Great news, the Nook app for iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch is now accessible to the blind, visually impaired and people with print disabilities. The updated app now supports VoiceOver and Zoom. VoiceOver and Zoom are built in accessibility features in iOS. To learn more about VoiceOver click here. With VoiceOver you can have the book read aloud using text-to-speech. Oddly enough the update makes the Nook app more accessible than current Nooks. Serious kudos to Barns & Noble's for making their app accessible. To download the app for free click here.
Click read more below to view more screenshots.
You have read this article accessible ebooks /
apple /
assistive technology /
barns and noble /
blind /
ios accessibility /
nook accessibility /
nook app /
nook app voiceover /
vissually impaired /
zoom
with the title blind. You can bookmark this page URL http://fieldecho.blogspot.com/2012/11/nook-app-for-ios-updated-to-support.html. Thanks!
Apple issued invitations to select members of the media for an October 23 special event. The event will begin at 10 AM pacific. Apple is rumored to announce a new smaller iPad dubbed iPad Mini and possibly updated Macs. If the rumors are to be believed an iPad Mini could be a great device for education because of its smaller size and rumored lower price point. No matter what Apple announces on the 23rd chances are that it will have accessibility features to make it usable for those with disabilities. Check back on the 23rd to learn about Apple's announcement and the accessibility implications.
You have read this article apple accessibility /
apple event /
blind /
dyslexia /
ios 6 /
ipad mini /
ipad mini accessibility /
ipad mini event accessibility /
ipad mini for specail education /
physical disability
with the title blind. You can bookmark this page URL http://fieldecho.blogspot.com/2012/10/apple-to-hold-special-event-on-october.html. Thanks!
iOS 6 the latest operating system for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch includes new VoiceOver enhancements. The enhancements allow VoiceOver users to use zoom, Assistive Touch and maps simultaneously with VoiceOver. These new features are built into iOS 6 so there are no additional downloads. Watch the above video to learn more about VoiceOver improvements in iOS 6.
You have read this article accessibility /
apple maps accessibility /
assistive technology /
blind /
ios 6 voiceover improvements /
universal access /
visually impaired /
VoiceOver
with the title blind. You can bookmark this page URL http://fieldecho.blogspot.com/2012/10/ios-6-voiceover-compatiblity-with-maps.html. Thanks!
Apple announced the iPhone 5 at an event today in California. The iPhone 5 includes and bigger screen, better camera, faster processor, thinner design and more. The iPhone 5 will run on iOS 6 Apple's mobile operating system which includes accessibility features such as VoiceOver, Guided Access and Speak Selection. Click here to learn more about iOS 6.
The iPhone 5 will be available for pre-order on September 14th and for sale on September 21th starting at $199. Click read more below to view more images of the iPhone 5.
You have read this article 4 inch /
accessibility /
app store /
apple /
Apps /
blind /
deaf /
disability /
dyslexia /
free /
hearing aid /
hearing impairment /
ios 6 /
iphone 5 /
iphone 5 for people with disabilities /
LTE /
taller
with the title blind. You can bookmark this page URL http://fieldecho.blogspot.com/2012/09/iphone-5-announced.html. Thanks!
Today, Apple announced that iOS 6, the software that runs iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch, will be released on September 19th. The free software update will include new accessibility features such as Guided Access, Speak Selection with highlighting and improved Siri. Click here to learn more about Guided Access. iOS 6 will also include Made For iPhone Hearing Aids which allow hearing aid users to better use the iPhone. Along with accessibility improvements iOS 6 includes an updated maps app and more.
Click read more below to view more images of iOS 6 from Apple.
You have read this article accessibility /
apple /
blind /
deaf /
disability /
dyslexia /
free /
guided access /
ios 6 /
iphone 5 /
siri /
speak selection /
update /
visually impaired
with the title blind. You can bookmark this page URL http://fieldecho.blogspot.com/2012/09/ios-6-to-be-released-on-september-19th.html. Thanks!
Apple announced today that it will be holding a special event on September 12. Apple is rumored to announce a new iPhone, iOS 6 release data and possibly more. iOS 6 will include many accessibility enhancements including Guided Access. The new iPhone may include a better camera, faster processor and larger screen.
Come back on September 12 to hear all the new from Apple and how it effects the world of assistive technology.
You have read this article 12 iphone 5 /
accessible /
apple iphone 5 event /
apple special event /
asl /
assistive technology /
autism /
blind /
confirmed /
deaf /
dyslexia /
iBooks /
invitations /
ios 6 /
iPod touch /
Special Education /
tim cook /
VoiceOver
with the title blind. You can bookmark this page URL http://fieldecho.blogspot.com/2012/09/apple-to-hold-special-event-on.html. Thanks!
The BlackBerry Screen Reader is designed to make BlackBerry phones accessible to the visually impaired. BlackBerry Screen Reader is compatible with the BlackBerry Curve 9350, 9360, 9370, 9320 and 9220.
Installation is complicated and may require the assistance of a sighted person. Unfortutantly, BlackBerry Screen Reader is not built into the phone. There are two methods for installing the BlackBerry Screen Reader. The first method is to visit this webpage from your BlackBerry. Another option for installation is to plug the BlackBerry into your computer and then install the Screen Reader. Connecting your BlackBerry device to your computer is the most accessible option for installation.
Features
Physical Keyboard
Keyboard Shortcuts
Speak Everything On Screen
Free For Compatible BlackBerry Devices
Once installed you will be greeted with a solid Screen Reader that makes the BlackBerry accessible. The visually impaired user benefits from the numerous physical buttons, including a full physical keyboard. Five buttons on the device are less tactile. These buttons include the answer, end, menu, back and end/off. While these buttons are flush with the device they are still used for the visually impaired once there location has been memorized. To be clear these buttons depress when pressed. The physical keyboard makes it possible to type eyes-free. Once you move away from the physical buttons and start navigating the screen, a text-to-speech voice begins speaking everything under your cursor. The BlackBerry I tested had a very loud speaker that made hearing the voice easy. To navigate the cursor you can use the trackpad. The trackpad is fairly sensitive so it may be best to turn down the sensitivity. Also, I found it helpful to turn on audible clicks when the cursor moves from one object to another. The BlackBerry Screen Reader also excels with the use of keyboard shortcuts. For example you can press a key combination to speak the time. Users can change the speech rate, verbosity and pitch.
Overall the BlackBerry Screen Reader is a solid screen reader that makes the BlackBerry accessible for visually impaired users. It is not as polished as other mobile screen readers such as Apple's VoiceOver. BlackBerry Screen Reader may not work with third party apps. Some work could be done in streamlining operations and stability. Also, the screen reader should be built into the BlackBerry from the start. Click read more below to view screenshots of the BlackBerry Screen Reader.
Device Provided Complimentary To Reviewer
You have read this article accessible /
assistive technology /
bb /
blackberry accessibility /
blackberry screen reader /
blind /
eyes free typing /
free /
physical buttons /
research in motion /
rim /
screen reader /
visually impaired /
VoiceOver
with the title blind. You can bookmark this page URL http://fieldecho.blogspot.com/2012/08/blackberry-screen-reader-review.html. Thanks!
Prizmo and TextDetective are optical charactor recognition (OCR) apps for the iPhone. These apps use the iPhone camera to take a picture of a document and then convert the text on the paper to digital text. Because the apps rely on the iPhone camera they work best on the iPhone 4S. The apps were compared using a complex image with multiple images and columns. Both apps were used in a room with good lighting. Watch the video above to learn more about each of the apps.
Prizmo costs $9.99 in the App Store. Click here to download Prizmo. Prizmo is the fastest most accurate user friendly OCR app that I have ever tested. It is designed for sighted users. It allows you to crop and edit the picture before you start the OCR process. Once the text has been recognized you can read it using text-to-speech, email it or copy the text. It is important to note that users with visual impairments may have a hard time taking pictures of the documents they want to OCR. It also is impossible for a visually impaired user to crop the document to improve the accuracy. That being said for sighted users very easy to use.
TextDetective costs $1.99 for a limited time. Click here to download TextDetective. TextDetective is designed for people with visual impairments. The app is designed to make taking a picture of a document easy for the visually impair. In my tests I had a hard time taking a clear picture of a whole document. I could successfully capture a clear picture of one or two paragraphs. TextDetective was less accurate and slower than Prizmo. One problem I found is that TextDetective only works in landscape orientation but most documents are in portrait orientation. The orientation of the app makes it difficult to take a crisp picture of the page. In all for only $1.99 TextDetective may be worth a try.
Apps Provided Complimentary To Reviewer
You have read this article app showdown /
app store /
assistive technology /
blind /
disability /
dyslexia /
hd video /
iPhone /
ocr app /
prizmo /
Special Education /
textdetective /
visually impaired
with the title blind. You can bookmark this page URL http://fieldecho.blogspot.com/2012/08/prizmo-vs-textdetective-ocr-iphone-app.html. Thanks!
