Editor's Page
Access to Education
by Jamie Pauls
In this article, we will take a look at Blackboard, a Web service used by many colleges to provide course materials, send out announcements, post grades, and administer tests. We will look at Blackboard from the perspectives of two students and one instructor, all of whom are blind.
Product Evaluations and Guides
BARD Mobile for Android: It's Finally Here
by Bill Holton
I found accessing and playing BARD content on my Android devices a pleasurable experience. My biggest complaints--the lack of a sleep timer and of a play/pause gesture--are both current Android accessibility limitations. If I were a devoted braille user, I would also lament the current inability to download and read braille titles.
Running Galaxy TalkBack on the Sprint Galaxy S6 Smartphone
by Bill Holton
The Sprint Galaxy S6 is a well-designed, responsive Android phone--among the best I have ever used. It is still a bit buggy in places, so I do appreciate the ability to hot swap between the Galaxy and Google versions of TalkBack.
by Jamie Pauls
For anyone who owns JAWS for Windows (versions 14 and above) who needs extra assistance with learning to use their computer, I would highly recommend Leasey. For the experienced computer user who simply would like to have yet another accessibility tool in their arsenal, I would recommend they give Leasey a serious test drive.
Emerging Technologies
An Update on the Finger Reader, an On-the-Go Reading Device in Development at MIT
by Janet Ingber
The Finger Reader is still in the developmental stage, "but it's definitely taking steps to where it's becoming more like a product."
LowViz Guide: Indoor Navigation for People Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired
by Deborah Kendrick
Time and experience will tell how well this new system really works, but kudos are definitely in order to MD Support and Indoo.rs for the effort.
Access to Entertainment
Audio Description Comes to Netflix
by Jamie Pauls
At the time of this writing, there are currently 87 programs available with audio description on Netflix including "House of Cards," "Orange Is the New Black," "Family Guy," "I'll Be Home for Christmas," and "Criminal Minds."
AccessWorld News
Letters to the Editor
