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Vision
Webletter
June
& July 2003
... a potpourri of
items of interest to most everyone. Feel free to
share it with your colleagues and others you
believe would find the information
useful.
In
This Issue
- Virtual
Library Reference Services
Project
- Paid
Internship Through National Industries for the
Blind
- Guidepost
Magazine Again Available in
Braille
- i.d.
Mate II: A Talking Bar Code
Reader
- Join
FFB's Online Chat Sessions
- Hurricane
Data Online
- Clinical
Trials Promising for Implantable Miniature
Telescope
- Audio
Darts Tournament
- Free
Bible Correspondence Course
- AskERIC:
An Online Education Source
- Help
for Word XP & Windows XP
- eAudio
Pilot Project Final Report
Available
- New
Discussion List for
Diabetics
- Employment
Opportunities with Social Security
Administration
- Advice
for Victims of Identity
Theft
- Success
in Online Business Workshop
- Volunteers
Needed for Vision & Hearing Loss
Research
- Neurobiology
of Infant Vision
- News
from National Library
Service
- Text-Key
Large Print Publications
- Distribution
Note
***************************************
1. Virtual
Library Reference Services Project
During July and
August, 2003, the Mid-Illinois Talking Book Center
will be testing its Virtual Reference Services for
the Visually Impaired using OCLC Question Point
Enhanced Software courtesy of the Illinois State
Library and OCLC. With the enhanced software, MITBC
is testing service with audio chat (voice over IP);
application sharing; text-based chat; and
co-browsing. MITBC is one of the first talking book
libraries to try this service so it is encouraging
feedback from patrons and librarians.
30-minute periods
are being scheduled with those who wish to
participate in the project. Please e-mail
lbell@alliancelibrarysystem.com
to set up an appointment. You can also visit the
website at http://www.mitbc.org/ref.shtml
From the feedback
provided by the participants, MITBC hopes to answer
some of the following questions:
- Does audio
improve the transaction in any way?
- Does it work
well over dial-up bandwidth?
- Is it
troublesome to have to download a plug-in to use
the audio? (To use any audio or video
application over the Internet, an individual has
to download a plug-in.)
- Can audio be
effectively used over a dial-up connection?
- Does audio make
a difference to a user who is visually impaired?
- What text chat
software is accessible for someone using a
screen reader? (In an earlier search for
accessible text chat software, it was found that
not all programs were accessible or usable for
someone using a screen reader.)
- With audio
capabilities, does the screen reading software
remain important for interaction?
- With audio, how
is a session recorded - with text, the chat
session can be easily saved for statistical
purposes.
- In using audio,
does the librarian have to do a lot of
troubleshooting with the patron?
- What features
of the software are most effective in serving
the visually impaired?
- What features
of the software are most effective in serving
those without vision impairments?
Vision World Wide
applauds these efforts to bring 21st century
technology to the library experience of those with
vision loss. We will anxiously await the results of
the project.
For more
information, contact:
Lori Bell,
Director
Mid-Illinois Talking Book Center
845 Brenkman Dr.
Pekin, IL 61554
800.426.0709
lbell@alliancelibrarysystem.com
http://www.mitbc.org/ref.shtml
2.
Paid Internship
Through National Industries for the
Blind
The National
Industries for the Blind (NIB) launched their new
Business Leaders Program on July 1, 2003. The
program offers three different tracks for the
development of management and leadership skills
through a combination of work experience,
formal/informal training, and mentoring.
The first track of
the Business Leaders Program is the Leadership
Development Fellowship. Fellows will be blind
individuals who demonstrate leadership skills and a
high potential to succeed in a management position.
At the completion of the two-year fellowship,
successful fellows will be placed in management
positions at a competitive salary level within NIB
and the network of NIB associated
agencies.
An application for
admission to the Leadership Development Fellowship
has been posted on the NIB website or you can go
directly to the Business Leaders Program page at
http://www.nib.org/leadersprogram/leadersprogram.htm.
On the page, click on Leadership Development
Fellowship to find the application form, FAQs, and
an overview of the fellowship.
Due to the late
announcement of this program, the deadline for
submission of applications has been extended but
the specific date is not known at this
writing.
If you think you
are eligible, please apply; or if you know someone
who may be eligible, please encourage them to
apply. If you have questions, please contact:
Kathy
Gallagher, Sr. HR Specialist
703.578.8343
kgallagher@nib.org.
3.
Guidepost Magazine Again Available in
Braille
Guidepost Magazine
was founded in 1945 by the renowned Dr. Norman
Vincent Peale and his wife, Ruth Stafford Peale.
The organization is unified around this mission:
Guideposts helps people from all walks of life
achieve their maximum personal and spiritual
potential. Guideposts is committed to communicating
positive faith-filled principles for people
everywhere to use in successful daily living. The
primary activities of the Guideposts organization
are award-winning Guidepost magazines, best-selling
books, and outreach ministry services that
demonstrate what can happen when faith and positive
thinking are applied to daily life.
Although it has
been available in regular and large print type, the
Braille edition was discontinued several years ago.
Responding to the overwhelming cry from readers,
the Braille edition is again available.
Cost: $7 per
issue.
Contact:
Clovernook
7000 Hamilton Avenue
Cincinnati, OH 45231-5297
888.234.7156
513.522.3860 (voice and TDD)
clovernook@clovernook.org
4. i.d.
Mate II: A Talking Bar Code Reader
The i.d. Mate II
truly revolutionizes the way people with impaired
vision get the information they need.
Bar codes are
already placed on virtually every product sold in
stores today. i.d. Mate II provides information
about any product or item that is not identified by
the other senses. This portable, electronic tool
aids an individual with the identification of items
in the home or the workplace using the product's
bar code or UPC. A database of one-half million
North American UPCs and descriptions give the user
a huge head start in identifying products and
getting the information needed about the
item.
It's portable: It
is completely portable and battery operated. The
unit has a high-output battery pack with a life of
200-plus bar code scans. It is also fully
operational when plugged into a standard AC wall
outlet. The unit also has a volume control and an
ear plug jack for privacy. It measures 11" x 4" x
4" and weighs less than 2 lbs.
Each removable
flash memory card is about the size of a matchbook.
The largest flash card available contains over 2
gigabytes of memory. So, storage issues for huge
databases are no longer a factor. As for recorded
messages, the user can get many hours of record
time on a single card.
No PC required:
Although it integrates fully with a PC, you don't
have to be PC literate to use it. It's as easy to
use as a cassette player.
Head-Start UPC
Product Database: Over one-half million items have
been stored in this database. In fact, many of the
descriptions contained in this database provide
extended package details beyond just the
description such as:
- Instructions
- Ingredients
- Nutritional
Information
- Package Size
- Warnings
- Miscellaneous
package details
Omni-directional
Scanner: i.d. Mate II uses an omni-directional
scanner, so there is no need to visually locate the
bar code on the label. The omni-directional scanner
can read the barcode in any direction. The user
simply rotates the scanner around the product to
get a reliable read every time. The
omni-directional scanner is completely portable and
is enclosed in a handy carrying case for
protection.
Memo Feature: In
addition to identification of products, i.d. Mate
II can be used as a digital memo recorder. The user
can use it to record, play, and erase any number of
voice memos.
To summarize, the
i.d. Mate II can be used in the home or in the
workplace to identify cans, jars, boxes, bottles,
clothing, playing cards, prescription drugs,
compact discs, albums, cassette tapes, pictures,
important documents and the list goes on and on! In
fact, any item that is not easily identifiable by
means of the other senses is a candidate for i.d.
Mate II.
Each i.d. Mate II
package includes: An i.d. Mate II; Bar Code
Scanner; Carrying Case with Strap; 4 High-Capacity
Ni-Cad Batteries; AC/DC power adapter; 100
Pre-printed Bar Code Labels (used for items that
don't have an existing barcode); and a 64 MB
Compact Flash Memory Card
Cost: As there are
several different scanners and memory options from
which to choose, call En-Vision America at
800.890.1180 or 309.452.3088 for specific prices.
For more
information, visit: http://www.envisionamerica.com
5. Join
FFB's Online Chat Sessions
The Foundation
Fighting Blindness (FFB) is sponsoring a weekly
chat session (open forum) that allows participants
to share ideas and concerns with others.
To enter the chat
room, you will need to become a member of the FFB
site. Registration is fast and easy. Just fill out
the form located at
http://www.blindness.org/forms/register.
and hit
submit.
Then, log into the
site, http://www.blindness.org/login/
using the user name (your email address) and
password you have just created.
Go to
http://www.blindness.org/chat/
and click on the appropriate chat room link to
enter. These include:
Stargardt Chat
Room
Mondays 7:00 - 9:00 PM EST
Macular
Degeneration Chat Room
Tuesdays 7:00 - 9:00 PM EST
Retinitis
Pigmentosa Chat Room
Wednesdays 7:00 - 9:00 PM EST
Usher Syndrome Chat
Room
Thursdays 7:00 - 9:00 PM EST
6.
Hurricane Data Online
The hurricane
season has begun and The Emergency Email &
Wireless Network is making valuable information
about hurricanes available for viewing,
downloading, brailing, or printing.
The 2003 Hurricane
Season Data Sheet and Poster are available at
http://www.emergencyemail.org/hurricane/
(link at top of page) or at http://www.emergencyemail.org/hurricane2003.pdf.
This invaluable
resource can be printed and posted in workplaces,
schools or handed out to those who can
benefit.
7.
Clinical Trials Promising for Implantable Miniature
Telescope
The Implantable
Miniature Telescope (IMT), invented by Dr. Isaac
Lipshitz and Mr. Yossi Gross, is now being
implanted in the eyes of nearly 200 patients in the
USA with advanced macular degeneration. The
clinical trials are being conducted by the
manufacturer of the device, VisionCare Ophthalmic
Technologies of Saratoga, California.
It is important to
note here that this is a device, not a cure for
macular degeneration. It is similar to glasses,
hand-held or electronic magnifiers, or any other
low-vision device. The only difference is that it
is implanted in the eye - not something that is
seen or used outside the body. It is also very
important to realize that this is an
investigational device limited by federal law to
investigational use only.
The IMT is a
micro-sized precision telescopic device developed
to provide improved vision and quality of life for
individuals with moderate to severe vision loss
caused by dysfunction of the macula, a specialized
area of the retina that is responsible for detailed
central vision. The IMT functions as a telephoto
device, magnifies objects in the patient's central
field of vision to help improve the patient's
visual function without the need for conventional
low-vision aids.
The IMT, together
with the cornea, provide magnification of 3.0X or
2.2X, depending on the model used. The IMT is
designed to project magnified images over a wide
field of the retina to improve the ability to
recognize images that were either difficult or
impossible to see. By magnifying images for
patients with central vision loss, the relative
size of the blind spot can be reduced to enhance
vision. If needed, higher magnification power may
be provided with eyeglasses for reading and other
near vision activities.
The IMT is intended
to be more functional and convenient to use than
conventional (external) low-vision devices. Unlike
commonly used head-mounted devices, the IMT is
placed entirely in the eye and takes advantage of
eye movements used in natural vision. Scanning of
reading materials and other images using natural
eye movements avoids discomfort or motion sickness
that can occur with head-mounted magnification. The
micro-sized IMT is also decidedly less apparent
than conventional devices, allowing for a natural
cosmetic appearance.
The IMT is
implanted by an ophthalmic surgeon in an outpatient
surgical procedure. The surgeon removes the lens of
one eye and then replaces it with the IMT. It works
like a telescopic lens, enlarging the images that
come into the eye. This means that the implant in
one eye provides central vision, while the
non-implanted eye provides peripheral vision for
safe mobility and navigation. After the surgical
procedure, the patients participates in a
structured training program to maximize their
ability to use the IMT. Since this is not a cure
but just a tool, patients must learn to master the
difficult art of using one eye to look far and the
other to look close, In other words, the patient's
brain must learn to superimpose the magnified image
from the eye with the IMT over the peripheral
vision from the unimplanted eye. This does not
happen overnight. Concerns of losing one's balance,
tripping and falling are being monitored
closely.
According to an ABC
News report by Peter Jennings, results of clinical
trials being conducted outside the United States
are also promising.
Readers are
cautioned to realize this is highly experimental.
The real results to improved vision and overall eye
health are not yet known and will not be for
several more years.
8. Audio
Darts Tournament
The eighth annual
tournament of Audio Darts of Delaware will take
place October 11 and 12, 2003 at the Wyndham Garden
Hotel in Wilmington, Delaware. If you are
interested in participating, you must notify the
Wyndham Garden Hotel by September 5. The number is
302.655.0400. Cost for all events is $65.
Contact: Pat Smith,
Audio Darts of Delaware, 1305 N. Broom St. #7,
Wilmington, DE 19806. 302.658.7231 (H),
302.425.4426 (W).
Read more about
this interesting game in the upcoming issue of
Vision EnhancementI.
9. Free
Bible Correspondence Course
A free Bible
correspondence course is available on tape. To
inquire, contact:
James
VanderMolen
2214 W. LaRua Street
Pensacola, Florida 32505.
10.
AskERIC: An Online Education Source
A team of
professors and consultants at Syracuse University
is hoping to keep alive a popular online research
tool for education data that the U.S. Department of
Education has decided to stop financing.
The search tool, a
Web site known as AskERIC, provides researchers
with access to education resources online and also
allows them to request information from experts in
a number of educational fields. The information
that appears on the site was collected by the
Educational Resources Information Center, known as
ERIC, which consists of 16 subject-specific
clearinghouses that have been supported by the
Education Department. One of the clearinghouses,
the Clearinghouse on Information Technology, based
at the University of Syracuse, has been overseeing
the site's day-to-day operation. The change will
involve only seeking money from the university and
from outside sources, rather than depending on the
Education Department for funds.
R. David Lankes,
AskERIC's director, said that the transition would
not impede the services of the Web site, which aims
to help teachers, students, and parents find online
educational resources and sift through them -- if
necessary, by putting the site's users in contact
with experts who can sort the wheat from the chaff.
The site's team of experts was drawn largely from
administrators of the ERIC clearinghouses, but Mr.
Lankes says the restructuring of ERIC will not
affect the experts' availability.
Cataloging useful
and credible online sources has been the online
project's goal since 1992, when AskERIC -- which
was then run on a lone computer in the closet of a
former morgue -- offered nothing more than an
e-mail address through which teachers could contact
a consultant on education issues.
Questions and
comments flooded in and AskERIC has gradually
expanded ever since, adding information about
postsecondary education to its collection of K-12
links and broadening its base of participating
experts. The site, managed by Mr. Lankes and a team
of assistants, now employs seven consultants at
Syracuse and receives input from almost 200
education analysts nationwide, including college
professors, library and museum administrators, and
officers in state education departments.
Visitors to the
site at http://www.askeric.org/
can contact its staff of experts through e-mail.
From 1 to 4 p.m. Eastern Time, they can engage in
real-time conversations online. They can also
canvass ERIC's database of resources, which
includes links to about 3,500 Web sites and
studies, more than 250 lesson plans, and archives
of mailing lists maintained by the information
center.
With the database,
and through the online consultations, Mr. Lankes
hopes to offer teachers unbiased information that
helps them determine if education trends like
technology integration and high-risk testing will
work in their classrooms. "It's sort of like an
academic library," he said of the database. "It's
about delivering multiple perspectives on each
issue. Our job is to say, 'Here are 12 articles
expressing different viewpoints from credible
sources."
11. Help
for Word XP & Windows XP
Computer users may
be interested in two offers being made by National
Braille Press.
What's New in
Word XP? by Sharon Monthei
Whether you're
considering changing from Word 2000 to Word XP, or
you've already made the switch, this Word XP
reference card answers the basic question - what's
different in Word XP? Written by Sharon Monthei,
author of Word Wise 2000, this economical reference
card covers important changes to Word XP, including
the Office clipboard, the handling of styles, and
Mail Merge. It also includes step-by-step
instructions for configuring Word XP to work well
with speech and braille.
Cost & Formats:
$5 - PortaBook or Braille (1 small volume)
Windows XP
Explained by Dr.Sarah Morley
Whether you're
totally new to Microsoft Windows or upgrading from
a previous version, Windows XP Explained provides a
thorough introduction and grounding in this new
operating system. Dr. Morley describes basic
computer terminology and Windows concepts - the
desktop, the Start Menu - and goes on to cover more
advanced Windows XP functions and features. She
explains all objects and tasks from a non-visual
perspective, and includes a comprehensive listing
of keyboard commands. For those who find graphics
helpful, a collection of screen illustrations are
available in both large print and tactile
versions.
No matter what your
computer skill level, Windows XP Explained enables
blind and visually impaired users to take full
advantage of this new version of Windows when using
it with assistive technology.
Cost:
Text
books - Braille: $20; Large Print: $20;
Cassette: $20; Disk: $20; All 4 formats: $75
Diagrams
- Braille Diagrams: $15; Large Print Diagrams:
$15.
Sets - 1
Text + 1 Diagram: $30; All 4 formats + 1
Diagrams: $85; All 4 formats + 2 Diagrams: $100.
To order, send
payment to: NBP, 88 St. Stephen Street, Boston, MA
02115-4302 or, call and charge it: toll-free
800.548.7323 or 617.266.6160 ext 20. Or e-mail your
order to orders@nbp.org.
12. eAudio
Pilot Project Final Report Available
(A follow-up to
our earlier report of the Mid-Illinois Audible.com
Project?
The final report
for the pilot digital talking book project, eAudio,
undertaken by the Mid-Illinois Talking Book Center,
is now on the web at http://www.mitbc.org/eaudiofinal.doc.
The project was funded with $2000 from donation
funds in honor of former MITBC director, Eileen
Sheppard Meyer and the Illinois State Library
Talking Book and Braille Service. The center was
able to purchase eight Otis players and
approximately 50 digital audio books from
Audible.com for the project. Over 100 readers
expressed interest in trying the service and 70
participated in the six-month project. The goal of
the project was to begin to introduce talking book
readers to digital talking books, which is the
eventual goal of the talking book program at the
national level. Under the leadership of the
Illinois State Library Talking Book and Braille
Service, the digital talking book project, and the
Lobe Library, has now expanded to four states
including Illinois, Hawaii, Mississippi, and New
Jersey. During FY04, the four states will
participate in a collaborative digital audio book
project with players and books from Audible.com.
For more information, go to the project website at
http://www.lobelibrary.org.
For more information on the Lobe Library project,
contact Sharon Ruda at sruda@ilsos.net.
The evaluation
report of the successful six-month project was
written by Tom Peters, a national e-book expert and
consultant with TAP Information Services, a
consulting firm which provides a wide variety of
services including strategic planning, workshops,
project evaluation, conference services, articles,
reports, speeches, and other services. He is also
the co-author with Susan Gibbons and Robin Bryan on
a new LITA book entitled E-Book
Functionality: What Libraries and Their Patrons
Want and Expect From Electronic Book
Technologies. Contact Tom Peters at
tapinformation@yahoo.com.
For information on
this and other exciting creative projects, contact:
Lori Bell, Mid-Illinois Talking Book Center,
800.426.0709, lbell@alliancelibrarysystem.com
13. New
Discussion List for Diabetics
To provide an
opportunity for those with diabetes or family
members to interact with others, Steve Heesen of
Bellevue, WA will moderate a new e-mail list
established by the American Council of the Blind.
Mr. Heesen, diagnosed with diabetes in 2001,
currently serves on the Board of Directors of the
Washington Council of the Blind and is also a
member of the United Blind of Seattle. He works at
the Seattle Lighthouse for the Blind as a Computer
Instructor and in braille Production. He is also
president of the Once Upon A Time Toastmasters club
at the Lighthouse. He is a 1996 graduate of the
Wisconsin School for the Blind.
Those wishing to
share concerns of diabetes are invited to join the
list by sending a blank e-mail post to
acb-diabetics-subscribe@acb.org.
You will be requested to return a validation
message and you will then become a list
member.
14.
Employment Opportunities with Social Security
Administration
If you're looking
for a good job that you can feel good about,
consider a career with Social Security. Social
Security offers you the opportunity to make a
difference in people's lives. Social Security sends
monthly benefits to 50 million people every month,
and that takes a lot of work. SSA is looking for
people to help answer phones, process benefit
applications, interview the public and work behind
the scenes in information technology. It is also
looking for applicants who are bilingual and who
can help them communicate with people who prefer to
use languages other than English. The SSA expects
to hire more than 3,000 employees this year
nationwide -- and you could be one of them. If
you're looking for a career that allows you to
spend your time helping others, a career with
Social Security is for you. To find out more, visit
the SSA careers page at http://www.ssa.gov/careers/.
15. Advice
for Victims of Identity Theft
In recent
publications, we told you about identity thieves
and how they can use your Social Security number
for their personal gain. We suggested ways to
protect your personal information, including your
Social Security number. But if you do become a
victim of identity theft, there are ways to recover
your good credit rating.
- Report the
identity theft to Social Security's Fraud
Hotline at 800.269.0271.
- Report it to
the Federal Trade Commission's ID Theft Hotline,
877.IDTHEFT. (877.438.4338).
- Contact the
three major credit bureaus, tell them you're an
identity theft victim and ask them to place a
fraud alert on your records. The credit bureaus
are:
-- Equifax:
800.525.6285 or
http://www.equifax.com
-- Trans Union:
800.680.7289 or http://www.tuc.com
-- Experian:
888.397.3742 or
http://www.experian.com
Also, write your
creditors and ask them to contact you before
opening any new accounts in your name or changing
existing accounts or credit limits.
For more
information on identity theft, visit the identity
theft page at http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/idtheft.htm.
16.
Success in Online Business Workshop
Access Technology
Institute is offering a unique workshop for those
interested in establishing and promoting an online
business.
This three-hour
workshop will help you learn the ins and outs of
owning an online business. From the initial "idea"
process through selecting a domain, setting up your
business, web tools that will prove to be
invaluable, dealing with customers, accepting
credit cards and more, this workshop will help you
better understand all the various skills and tools
that go into being a successful internet-based
business owner. After the workshop, you are invited
to join a special mailing list where you can
receive ongoing mentoring and support from the
Online Instructor, Cathy Anne Murtha, and other
online business owners.
You may review the
workshop schedule at http://www.accesstechnologyinstitute.com/catalog/syllabi/business.html.
The three-hour
workshop will be offered on August 13, 2003 from
4:00 to 7:00 PM Pacific Time.
Included with this
workshop are:
- Participation
in the live, three-hour workshop
- An iVocalize
presentation archive of the workshop on CD-ROM
- Subscription to
a mailing list for current and future internet
business owners
- A complimentary
copy of HTML - The Basics of Web Page Design (a
$50.00 value)
- Ongoing
mentoring and support via the above mentioned
mailing list.
Cost:
$100.
Contact:
Cathy Anne
Murtha, Online Access Technology Trainer
Access Technology Institute
916.922.3794
cathy@accesstechnologyinstitute
http://www.accesstechnologyinstitute.com
.com
17.
Volunteers Needed for Vision & Hearing Loss
Research Project
Volunteers are
being sought to participate in a research project
designed to explore ways to improve employment and
community integration outcomes for persons who are
blind or deaf and who are experiencing a secondary
onset of vision or hearing loss resulting from
aging.
Specific areas of
investigation include:
- Evaluating
accessibility and usage of assistive
technology;
- investigating
community integration strategies;
- Developing
strategies to improve communication systems,
transportation, and job placements for those
aging with vision and hearing loss; and
- Developing
model service delivery systems for service
providers, families, and consumers that improve
the quality of life for those aging with vision
and hearing loss.
The Rehabilitation
Research & Training Center (RRTC) at
Mississippi State University, leader of the
project, is collaborating with the Helen Keller
National Center for Deaf-blind Youths and Adults in
Sands Point, New York and the RRTC on Persons Who
are Hard of Hearing or Late Deafened at National
University in San Diego, California. The project is
being funded with a $2.5 million research grant
award from the National Institute on Disability and
Rehabilitation Research of the U.S. Department of
Education.
The Training Center
is seeking volunteers interested in participating
in the project. To be eligible, individuals must be
55 years old or over with both hearing and vision
loss. One must have been either deaf (hearing
impaired) or visually impaired prior to age 55 and
experienced the other sensory loss after age 55 due
to aging. Participants must also be willing to
volunteer for the 3-5 year project and respond to
surveys and interviews conducted over the
phone.
For more
information about the project, "A Disability and
Rehabilitation Research Project on Persons Aging
with Hearing and Vision Loss," or to express
interest in volunteering, contact:
Mrs. B. J.
LeJeune
PO Box 6189
Mississippi State University
Starkville, MS 39762
or call
800.675.7783 or 662.325.8693.
18.
Neurobiology of Infant Vision
The study of visual
development has proceeded at a rapid pace in recent
years, and there have been theoretical and
methodological innovations across a wide range of
disciplines. A new 312-page book, Neurobiology of
Infant Vision, edited by Brian Hopkins and Scott P.
Johnson, brings together some of the most recent
innovations from a neurobiological perspective.
Chapters cover the pre- to postnatal development of
vision, new insights into the concept of critical
periods, object and face recognition, as well as
dynamic perception and visual recognition memory in
infants. The volume concludes with a detailed
overview of the development of visual functions
from the perspective of neural network modeling.
This book will have
special appeal to psychologists, visual scientists
and infancy researchers with an interest in
development of the visual system from a
multidisciplinary perspective. An integrative
introduction is followed by chapters that challenge
thinking about development in terms of a
nativist-empiricist dichotomy. Emphasis is on
cross-disciplinary research links and between
chapters readers will find
cross-references.
Table of
Contents:
Introduction
by the Editors
Brian Hopkins, Professor, Department of
Psychology, Lancaster University
Scott P. Johnson, Professor, Department of
Psychology, Cornell University
1 The
Developmental Neurobiology of Early
Vision
2 Critical
Periods in the Visual System
3 Development of
Temporal Lobe Circuits for Object Recognition
Data and Theoretical Perspectives from Nonhuman
Primates
4 Development
and Neural Bases of Infant Visual Recognition
Memory
5 Where Are They
Going? The Perception of Information About
Visual Direction in Young Infants
6 Linking Visual
Cortical Development to Visual
Perception
Author
Index
Subject
Index
About the
Contributors
Cost:
$67.95
ISBN:
1-56750-691-7
Publication Date: June 30, 2003
Order From:
Praeger
(Greenwood Publishing Group)
88 Post Road West - PO Box 5007
Westport, CT 06881-5007.
Credit Card Orders
- 800.225.5800
All other calls: 203.226.3571. Fax:
203.226.6009.
19. News
From National Library Service
New
Publications:
The National
Library Service (NLS) Reference Section has
produced two new publications:
1. Facts:
Books for Blind and Physically Handicapped
Individuals (2003) is available in regular
print and online at http://www.loc.gov/nls/reference/factsheets/annual.html.
2. Disability
Awareness: A Selected Bibliography (2003)
is available in large print and online at
http://www.loc.gov/nls/reference/bibliographies/awareness.html.
Both publications
can be provided on computer diskette upon request
from the NLS Reference Section by phone -
202.707.9275, fax - 202.707.0712, or e-mail -
nlsref@loc.gov.
Newsletter
Discontinued:
Healthline ceased publication and is
no longer part of the monthly selection of Health
and Nutrition Newsletters distributed by the
National Library Service on cassette.
20. Text-Key Large
Print Publications
If you are looking
for high quality large print books, you will want
to check out the unique 28 pt. and 48 pt. type
books available through Text-Key, Inc.
Their publications
are in ELF format (enhanced letter format) that may
be read with the Acrobat Reader, which is included
on each CD-ROM. Each CD from Text-Key contains two
versions in ELF format: one in 28 point and one in
48 point type. In addition, each CD has versions
intended to be read and versions intended to be
printed. This is done to accommodate different
levels of vision impairment.
Acrobat Reader
makes it easy for the reader to change the font
size for more comfortable reading. The ELF
formatted version can be read with the most recent
version of most screen readers.
Here are a few ways
in which the Text-Key publications differ from
other currently available large print products:
- Other hardware
and software which enlarges printed text is
expensive, may require scanning equipment and
only enlarges text without regard to the
formatted page.
- Text-Key
publications, unlike most text on CD-ROMs, are
specially formatted so the user doesn't have to
scroll from side to side or from top to bottom
of a page. Nor is this a matter of merely
increasing the size of the type. Care is taken
to ensure that the sides of the screen don't cut
off words. Each CD-ROM contains two versions of
the book - a printable version and an on-screen
version. Each version is available in 28- and
48-point font. The on-screen version has one
screen of text per page to eliminate the need to
scroll. The print version prints on the entire
page, as opposed to one screen of text per page
for the on-screen version. Many people with
impaired vision cannot comfortably use a mouse
or see the computer cursor. Readers can press
the Tab key or left or right arrow keys to
navigate the Text-Key publications.
- The
publications are on self-loading CD-ROMs.
Individuals can read the publication as soon as
the CD is loaded. Readers do not need access to
the Internet, a modem, or special hardware or
software. The text is formatted, but typical Web
publications are not.
There are three
kinds of publications available:
- Material
submitted by an author or publisher, royalty
free
- Publications
found on the World Wide Web
- Copyright
protected works reproduced and distributed under
a provision of the 1996 Federal Copyright Act
created for the blind and vision impaired.
All publications
from the Web are priced the same; those that are
submitted to Text-Key, Inc. by an author or
publisher are priced by arrangement with the author
or publisher.
To view the current
list, or for more information, click the graphic
below to go directly to the Text-Key
Website
http://www.text-key.com
Note: Through a
special arrangement with Office Depot, hard copy
print is available at special discount
prices.
21.
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