Write A Senior Citizen - become a pen pal for an older adult!

I recently learned about a website called "Write a Senior Citizen" at http://www.writeseniors.com

What is the purpose of the site? The site's FAQ states, "The goal of this site is to provide an opportunity for Senior Citizens to be able to obtain pen pals from around the world, receive birthday cards and have something special to look forward to."

Age guidelines are as follows: "To have a page on Write a Senior Citizen, you need to be at least 55 years of age or older. All others are invited to participate with us by becoming a pen pal with our seniors."

The website was created by two young adults, age 18 and 21. What a great idea! Be sure to share it with others!

Information about Macular Degeneration - MD Support

Have you heard about the macular degeneration (MD) Support website? It's full of information about macular degeneration. The website is at http://www.mdsupport.org/

You can find links to info about MD at http://www.mdsupport.org/information.html
For example, there are links to organizations offering financial assistance for eye care, links to clinical trials, and low vision product reviews. There are also MD forums and MD email discussion lists that you can join.

If you are looking for email discussion lists about other blindness or visual impairments, you can find a list of these on the MD website at http://www.mdsupport.org/mailing-lists.html

Be sure to share this info with others who could benefit from it!

Article: I love libraries, and I'm blind

Library Journal has a great article - "Backtalk: I love libraries, and I'm blind", written by Katherine Schneider. The article also encourages all libraries to think about how they can serve patrons who are blind or visually impaired.

You can read the article online at http://tinyurl.com/6kvzxv

Futuristic windshield aims to help older drivers

Have you seen the article Futuristic windshield aims to help older drivers? General Motors is apparently working on new technology for their vehicles, using lasers and sensors, that would help older adults and those with other vision difficulties... for more info, check out http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/07/18/windshields.older.drivers.ap/index.html

Update on July 26 National Forum on Disability Issues

I received the following information about the upcoming July 26 National Forum on Disability Issues from Kim Dority of Disaboom:

The live webcast for the July 26 National Forum on Disability Issues in Columbus Ohio will be hosted by Disaboom, and then archived on the site for future viewing. People can go to the site right now to register and test out their ability to access the webcast for the 26th. The Forum will be webcast 12:30-4:30, ET, and people can do a test registration at http://www.disaboom.com/AAPDSignUp.aspx.

Senator Tom Harkin has agreed to act as the Obama surrogate (Obama will be out of the country), Senator John McCain will be doing a satellite uplink from Arizona, and actor Robert David Hall will also be addressing the forum. Moderator will be Judy Woodruff (The News Hour with Jim Lehrer). Event is organized by the American Association for People with Disabilities (AAPD) and co-sponsored by over 60 national, state, and local disability groups.

Could libraries do this with their collections? Virtual browsing for books!

Through twine.com, I recently learned about Zoomii (http://zoomii.com). Zoomii allows you to browse books online, much as you would in a "brick and mortar" bookstore. Books are organized in categories, such as bestsellers, business, and so on. You can see the covers of the books, which for me, is what browsing is all about. I think it's a cool idea, but of course presents challenges for people with visual impairments. The creator of Zoomii, Chris Thiessen, says, "Zoomii is my attempt to bring online as much of the real bookstore experience as possible."

So now I'm wondering, could libraries do this same thing with their collections? (Or is your library already doing this?)

Could it benefit our patrons? What do you all think?

Need to find free health and wellness information?

The National Institute of Health has a website dedicated to providing free health info for older adults. It's called NIHSeniorHealth. You can visit the website at http://nihseniorhealth.gov/

The site allows users to easily change text size and color contrast for easier viewing. There is even a text to speech feature that will read the website aloud.

There are various health categories, such as cancer, healthy aging, and vision and hearing. Links to health videos are included as well.

The welcome message at http://nihseniorhealth.gov/welcome.html states:

"Good information is the best medicine for older adults. NIHSeniorHealth can help seniors find answers to their medical questions from the comfort of their own homes thanks to this new and innovative online resource and the Internet."

Donald A.B. Lindberg, M.D.
Director, National Library of Medicine


So, be sure to check out this free health resource and share it with the older adults in your life!

Victor Reader Stream Version 2.0 has been re-released!

Version 2.0 for the Victor Reader Stream was recently released by HumanWare. However, there were some problems with the first release of Victor Reader Stream 2.0. Therefore, it has been re-released, and you can now download the new version 2.0.6 at http://www.humanware.com/en-canada/support/vr_stream_software

(The Victor Reader Stream is one of the digital players people can use with the free National Library Service Digital Download/Talking Books Project (BARD). Patrons can download digital books directly to their computers, and listen to the books on a digital player, such as the Victor Reader Stream. For more info on the Talking Books program, including the digital download program, please see my blog posts at http://tinyurl.com/freetalkingbooks and
http://tinyurl.com/NLSBARD)

The Greatest Exhibition You'll Never See

Dialog in the Dark: The Greatest Exhibition You'll Never See

Taken from the website at http://www.dialogtickets.com:

"DIALOG IN THE DARK is an Exhibition in complete darkness where guides who are blind or visually impaired lead groups of 10 people through scenes from everyday life.

The experience itself lasts one hour but the effects last a lifetime."

More about the idea and concept from http://www.dialogue-in-the-dark.com/?page_id=9:

"A role reversal takes place: sighted people are torn out of social routines and familiar acceptance. Blind people provide a sense of orientation and mobility and become ambassadors of a culture devoid of images... Everybody shares an unforgettable experience. They feel their own limits, perceptions and gratitude for their eyesight; they come to understand the importance of empathy, communication and solidarity and develop respect for people who see the world through different eyes."

This exhibit started in Germany and is coming to the United States (Atlanta) for the first time this summer. You can find more info about the U.S. exhibit at http://www.dialogtickets.com

United States Mint Unveils Design for First U.S. Coin with Readable Braille

Taken from the website at http://tinyurl.com/6ovroz:

United States Mint Director Ed Moy unveiled the design for the 2009 Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar at the National Federation of the Blind's annual convention in Dallas, Texas, during the March for Independence on July 2, 2008.

"The United States Mint is proud to present the 2009 Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar coin design. It will be the first coin ever minted in the history of our country to contain readable Braille characters," said Director Moy. "I am looking forward to presenting the design for this unprecedented coin, and I am pleased that the United States Mint is playing a role in the cause of bringing literacy to all blind and visually impaired Americans."

Want to see how the coin will look? You can view the prototype by going to http://tinyurl.com/6cdsta

A Spelling Bee for Adults Age 50 or Older!

On October 3, 2008, there will be a "Kansas Senior Spelling Bee" for people who are age 50 or older. The spelling bee will be held in Salina, Kansas. The top speller will get a trip for two to the National Senior Spelling Bee in Wyoming in June 2009!

For the spelling bee rules, check out http://salhelp.org/aging/spellingbee/rules.html

Find out more information about the Kansas Senior Spelling Bee at http://salhelp.org/aging/spellingbee/

The website states, "Anyone 50 years or older is eligible. The contest resembles the Scripps youth contest with easier words and assistance for people needing help hearing or writing. There is a written contest of 50 words followed by 15 finalists participating in an oral contest to select the winner."

You can even get the registration forms for the spelling bee online at http://salhelp.org/aging/spellingbee/register.html

Happy Independence Day!

Happy Independence Day! Hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday weekend!

Operate a computer using only your tongue!

Taken from the article at http://www.gatech.edu/newsroom/release.html?id=1960&ga=1

Atlanta (June 30, 2008) —A new assistive technology developed by engineers at the Georgia Institute of Technology could help individuals with severe disabilities lead more independent lives.

The novel system allows individuals with disabilities to operate a computer, control a powered wheelchair and interact with their environments simply by moving their tongues.

“This device could revolutionize the field of assistive technologies by helping individuals with severe disabilities, such as those with high-level spinal cord injuries, return to rich, active, independent and productive lives,” said Maysam Ghovanloo, an assistant professor in the Georgia Tech School of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Ghovanloo developed the system with graduate student Xueliang Huo.

The tongue-operated assistive technology, called the Tongue Drive system, was described on June 29 at the 2008 Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA) Annual Conference in Washington, D.C.

You can read the rest of the article at http://www.gatech.edu/newsroom/release.html?id=1960&ga=1

Download Victor Reader Stream Version 2.0 and Stream Companion 2.0

I received the following email from HumanWare Canada. (This is the first of two emails in this blog post.) It explains how to download the new version 2.0 for the Victor Reader Stream, and includes a link to the download site.

Dear Victor Reader Stream Customer:

HumanWare has released the latest Stream software version 2.0.3. This is a free software upgrade that can be downloaded and installed on your Stream. To download the software visit:

http://www.humanware.com/en-canada/support/vr_stream_software

Select the link to download the new software version 2.0. On the same page, you will also find a Release Notes document describing in detail what's new and the installation instructions. Briefly,to install follow these steps:

- Download the software zip file

- Unzip the single UPG upgrade file from the zip file. You do not need special unzip software. Simply press Enter to open the zip file and you can then select the UPG file.

- Copy this UPG file to the root of your Stream SD card.

- Disconnect the Stream from the computer, connect it to AC power and turn it on.

- The Stream will automatically start the update process which takes about 1 minute during which time it will announce intermittent "please Wait" messages. The Stream will power off when the new software is installed.

- You may then remove the UPG file from the SD card.

After the new software is installed, the Release Notes document will also be available in a HumanWare sub-folder of your Text Bookshelf so you may read the Release Notes with your Stream. Highlights of the new version 2.0 include:

- New dedicated bookshelf to save downloaded podcast audio files

- Audible books will now be announced on its own bookshelf instead of Other Books bookshelf

- Support of electronic Braille (BRF) files placed on the text bookshelf

- Support for Rich Text Format (RTF) files on the text bookshelf

- Support for unprotected Windows Media Audio (WMA version 9)

- Spell mode for text files

- Ability to disable key beeps and sleep messages

and much more. See the Release Notes document on the Stream page for a complete description of all new features and improvements. A copy of the version 2.0 User Guide as well as an updated FAQ document (frequently asked questions) can also be found on the web page. The FAQ provides answers to frequently asked questions about battery, important information on different book and media formats, voice recording, and SD cards.

With this announcement, version 2.0 is available in English only. As other version 2.0 languages become available they will be posted on the same download page.

We also are releasing a new version of Stream Companion which will be described in a second email.

HumanWare values your continued support of the Victor Reader Stream. We remain committed to existing and future customers to make the Stream the most powerful, flexible, and enjoyable product used for listening to digital talking books, computer files, and music.

Thank you,

The HumanWare Team


****I also received an email about how to download version 2.0 of the Stream Companion:

Dear Victor Reader Stream Customer:

HumanWare has released a new Windows Stream Companion software version 2.0.4. This is a free Windows software that can be downloaded and installed on your Windows XP or Vista computer. To download the software visit:

http://www.humanware.com/en-canada/support/vr_stream_software

To install the software, download the zip file for the Stream Companion and unzip the embedded executable (EXE) install file. Then run this exe file. You do not need to uninstall the previous version of Stream Companion. The Windows Install Shield program will run and ask you to read and accept the license. It will ask if you want a complete or custom install. Select 'complete'.

The Stream Companion is optional software to support the Stream. There is no need to install this software unless you need its functionality. There are extensive new features and usability improvements in version 2.

New Features

- In addition to the Talking Books Tab version 2.0 offers five new TABS to transfer files to the Stream's Other Books, Audible, Music, Podcasts, and Text bookshelves. The Music and Podcast Tabs have a button to allow you to transfer by folder or individual file.

- The Music Tab has a button to allow you to create playlists in the root of the Music bookshelf. Simply move to the list of Music files on your SD card and select the files or folders that you want for your playlist and then activate the Create Playlist button. You will be asked to enter a name for the playlist. The playlist will then be created on your music bookshelf. When you browse the music bookshelf with your Stream each playlist will be announced as a separate music book. The actual music files will be announced as the "All Music" book.

- There is a new Tab to convert the recorded 3gp audio files of Audio Bookmarks to wav files on your computer.

Usability Improvements

- In the Talking Books TAB the user may activate a check box to allow books contained in zip files on the computer to display in the PC list. If this checkbox is checked you will be able to transfer zip books (e.g. NLS books in the USA) to the Stream without first having to unzip the book.
- The PC Path can now be edited in the textbox.
- Support for transferring a talking book contained on Multiple CD's.

The Companion User Guide can be read by activating the Help button in any of the program Tabs. The User Guide can also be downloaded from the Stream documentation page at:

http://www.humanware.com/en-canada/support/vr_stream_documentation

HumanWare hopes you enjoy the new Stream Companion 2.0


Thank you,

The HumanWare Team

Victor Reader Stream Version 2.0 is here!

The Victor Reader Stream is one of the digital players people can use with the NLS Digital Download/Talking Books Project (BARD).

I received the following email from HumanWare Canada:

VICTOR READER STREAM THE PROVEN SUCCESS STORY, IS NOW EVEN BETTER WITH A FREE VERSION 2.0 SOFTWARE UPGRADE

Longueuil, Canada, June 30, 2008 -- Victor Reader Stream, the pocket-sized portable MP3 player designed for blind and low-vision people has swept the world wide market place since its launch in September 2007. Heralded by its users as the most significant assistive technology in recent years, the Stream has already enhanced the life style of thousands of blind and low vision people world wide. In addition to the variety of audio formats (MP3, DAISY, and NISO books and music) supported by Victor Reader Stream, the new version 2 software will add even more media and text formats.

Victor Reader Stream version 2 will now play electronic Braille files with its built-in text-to-speech including multiple formats of English Braille encoded files, Unified English Braille, and non-English Braille formats. Version 2.0 also adds playback of Windows Media Audio (WMA) and Rich Text Format (RTF) files. , Further, the bookshelf feature has been extended to enhance the access and playback of all media types with special new features for Audible books, Podcast files, and music.

With the addition of the new media types of version 2.0 the Stream now provides a pocket size device that can play an impressive list of alternate format books and documents available to the print-disabled. IT will play the special navigable DAISY and NISO digital talking books produced by most libraries for the blind in the world. It can be authorized to play the AudioPlus digital books from Recordings for the Blind and Dyslexic (RFB&D) in the United States. It can play Bookshare.org digital books. It can be authorized to play the popular commercial audio books, newspapers, and magazines from Audible.com. It is optimized to integrate with Serotek.com who provide an extensive repository of digital multi-media content for blind and low vision people. It also plays MP3,, OGG Vorbis, WMA, Wav, AMR-WB+, SPX, and FLAC audio files. The built-in text-to-speech can play electronic text formats including BRF (Braille), HTML, RTF, TXT, and XML. In addition to its extensive digital player capabilities, it has a voice recording functionality for recording of voice notes, meetings, and lectures.

What Stream customers are saying:
"I love my Victor Reader Stream and it travels with me wherever I go."
"This is one of the best products I have seen come along in a long time. It is well made, works right out of the box, and reads just about any kind of book you need read."
"It's one of the most impressive and well-planned and well-working pieces of equipment I have seen for a long time."

"We appreciate the overwhelming enthusiasm of our customers and are pleased that we have been able to incorporate many of their suggested new features and improvements in the enhanced version 2 of the Stream", says Gerry Chevalier, HumanWare Victor Reader Product Manager. "And the best news is that the latest version 2 software can be installed for free on all existing Victor Reader Streams."

The Stream has extensive navigation features for moving through audio books and text files, including functions that allow you to move to the next chapter, section or page, or to set bookmarks. For all audio book and media formats the Stream provides a variable speed control with digital pitch correction which allows the reader to accurately listen at higher than normal playback speed.

The player is completely accessible by blind and low-vision users. All keys and messages are provided through audio feedback. The player has a built-in User Guide and a Key Describer mode.

Besides playing electronic text, the integrated text-to-speech voice announces the track names of music files. It uses an SD memory card to store books and music transferred from a computer.

Victor Reader Stream can be purchased online at www.humanware.com (in USA). Current Victor Reader Stream users can upgrade their player to software version 2.0 online at www.humanware.com.

About HumanWare

HumanWare (www.humanware.com) is the global leader in assistive technologies for the print disabled. HumanWare provides products to people who are blind and have low vision and students with learning disabilities. HumanWare offers a collection of innovative products include BrailleNote, the leading productivity device for the blind in education, business and for personal use; the Victor Reader product line, the world's leading digital audiobook players, and SmartView Xtend, the first fully modular and upgradeable CCTV-based video magnifier.

For more information:

HumanWare
Nicolas Lagace
Tel.: (450) 463-1717
E-mail: nicolas.lagace@humanware.com

Happy Canada Day, and a link to CNIB!

Well, it's July 1, and that means it's Canada Day! Hello to all my Canadian friends, relatives, and to those reading those reading my blog in Canada! In honor of Canada Day, I want to give a link to CNIB, the organization that does the Talking Books program for Canadians. You can visit their site at http://www.cnib.ca/

The main page of the English version of the site is available at http://www.cnib.ca/en/Default.aspx

CNIB offers a wide variety of vision support services, including assistive technology services, career services, computer training, consumer products catalog, low vision services, and support groups. For a full list of services, please see http://www.cnib.ca/en/services/vision-support/range/Default.aspx

To get specifically to the library portion of CNIB to find out more about the Talking Books program in Canada, go to http://www.cnib.ca/en/services/library/Default.aspx

To anyone reading my blog in Canada (especially those at CNIB), feel free to post a comment.... of course, you will have to do that another day, since today is a national holiday for you! :) Enjoy the day!