Many AccessWorld readers will be old enough to remember the hype that surrounded the dawn of the 21st century— the phenomenon known as Y2K. For those who don't know what all the fuss was about, all the computers in the world were supposed to stop working properly just because their internal clocks were not programmed to deal with the year 2000 and beyond. Doomsday scenarios were predicted ranging from simple computer glitches to out-of-control nuclear devices. Fortunately, not much happened on January 1, 2000, and most people didn't even realize that the 21^st century wouldn't actually come into being until the year 2001. One event that didn't receive much if any attention in the mainstream media in the year 2000 was the birth of a new assistive technology device for blind people known as the BrailleNote. Based on the Windows CE platform, and overlaid with an interface known as KeySoft, the BrailleNote took notetakers for the blind to a whole new level. Students used the BrailleNote in school, and professionals used it in the workplace. PulseData, the New Zealand-based company that developed the BrailleNote, and Humanware, the Canadian-based company that continued its development, worked steadily for years, providing updates to KeySoft, and developing new iterations of the BrailleNote hardware.

Over time, the limitations of the Windows CE environment made it increasingly difficult for Humanware to keep its line of BrailleNote devices current with emerging technologies. As mainstream devices such as iPads and Android tablets became increasingly accessible to blind people, many in the community predicted, and even advocated for the death of the specialized notetaking device for blind people.

As often happens with companies who are working on something really big, Humanware "went dark," not saying much of anything about its plans for the future for quite a long time. That changed, however, at this year's CSUN conference in San Diego, California. Dubbed "The Year of Braille," new braille displays and notetaking devices began to come out of the woodwork, so to speak. One of the companies who had something really big to talk about was Humanware. The company introduced a new device—the BrailleNote Touch—at the conference.

The BrailleNote Touch

BrailleNote Touch is a braille tablet that sports an 18- or 32-cell braille display along with onboard speech. The tablet is Google-certified, meaning, among other things, that any app developer who follows the Google API (Application Program Interface) guidelines will be able to write an app that will work on the BrailleNote Touch. In addition, Humanware has completely redesigned its KeySoft interface to work with the Android 4.4 KitKat operating system. Humanware product manager Greg Stilson points out that 50 percent of Android devices today are running Android 4.4 or earlier, so Google should continue to update this version of its operating system for a long time to come. Also, because KeySoft is such an integral part of BrailleNote Touch, HumanWare's development team needed the most robust API possible, and they felt that Android 4.4 was the best choice at this time. It is possible that the BrailleNote Touch could be updated to a newer version of Android in the future.

The unit measures 0.8 inches in height, is 9.5 inches wide, and is 6.3 inches in depth. It weighs in at 2 pounds, contains a 16 GB internal SD card for firmware and storage that can be transferred from one BrailleNote Touch to another, and sports everything you would expect in a tablet today, including Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capabilities along with an 8-megapixel camera that has not yet been activated at the time of this writing. BrailleNote Touch also includes an HDMI port that will allow visual information including videos to be sent to a monitor for viewing by a sighted person. Keep in mind that the HDMI port only sends video images and not audio. So a speaker will need to be employed in order to allow others to clearly hear audio being sent from the device. The touch-screen surface of the BrailleNote Touch also contains a visual display that can be turned off when not needed, thereby increasing battery life.

The BrailleNote Touch is charged using a micro USB port that can be plugged into a wall charger, or connected to a computer, and its battery is user-replaceable. In addition to charging the BrailleNote Touch via the computer, it is also possible to transfer files to and from your computer through the USB connection. As with any tablet, the screen of the BrailleNote Touch can be locked when not in use.

Finally, the BrailleNote Touch includes an SD card slot that supports media up to 32 GB in size, stereo speakers and a built-in microphone, along with external jacks for headphone and microphone/line-in inputs.

Typing On the BrailleNote Touch

The BrailleNote Touch ships already placed in a sturdy vinyl and plastic carrying case. The notable feature of this case is the physical Perkins-style braille keyboard that is built into the case itself. The keyboard sits snugly over the glass surface of the tablet, and is magnetically held in place. The keyboard connects to a port on the back of the tablet, allowing anyone who wishes to type using a traditional keyboard to do so effortlessly. Anyone who chooses to rely solely on the apps that have been optimized for KeySoft, and who opts to use only the physical keyboard provided with the BrailleNote Touch may never know or care that they are using an Android device.

Fold the keyboard back, however, and you discover the sort of innovation that Humanware is famous for. Simply rest all ten fingers on the touch screen of the tablet, receive a short vibration letting you know that your fingers have been properly calibrated, and you can immediately start typing using TouchBraille. Humanware suggests that you gently rest your wrists on the front of the braille display, and gently move your fingers up and down on the glass surface of the tablet when typing. Greg Stilson suggests that 20 minutes a day is a good target for really becoming proficient with TouchBraille. Among many of the other "earcons," or notification sounds provided by Google to help a blind person navigate their devices more efficiently, are clicks that alert the typist when a letter has been successfully entered onto the screen. In addition, all the expected feedback including character and word echo are available. As the typist becomes increasingly comfortable using TouchBraille, some or all of these sounds and spoken prompts can be disabled. Stilson uses TouchBraille almost exclusively these days, but finds that sometimes the key click notification can help him make certain that information is being correctly entered on the screen. It is also possible for the typist to leave one hand on the surface of the tablet, while quickly checking their work on the braille display with the other hand. After glancing at the display, it is a simple matter of placing the left hand back on the screen where one can easily recalibrate their hand position and continue typing. In fact, because calibration is so easy, frequent recalibration is recommended in order to minimize the effect of the gradual mis-alignment of hand position that inevitably occurs when typing in braille on any touch-screen surface.

Humanware is working on a case for the BrailleNote Touch that will not include the physical keyboard, for those who are totally comfortable with using TouchBraille, as well as navigating screens in a traditional explore-by-touch method.

Moving Around on the BrailleNote Touch

There are numerous ways to navigate around on the BrailleNote Touch. On the front of the device, at the far left and right ends, are the "Previous" and "Next" buttons. These buttons are used for tasks such as moving through menus. Find the desired item, and simply touch a cursor routing button over the item to activate it. Alternatively, press the enter key using either the physical keyboard or TouchBraille.

To the right of the "Previous" button, and to the left of the "next" button are the left and right panning buttons, respectively. These controls are used to pan the braille display when a block of text doesn't fit on the line of the display.

To the right of the "Previous" panning button is a triangular-shaped "Back" button that allows the user to easily back out of a screen. The round "Home" button found just to the right of the "Back" button takes the user to the main KeySoft menu. To the right of "Home" is a context button that makes many common tasks found in various apps easy to locate.

Familiar commands such as space with dots 1-2-3 to move to the top of a screen, and space with dots 4-5-6 to move to the bottom of a screen are also present, and can be activated using either the physical keyboard or TouchBraille.

Efficiency is as important on the BrailleNote Touch as accessibility, and nowhere is this more evident than in the ability to use first-letter navigation to move around in many apps and Web pages when using the tablet. When in the YouTube app, for example, move to the top of the screen and begin pressing the letter S until you reach the "Search" button. When viewing a Web page using KeyWeb, the BrailleNote Touch's Web browser, press the letter F until you reach the "First name" field of a form you wish to fill out. Also, it is possible to move by various elements on a Web page such as headings, links, and form fields.

It is possible to turn off TouchBraille, and navigate screens using gestures familiar to anyone who has used an Android tablet or smartphone. When in an edit field, TouchBraille turns on automatically, and goes away when you leave the edit field so that you can continue using gestures to move around the screen.

There are many tools included on the BrailleNote Touch intended to make using the device as easy and efficient as possible, not just making content accessible.

Learning to Use the BrailleNote Touch

The BrailleNote Touch comes with an onboard user guide in the form of a Web page that is easily navigated. In addition to the full user guide, context-sensitive help is available from anywhere you happen to be working. Finally, Mystic Access has provided a free and very comprehensive tutorial on using the BrailleNote Touch. It is possible for anyone interested in learning more about the tablet to download the tutorial free of charge either in DAISY or MP3 format. Anyone familiar with any of the other tutorials created by Mystic Access will appreciate the thorough, engaging style that is the hallmark of all of their tutorials.

Reading on the BrailleNote Touch

Anyone familiar with any of Humanware's braille displays will appreciate the high-quality braille present on the BrailleNote Touch. It is possible to turn off speech entirely, and read only using braille, use a combination of braille and speech, or turn off the braille display and use speech only.

The text to speech engine provided by default with the BrailleNote Touch is a variant of the A Capella Heather voice optimized for the BrailleNote Touch. Other voices can be obtained from the Google Play store should you wish to use them.

Apps Optimized for the BrailleNote Touch

There are a number of apps that are optimized for use with the BrailleNote Touch, and make use of the KeySoft product that overlays the Android Kitkat operating system. It is possible to disable KeySoft with a triple-click of the home button if one chooses to use the BrailleNote Touch as a standard Android tablet. Apps optimized for the BrailleNote Touch, and found on the home screen of the device include the following:

• KeyList is the BrailleNote Touch's contact manager, and performs as expected.
• KeyMail is the BrailleNote Touch's email program. It is very easy and straightforward to use.
• KeyWeb is a very robust Internet browser that is optimized for the BrailleNote Touch.
• KeyWord is a full-featured word processing program that should meet all basic, and some more advanced needs including the most common document formatting tasks. Write in .doc or .docx formats right from KeyWord.
• KeyPlan is the BrailleNote Touch's calendar app. Set your other devices to recognize the Google calendar, and you can share your calendar items between your BrailleNote Touch and other devices including your iPhone.
• KeyFiles is a file management program that allows for manipulating files and folders in the standard way that one would expect.
• KeyCalc is a calculator that takes care of everything from the most basic calculations to the more complex mathematical needs.
• VictorReader is an app that will be quite familiar to anyone who has ever used the Victor Reader Stream.
• Play Store allows the user to obtain third-party apps from the Google Play Store.
• All Applications allows access to all apps currently on the device, including third-party apps.

Third-Party Apps on the BrailleNote Touch

The BrailleNote Touch contains many apps that are designed specifically for blind people, but it also allows the user to take advantage of third-party apps as well, and herein lies a potential pitfall for the user. Humanware has no way to guarantee that all third-party apps will work well with the BrailleNote Touch, and some apps will work better than others. To complicate matters further, if the user allows apps to update automatically, it is possible that an app which works perfectly well today may not work well at all tomorrow. There is no way Humanware can troubleshoot problems with apps not designed by the company, so be aware that your mileage may vary. That said, there are many happy Android users in the blind community, and sites such as Inclusive Android can provide a list of apps that are worth trying.

The Bottom Line

The BrailleNote Touch is a braille tablet that combines the ease of use found in the long line of Humanware's BrailleNote products with the power of a mainstream tablet. Should you need more power than that afforded by the apps that have been optimized for KeySoft, it is possible to use third-party apps including Google Docs that already come preinstalled on the BrailleNote Touch, or obtain apps from the Google Play Store.

I found the setup and update process of the BrailleNote Touch to be a pleasure, and apps update almost daily. I found that I was sometimes able to out-type character input on the screen, using both the physical keyboard and TouchBraille, but I did not need to slow down significantly to avoid this problem. While it is possible to read and write in Unified English Braille (UEB,) there are many times when it is necessary to use computer braille when entering information into the BrailleNote Touch. An example of this is entering Web page addresses. For anyone who is familiar with computer braille, this will not be a problem, but for students who may not learn anything other than UEB, this may present a challenge.

The third-party YouTube app that comes already on the BrailleNote Touch crashed several times for me, and I needed to delete app data to get it working again. Fortunately, this is a painless process using Android. Other third-party apps such as Naturespace worked without a hitch.

I experienced a problem when trying to create an appointment in KeyPlan that ran from 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on the same day. I repeatedly received a message that my end date needed to be later than my start date. I eventually had to create the appointment on my iPhone. I was able to successfully create many appointments in KeyPlan, however.

I found TouchBraille to be an especially impressive feature of the BrailleNote Touch, along with the ability to use first-letter navigation in many apps. The braille on the BrailleNote Touch was crisp, and easy to read, and the BrailleNote Touch's implementation of a Capella Heather was quite satisfactory as well.

The BrailleNote Touch is a 21^st-century braille tablet that is currently in its infancy, and has plenty of room to spread its wings and fly. Unfortunately, the $5,495 price tag will keep many from being able to take advantage of the 32-cell version of this impressive product.

The free tutorial that is available for anyone who owns a BrailleNote Touch, or who simply would like to learn more about it, is very well done, and quite comprehensive. It should serve as an excellent training aid for students and teachers alike. The built-in user guide is very well-written, and should be easy to update as the BrailleNote Touch continues to grow.

Many who have enjoyed using Humanware's BrailleNote line of products over the years, and those who wish to harness the power of assistive technology with mainstream products should be quite pleased with the company's latest offering. There is no way to cover all that the BrailleNote Touch has to offer in one article, and just because a feature has not been mentioned here, it would be a mistake to assume that the feature in question does not exist, or will not in future. Be sure to check out Humanware's BrailleNote Touch Frequently Asked Questions page for information not provided in this review.

Product Information

Product: BrailleNote Touch comes in 18 or 32-cell models with a Perkins-style keyboard included.
Company: Humanware
Price: $5,495 for the 32-cell model. Contact Humanware for pricing on the 18-cell model.

Comment on this article.

Related articles:

• iCanConnect: A National Program Bringing People Together through Accessible Communications Technology and Training by Paula Slotkin and Jamie Taylor
• A Review of the 6dot Label Maker from LoganTech: Potentially a Braille User's Dream by Deborah Kendrick

More from this author:

• Speak Easy Media System by New Designs Unlimited: A Product Evaluation by Jamie Pauls
• LinkedIn Career Networking Website and App: Assessing Accessibility for People Who Are Blind by Jamie Pauls

Dear AccessWorld readers,

Five years ago at this time, AccessWorld implemented a "Comment on this article" link at the end of each article to bring your comments, questions, and ideas right to my inbox. Since that time, hundreds of you have written to share your thoughts, and many of these responses have been shared in the monthly "Letters to the Editor" column. Your feedback has been extremely valuable to the AccessWorld team and has helped us to grow, enrich our content, and better understand your access interests and challenges, and I thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with us.

Also in response to readers' comments, we have added links to recent related articles and additional articles by the author at the end of each AccessWorld article.

For those who still haven't taken the opportunity, I encourage you to send me your comments on articles and your thoughts on any topics you would like to see addressed in AccessWorld.

It is at this point where I would like to announce an exciting addition to the AccessWorld team. This gentleman began working with AFB in 2009 as a college intern in our Information and Referral department and continued this work throughout his college career. After graduating from Marshall University, he was hired full-time as a National Technology Associate, working with AFB-Tech and AFB's consulting division.

While in that role, he worked with companies to evaluate and improve the accessibility of their websites and apps. He also conducted many evaluations of access technology hardware and software, mainstream mobile devices, and office equipment. One of his latest accomplishments was his work on the newly released set of free tutorials from AFB called "Learn NVDA," which provide an easy-to-follow introduction to using Microsoft Windows with Nonvisual Desktop Access (NVDA), a free and fully featured screen reader.

Through this work and personal daily use of accessible technology, he has gained invaluable expertise to which he will now be lending to the AccessWorld team and sharing with our readers.

While he has written for AccessWorld, on occasion, in the past, you will now be seeing Aaron Preece's name more often and more prominently in AccessWorld as he transitions into his new position as AccessWorld and Information and Referral Associate. As his new title suggests, in addition to writing more frequently and contributing to the monthly publication of the magazine, Aaron will also be leading AFB's Information and Referral efforts, including administering AFB's Scholarship program. Please join me in welcoming Aaron Preece to AccessWorld.

We hope you enjoyed the July 2016 Back-to-School issue and gained information to help with getting ready for the upcoming school year. Speaking of going back to school, if you are the parent of a child with vision loss or you know a child with vision loss, I encourage you to visit the AFB FamilyConnect website to learn about all its resources.

If you are a student transitioning from school to work, thinking about your future and beginning career exploration, or if you are looking to build a resume or change careers, please visit the AFB CareerConnect website. There you will find a variety of resources for teachers, students in transition, professionals in the job market, and employers.

Also, if you are an adult living with vision loss or know someone who is, I encourage you to visit the AFB VisionAware site. VisionAware has many resources, tips, and information on eye conditions, support groups, working life, and everyday living for adults of all ages who are blind or visually impaired.

By joining the VisionAware community, you can receive e-mail alerts for events and activities near you, as well as tips for living with vision loss and new articles or announcements relevant to you, your family members, or the individuals you serve. Simply visit the VisionAware Sign-Up Page.

Another great resource I want to make sure AccessWorld readers are aware of and use is AFB's Technology Resources for People with Vision Loss. On this main page, you will find links to several pages where you can learn about a host of technologies to help improve your knowledge and use of both access and mainstream technologies. Specifically, I invite you to check out:

Using a Computer

Cell Phones, Tablets, and Other Mobile Technology

Using Social Media

Online Shopping and Banking

Using Technology for Reading

Entertainment

Prescription, Health, and Fitness Management Tools

Smartphone GPS Navigation

Accessible Identification Systems

It will take you some time to work through all the relevant information in these pages, but you will gain a much better understanding of what is accessible and, therefore, possible. I also encourage you to share the information with your friends, students, colleagues, or family members who can benefit from the content.

The AccessWorld team hopes you enjoy the August 2016 issue. We encourage you to continue sending us your feedback, and to visit the AFB Technology Resources for People with Vision Loss pages, AFB CareerConnect, FamilyConnect, and VisionAware sites!

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

Dear AccessWorld Editor,

Tackling the Research Paper: Tips and Tools for Success for People with Vision Loss, by J.J. Meddaugh, which was republished in the July "Back to School" issue, is a great article. Can you share any tips or articles related to proofreading a document using a screen reader?

Thanks,

D

---

Response from AccessWorld Associate, Aaron Preece

Hello D,

Thank you for reaching out to AccessWorld with your question. There are certain settings you can change to make it possible to accurately edit a research paper using a screen reader.

First, turn on All Punctuation: Many screen readers will have a punctuation verbosity setting where you can adjust how much punctuation the screen reader will read to you. Even though it can be distracting when reading for information, using this setting will allow you to check your writing for proper punctuation.

Second, adjust settings to get the maximum amount of information regarding your text. In addition to punctuation, it is possible for your screen reader to give you a great deal of information regarding your text including font name, size, color, and alignment. The way that these settings are structured will vary across different screen readers, so the following pages on the most commonly used Windows screen readers may be helpful:

• JAWS Techniques for Examining Text Formatting
• Identify Text Attributes, Formatting, and Spacing with Window-Eyes
• NVDA user guide (Navigate to: 9.1.12. Document Formatting Settings [NVDA + control + D] Adjusting these settings will allow you to identify most errors that you can encounter when editing a document using a screen reader.)

I hope this information is helpful.

Dear AccessWorld Editor,

In response to Bill Holton's Accessible Personal Finance: Dollars and "Sense" for Blind and Low-Vision Seniors:

In your coming review of finance products, could you please do a comparison of access banks? For instance, USBank is an online bank that has an accessibility policy and strives to be accessible in all areas, which I think ought to be highlighted. No, I do not use this bank. However, some banks are more accessible than others. Wells Fargo is pretty accessible, whereas Navy Federal Credit Union could use some help with its online tools. I saw that you mentioned WealthFront; could you also please review Betterment?

Also, I'm looking for some accessible personal finance management tools (e.g., Quickbooks). For instance, I formerly used You Need a Budget, but find now that it is inaccessible with VoiceOver.

Just some ideas. I hope these are helpful and useful. Thank you for taking the time to read this and for considering my suggestions.

Best regards,

Channelle Heth, Esq.

Dear AccessWorld Editor,

Hey just wanted to drop a quick note to express my appreciation for such a well written article in memory of 40 years of Apple, Happy 40th Birthday to Apple: A Look Back at Apple's Progress by Janet Ingber.

Furthermore, my appreciation as a reader for some time goes to each and every person who has contributed such excellent quality of writing and reporting in the name of accessibility, dignity, and independence to all those who are blind and/or vision impaired across the globe.

Keep up the great work all of you.

Cheers

Haroon Probst

Dear AccessWorld Editor,

In response to the article What Facebook Wants You to Know about Automatic Alternative Text by Bill Holton:

I am wondering if this technology could be used in Rosetta Stone, which is a language learning program? The blind are not able to use it due to it using pictures to learn.

Sincerely,

Renee M Zelickson

Dear AccessWorld Editor,

Choose the Right Electronic Magnifier, Part 1: Identify Your Priorities, by Shelly Brisbin and Lee Huffman is great. I actually work with patients every day to help them pick the right video magnifier. One great "transportable" is the Topaz PHD by Freedom Scientific! (This is what I have for college!)

Carrie S. Morales

Dear AccessWorld Editor,

In response to What Facebook Wants You to Know about Automatic Alternative Text by Bill Holton:

This has been very helpful to me and I look forward to more detailed information. I was wondering when we will be able to have our devices read text on a photo. There are a lot of shared photos that have the written word as a picture and I can't read that. Thanks for all you do.

Sharon Chism

Dear AccessWorld Editor,

In response to What Facebook Wants You to Know about Automatic Alternative Text by Bill Holton:

Most impressive, can we look forward to OCR?

Dear AccessWorld Editor,

Let me first start off by saying how much I enjoyed reading the article, A Review of the 6dot Label Maker from LoganTech: Potentially a Braille User's Dream. It is always a treat to read material by Deborah Kendrick. Next, I really appreciated how informative and detailed oriented the article was in describing the various aspects of the 6-dot Braille Label Maker. It is writing and information like this that is so helpful for a person contemplating the purchase of any product and especially assistive technology. Let me lastly say that I am in full agreement with Debora and her colleagues when considering the price of the product. Wow! Sticker shock to be sure. I really appreciate what AccessWorld does and I am glad that the magazine is featured prominently in Top Tech Tidbits, a weekly online publication of Flying Blind LLC.

Thank you and best regards,

Chris Foster

Dear AccessWorld Editor,

Thank you for a well-written review, A Review of the 6dot Label Maker from LoganTech: Potentially a Braille User's Dream by Deborah Kendrick. My experiences are somewhat different as I owned an original product from several years ago. When they offered a trade in, I was happy to go along for the ride. Seemingly they changed the size of tape the unit will take, down to 3/8. My unit never provides a right-hand tab. However, the worse aspects are the three wasted cells on the left of a produced label. And even the left arrow will not rewind enough to save tape. I would need to cut with scissors, as I may only have room for 4 characters across an SD case. Also, unless I space once after beginning a new label, it will jam most symbols together.

Thanks,

Sherman Oaks

Release of Keys to Educational Success: Teaching Students with Visual Impairments and Multiple Disabilities

AFB Press is pleased to announce the recent publication of Keys to Educational Success: Teaching Students with Visual Impairments and Multiple Disabilities, Sharon Z. Sacks, Ph.D., and Mary C. Zatta, Ph.D., Editors. ?This textbook is published in conjunction with Perkins School for the Blind.

Keys to Educational Success: Teaching Students with Visual Impairments and Multiple Disabilities is a comprehensive teaching guide that helps educators unlock the learning potential of their students with multiple disabilities by providing key program strategies that can be directly applied to classroom learning routines. The contents of this textbook include information about the basics of assessment, IEP development, and instructional planning and design, as well as specific strategies for essential areas of instruction including communication, literacy, orientation and mobility, behavior intervention, technology, and others. Guidelines for working with very young children, as well as for preparing students for life transitions after school, are explained.

Keys to Educational Success is also an important reference for special education teachers, educational team members, and administrators who support students with visual impairments and multiple disabilities in a variety of school settings.

The paperback format is 604 pages long and is available for $64.95; e-books for $45.95; and the online subscription will be available shortly for $38.95.

Envision Partners with Wichita State University's Regional Institute on Aging to Expand Resources and Foster Student Interest in Low Vision

Envision recently announced a partnership between the Envision Research Institute (ERI) and Wichita State University's Regional Institute on Aging (RIA) that will increase resources for both organizations and promote greater professional and academic interest in low vision rehabilitation. The ERI, which was established by Envision in 2014, focuses on meaningful and applied vision research with the goal of raising the standard for low vision patient care and removing functional barriers for individuals who are blind or visually impaired. The RIA is a virtual research organization established by WSU that serves as an intellectual and scientific organizer for the university and its partners to facilitate, leverage, and expand ongoing research work to enhance the lives of older adults.

As part of the collaboration, Dr. Walker has been appointed as an adjunct research scientist at the RIA. She will serve as a guest lecturer for WSU courses and act in an advisory role for Ph.D. candidates. Dr. Walker, ERI scientists and staff members will collaborate with students and faculty to facilitate their exposure to applied problems in visual impairment and support research projects. RIA will provide access to online and physical libraries, institutional review boards and ethics training to facilitate ERI research activities.

At Envision, WSU students will be invited to attend Envision's continuing education events and visiting scholar presentations, accompany Envision staff on clinical rotations and observe programs such as:

• The integrated Envision Child Development Center, where children who are blind or visually impaired learn and play alongside their typically sighted peers;
• The Envision Vision Rehabilitation Center that gives individuals who are blind or visually impaired the tools they need to see beyond their vision impairment and better navigate everyday activities;
• Envision's employment programs, developed to accommodate the high percentage of blind and visually impaired employees working at its headquarters and nearby manufacturing facility.

Audio Described Video Content Now Available on Popular Adult Entertainment Website

In this issue we introduce you to BlindyTV.com, a site which streams the soundtrack of audio described television programs and documentaries. We used this as a launching pad to discuss the difficulties of creating and finding audio described content. Now, in recent news, AccessWorld alerts its readers to a surprising new platform which may help proliferate the adoption of audio description. We say this because this particular industry has always been on the cutting edge of technological advances. Its impact has been felt from the days of the first printing press, and can be traced from the days of silent films through the adoption of instant photography, home video player/recorders, pay for view video, online credit card verification, and streaming video. And while this particular industry did not invent any of these technologies, it is widely perceived that it was the first to profit handsomely from each of these technological innovations.

If you haven't guessed by now, the industry which has now made its first initial forays into video description is the adult entertainment industry. One of its leading online purveyors, PornHub.com, now offers a described video category.

According to a company press release, "The inaugural collection of 50 enhanced-audio videos stems from the site's top viewed videos, and features voiceovers done by both professional voice actors as well as Pornhub Aria, Pornhubs's social media personality."

"It's our goal to service all of our users' needs, which begins with making content accessible to every individual. By integrating an audio-focused series, we can now ensure that we supply content specifically for those who are visually impaired," said Corey Price, Vice President, Pornhub. "With programs like this, we hope to open the door and inspire our community members, content partners and other platforms to create more content with the differently-abled user in mind."

The company is encouraging all of its content providers, both amateurs and professionals, to offer audio described versions of their submissions, which—no matter what your personal feelings may be regarding the adult entertainment industry—can only serve to help spread awareness of the need for audio described content. The described video campaign is being championed by Pornhub's philanthropic division Pornhub Cares, which has hosted several other initiatives, including a limited edition clothing line to support the fight against domestic violence, a breast cancer awareness and fundraising campaign, and the "Pornhub Cares Scholarship," a $25,000 scholarship awarded to a deserving student.

The 27th Apple Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) was held June 13–17, 2016, in San Francisco, California. Prior to the conference there was a lot of speculation regarding what Apple would present. There were rumors about a new Apple Watch, the iPhone 7, a bar that would replace function keys on the Mac, a new Mac, improved Siri, improved Apple Music, eye beacons, and more. Some of the rumors were true while others were not. In the conference keynote address, Apple announced upgrades to all of its operating systems, but no new products were unveiled.

Tim Cook, Apple CEO, opened the address by talking about the shootings in Orlando the previous day. He said, "We offer our deepest sympathies to everyone whose lives were touched by this violence. It was senseless, unconscionable act of terrorism and hate aimed at dividing and destroying. The Apple community is made up of people from all around the world, of different backgrounds and different points of view. We celebrate our diversity. We know that it makes us stronger, it moves everyone forward." Cook then asked everyone to stand for a moment of silence.

Cook said that Apple now had 13 million developers registered with Apple and two million of them were added in the past year. There are more than two million apps in the App Store. The conference had over 5,000 attendees with millions watching online. More than 74 countries were represented. Over 100 attendees are under 18, with the youngest being a nine-year-old girl.

Many new features were described for each operating system and all the new operating systems will be available in the fall. Specific VoiceOver commands for each new feature were not described, but Apple's excellent commitment to accessibility is well known.

Apple Watch

The new operating system for the Apple Watch is called watchOS3. An issue with the watch has been that it takes a long time for apps to load. The new operating system will load seven times faster, since apps will be able to refresh in the background. The watch will now have a Dock, similar to the Mac and iOS devices, that can be launched by pressing the side button (formerly the Friends button). Third-party apps can also be added to the Dock.

It appears that Glances will be retired and replaced by a Control Center, similar to iOS. Swiping up will open the Control Center. The Reminders and Find My Friends apps will also be standard on watchOS3.

SOS

In watchOS3, Apple is adding an innovative feature called SOS, which allows you to contact emergency assistance directly from your watch. Press and hold the side button and you will hear a countdown. At the end of the countdown, the watch will contact emergency services, wherever you are. Once the call is ended, the watch will automatically send a message to your pre-determined emergency contacts giving them your location. Your emergency medical information will be displayed on the screen for emergency responders.

Streamlined Replies

The process for replying to a message has been streamlined. It will no longer be necessary to activate the Reply button to begin the process. Quick replies will be on the first screen; just scroll down to read them. Activate the reply you want.

A new feature, Scribble, will also be included with watchOS3. This feature lets you write a reply using your finger. At this point Apple has not indicated whether the feature will be accessible with VoiceOver.

Watch Faces

Some new watch faces, such as Mini Mouse, have been added. The process for changing a watch face has been simplified, According to Apple's research, watch users like to change their watch face depending on what they are doing. Favorite Faces can be arranged in the watch so that they are next to each other, making them easier to locate and change.

Activity and Health Improvements

The Activity app will let you be in competition with friends and family through Activity Sharing. Once you set up the app, you can know how others are progressing on their daily activity goals. You can also message them through the app. Another feature, designed for wheelchair users, replaces Time to Stand with Time to Roll. The Workout app will include two workouts specifically designed for people who use wheelchairs.

A new Breathe app will be part of watchOS3. This app is designed to guide the user through deep breathing sessions, to help relax the body, quiet the mind, and deal with everyday stress. You can set reminders for this app. With the digital crown, choose from one to five minute sessions. Both sighted and blind users can use haptic feedback (vibrations) for their reminders.

Apple TV

The 4th generation Apple TV was launched last fall. This fall will bring new features to tvOS, the Apple TV operating system.

New and Improved Apps

At the WWDC, Eddie Cue, Apple Senior Vice President of Internet Software and Services said, "We now have over 1,300 video channels and we have over 6,000 native apps in just seven months. And I've got some great new apps to tell you about. First, Sling, which offers a great selection of live cable channels, is coming to the Apple TV today." He then named several additional apps.

The iOS Remote app for Apple TV has been improved allowing an iOS device to function like an actual remote that comes with a TV.

Siri

Siri for Apple TV has been improved. Siri can now search by subject and searches over 650,000 movies and TV shows. Siri can also search YouTube.

Single Sign-On

A new, convenient feature is single sign-on. At present, the first time a video channel app is launched, you need to enter your user name and password and you need to do this for each new app. Single sign-on means that the information only needs to be entered once and it will carry over to other video apps. Cue said, "You sign in once on your Apple TV and you get access to all of your network apps." He added, "A page on the App Store will show you all the apps you have access to, and of course we're bringing this to iOS as well." If an app is available on your iOS device and on the Apple TV, downloading it to the iOS device will also cause the app to download onto your Apple TV.

Live Tune-In

Live Tune-In is another new feature for tvOS. Tell Siri which live channel you want to watch and the channel will start playing within a couple of seconds.

Mac

The first change that will occur with Mac computers is the new operating system's name, macOS. The new Mac operating system is called macOS Sierra.

Continuity

Apple will be adding some new continuity features for Mac and iOS devices. Craig Federighi, Apple Senior Vice President of Software Engineering explained, "Continuity is like magic: your devices are able to sense themselves around you and use secure, peer-to-peer wireless protocols to enable you to move from one task to another across your devices seamlessly."

The first continuity feature he described was the ability to unlock your Mac with your Apple Watch. The next continuity feature described was Universal Clipboard. This lets the user copy text, images, video, etc. to a clipboard and then paste the clipboard contents into a project on the Mac.

iCloud Drive on the Mac will now have the Documents folder and Desktop items available across your iPhone and all your other Macs. Another new iCloud Mac feature is Optimized Storage. With this feature enabled, on your Mac, older files can be stored in the Cloud instead of on the Mac's hard drive. These files include documents, photos, and old email attachments. Files that are no longer needed, such as those in the Safari web cache, in trash, and old e-mail data, can be deleted automatically. The choice of deleted file types is customizable.

With the launch of Sierra, Apple Pay will become available on the web. Federighi explained, "When you're shopping online, you'll have a 'Pay with Apple Pay' button available to you. When you click it, a sheet comes down and actually prompts you to authenticate your purchase using continuity right on your iPhone with Touch ID." He continued, "Of course this works with your Apple Watch as well, so you can authenticate with just a tap on your wrist." Federighi added that many online merchants have already signed up to begin accepting Apple Pay. It is already available in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, China, and Singapore. Within the next few months, it will be available in Switzerland, France, and Hong Kong.

Tabs will be available in more apps including Maps and third-party apps.The Mac will now support picture in picture. This may be an important and useful feature for low vision users.

Siri for Mac

The final new Mac feature is that Siri will be coming to the Mac. Siri can be accessed directly from the Dock. Siri can do advanced file searches, web searches, play music, and all the other Siri features on iOS devices.

iOS

Lock Screen Improvements

According to Federighi, iOS10 "is the biggest iOS release for our users." The lock screen experience has been revised. The Raise to Wake feature displays what is on the lock screen without having to press any buttons. Activate the feature by holding the phone in your hand and raise your wrist. With an iPhone 6s, 3D Touch can be used to interact in many ways with items on the screen.

Control Center Redesign

The Control Center has been redesigned. New music controls are accessed by swiping right. Sliding from right to left will open the camera from the lock screen. Sliding left to right way will bring up widgets.

Improvements to Siri

Previously, Siri was not open to developers. That will change with iOS 10. Many apps will now be useable with Siri including Uber, WeChat, Runkeeper, and Skype. Siri's comprehension and abilities will also be improved.

QuickType

The QuickType feature will offer suggestions based on the context of the message or email you are typing. It can also switch languages without switching keyboards.

Photos

The Photos app has undergone a significant change. Facial recognition will be supported in iOS10. The app can put all the people who are important to you into people albums. The Photo app can also recognize objects and scenes. Another new feature is Memories. Photos can be grouped together based on different variables such as people, places, and subject. The iOS device adds music to the memories show, but music can be changed and the show can be edited.

Maps

The Maps app will be open to third-party developers. More features for the Maps app will be available such as searching for restaurants and getting traffic information.

Apple Music Redesign

Apple Music has been redesigned. The first tab will be Library. Here, music can be sorted in several different ways: Playlists, Songs, Artists, and Albums. Recently Added and Downloaded Music sections will be added. When a song is playing, its lyrics can be displayed.

The next tab is For You—This used to be the first tab in Apple Music. There will be a Discovery Mix in this section with music specifically chosen based on your Apple Music preferences. The next section in For You is Recently Played, followed by Daily Curated Playlists. The next tab, Connect, is where you can follow artists.

The next tab is Browse. Apple Music staff selects music that is new and important. The Radio tab has Apple's Beats 1 station and continuous music stations based on genre and artists.

The Apple News app now has over 2,000 publications. The For You section has been broken down into several sections including Top Stories and Trending. You can now subscribe to newspapers and magazines directly from the News app. There will be an option to have breaking news stories delivered straight to the locked screen.

HomeKit has been expanded. Federighi said, "Essentially every major maker of home accessories is shipping or has announced support for HomeKit." There will also be a new app called Home.

The Phone app will introduce the ability to get voicemail transcription. Anti-spam technology will also be available.

The Message app offers the ability to use emojis for words. When the emoji button is tapped, all words that can be replaced with emojis will be displayed. Choose from the list of offerings for each word. Additional content such as photos, links, and videos can be added easily. Handwritten messages are now supported. The bubble size of your message can be changed. Apple has opened Messages to developers.

Some additional features of iOS10 are the ability to collaborate with others in Notes, split view in Safari on the iPad, and conversation view in Mail (where you can scroll through the conversation.)

Apple's commitment to privacy and security was reiterated.

Swift

Tim Cook introduced Swift Playgrounds, an iPad app to teach people how to write code. He said, Swift Playgrounds will revolutionize the way people learn to code. They'll be able to do it right on their iPad, which instantly makes it accessible to hundreds of millions of people around the world. There has never been anything like this. We believe it's the absolute best way to teach everyone to code." Later in the discussion Cook added, "We believe coding should be a language in all schools, so to make this the case, we're going to make Swift Playgrounds free."

Conclusion

I look forward to exploring the many new features and apps that were introduced at WWDC 2016. To learn about Apple's new accessibility offerings and to learn about making apps accessible, go to Apple's What's New in Accessibility video. This video is geared to sighted developers but there is a lot of interesting content.

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Imagine a television network where you could tune in any time, 24/7, and every show on every channel automatically included audio description. Sounds farfetched, you say? Well, believe it or not, it's available right now, albeit in limited form.

You can't tune into this network on your TV set, even if you have one of the newer, accessible sets. Instead, you'll need to use a computer or mobile device to go to the website for Blindy.TV, whose slogan is: "Taking the Vision out of Television."

Log onto Blindy.TV and you will discover five channels of described audio TV and documentary content—no video, just the soundtrack. Channels include: Comedy, Drama, Sci-Fi, Brain, and one called simply Etcetera. Each channel offers multiple ways to listen: you can use the site's accessible online player, download and install the Blindy.TV Windows app, or use your computer's own media player.

Click one of the channel name links on the homepage and along with starting the audio stream, you will also find a table with the day's schedule. For instance, at the time of this writing, the weekday Drama channel schedule included: CSI: NY, House M.D., Boardwalk Empire, Charmed, Blue Bloods, Bones, Numb3rs, Murder She Wrote, Law and Order: UK, Castle, Rizoli and Isles, NCIS, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, House M.D., Numb3rs, Cold Case, Revenge, and Criminal Minds.

For those with concerns about copyright laws, a Blindy.TV representative who prefers to remain anonymous says: "Since we are not streaming the video, just the audio, it's a gray area. If we get a takedown notice we will comply immediately, but so far we haven't heard from a single content owner."

Currently, Blindy TV has over 7,000 audio-described television series and documentary episodes. "We do a small quantity of audio narration in house, but mostly we depend on donated off-air recordings and recorded media that contain audio narration tracks," the representative says. "We edit out the commercials and station breaks from off-air recordings, then those episodes are posted for viewing."

According to the Blindy.TV representative, "We want blind individuals to enjoy our offerings, but that's not the main reason we do this. Our main goal is twofold. First, there are still a lot of vision-impaired individuals, especially the elderly, who don't know audio description is even available. We want to show them what's possible so they can help us with our second goal: encouraging listeners to pressure the various content producers, networks, and online services to produce a lot more audio-described television."

According to the 21^st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010, starting this July all of the major TV networks and cable channels will be required to carry a minimum of four hours of audio-described prime time or children's programming. In the January 2015 AccessWorld article "Is Accessible Viewing Finally on its Way? we noted, however, that the majority of these and other new regulations only affect the top television markets, cable channels, and cable systems.

According to the Blindy.TV representative, "[These outlets] only have to produce four hours [of described programming] per week, while across the border in Canada they have an entire network that shows nothing but described programming, and in the UK they have to broadcast at least 10 percent of their programming with audio description." In actuality, the BBC exceeds this mandate, describing 20 percent of its content on BBC One, BBC Two, BBC Three, BBC Four, CBBC and CBeebies.

According to the Blindy.TV representative, Blindy.TV uses a considerable amount of UK-described TV. "[The UK] buy[s] a lot of syndicated American series, like Friends and Star Trek. Since they are going to broadcast each of these repeatedly during their contracted runs, it makes financial sense that these would be high on their priority list to narrate. I won't say it's the best audio description—British English and American English do have their differences, after all. But it is described TV, and without it our listeners usually can't even get these shows audio described."

While the BBC does not provide programming directly to Blindy.TV, they do know it's being used. According to the Blindy.TV representative: "We've met several of their representatives at various conferences, and mostly what they tell us is how sorry they feel for us here in the US because of our lack of described content."

According to Blindy.TV, there are many causes for the current state of described television in America.

Lack of Incentives for Increasing Audio Description

Most TV series have multiple points of origin. The program The Mentalist, for example, is a joint production of Primrose Hill Productions and Warner Bros. Television. The show is then distributed by Warner Bros. Television Distribution, which sells first run and certain rerun rights to CBS. Unfortunately, the Communications Act, as written, places the responsibility for providing audio description squarely on the TV network or major cable channel. The production company and distributor each have little to gain by adding audio description. Currently, the financial value of a TV property does not increase because it includes audio description. And since only 50 program hours per quarter are required to be described, the networks and cable channels can pick and choose what they send out to be narrated. Even if they want to add description to a program, it is not uncommon for a network to receive the final cut broadcast files mere days, even hours, before it hits the schedule, which leaves little time to arrange for narration.

Rights Management

Another issue restricting the availability of audio described programming is rights management. There are four different production companies listed in the credits for House of Cards. Netflix contracted to have the series described, and even though they are listed as a distributor, so is Sony Pictures Television. We can only guess at the legal entanglements that led to audio description being available only when viewed on Netflix and not when rented or purchased from iTunes or another vendor.

So even if a network does arrange for a program to include audio description, chances are you won't be able to access it when watching reruns on your local station, or on TNT, unless the cable network decides to have it redone because that would likely be less trouble and expense than negotiating with the distributor, who, in turn, would have to negotiate with the network.

Are you starting to feel like pounding your head against the wall in frustration?

A Problem of Knowledge

Netflix finally began offering audio description on all of its Netflix Originals and for other programs that have available audio description. "We shamed them into doing that," says the Blindy.TV representative. "We also got a lot of support from the general public when Netflix announced the release of Daredevil, since they were making a program about a blind superhero that the blind could not fully enjoy."

So far Hulu and Amazon Prime have not followed suit. "We need to keep up the pressure," the Blindy.TV representative says, "and not just on the networks, cable channels, and streaming services. We also need to educate and lobby the studios and production companies." Indeed, some of the problem may be a simple lack of knowledge: "If not all blind people even know audio description is possible, how many production and studio execs don't know either?"

The lack of audio description certainly isn't a matter of cost. The average hour-long drama costs less than $2,000 to narrate, which is less than many productions spend on a single day's catering bill. Turnaround time also isn't an insurmountable obstacle. According to the Blindy.TV representative, "We've spoken to the narration companies, [and] their writers and voiceover staffs. They tell us the more work they get, the more they can turn this into an assembly-line process and get the job done quickly." For proof, the representative points to Netflix. "Once they decided to offer audio description, it happened quickly. And it wasn't just for Daredevil—it was for their entire lineup of shows, and every episode."

The Communications Act is a start, but it's just that—a start. Network and cable channels are still only mandated to provide a few precious hours of described content per week, and streaming services such as Hulu and Amazon Prime Video are not explicitly covered by the Act. Perhaps further legislation or judicial action will ultimately be required.

What are your thoughts? We'd love to hear them.

Comment on this article.

Related articles:

• Stream It! Music, Movies, and More with Apple TV and VoiceOver, by Jonathan Mosen: A Book Review—by Jamie Pauls
• Apple Software Roundup: Updates to Apple Product Operating Systems by Janet Ingber

More from this author:

• A Day in the Life: Technology that Assists a Visually Impaired Person through the Day by Bill Holton
• Is Accessible TV Viewing Finally on Its Way? by Bill Holton

Editor's Note: This is the second in a three-part AccessWorld series covering the state of electronic magnification options, and offering advice to readers who want to acquire one.

You're ready. You've saved enough money, or gotten approval from an employer or rehab agency to purchase a video magnifier. But before you can experience enhanced productivity, have more fun with crafts and reading, or get the most from your time in the classroom, you must choose an electronic magnification system that meets your visual needs, and also fits your budget and lifestyle. Last month, we described the broad range of video magnification options available, focusing on the kinds of users that best match them. In this second installment, we'll take a deeper dive into the world of desktop and transportable magnifiers, explaining how their components work together, and guiding you through the most important specs and features.

Larger Magnifiers and How to Sort Them

A few years ago, electronic magnifiers came in two simple categories: desktop and handheld. With the advent of flat-screen LCD displays and small digital cameras, there are now many portable options and a variety of new choices. You can still buy a full-sized desktop magnifier with an arm-mounted camera and x-y table, but you'll also find a number of foldable desktop units with different camera-mounting strategies and slimmer lines. Users looking for ultra-portability can choose from several devices that employ an Android tablet as both display and camera, making them easy to tuck into a laptop bag or backpack. Though the many products in these categories use a variety of components, provide different levels of magnification, and are certainly different in size and weight, they all aim to do what users with low-vision want most: make text or objects easier to see, and display magnified images on a large, bright display.

The two most important components of an electronic magnification system are the camera and the display. As it happens, these pieces are the ones that most affect whether a device is portable or not, and whether it is likely to serve your specific needs.

Lights, Camera

The makers of electronic magnifiers choose cameras for their products based on several factors: optics quality, resolution, cost, and the ability to zoom to a magnification level that supports users with low vision. The choice of camera is also dictated by the form factor the vendor wants to offer: some cameras are contained in boxes that are mounted on arms above the viewing area, while other cameras are mounted in a stationary location, often below the display.

Most new desktop video magnifier models boast that they offer high-definition (HD) quality. This can refer to the resolution of either the camera or the display, but both elements must support HD for this feature to be beneficial to a viewer. HD itself is an elusive term. HD specs are expressed in several ways, and there is no hard and fast rule for what constitutes HD. You will most often see HD resolution expressed in terms of video mode, as in 720p, 1080p, or higher. Full HD usually translates to 1080p. There are multiple ultra-HD video modes, too, with even greater video resolution. Vendors often adopt terminology that differentiates their own HD products from the competition, or even from other models in their own lineup. Low Vision International (LVI), for example, sells its MagniLink Zip magnifiers with either a 720p (HD) or 1080p (full HD) camera. All HD modes put more pixels on screen than does standard definition, allowing the camera to capture a sharper image, and the monitor to display one, too. This comes in handy at high magnification levels, when text or small objects under your camera could otherwise look fuzzy. Crisp text is also very important when you use custom color modes to enhance the contrast of the screen image. We'll have more to say about color modes later.

The best rule of thumb for determining how much screen resolution you need is to buy the device with the best camera you can afford. Most magnifier vendors pair a specific camera with their desktop offerings. Reinecker USA gives buyers a choice, when purchasing its VEO desktop product. You can choose either the Focus camera, with 1-20x digital zoom in full color mode, or the higher-end Vario camera, with 8-18× optical zoom, with up to 100x digital zoom available. Both are HD cameras. As is the case with photographic cameras, optical zoom is superior to digital zoom in quality, but doesn't provide the highest level of magnification available. At higher digital zoom levels, text won't appear as crisp as it does even at a lower digital level. If you have the chance to compare magnifiers with optical, versus digital-only magnification before you buy, do so, and be sure to place the kind of text or objects/images you most often work with under each camera, to determine how well each is likely to meet your needs, not only for magnification, but for representation of detail.

Whether you choose a camera based on its resolution, or the kind of zoom it offers, you will need to have a good idea what level of magnification you need. If you want to replace an existing magnifier, or have access to one, use it with the text or objects you typically want to magnify, and note the zoom level that works best for you. If you want to be able to read extremely small text, like that found on a prescription bottle or a food label, be sure to note the magnification level you need to read those types of items comfortably. Same goes for close-work tasks, like sewing or soldering. If you need to zoom to 50x to do even a portion of the things you want to do with the device, be sure the magnifier you choose includes a camera that can zoom to that level. If you are experiencing changes in your vision, either because of age or an evolving eye condition, consider a magnifier with a wider zoom range, so that it will continue to serve you as your need for magnification increases.

Camera mounting choices can also affect comfort and even your viewing options. As mentioned earlier, some vendors mount the camera on a movable arm, above the display. The camera and its light source look down, between you and the display, to capture the object you're viewing. Enhanced Vision's DaVinci products are examples of this type of set-up.

A number of magnifiers with arm-mounted cameras also give you the ability to switch between reading view (with the camera pointed down at text or objects) and distance view (with the camera pointed away from you) or self-view (with the camera pointed toward you). If your magnifier includes a distance view option, rotate the camera head so that the lens faces away from you. Focus on objects across the room: a white board, a television, or a person, and zoom to a level that allows you to comfortably follow the action. By turning the camera toward you, you can view your own face, using the magnifier like a mirror for self-care tasks such as makeup and hairstyling. Not all magnifiers offer these views, so be sure yours does if you intend to use these features. Some magnifiers, including HumanWare's Prodigi Connect 12, accomplish distance and self-viewing not with the integrated camera, but with an optional secondary camera, connected to the unit via USB.

Not all magnifiers feature multiple views, or top-mounted cameras. Units with cameras located beneath the monitor make it easier for the viewer to view the screen close-up, a benefit for some users with low vision, even at high magnification levels. The Topaz line of magnifiers from Freedom Scientific employ this design, as do many others.

Screen Time

Flat-screen displays have made it possible for magnifier vendors to produce lighter, more portable products than was possible in the days of CRT displays. Even some desktop models are often foldable, and mounting lightweight monitors on flexible stands or arms provides more viewing options for users to raise, lower, and tilt a display. Desktop units range from 16 to 24 inches, and a few of the more portable units have 10- to 15-inch screens. A number of vendors allow you to choose the monitor size that's right for you.

Picking the screen size that's right for you involves several factors. Your work space and your need for portability will certainly play a role, as will the amount of magnification you need. If you want to view multiple columns on a newspaper page, while magnifying the text enough to read it, a large screen will be helpful. A massive screen won't seem as necessary if you intend to read small amounts of text, or zoom in on objects at relatively low levels of magnification.

Another consideration when choosing a display is whether and how often you want to connect your magnifier to a computer or mobile device. Many devices include an HDMI port, allowing you to display your computing device's screen on the magnifier monitor. What size computer monitor do you use or like? Does it match up with the magnifier display?

There's one other approach to displaying magnified images: to choose a device that doesn't include a monitor. Not only does this approach save you money, it can potentially save space on your desk and allow you to travel more easily with the device. Several vendors offer magnifiers that don't come with their own monitors, but that can be connected to your laptop or tablet, or to a monitor you already own. Connected magnifiers include the HIMS E-bot line, and the Optelec ClearNote HD. Before you choose one of these models, you'll need to decide whether the magnifier will be an extension of your existing computer, or will simply connect to an existing monitor. Magnifier makers take different approaches to connectivity.

Contrasting Views

In addition to full color, video magnifiers offer a range of high-contrast and alternate color themes that provide easier viewing for many users with low vision. On almost all devices, you can invert your view, turning a white page containing black text into a dark page with white text. Many magnifiers give you 10 or 15 additional color combinations to choose from. You might find yellow text on a blue background easier to read, for example, or perhaps green on black. Or you can switch your view to black and white. You'll often find macro features that allow you to create presets that match the way you want to view the screen. It's likely that you won't use most of the contrast options, but that you will settle on a few that complement your visual needs. If you're purchasing a magnifier for a shared environment, though, abundant contrast options make it easy for anyone to choose settings for themselves.

Line markers and windowing provide a way to focus on just the text you're reading: add a horizontal rule above or below what you're reading, or both. Windowing masks off most of the content of the screen, so that you can track the content you're reading without distraction. Many, but not all magnifiers offer both of these features. Check to see that the unit you're considering provides them, if needed.

OCR

The competitive nature of the magnifier business has yielded at least one notable benefit for users: OCR is a feature or an option on most magnifiers, with many offering full-page scanning. You can zoom in to read text you've scanned, or have the text spoken to you immediately, if the device supports audio. If the magnifier has an SD card slot or connectivity via USB, you can also save scanned text to a file. Magnifier vendors usually add OCR to their products by licensing and integrating scanning software and voices into their devices. ABBYY and Nuance are the primary providers of OCR software. A few support OCR via a separate camera that connects to the device via USB. This is usually an option, not a standard feature.

You will either be able to initiate a scan from within the software that manages the magnifier, or by opening a separate application, in some cases. Better implementations will not only speak scanned text back to you, but highlight words, lines, or sentences as they are read. Some OCR software also offers speech for its own menus and controls.

The gold standard is full-page OCR, made possible by a camera can zoom out to capture the full page and enough memory to support capturing and saving the text.

You will only be able to save the text you scan to a file if the magnifier has enough memory to keep some scanned documents, and if there's a way to copy the documents to a computer or a thumb drive, via USB. A magnifier based on a tablet computer can store scanned documents within the tablet's file system.

Control Issues

Because magnifiers are designed for people with low vision, most vendors create easy-to-see controls for zooming in, changing color scheme, and setting options. Look for large, well-marked buttons and knobs, and be sure that you are able to read and interpret each setting easily. Many vendors offer a wired control pad (in some units it's standard, in others it's an option) that duplicates controls on the unit, and/or provides larger, higher-contrast buttons. You might choose not to use a control pad if you're tight on space, but the option can be especially helpful for those with dexterity issues that make using a magnifier's on-device controls a challenge. Control pads usually include buttons for the most frequently used features

The Whole Package

Because electronic magnifiers are so costly, it is likely that you will keep the one you buy now longer than you keep your current phone, tablet, or computer. So it's important to choose a product that has enough power and features to do everything you need it to do, that is comfortable to use, and that is easy to move from place to place (if you choose a portable unit). As we noted earlier, many people with low vision experience changes in eyesight over time, meaning that your need for magnification and high-contrast support will change and probably grow. In other words, buy the most powerful product you can afford.

In terms of how to understand the range of features a video magnifier offers, we think you should approach the task in roughly the order we've outlined in this article. Be sure that the camera and display match your needs, and that features like multiple viewing options and OCR are included, or are available as options if you need them. Sit in front of multiple units, if you can, and use the controls to magnify text and control the device. Check out the weight and dimensions of the magnifiers you like best, making sure they're compatible with your living or working space and lifestyle.

Supportive Sellers

There are a number of ways to purchase a magnifier. You can often get the device you want directly from the manufacturer, or you may have access to distributors, who sell assistive technology products direct to users or the agencies that support them. However you buy, be sure that you have access to the support you need when getting the unit set up, and later if you run into difficulty. Many sellers offer setup assistance: a representative may even come to your home or office, or walk you through the setup on the phone. Ask about these options before you buy, and take advantage of them, if offered. If you're an experienced tech user, or simply feel confident in your own ability to get everything set up correctly, keep in mind that documentation options differ widely. Try to find out if accessible setup instructions are available, either in the box or online. These will be invaluable until you have the magnifier up and running and can use it to read the rest of the provided documentation. Keep in mind that magnifiers often consist of two or more components, the magnifier and an optional OCR camera or distance camera. The vendor's own documentation may very well be accessible (large, easy to read print, for example) while the accompanying third-party product may have its own instructions. Again, your best bet is to communicate with the seller to address any difficulty you have setting up the complete magnifier package.

Support after the sale is a crucial tool. Know about the warranty your product offers. Two+ years on parts and labor warranties are common. Ask whether the seller (not always the manufacturer of your product) will provide service and support, or whether you will be dealing with the magnifier maker. If your magnifier is sold by a company outside the US, be sure to find out whether they offer support in the US, and how to find it.

Dollar for Dollar

As we discussed in the first article in this series, electronic magnification devices are expensive, especially if you evaluate prices based solely on the hardware components that make them up. It's worth pointing out again that these products' hardware and software have been customized for users with low vision, including accessible hardware and software controls, speech and voices, fast OCR, and, in some cases, integration with tablet devices. Having said all that, you will pay between $2,000 and $3,500 for a large electronic magnifier, depending on the options you choose. You can control the price to some extent by choosing a manufacturer that offers choices of monitor size and/or camera quality. If you don't need a distance camera or speech capability (options on some products), you can purchase a device that offers these features optionally. Same goes for x-y tables and carrying bags, which are optional purchases in most instances. Finally, you might choose to buy a used magnifier to save money. Several websites feature classified ads for assistive technology products. The disadvantage is that you are unlikely to have access to the latest technology when you purchase a used system, and you probably won't get a warranty with your purchase.

The next article in this series will cover handheld magnifier options. These lightweight portable devices can't replace a desktop device, but they're a lot more portable.

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If I say the words "pressure cooker" to you, your immediate response might very well be, "No way. I don't want any explosions in my kitchen." Likely as not this is because when you were growing up, you heard tales of a pressure cooker screeching out of control, then popping its lid like a champagne cork and splattering food all over the kitchen ceiling.

This scenario was especially common in the 50s and 60s, when the cookers' gaskets frequently failed under a bit of extra pressure. Also in these earlier decades, bits of food could clog the pressure valve, making excessive pressure buildup that much more likely. Today's models use stronger materials and often incorporate emergency pressure release valves, making them much safer than those older models.

Still, as a blind cook, you wouldn't catch me dead trying to use a stovetop pressure cooker. Even the newer, electric pressure cookers with their inaccessible controls were beyond my abilities. Recently, however, I came across the Instant Pot Smart Bluetooth-Enabled Multifunctional programmable pressure cooker. This is a combination pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, porridge maker, sauté/browning pan, steamer, yogurt maker, and stockpot warmer. This high-tech countertop appliance offers a complete set of touch panel controls…but it also includes Bluetooth connectivity, and your choice of either the iOS or Android Smart Cooker app. I have been using the Smart Pot for several months now with delicious success. Primarily I have used the iOS app installed on my iPhone to control the appliance. The app is quite accessible with VoiceOver. I also spent a little time using the Android app with TalkBack. There are several unlabeled buttons on this version, but on the whole it also seems quite accessible using TalkBack.

The Instant Pot: What's Included in the Box

Along with the Instant Pot itself, the box includes a six-quart stainless steel cook pot, metal food rack for meat, rice paddle, soup spoon, measuring cup, a silicon steamer for vegetables, and two silicon finger grips to lift out whichever of the racks you have used. I found the vegetable rack a bit unwieldy: it doesn't have sides, so lifting cooked vegetables out of the pot can be a bit difficult; instead, I substituted a different silicon steamer that had sides.

I also found the hand protectors less than adequate for the job for the sight-impaired. It's too easy to brush the hot sides of the pot. I prefer a pair of wrist-length silicon heat gloves.

Specifications, user guides, recipes, and a cooking times chart can be found on the company's website in accessible PDFs.

The Instant Pot: Description

The Instant Pot itself is well designed. The lid did take some practice fitting into place. You will know if you've done it correctly however, as when the pot is plugged in, a musical trill sounds whenever the lid is opened or closed. The lid's sturdy handle has a fairly high arch. The pot can easily be opened without risking a steam bath for your hands, though the pressure valve is nearer the left end of the handle so you will want to do this with your right hand.

Some pressure cooker recipes instruct you to let the cooker sit so the internal pressure lessens gradually. Others call for an immediate release of the pressure. The Instant Pot's pressure release valve is located just behind the left edge of the handle. Push it away to close the valve, toward you to open it. It's easy enough to locate and release with a finger; more cautious users may wish to use a pair of tongs or other utensil.

Accessible Use

The approximately 6-inch by 4-inch digital touchpad could be marked with raised dots, or a Braille overlay could have been created, but why bother when there is an accessible app for that?

I did need sighted help to pair the Instant Pot with my iPhone for the first time, but I only needed to do this once. The pairing button is near the bottom right of the touchpad; the extreme bottom right button is "Keep Warm/Cancel;" the Bluetooth pairing control is directly above it, and there are palpable indentations on the touchpad surface.

Press and hold the pairing button for a few seconds and the Instant Pot will show up in the available devices list on your iOS device. The iOS Dashboard tab alerts you to the Instant Pot's status, connected or not. If it is connected, it displays the work mode, including pressure level, temperature, time remaining, and heating level as a percentage of the cooker's capacity. For example, the Instant Pot might be cooking along at 200 degrees, but the elements are currently only working at 65% of capacity.

Also on the Dashboard tab you will find a number of presets that you can use and modify. The "poultry" listing, for example, sets the cooker to run at high pressure for 15 minutes. You can change either of these, or you can accept the defaults and press either Start or Delayed Start. Note: I would not choose Delayed Start for poultry for safety issues.

My first try at using the Instant Pot's pressure cooking settings was with a corned beef. I chose the Meat/Stew preset, but the duration was set at 35 minutes, and the recipe file suggested 45 minutes for corned beef. I pressed the "More" button twice to increase the time by 10 minutes. I also could have double tapped the 35-minute icon and used the picker items to set it more exactly. I had already placed the corned beef into the inner pot, added a few cups of water and closed the lid, making sure the tones sounded and the pressure valve was in the closed position. Had I missed this last step, I would have known soon enough as the pot would have begun emitting an audible hiss as steam emerged.

I next pressed the "Start" button, and after 45 minutes I allowed the pressure to subside naturally, as a sudden release of pressure can cause the meat to toughen. When the app showed no pressure I removed the corned beef and replaced it with cabbage, which I cooked using the Steam setting. The results were delicious; I repeated the meal for St. Patrick's Day.

Scripting a Recipe

The Smart Cooker app includes a few recipes, some of which use multiple steps, such as the Coconut Fish Curry, which uses the pot to sauté, then pressure cook. You can also create your own multi-step recipes with the app's scripting abilities. I created a simple recipe for short ribs with three ingredients:

• 1 lb. short ribs
• 1 can Coca-Cola
• A pinch of Cajun spice mix

I could also create a shopping list for the ingredients, along with a recipe description, cooking techniques list, prep time, and cooking instructions (in this case, basically, combine in pot.) I then created a recipe script with the following commands, each of which is annotated on the app with an explanatory Help button:

• Heat to pressure: High
• Hold the pressure High five minutes
• Pause with sound until temperature to 150 degrees Fahrenheit (during this step I opened the pressure release valve.)
• Hold the temperature 158 degrees Fahrenheit 2 hours

I was able to save this recipe so I can run it quickly the next time I cook short ribs. I could also change the recipe by accessibly adding, deleting, and rearranging cooking steps.

Final Thoughts

I, like most readers, am heartened by the growing availability of app-controllable household devices and kitchen appliances. True, I am not quite ready for a refrigerator that auto-detects if I am nearly out of milk, but I look forward to controlling my next oven, microwave, dishwasher, and clothes washer and dryer via a mobile app. Touch controls are here to stay. Currently I cannot use three of my wife's four slow cookers, her rice cooker, or the countertop rotisserie. The Instant Pot will not rotisserie, but I can now use all the other cooking methods. I am also quite enjoying using the Instant Pot as a pressure cooker. It's fast, an energy miser, and since you cook with a lot less liquid than you would on the stovetop, that much less nutrition gets cooked out of the food. Best of all, if you are still a bit skittish about possible pressure cooker explosions you can control the Instant Pot from start to finish from as far away as your Bluetooth signal will travel.

And if anyone knows of an app-controllable rotisserie, please let me know.

Product Information

Product: Instant Pot Smart Bluetooth-Enabled Multifunctional Pressure Cooker
Available from: Instant Pot; 800-828-7280
Price: $420 (regularly discounted to $235.95; it's also available from Amazon.com for $179.95, and I have seen flash sales at Amazon for nearly $50 less)

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Sonar Glasses can be a useful mobility tool for some people who are blind or visually impaired, though they are not meant as a replacement for a white cane or a guide dog. As described on the G-Technology Group website, the glasses "are designed to increase mobility independence for the blind and visually impaired. They complement the white cane and guide dog by detecting obstacles above waist level (such as tree limbs, signs, walls, people, low ceilings, etc.) Sonar Glasses technology is based on echolocation, similar to the way bats navigate in the dark. The glasses emit sound waves and measure the time to receive sound reflected by nearby objects."

Sonar Glasses are designed to detect objects in front of you from the level of your waist to the top of your head, and as wide as the breadth of your shoulders. If an object is within range, you will feel vibrations or hear a sound from the glasses' frame on the right side of your head.

Each order of Sonar Glasses is customized. There are four lens options, two model options, and a choice of whether the detection signal is a sound or silent vibration.

The four lens options are: clear lenses, dark lenses, prescription lenses, or photosensitive lenses. The photosensitive lenses get darker when outside in sunlight and lighter when indoors.

G-Technology Group makes two models of Sonar glasses, which are described later in this article.

The Sonar Glasses are not designed to be used in the rain.

Contents of Sonar Glasses Box

The box contains the Sonar Glasses, a battery charger, two adjustable ear locks, and two rechargeable lithium-ion batteries.

The Sonar Glasses

The Sonar Glasses have a black frame shaped similarly to a pair of wrap-around sunglasses, but they look more like science lab goggles. The frame does not have hinged arms and can't be folded. The glasses and lenses are made of plastic.

The frames are available in three sizes: small, medium, and large. According to a G-Technology Group representative, women usually choose small or medium and men choose medium and large. If the frames need adjustment, the glasses can be mailed back to G-Technology Group and adjusted at no cost.

Hearing aid users can get special frames that fit over hearing aids.

The thickest point of the front of the glasses, above the nose, measures .75 inch. This is where the sonar sending unit is located. The remainder of the frame, except over the ears but including towards the front of the glasses and along the sides, is approximately .5 inch thick.

The battery compartment is on the left frame, near the left temple. It is approximately 1.5 inches in length and 2 inches long. The on/off switch is on the top left front of the glasses. When you push the switch forward to turn the glasses on, you'll hear a beep. The glasses do not have an automatic shut off.

On the right side of the frame, near the right temple, is a small built-in vibration or sound making device. This area is roughly 2 inches long, 1 inch tall, and .5 inch wide. It fits neatly in the frame.

Ear Locks

The ear locks secure the glasses to your head and are made of a rubbery material. Each lock has a loop that slides onto one of the frame's earpieces. Hanging from the loop is a piece of rubber curved to fit the back of an ear. Slide the ear locks backwards or forwards until they comfortably hold the glasses to your head.

Batteries

Only one rechargeable battery at a time is needed. Each charge lasts approximately seven to nine hours. There is a piece of tape on the battery to help orient it correctly in the charger and in the glasses' battery compartment.

The Battery Charger

The charger has an open compartment on one side where the battery is inserted. The tape on the battery should be facing up and out. Line up the battery with the two prongs in the charger and press down.

On the other side of the charger is a recessed compartment with a flip-up AC plug. Flip the plug up to plug it into a 120-volt outlet. A full charge takes about two hours. Unplug the charger and remove the battery when done.

Getting Help

In addition to the included large-print instructions, G-Technology Group provides free step-by-step phone support to set up and use the glasses at 703-224-9895. There are links on the G-Technology website to download the instructions in MS Word and text format and listen to an audio version of the instruction manual. You can also request that instructions be emailed to you in PDF format. An OCR program can be used to scan and read the instructions. There is a demonstration video at G-disabilityproducts.com. This video doesn't talk about the Advanced glasses and not all actions, such as finding the plug in the battery charger, are described.

If you live in the Washington DC, Northern Virginia, or Maryland area, at-home training is available at $45 per hour, including travel time.

At the time of this writing, the G-Technology Group website displayed some outdated and contradictory information that can be confusing. For example, the website indicates that the advanced Sonar Glasses come with a carrying case, but they do not. Cases are available for an additional $25 each. The video does not have current information. On one part of the website it says that prescription Sonar Glasses come with one battery and on another part it says that two batteries are included. The order form for the Basic Sonar Glasses has an option for choosing a detection signal, but the order form for the Advanced model does not. The website loads very slowly (both a Mac and a PC were used to check download time. Both Wi-Fi and hard wiring were used).

Basic Sonar Glasses and Advanced Sonar Glasses

G-Technology Group makes two models of Sonar glasses. The Basic model has a set range of six feet. When you are six feet away from an object, the glasses start to vibrate or sound. Once you are three feet from the object, the speed of vibration or beeps will increase. The Advanced Sonar Glasses let a user change the distance for when the glasses will start responding. Options are nine feet, six feet and three feet. When the distance is set to either six feet or nine feet, the glasses will vibrate or sound more rapidly once the object is three feet away. If the distance is set to three feet, the glasses will immediately start vibrating or playing the sound quickly. When the Advanced glasses are turned on, they are always automatically set to a distance of six feet.

On the right frame of the Advanced model, to the rear of the area that vibrates, on the side, and just in front of the ear lock, is a slight valley. To change the distance setting, place two fingers on the frame just past the valley. Tap three times, waiting one second between each tap. You will hear a beep when the distance is changed. You can also try tapping on the outside of the right frame of the vibration or sound compartment. Since the glasses default to six feet when turned on, changing the range once will make the distance nine feet and changing it once more will change the range to three feet.

Using the Sonar Glasses

I tested a pair of Advanced Sonar glasses. On the street, in addition to the glasses, I used a white cane to navigate. I used only the glasses inside the house. In another test, I used my guide dog to navigate outside, but each dog is different when it comes to handling high obstacles. Prior to testing the glasses, I spent time learning to use them and practiced walking around while wearing them. It is important that your head is facing the direction of travel.

Outdoors

An obstacle course was set up for me. Obstacles included branches from 1 to 3 inches in diameter, placed at heights ranging from the top of my head to my waist. A horizontal bar, approximately 1.25 inches in diameter, was set up at neck height. A 2-inch diameter vertical pipe was placed in front of me.

Since the glasses use sonar, rather than a camera, lighting conditions should not influence how well the glasses work. The glasses were tested in shade and sunlight; the lighting did not make a difference.

The Sonar Glasses were inconsistent. They did not alert to the bar or the pipe. They did better with the branches, but did not detect all of them. The glasses did detect some of the smaller branches, but also missed a couple of the larger ones.

At Home

The glasses worked better indoors, but they occasionally missed something.

They consistently detected closed doors and most of the time they detected partially closed doors. They detected an open refrigerator door and most open cabinets. Range was set to three feet.

Warranty

These glasses come with a one-year warranty and satisfaction guarantee. For $10 per month, a protection plan is also available. If the glasses are lost or stolen there is a $50 deductible per incident.

Additional accessories are available including a head strap and carrying case. Replacement parts including ear locks and batteries can also be purchased.

Conclusion

Although the Sonar Advanced Glasses results were inconsistent, they can be a useful adjunct to the white cane or guide dog. The Advanced version provides the most flexibility; the three-foot range can be very useful at home and in crowds.

At this time G-Technology Group does not have any plans to make any changes to the glasses. Although the Sonar Glasses can provide useful information, I would like to see improved accuracy. These glasses are a good idea, especially for someone wanting more information about their environment. Since the glasses currently cannot be used in the rain, fixing this problem would let users wear their glasses in any kind of weather. The website needs to be updated and less confusing.

Product Information

Products: Basic Sonar Glasses and Advanced Sonar Glasses
Prices: Basic: $195 and up, depending on the lenses; Advanced: $240 and up, depending on the lenses
Available from: G-Technology Group; 703-224-9895

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