Dear AccessWorld Editor,

I wish someone would write a book, or design an online course for the sufferers of inaccessible documents.

I work for a college and know of many courses for designers to learn to craft accessible pages, and for authors to create accessible PDFs. Academia is full of conferences, seminars and training materials on accessibility.

But it's like saying that churches sponsor Bible study sessions, or that gyms offer aerobics classes. People who want to create accessible documents can readily find the information. In academia, they find it more fruitful to preach to the choir.

Little is available for the poor consumer who has to deal with the inaccessible PDF or webpage. And I think there are many training possibilities here.

Take a PDF file. In my job I review hundreds of them. If you save it as text you might get a file where each word is on its own line so the document is simply a single column of words. Another PDF might be an image only and result in no exported text. A third PDF will have all the words run together without spaces, a text file consisting of an amorphous mass of characters. A forth PDF might contain all the text, but no paragraphs. And a fifth PDF could be beautifully structured with paragraphs, headings and links. And some PDFS are protected, which sometimes, but not always, interferes with access.

The savvy consumer could analyze these document characteristics and learn something about what system created the document. There might be other properties the consumer could also investigate to learn more about it. And if we knew what system created that document, we would then know which PDF-creation facilities were and were not accessible. And with a bit more knowledge, we could write to the document's author and propose some changes – for example perhaps there's a check box they forgot to uncheck or a menu they never visited which could have fixed some access glitches.

I'm a fairly advanced Windows user, but I have no idea how many software packages can create PDF files and how many variations on this theme actually exist. I was, for example, quite surprised when my $100 Epson printer could not only create PDFs, but could create reasonably accessible ones with the simple push of a button. Yet our history professors regularly turn out completely inaccessible handouts, possibly using their camera-phones as impromptu copy machines.

And even if I did know more about a particular PDF, and have found a receptive document author, how will I guide this author to the appropriate resources?

For a webpage, it's not so simple. The consumer first needs to know if their lack of knowledge is contributing to the problem. Do they need to master more of their screen reader's features? With the complexities of both web pages and screen reader commands these days, that possibility is very real. Or perhaps they need to update their browser and/or screen reader. Maybe version 20 is required!

Next, the consumer needs to know how to query the screen reader to give it information about the page. They might need some rudimentary HTML knowledge to examine the page's code. They would also need more information on how to test for accessibility, but less information than a real web designer should be trained to utilize.

The user would need some way of communicating to the web designer exactly what does and does not work with their screen reader, and we consumers currently have no language in which to express this dialog. The web designer doesn't know what a screen reader is and the consumer doesn't know much about web design. Do I have to understand CGI, PHP and how a CMS (content management system) works to diagnose what's wrong with a particular page? Should I learn more about the different tools used today for web page creation? Does the site designer need to be encouraged to run NVDA, or read some specific online help to solve their site's problems? What are the best resources to send them to for quick solutions? These are questions whose answers I do not know.

The ideal book or course would teach enough of PDF and web design that the consumer could intelligently analyze the document or page and know what doesn't work and why. But more importantly, the ideal book or course would teach the consumer how to advocate effectively for change.

For example, my public library's audio book delivery system recently drastically changed its website so that it became less accessible. I complained and was sent to the site maintainer's national tech support center. Though the library administrators are greatly concerned about access, they contract to have this national center design that portion of their site. I e-mailed back and forth with a tech support agent who obviously didn't understand my issue, because they only responded with canned scripts. They asked me to detail the steps I took to cause the problem, so they could repeat those steps in-house. There was no way I could find to even explain the access concerns, much less advocate for change.

And part of the problem was that I myself only vaguely knew why the site had become less accessible. I remember explaining that all the ARIA regions were labeled "region" except that the support rep e-mailing me back didn't know what ARIA was. I could explain that my screen reader couldn't find the checkout button, but the rep didn't know what a screen reader was. I noticed that large numbers of links were labeled "click here" and that no headings were available for easy navigation, but those were words that wouldn't help me reach someone who could fix the site. And since the website did have keyboard shortcuts, labeled graphics, and links to skip to the main content, it might be passing those automated accessibility checkers—as a consumer I have no idea if those things are any good.

The ideal book or course would help me bypass the canned support track and communicate with a human who actually understood the issues involved. For example, our college has a web team that fully gets the importance of accessibility. However if the average student complained to the admissions department that his class was inaccessible, the bookstore might issue a refund and not pass his complaint on. If the student had taken my imaginary course, they would know to contact the college's legally mandated disability services. They would determine if the student needed more access technology training or [if] the site, in fact[,] had a bug. For the libraries, restaurant chains, medical services, online retailers and every other business or organization who puts up a site, there might be an appropriate contact, but we ordinary folk don't know how to find that expert. There might even be a procedure to follow, but we have to know which path to take first and that will vary with different organizations.

The ideal book or course would then consist of two broad sections. First, the consumer would learn how to analyze a document or page to get the where, what, and why of its lack of access. Second the training would show the consumer how to effectively communicate this information.

Sincerely,

Deborah Armstrong

Dear AccessWorld Editor,

I am the owner of Triumph Technology, an adaptive technology company located in Columbia Heights, Minnesota. My company has been in business for over nine years and in this time, to my frustration, I have tried a variety of bookkeeping/screen reader configurations including all of the major screen readers with QuickBooks and QuickBooks online included.

Reading An Introduction to Accessible QuickBooks by Intuit and My Blind Spot by Aaron Preece, I am happy to see the progress that the Intuit and My Blind Spot collaboration has made[—]it sounds like complete access to the Intuit program is still a ways off and that this work will continue to be dependent on both a specific screen reader and the bookkeeping software version. The question in the forefront of my mind is how long will it be until complete access to the same QuickBooks software [is] made available to professionals such as myself regardless of the screen reader they use. In other words, when will Intuit make the commitment to universal design[…]?.

When sighted consumers purchase a product, they don't do so on the basis that some of the most frequently used features are accessible to them and call it "good enough." They make their decision based on the product capabilities as a whole. Do you think any of them say to themselves, "Well I can do some of the things I want to do but I'm probably going to need to get a blind person to help me with the things I'm not able to do?" Probably not.

As a blind business owner who is 100 percent responsible for managing cash flow and maintaining tax compliance, it is clear in my mind that CashManager from Accomplish Global of New Zealand is far and away the most accessible business finance software in existence. This is because the folks at Accomplish Global recognize that in order for their product to truly be accessible, it must not be dependent on custom scripts developed for a specific screen reader for use with a particular version of the bookkeeping software. CashManager works out of the box with JAWS. The need to refresh the screen once in a while or use the JAWS cursor on certain screens are minor inconveniences, but the fact is that aside from setting up some templates, I have complete access to every other aspect of the CashManager program. Those templates I mentioned fall under the heading of set them and forget them and the Accomplish support team are only too happy to remote into my computer and adjust those visual things on the as needed basis. As I recall this assistance has been necessary only twice in my four years of using CashManager.

GW Micro has developed a Window-Eyes app that really enhances the use of CashManager making it an absolute joy to use.

As the US distributor of CashManager, many will say that my motives for writing this response [are] financially motivated, and perhaps this is partially true, but I can guarantee that I'm not relaxing on the beach sipping little umbrella drinks because I sell so much of it.

At the end of the day, when suppliers need to be paid, collection efforts need to be made for past due invoices, and taxes need to be filed, I want a tried and true, dependable business finance software program that won't keep me wondering how long it will be until I can use some features and support for other features fall by the wayside due to a version mis-match.

CashManager gives me reliable and consistent access to all of my business's finances. I have been through three tax seasons as the person who does everything from generating quotes, converting them to invoices, reconciling at the end of each month, generating those end of year reports and both corporate and personal taxes have always been filed without a single question from my CPA.

Sincerely,

Earle Harrison

Dear AccessWorld Editor,

Great article and product on An Introduction to Accessible QuickBooks by Intuit and My Blind Spot, by Aaron Preece!

This is the first I heard about My Blind Spot.

I use QuickBooks every day in my business and have been struggling with it since [the] 2012 version especially when accessing it remotely through GoToMyPC where my JAWS does not read!

I have lots of stories about 2014, unfortunately, from a viewing standpoint most are sad. 2014 views better in some computers and worse in others all using Windows 7. I have a client that uses a Microsoft Back Office server and in those connection 2014 views the best on a workstation with Windows 7 but GoToMyPC in all cases seems to denigrate the viewing on 2014. I have had remote support with the Citrix techs that are very knowledgeable and helpful but very little can be done.

I would love to see testing in Windows 7/8 as to which settings give the best ability in 2014, [e.g.]: Classic vs. other views, matrix settings, etc.

Thank you,

George A Martinez CPA, PC

Dear AccessWorld Editor,

iOS for ALL.

Thank you so much for this article: A Review of iOS Access for All: Your Comprehensive Guide to Accessibility for iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch, by Bill Holton.

It answered many of my questions and made me want to read the recommended book for more information. But most particularly, it helped me make the decision to get an iPhone. I have been hauling my audio player around with me for years and at the same time, have been lusting after an iPhone. My husband has questioned my need for an iPhone and this is yet another (major) reason the iPhone will be of use to me. Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!

Thanks,

Debbie Hecht

Dear AccessWorld Editor,

I enjoyed your article The Perkins SMART Brailler Does More than Make Dots, by Janet Ingber. It was very well written, informative, and interesting. When I was a student at the Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind in the early 60s where I learned to use a Perkins Braille writer, I never would have dreamed they would come up with something so wonderful! Thank you very much for your review of this exciting product!

Kindest regards,

Gary Olson

John Cornelius De Witt, 1932–2014, Pioneer in Assistive Technology and Technology Training

John Cornelius De Witt, a pioneer in access technology and technology training for people who are visually impaired, died on June 28, 2014, in Scottsdale, Arizona. Passionate about empowering individuals who are blind or have low vision and the organizations that employ them, De Witt spent his career training people with visual impairments, as well as individuals who have learning disabilities, to become "equally skilled as their peers" in reading, writing, and communicating using modern computer-based products. In 1991, when the term "assistive technology" was still novel, De Witt defined it and described its application in an article for the "Americans with Disabilities Act: From Policy to Practice" supplement to The Milbank Quarterly. In describing technology's role in providing access to people with disabilities, he wrote: "Technology is a powerful force throughout American society. For people with disabilities [,] the application of technology is particularly powerful."

Born in Long Branch, New Jersey, on July 20, 1932, De Witt went on to earn a master's degree in choral conducting from Juilliard School of Music in New York City in 1958. He worked for the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) as coordinator for its National Technology Center from 1978 to 1989, during which time he oversaw a national survey on the use of electronic devices by people who are visually impaired. He also became the first mentor for the Careers and Technology Information Bank (CTIB; which evolved into what is now known as CareerConnect), the AFB employment information resource that links job seekers with mentors who are visually impaired. After leaving AFB, De Witt went on to form De Witt & Associates, an access technology firm that offered technology training for people who are visually impaired, as well as those who have learning disabilities. As a charter member of the American telecommunications corporation AT&T Consumer Advisory Panel, De Witt evaluated numerous technologies including closed-circuit televisions and talking computers. Prior to his retirement and move to Mesa, Arizona, in 2012, De Witt's TrainingWare curriculum was used in 41 US states and 10 countries outside of the United States, and his customers and clients included federal, state, and local governments; school districts; colleges and universities; nonprofit organizations; corporations; and individuals. Memorial services for were held July 20, 2014, at Feeney Funeral Home in Ridgewood, New Jersey. For more information, contact: Feeney Funeral Home, 232 Franklin Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ 07450, 201-444-7650.

[Information for this piece was taken from the article, "The Role of Technology in Removing Barriers," by John C. De Witt, published in The Milbank Quarterly, 69, Supplements 1/2: The Americans with Disabilities Act: From Policy to Practice (1991), pp 313—332.]

Share Your Experience Using Current Communications Technology, and Help AFB Gather Your Input for the FCC Report to Congress on the CVAA

AFB wants to hear about your experience using communications technologies, such as cellphones, tablets, or computers to access the Web, e-mail, and text messages. We also want to share your information with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The FCC is currently preparing a report for Congress on the extent to which the communications industry is complying with the istoric Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA), which became law in 2010. The CVAA requires technologies that provide so-called advanced communications services, such as electronic messaging, to be accessible either out-of-the-box or with inexpensive add-on tools. The CVAA builds on older requirements of law, specifically section 255 of the Communications Act, which requires that traditional telephone technologies also be accessible.

How You Can Help

To assist in the preparation of the FCC report to Congress, and to help us and the FCC know how well the law is working, we are asking you to tell us about your experiences, good and bad, with obtaining and using accessible advanced communications services, as well as more traditional telephone-like technologies. Please try to keep your comments focused on technologies you've tried to obtain and use in the last two years; we want to provide the FCC with good current information.

To participate, please send an e-mail with your comments to AFB Programs and Policy Coordinator Heidi Walters by Monday, August 11.

Don't worry about making your e-mail a formal communication, and feel free to write as little or as much about your experiences as you like. Be sure to include your name and physical mailing address. We hope you will help us develop a rich record of comments for the FCC to use. Identifying yourself as a real consumer of these technologies will make a powerful statement, but if you do not wish to be identified in materials we prepare for the FCC but want to tell us about your experiences anyway, please e-mail us your comments making specific note of your wish not to be identified. The comments we receive may be sent to the FCC in full on their own or as part of a combined set of comments that AFB may prepare.

What Your E-mail Should Include

Tell us about your experiences trying to obtain and use a mobile phone, tablet, or computer with Web, e-mail, text messaging, and telephone capabilities. Briefly describe your successes and/or challenges. Please focus on technologies you've tried to obtain in the last two years.

The kinds of technologies we're particularly interested in hearing about include:

• Apple iOS mobile devices
• Android mobile devices
• MS Windows mobile devices
• Blackberry mobile devices
• Windows-based laptop and desktop computers
• Apple laptop and desktop computers
• Google Chrome OS-based devices
• open source (e.g., Linux) devices
• other mobile and/or laptop/desktop devices you prefer

When you write about your experiences using your technology, be careful to talk about the experiences you have had using the following specific features:

• accessing the Internet/web
• writing/reading/editing e-mail
• writing/reading/editing text messages
• making and managing phone calls
• navigating to and activating apps

We look forward to your comments. Thank you!

For further information, contact:

Mark Richert, Esq.
Director, Public Policy, AFB
(202) 469-6833

IBM Appoints First Chief Accessibility Officer

IBM recently appointed Frances West as the company's first Chief Accessibility Officer. In this new role, West will guide IBM accessibility policies and practices. Additionally, she will lead IBM collaboration with business, government, and academia to advance accessibility standards and policy.

"IBM has long embraced accessibility to create an environment where all individuals can do their job[s] and reach their full potential," said West. "We believe that technology can bridge individual differences, enable a diverse pool of talent in the workplace and improve lives. We are at a crossroads where we can begin to personalize every experience and integrate technology in ways that will be very pwerful."

West will work with IBM teams around the world that are spearheading efforts to deliver accessible and access technologies to te market. For example:

• IBM Interactive Experience works with clients to embed technologies like text-to-speech, voice recognition, real-time translation, or location-based preferences to create more personalized experiences and to remove both persistent and situational barriers for their custmers.
• The IBM Bluemix cloud platform will provide an ecosystem of accessibility services, from development tools for design and testing to enterprise-wide compliance services.
• IBM will design for accessibility in the apps and solutions it creates to unlock the potential of enterprise mobility.
• IBM Watson will extend the abilities of individuals by tapping knowledge from vast stores of data, using natural language in areas as diverse as financial services and personalized medicine.

West joined IBM Research as the leader of the Human Ability and Accessibility Center. She has served on the board of directors of the American Association of People with Disabilities, the Assistive Technology Industry Association and the US Business Leadership Network, among others. She currently sits on the board of the World Institute on Disability, is a trustee at the National Braille Press, and is an advisor to the National Business and Disability Council.

CEA Contributes $1 Million to CEA Foundation in Honor of Industry Visionary Jack Wayman

The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) recently announced a $1 million contribution to the CEA Foundation in celebration of the more than 50 years of achievements and contributions to the onsumer technology industry made by industry veteran Jack Wayman. Best known as the founder of the International CES, held in Las Vegas every January, Wayman is recognized in the consumer electronics (CE) industry for his significant public policy and tradeshow leadership and contributions, including his successful efforts defending the CE industry in the landmark Sony Betamax case. The CEA Foundation mission is to link seniors and people with disabilities with technologies to enhance their lives. This charitable foundation, affiliated with CEA, launched its first series of grants in 2012.

"The CEA Foundation reflects the best of the CE industry by using technology to increase opportunities for seniors and those wit disabilities," said Gary Shapiro, president and CEO of CEA. "We make this donation in celebration of Jack Wayman who has reflected the best of our industry by creating business opportunitis for technology professionals at the International CES and championing the critical policy issues impacting our industry over he past several decades. The CEA Foundation is helping the consumer technology industry ?give back' to those in need and this donation on Jack's behalf is a terrific way for us to honor him and what he has given to or industry for more than 50 years."

September 1 will mark 51 years that Wayman has been serving the CE industry. He created the first International CES in 1967, which has become the global gathering place for all who thrive on the business of consumer technologies.

Wayman has received virtually every award and recognition in the electronics industry including the Electronic Industries Assocation's (EIA) Distinguished Service Medal, the B'nai B'rith Electronic Industries Award, the United Jewish Appeal Electronics Award and Dealerscope Merchandising Career Achievement Award. He was inducted into the first class of the Consumer Electronics Hall of Fame and has also been inducted into both the Electroic Industries Hall of Fame and the Video Hall of Fame. Named "Man of the Year" by several industry trade publications, Wayman was also chosen "Man of the Decade" by Audio/Video Magazine.

A US combat infantry company commander from the Normandy invasion to the Battle of the Bulge through the end of World War II, Wayman has received many medals including two Purple Hearts and awards from France and Belgium. Wayman is a graduate of Davidson College in North Carolina, and Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service in Washington DC

"CEA is a major supporter of the CEA Foundation and we're so thrilled to receive this donation in recognition of Jack Wayman's temendous service to the CE industry," said John Shalam, chairman of the CEA Foundation board. "Both the foundation and Jack Wayman have improved people's lives and made significant contributions. I thank CEA for its continued generosity with this donation, which will help extend Jack's vision and vitality to many worthwhile beneficiaries for years to come."

About the CEA Foundation

The CEA Foundation is a public, national foundation affiliated with the Consumer Electronics Association. It was established with the mission to link seniors and people with disabilities with technologies to enhance their lives. The Foundation is focused on strategic support of programs to impact these communities and has launched its first series of grnts in 2012. It also serves to facilitate dialog between industry, consumers, government, advocacy groups and other key stakeholders around important issues. For more information on the CEA Foundation please visit CEAFoundation.org.

About the Consumer Electronics Association

The CEA is the technology trade association representing the $211 billion US consumer electronics industry. More than 2,000 companies enjoy the benefits of CEA membership, including legislative advocacy, market research, technical training and education, industry promotion, standards development, and the fostering of business and strategic relationships. CEA also owns and produces the International CES—The Global Stage for Innovation. All profits from CES are reinvested into CEA industry services. Find CEA online at CE.org and DeclareInnovation.com.

Walgreens Launches Nationwide Program Offering Talking Prescription Devices for Customers with Visual Impairments

Walgreens announced the launch of a nationwide program offering talking prescription devices to customers with visual impairmens. The initiative introduces a new service that complements other accessible prescription information Walgreens currently provide.

Walgreens is the first in the industry to offer this exclusive talking prescription device, called the Talking Pill Reminder, at its retail locations chain wide. The device attaches to prescription containers and will be provided free of charge with prescription medications that Walgreen dispenses to its pharmacy customers who are blind or who have visual impairments. The Talking Pill Reminder can be recorded to speak the information on the customer's prescription medication label, and also has an audible alarm to remind patients when to take a medication.

The Talking Pill Reminder is available to customers of Walgreens retail pharmacies across the country and through Walgreens precription mail service. The devices also are available in Walgreens drugstores for purchase for a retail price of $9.99.

Adherence to medication can be critical in treating illness today, and this is an innovation that will help our visually impaired customers correctly identify and take medications as prescribed As part of our mission to help customers get, stay, and live well, we're proud to have worked closely with other leading organizations to make the Talking Pill Reminder available across all of ur more than 8,100 stores nationwide.

The initiative is the result of a collaboration among Walgreens, The American Council of the Blind (ACB), and the ACB affiliates in California and Illinois. All partnering organizations praised the Walgreens announcement.

Accessible prescription information is critical to people who are blind, and with this announcement, Walgreens assumes a significant leadership role in serving its customers with visual impairments.

ACB President Kim Charlson and Illinois Council of the Blind representative Ray Campbell commended the Walgreens initiative sayng, "So many of our members and ACB members across the country value Walgreens excellent customer service. The company's rollout of the Talking Pill Reminder gives them yet another reason to make Walgreens their pharmacy of choice."

California Council of the Blind President Donna Pomerantz said, "Standard prescription labels put customers who are blind at risk for mixing up medications or taking them incorrectly. For this reason, [the] Walgreens initiative is a matter of basic safety, and we congratulate the company on its efforts in this important area."

In addition to providing the Talking Pill Reminder, Walgreens also offers large print patient information sheets to customers who have visual impairments. The Walgreens accessibility initiative will help people with visual impairments who have difficulty or are unable to read a stndard prescription medication label.

The first time I visited Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, my immediate reaction was that it was a kind of accommodations paradise. At that time, my impression wasn't rooted so much in disability issues as in baby concerns! My daughter was six months old, and we were ecstatic to discover that each Disney theme park included a baby center—a facility filled with rocking chairs and changing tables, and supplies like diapers, baby food, and bottled juice.

When a staff member (Disney refers to them as Cast Members) pulled my family out of one long, hot line to bring us to the exit for quicker access because he didn't want my guide dog to melt in the heat, well, I thought it just couldn't get any better.

This was 20 years ago — before the internet and GPS devices, so the fact that Disney made available a braille guidebook was equally astonishing and wonderful. The book outlined the various attractions and provided a written description of park layout.

Over the years, the Disney parks have enhanced accessibility provisions for people with all disabilities. Disney has also made strides toward using technology to enhance theme park accessibility to people with sensory disabilities. Specifically, captioning, assistive listening devices, tactile maps, and audio description have been incorporated into many Disney World attractions.

During a recent impromptu visit to Disney World with a visually impaired friend, I recognized a perfect opportunity to explore exactly how these new accessibility features offered to guests who are blind or visually impaired measure up.

Entering Epcot

For readers who have not had the Disney World experience, a few words of explanation are in order. Florida's Disney World actually consists of four theme parks: Magic Kingdom, Epcot Center, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom. Each is packed with experiences and can easily occupy a full day. Having only one day, we chose to spend it in Epcot Center. En route to Disney World, we checked the website and phone line and learned that in each park's guest relations center, items that enhance accessibility for people who are blind can be obtained. When we entered Epcot Center, we went directly to Guest Relations for these items.

We were offered three options: A braille guidebook containing description of attractions and services; a book of tactile maps of the various areas of the park; and an audio device for listening to description at those sites where it was available. Each item requires a $25 deposit. Wanting to leave no avenue to access neglected, we deposited $100 and took away one guidebook, one book of maps, and two audio devices.

It warrants mentioning here that, unfortunately, the Cast Member working the counter in Guest Relations was only marginally informed. She could name the available items, fetch them for us, and run the credit card, but she was unable to answer many questions. Somewhat dismayed that the guidebook was so large, for example (11 by 11-inch pages held together with a plastic comb binding), I asked why it was double-spaced throughout and so much larger than the book the park offered a decade ago. Because my friend had low vision, we were all eventually able to conclude that the reason seemed to lie in the fact that braille and print were on every page.

When given the audio devices, I asked about the controls and was told we didn't need to touch anything.

"We plan to be here all day," I told her. "Is there a power button we should press to turn the units off for saving battery power?'

The batteries, she assured us, would last the day. For a sweet demeanor and general willingness to help, she would get high marks. Her lack of familiarity with the devices designed to make the experience richer for us, however, falls more than a little short of typical Disney World standards.

After exiting Guest Relations, I took a few minutes to acquaint myself with the tools we had been given. By using all three items — the braille guidebook, the tactile maps, and the audio device — I was able to glean a fair amount of information regarding our surroundings. Although our Cast Member had told us only that the device would deliver audio description, it turned out to be much more. Again, a less intrepid or experienced user of technology may never have realized what this device had to offer.

The (Somewhat) Amazing Audio Device

The device resembled a slightly old-style personal digital assistant, weighing probably close to a pound and measuring roughly 3 inches wide by 5 inches long by 1 inch thick. At the top was a standard headset jack to which a one-sided earpiece (that could fit comfortably on either ear) was attached. A single piece of molded plastic, the headphone was the type that has a curved half circle that goes behind the ear, and a flat disk, about the size of a quarter, that rests close to, but not in, the ear. It's exactly the right kind of earpiece for listening to a mobile device while also catching all ambient sounds.

The lanyard attached to the device was unfortunately not intentionally adjustable. As issued, it placed the device itself at about waist level for one of us and lower for the other. I say it was "not intentionally" adjustable because I did manage, by fiddling judiciously with the various velcro bits, to shorten it sufficiently to have the device at chest level, a much more manageable position for wearing over a long period of time.

Taking Control

Now, let's talk about the various controls on the device.

With the front of the unit facing you and the lanyard at the top, there is a single row of controls across the bottom. As indicated above, we were given no instructions, but this turned out to be one of those occasions in which having fiddled with countless pieces of electronic gadgets over decaes was a definite advantage.

The controls have a rubbery feel and each is distinctly shaped.

First is a diamond shaped button that wakes up the device. Next is a square button that delivers any GPS information currently available or repeats the most recent announcement. In the center is a circle of four arrow-shaped buttons around a center control, and finally, to the right of this circle of five controls are a pair of triangular-shaped left and right arrow keys that increase or decrease volume.

I soon discovered that pressing the center button launched a menu of eight items that could be navigated by pressing the up/down or left/right arrows around the center and then pressing the center control to make a selection. Consistently, these menus included:

• area description
• attractions
• rest room locations
• food and beverage available
• entertainment
• service animal relief areas
• exit menu

Pressing the center of the scrolling circle announces the beginning of the current menu with "1. Area Description." By using either up/down or left/right arrow keys, you can move through the menus. When you hear the menu you want, pressing the center button again selects the choice and prompts that particular recording to play.

Maintaining the Magic

If there is a single quality that permeates all four theme parks at Disney World, it is undoubtedly magic. Not dark magic and not even the magic of magic tricks, but the connotation of that word that indicates some other-worldliness, better-than-ordinary, unmarred delight.

So does the access device for blind and visually impaired guests live up to the high standard for magical experiences the compay sets for itself in every realm?

It is clear that such a level was certainly the intention. The reality of that attempt is, well, a bit less magical.

The access device has three primary functions: 1) to provide audio information regarding immediate surroundings in a structured-menu manner, 2) to provide general GPS information, and 3) to sync with and play available pre-recorded audio description for several attractions.

As we approached the Spaceship Earth attraction in the Future World section of Epcot, the unit vibrated and announced "Near Spaceship Earth."

This particular attraction is an entertaining journey through history, with a focus on technology and communication. A professionally narrated descriptive track has been synchronized with the sights and sounds of the attraction itself, so that I heard a constant commentary describing words and images throughout the experience. Although the description sometimes lags behind or leaps ahead of the actual image appearing, it was thrilling to have the visual description so readily available.

Upon exiting the attraction, the device remains silent until either the information menus are activated (to seek information regarding nearby food, entertainment, etc.) or until the unit's GPS detects that you are approaching another landmarked point. In the latter case, when it works, the device will vibrate and announce "Land Pavilion" or "Near Soarin" (as it did the entire 105 minutes that we stood in the line for this particular attraction) or some other point of interest, repeating it only if the square button is pressed for this purpose.

As we entered another entertainment venue, the "Circle of Life" film starring Timon and Pumba from Disney's "The Lion King," the device automatically began playing the pre-recorded descriptive track which was smoothly synchronized with the production.

Missing the Mark

I spent a few minutes with my braille guidebook, tactile maps, and audio access device to acquaint myself with the topography of Epcot Center in general and the immediately surrounding envionment of Future World in particular. For me, having the combination of tools was essential, although some guests with visual impairment might find the braille alone or audio alone to be sufficient.

When that first audio description automatically began playing to describe the scenes of Spaceship Earth, it was a genuine moment of accommodation exhilaration. Unfortunately, the rest of the experience was something of a downhill ride.

When you take a break in one area, the device will not allow you to access or review the information in another area. Say, for instance, you're taking a snack break in Future World and you want to plan ahead for World Showcase. Electronically, you "can't get there from here." The device only makes available the information for the area in which you are currently situated.

When we needed guidance information most—navigating from Future World to World Showcase, for instance—the device announced that we were near Land Pavilion long after we'd left it behind and only announced any change when we were standing directly in front of Canadian Pavilion (the first country attraction encountered when approaching World Showcase from the right.)

When it works—as when the device did indeed confirm that we were at the Canadian Pavilion—it is a real equalizer. Once there, I could access the menus containing information regarding the attractions, food, entertainment, etc. for that particular area. As we moved past Canadian Pavilion, I soon heard "United Kingdom Pavilion" announced and its pre-recorded information regarding the pub, the shops, and the entertainment became available. There are ten countries in the World Showcase and information, presumably, has been pre-recorded for each, as well as descriptive audio synchronized with attractions there. I say "presumably" because, despite assurances received earlier, my friend's device completely died before we left Future World and mine lost power just past the United Kingdom. We had picked up the devices at 10:30 am, and their batteries were depleted at 1:30 and 3:30 respectively.

Final Impressions

Developing a single device that contains recorded guidebook information, GPS info for navigation, and audio description synchronized with visual attractions is a brilliant and commendable approach to providing accessibility for blind and visually impaired guests. Staff who distribute these devices, however, should be familiar enough with them to provide basic demonstrations to guests, and batteries should certainly be able to last a full day. With technology advancing as rapidly as it does, current devices could undoubtedly be updated to be smaller and lighter and to pinpoint GPS location with more accuracy. Since all guests, with and without disabilities, are certainly sometimes interested in looking ahead to read about attractions around the corner or across the lagoon, the device should include the capability to listen to information about attractions beyond one's immediate location.

The braille and tactile maps were extremely useful. Combining braille and print in one book makes little practical sense, however, and if the two had been separated into individual booklets, each could have been done in a smaller, more manageable format.

But did we "Have a magical day," as Disney World Cast Members like to say? Of course we did. Disney World is still on my list of favorite places and I can't wait for the opportunity to test drive the tools for accessibiity in the other three theme parks.

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I began my journey with accessible computing back in 1984 with an Apple IIE paired with an Echo internal synthesizer. I migrated to a DOS PC a few years later, and for the next 20 years I upgraded my way through a number of increasingly powerful computers running Microsoft Windows. Ten years ago I bought a used Mac notebook, eager to take part in a beta program for a new Mac screen reader called VoiceOver. Unfortunately, I found this new screen reader extremely limited and confusing, and it wasn't long before I gave up and sold the Mac.

I watched from the sidelines as VoiceOver was formally introduced with OS 10.4 (Tiger), and continued to stand aside as it went through many upgrades and improvements. After a year with an iPhone, I finally decided to jump back in with a Mac Mini running OS 10.7 (Lion), and today I enjoy switching back and forth between OS X Mavericks and Windows 7, depending on the task at hand and the strengths of each operating system.

Mastering a new operating system can be challenging, both for new computer users and for "switchers," Windows users who need to undo many years of muscle memory and learn new techniques to accomplish the same tasks using a Mac ad the VoiceOver screen reader. Apple does offer VoiceOver documentation, but additional third-party resources are always welcome. One such resource is a recent book entitled Learn to Use the Mac with VoiceOver: A Step by Step Guide for Blind Users, by Janet Ingber. The book is available for $20 from the National Braille Press in text, Braille, eBraille, DAISY, or MS Word.

Getting Started

If you ask any loyal accessible Mac fan why they prefer the OS X with VoiceOver experience over that of a PC experience, their answers will fall into three basic categories:

• Free screen reader: When you purchase a Mac you have already paid for your screen reader, a savings of up to $1,000 over some third-party solutions. However, with the advent of NVDA and Window-Eyes for Office this advantage is no longer as pronounced.
• A stable operating experience with fewer virus and malware incidents: VoiceOver users report that their machines operate for much longer between crashes and forced reboots, and at least to date, the Mac operating system is significantly less likely to contract viruses or experience malware attacks than the Windows operaing system.
• The out-of-the-box experience: When you purchase a Mac and start it up for the first time, you will be offered the chance to start VoiceOver and learn the basics with a few practice screens. Additionally, if you ever need to reformat your drive and do a fresh reinstall of OS X you can accomplish this using VoiceOver, a task not easily done with Windows. This ability engenders a much greater sense of "I can do it myself" independence.

Regarding this last point, unfortunately, Ingber gives this marquee feature short shrift. She assumes your Mac is up and running when you turn on VoiceOver with Command + F5 for the very first time. She glosses over the Quick Start Tutorial and does not mention that you can start VoiceOver immediately and use it to perform your Mac's initial setup. Nor does she mention what an Apple ID is or how to create one. It is possible to run a Mac without an Apple ID, but you will be prompted multiple times to enter one, and you will absolutely need one in order to use iTunes, which is covered later in her book.

Instead, the author begins with a touch tour of the Apple keyboard, and describes how it differs from a Windows keyboard. She then introduces the OS X Desktop, the Finder application, and the Dock. Ingber does an excellent job describing how to conceptualize and navigate these screen elements using VoiceOver. She takes you through the keyboard commands to access the application Menu Bar and the Menu Extras Bar. However the novice OS X user may be left wondering what the Menu Extras Bar is and what its purpose might be.

Judging from personal experience, I suspect a more detailed description of the Menu Extras Bar would have been welcome here—especially the Notifications area. When I purchased my Mac Mini and began learning with VoiceOver I was inundated with beeps and extra verbiage that came seemingy out of nowhere. Until I learned to control my Notifications settings, my VoiceOver experience was not nearly as pleasant as it could have been.

Ingber does help new users avoid a pair of other potential sources of confusion. She shows the user, step by step, how to change the default function key layout that controls hardware instead of VoiceOver and other software. She also demonstrates how to instruct the Tab key to move through all of a screen's controls.

Getting Things Done

The normal progression at this point would be to move on to a discussion of file management—copying and moving files, creating folders, etc. Instead, Ingber delays this discussion in favor of teaching the user how to set up Mail, add an e-mail account and send and receive e-mails. This is an excellent teaching strategy, as by now the reader is likely more than a little eager to actually accomplish something on their new Mac. It also gives the author the chance to introduce new commands and techniques, such as accessing an application's Settings menu, entering text into form fields, and navigating a folder tree to save an attachment.

Backtracking a bit, the reader is now taken through various file management and finder commands. We are introduced to Spotlight Search, and the concept of QuickNav. The author devotes a good deal of attention to QuickNav, an excellent decision, in my opinion, as this is among the most confusing concepts for the new Mac user to grasp and use effectively.

Using VoiceOver commanders can be extremely useful for accessibility, offering users alternative and often quicker ways to perform various tasks on the Mac. There are four commanders: QuickNav, Trackpad, Keyboard, and NumPad. Having already described the QuickNav commander, the author proceeds to introduce users to the Trackpad and Keyboard commanders. Here, the author offers the new user invaluable advice on how you might accidently mute VoiceOver speech and how to easily toggle itback on.

Ingber postpones describing the NumPad commander until a brief mention in the VoiceOver Utility chapter of the book, presuming, I suspect, that since most Mac keyboards do not come with a NumPad this particular commander is of limited use. I find the NumPad commander extremely useful, and well worth the price of an optional Bluetooth NumPad, especially for remapping VoiceOver commands that require an awkward, four-finger key combination.

The next major section of Learn to Use the Mac tackles Safari and how to use it to browse and navigate the Web using VoiceOver. Ingber's description of the various web page elements is clear and concise, and she does an excellent job interweaving learning new VoiceOver commands, such as the web rotor and Webspots, with standard Safari elements, such as Bookmarks and the Keychain.

Ingber describes navigating the Web using the trackpad and also using QuickNav. But neither in this chapter nor anywhere else in the book does she mention the VoiceOver Item Chooser, a useful way of breaking a screen down into its constituent elements to aid in rapid navigation. For example, if you are searching for a webpage's "Contact" link, you can press Control+Option+I (VO+I), and when the item chooser pops up you can move quickly to the Contact link by typing the first few letters, scrolling down, if necessary, and then pressing Enter.

Ingber also misses my favorite way to quickly navigate a webpage, via the VO+F Find command. She does mention this command later in a chapter describing how to search for and download additional apps from the App Store, but I think a description of using the VO+F Find command to navigate a webpage is needed here, as well.

In the iTunes chapter, Ingber does a thorough job describing how to organize and access music, videos, iTunes Radio, and such on the Mac. She mentions the ability to synch paid or imported content onto an iPhone or iPad, but as to the actual how-tos, she deviates from her usual step-by-step instructions in favor of a few quick tips.

Text Edit is covered in great detail, which is appropriate since creating and editing documents is one of the major reasons people use computers. It is also one of the main applications where basic functions differ significantly from editing text using Windows. Cursor positioning can be quite confusing to the novice switcher, and auto-correct works much differently than it does in MS Word, which many switchers may be accustomed to using. Ingber's expertise and teaching abilities are at their peak, here, and her text well-written.

It is in this chapter where, in my opinion, this book best displays one serious shortcoming. Nowhere in the book does the author state which version of OS X she is using. She only first mentions Mavericks in the iTunes chapter when she describes iTunes Radio. The iCloud is also first introduced in this chapter when she describes synching an iOS device with iCloud. Nowhere does the author discuss what the iCloud is, and how it affects your use of the Mac.

For example, in the Text Edit chapter Ingber urges readers to save their work frequently to avoid potential data loss. She does not mention that Mavericks now saves your work as you go, and even if the Text Edit app or your computer crashes, the text will likely still be there after you restart. She also does not discuss saving documents to iCloud. Novice users can too easily send their documents to iCloud, and when they use Finder to go looking for them they may be left wondering, "Where did my stuff go?"

I was advised by a National Braille Press representative that Mavericks was released midway through the writing of this book, and that the author had to scramble to incorporate the new features and other changes. I can well understand the pressures of meeting a publication deadline, but the apparent rush seems to have left this guide somewhat incomplete. I would imagine this book is in the process of receiving a complete update to incorporate the many new features we are expecting to see in OS X 10.10, Yosemite. Hopefully the author will also take the opportunity to include much of what was left out of this edition, including some much needed appendices with complete VoiceOver command lists, guides to using the Calendar, Contact, Reminders, and Maps apps, which are not included in this version, along with an upfront chapter describing how to pair and use a Braille display with VoiceOver so deafblind users can follow alng from the start.

Final Thoughts and Recommendations

This book has a wealth of useful information to offer, and most of it is presented in a step-by-step workbook-like format that is easy for the beginning VoiceOver user to comprehend and follow. The author also does an excellent job of clarifying and simplifying complex OS X and VoiceOver concepts. If you are new to the Mac, I recommend this book highly, despite its shortcomings. It's an excellent beginner's guide, though more seasoned VoiceOver users may wish to wait for an updated and more complete edition before adding this title to ther reference library.

Product Information

Learn to Use the Mac with VoiceOver: A Step-by-Step Guide for Blind Users, by Janet Ingber is available for $20 from the National Braille Press in your choice of:

• ASCII text (CD or download)
• Braille
• DAISY (CD or download)
• eBraille (CD or download)
• MS Word (CD or download)

Toll free: 888-965-8965

Comments from Author Janet Ingber

"I am happy with Bill Holton's review of Learn to Use the Mac with VoiceOver, including his perceptive comments about what I might include in future editions. Covering every facet of a book on using the Mac for the first-time user, as well as the seasoned one, was challenging—to say it mildly. And switching over to Mavericks when it was introduced did, as Bill pointed out, require some lane changes. While writing the book, Mavericks updates were installed as soon as Apple released them. Still, I'm happy he recommends the book for those of us who want to use VoiceOver technology as well as Apple accessibility on a dail basis. There's lots to learn and I hope this book helps people get started."

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In the May 2014 issue of AccessWorld I wrote an article entitled MyFitnessPal: a Guide to an Accessible Fitness Tool. The Fitbit Flex is a higher tech alternative to MyFitnessPal. It is used in conjunction with the Fitbit iOS app, Android app, or Fitbit website. This article will discuss using the Flex with an iOS device, but the website is also accessible. Although I'm not an Android device user, I have been told by users who are blind that the Android app is also accessible.

The Flex is one of several fitness trackers made by Fitbit and costs approximately $99. It is available from Amazon, the Apple online store, Best Buy, and other retailers

The Fitbit Flex can automatically count the number of steps you take in a day. It keeps track of calories burned and active minutes. The website and apps let the user enter information about exercise, weight, and food and water consumed. You can set silent alarms, which prompt the Flex to vibrate, and you can set the Flex to monitor your sleep pattern.

What's in the Box

The Fitbit Flex comes with both a large wristband and a small wristband. The Flex's tracker will already be installed in one of them, along with a metal clasp. If you need the other wristband, the tracker and clasp can easily be moved. The box also contains a USB cable with a little cradle to charge the Flex, and a very tiny dongle that syncs your Flex with the Fitbit website. A small printed manual is included.

The Tracker

The tracker is a small narrow plastic device that fits into the wristband. It's about 1-1/4 inch long, and has a sloped end. Prior to using the Flex tracker for the first time, you will need to charge it. There are five tiny lights on the sloped end that flash as the battery charges. One light indicates a low charge and all the lights blink when the battery is full. If you can't see the lights, just charge the tracker for three hours. Insert the tracker into the cradle in the USB cable. One end of the cradle slopes and the tracker should fit securely without any forcing.

The Wristbands

The wristbands are made of a very sturdy rubber. The clasp fits into one end of the band, and there are slots along the other end that the clasp attaches to. In the middle of the band, on the underside, is a slot for inserting the tracker. The tracker will fit only one way. On one side of the wristband is a small plastic ridge, on the top near the end of the tracker. Lights on the tracker are visible through the plastic and can be used by a sighted person to check some functions. The tracker goes into the hole with the sloped end under the ridge. Another way to insure the tracker goes in correctly is to have the sloped end facing the side of the wristband that has the adjustment slots.

Once the Flex tracker is inserted into the wristband, put the band across your wrist, bring the end with the clasp under your wrist, and find the slots that make a comfortable fit for you. Push the clasp into the slots. The Flex is water resistant so it's not necessary to remove it when taking a shower.

Getting Help

Unfortunately, Fitbit does not have telephone tech support at the time of this writing. There is an extensive help section on their website.

There is also e-mail support. I did have an issue where my Flex stopped vibrating. I contacted e- mail support and they gave directions on how to fix the problem. I needed sighted assistance for this, because it involved looking at the unit's lights. Fitbit decided to replace my entire Flex. I received quick responses and was very satisfied with customer service. An e-mail indicated that my new Flex had shipped and also included a link on how to set up a new device with my Fitbit account.

Setting Up Your Flex

iOS and Android

It's important to know that the Bluetooth connection between the Flex and your iOS or Android device will show up in your list of Bluetooth paired devices, but the actual set-up is through the Fitbit app. In other words, it's necessary to do the set-up process through the app even though the device will appear in your Bluetooth pairings.

The first step is to download the free Fitbit app from the iTunes App Store or Google Play Store. Open the app. There are slightly different commands for iOS and Android but the set-up process is basically the same. At some point during the set-up process you'll need to choose your device ("Flex"). You'll be asked to create a profile, user name, and password. Via the app, your Flex will sync wirelessly with the Fitbit website, but there is no need to use the website if you don't want to.

The Fitbit Website

If you don't have an iOS or Android supported device, you can still use the Flex through the Fitbit website. The website has some clutter, so consider using your screen reader's navigation hot keys and find commands to use the site. As with the iOS and Android devices, you will be asked to create an account, including a profile. You will need to download the Fitbit Connect software for either Mac or PC. When you want to sync your Flex, plug the small dongle into a USB port on your computer, open the Fitbit Connect software and choose "Sync Now." The Flex must be physically near the dongle for the sync to occur.

Using the iOS Fitbit App

Although this article describes the iOS app, the same functions are available in the Android app and on the Fitbit website, just presented differently. An iPhone 5 was used for the evaluation.

Once your Flex is set up, open the app to load your Dashboard. There are three tabs at the bottom of the screen: Dashboard, Friends, and Account. You can send messages to friends through the Fitbit app. However, in order to do this you need to give permission for Fitbit to search your contacts. It will look for contacts who also have Fitbit devices. The Dashboard and Account tabs are discussed in detail below.

The Dashboard

Near the top of the Dashboard screen is the status of your Flex. It will say "Syncing," "Looking for your Flex," or "Connected." Because VoiceOver doesn't automatically announce it, you will need to flick right to hear the status. Double tap once and you hear the word "Connected" and a new screen will open.

Navigate this new screen by flicking right to go forward or left to go backward. The first piece of information will be the last time your Flex was synced with the app. Next you'll hear the firmware version. The third thing you'll hear is battery status. Fitbit will send you an e-mail when the battery is low. The next item is Silent Alarms. If you have any alarms set and active, you'll also hear how many alarms you have. Double tapping on Silent Alarms will open a screen showing the alarms you have set, both inactive and active. You can turn them on and off with the switch button. You can also set alarms here, but this will be discussed in the Account section. Get back to the Flex screen from the Alarm screen by activating the "Flex" button in the upper left.

Next you will be asked to choose your main goal. The options are steps, distance, calories burned, or active minutes. The Flex will vibrate and light up when you reach your daily goal. Double tap on whichever option you want to use.

You then need to choose whether to wear the Flex on your dominant or non-dominant wrist. If you wear it on your dominant wrist, the Flex will be less sensitive to movement. The next option is whether the Flex can be synced throughout the day automatically. Use the switch button to make your choice. The final control is Sync Now. Double tapping on this option will cause the Flex to sync with the app. Once you're done making all your selections, activate the "Dashboard" button in the upper left.

On the Dashboard screen, double tapping an item will usually open a screen where you can edit your information. By flicking left and right you'll discover that, based on your profile, Fitbit has already inserted values for you, for number of steps, active minutes, calories burned, etc.

Re-arranging the Dashboard

You can easily change the order of items on the Dashboard. Double tap the "Edit" button in the upper right corner. Flick through the Dashboard items. There will be a button under the name of each item. If you want to move an item, double tap its button and drag it up or down. VoiceOver will tell you where the item is located as its being moved. When you're finished rearranging the Dashboard, double tap the "Done" button in the upper right corner.

Weight

The current and goal weight you entered in your profile will be displayed on the Dashboard. Double tap on the weight and a screen will open where a new weight can be entered. Begin the process by activating the "Add" button in the upper right corner. Once the weight is entered, activate the "Log" button in the upper right corner and then activate the "Dashboard" button to get back to the main screen.

Calories Eaten

The advantage of entering calories eaten is that the app, based on your profile, will tell you how many calories you have left for the day. The app has a large database of foods plus you can enter your own.

Begin the process by double tapping on "Calories Eaten." A new screen will open and once you start tracking calories, you can flick around the screen to learn what you ate previously. Double tap the "Add" button in the upper right corner to make entries. Once you've selected a food, activate the appropriate button for when you ate it (e.g. breakfast, lunch) and save your entry with the "Save" button in the upper right corner. Once this button is activated, the next screen will show the foods you logged, how many calories you've eaten, and how many you have left.

Once the "Add" button is pressed, the screen will give you several options, including Quick Cal, Bar Code, Search, Frequent, and Custom. Quick Cal lets you add just the number of calories without any additional information. Bar Code accesses a bar code scanner that gives the serving size, number of calories, and a button for more nutrition facts. As with any bar code scanner, the difficulty is in locating the bar code on the product you'd like to scan.

The Frequent tab lists foods you frequently eat. Double tab on an item to begin adding it to your calorie count.

The Search option is a standard search form and keyboard. If your search yields a satisfactory result, double tap on it and it will be added to your list of foods. Then, select when you ate it and activate the Save option. If there is no satisfactory result, you can create an entry. Double tap and a screen will open where you can add information such as calories. Select serving size with two pickers: the first one is for the amount and the second is for unit of measure such as cup, ounce, or teaspoon. There is an edit box to add calories and additional nutritional information can be added. The custom option works the same way except there will be an edit box to type in the food name as soon as the Custom choice is activated.

Exercise

Double tap on the word Exercise to begin the process of logging your exercise. When running, walking, etc., the Fitbit app can be set to give you distanced completed at regular intervals. It will also tell you the amount of time to get to the interval and your average pace.

On the new screen will be a display of your recent exercise activity. In the upper right corner is a "Run Nav Stopwatch" button. Activating this button will bring you to a screen to begin your exercise.

Near the top of the page will be several options. The first option is to run or walk. My Flex was set to Run by default. Double tapping on this gave me the option to also choose walk. If you make any changes, activate the "Back" button in the upper left corner. The next option is Cues. This is where you select what information the app tells you during your run or walk. Once selections are made, activate the "Back" button. If you keep the same options you won't need to perform these selections again. When you've customized the options, it's time to start. Using this feature drains the battery so make sure you have enough power. During a 25 minute walk, my iPhone battery went from 50 percent to 20 percent. Also, there is a "GPS" button which will give you the layout of the streets around you, but this does not update once the "Start" button is activated.

Do a one-finger double tap on the "Start" button. If you need to pause during the activity, activate the "Pause" button. Once you've finished your activity, activate the Finish button. VoiceOver will then say "Finish Button Empty." Double tap and hold on the button. After a few seconds you'll hear a sound and your run or walk will be logged. Occasionally the app locked up, but Fitbit saved my data from my walk.

Another way to track your exercise is to activate the "Log" button in the upper right corner of the screen which opened after the "Run Nav Stopwatch" button was activated. There is a standard search form, where you can enter the name of an exercise. If you find a satisfactory result, double tap on it and a form will open to add the necessary information such as time exercising and when you started and ended. The app will calculate the calories burned, but you can add them manually if you prefer. The form uses edit boxes and pickers. Remember to activate the "Log It" button, once all the information is added. Once the particular activity is entered, you can find it again on the screen that had the search form. Just double tap on it and make any necessary changes such as length of time.

Water

If you want to keep track of how much water you've consumed, double tap on Water. The next screen will give you some options or you can enter an amount.

Sleep

The Flex can also track your sleep pattern. On the Dashboard, double tap "How did you sleep?" and a new screen will open. Activate the "Add" button in the upper right corner. There will then be a button to begin sleep or cancel. When you wake up you need to activate the button that tells the app that you're awake. Then there will be a display of your sleep cycle. Remember to wear the Fitbit to bed and remember to leave the app open.

The Account Tab

The Account tab is the third tab at the bottom of the screen. This is where you can make changes to some items on the Dashboard, set alarms, track exercise, and choose units of measure. When the Account tab is opened, your name and the date you started using your Flex will be at the top of the screen. Next will be the status of your Flex such as Connected or Syncing.

Goals

Here is where you'll choose your daily goals for steps, active minutes, calories burned, and more. Once Goals is selected, flick through the categories and you'll discover that the numbers match the information on your Dashboard. For example, to change the number of active minutes, first open the app and go to the Account tab. Next, double tap on Goals. Next flick right till you get to Active Minutes. Each category has the name followed by an edit box. For this demonstration, double tap on the edit box for Active Minutes. A keyboard will appear to enter the information. Edit more than one category by double tapping on additional edit boxes and changing the information. Once all desired changes have been entered, activate the "Account" button in the upper left corner.

Silent Alarms

You can set up to eight silent alarms. Your Flex will vibrate when the alarm goes off; it does not make any additional noise.

Double tap on Silent Alarms and when the new screen loads, double tap on Set a New Alarm. When the next screen loads, set the hour, minutes and a.m. or p.m. using pickers. The next control says Repeat. If you just want the alarm(s) to occur for one time don't do anything with this option. If you want an alarm to go off on specific days, double tap on the "Repeat" button to open a list of days for the alarm. Next, activate the "New Alarm" button in the upper left and when the new screen loads, activate the "Save" button in the upper right. Then activate the "Account" button in the upper left corner if you want to continue in that tab or activate either the Dashboard or Friends tab.

Advanced

The final settings option in the Account tab is Advanced. Here you will choose country, time zone, food database, and units of measure. For example, you can measure weight in pounds, kilograms, or stones.

Help

The final option in the Account tab is Help. The first choice in the Help category is Help Articles—double tapping will load Safari where you'll be presented with links to many help articles relating to your Flex and the iOS app.

The next two choices are iOS Help Forum and Flex Help Forum. Activating either of these options will load Safari. The last option is E-mail Support. Activating this option brings up your e- mail program with the e-mail address already entered in the "To" field and the subject line already filled in with "iOS Support Request."

Conclusion

The Fitbit Flex is a very good and easy way to keep track of your step count, active minutes, and calories burned. Since the Flex also lets you input additional information, it's a convenient way to keep track of your exercise and calories consumed. I have found it to be a very good motivator.

Although Fitbit does not offer live tech support, their knowledge base is large and they do answer e-mails.

Product Information

Product: Fitbit Flex
Price: $99
Available from Fitbit and other retailers

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The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has mandated that all TVs manufactured and sold in the United States after December 20, 2016, be made accessible to the sight-impaired. Some companies have already begun to include certain accessibility features in their newest models. In the October 2013 issue of AccessWorld, J.J. Meddaugh took a look at the Panasonic line of Talking Televisions. Samsung has now introduced its first accessible TV lineup, and in this article I will describe and evaluate the built-in Voice Guide of the Samsung UN50H6400, a 50-inch, 3-D, Smart TV.

Here are the specifications for the model I tested, which retails for $1,399.99, but which I found for $997.99 at Amazon.com: the unit itself is 44.4 inches wide by 25.7 inches tall by 2.5 inches thick, and three inches taller, 28.7 inches, when mounted on the included metal stand. Included external connectors: 4 HDMI, 3 USB, 1 component input, and 1 composite input. The 50-inch, 16:9 LED screen offers full HD, with 1080p at 120HZ; the 3-D audio is powered by DTS Premium Sound 5.1.

The TV includes two pairs of 3-D glasses, an infrared extender cable, and a Smart Remote. A second, larger remote is available, and as I will describe later, I found it preferable to use that remote to quickly change channels and to enter other information, so if you are planning to purchase this set, you might want to ask if both remotes are included.

Getting Started

Unfortunately, there is no way to perform the initial setup without sighted help. You must enter information such as your language preference, Wi-Fi settings and password, and a license agreement, before you can enable the Voice Guide through the Menu option, found at the very bottom of the Smart Remote. Select option 6, System. The first submenu is Accessibility, which includes the following settings:

• Voice Guide: Toggle the voice guide on/off and to set the voice speed, volume, and pitch. You can also choose between two description levels: detailed, which is the default, and basic, for more experienced users of the voice guide who no longer need context-sensitive hints.
• Video Description: Toggle video description on/off. This setting only works if the program you are watching includes video description.
• Caption: Toggle closed captioning on/off. This option is disabled when the voice guide is active.
• Menu Transparency: Increase or decrease the transparency level of onscreen menus and controls.
• High Contrast: Increase the contrast for onscreen menus and controls.
• Enlarge: Enlarge the font size of onscreen menus and controls.

The voice guide text-to-speech was clear and understandable for the most part. It seems to be the same voice engine many feature phone manufacturers use for their voice guides. There are no screen review hotkeys, however. You cannot move character by character through an unfamiliar word, or reread a menu screen without moving the cursor up and then back down.

The Samsung offers a Quick Accessibility Button, labeled "CC" on the Smart remote. Pressing this button calls up a command list you can use to rapidly turn on and off the various accessibility features, including the voice guide. This feature would be extremely handy in a household of both accessibility and non-accessibility users. Unfortunately, this menu option seems to contain a serious bug. I could toggle the Voice Guide off with no problems, but I could not successfully toggle it back on again. The menu repeated "Voice Guide off," despite many attempts using each of the two remotes.

I was hoping I could just use the Menu button and accomplish these steps by memory, cursoring down five times to System, then pressing Select on the Accessibility option, and then pressing Select twice more to turn the Voice Guide on. Doing so was not possible, because the Samsung remote has two features that get in the way. First, when you use a remote, a dot appears on the screen, and you can move the dot by moving the remote without pressing any buttons. Second it is impossible to press the down arrow key repeatedly without moving the remote, so I was unable to cursor down a menu and press Select successfully with the Voice Guide turned off.

One last problem I had getting the Samsung set up was due to the fact that my cable company recently began encrypting its signal. I could not simply connect the coax cable to the jack on the rear of the set. I needed to use a set-top box to control things. Happily, this can be done using the included infrared extender cable. The process is explained on pages 34 and 35 of the manual section entitled, "Controlling External Devices with the TV Remote Using the Universal Remote." An accessible version is available. This is done in the Settings/Universal Remote menu, where you have to enter your zip code, select your cable or satellite service, and then confirm the channels. My cable service tech performed this task for the first time, but somewhere along the way I lost the universal remote settings and I needed sighted help to reset the remote, because the channel scan menu does not currently voice.

The Samsung support desk (800-SAMSUNG) can also log in to your Internet-connected TV remotely to perform various setup and maintenance chores. Allowing a service rep to log into your TV requires you to read out an eight-digit PIN, and currently the Support submenu does not speak. However I was pleasantly surprised to learn from a service rep that if you press Select on the Support option, then press and hold the remote's "SmartHub" key for five seconds, the eight-digit PIN will begin voicing in four-digit phrases, which will repeat until the tech has successfully logged in. Unfortunately, there is no way to access this useful feature until after your TV has been set up.

Watching TV

When you first turn on the UN50H6400 with the Voice Guide enabled you are alerted which source is currently active. For me this was HDMI 1 Brighthouse, which is the port the Brighthouse tech used to connect my set-top box. You can change this input port by pressing the Source button, which is located to the far right of the first row of three buttons on the Smart Remote. Use the left and right arrows to make your choice, then press the Select button to confirm.

There are tactile plus/minus buttons on the left and up/down arrows on the right side of the Smart Remote keypad, which change the volume and channel number respectively. The set speaks the new volume level, and, usually, the channel number and program info.

You can also change the channel by entering the number of the channel on the remote. Here is where I had a slight problem with the Smart Remote. The Smart Remote does not include a number pad. Instead, you have to press the Keypad button, then cursor to the desired number and press the Return key, which is located below and to the left of the cursor keys. Unfortunately, there is no voice feedback when you enter a number, and you cannot cursor back to confirm that you entered the correct number. For this reason, I found it much easier to use the full-size remote, which does include a keypad, to enter channel numbers.

The Program Guide

Here is one area where Samsung seems to have surpassed other TVs with built-in speech. If your TV is connected to the Internet via either a wireless or hardwire connection, you can press the Guide button and an accessible program guide will appear. Cursor up and down to move through the channels, left and right to move back and forth among the listings playing currently and for the next 24 hours. You can also press the Channel Up and Channel Down buttons to move a full screen at a time, which makes getting to the higher channels much easier. The Program Guide lists the program schedule for the next 24 hours, but you can also press the Fast Forward and Rewind Smart Remote keys to advance to the next or previous day's listings.

Press Select on any program currently playing and the set will switch to that channel. The guide reloads each time you invoke it, and it can take up to 15 seconds to load completely. On occasion I received a "Service not currently available" message, but almost always a second press summoned the information successfully. Another problem I encountered was if I tried cursoring up or down too rapidly through the channels or times. Most often the speech would stop until the Voice Guide had a chance to catch up. Other times it would crash and I would have to restart the guide.

I tested the TV with both a digital cable connection and an over-the-air digital antenna. Like the cable setup, the over-the-air setup menus also did not voice. But by the time I was ready to test a digital antenna signal I had learned how to enable a remote management session, and I requested the technician to scan the channels, which he did.

Pressing the Guide button when in over-the-air mode also called up a channel and program guide, with channel names or call letters and program names/times, if available, which most were.

Using the Mode button, it was easy to switch back and forth between my cable provider and over-the-air antenna signal.

Pressing the Info button at the bottom right of the Smart Remote gives you the program name and other information for the show you are currently watching. This worked fine when I was watching over-the-air channels via a digital antenna, but with cable, this button toggled back and forth between my last two viewed channels. My guess is that Samsung pulls the various remote codes from some database, and that my local cable company's listing is inaccurate.

Whatever the reason, when watching over the air, pressing the Channel Up or Channel Down button voiced the new channel number and program name. Using my cable box, however, this info failed to voice.

If you have a TiVo or DVR connected to the TV, the guide offers the ability to set a recording. I was unable to test this unit with a DVR, so I do not know if this menu speaks or not. However, DVR menus, including playback, would come from the device itself, and at least currently there are no cable company DVRs that include a voice guide.

The Quick Accessibility menu also allows you to enable or disable descriptive video service (DVS) when the TV program includes it. I was able to access this option easily on broadcast TV, but doing so on my cable input incurred insurmountable challenges. When it did not work, a supervisor at my cable company suspected it was because I was using a cable decryption box instead of a full cable box. He explained that, though the decryption box did offer a Spanish language button, it did not offer full access to the Secondary Audio Programming (SAP) service, which is how a descriptive video soundtrack is distributed. He sent out a full cable box, which the technician could not get to work, either. After four visits from technicians I suggested that they test video description on one of their office sets. They could not get it working there, either. Support requests have been sent up the chain, but I suspect that if I were to hold this review until the service is properly configured the information would no longer be relevant.

Limitations

About two-thirds of the UN50H6400 menu options stated "Voice Guide is not available for this function." The set also offers voice commands, but this feature is disabled when Voice Guide is being used. Additionally, the set offers a Search button to help find content, which does not currently work with the Voice Guide.

Another heavily promoted feature of this set is the SmartHub, an interface that allows you to browse the Web, watch Netflix, YouTube, and other third-party sources, and install and run apps from the Samsung App Store. These features are also not currently accessible using the Voice Guide. I was told by a company representative that they hope to have the entire menu tree and the SmartHub working with speech within the year.

Perhaps the most serious current limitation of the Samsung Voice Guide is in trying to get help. For this review I believe I spent a total of at least 10 hours on the phone with representatives from Samsung's tech support htline, most of it trying to convince the tech reps that the Voice Guide did in fact exist, that I did not want help with Voice Input, and that there was difference between those features. As mentioned previously, I did find one representative with a good understanding of the Voice Guide, and together we explored the interface and tried to troubleshoot the difficulties I was having, such as enabling video description.

Samsung needs to familiarize its support staff with the Voice Guide, at least to the point where they know what it is and can forward a customer who is experiencing problems to a higher level tecnician with a more thorough understanding.

Availability

The first two digits in the model number UN50H6400 denote the screen size in inches. The final four digits denote the product number. Currently, the Voice Guide comes built-in in all Samsung sets with a model number of 6400 or greater, no matter what the screen size.

Software updates can be installed automatically by enabling the auto-update option in the Support menu, or by downloading updates to a USB thumb drive and installing them manually. Unfortunately, these menus do not voice currently, though Samsung reports they will be accessible via Voice Guide later this year. For now, I would definitely ask a support rep to enable auto-update during a remote access session.

Final Thoughts

Samsung has taken a solid, incremental step forward in providing an accessible TV viewing experience to the sight-impaired community. I especially enjoyed the accessible program guide, and the easy access to toggle on and off video description. Since I only had the one sample, I don't know if my problems with the Voice Guide quick toggle off/on was a software bug, operator error, or some combination of the two, but I am hopeful this problem will be fixed with a forthcoming software update.

For now, at least, Samsung seems to be focusing its efforts on enabling the enjoyment of basic TV functions, browsing for a program and tuning it in, easily accessing video description and the accessibility on/off toggle. Most of the setup and "Smart TV" capabilities are not yet accessible with voice, but Samsung has included easy access to remote management, so once you obtain sighted assistance to get through the initial setup, you can get help if and when you need it.

I'm currently not in the market for a new TV. My Sony widescreen HD likely has many more years of service, and I have various smartphone apps, including one from my cable provider, that allow me to browse and search a program guide. Other set manufacturers are working to meet the new FCC requirements for voice accessibility, and I look forward to evaluating their offerings, as well as future updates to Samsung's Voice Guide. If my Sony were to die tomorrow, however, I would definitely put Samsung Smart TVs on my watch list.

Product Information

Product: Samsung UN50H6400 Television
Price: $1,699 (suggested retail)
Available from Samsung and other retailers

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IBM's long-standing commitment to people with disabilities began in 1914, when the company hired their first disabled employee. In the 1940s IBM developed hiring and training programs for people with disabilities to replace workers inducted into the miliary for World War II. Accommodations were provided both to these employees and to returning disabled veterans, three decades before the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. In 1975 IBM developed the Model 1403 Braille printer. Five years later it introduced a talking typewriter for people who were blind, and followed up one year later with a talking display terminal.

In 1986, at the dawn of the personal computer revolution, IBM founded the Special Needs Group to develop and market products specifically designed for people with disabilities, including the OS/2 screen reader and the Home Page Reader self-voicing web browser. In 2006, the name of the group was changed to the Human Ability and Accessibility Center (HAAC) to more accurately reflect the IBM vision of accessibility.

In the January 2008 issue of AccessWorld, Jay Leventhal and Paul Schroeder spoke with HAAC Director Frances West about IBM's ongoing initiatives to improve accessibility both within the company and for its corporate partners and customers. Recently, West's profile was raised significantly when she was named the Chief Accessibility Officer at IBM.

We asked West how her new title would change the HAAC mission. "It won't change the core mission, but accessibility has become more strategic," she says. "Before, when we would approach a company regarding issues of accessibility, our most common entry point was the human resources department, or sometimes the CIO, Chief Information Officer. With our elevated status and increased visibility, going forward, we can move accessibility from a small "a" to a capital "A," and it will be much easier to get a seat at the table with other department heads, even company CEOs and members of their boards. In other words, we can now reach more of the decision makers, along with the decision implementers."

According to West, "Accessibility is moving beyond the historical definitions of ADA compliance and creating tools to meet ADA regulations. These days, with the advanced technologies we have, we can better optimize information creation and delivery for people with disabilities, but also focus on personalizing these various tools and technologies to meet the unique needs of those individuals."

IBM is practicing what they preach. "When a new employee who requires accommodations joins the company, one of the first things he or she will do is log on to our Accessible Workplace Connection," West explains. "Using this web-based solution, the new hire can locate and order the accessibility tools and services required to meet his or her needs—everything from screen readers and braille displays, to sign language interpreters to attend meetings."

Often the first hurdle a disabled employee must jump is convincing the human resources department that he or she is capable of doing the job and what accommodations he or she will require. "At IBM we already know what is possible," states West, "and these resources are available to all of our employees in offices around the world. Not only does the company wind up with motivated, dedicated workers, we also show our partners and customers by example exactly what is possible and how."

According to West, meeting employee special needs is more than a responsibility, it's an opportunity. "As we listen to what our employees need and develop in-house solutions, this gives us a decided advantage in the marketplace."

One example of a product that began as an in-house accessibility solution but is now available commercially is the IBM Easy Web Browser platform. This server-side application enables government agencies and businesses to make their websites accessible to people with low vision without having to purchase and install additional assistive technologies themselves. Site visitors can download the plug-in components, which install automatically, then use a special control panel to adjust fonts, colors, contrast, and other screen elements, or use IBM text-to-speech to read the page aloud.

The Accessible Workplace Connection is another example. "We developed the platform for in-house use, but we will soon be making it available for other companies to deploy," says West.

Yet another product IBM expanded from in-house use to a commercial launch is their Media Captioner and Editor. "This software uses advanced speech recognition technology to analyze and translate spoken content to a text transcript, which can then be synced with the original video," explains West. The editor was created to help employees with hearing impairments access training videos. Imagine the enhanced accessibility of YouTube, Facebook, and other sites when more videos can be captioned without the need for human volunteers, too often a scarce resource.

According to West, IBM has hundreds of developers and other personnel working full-time on accessibility, but thousands of others pitch in. "With all of our next-generation products and services, we're committed to building accessibility in from the ground up," she states, and points proudly to IBM Connections, a social media-style office productivity suite.

Here is a description from the IBM Connections product website:

IBM Connections 3.0.1 is accessible and usable software that empowers all business professionals, including those with physical or sensory disabilities, to develop, nurture and remain in contact with a network of their colleagues; respond quickly to business opportunities by calling upon expertise in their network; and discuss and refine new creative ideas with communities of coworkers, partners and customers.

IBM Connections 3.0.1 meets the most current accessibility standards, and uses the most up-to-date methods for doing so. It was developed using the latest WCAG 2.0 3 WAI-ARIA specification 4 that addresses the accessibility of dynamic Web content for people with disabilities, mapping controls, Ajax live regions, and events to accessibility APIs, including custom controls used for Rich Internet Applications.

Recently, IBM entered into a partnership with Apple to provide value-added enterprise solutions for the iOS mobile ecosystem. "We are very excited about our new partnership with Apple," says West. "It brings together two leaders in accessibility who will work together to help enterprises keep pace with advancements in mobile and Cloud computing."

IBM Mobile First helps large companies design, create, deploy, and manage enterprise-level mobile apps and Cloud services. "We equip organizations with mobile accessibility guidance and checklists for mobile, web, and native iOS and Android application development, so that designers and developers can create accessible applications, test them, and certify compliance," says West.

According to West, this is a two-way street. "The more we learn about accommodating special needs with text-to-speech, voice dictation, tactile feedback, and other tools, the more intuitive and feature-rich these same apps also become for all users."

Asked about her long-term vision and goals, West recognizes that accessibility is not a fixed target. "The goalposts keep moving forward at breakneck speed, and it's our job to keep moving ahead just as swiftly. Part of that effort involves encouraging more developers and other information professionals to get involved in the accessibilty arena. Another part is working to spread the accessibility message. At IBM we work with governments and corporations in over 170 countries around the world, and with our innovative products and also by our hiring practices, I believe IBM is in a unique position to show how much is possible with a little motivation and the proper set of tools."