[Trainer-talk] Product Reviews of Typability

Wed Nov 23 03:31:04 UTC 2011

I also teach technology at CCRC and Type Ability works pretty good for
us. There are some limitations, like Jeanine has said. One that she
didn't list was that if you do one of the many dictations, you can get
up to 20 words per minute. If you type faster than that, then the
program will not acknowledge the faster speed. I have not seen this in
my Keyboarding classes, but another of our reliable and long time
technology instructors has seen it several times in his class. Another
downside to type Ability is that someone can hit the wrong key, have
the program tell them it is the wrong key, and yet still pass a
lesson. In fact, we have had several students complete all of the
lessons, but not feel like they learned very much and want to go
through the lessons again. Talking Typing Teacher didn't seem as
forgiving when I tested it not long ago. Sure, it told you when the
wrong key was pressed, but it also didn't seem to tell you where the
right key was, or pass you on after a number of wrong key presses. I
looked at Talking typing Teacher recently with another technology
teacher at the Center, and we both came away with good impressions. We
have talked about that program and Type Ability in our departmental
meetings, and we all agree that Type ability is not perfect, that it
has some definite flaws. However, it was much better than using the
taped dictaphone system we were using before. In my testing of Talking
typing Teacher, I got the impression that it had more practice
exercises and things the student could work on, aside from their
lessons. I also liked how at the end of each sentence, in the sentence
lessons, you ended the sentence with a period, In many, perhaps nearly
all, of the type Ability lessons you put a space in between each
typing segment. While this is fine for someone that does knot know
where the period is, when they do learn the period, it seems more
reasonable to end a sentence or phrase with that. I really like that
it doesn't take nearly as long to get someone started with type
Ability than it did when we were using the taped lessons method. I can
get a new student or a student on tour up and running and typing
within 5-10 minutes.

Regards,
Wayne Merritt

On 11/22/11, Jeanine Lineback <jeanine.lineback at gmail.com> wrote:
> The Technology department at CCRC reviewed Talking Typing Teacher
> prior to me working there. However, we like it better because it uses
> JAWS natively. JAWS is the agency standard screen reader. Please do
> not misconstrue this to mean that we don't teach other screen reading
> options because we do. We offer Window-Eyes on some of the machines in
> our training labs. We also use NVDA. However, if you are a state
> employee you will have JAWS 9 as your screen reader unless you can
> indicate a need for something else and go through the approval process
> to get it.
> I think this is the main reason why Typability appealed to CCRC in the
> beginning.
> However, if any of my CCRC colleagues are subscribed to the list they
> might better be able to address your question.
>
> On 11/22/11, Nancy Coffman <nancylc at sprynet.com> wrote:
>> Do you find it to work better than Talking Typing Teacher?
>>
>> Nancy Coffman
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: trainer-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org
>> [mailto:trainer-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Jeanine Lineback
>> Sent: Monday, November 21, 2011 2:06 PM
>> To: List for teachers and trainers of adaptive technology
>> Subject: Re: [Trainer-talk] Product Reviews of Typability
>>
>> Hello, I am a Access Tech trainer at the rehab center here in Austin TX.
>> WE
>> use Typability with our students. We have been using the program for
>> almost
>> three years. The biggest plus for our center is the speed in which
>> Typability gets our students up and learning the keyboard. Some
>> limitations
>> we have had with the program are: it doesn't work well after about lesson
>> 60
>> for one handed keyboard users, it only supports the JAWS screen reader out
>> of the box (it can be altered to work with ZoomText), the dictations and
>> races are limited, (you can add in your own dictations). Some other pluses
>> for us were that we had to get away from using traditional dictaphones for
>> teaching typing and Typability was more flexible than some of the other
>> options.
>> Some pit falls in the classroom are that you still need instructors to be
>> involved in teaching the consumer hand placement and posture. Don't think
>> the program will do it all. There is no Spanish translation of the
>> application. At last release it could not be run from a server.
>> Over all, though it has helped us get students through the most basics of
>> learning the keyboard, some of the basic navigation keystrokes and the
>> racess allow for clocked accurate timing. The races are more complex in
>> the
>> more advanced lessons.
>> hth
>>
>> On 11/18/11, Dr. Denise M Robinson <deniserob at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> Ok, here it is for typeAbility
>>> http://www.yesaccessible.com/typeability.html
>>>
>>> Thanks Tonia---
>>>
>>> On Fri, Nov 18, 2011 at 7:38 AM, Gatton, Tonia (OFB-LV)
>>> <Tonia.Gatton at ky.gov
>>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> I'm not sure but it's made by "Yes Accessible" or "Yes Accessibility".
>>>> I'd recommend you Google "Typability" to find it.
>>>>
>>>> Tonia
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Tonia Gatton
>>>> Assistive Technology Specialist
>>>> KY Office for the blind
>>>> Charles W McDowell Center
>>>> 8412 Westport Road
>>>> Louisville, KY 40242
>>>> 800-346-2115
>>>> (502) 429-4460 ext 224
>>>> (502) 429-7113 fax
>>>> tonia.gatton at ky.gov
>>>>
>>>> CONFIDENTIALITY STATEMENT: The information contained in this e-mail
>>>> message may be privileged, confidential, and protected from disclosure.
>>>> If you believe the message has been sent to you in error, please do
>>>> not read the message, advise the sender by reply e-mail that you have
>>>> received the message in error, and delete the message. Thank you for
>>>> your cooperation.
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: trainer-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org
>>>> [mailto:trainer-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Dr. Denise M
>>>> Robinson
>>>> Sent: Friday, November 18, 2011 10:34 AM
>>>> To: List for teachers and trainers of adaptive technology
>>>> Subject: Re: [Trainer-talk] Product Reviews of Typability
>>>>
>>>> Can you give a website for it please
>>>> Denise
>>>>
>>>> On Fri, Nov 18, 2011 at 7:17 AM, Gatton, Tonia (OFB-LV)
>>>> <Tonia.Gatton at ky.gov
>>>> > wrote:
>>>>
>>>> > We use Typability at our Center here in Kentucky.  We love the
>>>> > program
>>>>
>>>> > and much prefer it over any of the others we tried.
>>>> >
>>>> > Tonia
>>>> >
>>>> >
>>>> > Tonia Gatton
>>>> > Assistive Technology Specialist
>>>> > KY Office for the blind
>>>> > Charles W McDowell Center
>>>> > 8412 Westport Road
>>>> > Louisville, KY 40242
>>>> > 800-346-2115
>>>> > (502) 429-4460 ext 224
>>>> > (502) 429-7113 fax
>>>> > tonia.gatton at ky.gov
>>>> >
>>>> > CONFIDENTIALITY STATEMENT: The information contained in this e-mail
>>>> > message may be privileged, confidential, and protected from
>>>> disclosure.
>>>> > If you believe the message has been sent to you in error, please do
>>>> > not read the message, advise the sender by reply e-mail that you
>>>> > have received the message in error, and delete the message. Thank
>>>> > you for your cooperation.
>>>> > -----Original Message-----
>>>> > From: trainer-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org
>>>> > [mailto:trainer-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Jennifer Bopp
>>>> > Sent: Friday, November 18, 2011 9:28 AM
>>>> > To: trainer-talk at nfbnet.org
>>>> > Subject: [Trainer-talk] Product Reviews of Typability
>>>> >
>>>> > I am the Computer instructor at Blind Industries and Services of
>>>> > Maryland, and I am considering purchasing Typability for my classroom.
>>>>
>>>> > I would be interested in receiving product feedback both positive
>>>> > and negative from others in the field using the product.
>>>> >
>>>> > Thanks.
>>>> >
>>>> >
>>>> > Confidentiality Note:  The information contained in this message
>>>> > may be privileged and confidential and protected from disclosure.
>>>> > If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, or an
>>>> > employee or agent responsible for delivering this message to the
>>>> > intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination,
>>>> > distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited.
>>>> > If you have received this communication in error, please notify us
>>>> > immediately by replying to the message and deleting it from your
>>>> computer.
>>>> > _______________________________________________
>>>> > Trainer-talk mailing list
>>>> > Trainer-talk at nfbnet.org
>>>> > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/trainer-talk_nfbnet.org
>>>> > To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
>>>> > for
>>>> > Trainer-talk:
>>>> > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/trainer-talk_nfbnet.org/tonia.gat
>>>> > ton
>>>> > %4
>>>> > 0ky.gov
>>>> >
>>>> > _______________________________________________
>>>> > Trainer-talk mailing list
>>>> > Trainer-talk at nfbnet.org
>>>> > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/trainer-talk_nfbnet.org
>>>> > To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
>>>> > for
>>>> > Trainer-talk:
>>>> >
>>>> > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/trainer-talk_nfbnet.org/deniserob
>>>> > %40
>>>> > gmail.com
>>>> >
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Denise
>>>>
>>>> Denise M. Robinson, TVI, Ph.D.
>>>> CEO, TechVision
>>>> Specialist in blind technology/teaching/training
>>>> Email:  yourtechvision at gmail.com <deniserob at gmail.com> Website with
>>>> hundreds of informational articles & lessons all done with
>>>> keystrokes: www.yourtechvision.com <http://yourtechvision.com>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> Trainer-talk mailing list
>>>> Trainer-talk at nfbnet.org
>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/trainer-talk_nfbnet.org
>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>>> Trainer-talk:
>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/trainer-talk_nfbnet.org/tonia.gatto
>>>> n%4
>>>> 0ky.gov
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> Trainer-talk mailing list
>>>> Trainer-talk at nfbnet.org
>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/trainer-talk_nfbnet.org
>>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>>> Trainer-talk:
>>>>
>>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/trainer-talk_nfbnet.org/deniserob%4
>>>> 0gmail.com
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Denise
>>>
>>> Denise M. Robinson, TVI, Ph.D.
>>> CEO, TechVision
>>> Specialist in blind technology/teaching/training
>>> Email:  yourtechvision at gmail.com <deniserob at gmail.com> Website with
>>> hundreds of informational articles & lessons all done with
>>> keystrokes: www.yourtechvision.com <http://yourtechvision.com>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Trainer-talk mailing list
>>> Trainer-talk at nfbnet.org
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/trainer-talk_nfbnet.org
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>>> Trainer-talk:
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/trainer-talk_nfbnet.org/jeanine.line
>>> back%40gmail.com
>>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Trainer-talk mailing list
>> Trainer-talk at nfbnet.org
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/trainer-talk_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> Trainer-talk:
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/trainer-talk_nfbnet.org/nancylc%40sprynet.
>> com
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Trainer-talk mailing list
>> Trainer-talk at nfbnet.org
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/trainer-talk_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>> Trainer-talk:
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/trainer-talk_nfbnet.org/jeanine.lineback%40gmail.com
>>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Trainer-talk mailing list
> Trainer-talk at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/trainer-talk_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> Trainer-talk:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/trainer-talk_nfbnet.org/wcmerritt%40gmail.com
>

-- 
Follow me on Twitter at:
www.twitter.com/wcmerritt
My websites:
www.wayneism.com
www.whitecaneday.org