOS users also have a navigation app to look forward to with Sendero's
Seeing Eye GPS
<http://www.senderogroup.com/products/shopseeingeyegps.htm>, a
collaboration between the Sendero Group and the Seeing Eye. Sendero is
no stranger to the GPS landscape and is bringing some of its most loved
and requested features to the mobile platform. Your current location,
points of interest, and route are always present on the lower part of
every screen. In addition to traditional map and points of interest
data, the app features integration with the popular Foursquare location
service to provide the latest information about nearby businesses. The
Look Around Wand is similar to the Geo Beam feature described above and
will speak nearby intersections and points of interest. It does not
currently include virtual navigation features, but the version shown at
CSUN and sent to testers as a preview is still being worked on. User
feedback and suggestions will help guide the development of the app,
according to Sendero.
Both GPS apps are currently focusing on maps from North America, but
support for additional regions will likely be added in the future.
More Mobile Apps
As in recent years, there was no shortage of mobile apps at this year's
conference. Sight Compass
<http://www.blindbargains.com/audio.php?m=8193> lined the hotel with
their Bluetooth-enabled information boxes, which could be accessed using
a free iPhone app. Users could use the app to gain information about the
hotel, including routes to various locations, the menu for Starbucks,
even a description of the bathroom. The app requires no phone or
Internet connection, a conscious decision by the developers so it could
be used in places where phone reception is often difficult, such as
basements and airports. Additional platforms for the app, including
Android, Windows, and potentially Blackberry, are planned. Cost starts
at $499 for a hardware box for businesses or organizations who wish to
equip their locations with the technology.
LookTel <http://www.blindbargains.com/audio.php?m=8197> showed an
updated version of their Breadcrumbs GPS app, used primarily for
locating or returning to a point such as your front door or a parked
car. A new VoiceOver tutorial app was also shown. In addition, The
Braille Institute demonstrated several free apps including Big Browser
<http://www.blindbargains.com/audio.php?m=8196>, a web browser designed
especially for low-vision iOS users.
New Low-vision Products
Optelec has joined the trend of companies adding voice output and
reading capabilities to their desktop electronic magnifiers. The
ClearView Speech <http://www.blindbargains.com/audio.php?m=8164>, a new
add-on for the ClearView magnifier, features full-page OCR capabilities.
Simply place your printed material under the screen, and it will be
recognized within a few seconds. The entire page is recognized and can
be read as opposed to just the content that is visible on the screen.
The ClearView Speech will be available for $2,495.
AI Squared took a different approach and has entered the computer-based
reading market with the ImageReader
<http://www.blindbargains.com/audio.php?m=8206>, a document camera
solution that interfaces directly with ZoomText or another screen
reader. When used with ZoomText, text is highlighted as it is read and
magnified and can be manipulated in a variety of ways. A mat is included
to aid in lining up the page to be read. The ZoomText ImageReader
retails starting at $749, but a significant discount is available for
current ZoomText users. It will be available later this March.
New Updates for the BrailleSense Family
Hims <http://www.hims-inc.com/> made a big splash with its updates to
the BrailleSense line of notetakers. The new free update, version 8.0,
includes integration with the popular Dropbox, a cloud-based storage
service. In addition, direct support for playing YouTube videos has been
included as well as a viewer for Microsoft Excel 2003 and 2007 files.
Support for sending files directly to Epson printers and an RSS reader
for keeping track of online news sites and downloading audio podcasts is
also included in the forthcoming release. Hims tells us that an initial
version of the 8.0 update should be released near the end of March.
Other Observations
In addition to myself, several members from the AFB staff attended the
conference as well as some of the sessions. We've included their
observations below, starting with a report on a session on emerging web
technologies:
Account from William Reuschel, AFB Tech National Technology
Associate
HTML5, like any other emerging technology, is making its way towards
maturity but isn't completely supported in any browser for any user
agent (screen reader or not). Unfortunately, like most technology,
considerations for accessibility are lagging behind feature
implementation in HTML5 for all browsers and platforms. However, there
are some promising features of HTML5 that will increase accessibility
once the technology improves. These new features are user interface
elements and other semantic markups that will allow the screen reader to
capture more information about the design intent of the page being
viewed. There are tags such as "article," "header," and "nav," which
would allow users to skip directly to the navigation section of the page
or skip directly to the article or main content of the page. In
addition, there are a few new UI elements that are being implemented
that will replace custom implementations in another language, such as
JavaScript. These are things like "meter," which will show a gas-gauge
type element that could be used to show progress, or "video" or "audio"
tags that allow closer integration of multimedia elements within a page.
All of these new features will help web programmers, screen reader
developers, and users because there will be a standard set of UI
elements to expect instead of hundreds of custom implementations in a
persnickety language like JavaScript. This all depends, of course, on
whether or not we can get anyone to conform to a standard on the Web.
The presenter created a website (last updated in September) of all the
major browsers and the status of HTML5 accessibility
<http://www.html5accessibility.com/>.
Account from Crista Earl, AFB Director of Web Operations
There was a great interest and a great deal of work being done to
increase access to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM).
This ranged from clearinghouse style websites on the subject to
lab-ready accessible testing equipment, XML markup of math, and tactile
diagrams of many kinds. I was excited to see so much attention and so
much innovation. The access for people with visual impairments is still
fairly rudimentary. My impression is that a student who is blind
majoring in chemistry or engineering will still have to do a huge deal
of extra work to gain access to materials and to do the hands-on aspects
of the research or job, but the possibilities seem much more open now
than at any time in the past.
The forecast of the demise of braille is clearly premature. Braille was
available in plentiful array for every platform, nearly every device,
and in a more achievable price range than ever before. Devices were even
available in designer colors! I saw a number of new enhanced displays,
braille input, and teaching systems, all cheaper than last year (still
mostly over $1,000 and many way above) and in cell lengths of 12, 14,
20, 24, 32, 40, 60, 65, and 80 (though I probably missed a few). These
two trends don't seem unrelated to me as much of the access to STEM
topics was based at least partly on tactile access, including braille.
It was just a couple of years ago that the devices took CSUN by storm,
and now the mobile devices in general, mainly Apple and Android, were
everywhere and generally treated as part of the backdrop for all else
being done. Braille displays everywhere were being demonstrated with
iPads and other mobile devices.
Conclusion
With so many exhibitors, including over 70 with products or services
geared toward the blindness and low vision market, it's impossible to
cover the full CSUN conference. In addition to the coverage from Blind
Bargains, the SeroTalk Podcast Network <http://serotalk.com/> also
recorded a variety of interviews at the conference which are available
through the iBlink Radio app (and will be available soon on their
website). Finally, we recommend checking out The Great Big List from the
2013 CSUN International Technology and Persons with Disabilities
Conference <http://curbcut.net/events/csun-disabilities-technology2013/>
presented by Christopher Phillips. It's the most comprehensive
collection of resources, presentation slides, media coverage, and links
for this year's conference. And perhaps all of this talk of new and
exciting technology will whet your appetite to attend CSUN in San Diego
next year, which is scheduled for March 17-22, 2014. However, if you're
not able to make it, you can read all about it in /AccessWorld/.
*The March issue of /AccessWorld/ <http://www.afb.org/accessworld> is
now available on our website.*
This issue features:
· Editor's Page: A Busy Week at the CSUN 2013 Conference
<http://www.afb.org/afbpress/pub.asp?DocID=aw140301>
· CSUN 2013 Wrap-up: What's New from The 28th Annual International
Technology and Persons with Disabilities Conference, by J.J. Meddaugh
<http://www.afb.org/afbpress/pub.asp?DocID=aw140302>
We spent three full days in the exhibit hall attempting to soak in all
that CSUN had to offer. While it's virtually impossible to see and try
everything being shown, we do our best to highlight some of the most
promising and latest innovations shown at this year's conference.
· A Collection of Accessible Apps for Your Android Device, by J.J.
Meddaugh <http://www.afb.org/afbpress/pub.asp?DocID=aw140303>
With over 600,000 apps available to download from Google Play, there are
a lot of possibilities. I've attempted to round up some of the most
popular and useful apps for your new phone or tablet, including a mix of
old standbys and some lesser-known programs for both new and advanced
users.
· A Guide to the Barnes & Noble NOOK App: Another Accessible Option for
Reading Books on your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad, by Jacob Roberts and
Darren Burton <http://www.afb.org/afbpress/pub.asp?DocID=aw140304>
Barnes & Noble is a bit late to the party when it comes to the
accessibility of its e-book platforms, but it has definitely made an
effort with the latest release, version 3.3, of the NOOK app. Although
the NOOK tablet device is still inaccessible to people with vision loss,
the accessibility improvements in this app are worth an investigation.
· Evaluation of the Go Read App, A Free DAISY and ePUB Reader from
Bookshare, by Aaron Preece
<http://www.afb.org/afbpress/pub.asp?DocID=aw140305>
Since March 2012, the Go Read app has seen several updates with the
current version being version 4.0.1. The app boasts a new structure,
increased functionality, and updated playback controls.
· Talking About Accessibility: An Evaluation of the Panasonic KX-TG6591T
Cordless Phone, by Deborah Kendrick
<http://www.afb.org/afbpress/pub.asp?DocID=aw140306>
While work-arounds are possible for some of the phone's attractive
features, many are simply out of reach for those unable to see its
visual display.
· Series: Mac, PC, or Both: Choices for Blind and Visually Impaired
Computer Users Part I, by Janet Ingber
<http://www.afb.org/afbpress/pub.asp?DocID=aw140307>
This first article in a series about transitioning from a PC to a
MacBook, compares the MacBook Pro and the MacBook Air, provides
information about putting Windows on a Mac, and rounds out with some
VoiceOver basics and resources.
· USABA / WellPoint Foundation National Fitness Challenge Helps Visually
Impaired Athlete Go from Biggest Loser to Biggest Winner, by Cooper
Kendall with Lacey Markel
<http://www.afb.org/afbpress/pub.asp?DocID=aw140308>
BVA appreciates the effort that AFB makes with covering ACCESS
TECHNOLOGY NEWS and hopes that this will benefit all blinded veterans
who may have questions about what emerging technology is out there for
them to use.
Best,
Tom Zampieri
Thomas Zampieri Ph.D.
Director Government Relations
Blinded Veterans Association
477 H. Street NW
Washington DC 20001
Direct Office 202-355-9525
Cell 301-204-3291
BVA 202-371-8880
tzampieri at bva.org <mailto:tzampieri at bva.org>
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