Vision WeblettersWebletter - May 2002
…a brief update from Vision World Wide. We've got something of interest to everyone, so feel free to share it with your colleagues, or forward it to a friend, who can subscribe easily. See Distribution Notes below for details. In This Issue:
****************************************** 1. Get Caught Reading! Although the month of May has been designated as "Get Caught Reading" month, the nationwide campaign is promoted throughout the year to remind people of all ages how much fun it is to read. This program was the brainchild of former Congresswoman Pat Schroeder, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Association of American Publishers (AAP). It was launched in 1999 and has had the support of celebrities Whoopi Goldberg, Sammy Sosa, Donald Duck, Robin Williams, Rosie O'Donnell, Dolly Parton, Jake Lloyd, the Rugrats, Jane Seymour, and Derek Jeter. who have been caught reading their favorite books and magazines for ads and posters. Two new posters have recently been added featuring Patty Duke, the actress who portrayed Helen Keller in the classic film "The Miracle Worker", and Erik Weihenmayer, record-breaking mountain climber who became the first blind man to reach the summit of Mount Everest. Posters are available at $4.40 each and can be ordered from: Anne Garinger, Get Caught Reading, Association of American Publishers, 71 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10003. Tel: 212.255.0200 Ext. 262. Web: http://www.getcaughtreading.org/about/poster.html. 2. Resume' Writing Software TECSO, a developer of educational software for people who are blind or visually impaired, has designed "Resume' Workshop" to help visually impaired people with varying levels of computer experience generate professional-quality resumes' and cover letters. The program features built-in text-to-speech narration, interactive CD-ROM, sample resumes', preformatted resume output styles, and automated print and export functions. Whether you are a student, a recent graduate, changing careers, or a professional wanting to update your resume', this software will be an excellent choice. Cost: $29.95. For more information, contact: TECSO, 1717 René-Lévesque Blvd. East, Suite 210, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H2L 4T3. Tel: 866.590.4218 or 514.590.4218. Fax: 514.590.4228. E-Mail: sales@tecso.com. Web: http://www.tecso.com. 3. Shopping Out Loud A voice-activated shopping centre has been added to the services offered by Freedom Network (http://www.freedombox.info), a US- based internet portal aimed at people unable to use graphical user interfaces. Online bookstore Amazon (http://www.amazon.com) is among retailers allowing Freedom Network subscribers to search, register and search their sites using their voices. Subscribers will also be able to receive sample audio tracks and customer reviews. In a statement Freedom Network chief executive Mike Calvo, himself blind, said: "The launch is an important first step in our efforts to bring the products and services of our many online retailers to the blind and disabled in an environment where accessibility is guaranteed." 4. The VoiLA: New Labeling Device Independence and a better quality of life can be achieved when individuals with vision loss can identify all the objects they use. Therefore, special attention should be paid to the VoiLA Voiced Labels. This system includes a voiced "pen" and special labels that are adapted to the shape of the point of the pen. The pen operates on two AA batteries. The labels can be affixed by sewing or simply hanging from any object the user wishes to identify. After reading the special customized code on the label, the pen will play back the recorded message for that object - the name, properties, or anything else one wants to record about it. The specially designed labels can be quickly located by touch; and the raised shape acts as a guide for the pen, like the rails of a train track, in either direction. Moreover, the voiced pen's unique "finger-friendly" design permits easy use. For example, if one wants to label a CD case, he/she just affixes the label with the double-sided tape provided on the hinged side of the case, exactly where a sighted person would read the name of the CD. The pen is then used to replay the message recorded on that label, or to confirm that it is a clean label ready for recording. In this example, the user could record the name of the CD and/or the name of the artist. The pen also allows the user to erase and re-record, browse between messages, or adjust the volume. Cost: $199.95 (Regularly $259.95). Order from: Maxi-Aids. Online at http://www.MaxiAids.com; by telephone at 800.522.6294; TTY at 631.752.0738; or by Fax at 631.752.0689. 5. Writing Competition - Win An eBook Reader E-Access Bulletin is offering blind or visually impaired writers the chance to win the latest in eBook reading hardware and software. First prize in their writing competition is a 'Victor' e-book reader worth more than 300 pounds (British currency) donated by VisuAide (http://www.visuaide.com). Victor reads a new kind of CD talking book that allows for fast, easy navigation (for a review see E-Access Bulletin, March 2002). Runners-up will each receive a set of 10 classic e-books on CD worth around 100 pounds. Winners will also be published in a future issue of their bulletin - now with 3,000 readers worldwide and translated into five languages! Entries should be between 500 and 800 words long and address the theme "keeping in touch with technology". The topic could cover online relationships, the pace of technological change, how technology has changed your life, or imagining what life could be like in the future. The closing date is Friday July 26, 2002 and the results will be announced in their August issue. Please send entries to competition organizer Phil Cain by e-mail at phil@headstar.com or call him on 01273 231 291 with any queries. 6. A Novel Approach To News Google's News Search (BETA) service presents information culled from many of the world's news sources collected over the previous week. With continuous updates throughout the day, you'll keep up to date with what's happening now and learn about the stories that led to the most recent developments. What's different about Google's News Search is the unique grouping technology Google has developed to automatically put related stories together in the same search result. This makes it easy to quickly scan the headlines while providing the option of reading multiple accounts of a story from different news sources. As Google continues to improve this new search service, they will be adding more news sources and updating the index of stories more frequently. It is believed these enhancements will make the service more useful, but users are encouraged to provide feedback as to what news sources should be added, what advanced search features would be helpful, whether or not the story groups are a good idea or do they get in the way, etc. To learn more, go to http://news.google.com. 7. Clock Models For Teaching Time Concepts Learning to tell time is made easier and fun with the non-motorized Analog and Digital Clock Models from the American Printing House for the Blind (APH). The Analog Clock Model (Catalog: 1-03125-00) has raised print and braille numbers, has synchronized hour and minute hands, has square with round corner design, and is recommended for ages 6-10 years. Price: $16. The Digital Clock Model (Catalog: 1-03126-00) is a durable teaching tool that demonstrates how a digital clock works. Its numbers are in large print and literary braille on three manually adjustable wheels (hour, ten minutes, and minutes) and is housed in a black case with non-skid rubber feet. This model will teach basic time concepts, will show the difference between digital and analog clocks, and will introduce travel schedules or explain digital time/distance tracking devices. Cost: $26. For more information, contact: American Printing House for the Blind (APH), PO Box 6085, Louisville, KY 40206-0085. Tel: 800.223.1839 / 502.895.2405. Fax: 502.899.2274. E-Mail: info@aph.org. Web: http://www.aph.org. 8. Camera-based Seeing With Sound Two presentations on sensory substitution given at the April 2002 "Tucson 2002" conference were archived and can now be heard online as RealOne/RealPlayer streaming audio. Each of the two talks lasts some 25 minutes. The first talk is given by the sighted developer of the seeing with sound technology, and the second by a blind user. Just go to the following direct URLs: http://www.seeingwithsound.com/tucson2002m.ram 9. Thought Provoker If you haven't done so yet, you might want to check out Robert Leslie Newman's website at http://falcon.creighton.edu/vip. It is aimed at changing what it means to be visually impaired through the promotion of the human potential to successfully adjust to and live with blindness and visual impairment. It is meant for the blind, the visually impaired, professionals involved with this population such as vocational rehabilitation counselors or therapists, teachers and educators of the blind and visually impaired, families and friends interested in adjustment to vision loss, all those interested in peer counseling and blindness, individuals looking for information, guidance, suggestions, materials, adaptive equipment, consumer groups, etc. You will also find short stories highlighting the successful adjustment to vision loss through the development of a positive attitude and philosophical foundation and the acquisition of alternative techniques in order to function independently. This website carries links to other sites which also promote a positive approach to visual impairment. While you are there, you might want to join Thought Provoker, his unique independent e-mail discussion forum on blindness and visual impairment. You can do so simply by sending an e-mail message to newmanrl@cox.net. 10. Resource for Social Security Applicants For individuals applying for Social Security disability insurance benefits, "Disability Workbook for Social Security Applicants," the 152-page Fifth Edition, that was updated August 2001, is an easy to use workbook written by Douglas M. Smith, a disability lawyer. It is recommended by many U.S. health groups and is particularly useful to attorneys, hospitals, insurers, doctors, social workers, case managers, libraries, and others. It is written in clear language and realistically depicts the roles of applicants, their doctors, and the Social Security Administration. It provides valuable information on managing the application process. Cost: $19.95 plus $4.50 shipping. Maryland residents add 5% tax. Order ISBN 1-878140-11-6 from PDS, (Physicians' Disability Service), PO Box 827, Arnold, MD 21012. Tel: 410.431.5279. Fax: 410.431.5485. E-Mail: dfacts@earthlink.net. Web: http://www.disabilityfacts.com. 11. Duxbury Releases New DBT WIN 10.4 On Thursday, May 9th, Duxbury released DBT Win version 10.4 UPDATE or ADD DBT WIN 10.4 to their braille production team. This release is filled with a number of very significant improvements including:
Cost (Single User): Update version ranges from $195 to $295 depending on the age of your current DBT program; $395 for first time purchases. For more information contact: Duxbury Systems, Inc., 270 Littleton Road, #6, Westford, MA 01886 USA Tel: 978.692.3000. Fax: 978.692.7912. E-Mail: info@duxsys.com. Web: http://www.DuxburySystems.com 12. Don't Spread That Hoax! With all the real virus warnings being distributed these days, it seems appropriate to consider just how to detect the real ones from the hoaxes and then know what to do about it. First, virus hoaxes are really serious business because they promote fear, waste your time, and scare people into not using technology. In short, virus hoaxes are the bullies of e-mail. So, before you pass them along to others and cause more damage than good, take a few minutes to find out more about these false warnings by checking any of the many websites on the Internet. We'll list here just a few for your convenience.
Summing It All Up. Remember: Never open an email attachment unless you know what it is -- even if it's from someone you know and trust. Remember: Virus writers can use known hoaxes to their advantage. For example, AOL4FREE began as a hoax virus warning. Then somebody distributed a destructive Trojan attached to the original hoax virus warning! The lessons are clear: Always remain vigilant and never open a suspicious attachment. The best approach is to disregard them and just delete them from your computer. All your friends will be glad you did! 13. Shop, Save and Support Vision World Wide One of the best things you can do these days to support the programs and services of Vision World Wide, Inc. is go shopping. Wellspent.org is an online superstore with thousands of products - and every purchase you make generates a donation for the cause of your choice. Giving has never been easier.
14. Distribution Note: You are encouraged to share this Webletter with anyone on your mailing list that you think would find it useful. It is free. Readers wishing to receive their own Webletter should just send an e-mail message to: VisionENews-subscribe@yahoogroups.com or, subscribe directly at http://www.visionww.org/journal.htm. You are also invited to check out our quarterly journal, Vision Enhancement, at http://www.visionww.org/journal.htm. For more information, contact: Vision World Wide, Inc.
|
Vision
World Wide
5707 Brockton Drive, #302
Indianapolis, IN 46220-5481
Phone: 317-254-1332
Toll Free: 800-431-1739
Fax: 317-251-6588
E-Mail: info@visionww.org
© Copyright
1995-2002
by Vision World Wide Inc. All rights reserved.
Updated May 17 2002
