[Missouri-l] Fw: AccessWorld Extra August 2009
Chip Hailey
chiphailey at cableone.net
Mon Aug 31 15:58:30 CDT 2009
AccessWorld Extra August 2009
----- Original Message -----
From: AccessWorld Editors
To: AFB Subscriber
Sent: Monday, August 31, 2009 3:36 PM
Subject: AccessWorld Extra August 2009
AFB American Foundation
for the Blind TM
Expanding possibilities for people with vision loss
AccessWorld(R) Extra
A bi-monthly e-mail newsletter of additional AccessWorld® content
Volume 9, Number 4
August 2009
"Remove" instructions at bottom
Contents
1. From the Editor
2. Readers' Corner
3. Coming Soon in AccessWorld
4. What's New
5. Contact Us
Note: This material is copyright © 2009, American Foundation for the Blind and may not be reprinted or reproduced electronically without permission. AccessWorld® is a registered trademark of the American Foundation for the Blind.
=================
1. From the Editor
=================
Dear AccessWorld Reader: Welcome to the August 2009 edition of AccessWorld Extra, the e-mail newsletter produced by AccessWorld staff members six times per year.
We are in the midst of a transition here at AccessWorld. AFB will soon be undertaking a search for a new editor of AccessWorld who will build on the excellent work carried on for the first ten years by Jay Leventhal. Jay has for years charted the course of our online magazine with skill and dedication, and we will miss his stewardship.
AccessWorld is built on a foundation of comprehensive product evaluations, detailed reporting on new technologies, user-friendly explanations of services, along with tips and techniques on how to do many different activities. AccessWorld has achieved tremendous growth in readers and we know that you expect a commitment to high standards of editorial integrity and quality in our reporting. And, we also know that information and communications technology changes rapidly and you are trying to keep up with those changes. As we look to the future of our reporting on technology of interest to people with vision loss, we want your ideas about how to balance comprehensive and detailed analysis with the need for immediate information.
We are enlisting your help in guiding the future direction of AccessWorld. We want to know what you value most from what we've been providing, and what new information you'd be most excited to have us provide in this technology news source. Your input is very important to helping us chart the future.
We hope that you will take time to complete the survey, and encourage others to do so as well. And, remember, your comments are always welcome. What do you think of the articles in the current issue of AccessWorld? Do you have any technology questions that you'd like us to answer for you? Perhaps you have a comment on one of the news stories in this issue.
AccessWorld Extra is designed to be easy to read for everyone. Items are numbered, and you can search for the beginning of the next item, since each item is preceded by a line of equal signs.
Send your comments to accessworld at afb.net. This e-mail newsletter is meant to provide more of what you have told us you want--more of AccessWorld. We hope you will love it, but if you decide that you want to be taken off the distribution list, please e-mail us at accessworld at afb.net and let us know. If your e-mail address changes, please also contact us at that address and we will add your new address to the distribution list. If someone forwarded this issue to you, and you would like to be added to our distribution list, please contact us at the same address.
We encourage you to forward AccessWorld Extra to a friend, relative, teacher, or someone else who may benefit from the news and information in AccessWorld. Please help us spread the news that AccessWorld is free for all to read. Just be sure to forward the entire issue, including the copyright notice.
Paul Schroeder
Acting Editor-in-Chief
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2. Readers' Corner
=================
Here's your forum for talking to us and to each other. This month, we hope you will take time to carefully and deliberately respond to our survey which is designed to gather your wishes for future directions and content for AccessWorld. To answer this survey, go to the AccessWorld home page www.afb.org/accessworld and select the link "Take our survey on future directions for AccessWorld." If you are not comfortable answering surveys on the web, you can answer the survey below and e-mail your response to us.
=================
Survey
=================
Help Shape the Future of AccessWorld
We are enlisting your help in guiding the future direction of AccessWorld. We want to know what you value most from what we've been providing, and what new information you'd be most excited to have us provide in this technology news source. Your input is very important to helping us chart the future.
1. How interested are you in reading about the following products or services in AccessWorld?
Telecommunications (cell phones, telephones, etc.)?
Scale: (place an "X" in front of your choice. Please choose only one.)
Very interested
Somewhat interested
Only a little interested
Not very interested
Not interested at all
2. Mainstream PDAs (Blackberry, phone, etc.)?
Scale: (place an "X" in front of your choice. Please choose only one.)
Very interested
Somewhat interested
Only a little interested
Not very interested
Not interested at all
3. Assistive technology (accessible PDAs, screen readers, video magnifiers, etc.)?
Very interested
Somewhat interested
Only a little interested
Not very interested
Not interested at all
4. Computer operating systems (Windows, Mac, etc.)?
Very interested
Somewhat interested
Only a little interested
Not very interested
Not interested at all
5. Computer applications (MS Word, Outlook, Firefox, etc.)
Very interested
Somewhat interested
Only a little interested
Not very interested
Not interested at all
6. Web sites and web accessibility?
Very interested
Somewhat interested
Only a little interested
Not very interested
Not interested at all
7. Online learning technologies (Blackboard, Moodle, etc.)?
Very interested
Somewhat interested
Only a little interested
Not very interested
Not interested at all
8. Office equipment (printers, copiers, fax machines, etc.)?
Very interested
Somewhat interested
Only a little interested
Not very interested
Not interested at all
9. Way-finding technologies (GPS, talking signs, audible traffic signals, etc.)?
Very interested
Somewhat interested
Only a little interested
Not very interested
Not interested at all
10. Strategies and ideas for providing training?
Very interested
Somewhat interested
Only a little interested
Not very interested
Not interested at all
11. Home entertainment?
Very interested
Somewhat interested
Only a little interested
Not very interested
Not interested at all
12. Home appliances?
Very interested
Somewhat interested
Only a little interested
Not very interested
Not interested at all
13. Medical devices?
Very interested
Somewhat interested
Only a little interested
Not very interested
Not interested at all
14. Other (please specify):
15. How interested would you be in receiving breaking news items quickly, even though
there would be less detail than we normally include in a full AccessWorld article?
Very interested
Somewhat interested
Only a little interested
Not very interested
Not interested at all
16. If AccessWorld chose to post breaking news items immediately, how interested would
you be in continuing to read our bi-monthly AccessWorld magazine with detailed articles?
Very interested
Somewhat interested
Only a little interested
Not very interested
Not interested at all
17. Thinking about the past several AccessWorld product evaluations you have read, what do you think about the amount of detail in the articles? Was there: (choose one)
A lot more detail than I needed
A little more detail than I needed
Just the right amount of detail
A little less detail than I needed
A lot less detail than I needed
18. Which of the following best describes you? (select all that apply):
User of assistive technology
Assistive technology developer
Technology trainer
Family member or friend of someone with vision loss
Employer interested in technology used by people with vision loss
Other (please specify below)
None of the above, I am best described as:
20. Please provide a few comments about what topics or features you would like to see in future issues of AccessWorld.
21. How important to you are each of the following AccessWorld features?
Product evaluations:
Scale:
Very important
Somewhat important
Neither important nor unimportant
Somewhat unimportant
Very unimportant
22. How important is it to feature articles about the following types of information technology in AccessWorld?
Assistive Technology products designed for the blind or visually impaired such as accessible PDAs (note takers) and video
magnifiers
Scale:
Very important
Somewhat important
Neither important nor unimportant
Somewhat unimportant
Very unimportant
23. Assistive Technology products that facilitate access to mainstream technology such as screen reading and screen
magnification software
Scale:
Very important
Somewhat important
Neither important nor unimportant
Somewhat unimportant
Very unimportant
24. Mainstream technology products such as blood glucose meters, home appliances, and cell phones
Scale:
Very important
Somewhat important
Neither important nor unimportant
Somewhat unimportant
Very unimportant
25. I use the information in AccessWorld to: (select all that apply)
Guide purchases
Help make decisions about technology used in my organization
Improve my use of technology
Help others use technology better
Other (please specify)
=================
End of e-mail Version of Survey
=================
In June, we focused on television since the US converted to digital TV. We wanted to know about how you access information about television programs and how you access your TV controls. We received 57 responses.
We asked:
How do you receive television programming?
Cable 31
Satellite 12
Over-the-air using a digital TV converter box: 12
Over-the-air broadcast with an HDTV: 3
On the web: 2
Other (please specify) 5
I have a CD player with TV bands in my kitchen. There was no information on being able to convert this unit from analogue to digital TV bands. Also, there has been no catalogue for the Blind that is selling a digital unit for TV bands as far as I know.
VERIZON FIOS
I no longer have TV access since I have put off getting either a converter box or cable/satellite. I have never watched much, but now I don't even have the choice unless I find a box I can use or pay for the privilege.
I used to use a TV radio: 2
What kind of remote control do you use for TV?
The control that came with your TV or set-top box: 48
A mainstream universal remote: 3
An accessible remote: 3
If you answered "accessible remote" in the last question, please indicate which one
you have.
I use both an Accessible Large Button Remote from Time Warner Cable and the Remote that came with my TV.
Innovage Jumbo Universal Remote
Surfboard
How often do you watch TV shows with video description?
Every day: 1
A few times a week: 2
Less than once a week: 3
Less than once a month: 19
Never: 32
Until June 12, video description was delivered over an audio portion of the analog
channel known as the Secondary Audio Program (SAP). Have you tried to access description since June 12?
Yes: 6
No: 50
If yes, did the digital transmission of video description work:
Better than SAP: 3
Just as well as SAP: 1
Not as well as SAP: 1
Not at all: 5
Do you have difficulty adjusting any of the following functions independently on
your current television? Check all that apply.
Selecting channels: 13
Controlling volume: 4
Selecting video description: 34
How do you find out about TV program schedules?
>From friends or family: 29
On the web: 21
NFB Newsline: 14
Other (please specify) 11
Channel surfing: 3
I do not know how to find described programs each day. I would love some suggestions.
The on screen guide from Cox Digital Cable.
Channel 13's weekly email
I don't know how to find out what is on the channels and how to select them.
I don't know where to find out what is on television.
Ohio Telephone Reader (which is like the NFB Newsline)
I tend to watch the same programs, so don't worry about program guides much.
Comcast online program guide
I mostly watch cable news channels. I just watch whatever is on or pick another one.
=================
3. Coming Soon in AccessWorld
=================
We hope you are enjoying the July 2009 AccessWorld, featuring:
Navigating by Phone: A Review of Wayfinder Access GPS and Mobile Geo, Part 2
Lowering the Price of Braille: A Review of the Seika Braille Display
Good News on the Home Front: An Update on Appliance Accessibility
Even More Ways to Communicate: A Review of Twitter and Google Voice
Are You on BARD? The Long-awaited Switch to Digital Talking Books
You can read the issue for free or download printer-ready or braille-embosser-ready files at www.afb.org/accessworld. Don't miss the September 2009 issue, coming soon. This issue will bring you:
A much awaited report by Darren Burton on the access features built into the new iPhone;
A review by Deborah Kendrick of the book "Using The Accessible iPod," by Anna Dresner;
A description of the Lexmark Accessibility Solution, a web-based interface for using the copy, print, fax, scan, and e-mail features of many of their multifunction machines.
And, Brad Hodges conducts a thought-provoking interview with noted tech expert Jamal Mazrui.
=================
4. What's New?
Twenty-first Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act Introduced in Congress
On June 26, Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA) introduced the "21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2009" (H.R. 3101). This comprehensive measure would modernize disability accessibility mandates in the Communications Act, bringing existing requirements up to date to cover TV and phone services deployed over the Internet and ensure access to television through accessible interfaces and video description.
The bill would:
require that mobile and other Internet-based telecommunications devices be fully hearing aid compatible, have accessible user interfaces, and offer people with disabilities use of a full range of text messaging and other popular services that are currently largely inaccessible;
provide people who are deaf-blind with vital but costly technologies they need to communicate electronically, establish a process for the provision of real-time text capability, and clarify existing relay-to-relay, Lifeline and Linkup service requirements to ensure their relevance to the real world communications needs of people with disabilities;
restore the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC's) modest video description rules and unambiguously establish the Commission's current and ongoing authority to expand such regulations;
require emergency announcements and similar information to be accessible to people with disabilities through audible presentation of on-screen alerts;
ensure that video programming offered via the Internet will be both captioned and described, and call for all devices that receive and playback video programming to employ accessible user interfaces and allow ready access to captioning and description; and
strengthen consumers' ability to enforce their rights to communications and video accessibility through the establishment of a clearinghouse of information about service and equipment accessibility and usability, a meaningful FCC complaint process that holds industry accountable for their accessibility obligations, and judicial review of FCC action to ensure the Commission's own accountability.
The principles for this legislation were developed by the Coalition of Organizations for Accessible Technology (COAT), a new coalition of over 240 national, regional, state, and community-based disability organizations. AFB is a leader of this coalition. COAT was developed to advocate for legislative and regulatory safeguards that will ensure full access by people with disabilities to evolving high speed broadband, wireless and other Internet Protocol (IP) technologies. More info about COAT can be found at:
www.coataccess.org.
=================
=================
5. Contact Us
=================
Editor in Chief (Acting)
Paul Schroeder jaylev at afb.net
Contributing Editors
Founding Editor: Paul Schroeder: pws at afb.net
Senior Features Editor: Deborah Kendrick: dkk at afb.net
Darren Burton: dburton at afb.net
Crista L. Earl: crista at afb.net
Mark M. Uslan: muslan at afb.net
Managing Editor
Elizabeth Neal: lneal at afb.net
Marketing Manager
Sharon Baker-Harris: sharonb at afb.net
Web site: www.afb.org/accessworld
General e-mail: accessworld at afb.net
AccessWorld®, AFB's premier technology publication, is a free, web-based magazine. It offers multiple options for reading and sharing content, including a braille embosser-ready file, a printer-friendly version, and an "e-mail this article to a friend" option.
To advertise, contact the AFB Press Advertising Department; phone: 212-502-7652; e-mail: sharonb at afb.net.
To submit an article, question for the Questions and Answers column, or Letter to the Editor, contact:
Paul Schroeder; e-mail: accessworld at afb.net.
AccessWorld Extra is published bi-monthly by American Foundation for the Blind, 11 Penn Plaza, Suite 300, New York, NY 10001. Products included in AccessWorld Extra are not necessarily endorsed by AccessWorld® or AFB staff. All rights reserved. Copyright © 2009, American Foundation for the Blind.
AccessWorld® is a registered trademark of the American Foundation for the Blind.
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