Google Blog Article: New toolbar adds accessible features

Have you seen one of the latest posts on the Google blog by Jonas Klink? The post is titled New toolbar adds accessible features. Check it out at http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2007/12/new-toolbar-adds-accessible-features.html.

It talks about the new Google Toolbar version 5 and states, "This release adds support for Windows Accessibility APIs (used by screen readers, etc.) and enables keyboard navigation and access. From inside a browser with Toolbar installed, the global shortcut Alt+G places your cursor in the Google Toolbar search box. If you're using a screen reader, you'll hear "Google Toolbar Search". Pressing the Tab key brings keyboard focus to the button placed immediately after the search box, and right and left arrow keys move focus between buttons. More information on keyboard access is documented in the Toolbar Help Center (query 'accessibility').Version 5 comes as a part of our ongoing efforts to enhance accessibility in our client-side and web applications..."

Is anyone out there using this toolbar? If so, feel free to add your comments and experiences with it here!

Free Software - Giveaway of the Day and Game Giveaway of the Day

Are you interested in getting free licensed computer software? Then check out Giveaway of the Day at http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/ and Game Giveaway of the Day at http://game.giveawayoftheday.com/. Each day they offer free software to download, with a different title each day. Be sure to bookmark these sites, as you'll want to remember to check them each day to see what new goodies they are offering! On the sites, you can also see reviews by users of the software, which can be very useful in deciding whether to download the software. Looking briefly at some of the titles that have been available for download, it looks like there are a wide variety of worthwhile titles!

***It is important to understand that the free software titles available for download change every day. So if you see a title you want to download, make sure you download it that same day, because in the morning the free software offer will be gone and another title will be there in its place! Happy downloading!

P.S. In case you're wondering, today's free giveway is ImageBadger Deluxe 4.82, which the site states is "a cutting-edge batch processing and image conversion program which supports over 140+ image formats such as JPEG, BMP, PNG, GIF, ICON, PSD."

Article: Tech-savvy teens teach computer skills at library

I learned of an article: Tech-savvy teens teach computer skills at library at http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/snohomishcountynews/2004065990_techteens12n.html. Part of the article states, "When Sno-Isle Libraries opened a new Monroe Library in 2002, the staff hoped to reach out to the community with new services.
One idea was to pair up tech-savvy teenagers with senior citizens who often either didn't have a computer or didn't know what to do with the one they'd just purchased. With a small grant from the Everett Community Foundation, the library created its Tech Teens program to connect seniors with access to computers, e-mail and the Internet.
Five years later, almost 300 senior citizens in the Monroe area have gained computer literacy from local students whom librarians praise for their community service and surprising patience."

What a great idea! Be sure to check out the article for more information on this program!

Article: Toyota to develop cars for seniors

I learned today that Toyota is planning to make a car for older adults. For more information, check out the article Toyota to develop cars for seniors at http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071219/ap_on_hi_te/tech_bit_japan_cars_for_seniors_2&printer=1;_ylt=Ak1oSzL0w6sN6DAlSZbqImJk24cA

Anyone have any comments about this plan? Please feel free to share if you do! It seems like to me, everyone could benefit from these technologies, not just older adults!

English Word Pronunciation Guide

Okay by now, lots of people have already blogged about this site, but it is good enough that I want to mention it here as well....

Ever wondered how to pronounce a word? Go to http://www.howjsay.com/ to learn how! The site will tell you how to pronounce thousands of words in English. The site pronounces using British English, but also often offers the American/United States pronunciation as well.

Article: AT&T Expands Wireless Offerings for Customers With Disabilities

Have you seen the article AT&T Expands Wireless Offerings for Customers With Disabilities? It's at http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/prnewswire/AQM09317122007-1.htm. The article states, "AT&T Inc. announced today two new applications that will increase usability for wireless customers who are blind or have low vision. AT&T is partnering with Code Factory to offer Mobile Speak and Mobile Magnifier, both for Windows Mobile and Symbian Series 60 operating system devices.... Mobile Speak is a powerful, full-fledged screen reader with an easy-to-learn command structure, intuitive speech feedback in several languages and Braille support, which can be used with or without speech. Unlike other screen readers for mobile phones, Mobile Speak automatically detects information that the blind user should know, just as a user with sight would easily find highlighted items or key areas of the screen at a glance... Mobile Magnifier is a flexible, full-screen magnification application that supports low- and high-resolution screens and can be used with or without speech feedback. Magnification software is compatible with a wide range of mobile devices."

The article further states, "Mobile Speak and Mobile Magnifier are each available for a one-time charge of $89, which is billed directly to the customer's credit card."

I was saddened to read the price attached... it seems to me these features should be provided for free to those with disabilities...

Photo: Books Make Room for Christmas Tree

Here is a cool photo at Flickr (see http://flickr.com/photos/78462831@N00/330707780/) called "Books Make Room for Christmas Tree." In this photo, there are two stacks of books, leaning toward each other, providing a triangular shaped outline between the two stacks. Inside the outline (or behind the books) is a fully decorated and lit Christmas tree, with a very bright star on top. The person who posted the picture on Flickr describes it as follows:

"My toddler son inspired this photo, as he's starting to stack blocks on top of each other. So here is a pile of my books mimicking the shape of the Christmas tree (a grand fir), with a Moravian star hanging on top of the tree. Though the books don't necessarily have much to do with Christmas, some of them were Christmas gifts in the past, and Christmas is a great time to read, next to the tree, with a cup of hot cocoa, a fireplace, and friends and family doing likewise. Christmas is also about peace, and reading is one of the more peaceful activities I am able to find time for."

AFB Website - Tributes to Talking Books

The AFB Website now has a message board section dedicated to Tributes to Talking Books at http://www.afb.org/message_board_replies2.asp?TopicID=3248&FolderID=2. If you have some memories or tributes of Talking Books that you would like to share at the site, I encourage you to do so!

75 Years of AFB and Talking Books

The AFB website recently added a section called 75 Years of AFB and Talking Books at http://www.afb.org/section.asp?sectionID=69. Taken straight from the website:

"This web site, which was made possible by funds from the New York Times Company Foundation, is divided into the following sections:

AFB Talking Book Exhibit
This section provides a wide variety of rich material on the history of Talking Books, including scans of letters, audio clips, advertisements, and photographs.

AFB Talking Book Archives
This fully accessible electronic guide to the collection is geared towards scholars and those requiring access to primary source documents from the Talking Book Archives.

Key Dates
This list chronicles main events in the development of Talking Books.

Fast Facts
Read surprising and little-known facts about Talking Books."

Thanks to AFB for this great site! Be sure to bookmark it!

As always, if you are interested in signing up for the free Talking Books program through the Library of Congress, please go to http://www.loc.gov/nls.

Meebo Chat Room Added to My Blog

Some of you may have noticed that I recently added a Meebo chat room to my blog. Libraries around the country have begun adding Meebo chat rooms to their websites or online catalogs so they can interact with patrons visiting the website. So, I decided to do a trial with a Meebo chat room on this blog. You can find the Meebo chat room on the right side of the page. The chat room will indicate if I am currently online or not. If I am online, you can type a message in the chat box to chat with me. As of right now, this is just a trial of the chat room, to see how it works. If it does not seem to be working out, I will likely remove the Meebo chat room. If anyone has any questions, feel free to post them in the comments, or better yet, give the Meebo chat room a try! Looking forward to chatting with you all!

Blog Post: Car Battery Disconnect Switch for Drivers with Dementia

The Gearability blog has a neat post titled Blog Post: Car Battery Disconnect Switch for Drivers with Dementia. You can see it at http://www.gearability.com/2007/12/08/car-battery-disconnect-switch-for-drivers-with-dementia/. The blog states, "When Alzheimer’s or other dementias are involved, explaining why driving is no longer safe may not be sufficient to keep a loved one off the road. One non-confrontational solution is this battery disconnect switch. It’s easy to install on the battery terminal; turning the knob disconnects the battery, making it impossible to start the car. When the car must be driven, the knob is screwed back down, and the battery functions again." The blog also has a link to The Alzheimer's Store at http://www.alzstore.com/, where you can purchase this item.

This is a very interesting idea and could be a solution to the driving dilemma for caregivers of persons living with Alzheimer's or other dementias. However, is this sort of "lying" to the person who has Alzheimer's? Any thoughts on this?

Article: Retailers to Sell TV Converter Boxes

My Way News website has an article titled Retailers to Sell TV Converter Boxes at http://apnews.myway.com/article/20071211/D8TFGVJG1.html. It discusses the fact that American consumers will need to buy converter boxes for analog televisions by February 17, 2009, as programming will switch to digital on that day. Coupons will be available to help with these purchases starting January 1, 2008 at http://www.dtv2009.gov/ or by calling 1-888-DTV-2009. The boxes will be available in stores such as Target, Walmart, Sears, and Best Buy.

OPL Plus Blogs About "The Free Library"

The OPL Plus Blog mentions something called The Free Library. You can read the post at http://opls.blogspot.com/2007/12/links-to-free-information.html. You can see The Free Library website at http://www.thefreelibrary.com/. The site claims to have over 3,000,000 articles and books. Registered users can submit articles for free.

Award Winning Athlete and Author, Rachael Scdoris, Guest of Accessible World Sports Talk

Rachael Scdoris is going to be a guest of Accessible World Sports Talk on December 14 at 7 p.m. Eastern time. For more information, go to http://www.accessibleworld.org/node/48.

According to the website, "You will have the opportunity to visit with Rachael Scdoris, a professional sled dog racer from outside of Bend, Oregon and an outstanding athlete in spite of being visually impaired. You have seen and heard her on over 19 national television broadcasts, including: ABC Sports, National Geographic, Good Morning America, NBC Today Show, and on Peter Jennings on ABC World. She has also been featured in numerous magazines including: SI Women, Outside, Teen, Time, Seventeen, National Geographic World, Runners World, Nike Goddess, and more. Attendees will also be interested in her published work, "No End in Sight", Available from Bookshare.org, National Library Service for the Blind (NLS), and Amazon."

MoPix: Making Movie Theaters Accessible to Disabled Audiences

Thanks to AFB's blog at http://www.afb.org/blog/, I learned about a great new resource. It's MoPix, at http://ncam.wgbh.org/mopix/. According to the MoPix website at http://ncam.wgbh.org/mopix/nowshowing.html, "Rear Window® Captioning and DVS Theatrical®, developed by The Media Access Group at Boston public broadcaster WGBH, make theaters accessible to audiences with disabilities the day and date films debut, and during regular showtimes.

Rear Window Captioning enables movie fans with hearing loss to enjoy a film via reflected captions that appear on a plexiglas panel at the seat. Patrons sitting in the surrounding seats cannot see the captions. DVS Theatrical presents concise narration of visual cues, including scenery, facial expressions and silent movement of characters, through a FM or infrared system delivered to headsets. There is no additional charge to use the systems."

You can search for theaters in your area - check it out!

Does the new Amazon Kindle work where you live?

The Travelin' Librarian blog has a post showing a map of where the new Amazon Kindle works. I must admit that I did not realize its wireless coverage would not be in all places! You can see the map on the Travelin' Librarian blog at http://www.travelinlibrarian.info/2007/12/kindle-coverage.html. To find out if the Kindle works in your area, you can go to http://www.showmycoverage.com/mycoverage.jsp?id=A921ZON.



One thing I thought was interesting - I noticed that it does not work in most of North Dakota, South Dakota, and Nebraska, as well as several states in the west. However, one thing that DID surprise me is that it shows it will work in much of western Kansas, which is a fairly isolated/non-populated area. I wonder what's going on, that it works there, but other areas that are much more populated, such as certain spots in the eastern U.S., don't have coverage. Any ideas?

Related posts:

Buy a refurbished Kindle (how to get a cheap discounted Kindle for $329)

Audio books on the Kindle

Get $50 off the Amazon Kindle

Senior Friendly Libraries Blog Discusses New Research on Baby Boomer Volunteers

Volunteering is an important part of many people's lives, including older adults and baby boomers. Thus, is it good to see that the Senior Friendly Libraries blog has a recent post about research on baby boomer volunteers. Check it out at http://seniorfriendlylibraries.blogspot.com/2007/12/new-research-on-baby-boomer-volunteers.html!

Letters from Santa in Braille and Print

Your child can get a letter from Santa at the North Pole, in Braille and print. Go to http://www.nfb.org/Forms.asp?MODE=NEW&SnID=197220975&Forms_FormTypeID=-45 if you are a parent or guardian. If you are a teacher, go to http://www.nfb.org/Forms.asp?MODE=NEW&SnID=197220975&Forms_FormTypeID=-81 to fill out a request. The letters from Santa are sponsored by the National Federation of the Blind.

Update: You can see the official press release for Letters from Santa at http://www.nfb.org/nfb/NewsBot.asp?MODE=VIEW&ID=246.

Article: Outstanding bookworm: Talking book club helps a 102-year-old enjoy literature

Check out the article: Talking book club helps a 102-year-old enjoy literature found at http://www.fresnobee.com/citylife/story/232059.html. Talking Books patrons ages 100 and older, all across the United States, are honored in similar ways by local Talking Books libraries... Not familiar with the 10 squared club that is part of Talking Books? You can learn more about it at http://www.loc.gov/nls/10squared/index.html.

Article: Online library offers 1.5 million works and counting

Have you seen the article Online library offers 1.5 million works and counting? Check it out at http://www.news.com/2100-1025_3-6220358.html. According to the article, "The Universal Digital Library, a book-scanning project backed by several major libraries across the globe, has completed the digitization of 1.5 million books and on Tuesday made them free and publically available."

You can see the online library at http://www.ulib.org/.

Holiday Shipping Calendar

For those in the United States, the USPS has posted its holiday shipping calendar for holiday packages. Check it out at http://www.usps.com/holiday/mailing-holiday-deadlines.htm?from=holidayhome&page=mailingdeadlines. For the most part, if you're sending something via regular mail, it looks like you should have items in the mail by December 15 (parcels) or December 20 (cards), assuming you want them to reach the recipients by December 25.

Happy Holidays to Everyone! :)