|
Best in Tech Conference |
|
Hosted by:
|
Speakers and Resources From 2013 Dr. Bill Takeshita, Chief of optometry, Center for the Partially Sighted, talked about the latest options to assist students who use Macintosh computers and Windows 8.1. He also discussed the ZoomText Mac, LVI Student New Generation, Enhanced Vision Transformer and portable screen. He can be reached by email at: bill@drbillfoundation.org Or, by phone at: 310-988-1970
Brian Albriton, Reader Services Coordinator and BARD Administrator at the Braille Institute Library, talked about MBraille, an app that allows Braille input using the touch screen of IOS Devices without the use of an external keyboard. This app makes it possible for blind people to enter text as fast if not faster than their sighted peers. He can be reached by email: cocanut50@ca.rr.com
Douglas Gerry talked about Ai Squared’s new software and camera based OCR product called ImageReader. This is a software and camera solution that makes printed text accessible to people who are visually impaired, including books, magazines, business documents and more. Put the printed item underneath the included document camera, snap a picture, and a few seconds later the text appears in large, high-contrast fonts and is read aloud in natural-sounding voices. He can be reached by email: douglas@atkratter.com or by phone: 714-799-3000
Bob Sweetman from Sweetman Systems talked about Keysoft #4 Braille Math for the BrailleNote Apex. He explained the new Nemeth Translator and demonstrated entering Nemeth code on the BrailleNote Apex and using the Nemeth Selector which helps students choose symbols that they may have forgotten. Bob can be reached by email at: bob@sweetmansystems.com or by phone at: 818-893-5887
Dr. Brett Nagatani, Director of technology at The Center for the Partially Sighted, talked about the Optelec Clearview Speech, a new cost conscious talking CCTV as well as the Humanware Prodigi Duo, another revolutionary CCTV that incorporates a CCTV/portable in a single unit that can also talk to you. He can be reached by email at: BNagatani1980@gmail.com or by phone at: 310-988-1970 ext.109
Steve Bauer, Braille Instructor and Access Technology Specialist at the Braille Institute in Orange County, talked about the new and enhanced features of the Victor Reader Stream New Generation from Humanware. These include improved speaker and text to speech, wireless capability, the ability to download content from NFB Newsline and BookShare, the addition of a clock, and enhanced sleep timer. He can be reached by email: swbauer@brailleinstitute.org or by phone: (714) 821-5000 ext. 1218
Keith Christian, teacher for the visually impaired, talked about the basic features of Voice Dream Reader, an IOS app for reading BookShare books, web pages, and files from Dropbox and the NLS BARD Mobile app, an IOS app designed for reading NLS books. He can be reached by email at: KeithChristian@Roadrunner.com
Kristen MacDonald, a motivational speaker, talked about how using the combination of Apple’s Mac Book Air and the iPhone with their built in accessibility features have increased her efficiency and productivity. She can be reached at kristin@secondvision.net
Patrick Nunnelly talked about the Perkins Smart Brailler. This device is quite beneficial to children, both at home and in the classroom, as well as adults who are losing their vision and learning Braille. He can be reached by email: pnunnelly@americanthermoform.com or by phone: 909-593-6711 ext 101
Julian Vargas, Mobile Assistive Technology Specialist and Vice President of the NFBC San Fernando Valley Chapter, talked about the latest mobile GPS applications: Sendero’s Seeing Eye GPS for IOS devices and APH’s Nearby Explorer for Android devices. He explained how these simple yet customizable apps combine both guided and orientational GPS into one package thus eliminating the need to run several apps simultaneously to travel effectively. He can be reached by email: help@techjv.com or by phone: 818-794-9554 |
