vra conference assistive technology @ work
DESCRIPTION
VRA National Conference, Canmore AB 2012:In a digital age of gadgets, tweets, and mobilocity it can be difficult to sort out the frivolity to the function. We will delve into the latest Assistive Technology on the market, visit Accessibility issues and clean up the marketing clatter. You will leave with a strategy to help determine the benefits of AT for someone with a disability. There are a few key areas that disabilities can impact; vision, communication, cognition and movement. This session is a fun, practical and hands on introduction to what is available today to facilitate independence and increase functionality at work.TRANSCRIPT
Assistive Technology @ Work
Presenter: Carrie Anton
Assistive Technologist & Accessibility Specialist
VRA Conference 2012
Where Do We Work?
Programming
Finance
Project Management
IT
Analytics & Forecasts
Inventory Control
CAD/CAM
Administrative
Clergy
Construction/Labor
Medicine
Social
Services
Art
Music
Teaching
Architecture
Sciences
Sport
Assistive Technology
Any item, equipment, software or system
used to increase, maintain, or enhance
functionality & access.
AT is used to enhance or facilitate a skill or
area that has been impacted by a disability.
Assessment Process: (Joy Zabella)
Person > Environment > Task > Tool
What Do We Do at Work? Organize
Manage our Time
Write
Read
Communicate
Collaborate
Accessibility & AT Features Should
Built in to System Preferences
Designed to provide multiple, flexible ways to
access content
Accessibility Features for visual, keyboard &
mouse options, people with hearing loss
Standard Customization for what we see, how it
works and consistency
Windows 7 Ease of Access Center
Magnifier
High Contrast
Narrator screen reader
Remove Animations
Remove background images
Voice Recognition
On screen Keyboard
Sticky Keys
Toggle Keys (alerts Num,
Scroll, Caps)
Filter Keys (ignore hits)
Visual Alerts for sounds
MSN for chat
Tons of 3rd party AT AU
Types of Assistive Tech
Page
Microsoft Accessibility Tools
http://www.microsoft.com/en
able/products/windows7/
Windows 7 Ease of Access Center
Accessibility Features - Apple
Sticky Keys
Alternative Keyboard Layouts
Keyboard Shortcuts
Mouse Keys on numpad
Assignable Key & Mouse/Trackpad
Gestures
InkWell
Onscreen Keyboard
Character Viewer
Automator for Repeat Workflows
(Mouse/Trackpad Tasks)
Speech Recognition
VoiceOver
Text to mp3 converter
Zoom & Invert Colors
Cursor & Dock Magnification
Reverse Colour Contrast
Safari Reader
Finder Views, Spotlight Search
Talking Alerts, Calculator
http://www.apple.com/accessibility/
Accessibility Features - Apple
Flash Screen
Open & Closed Captions
QuickTime Recorder (signed videos)
iChat
FaceTime
Mono Audio Speak Selection
Assignable Backgrounds
Log in Items
Simple Finder & Spotlight Search
Dictionary & Thesaurus
Spelling & Grammar Checker
Word Completion
Text to mp3
Grapher, Calculator, Conversions
FaceTime & iChat
Video Recording
Universal Access Panel
No matter the platform there
are Tools
Organize
Lists
Agenda
Filing,
Procedures
Notes
Syncing &
Sharing
Mobility
COLOUR
S
h
S h a p e
p
e
L-I-N-K Ideas
Mind Maps Revolutionary Method of……
Note Taking
Group Brainstorming
Studying
Presenting ideas
More effective than linear
notes
MindView, Inspiration, Mind
Node, Personal Brain, etc.
“…the ultimate organizational thinking tool –
the Swiss army knife of the brain!” (Tony
Buzan, “the ultimate book of mind maps”, pg.
6)
16 Aspects of Business
Thinking
Sticky Notes
Windows: Open Sticky Notes by tapping the Start button. In the search
box, type Sticky Notes, and then tap Sticky Notes. Use a keyboard or
stylus to hand write.
Apple: Open the Apple menu, then select Stickies. If a blank note
doesn't appear, open the File menu and select New Note (or press
Command-N).
Time Management
Calendars/ Agendas
various views
Color coding
Alerts – visual or
auditory
Clocks/Watches
Colour Coded Calendars
File Systems & Syncing
Use Folders
Folder Sharing for
easy access
View Options
Customize Icons
Security Concerns
computers >
device
Writing
Typing/mouse use
Hand Writing
Recognition
Note Taking Systems
Spell Checkers
Dictionaries Grammar Checkers
Prediction
as you type it predicts the
rest, you choose from a list
Customizable vocabulary
some have Text to speech
WordQ, CoWriter
Mobile Devices built in
Auto Correct
Auto Capitalization
Double space = period
Connect your input device
(keyboard)
Sometimes default is off
Keyboards
More Alternatives
OS X Mouse use
On screen keyboard
Trackpad schemes
Multi finger gestures
Apple OSX
unique track pad
gestures
Voice Dictation
5 Main Considerations
Strong Voice Pattern
Train it – Patience
Speak Continuously
Consistent Hardware
Computer Knowledge Dragon Naturally Speaking –
Windows
Dragon Dictate – Apple
Mobile Apps (SIRI,
GoogleTalk, Dragon Dictate,
voice to text apps)
Hand Writing Recognition
Tablets
Computers
Mobile Devices
Apple OS X &
Windows 7 Home
Premium & higher
Windows Journal
Bamboo & Intuos
Pen Tablets
A Bamboo or Intuos
tablet connected to your
mac, you will find an Icon
labeled “INK” in your
System Preference
Windows install app.
More Note Taking Systems
Record, Listen, Share
SmartPens
LiveScribe
Scanning Pen
Digital Recorders
http://www.livescribe.com/en-us/
There’s an App for That!
NotAbility
NotesPlus
OneNote in MS Office
Audio Note
EverNote
Every platform
Other Writing Tools
Spell Check
Grammarly.com
Dictionaries
Ginger – phonetic spelling
Reading
Text to Speech
Text to Mp3
Magnification
eReaders
Braille
Screen Masking
Audio Books
Reading Pens & OCR Scanning
Dictionaries, Translators
Speaking Devices
Digital Recorders & mp3 players
Screen Readers & Text to Speech
All platforms, free & commercial
Consider what you want, where
Braille support
Application support
Usability (multiple fingers required)
Apple leads the way as far as Free built in on multiple
platforms (iPad, iPhone, computer)
Android developers are making an attempt but its not
consistent and everywhere (proprietary apps).
Windows Narrator is still there. 3rd party products like
JAWS, Window Eyes lead this feature rich category.
FREE – NVDA, SAToGO, Thunder, WebAnyWhere, VO
Read & Write Gold TTS video
Text to Mp3
Apple great feature - Convert to Speech using iTunes
(on an Apple computer)
Other text to mp3 conversion is done by 3rd party
Zoomtext 10
JAWS 13
Read & Write Gold
Kurzweil
Natural Reader Pro
Text Aloud
Premier Assistive
& more
OS X Services
Zoom & Colour Contrast video
Screen Masking
Read & Write Screen Masking helps focus attention
Customizing Appearance
Text Only
Slow internet
speed
Mobile devices
Certain
technologies
Only see certain
colours or contrast
Less Distracting
Change viewing
preferences in
browsers,
documents, mouse
& font size/color,
remove images
Other Reading Tools
Braille
Printer
Refreshable Braille
Display
Magnification
System
Other Reading Tools
Reading Pen Dictionary
OCR & Scanning
ClassMate Readers
Mp3 players
(Olympus DM-4)
Devices that Speak
ScanTel - identify bar coded items
DigiCite - electronic device that converts LED
displays to speech, works with telephone
consoles, measurement, recording and test
equipment, etc
TeleTalk - provides access to telephone console
indicator & message display information for blind
users
(from Compusult www.compusult.net
Communication & Information Access
Messaging – language is changing LOL
Aug Comm devices are portable & durable
Lower cost on things like iPad (Proloquo)
Collaborate – social networking, web
conferencing, captioning, chat, texting
Other Everyday CITs
InterpreType: Connect
2 Netbooks or devices
Video Messaging
Captions in Web
Conferences (Elluminate,
Adobe Connect)
Video Relay Service
Transcripts
IASL
E Buddy, Z4Mobile,
ZVRS,
Speak It app
AT Enhances the Workplace
Contribute To The Team
Give Value Added
A Voice & Expression
Deliver Creative
Innovative Results
Efficiency (speed)
Accessibility Benefits
Everyone
Trends
Horizon Report 2011 – trend in next 5
years are e-text, open source, mobile
Devices
Accessible eReaders
CAUTION: Free apps
-Difficult finding
support
Less Feature Rich
Need more apps to
do what a commercial
app can do
Tablets & Cell Phones
Great Functionality
Lower Cost
Portability
Touch Screen is
easier for many to use
Intuitive
Not a computer
replacement, yet
Mobile - Market Share
Android Devices
Most phones Android 2 &Tablets Android 3
Android 4 ice cream sandwich is expected to be the most accessible Android yet
Accessibility still is up to 3rd party developers Apps4Androd & Eyes-Free lead the way with their
IDEAL brand proprietary accessible apps
Many note taking apps are also available on Android as they are in IOS (EverNote, AudioNote, DropBox, etc)
Accessibility is not there yet
Android Accessibility
Built In
TalkBack – speaks
what you touch
sometimes
SoundBack –
makes a sound
when things are
pressed
KickBack – vibrates
when keys are
pressed
It’s a Start for Android
Voice Dictation
Auto Correct
Auto Capitalization
Double space = period
Connect your input device
(keyboard)
Default is off
Kickback, SoundBack
TalkBack
Apple IOS Accessibility
More IOS Accessibility
Holding home button
opens voice dictation for
certain commands SIRI or
not Siri
Features carry over the
entire device & most apps
Favorite iPad Feature (Speak
Selection video)
Accessibility Barriers to ALL AT
Inaccessible documents
JavaScript in apps
Inaccessible Flash
No Captions/Descriptions
created
Mouse exclusive control
(no keyboard access)
Accessibility Provides Equal Access
to:
Information
Space
Communication
The net & technology
Definition of Accessibility
At the most basic level, Accessibility is about
people being able to get & use content.
Practice of making online content & applications
usable by everyone
Appropriate design ensures that all users have
equal access to information & functionality
Is not about just digitizing or virtualizing
Why Be Accessible?
The right thing to do - Equal Opportunity to
education
Good for business – helps everyone not just
people with disabilities. Can’t afford not to be
accessible. Accessible content works on mobile
devices & computers
The Law
Employers Can…
Accessible Documents - using styles
(headings, Lists), Alt text for images, proper
use of tables, don’t rely on color to convey
info, chunking of info, captions/transcripts.
Plan ahead and make all spaces usable
(above standard)
Create respectful & accessible training env
(material, spaces, activities)
Adopt IT apps that are accessible (W3C)
Candidates Can
Be Honest.
What do you have?
What assists you best.
Offer testing on systems.
Be Patient: a process with you is
education & the employer/IT people
are mostly unaware of AT &
Accessibility
Skills
AT - Get it. Learn it, Use it.
in school & out there is funding
Skills
Type 40 wpm for office jobs
MS Office, Browser
E-mail Concepts (attachments, forward)
Types of Documents (DOCX, PDF, MP3)
Where You Save Things
Strategies for:
Easy, Interactive Communication Method
Reading method for the workflow
Note Taking System
Tech Best Practice in Seeking
Have an e-mail... That you check
Have a cell phone... That you answer
Figure out your Transportation issues
Clean Profiles (facebook, twitter, Flickr, YouTube).
Any answer impacts first impressions
They hire confident, skilled & personable people (disabled
or not)
Offer opportunities not criticism.
Your network is your advantage.
Opportunity Awaits
A pessimist sees the
difficulty in every
opportunity; an
optimist sees the
opportunity in every
difficulty.
Questions?
Thank You!
Carrie Anton
Assistive Technologist
Access to Students with Disabilities
Athabasca University
1200, 10011 109 Street, Edmonton, AB T5G 3J2
Ph: 780-421-2548
E-mail: [email protected] or