Blindness and Low Vision Technology

Boston Celtics Host Special Reading Event with Students at the Perkins School for the Blind

2009-03-27T14:10:00.000-07:00

Boston Celtics Kendrick Perkins, Eddie House, Bill Walker, Wyc and Corinne Grousbeck Host Special Reading Event with Students at the Perkins School for the Blind

Players and students will read books that feature traditional printed pages and Braille pages

WHO: Boston Celtics center Kendrick Perkins
Boston Celtics guard Eddie House
Boston Celtics forward Bill Walker
Boston Celtics co-owner Wyc Grousbeck
Celtics Women’s Group member and Chair member of Perkins Trust Corinne Grousbeck

WHAT: Celtics center Kendrick Perkins, guard Eddie House, forward Bill Walker and Co-owner Wyc Grousbeck will hold a special reading event at the Perkins School for the Blind as part of the Read to Achieve program. The group will be utilizing special books that feature traditional printed pages and Braille pages. Players will talk with students about the importance of reading and share the names of some of their favorite books.

Read to Achieve is a NBA program designed to promote the value of reading and to build a lifelong love of reading in young people by providing greater access to books. The Boston Celtics Read to Achieve program is supported by locally by ReadBoston and sponsored by New England Eye Center and Aquafina.

WHEN: Tuesday, March 31
3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

WHERE: Perkins School for the Blind
Lower School Gym
175 North Beacon Street
Watertown, MA

MEDIA PARKING
Media should park in the Braille & Talking Book Library parking lot, accessible from the west entrance of the Perkins School. From Watertown Square, follow North Beacon Street (Route 20) for 1/8 mile. Turn right at the light onto Irving Street. Go straight for two blocks, then turn left on Riverside Street. Continue on Riverside to Perkins’ west entrance. Follow the driveway into the library parking lot on your right. The Lower School is in a courtyard, directly across from the library lot.

Contacts: Heather Walker, Boston Celtics – (Office) 617-854-8072, (Cell) 617-594-4453
Sean Flanagan, Regan Communications – (Office) 617- 488-2878, (Cell) 781-789-2736
Kevin Flight, Regan Communications – (Office) 617-488-2863, (Cell) 781-439-7140

MAGic 11 for 64-bit Windows Vista

2009-03-27T10:15:00.000-07:00

MAGic 11 for 64-bit Windows Vista
Sixty-four-bit versions of Windows Vista are now supported. Whether you are using MAGic 11 Professional, MAGic 11 Pro Scripting Edition, or MAGic 11 Standard, you can now install and run MAGic to provide magnification and speech support in 64-bit Windows Vista.

http://www.freedomscientific.com/downloads/magic/MAGic-whats-new.asp#Enhancements

Intel-powered CarryMate PC

2009-03-07T00:01:00.000-08:00

This Intel-powered CarryMate PC includes practical and powerful features that improve the computing experience for students and professionals with visual impairments. Built on the Intel® Atom™ processor, the CarryMate PC features durable, drop and spill resistant construction with a sturdy plastic case and removable carrying handle to withstand demanding everyday use. Combined with JAWS for Windows, Windows XP, and MS Office, the CarryMate is a true alternative to traditional notetakers.
1GB DDR2
60GB Hard Drive
Windows XP Home
JAWS Standard
Office Home and Student 2007
8.9” 1024 x 600 color touch screen LCD
10 / 100M Ethernet
802.11 b/g/n WLAN
Water Resistant Keyboard
2 Button Touch Pad
4-cell battery / AC Adapter
Integrated 2 channel audio
9.4 x 7.7 x 1.7 in. / 2.8 lbs.
2 x USB / 1 SD Slot
1.3 Megapixel Webcam
www.nextlevelat.com

Product Showcase:

2009-03-06T23:59:00.001-08:00

Product Showcase:
Please join us on March 12th, 2009
at
The Holiday Inn Portland Airport Hotel and Conference Center
83439 NE Columbia Blvd.
Portland, OR 97220-1382
in the Cascade Room
We will be demonstrating the latest in assistive technology for the visually impaired from 8:00 - 5:00
Stop by and register to win a free copy of MAGic screen magnification software.

Engineering Windows 7

2009-03-02T11:59:00.000-08:00

Some Changes Since Beta for the RC

blog dedicated to the engineering of Microsoft Windows 7

Read at: http://blogs.msdn.com/e7/

Nokia Announces kReader Mobile as the American Winner of the “Calling All Innovators” Competition

2009-03-02T11:53:00.000-08:00

Nokia Announces kReader Mobile as the American Winner of the“Calling All Innovators” Competition 01/21/09
The Mobile Reader Product Line:
KReader Mobile
KnfbReader Mobile

Seeing Machine Helps Blind See Pictures

2009-01-26T10:41:00.000-08:00

A seeing machine developed at MIT helps people with visual impairments see pictures.

http://www.pcworld.com/article/158246/seeing_machine_helps_blind_see_pictures.html

At Home with HomeGroup in Windows 7

2009-01-05T10:54:00.000-08:00

Another entry in the Windows 7 Blog:

At Home with HomeGroup in Windows 7

http://blogs.msdn.com/e7/archive/2008/12/30/at-home-with-homegroup-in-windows-7.aspx

For the Blind, Technology Does What a Guide Dog Can’t

2009-01-05T10:51:00.000-08:00

Here is an interesting article from the New York Times:

For the Blind, Technology Does What a Guide Dog Can’t
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/04/business/04blind.html?_r=1&pagewanted=1&ref

JAWS 10 Public Beta for 64-bit Windows Vista

2009-01-01T22:30:00.000-08:00

Freedom Scientific has released a 64-bit JAWS 10 English public beta test.

http://www.freedomscientific.com/downloads/JAWS/JAWS-public-beta.asp

Results from Universities of Pennsylvania and Florida Study Reaffirms LCA Gene Therapy Potential

2008-09-10T00:12:00.000-07:00

Three young adults with Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA) receiving gene therapy in a Phase I clinical study at the University of Florida and University of Pennsylvania demonstrated improved vision in dimly lit settings. The gene therapy was also shown to be safe for all three participants, who were ages 21-24.

Initial results of the study were published today in an online edition of the journal Human Gene Therapy. Additional findings from the study will be published shortly in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The LCA gene therapy under investigation at the Universities of Pennsylvania and Florida is similar to

Good Morning America Video Clip

the LCA gene therapies in Phase I clinical studies at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and Moorfields Eye Hospital in London. Results from those FFB-funded studies were published in the New England Journal of Medicine last April. All three participants in the CHOP trial reported improved visual acuity and better vision in dimly lit settings. One of three participants in the Moorfields study showed improved vision, as well.

“We are very pleased with the initially reported results of the LCA study at the University of Pennsylvania and University of Florida,” says Stephen Rose, Ph.D., Chief Research Officer, Foundation Fighting Blindness. “Of course, we are delighted to see some improvement in vision. However, the main objective in all these Phase I studies is to demonstrate safety, and they are doing just that. With safety established, we can move the treatments into more people and younger people. And we hope to see even more dramatic improvements in vision as the studies advance.”

In all three studies, the participants have a form of LCA that is caused by variations in the gene RPE65. LCA is a severe form of retinitis pigmentosa that causes blindness or severe vision loss in young children. Thus far, 12 different genes have been linked to LCA.

Though the treatments in the three studies are similar, there are some differences in the location and amount of gene therapy vector injected under the retina, as well as the promoter used to activate the gene. Promoters control gene “expression” — the amount of protein that the gene instructs retinal cells to make. Researchers want to identify a promoter that will lead to just the right amount of produced protein — not too much and not too little.

“We will learn different and complementary things from each of the three studies, and ultimately, researchers will be able to develop a better treatment using information from all of these clinical trials,” says Dr. Rose. “The bottom line is that multiple studies should lead to a more optimal treatment, and ultimately, a better opportunity to save and restore vision for patients. Also, continued success in these LCA studies will pave the way for developing gene therapy to treat other forms of retinitis pigmentosa, Usher syndrome, Stargardt disease, choroideremia, retinoschisis, and a variety of other retinal degenerative conditions.”

This University of Pennsylvania-University of Florida clinical study is being funded by the National Eye Institute. The Foundation Fighting Blindness funded much of the preclinical work that made this clinical effort possible.

Samuel G. Jacobson, M.D., Ph.D., of the University of Pennsylvania, is the study's principal investigator. Shalesh Kaushal, M.D., Ph.D., of the University of Florida, is the study’s lead surgeon. William Hauswirth, Ph.D., of the University of Florida, is the lead developer of the gene therapy.

This research breakthrough is made possible through generous donations from people like you. If you would like to send a donation to the Foundation Fighting Blindness and help us fund the research that will one day find a cure, click here.

High Technology For Low Vision

2008-09-09T12:20:00.000-07:00

This article was posted in the Wall Street Journal on Sept 9th, 2008

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122091525305212313.html?mod=hpp_us_inside_today

Large Print and Audio News Sources

2008-08-26T13:38:00.000-07:00

New York Times Large Print Weekly
If you or someone you know has trouble reading the newspaper, discover The New York Times Large Print Weekly. It brings you the world as only The Times can deliver it -- the best stories from a week's worth of the nation's best newspaper. Printed in easy-to-read, 16-point type, you get world and national news, articles on health, business, the arts, sports, and, of couse, the celebrated New York Times crossword puzzle.

The New York Times Audio Digest
On the road. At the gym. Listen to the daily audio digest of The New York Times anywhere. The New York Times Audio Digest is delivered right to your computer, Apple iPod, Pocket PC or MP3 Player everyday at 6:00 in the morning. Audible has thousands of audiobooks, audio subscriptions, original programming and more. Join now and get a free MP3 player!

Reader’s Digest/Large Print Edition Reader's Digest offers a large print edition. Currently, the cost of a one-year subscription to the Large Type edition is $19.95. Contact them at: Reader's Digest, Large Edition For Easier Reading Kable News, 4279 W. Rte. 64, Mount Morris, IL 61054 Attn JackieYount/NWF. Phone: (800) 678-9746 between 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Windows 7

2008-08-24T16:59:00.000-07:00

Microsoft talks about the next version of Windows. Check out the Windows 7 Blog:

http://blogs.msdn.com/e7/

U.S. Unveils 2009 Louis Braille Silver Dollar

2008-08-13T01:46:00.000-07:00

As you can see from the time of this post, I’m once again up late. I was hoping to catch the US Men’s Senior National Basketball Team play Angola on replay, but I can't find it. I have 500 cable channels and not one is replaying the game! So, I thought I would add one more piece of interesting information.

On July 2 2008, the U.S. Mint unveiled the design of the 2009 Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar at the National Federation of the Blind's annual convention in Dallas, Texas. The Braille Silver Dollar is the first coin minted in the United States to feature readable Braille characters. The coin will go on sale in the spring of 2009, the bicentennial anniversary of Louis Braille's birth.

Introducing ZoomWare

2008-08-13T01:38:00.000-07:00

Press Release:

Ai Squared is proud to announce the release of ZoomWare, our replacement for BigShot Magnifier. To learn more about ZoomWare simply click the play button below to watch a video demonstation of ZoomWare in action.

If a friend or family member is suffering from early vision loss or simply the stress and fatigue that comes with everyday computer use ZoomWare can help. Go to www.getzoomware.com/download to download a trial today!

Pricing:• Domestic (US+Canada) Download: $149• Domestic (US+Canada) Shipment: $175• International Download: $229 • International Shipment: $265

Call your local dealer for more information...

Mobile Phone Accessibility

2008-08-11T03:05:00.000-07:00

One of the hottest topics right now is Mobile phone accessibility. I probably take a dozen calls a week with questions regarding screen readers and screen magnification for mobile phones and PDA's.

I currently use TALKS&ZOOMS on my Moto Q and Mobile Speak on my Nokia N82. I’ll be posting a review of both products next week.

Check out the following links to learn more:
http://www.nuance.com/talks/
http://www.codefactory.es/en/

Duxbury Braille Translator Adds Enhanced Math Support

2008-08-11T01:09:00.001-07:00

This is not necessarily new news, but most of my teacher colleagues are on vacation right now and I want you all to catch this. If you are a student or a teacher of the visually impaired, the new features could make your life easier.

http://www.duxburysystems.com/news.asp#press

Freedom Scientific Releases PAC Mate Omni™ 6.1

2008-08-11T01:09:00.000-07:00

Freedom Scientific recently announced the release of version 6.1 for the PAC Mate Omni. If you are looking for a device that runs Windows Mobile 6, then the PAC Mate might be a good choice. Version 6.1 has added Braille Features and the the ability to read PDF files. A link to the press release is listed below:

http://www.freedomscientific.com/news/pressroom/2008/PACMate61-released-8-4-08.asp

Blind users of VoiceNote, BrailleNote, mPower, and BrailleNote PK notetakers can upgrade to a PAC Mate. Check out the details at:

http://www.freedomscientific.com/news/pressroom/2008/PACMate-Open-Plan-Trade-in.asp