The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) just closed the 2015 AFB Leadership Conference, and I would love to share some highlights. It was a fast and furious conference, jam-packed with unique and informative content from experts from around the United States and abroad. The conference was attended by 420 people hailing from 38 states and 7 countries. The conference could not have happened without our co-host, Arizona AER, our conference ally, VisionAware Alliance, our partners, sponsors, exhibitors, volunteers, presenters, staff, and especially the work of Scott Truax and Amanda Kolling (the AFB conference dynamic duo).

So, without further ado, here is my 2015 top 12 list!

12. The first highlight has to be the tremendous list of generous sponsors who care about our mission and the AFB Leadership Conference: JPMorgan Chase & Co., Delta Gamma Foundation, Google, AudioEye, IBM, Vanda Pharmaceuticals, Inc., CTIA, OpenText (formerly Actuate), Verizon, Sprint, AT&T, Canon, Comcast, Facebook, Freedom Scientific, Microsoft, National Industries for the Blind, HumanWare, American Printing House for the Blind, Helen Keller Services, A.B. Data, and TracFone. In addition, I have to mention the enthusiastic and innovative exhibitors who showed off their products and services, and provided fantastic prizes for the popular "exhibitor bingo." AFB is committed to partnerships and to connecting people with resources, and these exhibitors provided an extra punch to the conference with their great offerings.

13. AFB Press and Professional Development gave a presentation on leadership through authorship. Editor and author perspectives were given for helping to build the knowledge base of the field and to advance the dialogue on critical topics by writing books, submitting journal articles, and making presentations through webinars.

14. The summits and offerings on the first day of the conference allowed attendees to gather, hear, and discuss the latest information about topics such as transition, research and policy, technology, and the aging population. You might have been in the Apple training, Google Android training, or in the packed AccessWorld Technology Summit brought to you by AccessWorld Editor-in-Chief Lee Huffman. Maybe you were at the National Transition Summit, where we discussed current innovative programs and the obstacles faced by professionals and providers. You will see all the notes and next steps posted to the National Transition page soon.

15. If you attended any part of the research and policy session from AFB's Mark Richert and Dr. Rebecca Sheffield, you would have been blown away with their depth of knowledge, lively delivery, and humor. They made data, research, and policy as entertaining as television's "Big Bang Theory."

16. Getting to meet all of the future experts in the field of blindness and visual impairment by networking with current Delta Gamma Fellows was truly inspiring. A number of volunteers from local Delta Gamma chapters and alumnae who now live in the Phoenix area were also in attendance. Delta Gamma's sponsorship and involvement truly helped make the conference a huge success.

17. Did you make it to the Saturday afternoon session by Mahadeo Sukhai, one of a handful of congenitally blind biomedical researchers in North America? Dr. Sukhai spoke about science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) access in postsecondary education. I can tell you I walked away from this session with some great ideas and motivation around the inclusion of individuals who are blind or visually impaired in STEM lab settings and "practical spaces" in arts and design. And he just happens to be an AFB CareerConnect mentor!

18. Would it be wrong to put my employment panel on this list? Well, I don't think so, as the panel was truly exceptional. Toni Mayros from the Tui Group, Jim Camp from Walmart, and Mylene Padolina from the United States Business Leadership Network (USBLN) did a great job of addressing questions on trends in the employment process, disclosure, talent acquisition, social media, and advice for professionals and job seekers. I really don't think this panel could have gone any better, and that is because of these talented individuals.

19. If you attended the informative personnel preparation panel general session and accessibility panel with AFB Vice President of Programs and Policy, Paul Schroeder, you would be geared up for next year's 2016 AFB Leadership Conference in Arlington, VA, as these panels set the tone for the level of content that come from the conference. Hearing from executives and experts at companies like Microsoft and Comcast leaves a lasting impression. During the personnel preparation panel, a great question about the preparation of teachers specific to training youth on technology was asked by Carl Augusto, and I believe this topic will be highlighted more next year.

20. I am biased, but I consider my own general session one of the highlights of the conference! The Stephen Garff Marriott Award was presented during the session to Russell Shaffer from Walmart, an exemplary individual who gives back to the world while demonstrating that vision loss or blindness shouldn't stop you from reaching and striving for success at the highest level. During the general session, I had the opportunity to interview Russell and Chris Downey, lead architect from Architecture for the Blind, about their work, life, vision loss, and adjustment. We could not have picked two better panelists. I had multiple people come up to me and share that they cried during the session and two people even cried while talking to me about the panel. Many more asked for another general session like this in the future, and I would be happy to oblige.

21. The newest AFB Press publication, Vision and the Brain: Understanding Cerebral Visual Impairment in Children, edited by Amanda Hall Lueck and Gordon Dutton was presented to great acclaim and the copies brought to the conference sold out quickly. This book will bring much needed information to, and new perspectives on, working with children with CVI.

22. Apple and the Apple Watch wowed the audience in the very first presentation about the accessibility and use of this cool new device. Numerous people remarked that they went online and pre-ordered their own later that day after seeing the demo.

23. The top highlight, however, has to be the award presentation events at the conference. As the most prestigious award specific to the field of blindness, the 2015 Migel Medal was presented to Judy Brewer, Dr. Gaylen Kapperman, and Dr. Rosanne Silberman. The Kirchner Award for excellence in research was presented to Dr. John Crews of the CDC. The 2015 AFB Access Awards were presented to Comcast, Microsoft, MIPsoft, Odin Mobile, Joel Snyder, American Printing House for the Blind, Orbit Research, and Texas Instruments. The Access Awards highlight individuals and organizations that bring accessibility to a new level in a way that can be replicated to create better access for people who are blind or visually impaired. This was a stellar group of winners to add to the great history of past winners recognized by the AFB.

Besides all of the great general sessions and concurrent sessions, the conference was a fabulous place to network and meet other passionate professionals from around the United States and abroad. I met Joel Isaac from JPMorgan Chase, and he knows that I will be contacting him for an AFB CareerConnect Our Stories piece. It was wonderful meeting new contacts and networking with current contacts and friends. As always, attending the conference feels like you are visiting with a big extended family.

On a side note, the staff at the Renaissance Phoenix Downtown was top notch, perhaps even the best staff I've worked with in all of my Marriott stays. A special shout-out to Summer, Tommy, Monique, Ben, and Pamela. Both Summer and Tommy treated me like family; what a great hotel and staff!

If you attended, let us know your favorite aspect or session from the 2015 AFB Leadership Conference (#AFBLC). If you didn't make it this year, you missed out on innovative and unique information concerning technology, accessibility, employment, education, leadership, and rehabilitation specific to blindness and visual impairment. Don't miss out next year--mark your calendars now for March 3-5, 2016, at the Crystal Gateway Marriott, just a quick metro ride to all of the sights and attractions of Washington, DC.

Comment on this article.

Dear AccessWorld readers,

That's right, we are listening to your comments on articles, reflecting on your questions about both mainstream and access technology, and we are hearing your thoughts and opinions on everything from the future of braille and video description to television programming access, frustrating and inaccessible apps and feature phones, and all the good, the bad, and the ugly with all things Windows, Apple, and Android.

The AccessWorld staff enjoys and, more importantly, very much appreciates hearing from all of you. Quite often a comment or question from a reader turns into an article that, in turn, provides information to the tens of thousands of readers who visit AccessWorld each and every month. In the coming months, the staff and I will be increasingly looking to your feedback to drive content decisions we make for AccessWorld. So, lay it on us!

We are looking for both quantitative and qualitative feedback. Right now, I encourage you to use the "comment on this article" link at the very bottom of each article to provide feedback, positive comments, and, yes, constructive criticism, for me and the AccessWorld authors. You can also use that link to ask specific questions about each article. If you prefer, you can also send an e-mail directly to me. When you write in, remember that we may choose to publish your letter in the Letters to the Editor section of AccessWorld. The staff and I also believe it is important to know who says what. To that end, both first and last names (when available) are published in the Letters to the Editor section. If you do not want your name published, just let us know when you write in and we'll refrain from publishing your comments.

Also, be on the lookout this summer for AccessWorld reader surveys where you can let us know what you're most interested in reading. This is your opportunity to have your voice heard, so speak up! The AccessWorld staff is listening!

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

Dear AccessWorld Editor,

In response to Deborah Kendrick's April article, Banking on a Plan for Inclusion at JP Morgan Chase, I have used the Chase Visa Card website with the JAWS screen reader for several years and find the process of downloading my monthly statements very frustrating. I bank with Wells Fargo, and have little trouble downloading my monthly bank statements. Last month I decided to use Chase's link for comments, and found it impossible to use with a screen reader. Chase, please improve the downloading of monthly statements, as well as the comments function!

Sincerely,

Joe Smith

Dear AccessWorld Editor,

I am so glad somebody, besides me, has taken time to review the iBrailer Notetaking app for the blind community, as was done in An Evaluation of the iBrailler Notes Braille Notetaking App from iBrailler LLC, by Jamie Pauls. I love the ability to simply backspace without swiping to delete. Thanks for posting this for all to read.

Why do braille apps get so little play in our community?

Best regards,

Jan

Dear AccessWorld Editor,

I use Facebook all the time on my iPhone and iPad. I find it quite easy to use and the updates have made improvements in accessibility. The April AccessWorld article [by Bill Holton], Facebook Accessibility for Users with Visual Impairments: What Facebook Wants You to Know, is a terrific article, and I will explore those key shortcuts on my laptop. Great job and congratulations to [the Facebook] accessibility team!

Respectfully,

Barbara

Dear AccessWorld Editor,

I thought Facebook Accessibility for Users with Visual Impairments: What Facebook Wants You to Know by Bill Holton was a very interesting article. However, it would have been much better and more beneficial if some examples were included, e.g. give the key commands prefaced by an actual example of one. As it is written, I'm not sure if to get to my friends list, I have to just press the #3 key or if, since I'm using IE, I need to press the ALT key, then, the #3 key, and then, the enter key.

Actual examples always greatly improve comprehension and communications effectiveness!

Thanks,

Ron

Dear AccessWorld Editor,

Banking on a Plan for Inclusion at JP Morgan Chase by Deborah Kendrick was an excellent article. I would advise AccessWorld readers to be sure, if they have established an account online with Chase, that they log in every once in a while. I use JAWS, but often get a message that says that WindowEyes users may have trouble logging in. And that seems to be often true. I have to refresh the screen several times, and sometimes I can't log in at all.

I wonder, too, whether Chase could list the recipient of the check on their bank statements. The statements are wonderful, but I'd like to know who the check was written to.

Thanks for the article and your evaluation.

Ann Brash

Dear AccessWorld Editor,

I am writing this message in response to Deborah Kendrick's April article, Banking on a Plan for Inclusion at JP Morgan Chase.

My husband and I have credit cards through Chase bank. We agree that the braille statements are the best quality we have ever seen. However, we have had to have our cards replaced more than once, and despite repeated requests, the replacement cards never have braille on them. There is no process for getting this done, and personnel always act as though they have never heard of such an idea. Lack of access to the credit card number makes new card activation more difficult than it needs to be.

Since Bank of America is able to provide this service, I don't understand why Chase does not find it possible.

Sincerely,

Kathy Blackburn

Dear AccessWorld Editor,

I was reading A Collection of Accessible Apps for Your Android Device by J.J. Meddaugh regarding accessible apps, and I saw the link to share apps that might be useful to others in the visually impaired world. I am an avid reader and after years of looking I was told about the Go Read application for Android. It is an app by Bookshare.org. I have been using this app for about two months now and it is the easiest app that I have used on my Android phone. It is totally accessible and very easy to use. You sign up at Bookshare.org, and then download the app. You can search for books by title, author, or ISBN, and offerings include magazines as well. I wish I had known about this app years ago. I love that I can download a book and immediately start listening to it.

Regards,

Darrin Sherman

Three Promising Teams Win the AT&T NYU #ConnectAbility: Challenge Hackathon

An app that retrieves and transcribes images from Twitter, another that facilitates communication for people who cannot use their voices, and a third designed to prevent anxiety attacks earned $10,000 in prizes at the kickoff hackathon for AT&T and New York University's three-month Connect Ability Challenge.

The challenge–launched in recognition of the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) this July–calls on makers, coders, and innovators to create and refine apps, wearables, and other technology that break down barriers to independence and self-expression, helping millions of people with disabilities.

Hosted by technical experts from NYU and AT&T, hackathon participants worked with exemplars—members of the disability community—who discussed the challenges they face in their daily routines and the kinds of tech they believe can help. All app developers who participated in the hackathon, as well as others who are contributing from around the world, will have until June 24 to build apps and submit them for judging in the Connect Ability Challenge. Then, on the 25^th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act in July, AT&T and NYU will announce who will collect $100,000 in prizes to help bring their assistive technologies to life.

The winning concepts are:

• First prize ($5,000): alt_text_bot, an app that uses image recognition technology to quickly describe images on Twitter so that people with visual impairments can participate more fully in social media.
• Second prize ($3,500): StenoSpeak, a mobile app that improves upon open-source stenography technology to speed up text translation to a conversational pace for those who cannot use their voices to communicate.
• Third prize ($1,500): Tranquil Tracker, a biosensing system that can predict and prevent anxiety attacks.

Fifteen teams presented to judges at the conclusion of the 36-hour hackathon at the NYU ABILITY Lab in Downtown Brooklyn. More than 100 hackers, makers, and innovators participated.

"On behalf of New York University, it's my honor to congratulate the winners of the Connect Ability Challenge hackathon, and I thank all of the participants for spending their weekend with us working to make a difference for people with disabilities," said R. Luke DuBois, associate professor of Integrated Digital Media at the NYU Polytechnic School of Engineering. "We encourage everyone to continue their work into the summer as part of the AT&T NYU Connect Ability Challenge. The nation's largest private research university is tremendously proud to be partnering with AT&T to support an active, engaged ecosystem of makers and developers interested in opening access for all."

"The ideas generated during these two short days have exceeded our expectations, and the energy and interest that the participants demonstrated in developing solutions for people with disabilities is astounding," said Anita Perr, clinical associate professor of occupational therapy at NYU's Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. "I hope that they take these lessons with them and continue to address the needs of people with disabilities in their future work. We're fortunate to have a unique team come together for this challenge, from disability specialists and clinicians to engineers, designers, and developers–not to mention people from AT&T sharing their expertise in methods of connectivity and the input from our exemplars who are using their own experiences to push forward the technology available for people with disabilities."

The NYU ABILITY Lab leads the Connect Ability Challenge participation at NYU. This interdisciplinary research space within the Media and Games Network (MAGNET) in Downtown Brooklyn is a collaboration of the Polytechnic School of Engineering; the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development; and the Tisch School of the Arts in support of research and education across NYU.

Winners of the Connect Ability Challenge will be announced on July 26, which is the 25^th anniversary of the ADA. For more information or to register for the challenge, visit the Challenge Post page for the Connect Ability Challenge and follow the latest news on Twitter using the hashtag #ConnectAbility.

Check out the Connect Ability videos below!

Introducing the AT&T and NYU Connect Ability Challenge marking the 25th Anniversary of the A.D.A.

Xian Horn describing her life and disability for the AT&T and NYU Connect Ability Challenge

Gus Chalkias describing his life and disability for the AT&T and NYU Connect Ability Challenge

AFB Press announces Vision and the Brain: Understanding Cerebral Visual Impairment in Children

AFB is very pleased announce the recent publication of Vision and the Brain: Understanding Cerebral Visual Impairment in Children, edited by Amanda Hall Lueck and Gordon N. Dutton.

Published by AFB Press, Vision and the Brain is a unique and comprehensive sourcebook of current knowledge about cerebral visual impairment (CVI) and best practices for working with children with CVI. It includes information from international experts, from a variety of professions, on how vision is affected by various disorders in the brain, methods of assessing children with CVI, and models of intervention.

Vision and the Brain is 720 pages long and is now available in paperback for $79.95. Electronic formats (e-book for $55.95; via online subscription for $47.95) will be available shortly.

New Release from National Braille Press: Everything You Need to Know to Use the Mac with Yosemite and VoiceOver

In the August 2014 issue of AccessWorld, Bill Holton reviewed the book Learn to Use the Mac with VoiceOver: a Step-by-Step Guide for Blind Users, written by Janet Ingber and published by National Braille Press. Almost one year later, Ingber has written a second book entitled, Everything You Need to Know to Use the Mac with Yosemite and VoiceOver. Also published by National Braille Press, this second volume expands on the first, and highlights features new to Apple's Yosemite operating system for the Mac.

If you have not yet purchased a Mac, you will find suggestions for deciding which Mac to buy. Also included is a discussion of how the various Mac keyboards are laid out, getting up and running with the VoiceOver screen reader for the first time, and getting help on using your Mac and VoiceOver.

The book provides numerous step-by-step instructions for performing common tasks such as working with e-mail, word processing, and file management. Ingber includes personal thoughts on how she uses her Mac in everyday situations, and provides multiple approaches to accomplishing most tasks.

There are a number of new features included in Yosemite, and the book highlights quite a few of them, including a section dealing with how to answer phone calls from your Mac instead of your iPhone. Expanded chapters on iCloud and the Keychain password manager may well make this newest release from Ingber and National Braille Press worth the price for many.

There is no way any one volume could satisfy the needs of every Mac user, and Ingber takes care of this problem by providing links to various resources at the end of the book. Available in plain text, electronic and hard copy braille, Word, and DAISY, you can purchase the book from National Braille Press for $22. Any electronic version of the book can be purchased on a USB drive rather than having to be downloaded from the Web.

Envision Peer Review Calls for Late-Breaking Abstracts for the 10th annual Envision Conference

The Envision Conference Peer Review Committee welcomes late breaking research abstracts from anyone involved in the area of visual research. Abstracts can be submitted by people in the professional and academic visual research community as well as applied psychology, low vision therapists, occupational therapists, and practicing ophthalmologists and optometrists.

Your abstract text must be submitted in Envision's required format to include four distinct parts with the following headers: Purpose; Methods; Results; and Conclusions. Abstracts will not be considered or reviewed unless all required fields are completed. Researchers may submit multiple abstracts.

Deadline for submissions is June 8, 2015.

The 10th Annual Envision Conference will be held in Denver, Colorado, September 9–12.

Envision's 10^th annual conference will provide a multi-disciplinary forum for the exchange of ideas and information on approaches to low vision rehabilitation. Over four days, ophthalmologists, optometrists, occupational therapists, researchers, academics and other vision care professionals will attend sessions, view exhibits of the latest low vision products and services, and share knowledge from around the globe in an effort to improve approaches to minimizing the adverse impact of vision loss.

Matt Simpson, a champion goalball player and the membership and outreach coordinator for the U.S. Association of Blind Athletes, and Dr. Jeanne Derber, a Colorado Springs-based optometrist and director of vision services for the United States Olympic Training Center, will serve as co-keynote speakers at its 10th annual Envision Conference. The keynote address will take place during the Opening Plenary Session on Thursday, September 10. Full details of the 2015 program are available on the Envision website.

US Department of Labor launches Disability Employment Initiative Grants

$15M in Disability Employment Initiative grants to better serve the needs of youth and adults with disabilities seeking employment. Workforce agencies must apply by the June 11 deadline.

Americans with disabilities face many obstacles in life, including those that make their search for employment difficult. To help remove some of these impediments, the US Department of Labor is working to increase the ability of federal job training programs to serve youth and adults with disabilities through better collaboration and new partnerships at state and local levels.

The department recently announced the availability of approximately $15 million in grants through the Disability Employment Initiative to state workforce agencies to develop flexible and innovative strategies to increase the participation of people with disabilities in federally funded education and training programs.

"People with disabilities have enormous contributions to make to our economy and our society, but they remain disproportionately represented among our nation's unemployed," said US Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez. "We are working to change that by providing more training options that prepare these workers for good jobs. These grants will help build strong ladders of opportunity to the middle-class for these workers."

The grants are the sixth round of funding through the Disability Employment Initiative, a joint program of the Labor Department's Employment and Training Administration and the Office of Disability Employment Policy.

Since 2010, the department has awarded grants worth more than $95 million through the DEI to 37 state workforce agencies in 26 states to improve education, training, and employment outcomes of youth and adults with disabilities. The funds are used to refine and expand workforce strategies proven to be successful, and enhance inclusive service delivery through the public workforce system. Improvements include: increasing the accessibility of American Job Centers; training front-line AJC and partner staff; and increasing partnerships and collaboration across numerous systems that are critical for assisting youth and adults with disabilities in securing meaningful employment.

The department anticipates awarding eight grants—ranging from $1.5 to $2.5 million—to be spent in a 42-month period. Funding will be provided to at least one project for each of the following three target populations: adults with disabilities (ages 18 and older); youth with disabilities (ages 14-24); and individuals with significant disabilities (ages 14 and older).

Workforce agencies interested in applying for this funding should visit the federal grants website. The deadline to apply is June 11, 2015.

National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) launches That All May Read Campaign

That All May Read, the motto of the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS), Library of Congress, is the name of the new NLS campaign designed to reach people with temporary or permanent low vision, blindness, or other physical disabilities that prevent them from reading or using printed materials.

The campaign allows people to learn more about the braille and talking book program on NLS's new website. On the website, you will find:

• A video featuring nine NLS patrons sharing their experiences with the service
• An explanation of the types of resources and reading materials available
• Information on eligibility requirements
• Instructions for enrollment

The That All May Read website will be updated regularly, so check back frequently to see what is new.

Whether you want to explore your neighborhood, the country, or the world—or even if you don't want to leave home at all—the National Braille Press, with the superb talent of authors Judy Dixon and Doug Wakefield, has published a fantastic roundup of travel apps. Out and About: Our Favorite iOS Travel Apps is a small book packed with fun, instruction, and entertainment, that offers an amazing augmentation to the already awesome power of your iOS device.

The small-format 80-page braille book (also available for download for braille and non-braille-reading fans alike) is aimed at enabling the iPhone user who is blind to see more of our wonderful world. The book features two dozen apps for iOS devices. Whether you're the kind of person who can't wait to get on the next airplane or one who prefers sitting in your favorite chair reading about adventure, this book will expand your horizons.

Defining Travel for the Visually Impaired

The title of this book might lead you to think that it is designed for the amateur travel agent or avid vacation planner. While some of the apps highlighted in the book do have those kinds of capabilities, this is first and foremost a book for travelers who are blind. As blind people themselves, Dixon and Wakefield recognize the many, varied, and unusual connotations the word "travel" has for blind individuals, and the collection of apps featured here address every one of those meanings.

When it comes to planes, trains, buses, and taxis, there are certainly apps here designed to help you track flights, examine train schedules and fares, or even find out where your taxi is, but the blind traveler needs other kinds of information. How do you signal that you are looking for a taxi or skycap, for example? Or, when you have a three-hour layover in a huge airport, how can you find out where the nearest gift shop or restaurant is located?

For that matter, the blind "traveler" might simply pine for more information about his or her own neighborhood. Would you like to sit on your own porch swing or at your kitchen table and learn more about the businesses nearby? Maybe you want to examine an area where you plan to visit. Apps discussed in this book will give you the opportunity to explore virtual maps on your phone, learning the names and directions of streets and the businesses situated on them before you ever pack a bag.

Speaking of packing that bag (if conventional travel is your intention), you'll find an app to help you build your packing list and even one to help you practice essential phrases in a foreign language.

Organization and Presentation

The two dozen apps selected for the book are arranged alphabetically, from Amtrak to World Facts, with each app's "chapter" presented in a concise and consistent format. At the top you'll find the app's name, developer, category, price, and size (along with the name that will identify the app once it's loaded onto your iOS device, if different from the name used to locate it in the app store). Following this header information, the authors describe what the app is designed to do (get map directions, find out why your flight is late, discover how many transportation options there are to get from any city to another, obtain audio commentary on landmarks in your hometown or distant locations, and so on).

All of the apps featured are, of course, accessible with VoiceOver. Exploring new apps is made much easier, however, by the detailed information provided in the book, which acts as a quick orientation for, and introduction to, each app. Incorporating fun examples to illustrate the use of each app, the authors describe the screen layout, identifying the placement and function of all buttons and tabs.

Most apps included here are either free or priced at under $5. Some are already built into your iOS device.

A Reference for Now or Later

If you read this book straight through, as I did initially, you will find a treasure trove of information, entertainment, and education in the examples used to illustrate the purpose of each app. The conversational tone creates the feeling of two blind information lovers sharing tips and observations with another. That first read, however, will only give you the overall view of the apps as a collection.

You will probably find some apps here that you already have. I even found a few I had downloaded and somehow neglected to explore, until my interest was sparked anew by the examples in the book.

Whether one dozen or the entire collection is new to you, most chapters will lead to countless hours of experimentation and discovery. For that reason, you will want to keep the book on hand for future reference as you work your way through trying one or another of the apps featured.

If you want to give better directions to the people who drive you from place to place, if you want to take greater control of your own transportation itinerary, or if you just want to learn more about the places in your neighborhood and around the world, you will love this book. In fact, even if you only want to read it and never download a single app, the pleasure derived is worth the book's $9.00 price tag!

Out and About: Our Favorite Travel Apps by Judy Dixon and Doug Wakefield, is available from National Braille Press for $9. The book is available in hardcopy braille, DAISY CD, DAISY download, eBraille CD, eBraille download, Word file CD, or Word file download. To order or learn more, visit National Braille Press or call 800-548-7323, ext. 520 (toll free US only).

Comment on this article.

Related Articles

• The LookAround GPS from Sendero and the Ariadne GPS: Two iPhone Apps that Increase Independence for Blind and Visually Impaired Travelers
• Tips and Tricks from a Blind Business Traveler: How to Manage the Airport More Effectively

More from Deborah Kendrick

• Phonak ComPilot Product Review: Wearing a Necklace of Sound
  A Product of Interest to People Who Are Deafblind or Hard of Hearing
• A Second Decade for Serotek

Recently, Rogue Amoeba released a new version of its Audio Hijack Pro software. This latest version, Audio Hijack 3, has a very different interface from previous versions.

Audio Hijack 3 Functionality and Accessibility

Audio Hijack 3 lets you record audio directly to your Mac, and save the recording as a file. It can record from Skype, Safari, a microphone, and other audio sources. Some podcasters use it for recording their podcasts, although it is not actually an audio editor.

Rogue Amoeba has consistently designed its Audio Hijack software to have good VoiceOver accessibility. Although the new program isn't perfect in this regard, it is very good.

Getting Help

When either the trial or the purchased app loads, two options are presented: "Dive Right In" and "Read the Manual." The manual is accessible using VoiceOver. Although descriptions and information refer to clicking buttons on the screen, these tasks are accessible with the keyboard. There is also a link to the app's Help Center. Audio Hijack 3 also has an extensive onboard Help menu that includes the manual, support contact form, and link to the knowledge base. You can also visit the Rogue Amoeba online support page. All tech support is provided via e-mail.

Using the App

If you have a previous version of Audio Hijack, you will have the option to import your old sessions into Audio Hijack 3. For example, if you recorded Skype conversations, the template you used can be imported.

Layout

Audio Hijack 3 looks very different from previous versions. Along with keyboard commands, the screen can be explored with the VO keys along with the Left and Right Arrow keys. There are some tabs, but no toolbar.

When the application is opened, by default you will be placed on the "New Session" button. This button can also be accessed with Command + N. The "Delete Recording" button is to the right of the "New Session" button. Along with the Apple Menu and the Audio Hijack 3 menu there are the Session, Edit, Control, Window, and Help Menus. The Session menu has two options: New Recording and Open Recording. The Edit menu is the standard edit menu. The Control menu has options to Start, Stop, Pause, and Split a recording. These menus are easy to navigate.

There are three tabs on the screen and all can be accessed with keyboard commands. The first tab is Sessions (Command + 1); any imported recordings will be found here. The Up and Down Arrow keys can be used to review the list. Command + 2 will bring you to the next tab, Recordings, where actual recordings are located. You can view your recordings either in Finder or from within the application. The final tab is Scheduled (Command + 3), where you can schedule recordings. Tabs are selected with checkboxes.

Making a Recording

In previous versions of Audio Hijack, you selected a recording option, such as to record from Skype or Safari, from a table. In the new version, you can either select an imported session or activate the "New Session" button (Command + N). A Template Chooser will open and there will be a list of many recording options. Each option also has a Help tag. After using the Arrow keys to navigate to an item, wait a few seconds to hear the help read aloud. Examples of available templates are: New Blank Session, Voice Chat, Web Audio, and System Audio. The Blank Session template lets the user create his or her own configuration for recording a session. The Voice Chat template is used for recording conversations such as with Skype. The Web Audio template is designed to record any kind of audio, such as music or a podcast, directly from Safari. The System Audio template will record whatever sound is coming from your Mac, including VoiceOver. Once you select a template, focus should move to the Audio Grid. If it doesn't, move left and VoiceOver will indicate when you're in the Audio Grid.

The Audio Grid

The audio grid is a new feature. It gives the user a lot of flexibility when choosing how to record a session. For many users, the templates provide all necessary configurations.

Each component of a recording session is called an audio block. For example, the Web Audio template has three audio blocks: Safari, MP3, and Internal Speakers. In other words, the Safari audio will be recorded as an MP3 file and played through my Mac's internal speakers. Think of the grid as a piece of graph paper with the X-axis going horizontally and the Y-axis going vertically. VoiceOver will speak each audio block with X and Y coordinates. After a few seconds, VoiceOver will also speak the Help tag associated with the specific audio block.

The audio grid is used to change settings. Typing VO + Spacebar on the file type (in this example, MP3) and then moving right will bring up many sections including File Settings and Recording Format. Interact with the particular session, review the contents of each session, and make your selection.

Adding Audio Blocks

If using one of the pre-configured templates or a previously imported session, you have the option to add additional audio blocks. If you're creating a session from a blank template, it is necessary to add the various audio blocks. If you're in the Audio Grid, stop interacting and VO + Right Arrow to navigate to the list of Audio Blocks. Interact with the list and arrow down through the various categories of blocks. Choose the category and then the specific audio block. Press VO + Spacebar to go back to the Audio Grid.

There are many ways to move blocks, but the easiest way to add a new block is to interact with the block. Next, paste the new block on top of the original block. The old block will move to the right and the new block will be inserted before it. Blocks can be moved with Command or Option and the Left and Right Arrow keys. VoiceOver will speak the block's position as it is moved. When moving blocks it's important to know that any two blocks cannot be moved more than 45 degrees apart. Pasting the new block automatically ensures the angle is correct.

Once the Audio Grid is configured, type Command + R to start recording. By using the VO keys with the Left and Right Arrow keys, you can check recording time and locate the checkbox to pause recording. The recording is automatically saved to the Audio Hijack folder created by the application. If you don't want to keep the recording, there is a "Delete Recording" button in the application.

Conclusion

The new format for Audio Hijack 3 can be a bit confusing. Fortunately, it contains many pre-configured templates. VoiceOver provides a lot of information including Audio Grid position and Help tags.

There is a free trial version available if you're not sure that you want to purchase the application. The free trial lets you record for 10 minutes at a time. If you decide to purchase the application, you'll receive a license key that will allow you to unlock the full program.

Below are some excellent podcasts that explain Audio Hijack 3 in even greater detail. Remember that you don't have to create or modify any of the templates if the ones provided meet your needs.

Podcast Resources

AppleVis

In this podcast, Alex Hall explains the Audio Grid and how to create a session.

Rosen at Large Podcast

Jonathan Mosen provides a detailed description of Audio-Hijack 3, including how to make changes to an audio block and how to choose a template.

Tech Doctor Podcast

In this episode, Dr. Robert Carter and Allison Hartley speak with Grant Farr, the Rogue Amoeba developer responsible for the Audio Hijack user interface, including the excellent VoiceOver support.

Product Information

Product: Audio Hijack 3 by Rogue Amoeba

Cost: $49 (an upgrade from Audio Hijack Pro to Audio Hijack 3 costs $25). A free trial download is also available.

Comment on this article.

Related articles:

• Working with Text and VoiceOver on a Mac by Janet Ingber
• Making Music with the Beamz: A Tool for Fun and Education by Ike Presley

More from Janet Ingber:

• Vision for a Nation Provides Access to Eyeglasses for Rwandans
• CDesk from Adaptive Voice: An Intuitive Accessible-Desktop Program that Makes a PC Easier to Use