Dear AccessWorld readers,

In 2003, AccessWorld made the transition from hard copy to the world of online publication. Since that time, AccessWorld has experienced phenomenal growth, and we are grateful to our loyal readers who have supported our magazine and participated in the many surveys we conduct. We are equally grateful to the men and women who have contributed their time and vast knowledge in order to establish AccessWorld as one of the most reputable sources of information in matters of accessibility, technology, and vision loss.

As I wrote in the May Editor's Page, AccessWorld is listening. I also told readers to be on the lookout for ways to provide information and feedback to AccessWorld and AFB's tech staff. As Editor-in-Chief, I want to make sure AccessWorld continues to meet your needs and hopefully exceed your expectations. I want to know which technologies you use and which you want to learn more about. I would like to hear your thoughts regarding the coverage provided in AccessWorld. Are you satisfied with article length and level of detail, frequency of publication, and mix of topics? If so, great! If you have ideas for improvements, we want to hear them! Either way, let us hear from you. As time passes and technologies change and advance, AccessWorld staff understands that your questions and needs change as well.

Please participate in a feedback questionnaire to help you provide us with your views. My tech colleagues at AFB are also interested in other ideas you might have to share with us regarding mobile app development. Please take a few moments to answer a few questions to help us be even better resources for you.

Sincerely,
Lee Huffman, AccessWorld Editor-in-Chief
American Foundation for the Blind

Dear AccessWorld Editor,

I wanted to know if we can look forward to an app for AccessWorld on Android similar to what iOS users have. I hope so in the near future.

Tina Sohl

Dear AccessWorld Editor,

The article, Freedom Scientific's Apple iOS Training Bundle: Let's Have a Listen by Bill Holton is well-written and presents the pros and cons. I'm pleased to hear Freedom Scientific will arrange for one to purchase the bundle without the player, but I'm sorry they did not choose to respond to Mr. Holden's cogent criticisms concerning use of the camera, downloading of apps, and GPS on an iPhone or even an iPad. I think they should have taken the time to go beyond promoting their product to answer his excellent points.

I wonder if people tutor iPhone over the web.

David

Dear AccessWorld Editor,

Fantastic, accurate, and right on. Oh how I wish I had read, Phonak ComPilot Product Review: Wearing a Necklace of Sound, A Product of Interest for Deaf-Blind or Hard of Hearing by Deborah Kendrick, when I first got mine. My start up experience would have been so much less painful. Thanks for the article and the time that was put into to it.

Louis Braille Touch of Genius Prize for Innovation

Applications for the next award cycle are already available. The deadline is January 9, 2017; applicants will have the opportunity to win up to $20,000.

The program is looking for projects that focus on tactile literacy for the blind and visually impaired and promote braille literacy or access to information. Previous winners include: the TactileTalk Toolkit and Guidebook for iPad submitted by Dr. Betsy Flener and Joni Nygard, which is a program that teaches and reinforces tactile communication and literacy for young students with multiple disabilities; the Tactile Caliper submitted by Pranay Jain and Anshul Singhal, which is a mechanical caliper that displays accurate measurements in braille; and the iBraille Challenge App submitted?by Dr. Cheryl Kamei-Hannan and Nancy Niebrugge, which is a mobile app that supports braille reading and writing for students of all ages. As you can see by the wide range of winners, the selection committee is looking for professional or educational software and applications and gaming software or apps that promote tactile and braille learning, and braille- or tactile-related hardware.

Applications will be accepted from individuals, groups, companies, and anything in between.

For more information, please visit the Touch of Genius Prize website.

National Disability Employment Awareness Month 2016 Announces Theme: #InclusionWorks

To reflect the important role disability plays in workforce diversity, the US Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy recently announced the theme of the 2016 National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM): "#InclusionWorks." This theme seeks to inspire social media awareness of workers with disabilities

Observed in October, NDEAM is a nationwide campaign celebrating the skills and talents workers with disabilities bring to our workplaces. Led nationally by ODEP, NDEAM's true spirit lies in the many grassroots observances held nationwide every year. Each spring, the theme for each year's celebration is announced to help organizations and groups plan their events.

ODEP created this year's theme with input from a wide variety of its partner organizations, including those representing employers, people with disabilities and their families, and federal, state and local agencies. The hope is that the hashtag theme spurs both individuals and groups to post images and stimulate discussion on social media about the many ways "inclusion works."

NDEAM's history dates back to 1945, when Congress declared the first week in October each year as "National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week." In 1962, the word "physically" was dropped to acknowledge individuals with all types of disabilities. In 1988, the federal legislature expanded the week to a month and changed the name to NDEAM. When the department established ODEP in 2001, the agency assumed responsibility for NDEAM.

AFB Awards Scholarships to 11 Outstanding Students with Vision Loss

The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) awarded its 2016 scholarships to 11 outstanding students who are blind or visually impaired and are pursuing their studies at institutions of higher education.?The grants support one of AFB's most important goals: expanding access to education for students with vision loss.

The awardees are as follows:

The Delta Gamma Foundation Florence Margaret Harvey Memorial Scholarship: One scholarship of $1,000 to an undergraduate or graduate student in the field of rehabilitation or education of people who are blind or visually impaired.

Kayla Prato recently completed high school and will be attending Towson University in Maryland this fall, working toward a combined bachelor's/master's degree in occupational therapy.?Kayla would like to work with children who have visual and hearing impairments.

The Rudolph Dillman Memorial Scholarship: Four scholarships of $2,500 each to undergraduates or graduates who are studying full time in the field of rehabilitation or education of people who are blind and/or visually impaired.

Rachel Bodek attends St. Thomas Aquinas College in New York. She will continue working towards her master's degree in teaching and would like to work with children with visual impairments. Rachel has a son who also has a visual impairment and she is a strong advocate for disability awareness.

Barbara Feltz is enrolled at the George Washington University in Washington DC, pursuing her master's degree in rehabilitation counseling, and would like to work with veterans with vision loss. Barbara has a background in exercise physiology, and is active with the American Blind Skiing Foundation.

Dmitry Neronov is pursuing his master's degree in special education at San Francisco State University in California and wants to work with children who are visually impaired. Dmitry currently works as a paraprofessional at a local public school.

Ra'Kira Tidmore is planning to attend the University of Alabama this fall, working toward a bachelor's degree in social work, and would eventually like to pursue a master's degree in vision rehabilitation therapy. Ra'Kira does volunteer work at a local hospital and at a nursing home.

The Paul and Ellen Ruckes Scholarship: Two scholarships of $2,000 each to a full-time undergraduate or graduate student in the field of engineering or in computer, physical, or life sciences.

Lauren Siegel is graduating high school and plans to attend North Carolina State University in the fall, majoring in computer science. She founded her school's robotics club and was a member of her high school's Science Olympiad team. As a young teen, Lauren wrote a computer program that would solve polynomial equations to help students in algebra.

Cassandra Mendez attends the Ohio State University and is pursuing her bachelor's degree in computer science and engineering. Cassandra has had an internship under the Air Force Research Labs, and she hopes to use her degree to change lives through technology and practical design.

The R.L. Gillette Scholarship: Two scholarships of $1,000 each to women who are enrolled in a full-time, four-year undergraduate degree program in literature or music.

Winona Brackett is a student at Stetson University in Florida and is working toward her bachelor's degree in music, majoring in trumpet performance. Winona has received multiple awards for her trumpet playing, including the Quincy Jones Award and the John Philip Sousa Band Award.

Precious Perez is graduating high school and will attend Gordon College in Massachusetts, majoring in music education and vocal performance. Precious was a member of the Boston Children's Chorus and is now a member of the Vocal Apprenticeship Soloists Program with the Handel and Haydn Society.

The Gladys C. Anderson Memorial Scholarship: One scholarship of $1,000 given to a female undergraduate or graduate student studying classical or religious music.

Christina Ebersohl is working toward her bachelor's degree in music at Portland State University in Oregon, majoring in music performance and viola. She has served as an Arabic linguist in the US Army. This summer Christina will attend a music study program in Italy at the Florence University of the Arts.

The Karen D. Carsel Memorial Scholarship: One scholarship of $500 to a full-time graduate student.

Silpa Tadavarthy is attending the Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine in Pennsylvania for her Doctor of Medicine degree and would like to specialize in neurology. Silpa plans to serve the low-income patient population of North Philadelphia during her medical school clerkships.

American Printing House for the Blind and Freedom Scientific Partner to make JAWS and MAGic Student Edition Available to Students

American Printing House for the Blind (APH) and Freedom Scientific have partnered to make a JAWS and MAGic Student Edition available to students who are blind and visually impaired in primary and secondary schools in the U.S. using Federal Quota funds.

APH now offers JAWS and MAGic Student Edition for purchase with Federal Quota funds. These licenses are sold exclusively by APH as annual subscriptions and will allow students who are visually impaired to install full versions of the screen reader software JAWS and/or the screen magnifying software MAGic on any computer they use, including computers at home. This will allow students to have 24-hour, 365-days-a-year access to their computers at both school and home. The annual subscriptions are priced at $300 per student. Read details about the products and how to order at APH Shopping Site.

Eric Damery, VP Software Product Management, Freedom Scientific and Dr. Craig Meador, President, APH, announced the JAWS and MAGic student licensing offer at the Annual International Technology and Persons with Disabilities Conference, CSUN 2016.

AER International Conference 2016: Connect, Collaborate, Achieve

Information about sessions scheduled for the AER International Conference 2016 is now available online in a searchable format.

This conference is scheduled for July 20–24 in Jacksonville, Florida. Experts in the vision field will present more than 160 hours of content on a wide array of topics that address both the education and rehabilitation needs of attendees.

The AER International Conference 2016 Program main page shows sessions at a glance. For more in-depth information, select the "By Date" option to view titles, speaker bios, and full abstracts. You can even add a session to your desktop calendar.

You can also search sessions alphabetically, by room and by author/presenter. Within each is another search function that allows you to enter a key word, such as aging, braille, mobility, teaching, or sports.

Check it out, share it with colleagues, then register for this conference.

Make hotel reservations for the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront online or by calling 402-592-6464 and indicate you are attending the Association for the Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AER) Conference.

More information is available online.

Wichita Transit, Envision, Gimbal Partner to Add Beacon Technology to Bus Stops

Envision, the City of Wichita Transit Department, and Gimbal, Inc. announced a partnership that marks the first step toward revolutionizing mass transit within Wichita for individuals who are blind or visually impaired. As part of the joint pilot project, Gimbal beacons will be installed at 1,200 Wichita Transit bus stops and Envision's two Wichita locations on Main and Water Streets. Gimbal, a California-based technology company, will supply the beacons and the tools needed to effectively manage the solution.

Wichita's beacon project will utilize Bluetooth low-energy signals to broadcast navigational information and timely and relevant messages to smart phones near areas where the beacons are installed, allowing users to pinpoint locations with greater accuracy than can be achieved with basic GPS applications. City officials see it as a necessary step forward for the community.

A timeline for installation is being finalized. Plans call for the beacons to go live as soon as they are put in place. At that time, all Wichita bus riders will have the opportunity to download a free smart phone application that will provide details about system usage. After this initial application, the new insights will drive the development of a mobile application specifically tailored for blind or visually impaired riders. Envision, Wichita Transit, and Gimbal will work together to onboard qualified mobile application developers.

Free Digital Accessibility Courses for People with Disabilities

In honor of Global Accessibility Awareness Day 2016, Deque Systems will now be offering their entire curriculum of Deque University online courses in web and digital accessibility to people with disabilities for free.

Employment for people with disabilities is often a difficult endeavor.? They face discrimination during the hiring process and barriers to employment all along the way, including barriers to acquiring the skills necessary for employment.

Meanwhile, the demand for accessibility professionals is greater than it has ever been, and people with disabilities have a lot to offer in this field. They live the experience, so in many ways they're already experts, but there are still technical skills to learn.

Deque's mission is to help achieve digital equality for people with disabilities and hopes that making this new initiative will empower users with disabilities to become the experts that will teach businesses and governments and everyone else who shares the web how to be accessible.

If you have a disability, you qualify for free access to Deque's in-depth web accessibility curriculum for a full year (a value of $315).

The online courses offered include:

• Web Accessibility Fundamentals
• HTML & CSS Accessibility
• ARIA & JavaScript Accessibility
• Mobile Web Accessibility
• IAAP CPACC Certification Preparation Course
• Web Accessibility Testing Techniques
• Testing with Screen Readers
• MS Word Accessibility
• MS PowerPoint Accessibility
• PDF Accessibility
• InDesign Accessibility
• EPUB Accessibility

And more.

The full details of the offer and the registration are available at the Deque University scholarships website.

Release of I-M-ABLE: Individualized Meaning-Centered Approach to Braille Literacy Education

AFB Press is pleased to announce the recent publication of I-M-ABLE: Individualized Meaning-Centered Approach to Braille Literacy Education, by Diane P. Wormsley, Ph.D.

I-M-ABLE: Individualized Meaning-Centered Approach to Braille Literacy Education is a comprehensive practice guide that provides creative and practical strategies for designing and delivering individualized braille literacy instruction to students with visual impairments who have difficulties learning to read braille using traditional approaches. This book is aimed at teachers of students with visual impairments who are teaching braille reading to those students with mild to moderate cognitive disabilities; students in personnel preparation programs studying to become teachers of students with visual impairments; and other special education teachers working with children who are visually impaired. The paperback format is 162 pages long and is available for $49.95; e-books for $34.95; and online subscription for $29.95.

Apple celebrated its 40th birthday on April 1, 2016. Although some companies might lose their inventiveness as they age, Apple continues to be a very active and thriving company.

Apple's History

Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne formed Apple on April 1, 1976. Jobs and Wozniak had dropped out of college, Jobs from Reed College and Wozniak from the University of California, Berkeley. A mutual friend introduced them, after which they started building computers in Jobs' garage. Wayne soon sold out for $800. Wozniak eventually left Apple in 1983.

The first computer sold was the Apple 1 (a.k.a. Apple I.),which was sold without a keyboard, monitor, or case.

The next version, the Apple II, was released in April 1977 and changed the computer industry because it offered color graphics. By 1980, sales had reached $117 million and Apple stock went public.

Jobs was given the opportunity to visit Xerox's Research Center in Palo Alto, California, in exchange for Apple stock. He was especially fascinated with the Xerox Alto computer and the mouse with three buttons, which gave the user the ability to point to and click on objects on the screen. Jobs decided that all Apple computers would have some version of the mouse.

In the early 1980s, Apple was developing two computers, the LISA (Local Integrated System Architecture) and the Macintosh. The LISA was geared for business while the Macintosh was less expensive and was designed for small business and home use. The LISA was released in 1983 and the Macintosh debuted the following year. It was the first personal computer to have a graphical user interface and a mouse. Eventually the LISA was discontinued. The Macintosh computer continues as a mainstay of the Apple line and has evolved through many versions, including the iMac, Mac Pro, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and 12″ MacBook.

Jobs wanted the Macintosh to be affordable. The original plan was for it to cost $1,000, but the final price more than doubled. The original Macintosh went on sale in January 1984 and cost $2,495. By May 1984, approximately 70,000 had been sold. The unit had a handle so it could be moved easily from place to place. It also featured a graphical user interface, which was user-friendly.

In March 1985, Jobs was no longer involved with the day-to-day running of Apple. He and CEO John Scully had major disagreements and eventually Apple's Board had to choose between them; they went with Scully. Scully reorganized the company and made Jobs Apple's Chairman. This was not a promotion but rather a more ceremonial role.

Several months later, Jobs resigned from Apple. He started his own company, NeXT Software. He also bought Pixar from George Lucas. Although Jobs wanted the Macintosh to cost less, with him gone, Apple instead focused on making a more powerful and more expensive Macintosh. By the end of 1989, Apple's profits had declined.

In 1991, Apple, IBM, and Motorola joined forces and created the AIM Alliance. The purpose was to build a powerful hardware and software platform called PReP (PowerPC Reference Platform.) This was to compete with the rising popularity of Windows computers. The software part of PReP was never released and there were difficulties with the hardware as well. However, the PowerPC processor was used in Apple computers from 1994–2006.

Steve Jobs returned to Apple in 1997 because of the reduction in their profitability. Apple needed a new operating system for their Mac computers and they chose Jobs' company NeXT to provide it. Apple purchased NeXT and on Sept. 16, made Jobs Apple's Interim CEO.

Apple's profitability returned in 1998. In May of that year, the company announced the iMac and new PowerBook models. Mac OS 10 was released in March 2001. In May of the same year, the first two Apple retail stores opened in California and Virginia. As of March 2016, there were 475 stores in 17 countries. Later in 2001, the iPod was introduced.

The iTunes store was launched in 2003 and offered downloads at $0.99 per song. This was a legal way to download music that competed with illegal free services. In 2007, Jobs indicated that Apple would allow songs downloaded from iTunes to be played on third-party players if record companies would drop their Digital Rights Management (DRM) technology. By mid-2009, Apple announced that the record companies had indeed agreed to drop DRM.

The MacBook Pro was introduced in 2006. iPhone 1st gen was launched in 2007. In 2008, Apple introduced the App Store, which sells apps for the iPhone and iPod touch. The iPad was launched in April 2010 and more than 300,000 were sold the first day. Many apps in the App Store could also run on the iPad. The Mac App Store was launched in January 2011.

In June 2011, Jobs introduced iCloud, Apple's storage and syncing service. A couple of months later, Jobs resigned from Apple, due to illness. Tim Cook, Apple's Chief Operating Officer, was named CEO in August 2011. Steve Jobs died on October 5, 2011 from pancreatic cancer at only 56 years of age, shortly after announcing SIRI (Speech Interpretation and Recognition Interface). SIRI is now available on the iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, Apple Watch, and Apple TV.

At the Worldwide Developer's Conference in 2013, Apple announced iTunes Radio. There is a free version with ads and a paid version without ads. On June 30, 2015, Apple launched Apple Music, a subscription-based music service with a free 90-day trial. Subscribers to Apple Music automatically have iTunes Radio without ads and a new live radio station called Beats 1. Apple music suggests playlists and artists based on your listening preferences.

Accessibility

Apple currently has a very strong commitment to accessibility. During his speech at Auburn University, where he received the International Quality of Life award in December 2013, Tim Cook said, "People with disabilities often find themselves in a struggle to have their human dignity acknowledged. They frequently are left in the shadows of technological advancements that are a source of empowerment and attainment for others. As much as Apple's engineers push back against this unacceptable reality, they go to extraordinary lengths to make our products accessible to people with various disabilities from blindness and deafness to various muscular disorders." He adds, "We design our products to surprise and delight everyone who uses them, and we never, ever analyze the return on investment. We do it because it is just and right, and that is what respect for human dignity requires, and it's a part of Apple I'm especially proud of."

At a shareholder meeting in 2014, a conservative finance group wanted Cook to make a commitment to doing only those things that were profitable. Cook replied, "When we work on making our devices accessible by the blind, I don't consider the bloody ROI (return on investment)." This same policy goes for environmental and health and safety issues. Cook said Apple does "a lot of things for reasons besides profit motive. We want to leave the world better than we found it."

Accessibility History

Apple was not always a leader in accessibility. Blind computer users could add the Echo 2 speech synthesizer to their early Apple computers and Apple eventually offered the Outspoken speech synthesizer, but neither synthesizer gave full functionality. Low vision users also did not have many options.

In the mid-90s, Windows computers had better functionality. A third-party screen reader such as Window-Eyes or JAWS was required. These screen readers were expensive but gave better access.

With the launch of OS X 10.2 Jaguar, Apple introduced Universal Access. This software was supposed to improve accessibility greatly for people who are blind, have low vision and have physical limitations. However, it did not work as well as expected.

Accessibility started to improve in April 2005. Apple OS X 10.4, Tiger, was launched and included VoiceOver plus options for low vision users such as screen magnification. There was no extra charge for VoiceOver. The early versions of VoiceOver still did not give the same access as a third-party Windows screen reader. By the time OS X 10.5, Leopard, was released, there were significant accessibility improvements including the Alex TTS (text-to-speech) voice and braille support. The next year, iTunes was made accessible on both the Mac and Windows platforms. The iPod Nano was released, with speaking menus.

In 2009, Apple released the iPhone 3GS with VoiceOver. This was the first screen reader that used gestures on a touch screen. Later that year, OS X 10.6, Snow Leopard, was released. New features in VoiceOver included the ability to use gestures on the Mac. The iPod touch was also released with VoiceOver.

Now all Apple products automatically have VoiceOver installed. A person who is blind can use an Apple product straight out of the box. Apple also has specially trained tech support professionals to assist visually impaired customers. Their dedicated number is 877-204-3930.

Apple has come a long way since 1976. Happy Birthday Apple, you never looked, or sounded, better.

Comment on this article.

Related articles:

• Freedom Scientific's Apple iOS Training Bundle: Let's Have a Listen by Bill Holton
• An Introduction to the Apple Watch by Janet Ingber

More from this author:

• Apple Music: A First Look with Access in Mind by Janet Ingber
• Apple Software Roundup: Updates to Apple Product Operating Systems by Janet Ingber

Small businesses always capture my attention and, if the product or service they provide proves to be of value, they soon capture my loyalty as well. Small businesses owned by blind or low vision people are particularly interesting to me, but also attract even closer scrutiny.

For some time now, I've noticed email ads generated by a guy named Laz (rhymes with jazz) Mesa and his small Florida-based company, Accessible Electronics. His specialty is talking MP3 players, players that do not have visual screens, players designed with blind music and audio lovers in mind. When he announced the availability of a Talking Daisy Book & Media Player, it was time to take a Laz Mesa product for a test drive and share the results with AccessWorld readers.

Accessible Electronics Company Overview

Accessible Electronics was born in the way many small companies are: as a response to a need experienced by its founder. Born in Cuba, Laz came to the US with his family when he was 6 years old. Diabetic since childhood, he lost his eyesight to the disease in 1996. He enjoyed using some of the early MP3 players on the market—Creative Zen and others—and, in 2009, was searching for a current player that would be fully accessible to a blind person. Whether there was a screen or not was irrelevant, of course. He just wanted a player that would speak such information as file name and size, how far he was moving backward or forward, and so on.

When he began using a Sansa player with Rockbox, it was like finding the proverbial pot of gold at the end of the rainbow! All desired information was delivered via spoken words. Logic led to a quick realization that if he was so delighted to use such a player, probably other blind people would be as well.

To find out, his wife, Claire Mesa, put up a website announcing the sale of talking MP3 players and the rest, as they say, is history. Today, the company consists of three people: Laz, Claire, and the youngest of their four sons. The product line has expanded to include Bluetooth devices, headsets, chargers, and micro SD cards, and now serves as distributor for a few other players. One of those, the Talking DAISY Book & Media Player was introduced in November and is the focus of this review.

The Talking DAISY Book & Media Player: Good Things Come in Little Packages

The Talking DAISY Book & Media Player comes in a small box and is a very small player. In addition to the player, the box contains a USB cable, wall charger, lanyard, and headphones (earbuds) with inline volume control.

The player itself is smaller than most smart phones (half the size of some) and has a fairly simple configuration of controls. All keys are on the front, and most of the curved back houses the built-in speaker. Along the left edge is the micro SD slot, and on the bottom edge are the headphone jack, USB port, and inline microphone jack. All buttons are on the face of the unit.

Button Layout

In addition to the power button (the only one with a dot on it for quick identification), there are four arrow keys surrounding an OK button, plus nine other keys. The layout is easy to learn and tactilely friendly. The Power button is in the upper left corner; the Record button is in the upper right. The upper third of the face contains the four Arrows and the OK button. Next are a Menu key on the left and Escape on the right. And, finally, the lower group of buttons on the face consists of six buttons used for volume, bookmarks, the FM radio, and more. The player does not have a screen; all functions speak.

The player comes loaded with Ivona voices Sally and Joey, for your text-to-speech listening pleasure. It is possible to set one as the reading voice and the other as the system voice, although my personal preference was to use Joey for both functions.

In addition to 8GB internal memory, the player can handle micro SD cards of any size up to 64 GB, so the amount of recorded material you can have available is virtually unlimited. Both the internal memory and micro SD card will always display default folders named DAISY and RECORD, but you can add folders with any title that you create yourself in the usual way.

Navigating folders and files is easy and straightforward. Once in a file, you can adjust speed and pitch as well as the preferred increment for moving forward and back. Available choices are Page, Heading (such as Chapter or Part), or a time increment that you can adjust. Within a text of PDF file, you also have the options of moving by paragraph, sentence, word, or character.

The Talking DAISY Book and Media Player handles a large variety of file types. In addition to the obvious DAISY and MP3 formats as gleaned from the name of the device, I also enjoyed listening to PDF, TXT, DOCX, and WAV files.

Pros and Cons of the Talking DAISY Book & Media Player

Operation of this player is easy to learn and response time is satisfyingly quick. It is easy and efficient to transition from, say, a DAISY book from Bookshare, to a music file, and then to the radio for a while, and then back to resume the book. To resume your place when returning to a DAISY or MP3 file is a choice that must be established in Settings, which seems a bit quirky, but works just fine once the option is set.

Although the user's guide cautions that the radio is still a work in progress, I found that it worked beautifully. I was only able to pull in a few stations, but clarity of those few was excellent, and the ability to record programs from the radio with the press of a button is a definite plus.

Recording, in fact, is a strong point in this player's favor. Whether recording a quick note via voice and the pinhole microphone on the front of the player or transferring a professional recording via the line-in connection, the recording process is simple and the results commendable.

Sound quality, both through the headphones and built-in speaker, is excellent. This product plays only unprotected audio files, which means it cannot play books from the National Library Service for the Blind or from Audible.com.

One noticeable quirk occurs when disconnecting the player from a computer. After copying books, music, or other files to the device, removing it with the usual "safely remove" function in Windows never seemed to complete properly. When asked about this issue, Laz Mesa concurred that it doesn't seem to work in the normal way. In his experience, the removal takes much longer than usual. In mine, it simply never completed, so that, as a work-around, I waited until shutting down or putting the computer to sleep, and then disconnected the player.

For a relatively inexpensive player that is completely accessible and can hold tons of DAISY, MP3, and other files, and is a wonderful digital recorder as well, this is a product you might seriously want to add to your technology tool kit.

More about Accessible Electronics

Laz and Claire Mesa frequently offer specials and sales. Sometimes you might get a free micro SD card with purchase or a free wall charger. At other times, deep discounts are offered.

For 60 days following publication of this article, customers who mention reading this review in AccessWorld can purchase the Talking DAISY Book and Media Player for $219.99 ($40 less than the manufacturer's suggested retail price.)

Whatever the season, this is a company that consistently offers affordable, accessible audio products, provides friendly telephone support, and gives customers the satisfaction of doing business with a blind business owner.

For more information and audio demonstrations of products visit the Talking MP3 Players website, e-mail Laz, or call 727-498-0121.

Comment on this article.

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• Learning to Use the Amazon Echo with the Mystic Access Audio Tutorial by Bill Holton
• Audio Game Review: A Blind Legend from DOWiNO and France Culture by Jamie Pauls

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• AccessWorld 2015 Accessible Holiday Gift Guide: From Free to Extravagant, Something for Everyone on Your List by Deborah Kendrick
• Out and About: Our Favorite iOS Travel Apps, by Judy Dixon and Doug Wakefield: A Book Review by Deborah Kendrick

Do you, or does someone you know, have combined significant vision and hearing loss? For those who meet federal income and disability guidelines, iCanConnect provides free communication technology and training to help people to stay connected with family and friends.

iCanConnect, also known as the National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program, is mandated by the 21^st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010, and is administered by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The FCC certifies one organization in each state to participate in iCanConnect. Paid for by the Interstate Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) Fund, iCanConnect launched in 2013 and is currently in the pilot phase. The FCC has announced that iCanConnect will be a permanent program and has formally solicited public feedback to inform the rules the FCC is developing for the permanent program.

All state programs follow certain program rules, such as who is eligible for iCanConnect, and what kinds of equipment and software are permitted. It's up to each state program to decide how best to serve its consumers within their allocated funds in areas such as who serves as trainers, how much training is available, and policies about how much equipment and software can be distributed and whether and how often it can be updated.

Once a participant applies and is approved for the iCanConnect program, an in-home assessment is performed to identify what type of equipment is best suited for him or her. This assessment is a critical part of the program. Key to consumers' success is understanding their existing skill set and matching up the equipment to help them get the most out of the technology they will be using.

Following are two examples of how consumers are benefiting from being served by iCanConnect.

iCanConnect Participant Profile #1: Maryland Woman Stays lose with Friends and Family Using iCanConnect

When one of Annette Rogers' closest friends moved to Florida a few years ago, it immediately became clear she needed better tech communication skills.

"She was computer savvy, but I was not," said Annette, a retired nurse in Hyattsville, Maryland, who has both hearing and vision loss. Her friend, Mary, who is also deaf-blind, had helped her stay connected to the community.

"When she moved away, I started to have challenges," Annette said. "I wouldn't get my email. I wouldn't find out what was going on."

Annette was far from alone. Sending an email or chatting on the phone is challenging for many people who have significant combined vision and hearing loss and don't have access to the right equipment and training.

Along with free communication equipment and software, iCanConnect provides training in the home, allowing participants to take full advantage of the powerful features and functionality that today's communication technologies provide.

iCanConnect serves people from a wide range of backgrounds, including older people who have lost their sight and hearing later in life, people with Usher and CHARGE syndromes, and others with combined significant vision and hearing loss who meet federal income guidelines. The equipment provided includes smartphones, tablets, computers, screen readers, braille displays, and adaptive software.

Connecting with Friends and Family

Annette applied to the iCanConnect program and received a laptop in 2014. Her equipment, along with SARA, a text-to-speech device, allows her to check email and messages. "If it wasn't for the iCanConnect instructor, I wouldn't have been able to do that," she said.

Staying in touch with her friend Mary is now easy. Annette also uses her laptop to email with her six children and grandchildren who are spread out around the country.

Thanks to iCanConnect, Annette Skypes with her five sisters in Trinidad, which she still finds amazing. "It's a wonderful feeling. It's like you can reach out and touch them without really touching them."

"I want to reach as many people as possible. It keeps me happy and going all the time."

iCanConnect Participant Profile #2: Using iCanConnect to cCommunicate with The World

Brian Coppola is a man who believes in taking action. A native of Massachusetts, the 50-year-old Methuen resident has advocated on behalf of the causes he supports by testifying to members of the state legislature, distributing petitions, and writing letters to lawmakers.

Brian has experienced limited vision and hearing since birth. As a person who is deaf-blind. Brian says advocating for himself, and not just others, is an important priority as well. "Self-advocacy is critical for people who are deaf-blind," he says. "To help others, we have to look out for ourselves as well."

Brian discovered iCanConnect in 2013. What attracted Brian most to the program was the new level of independence that communications technology could provide. "The shortcomings of isolation were you had to depend on other people to get out into the community," says Brian. "It was hard to communicate with other people over the phone."

Through iCanConnect, Brian received an iPad, a Clarity phone, and a ZoomText keyboard, as well as training support. "What I like about iCanConnect is that not only does it break the isolation, it allows a deaf-blind person to communicate more effectively and independently." Brian says people of all backgrounds and abilities can benefit from what iCanConnect offers. "If people can actually see how a deaf-blind person can go about life through the use of assistive communications technology, they would see that a deaf-blind person can function in the community just the same as their non-deaf and blind peers."

How to Apply to iCanConnect

If you have significant combined vision and hearing loss and meet income guidelines, you may be eligible for iCanConnect. Here's how to apply for the program:

• First, make sure you qualify, meaning your income meets federal income guidelines (within 400 percent of the federal poverty level) and you have significant combined vision and hearing loss. Federal income levels are listed on the iCanConnect website. You must have both a significant vision and a hearing loss, or a condition currently affecting one of the senses that is likely to result in a combined disability.
• Contact your state iCanConnect program to learn more. You can find your contact on the iCanConnect website. They can give you an application, or you can download one from your state's iCanConnect website page. You can also call 800-825-4595, or TTY 888-320-2656.
• Identify a professional who can attest to your hearing and vision loss in writing. It can be an educator, healthcare provider, vision or hearing professional, speech pathologist, vocational rehabilitation counselor, and more.
• If you receive any form of public assistance, including SSI, Medicaid, food stamps, etc., you are automatically income eligible. Otherwise, you must provide proof of household income that indicates it is within the program's income guidelines. The information you submit is strictly treated as confidential.
• Submit the completed application to your state iCanConnect office. Once you're accepted, your iCanConnect representative will schedule an assessment to determine what equipment will best suit your communication preferences and distance communication goals. Then your equipment will be installed, and training will begin.

Types of Equipment and Software iCanConnect Offers

iCanConnect provides a wide range of communications technologies and software, along with in-the-home training, that makes it possible for people who are deaf-blind to connect with others.

Braille Devices

Braille equipment provided through the iCanConnect program includes a wide variety of refreshable displays and sophisticated multipurpose devices. Some can be used as stand-alone devices while others are paired with mobile devices to provide tactile access to e-mail, text messaging, and the web. To receive braille equipment, eligible consumers must be proficient in braille.

Computers

iCanConnect provides both Windows and Apple computers, including desktops and laptops, to eligible consumers who have internet access. The program can also provide large monitors if needed.

Mobile Devices

Cell phones, smartphones, tablets, and associated accessories such as keyboards and protective cases are all available through iCanConnect. The program provides the equipment, but the consumer must pay for his or her own Internet or cellular service or have?ready?access to free?Wi-Fi.

Phones

iCanConnect offers a variety of amplified speaker phones, cordless phones, and related devices that connect to the landline telephone service. An eligible consumer must have telephone service to be considered for this type of equipment.

Signalers

Audible, visual, and vibrating signalers provided by iCanConnect to alert the user to a phone ringing, e-mails, texts and other types of distance communications.

Software

iCanConnect provides screen reader and screen magnifier software programs. A screen reader can serve as an interface between a computer and a braille display, and for those with some usable hearing, it also provides synthesized speech output of what is on the computer screen.

Learn More about iCanConnect

To learn more about the iCanConnect program and find your state program, visit the iCanConnect website, email, call 800-824-4595, or TTY 888-320-2656.

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Editor's note: This is the first in a three-part series covering electronic magnifiers, and offering advice to readers who want to acquire one.

People with low vision have more choices than ever when it comes to magnification. You can choose from full-sized desktop electronic magnifiers (once called CCTVs), portable units that are small enough to fit in a laptop bag, and handhelds you can tuck into a pocket or purse. Features, too, give potential buyers a lot to choose from. To find the right one, you'll need to prioritize the features, such as viewing options, OCR, connectivity with computing resources, and high-quality optics, that are most important to you. But magnifiers are expensive, and it's a challenge to choose one that does all you need it to do for a price you can afford. In this three-part series, AccessWorld guides you through the world of video magnifiers, helping you zoom in on the products, features, and support options that match your needs.

Along the way, you'll learn how to ask the right questions, not just about products you're considering, but about how you will use a magnifier in your daily life; at work, at school, at home, or on the go. In this first article, we focus on you, the potential magnifier buyer, and how understanding your priorities is key to making a good purchase decision. Part 2 will introduce the wide array of desktop and larger portable/transportable devices on the market. In part 3 we will get small, with coverage of handheld electronic magnification solutions. These articles won't tell you which product to buy, or provide reviews of specific devices. Instead, they will give you as much information as possible about all of the products available to you, so you can choose a device that does what you need it to do.

Electronic Magnifier Portability Considerations

Brochures for electronic magnification products often show smiling students, crafters, seniors, and office workers, each seated in front of the same device. The message is that whatever your needs, Product X is the right choice. As consumers, we know that there's more to the story. A full-sized, feature-rich magnifier can be a great addition to the office, but won't be of much use if you're traveling a lot. Similarly, a college student might prioritize Internet connectivity over advanced camera technology or a large screen. Ease of use and extreme portability are very important to older folks looking for an efficient way to read medication labels at home. Before you choose a device based solely on its specs, be sure you've thought about where you will be when you use it, and how often you need to magnify text and objects away from your home or office.

A good place to start is to think about whether you want or need to move your magnifier, and how often. The largest desktop magnifiers feature displays of up to 24 inches, along with a camera that moves on a sturdy track or arm. In addition, many units include an x-y table. The combination of these components makes for a feature-rich system that will take up a fair bit of space on your desk or table, and is likely to weigh in at 15 to 25 pounds. If you need to traveling regularly with your magnifier or set it up in locations with close quarters, a desktop unit might not be right for you. On the other hand, having all the features of a desktop magnifier at your fingertips, including a bright, easy-to-read HD monitor, can help you maximize your productivity and your ability to do anything you want to do with magnification.

For some, extreme portability is critical. With a handheld magnifier in a pocket or bag, you can take the device to the thing you want to magnify, rather than the other way around. Do you need to examine documents or labels in a variety of settings? Perhaps you travel a lot, or perhaps your work simply keeps you moving within your office or a retail store, for example. You can share a handheld magnifier with others, or take it out when you find an unexpected need to read text or zoom in on objects during your busy day.

For many folks the best choice isn't a tricked-out desktop model with a great monitor or a lightweight handheld, but somewhere between these two extremes. If that sounds like you, there are still location-based choices and priorities to consider. If you want a device you can travel with, how portable must it be, and how easily will you be able to move it? Perhaps you crave a unit that folds into a shoulder bag and won't slow you down as you make your way across campus or through an airport. Some portables are based on Android tablets, and gain their weight advantage by not requiring separate cameras or screens. There's a subset of desktop-class magnifiers that vendors call "transportable." You might not want to carry them on a daily bus ride, but you can move them in a provided case or rolling bag. These units typically feature a large LCD monitor and camera, all mounted on a foldable stand. To move the unit, the user often needs to disassemble some of the unit's parts in order to fold it into a protective case that has wheels or sturdy handles. This arrangement might work for you if you're a college student moving once a term between home and school or a worker on long-term assignment to a different office.

Electronic Magnifier Feature Considerations

An electronic magnifier will make all sorts of things easier to see. But what do you need to see most? What kinds of magnification will add the most productivity or enjoyment to your life? Figuring out how you plan to use a magnifier, and which magnification features are critical versus those that might be merely nice to have, will significantly narrow down your choices and build confidence in the purchase decision you ultimately make.

Enlarging text is the first use most people will think of for an electronic magnifier. There's good reason for that. Everyone needs to do some amount of reading, whether it's mail, a recipe, or a printed contract at work. Many people also need to be able to view objects and activities, like crafts or tools, up close. A number of the features that make it easier to read text will help you magnify objects, too. A number of magnifiers also give you the ability to view what's happening across a room, such as what is being written on a whiteboard in class, or a performance in a theater. A video magnifier with a camera that flips gives you the option to use it to apply makeup, style your hair, or just take a look at yourself. Consider the combination of features you need, and whether you want to purchase accessories or attachments that make it easier to add features to the basic magnifier you choose. Like knowing where you will use a magnifier, thinking about how you use it most will narrow your search for the right product.

Most magnifier users want to enlarge and enhance text. This might mean that you want to read books, articles, or other lengthy documents associated with your job or education. Other reading tasks consist of smaller blocks of text, such as mail, package labels, or appliance instructions. To read and process long text blocks, you might prioritize a large display and a camera that supports a wide range of text enhancement and color options. You might also want to add an x-y table, or at least consider whether the unit has the ability to display an entire page of text at once. If reading a lot of text is important, yo may also want to capture text with OCR, either to hear it read aloud by your magnifier's speech software, or to convert it to a computer file for later use. Some magnifiers provide OCR as a core feature, while others offer it as an option, complete with a camera and software optimized for that purpose.

As we discussed in the portability section, it's sometimes easier to read text where it is, rather than bringing it to your magnifier. For reading bills, pill bottles, or the serial number on a television, flexibility in your magnifier hardware is important. A portable unit might serve you best if you like to read the mail or recipes in your kitchen, or when you need to read a label that can't be placed under a stationery camera. In these cases, you will need to be able to position the camera at will, while also being able to view the screen.

Many jobs, as well as most classrooms, involve some kind of group viewing, using a whiteboard, a slide projector, or other distant presentation method. Some electronic magnifiers include a camera specifically for distance viewing, or an option to switch the main camera to distance mode by rotating the camera. If you choose a device that supports distance viewing, you should also consider its portability. Carrying the device to class or to a conference room will be easier if your magnifier is foldable or light enough to be carried in one hand. Also consider where you will be seated while viewing what's going on across the room, and whether this location makes it possible for you to train your camera on the board, stage, or presenter. How often do you need to view far away happenings? Is it enough to warrant choosing a magnifier that supports distance viewing?

Just as distance viewing is a special case for some users and a daily need for others, self-view can seem like a luxury for those who don't need it, and a necessity for those who seek to maintain a flawless appearance. Consider where you and your magnifier will be when you use self-view mode. Is the device portable enough to move where you need it? Is the light provided by the device, along with your room's ambient light, sufficient for you to get the most from self-view?

Electronic Magnifier Cost Considerations

Video magnification does not come cheap. That's sometimes a source of frustration, especially as magnifier makers move to off-the-shelf parts that remind users of the monitors and cell phones they may already have. Vendors point out that most magnifiers include custom hardware, such as stands, remotes, and control panels adapted for users with low vision. Software, too, is often custom. OCR programs and even the apps that control the operation of the magnifier are built or licensed specifically for desktop and portable magnification systems. Cost is also a function of volume: far fewer video magnifiers will be sold this year than computer monitors, or handheld HD cameras. Whatever the reason, buying a video magnification system is usually a major purchase, so choosing well, and knowing what to expect when shopping, is important.

Prices of electronic magnifiers can be thought of in ranges. At the high end are desktop models and large transportables whose prices range conservatively from $2,400 to $3,000. A few units, with accessories like x-y tables, rolling bags, and OCR cameras, cost more. In the middle range, costing up to $2,500, are larger portable units, some of which are based on tablet computers, others featuring a screen with an integrated camera. Others resemble desktop or transportable units, but include mid-sized displays. In the low range are true handheld magnifiers, ranging in size from three to seven inches in size. You can pick these up for under $1,000.

Next Steps

In this first installment of our magnifier series, we focused on how different kinds of people can make smart decisions about the type of magnifier that's right for them. Next month, we will take an in-depth look at the range of large and mid-sized electronic magnifier options, with an emphasis on features and specs. We'll also discuss how you can tell the difference in important features, and how to think critically about product hype.

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The Disney Movies Anywhere app for iOS has now been upgraded to offer synced audio description for some Pixar movies. As of this writing, description is available for 16 animated movies including "The Good Dinosaur," "Inside Out," "Monsters University," and "Up." Pixar Animation Studios plans to make the feature available on all future releases.

What You'll Need

In order to use this feature, the Disney Movies Anywhere iOS app must be installed on an iPhone or iPad running iOS 7 or later. The app itself is free, but there is a fee to purchase movies. To use description, the movie and descriptive tracks cannot be playing on the same device simultaneously; two devices are required. For example, a movie can be playing on your computer while the descriptive audio track is played on your iPad or iPhone. At least one of the two devices must be an iOS device.

When the app is first launched, select the "Go There" button to see a list of titles with audio description. Under each title there is a button labeled "Sync & Play Audio."

The Disney Movies Anywhere App

The app has five tabs at the bottom of the screen, but VoiceOver does not always read them in order. The Featured tab is at the bottom left corner. Next is the Movies tab. Flicking right, the next tab is Discover. VoiceOver says this is the fourth tab. The next and last tab, in the bottom right corner, is labeled More. Flicking left, past the Featured tab, is the My Collection tab. VoiceOver says it is the third tab. If you slide your finger across the bottom of the screen instead of flicking, VoiceOver should read the tabs in order.

Featured

The Featured tab has a "Search" button and a button labeled "Go to Movies with Audio Description." This is the most direct place to go if you are looking for audio description. Next in the Featured tab are several headings including "New and Upcoming" and "All-Time Favorites." Movies in this category include "Frozen" and "101 Dalmatians." Movies in this list do not necessarily have audio description.

Under the headings is a "Sign In" button. Activating the button loads a page for your user name and password if you already have a Disney account. There is also an option to create an account. The sign up form consists of edit boxes and pickers. For information such as birth date, VoiceOver says that the controls are pop up buttons, but they are pickers that are found at the bottom of the page. Double tap on the buttons and then choose from the picker.

Movies

At the top of the page is a Search option. Next is a long list of categories including Star Wars, Comedy, Animation, Disney Princesses, and 2015 Movies. When any category is selected, a new page loads with specific results. If a movie has audio description, that feature is not indicated in the list.

Once a movie is selected, the next page loads with information about the movie including a brief synopsis, running time, and cast. There is a button to buy the movie. At the top of the page is an option to go to movies with audio description.

My Collection

After movies are purchased, they will be listed in this tab.

Discover

This tab contains information about various movies. For example, I watched an interview with Carrie Fisher about "Star Wars: The Force Awakens."

More

In this tab are three options: Redeem Rewards, Settings, and More Apps. The Settings section contains a button to sign in and three headings: Access, About, and Legal. The "Audio Description" button is under the Access heading.

Activating the "Audio Description" button loads a new page. The first item on the page is a toggle switch button. Make sure it is in the on position. Next is information about turning on audio description and how to use it.

The app reminds users that the actual movie must be playing through a separate device such as a tablet, iPhone, or theater screen. The first time audio description is used, it is necessary to give the app permission to use the device's microphone.

Playing a Movie

On your iPhone or iPad, locate the description track for the movie. You can find a list of all described movies by activating the "Go to Movies with Audio Description" button in the Featured tab. For each listed movie there will be a title and a button labeled "Sync & Play Audio."

Start the actual movie playing or if you're in a theater, wait for the movie to start. Next, activate the "Sync & Play Audio" button. The first time you use this feature, you will be asked to allow it to use the microphone. There will also be a list of tips such as making sure headphones are plugged securely in the jack. You do not have to use headphones. Within a few seconds the description track will sync with the movie. There is no need to do anything else. There is a "Cancel" button and a "Done" button. If you press the "Done" button once the movie syncs, it will stop the sync.

I used a DVD of "Ratatouille" and an iPhone 6 to test the audio description feature. I started the movie and then synced the app. It took less than a minute to sync and I then received verbal confirmation. Once synced, a "Done" button, a "Pause/Play" button, a volume control, and a "Re-Sync" button all appeared on the screen.

If you sync at a point other than the beginning of the movie, it will start audio description at that point, where you are currently listening.

Ways to Improve the Disney Movies Anywhere App

Disney Pixar should be commended for their efforts to include audio description. Hopefully they will improve this app in the near future. Nowhere in the app's description in the App Store does it say anything about the audio description feature. The first time description is mentioned is when the app is opened for the first time.

Although the app is accessible, there are some accessibility issues such as mislabeled controls, as mentioned above.

It is unfortunate that two devices must be used: one to play the actual movie and an iPhone or iPad to play the audio description track. A sighted person would only need one device. If the person who is visually impaired is with a group of people, the person would have to use headphones if the others in the group do not also want to hear the description. Therefore, the person is not getting the full dialogue and sound effects because they are also wearing at least one ear bud or headphone.

Conclusion

The Disney Movies Anywhere app is basically accessible and easy to use. The addition of an audio description track to many Disney/Pixar movies is a very good start. It would be more convenient if both the dialogue and audio description could play on the same device.

Product Information

Disney Movies Anywhere app
Available on the App Store and Google Play
Price: Free

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