Dear AccessWorld Editor,

This message is in response to Bill Holton's November 2017 article, The Accessible Home: A Look at Laundry Room Accessibility

I enjoyed your article on the accessible home.

I just got the October issue of Consumer Reports. It had an article on washing machines.

I wish someone would let Consumer Reports know we get the magazine every month thanks to the National Library Service (NLS) program.

I just wonder how appliance manufacturers would feel if all the dryers and washing machines and stoves were not workable for them.?

Thanks,

John Melia

Dear AccessWorld Editor

This message is in response to Scott Davert's November 2017 Article: Keeping It Portable: Comparing Braille Displays on iOS Devices, Part I.

Thanks Scott and AccessWorld Staff. Your survey of these display categories is useful given the impact they and iOS devices are already making. We can?learn about them and make informed purchasing decisions. Looking forward to the next installment.

Dear AccessWorld Editor,

This message is in response to Bill Holton's November 2017 article, The Accessible Home: A Look at Laundry Room Accessibility.

Although we weren't interested in "connected" or paired equipment, we had to replace our washing machine in September. We were able to look at a large number of washers at an appliance store that carries several brands. The employees have worked with blind people, including us, before. Units were not plugged in, but examining the front panels and asking questions provided us with the information we wanted. We bought a Whirlpool unit for about $500 MSRP. It's a top-loading unit. The unique feature of this model is that its five rotary knobs are detented, have pointers, and do not turn beyond the intended number of clicks. They control the microprocessor inside. You have 12 different cycles on one knob, with other knobs controlling fill level, rinse options, soil options and five water temperature settings. Certainly enough options for Judy and me. A little brailled dymo tape applied around some of the knobs, and reading the PDF manual, and I'm happy. You can't tell how far through the cycles you are, since there is no mechanical timer knob to look at, but that's about the only limitation I encountered.

The model number is WTW4816FW.

Best,

Lloyd Rasmussen

AccessWorld Staff Interviewed on KSIV Radio, St. Louis, MO

AccessWorld Editor-in-Chief, Lee Huffman, and Senior Features Editor, Deborah Kendrick recently talked technology gadgets with Judy Redlich, long-time AccessWorld reader and radio show host for a program called "Encounter," on KSIV radio covering the greater St. Louis, MO area.? Deborah Kendrick's holiday gifts article in the November issue sparked Judy's interest, and she decided it would be good information to share with her radio show listeners. We all three agreed, even one piece of information or a simple technology gadget can make a huge difference in the life of someone who is blind or visually impaired.

Deborah and I want to thank Judy for helping us to share information about holiday gift ideas, general information about AFB, and living with vision loss. It was a pleasure speaking with Judy and sharing our thoughts and perspectives with her radio show listeners. You can listen to a recorded version of the show and other great content by visiting https://www.judyredlich.com/podcast/accessworld/.

AFB and Gatewave Radio Enter into Partnership

Recently, AFB and Gatewave Inc. entered into a partnership which we hope will benefit people with vision loss. Gatewave Inc. is a radio service for independent living ("Gatewave"), is a not-for-profit audio service for listeners who are blind, visually impaired or have other physical or cognitive disabilities that impact their ability to read or hold daily, weekly and monthly print material. It is one of the oldest such services nationwide since it was formed out of the readers and staff of the radio broadcasting team of the former In Touch Network, and it is the only such radio service in New York City.

Gatewave broadcasts readings directly from magazines, newspapers and the web, spoken by skilled broadcasters in their own human voices, never computers. It also finds and creates special content specifically to help listeners live a full life with vision loss.

AFB is making content from many of its newsletters and publications, including AccessWorld, available to Gatewave for reading on its radio service. It is AFB's hope that this new outlet for our information will reach a new audience through Gatewave, which would otherwise not have been exposed to it. We are excited and looking forward to working with Gatewave to increase the dissemination of our content and, in turn, increase its impact.

To learn more about Gatewave, please visit the Gatewave website, or e-mail John Robinson john.robinson@nmbc.org or call 347-289-7620.

The American Foundation for the Blind to Begin Accepting Applications for its 2018 Scholarship Program

The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) administers 4 post-secondary education scholarships for up to 8 deserving students who are legally blind. The available scholarships for 2018 are detailed below.

The Rudolph Dillman Memorial Scholarship: Four scholarships of $2,500
Requirements:
Full-time Undergraduate or Graduate student
Studying rehabilitation or education of persons who are blind and/or visually impaired

The Paul and Ellen Ruckes Scholarship: Two scholarships of $2,000
Requirements:
Full time Undergraduate or Graduate student
Studying engineering or computer, physical, or life sciences

The R.L. Gillette, Gladys C. Anderson, and Karen D. Carsel Memorial Scholarship: One scholarship of $3,500
Requirements:
Female undergraduate student
Studying music

The Delta Gamma Foundation Florence Margaret Harvey Memorial Scholarship: One scholarship of $1,000
Requirements:
Undergraduate or graduate student
Studying rehabilitation or education of persons who are blind or visually impaired.

Visit the AFB scholarships website for further information and to complete an application.
Please direct all scholarship questions to:
Aaron Preece, Scholarship Coordinator
Telephone: 304-710-3034
E-mail: apreece@afb.net

Sensible Innovations named as Consumer Electronics Show 2018 Innovation Awards Honoree

Sensible Innovations' Aware audible way-finding app for visually impaired people has been named a Consumer Electronics Show 2018 Innovation Awards Honoree in the Smart Cities product category.

Aware works with iBeacons, to provide indoor and outdoor turn-by-turn navigational directions, and location descriptions, designed with a focus on visually impaired people, and it plays in real time where and when it matters.

"Aware is making a significant impact on the lives of visually impaired people in areas where it is already in use. We have placed iBeacons at Glenwood High School in Chatham, Mary Bryant Home for the Blind in Springfield, the Rosa Parks Hempstead Transit Center in New York, which in September we won a METRO Magazine award for our partnership with Nassau-Inter-County Express at BusCon, and at The Chicago Lighthouse," said Rasha Said, Sensible Innovations CEO and founder.

Aware scored highly across all judging criteria by a distinguished panel of independent industrial designers, engineers, and members of the trade media, and the audible way-finding app joins a small percentage of other products awarded each year. Entries are evaluated on engineering, design, intended function, and user value, as well as how the product compares to others in the marketplace.

While the Innovation Honorees were recently announced in New York City, at CES Unveiled New York, Aware will be showcased at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in January 2018. Following CES Aware will be displayed at events around the world.

For more information visit the Sensible Innovations website.

Senators Markey and Capito Introduce Legislation to Improve Educational Opportunities for Visual and Hearing-Impaired Students

Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.) today introduced bipartisan legislation that would strengthen the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to ensure that visual and hearing-impaired students receive the best possible education. The Alice Cogswell and Anne Sullivan Macy Act will improve the effectiveness and personalization of education and services for students who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind, visually impaired, and deaf-blind. The legislation would improve reporting and evaluation measures of special education in each state, increase training for teachers and other special education professionals, and reaffirm the Department of Education's mission and responsibility to ensure an accessible and quality education for all students.

This bill is named after Alice Cogswell, the first deaf student to be formally educated in the United States, and Anne Sullivan Macy, Helen Keller's famous teacher. Congressman Matt Cartwright (PA-17) and Congressman David McKinley (WV-1) introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives earlier this year.

"More than one hundred years after Anne Sullivan Macy worked with Hellen Keller at Massachusetts's Perkins School, we are coming together to ensure that students in the 21st century receive the best education,"?said Senator Markey.?"I am happy to introduce this legislation with Senator Capito to help deaf, blind, and deaf-blind students across the country?by?improving?access to quality education and offering?them the chance to work with effective educators and trained professionals. Every student should have the opportunity to maximize their God-given abilities, and our bill will help thousands of students do just that."

"It is essential students in West Virginia and across the nation who are deaf, hard of hearing or have vision loss receive the specialized services they need to reach their fullest potential," said Senator Capito. "The Cogswell-Macy Act would help ensure the educational needs of these students are better met."

A copy of the legislation can be found HERE.

Specifically, the Cogswell-Macy Act would:

• Require states to identify and evaluate children who are visually and hearing impaired so that appropriate services can be delivered to each student, and report instances when they fall short
• Help parents and educators stay informed and up-to-date through written policy guidance released regularly from the Department of Education
• Encourage states to plan for and commit to specialized instruction for all deaf, hard of hearing, blind, visually impaired, and deaf-blind students, provided by trained personnel
• Establish the Anne Sullivan Macy Center of Vision Loss and Educational Excellence within the Department of Education to function as a national resource to better support students with visual disabilities

"Since 1975, the law has worked wonders in terms of ensuring the right of every student with a disability to be included in our public education system," said Mark Richert, Policy Director for the American Foundation for the Blind. "But what we've never done is to make sure that students, particularly kiddos who are blind, visually impaired, deaf, hard of hearing, or deafblind, get what they need once they get in the schoolhouse door. With Senate introduction of the Cogswell-Macy Act, we're signaling to everyone that we're not prepared to wait for the needs of another generation of students with sensory disabilities to be ignored before we work with our amazing champions on the Hill to change things."

"This bill acknowledges and supports the various ways that deaf and hard of hearing children learn. There is 'no one size fits all' under IDEA, and the Cogswell-Macy Act will provide guidance to states as to how to tailor individualized education to these students, particularly in the areas of language and communication," said Sandra Edwards, President of the Conference of Educational Administrators of Schools and Programs for the Deaf (CEASD) and Superintendent of the Mississippi School for the Deaf.

"We are thrilled that the Cogswell-Macy Act will be introduced in the Senate and thank Senator Markey for his leadership and passion," said Dave Power, President and CEO of Perkins School for the Blind. "Perkins has been a fierce advocate in ensuring that blind, visually-impaired, and deafblind students have access to the highest quality services here in Massachusetts and nationally. Their ability to fulfill their unique potential requires the strongest possible IDEA and our ongoing commitment to seeing its execution."

"When it becomes the law of the land, the Cogswell-Macy Act will empower students who are deafblind to succeed in the 21st century American classroom," said Mussie Gebre, President of DeafBlind Citizens in Action (DBCA). "As deafblind people speaking for ourselves, we in DBCA know from personal experience how providing interveners, qualified teachers, and the whole range of instructional services and supports today will make it possible tomorrow for society to fully benefit from the brain power and drive that our community has to offer."

Firefox 57 (Firefox Quantum) released, screen readers to experience Slowdowns or incompatibility

Mozilla has released Firefox Quantum (version 57) which makes significant changes to the underlying architecture of the browser to provide speed increases and lower memory usage. More information on the update can be found here. Unfortunately, the changes to the browsers will cause significant slowing of the browser for users of assistive technology. Users of assistive technology who use Firefox are encouraged to install the Firefox Extended Support Release which can be found here. Various organizations and individuals have provided information on this situation. Freedom Scientific released this statement regarding JAWS and the new version of Firefox. NV Access released this statement regarding NVDA and Firefox. Marco Zehe of Firefox published this blog post describing the issue and providing information on fixes for screen reader users in future updates of Firefox.

Deadline Nears for National Braille Press's Touch of Genius Prize.

The Touch of Genius Prize for Innovation was developed to inspire an entrepreneur, educator or inventor to continue the promotion of braille and tactile literacy for blind and deafblind people worldwide. The Prize can be granted for innovative, accessible computer software, Android applications, iOS applications, or tactile hardware that promotes braille and/or tactile literacy for blind people.?The deadline to apply is January 12, 2018.? For more information please visit: http://www.nbp.org/ic/nbp/technology/tog/tog_submission.html.

For 30 years, a parade of refreshable braille devices has come and gone, delighting and amazing braille users with a wide array of features. Some have been simple terminals, braille devices that display for the reader whatever text is on the computer, tablet, or smart phone screen. These range in size from 14 to 80 cells, the smallest, at 3 by 5 inches, fitting into most pockets. Other more sophisticated machines in fierce competition for the business of braille users are the devices collectively referred to as notetakers. Many have extremely sophisticated applications onboard, enabling the user to handle email, read and write documents, search the internet, and more.

If, in all this progress, there is one commonly agreed upon quest, the holy grail of refreshable braille devices, if you will, it would be the widely held desire for a single device, preferably portable, that combined the familiar feel of a braille device while employing the very same applications used by sighted users and, indeed, by blind people themselves when stationed at a personal computer.

The ElBraille portable device, which recently began shipping from VFO Group (formerly Freedom Scientific) comes closer to fulfilling that collective wish than any other device in 20 years. There was, in the mid-90s, a stunning laptop that boasted a full-blown computer (a Pentium 5 processor and Windows 95) with a 40-cell refreshable braille display. Remarkable though it was, the SuperBraille never claimed much of the market. At a cost of $15,000 in 1995 dollars, very few units were sold. Besides bearing a price tag that put it beyond the means of most blind consumers, the SuperBraille weighed probably 15 pounds and was the size of a sturdy briefcase. Again, except for that one blip on the 30-year history of refreshable braille devices available to blind consumers, there hasn't been a product that has married the personal, familiar presence of braille to a device that used the same mainstream applications used by blind and sighted computer users at work, school, and home.

A Braille-Based Windows 10 Portable Computer

The 14-cell ElBraille, introduced last year and only very recently available for sale, is something like a docking station for the already popular Focus Blue 14. Its dimensions are 7.4 inches wide by 4.7 inches deep by 1.5 inches high. The information file loaded into the review unit stated the weight as 27 ounces, but it felt heavier to me. What makes the ElBraille special is that it's a full-blown Windows 10 computer.

The 14-cell model of the ElBraille has a similar footprint to a few other 18- or 20-cell braille notetakers that have been successful in the blindness market over the years. Its most dazzling feature, of course, is that it runs Windows 10 and, as of this writing, JAWS 18. In other words, the seasoned user of JAWS and braille can use applications that run on any Windows desktop machine--all of the familiar tools you use for word processing, web browsing, email, data management, and more--in a device that can fit easily into any backpack or briefcase.

The ElBraille actually comes in two flavors, the ElBraille 14, using a Focus Blue 14 for its braille display, and the ElBraille 40, using a 40-cell Focus. The ElBraille 14 was the model examined most closely for this review, and, as of December 2017, is the only model currently shipping. In the 14-cell version, the braille display and computer can be separated, so that the Focus 14 can be carried for use with a smart phone or other mobile device. The 40-cell version will be a single unit that incorporates a braille display and computer.

The Focus 14 snaps into the ElBraille, so all of the Focus 14 keys and controls are available, including the 8-key Perkins-style keyboard plus the Spacebar, cursor routing keys, and 12 other assorted buttons that perform various navigation and activation functions. Across the top of the ElBraille itself (and thus directly behind the Perkins-style keys when the Focus 14 is in place) are six buttons. The middle two in this row are used for increasing and decreasing volume. The outer four, dubbed E1 through E4, instantly perform a variety of functions such as announcing time, date, battery level, Wi-Fi connection, typing or recording a quick note, emergency reboot, and more. The ElBraille also offers the following:

• 160 GB internal memory
• 2 GB RAM
• Two stereo speakers
• Built-in microphone
• Sound and vibration feedback
• Three-color LED lights (providing power and connectivity information)
• Wireless and Bluetooth connectivity
• GPS receiver
• 3.5mm headphone jack
• built-in card slot for SD, SDHC, and SDXC cards of up to 256 GB
• USB 3.0 port
• Mini HDMI port

Fully charged, the ElBraille battery is good for at least 20 hours, even when using wireless connectivity. The unit can, of course, also be used while connected with the supplied AC adapter.

For the braille-using JAWS veteran, there is something undeniably exhilarating when first booting up this machine. The familiarity of JAWS and Windows in such a small device--and a device with a braille display--is initially thrilling because it is unique. While the learning curve may be a bit steep for some, that excitement is not unwarranted.

Mainstream Windows Applications

Because it runs Windows 10, the ElBraille connects quickly and easily to any wireless network. In fact, I found it easier to connect than my Windows 10 laptop! All of the familiar Windows terrain is at your fingertips: the Desktop, Task Manager, System Tray, Start menu--the usual Windows environment is entirely intact.

Although the particular unit I used for review did not have Microsoft Office installed, the ElBraille does indeed support Microsoft Office 2016, 2013, and 2007, and I witnessed the action of these programs loading and running on another ElBraille sufficiently to give that area of performance high marks.

For accessing the internet, I used Mozilla Firefox, but any popular web browser that cooperates with JAWS and Windows 10 will suffice; again, the familiarity and speed added up to a pleasant experience. Web pages loaded quickly, and all of the routine JAWS navigation keys for jumping to headings, buttons, form controls, etc., worked beautifully.

While the ElBraille is a fully formed Windows 10 computer in a tiny package, it also boasts some specialty features as a braille notetaker. Sometimes, what we need is not the magnificence of a high-speed computer but simply the ability to jot a quick note. ElBraille provides for that with just a few keystrokes, which open the familiar Notepad application for typing a quick text note. This is done through the special ElBraille menu, which provides quick access to a handful of features users might want to launch quickly, bypassing the usual navigation steps. Speaking of quick access, the initial boot-up process is not fast. It takes some time. Because the battery life is so good, I found it best to leave the machine running rather than repeatedly powering on and off.

Robust Performance with a Learning Curve

As a bona fide portable computer with both speech and braille output, the ElBraille definitely succeeds. It is not, however, a device that will please all blind computer users.

The ElBraille does not have a screen or a QWERTY keyboard. The only visual indicators are the three LED lights that provide information regarding power and connectivity.

For those readers familiar with JAWS (or any screen reader) the problem will be readily apparent. How does one simulate those numerous keystrokes that render navigation and screen access so manageable?

The answer is an ingenious collection of combination keys that dedicated braille users will probably relish and others perhaps not so much!

Some of these commands are executed by a combination of one or more of the dot 1-6 keys along with dot 8 and the Spacebar. Those familiar with braille devices will recognize this system immediately as chording, a practice that dates back to the first refreshable braille devices in the 1980s. Dot 6, for example, is assigned as Alt. Thus, dot 6 + dot 8 + the Spacebar simulates pressing the Alt key on a QWERTY keyboard. Dot 2 is for Insert. Thus, dot 2 + dot 8 + Spacebar equals a press of the Insert key. Up and Down Arrow are simulated by dots 1 and dot 4 chords, respectively. Thus, for example, the command for continuous reading in JAWS, typically executed by pressing Insert + Down Arrow is accomplished by pressing dot 2 + dot 8 + Spacebar (Insert) followed by dot 4 + Spacebar (Down Arrow).

While this may seem daunting or cumbersome, it actually became quite easy after a bit of practice, and would undoubtedly seem so for most experienced braille keyboard users.

Some will find the absence of the screen and QWERTY keyboard sacrifices not worth making. Many seasoned users of both braille and JAWS will, however, welcome this as the closest yet we've come to that holy grail of braille computers.

Product Information

For customers who already own a copy of JAWS and a Focus 14 braille display, the cost of the ElBraille is $1,795. The Focus 14 itself is $995, and JAWS Home Edition is $900. Thus, if you are purchasing all three at once, the total cost $3,690. To order or for additional information, visit the Freedom Scientific website or call 800-444-4443.

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In Part I of this series, I examined the Refreshabraille and Smart Beetle. In this article, I will be reviewing the Braille Pen Touch and the Focus 14. Both of these displays offer some unique functionality at slightly different price points.

The BraillePen 12 Touch

The BraillePen 12 Touch is a 12-cell display manufactured by Harpo. Of the displays on the market in November 2017, this one is the least expensive. If you are on a budget, this display is worth considering.

The Braille Pen 12 Touch is generally rectangular in shape, though the top edge is formed by two convex curves that meet in the middle. All controls are found on the display's top facing surface. It's very lightweight, weighing in at about half a pound. The Braille Pen 12 Touch should be oriented on a flat surface with the braille display closest to you. On either side of the display, is a round panning button. Above the braille cells, you will find a small plastic line with grooves for each cell of the display. Behind the plastic line, slightly elevated, you will find three keys. From left to right they are: dot 7, Spacebar, and dot 8. Located behind dot 7, from left to right, you will find dots 3, 2, and 1. Above the Spacebar, you will find a joystick. Above dot 8, from left to right, you will find dots 4, 5, and 6. On the sides of the BraillePen are small slots for attaching the included lanyard. The front edge is blank; on the back, located on the right side, you will find a charging port.

Connecting the BraillePen 12 Touch to an iOS Device

To pair the BraillePen 12 Touch with an iOS device, put the device into discoverable mode: turn the display on by pressing Space + dot 1 + dot 3; listen for a series of beeps (the first longer beep indicates that the BraillePen 12 Touch is on, after the next set of beeps the Bluetooth interface should be activated). Go to braille settings within the VoiceOver menu on your iOS device and select "BraillePen 12 Touch." Once selected, you will need to enter the pin code 1234 on the iOS device and then activate the "Pair" button. After a couple of seconds, the BraillePen 12 Touch should be connected.

Unique Features of the BraillePen 12 Touch

Clipboards Aren't Just For Holding Papers

One of the things some braille display manufacturers try to do is offset challenges posed by the way Apple handles translation of text input with a braille display in iOS 10 and earlier. Harpo has done this with a feature called Clipboard. It's partially designed to serve as a basic notetaker, but also transfers information from the BraillePen 12 Touch to a connected device. Unlike the Smart Beetle (reviewed in Part I of this series), this Clipboard retains data even after it has been sent to a connected device. To invoke the Clipboard, press the left panning button with dot 3 and dot 7. You will see a cursor, and then can begin typing. Since typing dot 7 with Spacebar will insert a computer braille dot 7 rather than backspacing, to delete a character, press the left panning button with dot 1, dot 2, and dot 3. You can clear the Clipboard by pressing the left and right panning buttons together along with dots 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. To exit the Clipboard, press the right panning button with dot 6 and 8. If you do not clear the Clipboard before exiting, the text you have entered will be saved. You can review saved content by invoking the Clipboard again.

Though you can actively use the Clipboard while connected to your iOS device, this setting must first be activated within a menu. When you turn on the BraillePen 12 Touch, press dot 7 with the Spacebar. This will bring up the internal menu. Press the joystick in a downward direction until you find an option called "cbrd run off," and press down on the Joystick to select it. Use the joystick to navigate to "on," and press down on the joystick to select it. Navigate to "exit," and press down on the joystick to close the menu. Since whatever you type will be sent from the BraillePen to your iOS device, make sure that the braille input code on your iOS device is set to the same braille code you are typing in. To send text from the Clipboard to your iOS device, press the left and right panning buttons together with Spacebar.

Touch Cursor Routing

Earlier I discussed the plastic line located just above the braille display. This line contains sensors that route the cursor to the cell located below them when activated. You can configure the amount of time it takes to activate the sensors, as well as whether or not the display vibrates when the cursor has been rerouted. You will find both settings in the BraillePen's menu. The delay for activating cursor routing can be set from 0 to 9.

The Case

Unlike other displays on the market, the BraillePen case secures the device by using a hook-and-loop fastener that attaches the bottom of the BraillePen 12 Touch to its case. When flipped open, the user can access all of the keys and buttons on the surface of the device. There is a magnetic flap that connects to the bottom of the case to close it when not in operation. While the case does not come with a strap, the BraillePen comes with a lanyard that attaches to the display itself. There are little slots in the case that accommodate the lanyard so that it can be worn around your neck.

Miscellaneous

Unlike other displays I've discussed, the BraillePen does not charge via Micro USB. Instead, the round connector that goes into the back of the BraillePen is a proprietary plug. This means the user is dependent on the manufacturer for replacement cables if they lose or break the one that came with the display.

When connected to an iOS device, Spacebar + K will invoke VoiceOver Help. However, as you may recall from before, Spacebar + K also turns the BraillePen on and off. This remains the case when connected to external devices. On iOS, you activate VoiceOver Help by pressing Spacebar + K + dot 7.

Although you can tell the status of the BraillePen's battery by going into its internal menu, you also get a general idea of the battery status when you turn it on. This information is communicated through a series of beeps. When the BraillePen is switched on, you will hear a long beep. After this, the series of beeps you hear depends on the state of the battery. For example, if the battery is fully charged but not connected to AC power, you will hear three long beeps. If the battery is close to dying and not connected to AC, you will hear a pause followed by a beep indicating that Bluetooth is active. For the full list of what each set of beeps means, consult the manual. While this feature can come in handy, the high-pitched beeps may not be audible if you have high-frequency hearing loss. Since the BraillePen has the ability to vibrate, it would be nice to have this same information communicated via vibration. Not only would this provide an option those with hearing loss, but some people simply prefer their displays to be silent.

Battery life on the BraillePen seems to be around 10 hours of use when connected to an external device. USB connection is not available on the BraillePen.

The Focus 14

Unlike the other displays I've reviewed up to this point, the Focus 14 comes in two sizes: 14 and 40 cells. The 14-cell version is shaped like the Smart Beetle (discussed in Part I), and it feels like it weighs about the same as the BraillePen. When the Focus is oriented so the buttons are closest to you, you'll find 8 buttons and controls on the front. From left to right, they are: left selector button, left rocker bar, left panning button, left shift button, right shift button, right panning button, right rocker bar, and right selector button.

On the top surface of the Focus 14, you have the Spacebar closest to you, and then the 14 braille cells with a cursor routing button above each. To the left and right of the display, you will find a nav rocker switch. Above each switch, there is a mode button. At the back, you will find the 8-dot, Perkins-style keyboard. From left to right are dots 7, 3, 2, and 1, a small gap, and then dots 4, 5, 6, and 8. The right side of the Focus 14 is empty. On the left side, from front to back, you have the power button and the Micro-USB port for charging and connecting to USB-enabled devices.

Connecting The Focus 14 to an iOS Device

Connecting the Focus 14 to an iOS device follows the traditional method of entering a PIN. First, turn the Focus on and make sure you are not connected via USB to another device. Within a few seconds of powering on, the Focus 14 will have an active Bluetooth connection. Go to braille settings within the VoiceOver menu and select the Focus 14. When prompted, enter the PIN 0000, select "Pair,"and the Focus 14 should display whatever VoiceOver is focused on.

Unique Features of The Focus 14

Controls, Switches, and Buttons? Oh My!

The thing that stands out most to me about the Focus 14 is the quantity of functions afforded the user by the number of buttons and controls on the device. The bars and switches can be moved up or down, while the buttons have individual functions. When pressed up, the left rocker bar will scroll up one page, and will scroll down one page when pressed toward the bottom of the Focus 14. The right rocker bar will scroll left one page when pressed upward, and right one page when pressed downward. The left nav rocker will move to the previous rotor setting when pressed up, and the next rotor setting when pressed down. The right nav rocker switch will move left one item when pressed upward, and right one item when pressed downward. One advantage to using these controls to navigate over the VoiceOver set of braille keyboard commands is that you can hold these switches down to move through the various items rapidly. The speed at which these controls move through various elements is adjustable via the internal menu.

The left and right panning buttons pan the braille display left or right, respectively. The left select button will activate the back button or Escape, while the right select button performs a two-finger double-tap. The left and right nav buttons perform a one-finger double-tap. The shift keys do not have any functions in iOS. If you don't like the functions preassigned to the controls on the front of the Focus 14, you can change them if you are running iOS 11 or later. For assistance doing this, please see the "DIY W/BRL" section of this article from applevis.

The Case

The Focus 14 comes with a case that allows access to all device controls. The case can be a bit tricky to secure to the braille display, and failure to do so properly has led to many individuals I know dropping the device. Inserting the Focus 14 properly into the case involves sliding it in front first without allowing the back of the display to hook onto any of the latches or the 2 metal rings located within the case. Alternatively, Executive Products offers a case that costs $55.94. This case is much easier to secure around the Focus 14, closes with metal instead of hook-and-loop, and has a zippered pocket to store dongles or other small accessories.

Conclusion

The battery life on the Focus is around 20 hours. Unlike the BraillePen 12 Touch, the Focus 14 charges via a Micro-USB cable and can be used with devices that require USB connections. For just $100 more, you get two more braille cells, USB connectivity, double the battery life, and the ability to perform many VoiceOver functions from the front of the device. However, the Clipboard and other unique functions of the BraillePen 12 Touch may make it the better choice for some.

Product Information

Product: Braille Pen 12 Touch
Distributer: Flying Blind LLC
Price: $895
Product: Focus 14
Manufacturer: VFO Group
Price: $995

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When you think of the holidays, what are some associations that immediately come to mind? Most likely, you would think of family and friends, giving and receiving presents, and perhaps religious observances of some sort or other. There is often a common thread running through all of these associations: eating! Who can resist Grandma's famous peanut butter pie, or Aunt Myrtle's scrumptious noodles? How can you possibly say no to your boss when he brings fudge to work, or a colleague who offers you a homemade chocolate chip cookie?

For most people, the holidays add a few pounds and cause some discomfort when putting on dress clothes for the yearly office party—a situation that can be rectified by a trip to the local gym on January 2, along with a New Year's resolution to get healthy once again. For a person who deals with diabetes, however, the problem is a bit more complex.

Many of the holiday treats that we all love to partake in bring with them unwanted carbs, causing a diabetic's blood sugar to soar into the stratosphere, not to mention other unwanted ingredients such as high amounts of sodium that further impede a person's ability to live a healthy life. So what is a person with diabetes supposed to do? Avoid all of the holiday foods around them? Not at all. It is important, however, for a diabetic to make some wise choices as to what, and how much, they will eat. Below are some suggestions for navigating the holidays as someone with diabetes and a visual impairment.

Counting the Cost: Resources for Healthy Choices

In the year and a half since I was first diagnosed as a type-2 diabetic, I've been constantly surprised at just how inaccurate I can be when it comes to estimating how many grams of carbohydrates (carbs) are in the food I am about to eat. Does that tiny little donut really contain 58 carbs—almost the amount allotted for an entire meal? Can I really have four peanut clusters as a snack for only 15 carbs? What I need is a way to keep myself accountable and get the straight scoop on what I am really putting into my mouth. For me, an invaluable tool is MyFitnessPal. This "free calorie counter, diet tracker, and exercise journal" has both a website and iOS app that are easy for me to use.

MyFitnessPal also has an app on the Google Play store, but I have no experience with using it. With MyFitnessPal, I can easily look up information for my favorite foods in order to find out how many carbs, calories, and grams of sodium a food contains. I can enter my weight as well as exercise information into the app, and set weight and exercise goals for myself.

At times, stopping what I am doing to enter information into MyFitnessPal is tedious, and I don't always maintain records as well as I should, but the app and website are there when I need them. MyFitnessPal is free, with purchased upgrades available to, among other things, get rid of advertising.

A quick book search on National Braille Press's website turned up several books relating to healthy recipes including a book on desserts for those with diabetes, as well as a carb counting reference. For those like me who enjoy a good reference book and don't always want to fiddle with an app, a good book might be an excellent tool to add to your arsenal. NBP offers books in hard copy and electronic braille, as well as books in electronic formats including Word and DAISY.

Finally, In the August 2016 issue of AccessWorld, I reviewed the I.D. Mate Galaxy from En-Vision America, a stand-alone device that scans product barcodes, and reads packaging information aloud to the user. At over $1,000, this product is a significant investment, and many will prefer to use an app on their smartphone for this purpose, but I have found the Galaxy to be a wonderful tool to help me make healthy choices when it comes to eating at home.

You Can't Sit Still and Stay Healthy

I once had a nutritionist tell me that everyone should eat like a diabetic. In other words, being healthy is something we should all strive for. If it is true that we should all be healthy eaters, then it stands to reason that we should all get plenty of exercise. This is especially true for someone who is diabetic. Holidays can certainly bring both negative and positive stress to a person's life, and exercise can help reduce that stress, lowering blood glucose levels, and improving heart health, just to name a few benefits. In the June 2017 issue, AccessWorld featured BlindAlive, a website created by Mel Scott that provides exercise programs tailored for blind and visually impaired people. Along with easily understood exercises, BlindAlive offers podcasts and blog posts on a variety of health topics, healthy eating being chief among them. While diabetes may not always be mentioned specifically, any diabetic with a visual impairment will certainly gain something from paying frequent visits to this site.

Taking Extra Steps: Medication and Diabetes Management for People with Visual Impairments

In the February 2017 issue of AccessWorld, I chronicle the start of my journey into managing diabetes as a blind person. In that article, I talk about my use of oral medication to treat diabetes. The Prodigy Voice from Prodigy Diabetes Care is still the blood-glucose monitoring device I use today, and I currently do not need to give myself injections of insulin. I spoke with a blind person who uses insulin regularly for this article, however. In answer to my questions, she told me that she uses insulin pens that she disposes of when they are empty. Each pen contains 300 units of insulin, and she is easily able to give herself the correct dosage of insulin by counting the clicks that are easily detectable—one click for each unit of insulin. When the pen is empty, no more clicks are detectable. Pens are used until they either run out of insulin, or there is not enough insulin left for a full dose. She is able to count clicks to determine how many units of insulin are left in a pen, and a new needle is used each time an injection is given. She does not prefer one brand of insulin pen over another, and has no trouble counting clicks with any of the pens she uses. Since it takes both hands to hold the pen and inject herself, she finds it easiest to use her abdomen as the injection site.

In the article mentioned above, I also mention talking blood pressure monitors. I do not have experience with these, but talking blood pressure monitors are still available from the sites mentioned in that article.

Final Thoughts

Nobody wants to be the person at the party who can't have any fun. Fortunately, even as a diabetic, you don't have to fit into that category. There may be some foods that just aren't healthy, and you may opt to either turn them down altogether or find healthier options. In other cases, portion control may be a perfectly valid option. Whatever route you decide to take, there are plenty of accessible tools to assist you as a blind person in making an informed decision. With that in mind, have a happy, healthy holiday season!

Are there any tips you would like to pass along? Please leave us a comment. We would love to hear from you.

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Technology advances so rapidly, sometimes it's hard to keep up. Like computer technology, vision technology is also advancing at an increasingly rapid clip. Though many of the most exciting advances in vision technology are still in the experimental phase, and won't be available for years, here are two advancements that are just about ready for prime time, which is to say they are about to begin actual clinical trials. The first is a new medication that takes a different approach to treating advanced macular degeneration (AMD), and the second is the first step toward creating vision without an optic nerve, or even an eye.

A Different Approach to Treating AMD

In the September 2017 issue of AccessWorld we introduced you to UK research fellow Felicity de Cogan, who is working toward creating an eye drop that can deliver AMD medication. Today the only effective treatment for AMD is regular intravitreal (back-of-the eye) injections of a class of drugs known as Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) inhibitors. VEGF is the protein that promotes new blood vessel growth, also called angiogenesis. Angiogenesis is necessary for normal body maintenance, such as new vessel growth associated with wound healing, but when it misfires in overstressed retinal cells, it can lead to excessive vessel formation in the macula, causing the permanent damage known as wet AMD. Currently approved VEGF inhibitors are antibodies that bind to the VEGF protein itself and suppress vessel formation. Unfortunately, currently approved VEGF inhibitors are relatively large—too large to be administered via eye drops. The only way for them to reach their target is by injections, which can be a burdensome process for both patients and their caregivers.

"These injections are generally well-tolerated, but do carry a few serious risks, such as retinal detachment and infection, as well as occasional pain and discomfort. But the need for chronic retreatment also increases the burden on patients and their caregivers, and in time may lead patients to stop treatment," says Paul Chaney, President and Chief Executive Officer of New Jersey-based PanOptica Pharma.

While de Cogan is working to develop a way to transport these large molecules to the retina using eye drops that bind the antibodies to special peptides, Chaney and his team of researchers are working toward an alternate treatment. Recently PanOptica received $11 million in new funding 1 to begin a Phase 1/2 safety and efficacy testing of a new formulation of an experimental medication that shows promise of treating wet AMD with a compound one thousand times smaller than currently approved VEGF inhibitors. The new compound, currently known simply as PAN-90806, is a different kind of anti-VEGF medication. Here?s what that means:

VEGF receptors are located in tissues throughout the human body, including the blood vessels in the retina. In order for retinal blood vessels to grow, VEGF needs to fit into one of those receptors—kind of like a key fitting into a keyhole. The current VEGF inhibitors work by binding themselves to the keys, so that they no longer fit inside the lock and thus cannot unleash damaging vessel growth. In PanOptica's new "small molecule" approach, instead of disabling the key, the drug blocks the keyhole, preventing angiogenesis.

Small molecule anti-VEGFs are also used in cancer therapies, with drugs like Sutent (sunitinib) and Nexavar (sorafenib) as important treatment options. "There are a number of these agents available, but as cancer therapies, they were developed to be administered orally – as a pill," says Chaney. "Our mission was to find one that can be administered in an eye drop that delivers the drug to its intended VEGF receptor target in the back of the eye. The drug does not go through the eye, as one might suppose, say, in the way that glaucoma drops work. PAN-90806 is not absorbed through the cornea but rather "is absorbed by blood vessels in the conjunctiva and is carried by the blood vessels around the outside of the eye to the central choroid and retina, where the damage from wet AMD occurs," Chaney explains.

In a previously completed study, 45 percent of subjects with wet AMD treated with two very low doses of a first-generation formulation demonstrated measurable improvements. However, at higher dosages some recipients experienced corneal irritation. "The new generation version recently developed shows the potential for significantly better corneal safety, which suggests we should be able to safely employ higher and more effective doses in a once-a-day eye drop," says Chaney.

The company is planning to enroll up to 60 patients for up to three months of treatment with eye drops in 2018 clinical trials. Test subjects must be newly diagnosed patients who have not yet received VEGF inhibitor treatment, although if no improvement is seen, patients will be offered standard treatment. "This is the only way we can gauge effectiveness," notes Chaney.

One Step Closer to a Bionic Eye

It's been over four years since our very first vision tech article, Four Emerging Vision-Enhancing Technologies, in which we mentioned the Argus II retinal implant from Second Sight Medical Products, which was approved by the FDA in February of that year for the treatment of late-stage retinitis pigmentosa. The Argus II uses special eyeglasses with a mounted camera that sends its electronic data to a small receiver/computer. This unit codes the stream and sends the information to a retina-implanted chip, which forwards the signal through the optic nerve and into the brain.

More recently, in the March 2016 AccessWorld, we described the work of Professor Arthur Lowery, from Australia's Monash University, who is developing an implantable chip that can receive signals and bypass the retina completely and send visual images directly to the brain. Presently, Lowery is preparing to submit an ethics application for human trials.

At the convergence of these two technologies, Second Sight has now received permission to begin preliminary human clinical trials of a skull-implantable visual prosthesis known as Orion. Orion will use the same type of external glasses and processor as the Argus, but instead of sending the signal to a retinal chip, the signals will be delivered to a chip designed to stimulate the visual cortex of the brain—similar to but with differences from the one Lowery works with.

According to Second Sight founder and current Chairman Dr. Robert Greenberg, the company is hoping to enroll five patients split between The University of California, Los Angeles, and Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. Also according to Greenberg, "The Orion was in our original roadmap when we began developing the Argus." The Argus took over 20 years to develop—whereas work on the Orion began in earnest in 2014. "As things turned out, the eye was an excellent place to work out the technical details for the Orion," says Greenberg.

One of the most important things the company learned was that individuals could make considerable use of a lot less vision than people thought. "Just a tiny bit of restored vision could have a tremendous impact on a person?s life," says Greenberg. They also learned how little it takes to provide that sight. "A group in Germany is working with 1500-pixel chips, but with our software, the 64 pixels we use can provide basically the same amount of visual acuity."

The Argus external hardware has been completely redesigned for 2018, and all current Argus users will be eligible for upgrades. "The glasses were designed 15 years ago, and were in need of an update. The new processing unit will also be 25 times more powerful than the current model."

According to Greenberg, another technical achievement that helped propel the Orion's development is their work with miniaturizing the electronics while having them work inside the high-salt environment of the body. "The environment inside the human body is as salty as the ocean," he explains. "Imagine tossing a TV into the sea and expecting it to work. Now, shrink that TV down to the size of an aspirin and you have some idea of the technical challenge we faced."

The company spent many years and millions of dollars trying to develop a coating for their retinal chip. "We finally settled on a modified pacemaker solution, which is to put the chip inside a very small container, with sixty-four tiny inert metal rods that conduct the signal through to the retina in the Argus, and now the brain itself in the Orion."

The Argus encircles the eye with an antenna that receives both wireless signals and induction power. The Orion will implant this equipment under the skin near the ear—much as a cochlea implant does. The signal and power will then travel through a tiny cable to connect to the electrode array, which will lie against the brain atop the visual cortex.

The company's eventual goal is to miniaturize the processing unit so that it fits inside the glasses. Asked if there are any plans to incorporate the entire unit into a prosthetic, creating a "bionic" eye, Greenberg demurs. "When cochlear implants were first designed they were hoping eventually to shrink them down so they could fit inside the ear—and that was twenty years ago. Our thinking is that if we can give you the ability to regain vision by putting on a pair of glasses, our goal near-term then isn't to make it smaller, it's to increase the resolution and acuity of that vision. Eventually, these products will be fully implantable."

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You loved November's holiday gift guide for people with visual impairments, so here we are with an encore! Here are some more products, both practical and fun, to add to your gift-buying list. Again, some products are items designed specifically for people with visual impairments, while others are pulled from the mainstream market. Nearly all are priced under $100.

Adding Color to Life: The Rainbow Color Reader Color Identification Device

Anyone who likes to shop and has trouble telling the red shirt from the yellow one is going to love this first amazing little gadget. The Rainbow Color Reader will be one of the gifts that rapidly becomes indispensable to the one who receives it. About two inches long and an inch wide, the Rainbow Color Reader has only one button. Hold its lens firmly against any item—a jacket, a sock, a wall, or an automobile—and press the button to find out the object's color. The device identifies up to 40 colors and speaks them in a clear female voice. The unit has adjustable volume and convenient key ring for attaching to your keys or backpack. $95 from the Adaptations store, San Francisco Lighthouse for the Blind, 415-694-7301.

Cooking Gadgets for People with Visual Impairments

Create your own breakfast sandwich with ease and speed with this toaster that cooks your egg and your toast or bagel, too. The West Bend TEM500 Egg and Muffin Toaster comes with its own mini skillet, just the right size to cook an egg, which it does for you while toasting your bread. $35 from Amazon.

If pouring the perfect cup of tea or coffee without burning a finger is a problem for you or someone on your list, the EasyFill from the American Printing House for the Blind (APH) can take the sting (and the finger) out of the operation. Just attach this simple device to the rim of a cup or glass, and stop pouring when you hear the tone. Measures hot or cold. $18 from APH or call 800-223-1839.

Another useful kitchen item is a talking cooking thermometer, also available from APH for $39. A convenient tool in the kitchen when knowing the precise temperature of food is important for determining doneness.

Health and Fitness Gifts for People with Visual Impairments

The Speak To Me catalog offers a variety of talking products for monitoring health at home. The Talking Blood Pressure monitor comes with two cuffs and speaks in five languages, ($80). Other talking health products from the same company include a forehead thermometer ($50), an oximeter for monitoring oxygen level and pulse rate ($60), and a low-cost sonic toothbrush with extra brushes ($20). Visit the Speak to Me Catalog site or call 800-248-9965.

For the friend or loved one who is addicted to fitness or just wants to begin getting in shape, browse the BlindAlive site for a workout from beginner to advanced levels. All are downloadable or can be mailed on a flash drive or CD. Read Introducing Blind Alive and Eyes-Free Fitness: Fitness Is More Than Meets the Eye for more information on this website.

Fun Gifts for People with Visual Impairments

I included coloring books in the November gift guide, because I loved the news that blind people can now enjoy tactile images to pass the time with crayons. Try National Braille Press for books of dinosaurs or farm animals (about $15) or the American Printing House for the Blind for more expensive educational coloring books (around $40). Visit the National Braille Press website or call 800-548-7323. You can also visit the APH website or call 800-223-1839.

If drawing doesn't appeal to you or your gift recipient, playing in the sand or the snow can be for grown-ups, too! Brookstone offers versions that might even go to the office. Floof, Brookstone's pretend snow, sticks to itself while not clinging to other surfaces. Try Polar Babies Bucket or Floof Play Balls Bucket (each $15) Create while trying to come up with the answer to a problem or just to relax.

If sand is more appealing, Sand By Brookstone is a whimsical medium that stretches and oozes and holds its shape. Model a sand castle for your desk, and it will stay there till you model something else. $20 for original, $25 for color, each 2.2 pounds.

Travel Gifts for People with Visual Impairments

Weighing those bags before heading to the airport to be sure they are within allowable limits can be awkward if you aren't accustomed to schlepping 50- or 60-pound items around. The Speak To Me catalog offers a talking portable luggage scale ($30) that does not require lifting. Just place the handheld device on the top of your floor-planted suitcase and hear the weight announced in pounds or kilograms. Large backlit LCD renders reading friendly to users with low vision. Visit the Speak to Me Catalog website or call 800-248-9965.

If losing battery power for your cell phone or other portable device while you are on the road is a concern, Brookstone sells some holiday themed power banks (8000 mAh) ($25). Choose from a snowflake design, lighted tree, or snowman replete with scarf and carrot.

For a fully accessible power bank boasting a whopping 18,000 mAh, order the Power Bank designed for blind and visually impaired consumers ($89) available from the Harbolt Company and mentioned in our November 2017 Holiday Guide. The unit beeps and vibrates to let you know charging progress and status, thus making it usable by people who are blind or deafblind.

For the guide dog handler who would like to carry a lightweight white cane that can be tossed into a bag or purse (or even attached to the dog guide's harness) for use in emergencies, the Adaptations store at the San Francisco Lighthouse for the Blind offers two excellent solutions. The telescoping cane is tiny and comes in its own zippered case. The carbon fiber folding cane is a bit sturdier for use in wayfinding. Both are available in various lengths. Adaptations store, San Francisco Lighthouse for the Blind, 415-694-7301.

Portable Audio Notetaker

While some of us still find jotting a note with a traditional slate and stylus or bold pen the most convenient approach, there are plenty of other ways to retrieve and store small snatches of information. Many blind and low vision people prefer an audio recording of a phone number, email address, recipe, or calendar item, and there are plenty of tools for capturing information in this way. One particularly popular and inexpensive device is the Wilson Digital Voice Recorder from the Braille Superstore ($50). The device holds up to 12 hours of recorded messages, and offers easy controls for recording and playing messages as well as easy navigation for moving from one recording to another.

Gifts for Sharing with Others

Of course, there is no gift more appreciated than the gift of time together. Plan a meal, a night of movie watching or card games, or a one-on-one session for sharing tips and tricks with technology. If you want to combine time together with a gift that is ongoing, try a subscription to an online streaming service with lots of audio description programming, such as Netflix or Amazon Prime, or a subscription to an innovative service for blind people such as AIRA.

Whatever your budget and your choices, spend as much holiday time as possible with people you love and enjoy the season!

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