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May 25, 2010
Optelec ClearReader+ – Reading with a difference
Filed under: Learning, Reading Machine, Visual — techeditor @ 11:57 am
The Optelec ClearReader+ is a high tech reader with which a visually impaired and a learning impaired person can read any kind of printed material. Now, reading letters, magazines, novels, newspapers, etc will no longer be a complex task. With Optelec ClearReader+ you can carry out these actions without any difficulty.
ClearReader+ comes with a smart convenient design that is easy to use, has high quality multi-lingual speech output and includes fast text recognition. By a single press of a button you can read whenever you want without any trouble.
This smart and stylish ClearReader+ has a high quality stereo sound with easy to change reading language and reading voice.
Optelec ClearReader+ has external buttons and controls like play, stop backward, forward, speed, scan, volume and on/off. With the help of these buttons and controls it will become very easy for you to operate ClearReader+.
Features:
- Camera – State of the art, high resolution, 5 megapixel camera enables it to read clearly to you.
- Text Recognition – It has an amazing multi-lingual text recognition quality.
- Battery and Power – Integrated Li-ion battery for 5 hours continuous use.
- Portability – Foldable carrying handle.
- Audio output – Either through headphones or built-in stereo speakers.
- Languages – Up to 4 selectable languages available.
- Size and Weight – The weight of this product is not too heavy and can be carried anywhere easily. The size is just appropriate to fit it on a study desk.
For demos and sales contact : sales@barrierbreak.com
No CommentsMay 4, 2010
Dolphin EasyConverter – Tool to create alternate formats
Filed under: Alternate Formats, Digital Talking Books, Learning, Print Disability, Visual — techeditor @ 2:22 pm
EasyConverter is a tool by Dolphin to create alternate formats (altformat) of either printed documents or Microsoft Word, PDF, HTML or text files to large print, Braille, MP3 and Digital Accessible Information System (DAISY) versions.
EasyConverter is a good option for people who do not have an altformat creation experience. A teacher can help his/her students with visual and learning impairments to cope up in their studies by converting the printed documents and text files into altformat versions.
The interface of EasyConverter software presents easy to use icons which have the options of Scanning, choosing to convert an already saved Word or PDF file, options of altformats, a conversion button and a saving the converted file button.
The altformats which are created by EasyConverter are:
- Large Print: Helps you make the text in your document larger for easy viewing.
- MP3: Converts text into audible files of MP3 frmat which can be heard in any media player.
- Braille: Converts text into Braille for the blind.
- DAISY: Converts text into Digital Talking Books.
EasyConverter has Optical Character Recognition Editor (OCR) application known as the OminPage. This OCR editor makes scanning PDF and printed documents more precise and simpler.
Also included with EasyConverter, is Dolphin EasyReader is a digital talking book player. EasyReader makes it possible for users to listen and read content with the help of a combination of speech, images and text. Use the EasyConverter and help your students educate themselves in a simple manner.
So, if you have this product in mind, do write to us to give it a try at: sales@barrierbreak.com
No CommentsMay 3, 2010
Easy Tutor – Learning made Easy
Filed under: Alternate Formats, Assistive Technologies, Learning — Webmaster @ 10:38 am
In today’s time, the world is moving so fast that it is like a rat race for children to get hold of the cheese called success. If the child has a difficulty in acquiring knowledge which the parents want him/her to, then the child may have a reading or a writing disability.
There are many ways to ease the difficulty of reading and writing and one of them is through Assistive Technology.
Dolphin’s revolutionary product called Easy Tutor is a software that makes it simple for the person with learning disability, especially with Dyslexia, to read, write, spell and understand printed material in Microsoft Word, Excel and Internet Explorer.
Every feature on Easy Tutor makes sure that the person is exposed to each and every part of the page displayed on the computer screen.
Some areas in the English language like Homophones (words which sound the same but spell and mean different) and Spellings, can be identified and understood by a single click on Easy Tutor.
Easy Tutor will suggest words of the English language to you when you are typing, through an option called Predict.
Easy Tutor can also Scan your printed documents in Microsoft Word. You can read or convert and save it in your computer as any readable file format.
Finished typing? Don’t worry through Easy Tutor you can record your entire text into an Audio File (.wav) to listen to it whenever and wherever you want. The Audio Quality of this software is very clear and simple to understand.
Want to read in PDF files, Easy Tutor has an option to convert MS Word documents to PDF files too. You can also choose different colours to change the colour of your computer screen to view it in a better way.
Easy tutor also has a Help and Settings option which will assist you into understanding its features and make use of them effectively. You name it and the service is just a click away on Easy Tutor.
For demos and sales contact : sales@barrierbreak.com
No CommentsApril 26, 2010
Clevy Keyboard – Use the Computer the Colourful Way
Filed under: Learning, Mobility, children — Webmaster @ 11:39 am
The Clevy Keyboard is a brilliantly designed adaptive keyboard that makes it possible for children, people with learning disabilities and people with mobility impairment to use a computer in a simpler way.
The lively colours of the keys will attract any person’s attention towards it. With the help of the Clevy Keyboard, your child will also get familiar with computers in an educational manner.
On of the features about the keyboard is that the keys are four times bigger with bigger characters which are quite easy to identify. They are also very soft hence they can be pressed easily.
Gone are the days of ebony and ivory, the colourful keys of the Clevy Keyboard are displayed on a white background so that the focus remains on them.
When you will look at a Clevy Keyboard you will see that the keys are all categorized in different colours. Example:
- The Punctuation Keys like full stop, comma, question mark, brackets, etc. are in Orange colour.
- The Function Keys like Shift, CTRL, ALT, Enter, Backspace, Capslock, windows are all in Green colour.
- The Consonants are in Deep Blue colour but the Vowels are in Light Blue colour.
- The Numbers are in Red colour.
The Clevy Keyboard is strong and sturdy with smooth and curved edges unlike the usual keyboards and it also has a USB cable cord which can be connected to your laptop or to your computer.
For demos and sales contact : sales@barrierbreak.com
No CommentsJanuary 14, 2010
Accessibility Knowledge Series VII – Introduction to Augmentative and Alternative Communication
Filed under: Accessibility Knowledge Series, Assistive Technologies, Elderly, Learning, Speech — @ 5:49 pmAugmentative and alternative communication (AAC) is any method that supplements or replaces speech and writing when these are temporarily or permanently impaired and inadequate to meet all or some of a person’s communication needs. AAC methods allows the user to perform that which is most human – thinking, dreaming, and planning and are effective ‘tools’ to communicate and access the environment. The users include persons with special needs and elderly.
AAC may be unaided, or aided, involving high and low technology. The array includes a simple non-tech alphabet board for spelling or display made with picture symbols and whole words, while the user just point to the symbols to frame a message. On the other hand there are software and hardware systems where the user gets support with the framing of the message (eg. word prediction), and a speech output for that message is generated.
AAC systems and voice output aids are common in the west but have been recently introduced in India. The National Resource Centre for AAC housed at Indian Institute of Cerebral Palsy (IICP) and Vidyasagar, Chennai are working in the area of research and development of AAC aids in collaboration with premier technical institutes such as IIT Kharagpur and IIT Chennai. The India Chapter of International Society for AAC has also been formed recently to take forward the movement for AAC and AT for communication in the country. The concern is to develop AAC systems that are affordable and culturally appropriate for our country.
References:
- Alant, E. (1996) Alternative and augmentative communication in developing countries: Challenges for the future. Alternative and Augmentative Communication, 12.
- Kaul, S. (2002) Silent Voices: Proceedings from the International Conference on Augmentaive & Alternative Communication, Disability and Human Rights.IICP, Kolkata.
This Accessibility Knowledge Series has been provided by Swati Chakraborty
Co-ordinator, National Resource Centre for AAC, Indian Institute of Cerebral Palsy
Disclaimer: The views expressed herein are solely those of the author as an individual with interest in accessibility and assistive technology and do not claim to represent those of Techshare India, BarrierBreak Technologies or Net Systems Informatics.
Contribute
Got an idea/product that would bring a change for persons with disabilities? Send it across to techshare@barrierbreak.com
December 3, 2009
Its World Disability Day Again!
Filed under: Assistive Technologies, Elderly, Hearing, Learning, Mobility, Techshare India, Uncategorized, Visual — Shilpi Kapoor @ 2:41 pmWhere does education and the use of technology stand? A perspective on World Disability Day!
Its World Disability Day again, and where do we stand with regards to education and the use of technology? Though we have seen progress with the education of persons with disabled, we haven’t seen assistive technology play a role in their progress.
My perspective is that we have a long way to go.
I have met people with cerebral palsy who might benefit with a communication device or then struggles to use a mouse, but won’t adapt to a switch.
I have met people with low vision who can manage with magnification support but are forced into using a screen reader because no one would guide them and evaluate their needs.
I have met hearing impaired whose are so weak in their communication skills that they could use word prediction software to better their communication skills. So where does the gap lie?
Often the statements I hear are that I don’t want to use assistive technology or adaptive technology because:
- I don’t want to be different from “others”
- I didn’t know this product could help me
- I don’t know where to buy this from or it is too expensive
Let me break some of these myths today.
A person using spectacles and another wearing contact lenses are different from each other. The question I ask is so what if you are different?As long as you can be effective as any other person why should you worry about “so called tags”. If using an assistive technology gives you speed and efficiency, use it!
Educationist, government, assistive technology companies, need to come together to create awareness about assistive technology products and independent living aids.We need to not only have this information available, but we need to work on evaluation methodologies to choose the best assistive aid for the person.
We need to work with government and assistive technology companies to understand the needs of the Indian disabled population and the price points that will make things affordable and thereby accessible to all.
We need to work with the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment and to evaluate the ADIP scheme. In addition, we need to work with the Ministry of Human Resource Development to ensure that there are evaluation and implementation processes in place to assist the persons with disability to move forward!Visit the Exhibition at Techshare India 2010 on February 15-16th, 2010 to see a lot of assistive technology that can empower the disabled people!This article has been provided by Shilpi Kapoor, Managing Director, BarrierBreak TechnologiesDisclaimer:The views expressed herein are solely those of the author as an individual with interest in accessibility and assistive technology and do not claim to represent those of Techshare India, BarrierBreak Technologies or Net Systems Informatics. No Comments
November 19, 2009
Accessibility Knowledge Series II – DAISY: Books Which Every One Can Read!
Filed under: Accessibility, Accessibility Knowledge Series, Alternate Formats, Assistive Technologies, Daisy, Elderly, Learning, Mobility, Print Disability, Visual — Shilpi Kapoor @ 2:17 pmDAISY: Books Which Every One Can Read!
Any one who has a problem in reading a normal print book can read the book prepared as a DAISY Book. Persons with blindness, low vision, Dyslexia, Learning Disability or those who cannot use both hands due to any disability and thus are not able to hold a book and turn pages can benefit from DAISY Books.
Types of DAISY Books:
- Master document that can be used for creating Braille, large print or DAISY Digital books. These are also called DAISY-xml documents.
- Audio Only DAISY Books: These are advance and new generation talking books.
- Full Text full audio DAISY Books: While listening the books, you can also view the text of what is being spoken.
- Text only DAISY Books: You will need to have a mobile phone or computer or a DAISY Player with Text to speech engine to read such DAISY Books.
Navigation in the book based on sentence, page, chapter or subsection is a unique feature of DAISY Books.
Another advantage of DAISY system is that once the source document is produced, Braille, talking book, large print or e-text versions of the book can be prepared with in minutes.
We can read these books on mobile phones, computers, CD players and dedicated DAISY Players. DAISY books are also available through internet or telephone based libraries.
We can produce DAISY Books using special software for production of DAISY Books. Many of these software are available free of cost. Some of these are sold by companies such as Dolphin Computer Access, Innovative Rehabilitation Technology Inc or Plextalk.
For information on DAISY Forum of India and list of organizations visit: www.daisyindia.org. Bookshare India also provides text only DAISY Books to its members. Or send e-mail to dfi@saksham.org
Reference:
http://www.daisy.org
http://www.saksham.org
http://www.daisyindia.org
This Accessibility Knowledge Series has been provided by Dipendra Manocha, Director of the Regional Resource Centre (New Delhi), DAISY for All
Disclaimer:The views expressed herein are solely those of the author as an individual with interest in accessibility and assistive technology and do not claim to represent those of Techshare India, BarrierBreak Technologies or Net Systems Informatics.
Contribute
Got an idea that would bring a change for persons with disabilities? Send it across to techshare@barrierbreak.com
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