Technology

Access IT magazine

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• In this issue - June 2009
• From the cutting room floor
• Previous issues
• Useful links

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The monthly magazine about technology for blind and partially sighted people. This magazine is for you whether you are just getting started with IT or are an experienced user.

The magazine is packed with articles about new services, the latest software, internet developments and what’s happening with digital TV.

Available in braille and by email, price: £0.63 per issue. How to order Access IT.

In this issue - June 2009

• Phone apps help blind 'see'
• SmartView Synergy - desktop video magnification at reduced prices
• J-Tools v1.3 released
• Firefox accessibility for people with low vision
• Update on Window-Eyes 7.1
• Daisy Consortium releases AMIS 3.0 - new version of self-voicing Daisy software player
• Jaws guide to IE8
• New firmware update for Milestone 311 Daisy player
• More Jaws support for IE8 and Windows 7
• CSUN 2009 conference report
• The talk of Twitter
• Untangling the Web (Part 2)
• A new way to find old friends: A review of the accessibility of Facebook
• AudioBoo aims to become YouTube or Twitter of the spoken word
• Low-cost screen readers

From the cutting room floor

Articles we just didn't have space for this time!

Mobile Daisy Player v2.2 available

Mobile Daisy Player v2.2, Code Factory's electronic book reader, is now available. This free update includes support for Microsoft Save as Daisy, the new Bookshare book format, support for NFB-NEWSLINE's free publications offered through the NFB-NEWSLINE In Your Pocket feature and other downloadable content, as well as a new feature to convert MP3 audio files to basic Daisy books, and a new Go to Page feature.

Code Factory says it is working hard to allow its users to have everything they need in one device and be free to read on the go anywhere, anytime with what they already carry with them – their phone.

“The Daisy Consortium is very enthusiastic about the latest developments which have been made by Code Factory to encourage persons who are blind or print disabled to read Daisy books from their mobile phones,” stated George Kerscher, Secretary General at the Daisy Consortium. “Mobility is the future and we thank Code Factory for all their efforts to make Daisy part of this new world of possibilities.”

Code Factory has been working in close collaboration with Microsoft France in order to support the Microsoft Save as Daisy format. The "Save as Daisy" add-in for Microsoft Office Word now incorporates a "Lite" version of the Daisy Pipeline. You can choose to generate the Daisy XML for further processing, or you can generate a fully conforming Daisy file set with full navigation and full text synchronized with audio.

The audio is generated by the default text-to-speech (TTS) engine on your Windows computer. "Mobile Daisy Player is compatible with both formats, XML and DTBook, which makes the Daisy formats more flexible and powerful than ever as anyone can now create their own Daisy books from their computer using Microsoft Word and then listen to them on their mobile phone with Code Factory’s Mobile Daisy Player," explained Bernard Ourghanlian, Microsoft France’s CTO.

Code Factory’s engineering team has also been working on improving compatibility with the widest range of book formats. There are many variants of the Daisy format, and Mobile Daisy Player is the first and only mobile phone-based Daisy application to support both Daisy 2.02 and Daisy 3 (NISO) book formats. In order to ensure the greatest possible compatibility, collaborating with the Daisy libraries is hugely important, and many libraries have shown their support to Code Factory, including RNIB and Bookshare.

Code Factory has a full list of supported devices, and will let you download the latest version of Mobile Daisy Player. Once installed for the first time it will automatically run for 30 days for free.

If you want to buy Mobile Daisy Player contact your closest distributor.

Vinux installation walkthrough

We learn from Top Tech Tidbits for Thursday that "you can download a walkthrough of an installation of a Linux distribution called Vinux."

Speaker's Conference discussed disability and representation

The Speaker's Conference took evidence on how to increase the representation of disabled people, and those with long-term conditions, at a session on 19 May. For what is believed to be the first time in such a setting, "speech to text" technology was available, giving people who are deaf or hard of hearing a chance to follow the conference proceedings more easily. Using the technology, words spoken in the session could be displayed on a screen in the public gallery.

Techshare 2009 - Making the most of technology

RNIB is hosting Techshare 2009 on September 16-18, 2009 at ExCeL London, in London's Royal Victoria Docks. Techshare highlights the importance of digital technology in the lives of people with disabilities and aims to showcase exciting new products, services and developments in the sector.

Techshare brings together leading organisations and technology companies to share their research, products and services with the international community. Those active in this diverse field can share best practice as well as learn from the experiences of other individuals and organisations.

The event will include expert-led pre-conference workshops, presentations on innovative digital access technology, high profile key speakers, a networking drinks reception and a conference dinner. There will also be an exhibition of leading digital products and services for people with disabilities, which is open to the public and free to attend. For more information about Techshare 2009, please contact the Techshare Team (0121 665 4240).

Blind Mice Movie Vault

Dean Martineau alerts us that "a good selection of audio-described movies" can be found in the Blind Mice Movie Vault.

SeroTalk Tech chat #14

SeroTalk Tech chat 14 is entitled Using Serotek Remote Access to Optimize Windows XP. Michael Lauf allows Mike Arrigo to remote in to his computer and optimize Windows XP for speed and performance, using the remote access capabilities available to all subscribers of SAMNet.

Previous issues

• May 2009
• April 2009
• March 2009
• February 2009
• January 2009
• December 2008
• November 2008
• October 2008
• September 2008
• August 2008
• July 2008
• June 2008

Useful links

• Technology articles and updates
• Other RNIB magazines
• Buy computing products from the Online shop.

Content author: technology@rnib.org.uk

Last updated: 01/07/2009 9:32