Mobile App Monday - Talk About Food

Working with a child with low vision or one that is having difficulty with language development, or just starting to learn and use words? Talk about Food may be helpful. This is a great tool to encourage early developing communication behaviors.

Select a vocabulary item and watch it animate across the screen to music using a high contrast background. When the music stops, you are provided with the option to “Talk About It” or “Finished”. Select “Talk About It” to access the built in communication display. The communication display can be configured to use up to 24 core words in addition to the target noun word.  Choose the “Finished” option to return to the food choices.

Want to learn more about it? Please visit:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/talk-about-food/id670652669?mt=8

Mobile App Monday - BigNames - Large-Text Contact List

"BigNames makes calling people in your contact list easy. Large, high-contrast text allows everyone (not just people with reduced vision) to easily browse names and select the correct number." -iTunes

Want to learn more? Please visit: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/bignames-large-text-contact/id305591358?mt=8#

New Trail at Lake Lemon Woods

The Sycamore Land Trust is announcing that a new trail is under construction at Lake Lemon Woods that will be designed for use by people with low vision. Directions to Lake Lemon Woods and the short announcement about this trail can be found at: http://sycamorelandtrust.org/lake-lemon-woods

Mobile App Monday - Jumbo Calculator

Jumbo Calculator for iPad is for anyone wanting the ease of use of a large buttoned calculator. The app looks just like a solar-powered large buttoned calculator. And while the solar panel doesn't actually charge, Jumbo Calculator succeeds at its main purpose: adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing, squaring and square-rooting.

For more information, visit: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/jumbo-calculator/id361121377?mt=8#

Mobile App Monday - Talkulator

For folks with low vision comes a mobile app that's a talking calculator with large buttons and is compatible with VoiceOver. This app also speaks the numbers in seven different languages--English, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and Dutch.

Check it out on iTunes preview at: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/talkulator-talking-calculator/id354890582?mt=8#

2011 Imagine Cup USA Winner is a Low-Vision Tool

Microsoft's 2011 USA Imagine Cup winners were revealed last week, with the top prize going to students from Arizona State University. David Hayden and Team Note-Taker won with their invention for helping students with low vision take their own notes in class. Note-Taker is a unique laptop- or tablet-ready camera with special software that magnifies and displays on screen what is being written on the blackboard. Students can then either write or type their own notes on their computer, which helps them retain the information being taught. Team Note-Taker will go on to represent the U.S. at the 2011 Imagine Cup's World Finals in July.

For a closer look at the Note-Taker, go to: http://www.sciencefriday.com/program/archives/201104155

For more information about Microsoft's Imagine Cup, go to: http://www.imaginecup.com/

Freedom Scientific releases JAWS 12

Freedom Scientific today announced the release of JAWS® for Windows version 12, including JAWS BrailleIn™, a powerful new feature that enables users who prefer typing in Braille to use contracted Braille in common Microsoft applications such as Internet Explorer and Word. JAWS 12 includes a new Virtual Ribbon feature which provides a fast way to navigate the Ribbon Menus that Microsoft uses in Office 2007 and Windows 7. JAWS 12 also replaces the Configuration Manager with a new Settings Center. The Settings Center allows easy access to all JAWS settings and includes a search box to instantly locate and adjust the desired settings.

The upgrade is an SMA release and can be downloaded as either 32-bit or 64-bit versions from the JAWS downloads page. DVD shipments to SMA holders and new product customers will commence on Nov. 2, 2010.