Dear AccessWorld Readers,
As noted in the March Editor's page, we have some exciting developments coming to AccessWorld. AccessWorld is now part of AFB's Talent lab program, allowing us to take a greater role in promoting digital inclusion. If you are unfamiliar with our Talent Lab program, you can learn more here. Likewise, if you are unfamiliar with the term Digital inclusion, it refers to efforts to make digital technologies, like apps and the web, accessible to everyone. For many years we have reviewed products and services, both accessible and mainstream, but with our integration with the Talent Lab, we will be able to more directly have an impact on digital accessibility. Beginning in May, expect to see pieces that directly address accessibility in a more concrete way, and provide more direct solutions for access issues. In addition, we will have more details on what these developments will mean for our publication going forward. Stay tuned, and we again thank you for being readers of AccessWorld.
For this issue, Steve Kelley brings us two different articles. His first discusses Computers for the Blind (CFTB), a non-profit which provides low cost laptop and desktop computers for people who are blind or have low vision. We have discussed CFTB previously, but the organization's offerings have changed significantly making this piece quite valuable. Steve takes us through the current offerings from CFTB along with the various upgrades available for each option. In addition, he discusses the help options available and as well as a grant that can significantly lower the cost of a computer for people in specific situations such as those with low income.
Janet Ingber brings us a report of a webinar hosted by Mike May at the Braille Institute in Las Angeles regarding the Good Maps software and service. For this issue, Janet details the contents of the webinar for those who were unable to attend.
Bookshare released an app you may remember many years ago, called Read2Go, allowing a user to read Bookshare books on their iOS device. I had a particular fondness for Read2Go, as it was my first ever review for AccessWorld, and the reason I learned to use an iOS device. Over time Read2Go has become out of date for modern use, so Bookshare has launched an entirely new app for both iOS and Android. In this issue, Steve reviews the new app with a focus on the Android version.
Services for digitally transferring money have become popular with apps such as the Cash App and Venmo being widely used. Compared to other transfer services, the app called Zele is unique in that it transfers money directly between banks and is often integrated into banking apps themselves. Jamie Pauls reviews this app to round out the issue.
We hope you enjoy this issue of AccessWorld.
Sincerely,
Aaron Preece
AccessWorld Editor in Chief
