April Fools Day

This week, Jamie Pauls, Ricky Enger and Joe Steinkamp return with the top news stories of the week which include:

Introducing Gmail Tap

The Amazing Race to CSUN

The Biggest Note Taker Just Got Larger

Last year’s original G.T.O. Announcement

LSocial Media

Twitter gets an A+ in kindergarten classroom

3 Twitter Rumors and What They Could Mean for Brands

Twitter and Facebook degrade humanity, says Skype

Apple

Steve Jobs movie starring Ashton Kutcher is not a joke

Apple should dump the iPod Touch

New iPad ranked top tablet by Consumer Reports

6 Tips to Improve Typing on the iPad

AT

Effects Of Gesture Patents On Accessible Devices.

iTunes Hotkeys 1.0.0.0

Download the Braille version of the iPhone user guide here

Zello Brings Real-Time Group Chat to Your iOS Device

Say Zello To The World!                                                           

Hadley School for the Blind podcasts

Assistive Technology Movie Review – The Hunger Games

American Cancer Society Continues Information Accessibility Initiative

General Tech

Windows XP won’t give up top spot without a fight

Google Nexus tablet images leaked?

Dropbox doubles referral rewards, offers up to 32GB for those dripping in charisma

Mailbag

Hi Jamie et al. Just wanted to write in and say awesome job on Shows 100 and 101. I’ve been pretty busy and had some computer issues but I think those are all sorted out. It was great to re-live some of Serotalk’s early days. The podcasts have certainly changed quite a bit, and I thoroughly enjoy them all. I also want to tell you that I actually met Fred Rogers and got to sit in his lap. He was indeed a fantastic man with a very good way of speaking to children and families. He is certainly missed by all. Anyway, I look forward to many more of your excellent shows. I think SPN Radio is truly wonderful. Keep up the nice work!

Kind regards,

Jake Joehl, Illinois

Hi all,

I finally got into the 20th century and started listening to podcasts and one of the first was your 101st broadcast. Great job.

I first wanted to address the article you all mentioned about the boy getting a guide dog as he loses his sight.

I can’t talk directly about the GDB program to allow this to happen, but I do work for a guide dog school, Guide Dog Foundation, and I can say generally that all of the schools are looking for ways to expand their services because, let’s face it, funding is hard to find these days and whatever works, works. You can argue that this could, and I say could, not will, hurt the average blind guide dog handler, but whether it’s veterans, service dogs, dogs for kids with autism or whatever the program is, if it brings in money to support the entire program, that’s good. Believe it or not, some of these additional programs do benefit the average handler in that instructors learn new skills that can make guide dog use a better experience for all of us. That’s not just the company line either as GDF does have a program, America’s VetDogs, that trains service dogs and from that we’ve learned a lot about how to help people who are encountering additional disabilities to blindness.

All that said, is this idea of giving blind children dogs, either as pets or as guides, a good idea? I won’t professionally berate my colleagues at GDB, but honestly, no, it’s not, as guides anyway. Pets are a great idea, but why not just a pet dog? Pilot dogs did an experiment in the 1970’s with blind children getting dogs at age 11. The kids raised a litter of puppies donated by someone who demanded that the dogs be given to kids. The dogs were then matched, not necessarily with the kids who raised them, and all were trained to use them as guides. This worked only in a few cases where the parents were supportive. Only 2 of the kids, and I want to say there were around 6 kids involved, remained guide dog handlers after the first dog retired.

Any time you have people under age receiving guide dogs, you have that third factor of parents and other family members, not that this doesn’t happen with legal adults too, but we’re talking legal control with parents.

GDF does accept people who are 16 and in rare cases we make exceptions to that, but those applicants have to be mature and able to direct the dog. And yes, guys, you really do need to have the orientation part of O&M down before getting a dog because, and I wish I knew who said this, “You can get lost faster with a dog than with a cane.”

Enough about dogs. As you see I can go on and on forever about that subject.

Thanks for the tip about changing categories of people on Facebook. It is somewhat accessible but as with so many things on facebook, it’s clunky and not accessible from the mobile site. I did relegate many of those unfortunately chosen “friends” to “acquaintances” and make my viewing of Facebook much more pleasant. So giant thanks for that tip.

Love the podcast!

Jenine Stanley

Thanks guys and gals for that wonderful piece of comedy.  I always enjoy the content that comes from your company.  Keep up the great work!

Thanks,

Steven Whiteker

Comments on “The Biggest Note Taker Just Got Larger” ‹ SeroTalk — WordPress

Sue Ward

Wow have we come a long way in speech synthesizers. When I heard that how in the world could you understand that? It reminded me of keynote gold, and that old computer in the background with the loud fan, sounds like the kind of system I worked with in school in the 80s back in the days of MS dos. Windows is so much better along with NVDA and Window Eyes, along with the other screen readers that are out in the market, glad we have choices.

John Herzog

I purchased a GTO last year, and I love it! It is the best computer I’ve ever used. What’s most  impressive is that when it broke two days after I ordered it, Serotek was able to return the unit to me in an impressively short ten month time frame. I love the highly customized parts that cannot  be replaced anywhere else other than Serotek’s top secret headquarters. These last two months have been the most productive of my life. I owe it to Rusty Metals and Hew Morris who convinced me last year to purchase this product. I cannot wait to purchase the S.U.C.K.E.r, and I am pleased Serotek 

is continuing to innovate with the government money spent on this gadget. Now my only question is, when are you selling the speech upgrade you demonstrated as the GTO read its press release?

I’m familiar with various discussions you’ve had regarding braille in previous podcasts but haven’t had availability to respond.  I would argue that with the advancement of computer technology and the improvements in accessibility braille is more important than ever and cheaper to obtain long-term with the advent of electronic braille displays.  As I’m constructing this email I’m able to focus in on conversation without being distracted by speech because of my ability to read braille and make use of a display.  In a business meeting I can see many scenarios where braille will allow me to multitask more efficiently because I will be able to contribute to conversations while reading power points, checking emails, and performing other essential tasks as it relates to my occupation. 

It will be far less expensive to provide textbooks in braille as electronic displays are slowly becoming compatible with more devices. 

Finally, there are some real social advantages to making use of braille.  Students are becoming more mobile and completing their studies with multiple devices in varies places.  I think it would be fantastic if students were able to use a braille display as an avenue to keep up with their peers while in social situations like when watching televisions or movies in a non-intrusive way.

These are just my thoughts.

Thanks,

Greg Rogers

Roundabout

10 Things Kids Today Never Have To Worry About

On this week’s podcast, Mike Calvo joins Jamie Pauls, Joe Steinkamp and Ricky Enger live from the Road To CSUN.

Be sure and listen to all of our CSUN coverage on SPN Radio.

You can also listen to Triple Click Home Episode 4: Beefed Up Book Reader Thing and an upcoming episode of That Android Show coming very soon.

After their visit with Mike, Jamie, Joe and Ricky tackle the news of the week.

AT

Neal Ewers’ Review Of The Olympus Ls100 is now available on Blind Cool Tech.

Extra Extra Read All About It: Exciting Sendero Announcements

Blind Bargains: Ask the Readers: What Would You Pay for a Truly Accessible Phone-based GPS System

@ariadneGPS: Version 2.0 is on the store. Podcast on the web site at http://www.ariadnegps.eu/

Georgia Tech’s BrailleTouch is a Braille writer for iPhone

Apple

Beatles Ringtones Come to Apple’s iTunes Store

Apple’s latest sandboxing deadline delay signals moving goalpost for devs

Rumor Mill

Ignore Microsoft, Office will be coming to the iPad real soon

Smaller iPad in ‘testing stage,’ says research firm

Don’t discount Apple’s interest in a smaller iPad, says analyst

iPhone 5 rumoured for autumn, not summer

iPhone and Android apps now required to have privacy policies

Mailbag

Among the many emails we received for this week’s podcast, Dave from Dublin, Ireland provides a link to some accessibility features of Sky TV, available in the UK and Ireland.

Round About

Google to release heads-up display glasses before the end of the year: what can we expect?

@AccessSanDiego: San Diego Zoo has an Accessibility Guide in Braille! Get it at Guest Relations.

Is Skype a social network? Microsoft’s dark horse has legs…

‘Smart cows’ can text owners when mooood strikes

Contact The Show

Feel free to write us by sending a message to: resources@serotalk.com

Follow the SeroTalk Podcast on Twitter

One organization that is attempting to bridge the gap in rural areas is the Tri-County Center for Independent Living in Eureka, which we had the pleasure of visiting. Unfortunately, there is still much work to be done. Navigating to their site shows only inaccessible Flash content. Still, what really stands out to me is that whether we are traveling through urban or rural areas, every stop has allowed us to meet dedicated, passionate, diverse people who without exception, have greater accessibility as a primary goal. If you would like to see and hear more about our trip, I encourage you to check out the video of Day 3 from the Microsoft Accessibility team.

We ended our day in Berkely, and look forward to visiting the Guide Dogs for the Blind campus in San Rafel on day 4. We will wrap up the next steps of our road trip in San Jose.

Please feel free to look for me online, as time and connectivity allow. You can listen via iBlink Radio, the Tech Chat Room on SAMNet, or via our Accessible Event at the Road to CSUN page. If you have the iBlink app, please feel free to leave us your comments there. On Twitter, you can follow me, as well as the Microsoft Accessibility Team. Also, don’t forget to search for the #Road2CSUN hashtag to keep up with all the exciting things that are happening on the Road to CSUN!

I do not say the following to leave anyone out, but I predict that if anyone is ready to meet the assistive technology needs of the 21^st century, it is companies like Boundless AT and Handy Tech, who offer end-to-end solutions without breaking the bank or robbing the taxpayers. Both are Serotek resellers, and we’re honored to work with them.

From Lake Oswego, we traveled to Corvalis, OR, and the home of Viewplus Technologies. This company also had a wonderfully enthusiastic and dedicated staff. They are passionate about Braille literacy, and it shows in their innovative products. They are responsible for some of the high-quality software and embossers available in today’s market. I saw the Emprint SpotDot Color Ink & Braille Printer, and am very excited about this technology. This is something that could be made available in a local office supply store or business center. Documents can, with very little formatting, and the press of a few buttons, be produced with print and Braille on the same page. Imagine how many more people might make their documents available in braille if it was as easy to do as going to the local Kinko or Office Max!

Remember that Serotek does not sell these products. I share them with you because I think they are exciting, and I believe they can revolutionize and revive the use of Braille. The high cost of Braille displays and embossers will not come down until someone makes a concerted effort to make this happen. The best way to encourage companies to see that taking such steps is worthwhile is to advocate for Braille. The more people who use it, and who encourage businesses and agencies to make their materials available in Braille, the more companies will see it as a viable medium, and will seek lower cost ways to produce and display it.

So far, the thing I have enjoyed most on this trip is meeting others who are passionate about accessibility. People are sometimes under the mistaken impression that working with technology is always fun. However, because we want to give people the kind of user experience they need and want, the focus is often on what is wrong and how it can be fixed. I’m meeting people who are passionate about independence and accessibility. It’s as if there is one big accessible chorus, and they are singing and asking when am I, when are you, going to join our voices with theirs.

I have heard often from people who feel it is not right that one blind person is seen as representing everyone. The fact is that for many people, you may be the only blind person they ever meet. Because their impressions will be based on each one of us, it’s time to forget our hang-ups and reservations, and jump into the accessibility pool with both feet. A great way to do this is through social networking. Companies are reading what consumers write, so your voice and mine, together and separately, can most definitely make a difference. Whether you contribute quite a lot or very little, what you say has power, and what you do has power. Whether you write a blog, post to Twitter, write a letter, or talk with your friends face to face, what you say can and does make a difference. It doesn’t matter whether you’re Chief Cook and Bottle Washer, or Chief Executive Officer. What matters is that you let your voice be heard.

Daniel Hubbell has really been the Accessibility Evangelist for Microsoft. The Bible has the following to say about God’s Word: “It will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish what I desire.” Dan has put out the word for accessibility, and is busy advocating for what the community needs. I think it is amazing that Microsoft is seeking information for us, by us, and with us. I do not doubt for a moment that this is indeed a history-making road we are traveling.

Our next stop is Eureka, in the great state of California. My main regret upon leaving Oregon is that while in her town, I was not able to stop and visit with Alena Roberts and her husband. Alena is one of the cohosts of the Triple Click Home podcast, and I encourage you to give it a listen.

Before I close, I would be remiss if I did not mention an additional gadget I have encountered at the Holiday Inns where we have been staying. They have the Popcake Maker, which we have all been enjoying very much. If you like, you can watch an interview on YouTube which describes Popcakes in more detail.

I should have internet connectivity today, and look forward to chatting with you. Feel free to listen or participate. You can listen via iBlink Radio, the Tech Chat Room on SAMNet, or via our Accessible Event at the Road to CSUN page. If you have the iBlink app, please feel free to leave us your comments there. On Twitter, you can follow me, as well as the Microsoft Accessibility Team. Also, don’t forget to search for the #Road2CSUN hashtag to keep up with all the exciting things that are happening on the Road to CSUN!

Some of the key points I am attempting to make are that accessibility and social networking are not new, nor are they difficult. They are things that anyone can do. By incorporating social networking into my travels, I hope to expand the interactivity of the whole experience, and to encourage others to do the same. In that vein, I have been using a wonderful accessible tool, the Hotels.com App. It uses my current location to provide information about nearby hotel deals, sometimes as much as 30, 40, or 50% off!

My aim is to post at the end of each day. However, that may not always happen. By the time we wrap up our day, it is quite late on the East Coast. I will post as soon as I can. I am tweeting regularly, so follow me on Twitter, or search for the #Road2CSUN hashtag for up-to-the-minute news. I am having some difficulty with my mobile internet connection, which should be resolved by tomorrow. In the meantime, please feel free to visit our event or join us in SAMNet Tech Chat. Other Serotek staff will be in and out of the room, and I will be there when I can. I do not feel we have any video to post from the first leg of the journey that is particularly unique, so I encourage you to check out the video being produced by the Microsoft Accessibility Blog team.

The weather so far has been wet, cold, and rainy, and I am fighting hard not to catch a cold that is doing its best to catch me. However, the chilly climate has been no match for the warm receptions we received at the facilities for seniors we visited on our first day of travel.

Yesterday, we left the Microsoft Campus around 9:30 a.m., and made our first stop at SeniorNet in Bellevue, WA, not far from the Microsoft campus. This organization provides peer-to-peer education in computer literacy and access to older adults.

Later, we visited the Tacoma Lutheran Retirement Community. They are very much at the forefront of technology and are building a model home using the Aging in Place concept which implements various adaptive and monitoring technologies to help seniors live as independently as possible in their own homes, for as long as possible. They are also incorporating Microsoft’s Kinect in their physical therapy program, with very positive results. While there, I met a lovely fifteen-year-old girl who was in a serious accident this past December. She is getting therapy, and is progressing. I ask that you remember her and her family, as well as those who are working with her in your prayers.

It is difficult to describe in a single post all the impressions of this first day. Microsoft is presenting only on accessibility in Windows 7 at the moment. However, I did see the form factor for a Samsung tablet running Windows 8, and I think we will be quite happy with the overall accessibility in the forthcoming OS.

I was happy to see Tim Sniffen, who is the director of the American Lake Blind Rehabilitation Center, and look forward to meeting with a new Serotek reseller, Boundless AT.

I hope you will continue to follow me as we travel on the Road to CSUN.