Tech chat 54, Thursday March 11 at 9PM Eastern, will outline many online resources for educational information. these will include tutorials, documentaries, dictionaries, books and more. so SAMNet members join us in the Tech Chat room,
or Via Accessible Event march 11 at 9PM Eastern.
Serotek today unveiled its newest product, the AE HotSpot, at the 2010 ATIA conference in Orlando, FL. This revolutionary appliance, based on the same technology as Serotek’s Web-based Accessible Event service, gives people with disabilities access to classroom presentations, seminars, and other events. For the first time, people who have hearing or visual impairments can take full advantage of all aspects of any online or on-site event/presentation.
By leveraging our Accessible Event platform and secure wireless networking technology, Serotek’s AE HotSpot appliance allows event participants with disabilities to access slides, Excel spreadsheets, Web pages, and Word documents using their own wireless-enabled computers and access technology in real time. With the AE HotSpot, an event can be accessed from the Internet if the event coordinator wishes, but an Internet connection is not necessary for on-site participants to have full access to the event. That’s because the AE HotSpot appliance is a completely independent WiFi access point. This allows the event coordinator and/or presenter to decide what content will and will not be available to the attendees. The self-contained nature of this appliance enables a closed, secure Intranet environment, regardless of whether Internet connectivity is available. However, where Internet connectivity is available, the event coordinator can configure the AE HotSpot appliance to provide wireless Internet access as well as access to the event. The AE HotSpot can also record all event content and publish it on a web site or intranet with no need to install additional software on the target server. This enables anyone to deploy an accessible recording of an event, even if they don’t subscribe to the Web-based Accessible Event service.
Serotek will release the AE HotSpot soon. Learn more about the AE HotSpot by watching this accessible presentation.
In SeroTalk Podcast 33, Michael Lauf and Ricky Enger discussed our dissatisfaction with
and their decision to remove voice navigation from pedestrian mode. We encourage everyone to
We also discussed:
Free Accessible Event accounts, good for up to three participants, through January 31, 2010
Free RFB&D keys available for use on the BookSense
NFB Access Technology Blog on the Consumer Electronics Show
RCA voice-activated remote with macros for $39 to be released this spring
We also did two segments on
Skype for Windows and the newly accessible ap for the iPhone
and finished by speaking with Dr. Robert Carter, one of fifteen staff psychologists at
Serotek Corporation demonstrates its continued commitment to providing accessibility anywhere at an affordable price with its build a bundle offering. Build A Bundle is an exclusive online offering which allows an individual to customize a package of Serotek products and services to specifically meet their financial and technical needs. With Build A Bundle, customers can choose from Serotek products and services such as the System Access screen reader, SAMNet content, and SAMNet Remote Training and Support. The package is billed on a monthly basis, and individuals can add or subtract services at any time in order to best suit their particular accessible digital lifestyle. “We believe that assistive technology should be as easily attainable by a consumer as a phone line or cable service,”, said Mike Calvo, CEO. “Now, with Build a Bundle, consumers can have accessibility on the go for less than the cost of a meal.”
Build A Bundle is available to Serotek customers who wish to add to their existing package, as well as to those who currently have no Serotek products or services. The default synthesizer for the Build a Bundle offering is the DECTalk TTS engine, and Neospeech and Eloquence synthesizers are available as one-time purchases which will remain a part of your account from the purchase point forward. For a limited time, Serotek is offering the Eloquence TTS engine for free with any Build a Bundle purchase. For those who don’t currently wish to purchase a Build a Bundle package but would like to use the Eloquence TTS engine with Serotek’s free System Access to Go service, Eloquence may be purchased for $40, a portion of which will be donated to the Accessibility is a Right (AIR) Foundation.
Building a bundle is easy. Existing customers may log in to their accounts through System Access to Go, or from the Serotek software installed on their computer. Those who do not currently have an account may create one by launching
and choosing the “create a System Access to Go” account from the login screen. Once logged on, simply choose the “my account” option by pressing the modifier key plus the letter f, followed by the letter a. From the “my account” screen, choose the “build a Bundle” option and begin creating your customized package for affordable accessibility anywhere life takes you.
To see a list of frequently asked questions and a price list for Build a Bundle, read the Build a Bundle faq at
http://serotek.com/build-a-bundle-faq
Q1: What is Build A Bundle?
A1: Build A Bundle is a new, affordable way for anyone to have access to Serotek’s suite of products and services. With Build A Bundle, access to your Windows-based computers is now even more affordable than ever. No longer will anyone be excluded from the accessible digital lifestyle due to an inability to pay for expensive access technology. Select a combination of System Access screen reader licenses, SAMNet content, and remote access to your home PC, for your specific needs, and at a low monthly price.
Q2: Which products are included in Build A Bundle?
A2: The System Access screen reader, SAMNet, and SAMNet remote access to your home PC are included. Choose from one to five System Access installations, as well as access to the SAMNet interface and content. Need to access your home PC while on the road? You can do that, too.
Q3: Is there a minimum length of time that I must purchase my bundled services?
A3: Bundled services can be purchased on a monthly basis. You are only obligated to the services you choose for the time you have paid. There is no obligation to continue your services for any length of time beyond what you have paid for up front. As with all of our other services, there will be absolutely no refunds for unused time.
Q4: Can I add or subtract services in the middle of a billing cycle?
A4: You may add services to your bundle, and these will be prorated based on the time to your next billing cycle. At the next billing cycle, you will be charged the published cost for additional services. If you remove a service from your bundle, that service removal will not occur until the next billing cycle.
Q5: What are the costs for the Build A Bundle offerings?
A5: Here is a list of Build A Bundle charges:
System Access Seats (Monthly charge):
One seat: $9.95
Two seats: $15.95
Three seats: $19.95
Four seats: $24.95
Five seats: $29.95
System Access Mobile Network: (SAMNet):
SAMNet Content Only (No remote access): $9.95
SAMNet Remote Access (No Content): $9.95
SAMNet, Full Subscription: $14.95
System Access and SAMNet content come with DECTalk speech. Other speech engines are available at an additional cost.
Q6: What if I want additional speech engines or Document Scan? Can I get those in a Build A Bundle?
A6: Neospeech, Eloquence, and Document Scan are only available as one-time purchases. However, once you purchase any of these products, they will always be available to you for all future Serotek products and services. Please note that these one-time purchases only work with Serotek’s System Access, System Access mobile, and System Access Mobile Network and cannot be used with other non-Serotek products.
Q7: Can I install System Access onto a U3 smart drive with Build A Bundle?
A7: If you sign up for at least one System Access seat, you may set up a U3 smart drive. Please note that only one U3 smart drive can be active per account. Also, a seat can be used on either a computer or a U3 smart drive but not both at once.
Q8: I am already a Serotek customer. Can I build a bundle?
A8: Most Serotek customers can bundle additional services on top of existing products. For instance, someone who owns System Access can add remote access to his/her account, or an extra System Access license on a monthly basis. Similarly, a SAMNet only subscriber can bundle a System Access license on a monthly basis. Please see the next question for Software As a Service subscribers.
Q9: I am subscribed to Serotek’s Software As a Service. Can I build a bundle?
A9: Subscribers to the SAAS No Strings plan ($39.95/month) may change to a Serotek Build A Bundle at any time. However, it should be understood that in doing so, access to Neospeech and Eloquence synthesizers will be lost, unless subsequently purchased with the new bundle. SAAS subscribers in a 48-month contract ($24.95/month) may not change to Build A Bundle services.
Q10: What is the $25 activation fee?
A10: The activation fee is a one-time fee to start your bundled service. It will not be charged to you more than once, and if you build a bundle now, then cancel and come back and reactivate your service, you will not be charged this fee again.
Q11: I don’t understand how this works. Can someone walk me through building my bundle?
A11: In order to keep your costs as low as possible, Build A Bundle is strictly a self-service offering. Unfortunately, our customer service and support representatives are unable to assist you in building your bundle. All the information you will need to make your Build A Bundle purchase is contained in this document. If you are encountering problems with the Build A Bundle process, please
with a detailed explanation of the problem.
Q12: I’m ready to begin building a bundle. What do I do?
A12: If you have an existing Serotek account, please log in to
with your credentials, or launch the installed software on your computer. Once the software is running and you have logged in with your credentials, you may access the “my account” section by pressing the modifier key and the letter f, followed by the letter a. Note that the modifier key can be caps lock, insert, numpad 0, or scroll lock. From the “my account” section, choose the “Build a Bundle” option and follow the prompts.
Q13: I do not currently have a System Access to Go account. What do I do?
A13: To create your System Access to Go account, begin by closing any open screen access software. Press windows key+r to bring up the run dialog on your computer. Type www.satogo.com
and press enter. Follow the spoken prompts until you reach the login screen for System Access to Go. Once there, press the tab key until you reach the “create a free sAToGo account” button. Follow the prompts to create your account. Once your account has been created, follow the steps outlined in answer 12 in this FAQ to begin building your bundle.
In Podcast 30, Michael Lauf and Ricky enger discussed 5 gree games on Twitter, Free AllInPlay through December 31, affordable OCR for some symbian phones, dictation for the iPhone, and more. Michael Lauf spoke with
pastor, motivational speaker, Assistant Dean of Student Services, accessibility trainer, and creator of audio tutorials.
Power Online shopping tutorials for System Access, Window-eyes and Jaws.
Listen to SeroTalk Podcast 30 – online shopping Tutorials and Voice Dictation on the iPhone.
In SeroTalk Podcast 27, Ricky Enger and Michael Lauf talked about Google’s release of the
Android 2.0 Operating System for Cell Phones.
We discussed a review of the
Most exciting, is the inclusion of the free open source
Also discussed, was the ability to play WAV, 3GP and MP3 podcasts and stereo audio files on NLS Digital TalkingBook Players by creating a directory on a USB stick called “audio+podcasts”
Apple to launch smaller iPhone to support both Verizon and AT&T in Q3 2010,
and WhiteHouse.gov switches to open source Drupal web site creation software.
Michael Lauf reviews
Casper 5.0 Software to Back Up windows Before Its Too Late!
And we finished with an interesting interview with two blind Pastors:
Richard Wells in Simpsonville Texas,
John Dietrich in Arnold California.