Dear AccessWorld Editor,

Good job guys!

Having an accessible and reliable note-taking device is very important in my work as an attorney. In the past, I've had to haul my laptop or PacMate around with me throughout the day while my sighted colleagues simply pull out a yellow pad or their iPad to accomplish the same thing. I've been waiting for someone to build an editing app that would finally transform my iPhone into the kind of notetaker that would let me leave my laptop on my desk at the office.

I think the developers at FloCo Apps, LLC and AFB may have finally pulled it off with AccessNote.

The App Store offers scores of note editing apps, and only a few of those are sufficiently accessible with voiceover. I've had a Bluetooth keyboard for over a year, and I've played around with over a dozen editing apps, hoping one would emerge to meet my needs. I've not found any to be truly and fully accessible, however. Inevitably, every one of the editing apps with some level of VoiceOver compatibility have some buttons, controls, or editing functions that either cannot be used without vision or require fairly sophisticated manipulation with VoiceOver to work, limiting practical every day usefulness for a user who is blind like me.

Here are my first impressions of AccessNote.

I'd heard rumors that AFB was going to release something like this for months, so I was pleased when I saw the AccessWorld announcement. I virtually trotted over to the Apple App Store and looked over the description. I popped for the $19.99 app since, like I said, I've been looking for this kind of accessible notetaker for a while, and I trusted that the gang over at AFB would have attended to accessibility. Heck, I'm sure I've spent at least three times that already on a bunch of semi-accessible variations that are just sitting in a folder on my device.

When I launched the app for the first time, things were pretty straightforward. Everything is well labeled and pretty clear. I already had my Bluetooth keyboard synced to my device, so nothing was needed there. I was able to sync to my Dropbox account very easily, turn it on in Settings, and give a simple confirmation, and my notes appeared in an AccessNote folder in my Dropbox account. I poked around in the Help screen for a while and was pleased to see that they included a basic text help guide with clickable section, as well as an interactive tutorial that helps you walk through some of the features. I didn't find the interactive guide very useful, but the texts guide gave me what I needed.

I opened a new note and did some typing. I actually wrote most of this review using AccessNote. The Review Mode feature works well as described, and I was able to navigate around in the note using the custom control keys. Later, it was a snap to pull the note up on my laptop from Dropbox and finish it up for posting.

Overall, I had a very satisfying writing experience using AccessNote.

Some additional observations:

AccessNote succeeds as a fully accessible notetaker, provided you are planning to use your iPhone or iPad with a Bluetooth keyboard. Many of the unique features of the app rely on functions that cannot be performed using VoiceOver gestures only.

AccessNote uses a set of quick keys, the "Option" key on a Bluetooth keyboard plus a letter, for various editing and navigation functions while editing a note. I liked having the custom controls when using a Bluetooth keyboard with AccessNote as it really made it feel like a traditional note-taking device.

Many of the keyboard-controlled reading and navigation functions can be performed using standard VoiceOver gestures without an external keyboard. However, I did run into a few functions that cannot be performed without an external keyboard that I definitely missed. In particular, I wanted to add a file I was reading to my Favorites for offline use. To my surprise, there wasn't a way to do this without a Bluetooth keyboard and the Option + M quick key. I knew I could close AccessNote and open Dropbox to do this, but it would be good to have that ability from within the app using basic VoiceOver gestures and controls.

Here are a few more functions I could not perform without an external keyboard: Option + R (Rename a Note), Option + F or G (Find a Word in a Note), Option + J or K (Jump to Previous or Next Note).

AccessNote is the first text editing app I have tried that makes using my iPhone and Bluetooth keyboard work for me like a dedicated note-taking device.

The functionality of the app using a Bluetooth keyboard is definitely very nice as it is. Although it can be used without a Bluetooth keyboard, the overall functionality of the app would be enhanced with a few more VoiceOver controllable functions.

I recommend AccessNote for anyone who has been wishing for a way to turn his or her iPhone into a good note-taking device and is willing to invest in a compatible Bluetooth keyboard.

Thanks,

Bill

Dear AccessWorld Editor,

I purchased the AccessNote app and am glad I did. I have already found it useful to take notes while I am on the road at meetings. The Dropbox Sync is a very strong feature to have, enabling further editing when I get back to my Mac. Also being able to rename notes is helpful.

I would hope that Spellcheck and Delete options might be added in a future version.

Keep up the great work,

Leo

Dear AccessWorld Editor,

This letter is in response to Deborah Kendrick's February article, "More than a Line: What the Future Holds for Refreshable Braille."

For many years at AFB, the tech department had a dream under its director Doug Mauer of a full page braille display. It was seen by him and others (i.e. the Roses in Europe) as the golden chalice for people who are blind. Now, the multi-line braille is so fast. Do we really need a full page? The cost, efficiency, and weight of the equipment is still overwhelming, and I can't help but wonder if this is the sighted world's concept of what a person with vision loss wants. Deborah Kendrick's article was fascinating, and I would enjoy a panel of people who are blind commenting on where they see a full page useful.

Susan

Dear AccessWorld Editor,

This letter is in response to Deborah Kendrick's February article, "More than a Line: What the Future Holds for Refreshable Braille."

I would hope the engineers working on the Nitinol display would already be aware of this, but there is a serious problem with Nitinol, which may not show up until you have already built a multi-line display.

This is getting rid of excess heat.

As the individual nitInol wires are heated and allowed to relax by cooling off to change each dot, excess heat will build up in the entire system. Eventually, the system will become hot enough that the wires will not cool enough to resume their original state.

This may not be apparent when initially testing a braille display, but it will happen more in real world use when the system is on for long periods of time. It is necessary to keep the hot wires powered continuously to keep them in the heated state. This leads to a continuous delivery of heat to the system even if the display is not being asked to change often.

When I worked as a rehab engineer, we worked with a developer of Nitinol-based systems to make such a prototype. We found the excess heat problem to be insoluble without doing something crazy, such as super-cooling. We also tried mechanical latching of each dot, but that led to enormous complexity, making the device both too complex to be reliable and too costly.

I hope developers will find some way around this problem as I'm one who believes a multi-line display at a reasonable cost will prove to be even more useful than many think.

Good luck to them,

Tom

Dear AccessWorld Editor,

This letter is in response to Deborah Kendrick's February article, "More than a Line: What the Future Holds for Refreshable Braille."

I want to thank you and Deborah Kendrick for sharing this article. As an avid braille reader and a teacher of students who are blind and visually impaired, I can say a multi-line braille display would open avenues to students. At the moment, students must wait to have tactile diagrams designed for them or have them described by someone, depending on the complexity of the diagram and how much time is needed to have the diagram in a tactile format. This braille display sounds like students will be able to see a multitude of examples for math and science like their peers. This is very exciting news.

Sharon

Dear AccesWorld Editor,

I always look forward to each issue of AccessWorld magazine and learn from its articles.

I have used a hybrid laptop/touch screen computer with Microsoft 8 for several months. I also have an Apple iPad.

I find both devices are very accessible using the built in Narrator and speech recognition in Windows 8 and Voice Over on the iPad.

I also use JAWS on the Windows 8 computer and find it very easy. However, Narrator works very well as do the touch features.

As the AccessWorld staff reviews solutions and opportunities for our community of technology users who are visually impaired, I would like to see more information on Microsoft and its accessibility features. For example, they encourage app developers to use their format to ensure the app is accessible, and the store notes accessible apps. As you know, Apple apps vary widely in accessibility, and I do applaud AFB's new app (AccessNote) for notetaking.

I also agree with your comments on cost and would like to see one source, such as Apple, Google, or Microsoft, provide e-mail, web-browsing, and e- reading in an easy-to-use format. Would it not be nice if all were accessible on all three systems and had buttons, controls, and settings in the same position on a touch screen and the same method of turning on access features?

I would mention the free training, guides, blogs, and tips offered by Microsoft as well as the monthly newsletter on accessibility as a start.

Thanks for all AFB does for our community!

Donnelly

Dear AccessWorld Editor,

This letter is in response to John Rempel's February article, "An Electronic Magnifier that Gestures toward the Future: A Review of Flick by Sight Enhancement Systems and Issist Assistive Technologies Inc."

Reading the response of the manufactures, the question came to mind, "What about users of this device who actually need more lighting than the standard amount usually recommended?" Many students who are visually impaired have difficulty in classroom lighting settings.

Janet

Dear AccessWorld Editor,

I just purchased Apple TV and have found it easy to use. Aaron Preece's February article, "Apple TV 3rd Generation: Apple Maintains Accessibility Excellence," really does a good honest job of indicating how truly functional and accessible Apple TV is.

I gather that the recent upgrade that came out a week ago now allows for a Bluetooth Apple keyboard to be set up. I plan to test this out. This addition of the keyboard does, once again, show that Apple is moving the product development along.

Thanks for a most helpful article,

Leo

Register Now for the AFB Leadership Conference

Registration is now open for the 2013 AFB Leadership Conference and Illinois AER Annual Meeting. Visit the conference website to register, read the meeting agenda, and reserve your hotel room at the special group rate. Join experts and colleagues for intensive pre-conference sessions on April 18 and full-conference sessions on April 19 and 20.

Topics include:

• Leadership
• Technology
• Education
• Rehabilitation
• Research

AT&T Launches Corporate Accessibility Technology Office (CATO) and Further Expands Commitment to Customers with Disabilities

Christopher Rice Named Chief Accessibility Officer for AT&T

As part of AT&T's ongoing commitment to ensure that customers with disabilities are able to enjoy the opportunities that modern technology affords, the company is launching a new Corporate Accessibility Technology Office (CATO) that is designed to promote accessibility in AT&T products and services. The organization will be led by Christopher Rice, who has been named the company's first Chief Accessibility Officer.

From early work on relay services to current offerings such as the award winning U-verse® Easy Remote and AT&T Mobile Accessibility Lite, AT&T's commitment to supporting people with disabilities spans decades. This new corporate structure will help ensure that accessibility remains a top priority into the future as well as add defined accountability into the corporate governance structure to advance AT&T's efforts in this important field.

"Accessibility at AT&T is about more than just meeting the needs of our customers with disabilities, it is also about continuing to innovate and staying competitive," says Christopher Rice, AT&T Chief Accessibility Officer. "Our work on accessibility has led to innovative products and services that improve the lives of all of our customers, and I am honored to be leading the charge to continue these efforts."

"AT&T demonstrates its commitment to accessibility by working closely with the disability community to identify areas for improvement," says Claude Stout, Executive Director of Telecommunications for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Inc. Stout further adds, "With its open-door policy, this new office will help ensure that AT&T's efforts continue to be a model for the industry, and we encourage other Fortune 500 companies to follow AT&T's example."

Monster.com First in Employment Industry to Make its Website Accessible for Job Seekers who are Blind or Visually Impaired

The popular job search website Monster.com will be the first job search and recruitment website in the industry to provide job seekers who are blind with full and equal access to all of its products and services including mobile applications, Attorney General Martha Coakley, Monster Worldwide, Inc., and the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) announced recently.

The announcement is the result of an agreement with the Attorney General's Office and the NFB and provides meaningful benefit to individuals nationwide who are blind or visually impaired, including more than 35,000 residents in Massachusetts. As part of the agreement, Monster will contribute $50,000 to the Commonwealth that will be used to fund the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind's (MCB) job internship program. Monster will also make a $50,000 contribution to the NFB and serve as the title sponsor of the NFB's annual convention in 2013.

"Unemployment and underemployment in the blind community are significant problems, and given the extent to which computers and the Internet have become integral to our daily lives, it is essential that websites are accessible to everyone," Attorney General Coakley said. "We are pleased to have worked with the NFB and Monster to make the company's valuable products and services accessible and to provide better employment opportunities to job seekers who are blind, visually impaired, or have other print disabilities such as dyslexia. We are hopeful that with the ability to access written information in an audible text-to-speech format, these users will now have access to [more] jobs, and better jobs, than ever before. We want technology to improve people's lives, not create obstacles or barriers."

"Over the past year, a team at Monster has been working closely with teams from the National Federation of the Blind and the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office to enhance our Monster.com website in a way that will provide more opportunities for blind job seekers to find jobs," said Mark Conway, Chief Information Officer, Monster Worldwide. "Although portions of our site were already accessible, we all agreed we could do more. Based on the work of these teams, the Monster.com site will be enhanced to make its website and mobile applications accessible to blind job seekers. This has been an enormous undertaking and is an exciting accomplishment for which we can all be proud."

"We are excited to partner with Monster and the National Federation of the Blind to provide access to job opportunities available to individuals who are blind," said Commissioner Janet LaBreck of the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind. "The MCB internship program [gives] individuals the opportunity to access early work experience. Utilizing accessible technology available on Monster's website to conduct a job search ensures that individuals who are blind can independently and successfully perform the same tasks as other job seeking candidates."

To make its website and mobile applications accessible to job seekers who are blind, Monster is making them compatible with screen access software that renders on-screen information into braille or speech so blind individuals can use keyboard commands to access the same information as sighted users.

In accordance with the agreement, Monster is in the process of making its desktop and mobile websites fully and equally accessible and will have its mobile applications accessible within two years. Monster has also ensured the templates employers use to post job advertisements on its site will be fully and equally accessible within six months.

Monster will also train its customer service representatives to assist users who are blind and will establish a standing committee to oversee implementation of the agreement and other issues related to accessibility in the future. In addition, Monster has agreed to work with the NFB to encourage higher education programs to incorporate accessible design and assistive technology into their core curricula.

State and federal laws not only prohibit disparate treatment of individuals with disabilities in employment and housing, but also require that all businesses operating places of public accommodation provide people with disabilities with full and equal enjoyment of their goods, services, and facilities.

Perkins School for the Blind, Helen Keller National Center, and FableVision will Lead the iCanConnect Campaign

Many thousands of Americans who have combined loss of hearing and vision may soon connect with family, friends, and community thanks to the National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program. Mandated by the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) established this new program to provide support for the local distribution of a wide array of accessible communications technology.

The FCC is also funding a national outreach campaign to educate the public about this new program. The iCanConnect campaign will be conducted jointly by Perkins School for the Blind in Watertown, MA, the Helen Keller National Center in New York City, NY, and FableVision of Boston, MA. iCanConnect will seek to ensure that everyone knows about the free communications technology and training that is now available to low-income individuals with combined hearing and vision loss. From screen enlargement software and video phones to off-the-shelf products that are accessible or adaptable, this technology can vastly improve quality of life for this population.

iCanConnect seeks to increase awareness about the availability of communications technology for this underserved population, so people who are deaf-blind and have limited income can remain safe and healthy, hold jobs, manage their households, and contribute to the economy and the community.

Information about the new equipment distribution program is available online at the iCanConnect website or by phone at 800-825-4595. Additional information is available through the online FCC Encyclopedia.

"With the right technology, people with disabilities can link to information and ideas, be productive, and move ahead," said Steven Rothstein, President of Perkins. "Perkins' most famous student, Helen Keller, exemplified the potential of a person who is deaf-blind. We are proud to have a role in this transformational program."

The CVAA, championed in Washington, D.C. by Congressman Edward J. Markey of Massachusetts and Senator Mark Pryor of Arkansas, acknowledges that advances in technology can revolutionize lives. Nearly one million people in the United States have some combination of vision and hearing loss. People with combined loss of vision and hearing as defined by the Helen Keller National Center Act whose income does not exceed 400 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines are eligible to participate in the new program.

"The mission of the Helen Keller National Center is to enable each person who is deaf-blind to live and work in his or her community of choice," explains Executive Director Joe McNulty, adding, "This critical technology access program accelerates those efforts but only if people know about the resources. iCanConnect is poised to get the word out, coast to coast."

"FableVision's mission is to help ALL learners reach their full potential," said Paul Reynolds, CEO of FableVision Studios. "With this program we advance that mission, helping spread the word about equal access to tools that offer those with hearing and vision loss the transformational power of technology." Reynolds adds, "Now everyone is invited to the technology promise powering the human network."

Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation awards UCI's Gavin Herbert Eye Institute $3 million for Retinal Degeneration Research

The Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, part of UC Irvine Health, has been awarded a $3 million grant from the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation for fellowships and instruments that advance research to prevent blindness caused by such diseases as age-related macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa.

"We are grateful to the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation for demonstrating confidence in the quality of scientific discovery taking place at the Gavin Herbert Eye Institute," said Dr. Roger Steinert, professor and chair of ophthalmology and director of the Gavin Herbert Eye Institute. "Researchers here share the late Dr. Beckman's commitment to excellence and will use this grant to strategically support our bold goal of eradicating blindness by 2020."

The Beckman Foundation grant includes $1 million for state-of-the-art instruments designed to perform promising medical procedures such as stem cell transplantation for retinal degeneration.

Dr. Henry Klassen, associate professor of ophthalmology, and his Gavin Herbert Eye Institute team have shown that stem cells can repair damaged retinal cells in retinitis pigmentosa, the most common form of inherited retinal degeneration. If proven effective in humans, this treatment could change what it means to be diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration, a disease that affects the vision of 1 in 27 Americans.

The other $2 million from the Beckman Foundation grant establishes fellowships for young researchers to contribute to stem cell studies and other exciting new avenues of eye research. Working alongside some of the nation's leading ophthalmologists, these fellows will participate in the discovery process and learn the latest clinical procedures in vision care.

An earlier grant from the Beckman Foundation provided $2 million to support construction of a new center for the Gavin Herbert Eye Institute on the UC Irvine campus. The 70,000-square-foot medical facility, which is slated to open for patients in September, includes design features recommended by the Braille Institute that will make it easier for patients with low-vision to navigate within the building. The first-floor clinical center will be named the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation Center for Vision Care in honor of the late inventor and his wife. The building, which is funded entirely through local private philanthropy, will be Orange County's first university eye center.

About the Gavin Herbert Eye Institute

The faculty of internationally recognized physicians, surgeons and scientists at the Gavin Herbert Eye Institute and UC Irvine's Department of Ophthalmology, part of UC Irvine Health, provide highly specialized training to future ophthalmologists, access to leading-edge clinical trials, and sight-saving treatments and therapies for virtually any eye disorder. The Gavin Herbert Eye Institute's mission is to develop educational programs, technologies, and clinical solutions that enhance visual health and performance for people in Orange County, the nation, and the world through cooperation with medical professionals, industry, and the community.

About the University of California, Irvine

Founded in 1965, UC Irvine is a top-ranked university dedicated to research, scholarship, and community service. Led by Chancellor Michael Drake since 2005, UC Irvine is among the most dynamic campuses in the University of California system, with nearly 28,000 undergraduate and graduate students, 1,100 faculty and 9,000 staff. Orange County's second-largest employer, UC Irvine contributes an annual economic impact of $4.3 billion

India's National Association for the Blind to Partner with Perkins: Enhanced Collaboration Will Bring More and Better Services to Indians Who Are Blind

Perkins and the National Association for the Blind (NAB) India have announced a new collaboration that will help to accelerate the growth of programs in India for people who are blind.

"NAB India is one of Perkins' oldest and most valued international allies," said Perkins president Steven Rothstein. "They are a model of commitment and vision not only in India, but for the world. Our mutual belief in the power of education to change lives brought us together and will sustain our energies in this newest chapter of our joint efforts."

"Twenty percent of the individuals in the world who are blind live in India," Rothstein noted. "The overwhelming majority of [Indian] students who are blind and deaf blind do not attend school."

For the first time in its 183 year history, Perkins will work with an international partner not only to build capacity and expertise to educate children who are blind or deaf-blind, but also to cultivate financial support outside the United States. By creating new opportunities for Indian donors to support the work of NAB India and Perkins International partners, those organizations will be able to deliver more services to more people more effectively. According to Dr. W. Aubrey Webson, Director of Perkins International, "Leveraging our longstanding affiliation with NAB India will help all of our partners here expand programs and reach a larger segment of the population who live with visual impairments and multiple disabilities."

"Strengthening partnerships has become even more important during difficult economic times where the face of philanthropy is changing dramatically," said Mr. K. Ramkrishna, Hon. Secretary General of NAB India. "The alliance between Perkins and NAB India will establish novel ways for partners to expand vitally needed services for individuals who are blind and deaf-blind."

About Perkins International

Perkins' most famous student, Helen Keller, visited Mumbai in 1955 to lay the cornerstone for NAB India's Workshop for the Blind. Perkins provides education, services, and products to people who are blind, deaf blind, or visually impaired with other disabilities to build more productive and meaningful lives. Perkins pursues this mission both locally and globally. Founded in 1829, Perkins reaches more than a 650,000 people each year in 67 countries around the world. The organization advances its mission through its various divisions: School for the Blind, International, Library, eLearning, and Products.

About the National Association for the Blind India

For more than sixty years, the National Association for the Blind India has maintained its vision of an empowered and well-informed population of people who are blind working for personal growth and development, thereby leading life to its optimum potential. Its mission is to prevent blindness as far as is possible while working to empower those who are blind with education and training.

Perkins and MassChallenge Encourage Innovations for People with Disabilities Assistive Technology Prize

The Perkins Assistive Technology Prize provides $25,000 in incentive grants to entrepreneurs who focus on improving opportunities and quality of life for people with disabilities as part of MassChallenge 2013. Perkins is offering the grants, drawn from a donation earmarked for technological solutions, to promote their global mission to empower individuals with disabilities to reach their personal potential.

All entries are due by April 3, 2013.

Founded in 1829 as the first school for the blind in the United States, Perkins now touches the lives of more than 600,000 individuals in 67 countries, far beyond the historic Watertown, Massachusetts, campus. Notably, MassChallenge draws entrants from around the world.

The Perkins Assistive Technology Prize encourages the development of new low- and high-technology devices or software that could significantly enhance the quality of life for individuals with disabilities. Such access technology could apply to any sector of life (education, transportation, recreation, communications, vocational, etc.). Entries may address a certain group of individuals with a disability (vision loss, hearing loss, mobility, etc.), or have a more universal market application. Details and applications are available at MassChallenge.

"Joining with MassChallenge is a natural for us," says Perkins President Steven Rothstein. "It's in everyone's interest to urge entrepreneurs to consider accessibility because better access for people with disabilities means better access for all."

MassChallenge is the largest-ever startup accelerator and competition, and the first to support high-impact, early-stage entrepreneurs with no strings attached.

Benefits for startups include:

• Four-month accelerator program. World-class mentorship and training, free office space, access to funding, legal advice, cofounders, media exposure, and more.
• Over $1M in Cash Awards. $10M+ in-kind support.
• Open to all. Any early-stage startup can enter, from anywhere in the world, in any industry.
• No equity taken. No restrictions applied.

Microsoft Offers New Service to Customers with Disabilities

Microsoft is offering a new service to customers with disabilities. Microsoft Customer Services and Support has launched an accessibility support offering that provides a tailored experience for people with disabilities and customers who use the accessibility features of Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Office.

As of February 1, 2013, this service is available throughout North America, providing trained support specialists via telephone (800-936-5900; TTY: 1-800-892-5234) and e-mail. The team is available in North America from 5 am to 9 pm PST during the week, and 6 am to 3 pm on the weekends. English language only.

On December 25, 2011, I weighed myself and saw the red arrow point towards 240 pounds. I knew that this was an unhealthy weight for a 15-year-old and realized I had to do something about it. I could no longer blame my lack of physical activity on my low vision. I was supposed to be participating in the United States Association of Blind Athletes (USABA) and WellPoint Foundation National Fitness Challenge, but I had not even done anything with that yet, which said a lot about me at the time. After weighing in at nearly 240 pounds, I was highly motivated to finally do something about my overweight body and make a change in my life for good. I knew if I set my mind to it, I could win and beat the competition by losing the most weight.

Caption: Photo of Cooper Kendall at 240 pounds.

On December 27, 2011, I took action. I went outside in 20-degree weather for a run, a simple 3.2-mile loop that became my daily activity. I got to the point that, without my daily run, I felt lost and anxious. I ran every day for two months before ending the streak due to poor weather, but the next day I was back in my routine. I began to feel good about running and started to pick up my mileage to five miles, a long run for me. By this point I was about 200 pounds, and I added dieting to my daily exercise. People were starting to notice my weight loss, and for the first time in my life, I started to feel like an athlete. I continued to run for a few more weeks and, eventually, made one of the best decisions of my life by signing up for a local club rowing team.

The week before crew started I ran 11.6 miles, and the feeling of being able to run that far was new to me. It felt remarkable. Once rowing started, I took some time off from running and began training and conditioning for the rowing team. The conditioning started off feeling very difficult because I had been burning fat and muscle throughout my running career, and I did not have much muscle to begin with. Circuit training and rowing machine workouts eventually become easier, and by the time we got to the boat, I was eager to start learning how to row. Rowing changed my body even more than running. I started to see muscles accumulating, and I actually got my weight down to 180 pounds, my lowest yet. It is an awesome feeling!

I had a fire inside me that motivated me to become the best rower I could, and although I was a novice, we had a pretty decent crew team. I rowed through the spring and into the summer with the Blood Street Sculls, learning skills from specialized trainers and coaches. As I became more committed to rowing, I bought an Erg Rowing Machine and used it at home for many of my workouts. By September 2012, I was ready to go back to the Blood Street Sculls and be a better athlete. After running and rowing, I finally saw myself as a real athlete because I was fit enough to row 5,000 meters, and I was moving up in the boat lineups. This was one of the best feelings ever. I was actually accomplishing what I set out to do. As the rowing season came to an end, I made a promise to myself that winter was no longer an "off season" for me. Although I shifted my interests to the school musical, I continued to be in training mode by lifting weights and doing cardio. I set a goal of returning back to the Blood Street Sculls in the spring and to make my school's varsity rowing team.

Caption: Photo of a physically fit Cooper Kendall.

I learned that setting goals was the best way for me to live my life. After watching myself accomplish what I set out to do, I have become more open to trying new things. If people tell me to try something, I immediately go for it. Even if I do not get it right away, I know that with practice I will one day succeed.

Even though I was a participant in the USABA and WellPoint Foundation National Fitness Challenge and wanted to win, I also wanted to prove to myself that I could do it. Losing weight was mainly for my own personal reasons, but because I lost the weight, I received the benefits of an awesome trip to Colorado Springs, Colorado in June 2012 to attend the National Sports Education Camp, a reward designated for the boy and girl in the fitness challenge who lost the most weight and decreased their body mass index. It was really neat to show myself off as an athlete and meet other people who had been applying themselves in various ways throughout the National Fitness Challenge program. I know that without the start of the USABA and WellPoint Foundation National Fitness Challenge I would not have found the motivation to get active and lose weight. Being a part of this program was the best thing that has ever happened to me and has truly changed my life for the better. Now, I see a lot of potential in myself and I am truly proud of how far I have come with changing my life.

About the USABA and WellPoint Foundation National Fitness Challenge

The objective of the National Fitness Challenge is to provide teenagers who are blind and visually impaired opportunities to achieve a higher level of fitness and to maintain or reduce their body mass index. Last year, 16 agencies participated in the National Fitness Challenge. This year's program has grown extensively with more than 20 participating agencies from across the United States who will provide more than 700 teenagers who are blind and visually impaired with an opportunity to increase their physical fitness levels and live a healthier and more active lifestyle.

In order to keep track of each participant's success, every agency submits baseline data and monthly updates that are used to create achievable fitness and weight loss goals for each teen. Mark Lucas, executive director of the United States Association of Blind Athletes, said, "Last year the number of students participating in the program was 603, and of these 603 students, 393 (65%) maintained or reduced their body mass index. With numbers like that, we predict a great success rate for a second year of the National Fitness Challenge." With the renewal of this grant from the WellPoint Foundation and through the partnering agencies, USABA will provide each agency with sports equipment as well as fitness and nutrition coaches for teens participating in the program.

"The WellPoint Foundation helps us continue meeting the company's commitment to helping children and adults live active lives and avoid the health risks associated with sedentary lifestyles and obesity," said Bill Smith, president and general manager of WellPoint's Disability and Life business. "We believe no one should be denied the right to enjoy the physical and emotional benefits associated with exercise. Therefore, we are very proud to once again partner with the USABA to ensure that vision impairments do not limit the recreational opportunities afforded to teenagers across the country."

Research has consistently shown that individuals who participate in regular physical activity to improve their health have higher energy levels, a lower risk of health-related diseases, improved psychological health, and lower rates of depression and anxiety. Unfortunately, because of the many barriers and misconceptions about their abilities, approximately 70 percent of the nearly 56,000 children and youth who are blind and visually impaired in the United States do not participate in even a limited physical education curriculum. The implementation of the National Fitness Challenge is one program USABA and the WellPoint Foundation are using to break down these barriers.

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Since I am an iPhone user and love VoiceOver, Apple's onboard screen reader, I decided to get a MacBook when it was time for me to get a new laptop. As it turned out, I had a lot to learn, the first being that MacBooks are very expensive compared to laptops running Windows 8. Since I knew I either had to learn Windows 8 or Apple's Mountain Lion, I went for the Mac. Along with learning Mountain Lion, I needed to learn many new VoiceOver commands. This article, the first in a series about transitioning from a PC to a MacBook, discusses the comparison between the MacBook Pro and the MacBook Air, provides information about putting Windows on a Mac, and rounds out with some VoiceOver basics and resources.

Making the Decision

Since I wasn't concerned about graphics, video editing, or screen size, I purchased an 11-inch MacBook Air, but people who have higher levels of usable vision might choose to purchase a computer with a bigger screen and a better display. I did significantly upgrade my MacBook's components, including choosing a faster processor and more memory. I still have my desktop computer, which allowed me the luxury of taking my time in learning the Mac.

Windows on a Mac

It is possible to run Windows on a Mac computer. To do this, you need a copy of Windows, such as XP, 7, or 8, and you need a screen reader since VoiceOver does not work with Windows. There are two ways of putting Windows on a Mac. One way is to use a program called Boot Camp. This program will partition the Mac's drive so that one part will continue to use the Mac platform and the other will use Windows. In other words, instead of one computer, you now have a Windows-based computer and a Mac computer. The disadvantage of this method is that each time you log in, you must choose between Mac or Windows. If you're working on the Mac and want to do something in Windows, the computer must be rebooted, and Windows needs to be chosen at the log in screen. There is no way to go back and forth between the two operating systems without rebooting.

The other way is to create a virtual machine on your Mac, which is a simulation of an operating system running on a different host operating system.

There are two programs that can create a virtual machine: Parallels Desktop for Mac and VMware Fusion. VMware Fusion has better accessibility. With the VM option, it is possible to switch operating systems without rebooting, allowing Windows programs to be launched from within the Mac system.

Since the Mac keyboard does not contain a "Delete" key, "Insert" key, and some others, some keyboard remapping may need to be done in order to use the Windows screen reader's hot keys. One remapping program is Sharp Keys. Fortunately, on the Mac keyboard, the "Command" key, which is to the left of the space bar, acts as the "Windows"key. The "Option" key (next to the "Command" key on the Mac) functions as the "Alt" key in Windows. The "Control" key (next to the "Options" key on the Mac) functions as the same key in Windows.

I chose to use VMware software, and although it is accessible, I decided to take advantage of sighted assistance.

Whenever a Windows-based program is launched, it will take a while for Windows to open. A sound will play, and the Windows screen reader should start talking. When you are done with Windows, be sure to log out of Windows before closing VMware Fusion. I did not know this at first and had problems getting Windows to work. A Windows application can be launched from within the Mac operating system without opening VMware Fusion first. When the Windows app is launched, VMware Fusion will automatically open and, then, the actual Windows application should open.

I decided to install Windows on my MacBook because, at present, Microsoft Office applications (such as Word and Excel) are more accessible in Windows. There is a version of Microsoft Office for the Mac, but unfortunately, it currently is not accessible. Apple makes a similar suite of applications called iWork. This consists of a word processing application called Pages, a spread sheet application called Numbers, and an application called Key Note, which is similar to PowerPoint. However, they do not have the same accessibility as Office for Windows.

Since I am new to the Mac, I wanted the option to use familiar programs, but in the near future, I do intend to learn Pages and Numbers.

Comparing the Two MacBook Options

Apple offers two styles of notebooks, the MacBook Pro and the MacBook Air. Both are available in different sizes and can be customized with regard to the size of the unit's flash storage or hard drive, the type of processor, and the amount of memory. For a detailed description of these notebooks, visit the Apple notebook comparison page.

MacBook Air

The MacBook Air comes in11-inch and 13-inch sizes. The 11-inch weighs 2.38 pounds, and the 13-inch weighs 2.96 pounds. According to Apple's website, the battery on the 11-inch Air lasts up to five hours using wireless Web and the 13-inch up to seven hours using wireless Web. The Apple Store salesperson who assisted me explained that the battery is larger in the 13-inch model. Only the 13-inch has an SD card slot. Neither computer has a CD-ROM drive, but both can use a USB portable drive. The portable CD-ROM drive does not have to be purchased at the Apple store and is usually cheaper elsewhere. The MacBook Air uses a solid-state drive. The solid-state drive has no moving parts like a standard hard drive. This makes the computer boot quicker, and the drive is less susceptible to damage.

The 11-inch MacBook Air starts at $999, and the 13-inch starts at $1,199.

MacBook Pro

The MacBook Pro comes in 13-inch and 15-inch sizes. The 13-inch weighs 4.5 pounds, and the 15-inch weighs 5.6 pounds. Both have batteries that provide up to seven hours of wireless Web. Both computers come equipped with a CD-ROM drive and an SD card reader. The MacBook Pros can come with either a standard hard drive or a solid-state drive. The 13-inch model starts at $1,199, and the 15-inch starts at $1,799.

VoiceOver on the MacBooks

VoiceOver comes standard on all iOS devices as well as on all Mac computers. To activate VoiceOver on a Mac, type Command + F5. This is a toggle, so typing the combination again will turn VoiceOver off. On iOS devices, VoiceOver is controlled through a series of gestures. On Mac computers, keyboard commands control VoiceOver and some functions can be controlled through gestures on the unit's trackpad. By default, the trackpad is set to function as a mouse pad, but this is easily changed so VoiceOver gestures can be used. Gestures are especially useful when navigating webpages.

VoiceOver Navigation

For most VoiceOver commands, the VoiceOver keys "Control" and "Option" need to be held down along with other keys to execute a command. Windows screen readers tend to require fewer keys to execute the same command. For example, in Windows, typing the "Alt" key will bring up the Menu Bar. On a Mac, the key combination is Control + Option + M. Both types of computers have standard menu bars with the MacBooks having an Apple menu and an application specific menu to the left of the standard menu. There is a quick start tutorial for VoiceOver activated by typing Option + Control + Command + F8 on the computer, but it just covers the basics. There is a Quick Nav function on Macs that allows for navigation using just the arrow keys. To engage this feature, hold down the left and right arrows simultaneously. To turn Quick Nav off, use the same command. To activate the trackpad to use VoiceOver, hold down the VoiceOver keys and do a two finger twist to the right.

An excellent way to learn how to use VoiceOver on the Mac is to listen to a series of podcast tutorials recorded by David Woodbridge of Vision Australia. They can be found on the AppleVis website. When the page loads, there are check boxes to sort the podcasts. Check the "Mac OS" box and activate the "Apply" button.

Get some Hands-On Experience

Before going to the Apple store, try to ask someone who has a MacBook if you can spend some time using it. If you do not have access to a MacBook, call the Apple store and try to arrange some time to check out their MacBooks. Be aware that the sales people might not know very much about VoiceOver. If possible, try following the instructions in David Woodbridge's podcasts when trying a Mac. I found them very helpful, and I still refer back to them.

If you are new to a notebook, laptop, or netbook, be aware there is no six pack (the group of six keys towards the middle with "Insert," "Home," "Page Up," "Delete," "End," and "Page Down"), and many, including the Macs, do not have numeric keypads.

When the MacBook Boots

MacBooks take only a few seconds to boot, especially those with solid-state drives. The desktop on a MacBook is very different from the Windows desktop. The Windows desktop has frequently used programs on the desktop while the MacBook has the contents of the unit's solid-state or hard drive on the desktop. VoiceOver will say "Macintosh HD" even if the MacBook has a solid-state drive. Typing Control + Option + Space Bar at the Desktop will bring up a table of folders, including the System folder and the Applications folder. Any flash drive or other medium plugged into the MacBook will also show up on the Desktop. The only item I have added to my Desktop is my Documents folder. Other programs (which Apple calls apps) can be added, but they are usually kept on the Dock. The Dock is at the bottom of the screen, just like on the iPhone. Unlike the iPhone, however, there doesn't appear to be any limit to how many apps can be added to the Dock. The Dock is basically for applications that are used frequently.

After the Purchase

When purchasing a MacBook from the Apple store, you can ask to have the technicians set up your e-mail at no additional charge. Be sure to have your e-mail account password with you, and you will need to have an Apple ID If you do not already have one, the technicians can assist with that. The password from the Apple ID will also be the computer's password.

Conclusion

I am very happy with my MacBook Air. It's very fast and light, set up was easy, and it was great to have a computer that spoke right out of the box. Having Windows 7 and Window-Eyes 8.0 on my Mac gives me the freedom to use Microsoft Word and Excel. In the second article of the series, I will discuss my adventures and misadventures as I learned to use my MacBook Air with VoiceOver.

Resources

There are many wonderful people on the web and on e-mail lists who are more than willing to offer advice and explain how to accomplish tasks on the Mac. Here are a few resources:

AppleVis
This is a community of Apple product users who are blind or visually impaired. If you are using any Apple device, it is well worth visiting this excellent website.

Mac Access.net
This website has e-mail lists, podcasts, and more.

Mac for the Blind
This website contains a wealth of information for Mac users who are blind or visually impaired.

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In the summer of 2011, Panasonic, the world's leading manufacturer of cordless telephones, released a product aimed at enhancing accessibility for three distinct groups within the disability community. Panasonic has distinguished itself as a company for several years now with its commitment to universal design. Customers who are blind have benefitted from this effort with such widely available features as raised dots on certain remote control buttons for Panasonic TVs, talking caller ID on several Panasonic phones, and more.

The KX-TG6591T cordless phone with answering machine has features that render it appealing to those with hearing loss, vision loss, and arthritis. That's a lot to claim for one simple product, so I was naturally curious to check it out.

Accessibility Features

The KX-TG6591T is a cordless phone with a built-in answering machine and has the capacity to expand to use three additional handsets (purchased separately from the original unit). The primary proclaimed features are:

• For those with limited hand dexterity or arthritis, the phone has a slightly wider body than the typical cordless phone, a rubberized grip, and an Any Key Answer feature.
• For those with impaired hearing, the phone offers the "Tone Equalizer," a conveniently located button designed to boost frequencies in low, medium, or high ranges thus making conversation more manageable.
• For users who are low vision or blind, the phone has built-in text-to-speech caller ID and a high contrast visual display.

General Description

Before discussing whether or not the KX-TG6591T measures up to its various claims, a general description of the product is in order.

In addition to the usual 12 keys comprising the telephone keypad, the handset features three dedicated speed dialing buttons ("A," "B," and "C"), which are located directly above the numbers "1," "2," and "3." It has a "Speaker" button, a "Flash" button, a circular "Menu" button (allowing you to also scroll up and down or right and left), and the "On" and "Off" buttons. The power buttons are near the top of the handset, and each has a raised dot to facilitate quick tactile identification, as does the "5" button on the telephone keypad.

Near the top of the phone on the left side is the "Tone Equalizer" button. Repeatedly pressing this button boosts the various frequencies. Below the "Tone Equalizer" button is a longer button used to increase or decrease volume. (Volume can also be adjusted by pressing on the top or bottom edges of the "Menu" button.) Near the bottom of the left side is a jack for connecting a telephone headset (not included), which has a permanently affixed rubberized cover. Above all of the buttons on the face of the handset is the visual display. On the back is the speaker grille and an optional belt clip.

While the base unit does not have the traditional keypad for dialing telephone numbers, it does have several easily identified buttons and provides a number of calling features. First and foremost, it has a fairly large speaker grille and "On/Off" button so that you can take any call by using the base unit exclusively. Secondly, the base unit has three speed dial buttons, so it can be used for quickly calling the same three phone numbers that have been assigned to the corresponding keys on the handset. The remaining buttons on the base unit are for playing, navigating, and erasing messages left on the answering machine.

Those Accessibility Claims

This phone is a bit wider and easily grasped. Indeed, the Arthritis Foundation awarded its Ease-of-Use Commendation to this particular cordless phone, acknowledging its usability by people with limited hand function. It should be mentioned here, however, that the Any Key Answer function, while extremely convenient, is not actually any key. When the phone rings, any of the 12 keys on the number pad will connect the call, but the feature does not extend to the speed dial or other special keys above the number pad.

The volume control and "Tone Equalizer" button definitely make the phone a more usable communications device for individuals with mild to moderate hearing impairments. When it comes to usability by users who are blind or low vision, however, the answer to the question of accessibility is a resounding "it depends."

First, as the company claims, the phone does indeed have text-to-speech capability for announcing caller ID information. The announcement is made following the first two and every subsequent ring in a somewhat clear female voice, which owners of other Panasonic cordless phones will recognize. (If you haven't heard this particular voice, I should note here that I have often wondered why it was selected. Its pronunciations are a bit atypical, and its pitch is probably not intelligible for some individuals with hearing loss.)

The answering machine incorporated into the unit is usable enough for a person with vision loss. The unit comes with two pre-recorded messages: one is simply a greeting, and the other allows callers to leave a message. These messages as well as other functions related to the answering system (whether there are new messages, confirming the erasure of messages, and so on) are spoken in a clear, synthetic male voice. This voice, incidentally, would be much more universally accessible for the talking caller ID should the company make a change in that regard.

The Any Key Answer on the handset is a convenient feature for anyone, and the speaker provided on both the handset and base unit provide particularly loud and clear sound. However, this phone is by no means fully accessible to users with vision loss.

The Menu System and Finding Work-Arounds

The phone's menus offer a number of attractive features. You can set the time and date, store up to 50 names and phone numbers, change ringtones, select the number of times the phone will ring before going to voicemail, and set three dedicated speed dial numbers. None of these features are accompanied by spoken feedback although some of them can be accessed with work-arounds.

Special features are generally accessed through the Menu options shown on the visual display. Many features, however, have shortcut key combinations, and it is through these that a person who is blind can actually take advantage of some of the phone's extra features.

With the phone turned off, for example, if you press the "Menu" button followed by "#161" to hear the ringtone selections, you can scroll down through these ringtones to hear each one and, then, press "Select" for the desired tone. Similarly, there are shortcuts for playing messages from the answering system, accessing voicemail, and entering speed dial numbers. By trial and error (and sighted assistance), you could, conceivably, enter speed dial and other phone book entries by pressing the keypad number for the desired letter (three presses of the number "5" for the letter "l," for example) and then pressing the "Menu" button's right arrow to move to the next space. However, there is absolutely no audio feedback to indicate that your input has netted the desired outcome. With regard to speed dial, of course, you can test your efforts by pressing speed dial buttons "A," "B," or "C" and waiting to see if the intended number is dialed. With regard to the phone book, however, successfully entering names and numbers, even if you do manage it, is pointless for a user with vision loss since there is no way to scroll through and read the established entries.

Conclusion

Panasonic's model KX-TF6591T cordless phone lives up to the promises it makes with regard to accessibility. It is easily held by those with limited hand function and has the convenience of almost any key activating a call. Its volume control and "Tone Equalizer" button render conversation more accessible to individuals with hearing impairments. Its talking caller ID and answering machine extend those particular features to people who are blind.

While work-arounds are possible for some of the phone's other attractive features, many are simply out of reach for those unable to see the visual display.

The clarity while listening through the handset or the speakers on the base is excellent, and the answering machine is easy to use as well. If you want a cordless phone for just placing and receiving calls, this one is a great choice.

Considering its track record of commitment to accessibility issues, let' hope that Panasonic will figure out how to put those text-to-speech capabilities to broader use and give us a full-featured cordless phone that everyone can use to full advantage.

Product Information

Model Number: KX-TF6591T
Available from: Panasonic
Phone: (800) 405-0652
Price: $59.95

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In the March 2012 issue, AccessWorldevaluated the then new Bookshare Reader app for Android. Since that time the app has seen several updates with the current version being version 4.0.1. The app boasts a new structure, increased functionality, and updated playback controls. For this article, I will be evaluating the app using a Samsung Galaxy Nexus running Android 4.2 Jellybean.

Initial Setup, Quick Start Guide, and User Guide

The first time you open the app you will be presented with a Quick Start Guide that will immediately be read to you using the text-to-speech voice you have selected to use with Talkback. The Quick Start Guide describes the available controls, discusses book navigation briefly, and provides instructions for locating the complete user guide, which is found in the menu under the Help option. The guide is structured like a book so that it is easy for you to find the information you need using the Table of Contents. Everything that the app can do is discussed in detail, and the writing is clear and concise.

The Reading Screen

The reading screen is rather simple and easily navigated. Around 75 to 80 percent of the screen is taken up by the text of the book that is being read. This text is not accessible to TalkBack, and if you place your finger anywhere in this area, nothing is announced to you. Below this area is a line of buttons. From left to right these are labeled: "Previous Section," "Play/Pause," "Table of Contents," and "Next Section." In the very bottom right corner of the screen is the "Menu" button. This button is located in the dock and just below the "Next Section" button.

The buttons can all be accessed with various gestures performed in the book playback area. To simulate the "Previous Section" button, swipe left, and for the "Next Section" button, swipe right. To play or pause the book, you can double tap the screen. To go to the Table of Contents swipe up, and to access the Main Menu swipe down. If you are using a device running Android 4.0 or later, you must use two fingers to perform the swiping gestures, and double tapping the screen will not work as a gesture for the "Play/Pause" button.

The Main Menu

The main menu can be accessed from the reading screen by either using the swipe-down gesture or by using the on-screen button, and it connects to all of the other screens. It is structured as a standard Android menu with a single column of options that you can scroll through using the standard TalkBack gestures.

Book Navigation

The first four options in the main menu are used for advanced book navigation. The first option is labeled "Read to Me," and it will place you on the main reading screen. Below this is an option labeled "Table of Contents." This is the main Table of Contents screen that can also be accessed from the reading screen with the swipe-up gesture. All of the headings in the book are listed in this menu. If a heading has subheadings, the number of subheadings will be announced. When you select a section, you will be taken to it in the reading screen. However, the section will not be read automatically. If the section you have selected has subheadings, you will be presented with a menu that either allows you to go to the main heading in the reading screen or to reveal the subheadings in the main Table of Contents screen.

The next option in the main menu is "Navigate to Page." When you select this option, you will be presented with an edit box where you can enter the number of the page you would like to go to. The page that you are currently on will also be announced along with the total number of pages in the book. You must select the edit box before the number keyboard will appear. After you have entered your page number and selected the "Search" button, you will be presented with a screen that says, "Alert [page number]," and then, you will automatically be returned to the reading screen on the page you selected. Again, like when navigating by section, the book will not automatically begin playing, so you must press the "Play/Pause" button.

Below the "Navigate to Page" option in the main menu is "Bookmarks." There are several options in this menu. The very top of the screen will alert you to the book that you are currently reading, and next to this is an option to display all of the bookmarks for every book in your collection. You are able to use these tabs to switch between a screen showing all of the bookmarks in your book collection and a screen showing the bookmarks in the book that you are currently reading.

Below this option is an "Add Bookmark" option. This option places a bookmark on the current page of the book you are reading. The rest of the menu will be composed of the bookmarks that you have. Bookmarks are labeled with the text of the sentence they are placed on. The page number where the bookmark resides will be read after the bookmarked sentence. If you have the screen toggled to show all of your bookmarks, the name of the book that contains the bookmark will be read after the page number. Selecting a bookmark will open a menu where you can either navigate to the selected bookmark in the text or delete the selected bookmark. As with the other navigation options, you must press the "Play/Pause" button as the book will not be read automatically after choosing to go to a selected bookmark.

Managing and Downloading Books

The three options following "Bookmarks" regard downloading and managing your books. "Downloaded Books" is the option directly below "Bookmarks." This menu is where the books in your collection are listed. When you select this option, you will be presented with various options for displaying your books. These options, from top to bottom, are titled: "Favorites," "Recent Books," "By Author," "By Title," "File Tree," and "Search." All of these options also have a short explanation of what they will display, which is read automatically after the option title. Once you have selected a display style and a book, you will be placed in a menu to interact with the book. You are able to open the book, add or remove it from your favorites list, and delete the book.

The next option in the main menu is the "Get Bookshare Books" option. The first time you select this option, you will be prompted for your Bookshare username and password. After you have logged in, you will be presented with various options for finding books. At the top of the list, you will find options to search for books using the title, author, and ISBN. Below these options you will find additional options to display the most recent books and the most popular books. Below these two options is a button to log out of your Bookshare account.

When you select a book you would like to download, you will be moved to a screen with book details. The title and author of the book are at the very top of the screen, and below this is a "Download" button that runs the width of the screen. Under this button is the book information. The details that are provided are ISBN, language, category, the date added, publisher, copyright date, and synopsis. When you select the "Download" button, you will be presented with an alert that tells you your book download has started. You will be quickly returned to the book details screen where the "Download" button will be dimmed and relabeled "Downloading Book." Once the book has downloaded, the button will once again be relabeled as "Book Downloaded, Read Book." Selecting this button will place you at the top of the book in the reading screen.

The option below "Get Bookshare Books" is labeled "Get Books from Other Catalogs." The user guide claims that this option is inaccessible, but I was able to successfully find and download books using Android 4.2. When you select this option, you will be given a list of catalogs that you can search. You are also given the ability to add new catalogs using the Open Publication Distribution System (OPDS). Go Read has catalogs for Smashwords, Feedbooks, and ManyBooks already installed. The different catalogs will allow you to either search their collections or display books in various categories. The book download buttons appear at the bottom of the screen, and you are often forced to scroll down to see the book information as the cover of the book is usually displayed at the top of the screen.

Settings and Help

The final options consist of the various settings menus and the "Help" option, which launches the user guide. The Go Read settings option is located just below "Get Books from Other Catalogs," and it is simply labeled "Settings." There are two options in this menu. One is labeled "Directories," and it allows you to change the directory where various Go Read content is stored, such as Books. If you paste ePUB or DAISY books in the Books directory, they will appear in your downloaded books list. The other option is titled "About," and it provides a list of information about Go Read. The version number is displayed along with contact information for Bookshare, such as its website, e-mail address, and Twitter account.

After Go Read's "Settings," there are options to launch the accessibility and text-to-speech settings. These options are not specific to Go Read and launch the Android settings menus for both.

Quality of Reading

When you read a book using Go Read, the voice that you have selected in your main text-to-speech settings menu will be used. Therefore, even though TalkBack is not reading the book, it sounds as if it is because the voice that Go Read uses is the same that you have selected for TalkBack. When reading, you are not forced to press the "Next Section" button when you come to the end of a chapter or section. Go Read automatically moves to the next section.

When you close a book or switch from one book to another, your place in that book is retained for when you return to it. When you are reading a book, touching the screen will pause the book, and pressing the "Play/Pause" button will start it again. This way you can stop playback quickly without missing information as you search for the "Play/Pause" button. For this to be successful, you must touch at the bottom of the screen where the various buttons are located. The announcement of the button cuts off the speech. You can attempt to stop playback by touching the area where the text is located, but this does not always work whereas touching the button does.

There are a few issues with the gestures used to control Go Read. When you swipe right for the next section, the reading cursor is moved to the top of the current section where playback commences. The issue with this is that you do not actually move back a section as it simply takes you to the previous heading, which is the heading that you are currently in. To actually move to the previous section, you must swipe left or right twice quickly so that the cursor moves just as it is resting at the beginning of the current section. It is similar to the way older CD players work in which you have to press the skip backwards key twice to move back a track.

The Bottom Line

The Go Read app has progressed a great deal since our previous evaluation. The app has a simple interface that still provides a great deal of functionality. Reading is enjoyable and streamlined so that navigation is easily accomplished. There are a few minor issues with the app. Currently, it is impossible to navigate by word or character, which is a useful function when reading texts for school or work. Navigating backwards by section requires you to use the "Previous Section" gesture or button twice, which can be somewhat frustrating. Overall, the app is solid with few issues, and it is a stable and enjoyable option for reading books on Android.

Product Information

Product: Go Read 4.0.1
Price: Free
Available From: Benetech
Website: http://www.benetech.org/

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Access to books is an extremely important issue to those of us in the blindness community, and AccessWorld has devoted many articles over the years to the issue. This time, we take a look at the recently released NOOK app for the iOS platform from Barnes & Noble. Barnes & Noble is a bit late to the party when it comes to the accessibility of its e-book platforms, but it has definitely made an effort with the latest release, version 3.3, of the NOOK app. Although the NOOK tablet device is still inaccessible to people with vision loss, the accessibility improvements in this app are worth an investigation. This article provides a description of how to use the app with information included about the accessibility of the various features and functions of the app.

Barnes & Noble's NOOK app works with your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, and it is available for free in the Apple App Store. The app is a tool for accessing e-Books purchased from Barnes & Noble's Website or via the B&N Bookstore app, which we will also briefly discuss in this article.

Welcome Screen

When the app is opened for the first time, a welcome screen appears, consisting of the name of the app as well as some promotional text highlighting features of the app. Although that promotional text is not spoken by VoiceOver, it's not essential to moving forward. This screen's sole purpose is to link the app with your NOOK account, allowing you to always have your entire NOOK e-book collection at hand. You will only have to do this one time as long as your account remains logged in. The process consists of entering information, such as your country, and accepting the terms and conditions.

There are a couple of accessibility problems with this process. The first involves the checkbox for agreeing to the terms and conditions. When checking or unchecking the checkbox, VoiceOver reports the opposite of what actually happens. However, when simply using VoiceOver to read the status of the checkbox, it correctly reports its status. Secondly, the combo box where you select your country is inaccessible, so help from a person who is sighted may be needed. After the initial sign-in process, the app offers a tutorial for using the app. The tutorial uses headings and bullets while teaching the fundamentals of using VoiceOver with the app. The tutorial is helpful and well done, and the only minor issue is with Voiceover in that the bullets appear as separate elements, forcing you to swipe again to hear their corresponding text.

The Library Page

The Library page could also be referred to as the home page because it is where you would naturally begin to use the app. It lists all the books and magazines you have downloaded to the app, and you can simply double tap on a title to open a book. The Library also has a "Settings" button, a "Search" button for searching through your book titles, and a "Sync" button to download new books or magazines purchased from the Barnes & Noble bookstore.

Everything on the Library page is accessible with VoiceOver except for some minor details. There is an untagged NOOK graphic near the top of the screen that is ignored by VoiceOver, but that does not affect the usability of the app. Also, although VoiceOver does properly indicate when one of your books is a sample book, that indication disappears after you have opened the book and returned to the Library. Strangely, the indication reappears if you open a different sample book and return to your Library page.

The "Search" button on the Library page only searches through the books and magazines in your collection and does not search for new books to purchase. You use the Barnes and Noble Bookstore App to search for and purchase books, and we will discuss that app later in this article.

The Screen When Reading a Book

While in a book, the order of items on the screen is as follows: the book title, Add Bookmark (or Remove Bookmark if one already exists), Back to Library, Table of Contents/Bookmarks/Notes, Text Options, Brightness, Search, Information, and Page Information. All of these items are accessible with VoiceOver.

On the Table of Contents/Bookmarks/Notes page, there are three tabs across the top: Table of Contents, Bookmarks, and Annotations. Each of these tabs has an accessible text field and button for going directly to a particular page. In the Table of Contents tab, it lists the chapters and/or subsections of the book. You simply double tap on one of them to be taken to that chapter or section in the book. In the Bookmarks tab, it lists all your bookmarks. The bookmarks also include the page as well as contextual text. Lastly, the Annotation tab lists all your annotations (notes) throughout the book. They are listed, just as the Bookmarks, with the page number as well as the contextual text.

When selecting the "Text Options" button while reading a book, you are brought to a page for adjusting several settings, but the page can be confusing. Across the top of the screen are buttons for "Size," "Theme," "Line Spacing," "Margins," "Justification," and "Lock Rotation." Visually, the settings choices corresponding to each of those buttons also appear on the screen. However, with VoiceOver, you have to first activate one of the buttons to access its corresponding settings, and you can then swipe to the right to get to those settings. It can be confusing if you touch other areas of the screen instead of immediately swiping to the right because you may encounter settings that are not related to the button you have chosen. It is then also difficult to get back to your chosen settings because you have to explore by touch to find them instead of swiping back to them.

The size settings allow you to choose among six different font sizes. The sizes are extra small (7 point), small (11 point), medium (16 point), medium-large (20 point), large (24 point), and extra-large (28 point).

Reading a Book

Overall, Barnes & Noble has done a good job designing the reading experience on the NOOK app with several navigation options available to VoiceOver users. VoiceOver can read continuously through a book with brief pauses to indicate a page change. You can also slide your finger down the screen to read line by line. Additionally, the iPhone's rotor gesture, used to jump from element to element, allows you to read by characters, words, lines, or headings. You can also use a three-finger swipe left or right to move by page or use the Table of Contents/Bookmarks/Notes pages to quickly navigate to those elements of a book.

At the bottom of the screen, there is a navigation slider for quickly jumping several pages at once, but you cannot use VoiceOver to access that slider. However, VoiceOver can read the icon at the bottom of the screen, indicating the page number and the total number of pages in the book.

A powerful feature of the NOOK app is its Search tool, allowing you to search for any text in a book or magazine. The "Search" Button at the top of the screen brings you to a new screen with a text field and the onscreen keyboard. You enter your search string, and it delivers results by listing each search result along with its page number and contextual text. When a search result is selected, it goes to the page chosen with the text you searched for highlighted in yellow. However, VoiceOver does not begin reading at the text you have found. You have to navigate through the page to find your search term.

The Bookmark tool also works well. While reading, VoiceOver does not indicate that a page has been bookmarked, but you can always learn if there is a bookmark on the page because the "Add Bookmark" button changes to "Remove Bookmark" when a bookmark is in place. You can also go to the Bookmarks tab on the Table of Contents page to find your bookmarks as discussed earlier in this article.

Other functionality is also available when reading a book. If you double tap and hold on a word, a window pops up with four options: "Add Note," "Highlight," "Find," and "Look Up." Choosing "Add Note" allows you to write a note that would then appear in the Annotations tab on the Contents page. Choosing "Highlight" visually highlights the word which you double tapped. However, the highlight is only visual, and VoiceOver does not indicate that the highlight is there. Double tapping "Find" brings up a window with the other occurrences of the highlighted word elsewhere in the book along with contextual text and page number. "Look Up" brings up the definition of the highlighted word. If you look up a word for the first time, it will take you to a screen where it asks you to download a dictionary in the language of your choice. However, the process of choosing a dictionary and downloading it is inaccessible and sighted assistance may be needed.

Textbooks, Images, Page Perfect Books, and Footnotes

For those of you who are students looking for a platform to read your textbooks, the bad news is that the NOOK app does not yet support textbooks at all, regardless of whether you are using VoiceOver or not. If the NOOK app does eventually support textbooks, it will be interesting to see if all the elements of a complicated textbook will be designed to be compatible with VoiceOver.

Although VoiceOver does say the word "image" to indicate that you have encountered a photo or graphical image while reading, none of the books tested include any descriptive tags for their images. Barnes & Noble also sells what is called "Page Perfect" books with a layout that is designed to mirror the print book, including all images. However, although VoiceOver did read the text in the "Page Perfect" books tested, it ignored the images completely.

As for footnotes, they cannot be accessed while reading continuously, but they can be accessed by touching them at the bottom of the page. That sounds easy, but it can be difficult to find the footnote icon on the screen.

B&N Bookstore App

Although you cannot use the NOOK app to purchase books, Barnes & Noble has another app called B&N Bookstore, which is used for purchasing books. However, it has not been designed to be compatible with VoiceOver. The accessibility issues are too numerous to detail in this space, but it is safe to say that the Bookstore app is a real train wreck. If the people at Barnes & Noble do ever get around to making the Bookstore app accessible, there is one feature we found to be interesting and, potentially, very useful. It allows you to take a picture of a book with your iOS device and immediately purchase the book without having to search through the catalog.

Although the B&N Bookstore app is not accessible with VoiceOver, the process of searching and buying books online was accessible. We tested the process with VoiceOver and Safari on an iPhone as well as with JAWS and Window-Eyes on a PC using Internet Explorer and Firefox, and we had no problems with the entire process. Once a book is purchased online or via the B&N Bookstore app, all you have to do is go to your NOOK app and activate the "Sync" button on the Library screen, and the book will show up on the Library page.

Low Vision Accessibility

With its options for choosing the text size, font, and theme along with the brightness-level control, the NOOK app does a good job of accommodating readers with low vision, especially those using the iPad with its larger screen. The NOOK also works well with the iOS devices' built-in Zoom feature, so you can make the text as large as you need it to be.

For people with low vision using VoiceOver, the latest versions of the iOS operating system do allow you to use VoiceOver and Zoom at the same time. There is no cursor to follow along with the speech when reading continuously, but when navigating by one of the rotor elements, the entire line containing the element is bordered by the VoiceOver cursor. However, when navigating by line or words with the rotor during testing, the VoiceOver cursor bordering the line would sometimes disappear.

The Bottom Line

Although Barnes & Noble definitely has some work to do to improve accessibility and usability, the NOOK app is certainly another effective tool we can use for reading books on our iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. We would like to see access to textbooks as well as access to photos and other images with future versions, and we would like to see improvement to the accessibility of the B&N Bookstore app. Of course, we would also like Barnes & Noble to begin to address accessibility on its NOOK tablet device.

Product Information

Products
Barnes & Noble Nook app and B&N Bookstore App
Price: Free
Available from:
Apple's App Store on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch

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Getting a new cell phone is a bit like moving into a new place. While you may be generally happy with your decision, there will inevitably be some tweaks and improvements you will make to turn it into your own. Today's Android devices are no exception, and with over 600,000 apps available to download from Google Play, there are a lot of possibilities. Below, I've attempted to round up some of the most popular and useful apps for your new phone or tablet, including a mix of old standbys and some lesser-known programs for both new and advanced users.

The apps listed below have been tested with Android 4.2 on a Nexus 7 tablet. Most will work with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich or newer while some of them will also be compatible with older versions. If purchasing a new device, Android 4.1 or greater is highly recommended. See the AccessWorld review of Android 4.1 on the Nexus 7 to learn more. Links to download each app are included below the description.

Dropbox

One of the first apps I install on any new device is for the popular file storage service Dropbox. For those not familiar, Dropbox allows you to store documents, music, and other files online, providing easy sharing between multiple devices. A free account gives you two gigabytes of storage, and you can purchase or acquire more space through a variety of means.

In addition to the usual benefits of using Dropbox to move files between multiple machines or share documents with coworkers or friends, this provides for an easy way to install apps or copy music onto your device. On Android, no special software is required to load your favorite songs or ringtones onto your phone, so you could just use Dropbox to enhance your music library. The Dropbox app was one of the first to be almost completely accessible, and the latest version still uses a simple layout and is easy to navigate with speech or braille.

• Download Dropbox on Google Play

Social Networking

For social networking, both Twitter and Facebook have redesigned their apps in recent months, resulting in more accessible versions. If you prefer to use a third-party solution for Twitter, however, try out Plume. While there are many programs which let you keep up-to-date on Twitter and tweet to your friends, I like Plume because of its "keep it simple" approach. It includes the features you would expect from a full-fledged Twitter client without a lot of the bloat of some other programs. Some of the icons are unlabeled, but in general, you can use the surrounding context or a little bit of trial and error to figure out what they are.

• Download Plume for Twitter from Google Play

Hi-Q MP3 Voice Recorder

Like most computers, the built-in audio recording functions on Android leave a bit to be desired. This can be overcome by downloading the Hi-Q MP3 Voice Recorder, a simple app which lets you record to a high-quality MP3 file. I contacted the developer who, then, quickly added labels to the buttons in the app, making it quite simple to use. The free version limits your recordings to 10 minutes each, or you can purchase the full version for unlimited recording.

• Download Hi-Q MP3 Voice Recorder (Lite) from Google Play
• Download Hi-Q MP3 Voice Recorder (Full) from Google Play

Google Goggles

Google Goggles is one of the simplest apps for object recognition. I use it to recognize packages of food and currency among other things. It also includes some simple text recognition, handy for getting the name or number off of a business card. Plus, your previous searches are saved, so you can go back later and review previous results.

• Download Google Goggles from Google Play

TripIt

I've written previously about some of my experiences when traveling independently, and several apps are quite useful to me in these situations. One of my favorites is TripIt, a way to organize your upcoming flights, hotels, and other travel information. After signing up on the TripIt website, you can forward your travel reservations to plans@tripit.com. TripIt automatically parses these messages to find all of the important information about your trip, which you can then view in the app. Use it to see flight numbers, airline gates, reservation numbers, flight status, and much more.

• Download the TripIt Travel Organizer free from Google Play

Ideal Group Reader

While traveling, you may want some reading material. AccessWorld reviewed two solutions for reading Bookshare titles previously, and now there is another accessible program from the Ideal Group. The Ideal Group Reader reads several ePub formats and includes a variety of accessibility tools. You can use gestures to move through the book, spell important words, or navigate the table of contents. It also includes a direct link to some popular free and paid book sources, including Project Gutenberg and O'Reilly Media.

• Download Ideal Group Reader from Google Play

Text-to-Speech Voices

Also, Android has a variety of text-to-speech voices available on Google Play, which may be quite useful for reading books. Voices from Ivona, Acapela, Svox, and eSpeak (among others) are available for free or just a few dollars. You could use one voice for your normal day-to-day tasks and another for reading long books.

For most of these voices, you will need to download an app for the voice engine, such as Ivona, and then download individual voices. Each app provides instructions on how to obtain their specific voices.

• Download Ivona Text-to-Speech HQ from Google Play
• Download Classic Text to Speech Engine for Svox Voices from Google Play
• Download Acapela TTS Voices from Google Play
• Download eSpeak TTS from Google Play

Podkicker Podcast Client

If audio entertainment is more your cup of tea, try out Podkicker, a free podcast client. It allows you to download episodes of your favorite audio broadcasts, including everything from NPR to ESPN. Many podcasts dealing with blindness-related issues are also available for listening. Download your favorites before you leave on a trip, so you can listen to them on the plane without an Internet connection.

• Download Podkicker Podcast Player from Google Play

TuneIn Radio

TuneIn Radio lets you listen to thousands of terrestrial and online radio stations. You can search for stations in several ways, including by genre and stations near your location. It also allows you to listen to podcasts and save your favorite stations for easy listening.

• Download TuneIn Radio from Google Play

Lookout Security and Antivirus

Finally, if you've ever had that sinking feeling when you misplaced your phone and didn't know where it was, download Lookout Security and Antivirus for some peace of mind. In addition to virus checking and general security features, the app includes a service that will help you locate your lost phone by logging into the Lookout website. Easily use GPS to locate your device or choose to have it emit a loud sound so you can locate it. While Lookout offers a premium service, most features, including the lost phone recovery, are available with a free account.

• Download Lookout Security & Antivirus from Google Play

Conclusion

These are just a few of the many accessible apps available for Android. Of course, there are thousands more available on Google Play for you to try. It's also worth noting that Google offers a 15 minute refund window for purchased apps, so you can download an app and do a quick look through to see if it appears to be accessible and get a refund if it seems to not work well. If you find an app you think is particularly useful or cool, send us a note. We'd love to know about it.

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During the last week of February, an estimated 3,000 to 4,000 people attended the 28th Annual International Technology and Persons with Disabilities Conference held at the Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego. CSUN is the largest gathering of industry professionals, teachers, technology vendors, researchers, and others interested in access technology in the field, and companies often use the conference as a launching point for their latest products and services.

This year, we spent three full days in the exhibit hall attempting to soak in all that CSUN had to offer. While it's virtually impossible to see and try everything that was being shown, we'll do our best to highlight some of the most promising and latest innovations shown at this year's conference. AFB also sponsored audio podcasts provided by Blind Bargains, and we've linked to relevant audio interviews and demonstrations throughout this article, which you can listen to for further information.

The Accessible TI-84 Plus Graphing Calculator

One of the biggest innovations to be displayed on the hardware side was the Accessible TI-84 Plus Graphing Calculator. The American Printing House for the Blind has collaborated with Orbit Research, makers of the iBill Money Identifier and the Orion Scientific Calculator, to create a fully-accessible version of this popular mainstream device, which is nearly ubiquitous in high schools. This is accomplished by attaching a small hardware keypad on the end of the calculator which provides a DECTalk speech chip and software to control the audio output. Graphs can be represented in several ways, the most notable being an audio mode where the X and Y axes are represented by panning from left to right and pitch, respectively. Graphs can also be sent to a braille embosser or be represented numerically. Basically, all of the regular buttons on the calculator work as expected and give accessible output. In addition, haptic feedback is included as an option and may be utilized for a variety of functions. This model was chosen, in part, because it is allowed to be used when taking standardized tests. The calculator is being tested now and should be available later this year. Pricing information is not currently available.

A New Victor Stream

HumanWare was demonstrating its second generation Victor Reader Stream, an update to the hugely popular digital book player. The device is roughly 30 percent smaller than the original unit but retains a virtually identical button layout, making it simple for users to transition to the newer model. Among the included improvements is an 802.11N Wi-Fi chip, which is largely included for future enhancements. Currently, one can download firmware updates and National Library Service keys using a wireless connection, but free firmware updates will likely include ways to download digital book content as well. HumanWare has also addressed a couple of the main criticisms of the original Stream by including a clock and allowing for USB charging, the latter meaning that a dedicated proprietary power supply is no longer required to charge the unit. Acapela now provides the text-to-speech voice for the unit providing higher-quality speech though the recorded prompts are still used as well. Of note, due to a decision by Audible, support for the popular audiobook service is currently not included, but since Audible appears to be changing course, this could change in the near future. The new Stream retails at $369 and is available now.

Accessible GPS Returns to Mobile Devices

As Nokia and Windows Mobile phones were phased out, many users lamented the loss of fully-accessible GPS solutions, including Wayfinder Access and Mobile Geo. While turn-by-turn navigation from Navigon and Google and a patchwork of location apps filled some of this void, the search for a full-featured accessible GPS solution for modern cell phones continued. This is quickly changing, however, as the American Printing House for the Blind and the Sendero Group are in the process of releasing apps for Android and iOS devices.

APH recently released Nearby Explorer, a completely accessible GPS app originally created for the BraillePlus 18 PDA and, now, released for Android phones and tablets. Users can learn contextual information about what is around them, such as the current street name, nearest intersection, and nearby points of interest, provided by a local database and Google Places. While traveling, items can be selected to be spoken automatically, so the phone or tablet can be stored in a pocket. In addition to pedestrian and vehicular navigation, it includes support for many public transit agencies, allowing for browsing through the nearest bus and train stops and gaining route and stop information. Points of interest, whether on a street or in the middle of a field or parking lot, can be saved as favorites and returned to later. A Geo Beam feature allows you to point your device in a specific direction to hear nearby streets or points of interest. The map data is stored directly on the device, allowing for use in areas where there is no phone or data coverage. It's available now for $99 from Google Play.

iOS users also have a navigation app to look forward to with Sendero's Seeing Eye GPS, a collaboration between the Sendero Group and the Seeing Eye. Sendero is no stranger to the GPS landscape and is bringing some of its most loved and requested features to the mobile platform. Your current location, points of interest, and route are always present on the lower part of every screen. In addition to traditional map and points of interest data, the app features integration with the popular Foursquare location service to provide the latest information about nearby businesses. The Look Around Wand is similar to the Geo Beam feature described above and will speak nearby intersections and points of interest. It does not currently include virtual navigation features, but the version shown at CSUN and sent to testers as a preview is still being worked on. User feedback and suggestions will help guide the development of the app, according to Sendero.

Both GPS apps are currently focusing on maps from North America, but support for additional regions will likely be added in the future.

More Mobile Apps

As in recent years, there was no shortage of mobile apps at this year's conference. Sight Compass lined the hotel with their Bluetooth-enabled information boxes, which could be accessed using a free iPhone app. Users could use the app to gain information about the hotel, including routes to various locations, the menu for Starbucks, even a description of the bathroom. The app requires no phone or Internet connection, a conscious decision by the developers so it could be used in places where phone reception is often difficult, such as basements and airports. Additional platforms for the app, including Android, Windows, and potentially Blackberry, are planned. Cost starts at $499 for a hardware box for businesses or organizations who wish to equip their locations with the technology.

LookTel showed an updated version of their Breadcrumbs GPS app, used primarily for locating or returning to a point such as your front door or a parked car. A new VoiceOver tutorial app was also shown. In addition, The Braille Institute demonstrated several free apps including Big Browser, a web browser designed especially for low-vision iOS users.

New Low-vision Products

Optelec has joined the trend of companies adding voice output and reading capabilities to their desktop electronic magnifiers. The ClearView Speech, a new add-on for the ClearView magnifier, features full-page OCR capabilities. Simply place your printed material under the screen, and it will be recognized within a few seconds. The entire page is recognized and can be read as opposed to just the content that is visible on the screen. The ClearView Speech will be available for $2,495.

AI Squared took a different approach and has entered the computer-based reading market with the ImageReader, a document camera solution that interfaces directly with ZoomText or another screen reader. When used with ZoomText, text is highlighted as it is read and magnified and can be manipulated in a variety of ways. A mat is included to aid in lining up the page to be read. The ZoomText ImageReader retails starting at $749, but a significant discount is available for current ZoomText users. It will be available later this March.

New Updates for the BrailleSense Family

Hims made a big splash with its updates to the BrailleSense line of notetakers. The new free update, version 8.0, includes integration with the popular Dropbox, a cloud-based storage service. In addition, direct support for playing YouTube videos has been included as well as a viewer for Microsoft Excel 2003 and 2007 files. Support for sending files directly to Epson printers and an RSS reader for keeping track of online news sites and downloading audio podcasts is also included in the forthcoming release. Hims tells us that an initial version of the 8.0 update should be released near the end of March.

Other Observations

In addition to myself, several members from the AFB staff attended the conference as well as some of the sessions. We've included their observations below, starting with a report on a session on emerging web technologies:

Account from William Reuschel, AFB Tech National Technology Associate

HTML5, like any other emerging technology, is making its way towards maturity but isn't completely supported in any browser for any user agent (screen reader or not). Unfortunately, like most technology, considerations for accessibility are lagging behind feature implementation in HTML5 for all browsers and platforms. However, there are some promising features of HTML5 that will increase accessibility once the technology improves. These new features are user interface elements and other semantic markups that will allow the screen reader to capture more information about the design intent of the page being viewed. There are tags such as "article," "header," and "nav," which would allow users to skip directly to the navigation section of the page or skip directly to the article or main content of the page. In addition, there are a few new UI elements that are being implemented that will replace custom implementations in another language, such as JavaScript. These are things like "meter," which will show a gas-gauge type element that could be used to show progress, or "video" or "audio" tags that allow closer integration of multimedia elements within a page. All of these new features will help web programmers, screen reader developers, and users because there will be a standard set of UI elements to expect instead of hundreds of custom implementations in a persnickety language like JavaScript. This all depends, of course, on whether or not we can get anyone to conform to a standard on the Web. The presenter created a website (last updated in September) of all the major browsers and the status of HTML5 accessibility.

Account from Crista Earl, AFB Director of Web Operations

There was a great interest and a great deal of work being done to increase access to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). This ranged from clearinghouse style websites on the subject to lab-ready accessible testing equipment, XML markup of math, and tactile diagrams of many kinds. I was excited to see so much attention and so much innovation. The access for people with visual impairments is still fairly rudimentary. My impression is that a student who is blind majoring in chemistry or engineering will still have to do a huge deal of extra work to gain access to materials and to do the hands-on aspects of the research or job, but the possibilities seem much more open now than at any time in the past.

The forecast of the demise of braille is clearly premature. Braille was available in plentiful array for every platform, nearly every device, and in a more achievable price range than ever before. Devices were even available in designer colors! I saw a number of new enhanced displays, braille input, and teaching systems, all cheaper than last year (still mostly over $1,000 and many way above) and in cell lengths of 12, 14, 20, 24, 32, 40, 60, 65, and 80 (though I probably missed a few). These two trends don't seem unrelated to me as much of the access to STEM topics was based at least partly on tactile access, including braille. It was just a couple of years ago that the devices took CSUN by storm, and now the mobile devices in general, mainly Apple and Android, were everywhere and generally treated as part of the backdrop for all else being done. Braille displays everywhere were being demonstrated with iPads and other mobile devices.

Conclusion

With so many exhibitors, including over 70 with products or services geared toward the blindness and low vision market, it's impossible to cover the full CSUN conference. In addition to the coverage from Blind Bargains, the SeroTalk Podcast Network also recorded a variety of interviews at the conference which are available through the iBlink Radio app (and will be available soon on their website). Finally, we recommend checking out The Great Big List from the 2013 CSUN International Technology and Persons with Disabilities Conference presented by Christopher Phillips. It's the most comprehensive collection of resources, presentation slides, media coverage, and links for this year's conference. And perhaps all of this talk of new and exciting technology will whet your appetite to attend CSUN in San Diego next year, which is scheduled for March 17–22, 2014. However, if you're not able to make it, you can read all about it in AccessWorld.

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