Technology

Technology articles and updates

Summary: Regular technology articles, updates, reports and events.

• Recent articles
• Software and Web Accessibility
• Computing
• Technology for the home
• Out and about
• Updates and Presentations

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Recent articles

• Keeping in touch with mobile phones By Bryan Kilburn
  Bryan takes a look at a range of mobile phones and offers his opinion about their usability by people with sight problems
• Hi-Tech Mobility Aids By Andy Fisher
  A Report on two rather more technological versions of the white cane
• Sight Village 2007 - Affordable Screen reading Edited by Steve Plumpton
  Three reporters give their views of affordable screen readers, as seen at Sight Village 2007
• Demystifying DAISY By James Risdon
  All you need to know about the Digital Accessible Information System and how to get it.

Software and Web Accessibility

• The ‘accessibility backlash’ – it’s a good thing! By Julie Howell
  A discussion of the changing attitudes of commercial web developers to accessibility issues.
• How to win the accessible software challenge by Ruth Loebl
  Describes an unusual collaboration between customer, software developer and access technology experts in this follow up to her previous software accessibility article.
• Software Accessibility – the poor relation? By Ruth Loebl
  With the high profile of web accessibility are people forgetting the importance of software accessibility?

Computing

• The accessible photocopier By Ruth Loebl
  A review of the first accessible photocopying option for office staff with sight loss
• IT for all: Access Technology Training By Stephen Plumpton
  What options are there for those who want quality training? Steve investigates
• All I want for Christmas… by James Bird
  Blind and partially sighted people say what gadgets they would like for Christmas, from practical ideas to futuristic fantasy.
• Affordable access technology by James Bird and Steve Plumpton
  An investigation into options for computer users on a budget and those who want alternatives to complicated screen reading software
• Technology: the latest trends edited by Sally Cain
  RNIB’s Technology Officers report back on some of the products that grabbed their attention at Sight Village 2006.
• Using the accessibility features built into Windows by Ruth Loebl
  Computers have become a lifeline to accessing information for people with sight problems. This article explains how to make the most of the features already built into Windows.
• iZoom – free magnification software by James Bird
  A partially sighted users' review of iZoom 1.1 magnification software, which can be downloaded free of charge.
• The "Tiger" Apple operating system by Nick Williamson
  A report on the accessibility features in the 10.4 ("Tiger") operating system for Apple Macintosh computers.
• Tactile Talking Tablet by Lesley Wells
  An educational tool which provides multi-sensory access to maps, pictures and diagrams.

Technology for the home

• Digital Switchover By Anna Jones
  A description of the future of television in the UK.
• Monday morning computer group at Henshaws Society for Blind People by David Bailes
  A group of blind and partially sighted computer learners in Manchester has published VIP software guides on the web and two students talk about the group.
• Talking technology for the home by James Bird
  Article about technology related tools for independent living and what the future holds for 'smart homes'.
• Video Magnifiers - the future by James Bird
  In the second of a two part series, James looks at miniaturisation, convergence, and other trends in magnifier technology.
• How video magnifiers can help by James Bird
  In the first of a two part series James investigates what video magnifiers are and how they are used.
• Nutty About My Netgem Box! By Kirin Saeed
  Kirin’s personal view of her digital set-top box that can access the audio description on Freeview.
• Making television easier to see by James Bird
  Some products that can help people with sight problems to see the screen and use the remote control.
• Access to DVDs by Richard Orme
  This article takes a look into the world of DVDs and audio description. Advice and comments are drawn from users.

Out and about

• Finding the way with satellite navigation by James Bird
  A summary of what GPS navigation technologies are available for blind and partially sighted people.
• Cameras and scopes for people with low vision by James Bird
  Some hints and things to consider for partially sighted people when choosing cameras, binoculars and scopes.
• Technology: Libraries are catching up by Sally Cain
  At last, libraries are realising how important it is to offer access to technology for people with sight problems.
• Bioptic Driving by James Bird
  An article answering some of the questions we are asked about bioptic driving.
• Making public terminals accessible: The SNAPI Project
  RNIB project which is developing a ‘smart card’ which will hold users preferences and enable them to use it to make terminals like cash machines accessible.
• Accessible Really Simple Syndication
  Article from Access IT magazine about accessible RSS 1.5 Accessible Really Simple Syndication
• Topscan an article from Access IT
  A university student has invented a "retail-scanning device" that tells blind shoppers the price, style, colour and size of clothes.
• PhoneAnything: the web-over-phone service from Access IT
  The UK's first web-over-phone service enables the UK's one million blind and partially sighted individuals to listen to web pages and navigate web links using any land-line or mobile phone.

Updates and Presentations

• Testing for Software Accessibility - Presentation at EuroSTAR by Ruth Loebl
  Ruth will be speaking at the 14th EuroSTAR Conference on 'Software Testing Analysis and Review' in Manchester 4-7 December 2006
• RNIB sponsors accessibility and usability evaluation of University library software by Dr Mark Hepworth
  A student at Loughborough University has completed an evaluation of Ex-Libris' Metalib library software.
• See to IT at work by Ruth Loebl
  A new practical handbook to help employers meet the workplace technology requirements of people with sight problems published by RNIB.

Content author: digitalaccess@rnib.org.uk

Last updated: 24/11/2008 17:18