Tuesday, December 13, 2011

YouTube launches education-only option for teachers worldwide

Even though there’s a ton of nonsense on YouTube that can admittedly be distracting to anyone at any age, there is a vast wealth of informative videos that could serve well in the classroom.

YouTube project manager Brian Truong explained on the official YouTube blog that “teachers that they want to use the vast array of educational videos on YouTube in their classrooms, but are concerned that students will be distracted by the latest music video or a video of a cute cat, or a video that might not be appropriate for students.”

Thus, the video sharing site’s developers have added a network setting that enables school administrators with access only to educational content from YouTube EDU.

YouTube has already put considerable effort into the project, which includes digital content from more than 600 partners, including the Smithsonian and TED. Furthermore, YouTube has worked with teachers to curate over 300 playlists categorized by subject (i.e. math, social studies, science, etc.) and by grade level. Teachers can also suggest their own playlists to YouTube.

For a closer look at the YouTube for Schools “global classroom” initiative, check out the promo video below:

Microsoft introduces OneNote for iPad, updates iPhone version

Microsoft introduces OneNote for iPad, updates iPhone version: Microsoft OneNote for iPad

Microsoft pushed out a native iPad version of the company's OneNote productivity app today along with enhancements to its existing iPhone counterpart. The popular note-taking utility allows users to create and edit documents on Apple's tablet, syncing them across devices via the cloud by way of Microsoft's SkyDrive. OneNote goes beyond simple text entry by offering checkboxes and bulleted items for easy composition of to-do lists, and photos can also be imported from the iOS camera roll to further personalize your work. A Windows Live ID is required to use the free-to-download app, though you'll only be able to create a total of 500 notes at no cost. An in-app purchase is required beyond that point, and is priced considerably higher on...

Friday, December 2, 2011

Trouble hearing? Advanced Bionics' waterproof implant is paddling your way

If you're one of the 200,000 deaf people who've received cochlear implants, then here's an upgrade worth considering: the Neptune from Advanced Bionics claims to be "the world's first and only swimmable, waterproof sound processor," and it's just received certification for the US and Canada. Read on for more details in the full press release and soon you could be bantering while you bathe.

Continue reading Trouble hearing? Advanced Bionics' waterproof implant is paddling your way

Braille-It Labeler brings low-cost printing, 'sightless construction' to the blind -- Engadget

It's certainly not the first Braille label printer we've seen, but Ted Moallem's Braille-It Labeler does bring notably unique element to the table -- namely, "sightless construction." Presented at this year's A Better World by Design conference, this compact device allows blind or visually impaired users to print out adhesive labels in Braille, thanks to a simple six-button design that's compatible with any Braille alphabet. Made out of relatively common materials like aluminum and steel wire, the Braille-It can also be constructed by the blind themselves -- a potentially groundbreaking development for a demographic that's too often ignored by the retail sector. Moallem, a former MIT grad student, explains:

Blind people cannot depend on mainstream commercial forces to advance the cause of Braille literacy. Nearly two centuries after the invention of Braille by a blind adolescent boy, the most widely used Braille-writing tools, the slate and stylus, are quite similar to the tools used by Louis Braille himself. In the hands of the sighted, the low-cost Braille industry has stagnated.

The inventor tested his label maker at a workshop last year in Katpadi, India, where blind trainees successfully taught other visually impaired users how to create their very own Braille-It. Moallem is now looking to set up similar workshops across other locations, including Senegal, Liberia and Lebanon. The ultimate goal is to empower blind consumers to create their own low-cost and potentially life-saving tools -- particularly in developing countries, which account for an estimated 90 percent of the world's blind population. If successful, Moallem's invention and ensuing campaign could provide a remarkably simple solution for a large, yet often neglected population. We certainly wish him the best of luck. Find out more at the source link below, or check out Inhabitat's extensive coverage for more images and insight.

Link: Inhabitat.com

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Dragon Express offers Lion users lower-cost speech-to-text

Dragon Express offers Lion users lower-cost speech-to-text:

Nuance released on Thursday a new speech-to-text app for Mac users called Dragon Express. The pared-down app features the same speech recognition engine as its full-featured, $199 cousin Dragon Dictate, but at a much lower price.

We have already reviewed Nuance's Dragon Dictate, which offers features like direct, in-app input, voice-based editing controls, voice commands to control you Mac, and more. Dragon Express is more akin to Dragon Dictation on iOS—activate the app (you can configure a hotkey), say something out loud, and your speech is converted to text. The text can then be sent to the clipboard and pasted into any other app. It can also be sent to any active text box in any currently running native Cocoa app.

Nuance said that Dragon Express can work with either your Mac's built-in mic or an optional USB headset. We haven't been able to test the app's accuracy without a headset just yet, but our experience with the iOS app suggests it should be good enough to at least give you a workable rough draft. If your typing speed isn't that great, or hampered by a repetitive-stress injury, Dragon Express could be a big help.

Dragon Express has a few more tricks up its sleeve, too. Using a limited selection of voice commands (or merely clicking the requisite icon on the app's toolbar), you can send the translated speech to Facebook, Twitter, in an e-mail, perform a Spotlight search on your Mac, or search online using Google.

Dragon Express only runs on Mac OS X Lion and is available now from the Mac App Store for an "introductory" price of $49.99.

'via Blog this'

Online Text to Speech Solutions for Corporate, Media and Public Web Sites

Online Text to Speech Solutions for Corporate, Media and Public Web Sites:

ReadSpeaker® Enterprise™ is a family of online text to speech solutions that speech-enable your website(s) for the benefit of people who would like to listen instead of (or as well as) read. Without the need for downloading and installing any additional programs it is available to all users and from anywhere. ReadSpeaker® Enterprise™ solutions are easy to implement and are used both in the public and private sectors worldwide.

ReadSpeaker® Enterprise™ is built with usability, accessibility and device independency in mind to provide maximum access not only from PCs but also from iPhones and other smartphones including BlackBerry and Android powered phones, iPads, MP3 playing devices, PDAs, Video game consoles, Interactive Internet TVs and Internet booths and kiosks.

'via Blog this'

Friday, October 21, 2011

An iOS 5 Tip: Using Your Camera Flash As An Indicator Light

An iOS 5 Tip: Using Your Camera Flash As An Indicator Light:

Were you aware that you could now use your iPhone’s camera flash as an indicator light? Of course you can and here’s how.

Note – This tip works on the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S using iOS 5

First go into Accessibility using the Settings app (General > Accessibility). Next, select LED Flash for Alerts and simply turn it on.

LED Setting

Now, whenever you receive a new alert, you’ll see your iPhone’s camera flash blinking as well.

THE APPADVICE APP IS FREE FOR A LIMITED TIME! (AND WE MEAN LIMITED!)

If you enjoyed this article, make sure to download the AppAdvice app. It brings you daily updates on the world of iOS, iPhone, iPad and jailbreak free of charge right to your iDevice - On the App Store now.

An iOS 5 Tip: Using Your Camera Flash As An Indicator Light is a story by AppAdvice.com

AppAdvice - iPhone, iPad, iPod, App Reviews + News

CONTACT US

WHAT IS ADAPTIVE TECHNOLOGY?

“Adaptive Technology refers to any item, piece of equipment, or product system, modified or customized, that is used to increase or improve the functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities to achieve greater independence. (29 U.S.C. Sec 22202).”

Adaptive Technology truly "opens the door" to life for people with disabilities. Moreover, it helps to compensate for the effects of disability such as loss of speech, paralysis, and visual impairment, cognitive problems, in an active and positive manner. It places the focus not on what is lost but on what is possible...what is constructive...what can be done! (Buning, 2008).”

Individuals with learning disabilities often have difficulty with skills that others take for granted. Reading, listening, organizing information or writing skills may improve significantly from the use of assistive technology.