Its Been a While

Hello. Its been almost two years since my last post. I've been busy! But technology rocks on and so do I.

I think it is interesting when I look back at my posts from two years ago and I see how many of the issues are still the same. One in particular is that there is any other smart phone on the market besides the iPhone that is universally designed. As I said before accessibility features are built-in to the iOS. These are not apps!! They are features of the operating system. Go listen to this very informative pod cast by Mike Arrigo. This and other great podcasts like this one can be found at Blind Cool Tech Great stuff. Go check it out and let me know what you think. SS

Iphone Video 4 - Visionary

This is the final installment of my series of off the cuff iphone videos from the 2010 ATIA conference in Orlando, Florida.

Visionary is an exciting new innovation for people who are blind or have low vision produced by Guerrilla Technology Inc. (GTI) . This product is an innovative portable option for the person on the go.



My special thanks go out to all of the vendors who participated in this project to get the word out about these very useful products. ATW

What about technology?

I am very interested in looking at technology and how it effects the human condition in general. Please answer the following two questions:

1. Do you think that social change is driven by technology or people?

2. Do you think that technology makes life better or worse?

Please provide your reasoning behind your answers. Thank You! ATW

IPhone Video 3 - The BrailleNote APEX

Jim Sullivan of HumanWare demonstrates the BrailleNote APEX, a revolutionary product for people how are blind.

Iphone Video 2 - WYNN Literacy Software

The video below is a demonstration of Wynn Literacy Software , a versitle and innovative software package that offers enormous flexibility for the presentation of content and materials.



For the complete demonstration and more information about this outstanding product Click Here

Iphone Video 1 - The K-NFB Reader

This past week I attended the Assistive Technology Industry Association (ATIA) Conference in Orlando, Florida. I did some off the cuff video interviews using my iphone with some of the exhibitors. The iphone did great however my skill is wanting. The important thing is the information. For the next few weeks I will post one of these videos that present some of the latest and greatest technology for people with disabilities.

Below, this first installment features Jim Gashel, Vice President of Development for K-NFB Reading Technology Inc.demonstrates the K-NFB Reader a portable scan and read program for people who are blind or otherwise print challenged.

Denied Access to Accessibility: Discrimination is Blind!

I have blogged and talked a great deal about the iphone and other Apple / Mac products because they come equipped with software that allows people with disabilities to have equal access to their innovative features. This company understands the concept of Universal Design and I commend them for that. Unfortunately, making products accessible is only the beginning of full accessibility and equal opportunity. Let me explain.

I recently demonstrated the use of Voice Over on my iphone for one of my consumers who is blind. When he saw how well the iphone would work for him, he was ecstatic. At his first opportunity he went to the local AT&T store to purchase an iphone for himself. He was told by the personnel at that store that they were not familiar with those features of the iphone and therefore they could not sell him an iphone. This is OUTRAGEOUS!!

Now, true he can go to another AT&T store or order online but just the thought of being told by a person or persons representing and selling a product that they don’t know about a built-in feature of the product and therefore they can’t sell you the product is unbelievable. This individual was discriminated against because of his disability. He told me that the people at the store told him that they were not familiar with that app. IT IS NOT AN APP!!! IT IS A BASIC FEATURE OF EVERY IPHONE!!

Anyone who has any experience with an iphone should be able to easily find this feature. Go under Settings, General, Accessibility, and VOICE OVER is at the top of the list. I must admit I was shocked when I heard this story and stunned that a company as big as AT&T has not provided their employees training on one of the basic functions of one of their most attractive products.

A lot of unfortunate things happened that day. Let’s review. Apple / Mac lost a sale, AT&T lost a potential customer, and most tragically a person who is blind was denied access to an innovative product that would meet his unique needs right out of the box. I realize discrimination is a strong word but think about this: Until the iphone became available (as long as you can find someone willing to sell you one), the only option a person who is blind had that offered complete access to a cell phone was to buy extra screen reading software at a price ranging from roughly $200.00 to $400.00, depending on the carrier and phone being used. Remember this is in addition to the cost of the phone and plan. Those who could pay those prices would grin and bear it and those who could not afford those prices would do without.

But that’s Okay right? Blind people should expect to pay more. I mean, they can’t even see!!

Adaptive Technology Must be Built-in From the Start!

My previous post points out that Apple Macintosh understands universal design. My question is when will companies that make adaptive software and devices get the picture? These companies have to target such a specialized market (sometimes less than one percent of the overall population) that the prices are sky high for their products. Basic economics, we get it! But this is a huge problem for consumers with disabilities.

True Apple / Mac is a large company making mainstream devices anyway and added the accessibility features later. But one of these Adaptive Technology companies could just turn the model around and take their best package of adaptations and put them into a slick mainstream device with a lower more reasonable price that targets everyone.

My prediction is that the company selling adaptive technology that comes out with what the Japanese call "common use devices" will dominate the market and make record profits in the process. SS

Apple Has the Right Stuff!

As is well known by now all products produced by Apple / Macintosh are accessible for people with disabilities right out of the box. Apple understands the concept of Universal Design. Just as new buildings and public facilities are equipped with wider doorways, accessible bathrooms, ramps, and curb cuts from day one, Mac computers, iphones, and other Apple / Mac products are equipped with screen magnification, voice over, text to speech, and other accessible features right out of the box. No extra charge for these features that enable people with low vision or blindness, motor impairments, or other disabilities to access the features of the Apple / Mac products. This is only fair and extremely liberating for those of us who are tired of paying extra just because we happen to have a disability.

I was so intrigued by this I had to break down and buy an iphone. Even though I already had a family plan with Verizon including 4 phones I wanted to be able to actually see what I was doing on my phone without having to pay extra. The screen magnification feature of the iphone is simple to use (it took me about 5 minutes to master it)and the voice over feature with touch screen reading is ingenious.

Once I got the hang of the voice over and the slightly altered gesture system I sat down with one of my students who is blind and in less than 15 minutes, I had her making calls and texting with relative ease. Another one of my students who is blind went out and bought a Mac book and I am working with her on using the voice over. This is a little more challenging for me because I have always been an "IBMer", But from what I've seen so far, my next computer WILL be a Mac.

Hats off to Apple Macintosh!!

Assistive???

If there's one thing I can't stand to hear it is the term "Assistive Technology". No spell checker even knows the term "Assistive"! in fact, if you look in any dictionary before the year, say 1995, you will likely not find this word.

Now, it does appear in Merriam Webster's dictionary and is therein defined as -

"providing aid or assistance; specifically : designed or intended to assist disabled persons " Uuugh!!!

My question is why did a term have to be created when a perfectly good and frankly more appropriate term, "Adaptive" already existed?

This has always irritated me as a person with a disability and I finally figured out why. My problem with it is this: Assistive implies someone else helping but adaptive implies an individual helping themselves. If I always have the mind set that I need assistance to accomplish my goals how can I ever learn to rely on myself to adapt to situations and take care of myself?

This may seem trivial to some but I think it lies at the heart of what is broken in our system of rehabilitation in this country. Of course, I have a problem with the term "rehabilitation" but that's another post.

As people with disabilities I think it is important that we shed the notion of absolute assistance. Sure, as human beings we all need the help of others from time to time but more importantly we have to be able to take care of ourselves. That should be what we try first, to help ourselves.

Adapt is what we must do. We could assist others but we must adapt! Technology whether or not one has a disabilities is tool used to accomplish a task no matter what the circumstances. We use a pen to write, a washing machine to wash clothes and a screen reader to read a screen. All in all it is a tool to accomplish a task.

So enough of this patronizing "assistive" garbage! Lets use available technology to adapt to circumstances and issues and get on with what's important in life. SS

Technology is the Tool

I think it is important that we keep technology in the right place. For all it is worth adaptive technology is simply the vehicle we use to complete a task the human will is still the heart of the matter. Traits and personal attributes like Attitude, instinct, adaptability, grit, drive, ambition, etc., are still the ingredients of success. So, why all the fuss about the technology? Two major reasons; curb appeal and money.

First of all the curb appeal of any new technology is high especially when that technology claims to help people compete who otherwise would not have that opportunity. Yet for all the curb appeal there is still plenty of work involved once the necessary adaptive technology is identified and acquired. In fact acquiring the technology is the easy part. All the AT in the world will not help an individual who has not bought into the program so to speak

The second reason for all the fuss about AT is money. The companies and small businesses that manufacturer and market these products have a lot of money to make and a small population to target. Therefore the prices are high as are the stakes in a very tight niche market. The advertising is great and the promises are greater just make sure you will actually use the device as intended before making a large purchase. SS

Accessibility for All Presentation

Click here to view my presentation.

Technology EXPO 2008

Greetings! I am Sullivan, the adaptive technology wizard. Welcome to my blog! the purpose of this blog is to dixucss any issues related to adaptive tehnology for people with disabilities. For more information regarding adaptive technology and resuores check out my website at http://www.theatwizard.com/.

Today, I want to announce an important event. The Third Annual Technology EXPO & Luncheon wil be held on October 10. Go to www.Techexpo2008.com for all the details.