Kestrell

Just in case you are one of the five blind people who don't already have an iPhone
http://www.magnifiers.org/news.php?action=fullnews&id=410

From the EASI announcement list

Webinar Book Review Free Webinar:
Universal Design in Higher Education: From Principles to Practice
Presenter: Sheryl Bergstahler, Ph.D. DO-IT, University of Washington
Tuesday June 14, 11 AM Pacific, Noon Mountain, 1 PM Central, 2 PM Eastern
This presentation will provide an overview of the history of universal design,
back to its origins in architecture and product development. The presenter
will share examples of applications of universal design in higher education - to
technology, instruction, services, and physical spaces. She will also discuss
various approaches that have been taken to apply universal design to learning
environments, with a focus on practical applications that instructors can employ to make their courses more welcoming and accessible to all students.
The Webinar is based on the book: Universal Design in Higher Education: From
Principles to Practice edited by Sheryl Burgstahler which is accessible at Bookshare.

Free Webinar: Book Review: Managing the Assistive Technology Process: The
Nontech Guide for Disability Service Providers.
Presenter James Bailey, MS, Adaptive Technology Adviser, University of Oregon.
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Webinar: Accessible Android Smartphones: Jan. 20 at 2 PM Eastern
Presenter: Steve Jacobs, CEO, Apps4Android and President, IDEAL Group, Inc.
Apps4Android http://apps4android.org is an IDEAL Group subsidiary
corporation dedicated to developing free/low-cost, high-quality, Android
applications that enhance the quality-of-life, independence, educatability
and employability of individuals with disabilities.
This Webinar is open to the public and is free, but you need to register in
advance so we can send you login instructions. Register at the EASI
Webinar page.
http://easi.cc/clinic.htm

In November, Apps4Android became the world's largest user of Google's
Text-to-Speech Library. Google developer's use Apps4Android's Speaking Pad
application to test their new voices before releasing them to market. Since
its inception on January 17, 2009, Apps4Android has built a customer-base
of over 400,000 users in 30+ countries.

Apps4Android's Assistive Technology Applications include:
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News Wire:

On Monday, November 23 at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Standard time, Larry Lewis, President, Flying Blind LLC www.flying-blind.com will be demonstrating netECHO, an accessible, phone-based web application that enables individuals who are vision impaired to perform a number of tasks using the world wide web.

netECHO, developed by InternetSpeech www.internetspeech.com allows its subscribers the ability to use either a land or cellular phone line to access its server and issue commands through the sound of one’s voice or via the telephone keypad. netECHO is the perfect solution for users who do not own a PC or mobile device as well as a desktop or mobile screen reader, or for users who do own such devices, but wish to have a secondary alternative for dealing with the complexities of a graphical operating system.
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Kes: I'm a little confused as to what this device is--is it an external Braille display for the phone? Or some sort of software app making use of a tactile interface?
http://betalabs.nokia.com/apps/nokia-braille-reader

Nokia Braille Reader gives SMS for the blind and visually impaired. It captures received SMS messages and brings them to the foreground for reading using Braille and tactile feedback.

The application has been developed in a joint project between Nokia, Tampere University and the Finnish Federation of the Visually Impaired.

But first, here's an idea for how you can combine the practical and fetishistic aspects of eyeware
http://www.funkytrend.com/unique-pierced-eye-glasses/

The following links are from
Top Tech Tidbits
http://www.topdotenterprises.com/tidbits.htm
Kes: I remember when this seeing through your tongue project came out, and I mentioned in a MIT class that I was sure it would be developed by the military before being developed for blind people; sure enough, this device was being used a one point by Navy Seals.
1. Serotek Podcast 19 discusses the Brain Port, a promising system that allows blind and deaf-blind people to gain useful visual information through the tongue, and review five products.
http://serotalk.com/2009/07/21/serotalk-podcast-19-seeing-with-your-tongue-and-5-product-reviews/

Kes: I am really lusting after the Book Sense XT, as I'm still using a Book Port which is no longer being supported.
2. Now that the Book Sense is out, Gw Micro is adding many articles to its knowledge base concerning it. The one of most interest to most people will be Quick Start Guide for the Book Sense
http://gwmicro.com/kb1102
3. In SeroTalk Tech chat 25 4 Users of the BookSense Give Us Their 2 Cents
http://serotalk.com/2009/07/17/serotalk-tech-chat-25-4-users-of-the-booksense-give-us-their-2-cents/

4. This Fred's Head article, entitled Coping With Low Vision may provide some useful information.
http://www.fredshead.info/2006/09/coping-with-low-vision.html

5. Everything you've ever wanted to know about accessible cell phones is fair game for the training and discussion on Tek Talk on GMT Tuesday, 28 July at 00:00. See you there!
http://conference321.com/masteradmin/room.asp?id=rsc9613dc89eb2

6. As Humanware and Code Factory prepare for the launch of the screen reader that will work on the newest Blackberry phones, you can enter to win one of those phones with its new Orator screen reader installed if you do it by the end of July.
http://www.humanware.com/en-usa/products/blindness/orator_for_blackberry_smartphones/orator_draw

7. Sarah Alawami is doing a series of podcasts on Klango a media player and multi-purpose worldwide computer network.
http://feeds2.feedburner.com/funfilled