On a cool cloudy day in early January the Victoria GTT group met once again at the Knox Presbyterian Church Lounge on Richmond Road. This gathering was for the purpose of hearing a presentation by Allan Carlson from the Ministry of Education, for which approximately 28 blind and partially sighted participants attended. His expertise is in the area of Public Library services, and he was asked to present specifically on the National Network for Equitable Library Service (NNELS) adopted by BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, North West Territories, Yukon and Nunavut.

Allan gave a brief overview of how NNELS came to be, and how print disabled Canadians can access it for the borrowing of the collections over 12,000 audio book titles. NNELS is a member of the BC Libraries Cooperative which has a budget to produce audio books. He further explained how users can request new titles if the book they’re seeking isn’t available, and that NNELS tries to provide those requests in approximately one week. NNELS has a limited budget with which to purchase new titles, however endeavours to add as many voice recorded titles as possible. New requests are mostly scanned and saved as synthesized speech DAISY or MP3 audio books. If the Library customer already owns the book it can quickly be scanned and converted free of charge.

Allan went on to indicate that Open Source software is used to store and deliver the collection via computer and other portable device internet downloads, and that if participants require assistance to search, download or burn to CD a book from the collection those services are, or soon will be available through local Libraries, or the NNELS Help Desk. After all, this service is entirely funded through your tax supported Provincial Public Library budgets, and as such are mandated to be delivered locally. If your Library isn’t currently a member you are urged to advocate to have them become involved.

He provided contact info for NNELS and briefly outlined how people can register even if their local Library hasn’t signed up yet. You will require a Library Card from your local Library in order to sign up for a temporary membership, then you can either request assistance or register online. Use the contact info found below.

National Network for Equitable Library Service
https://nnels.ca/
Email: support@nnels.ca
Phone: 1-855-383-5761, ext. 1017
Follow NNELS on Twitter: @NNELSca

During the second hour of the January 7 meeting a general discussion was undertaken around the use of iPhones verses Android smart phones, as well as a brief chat about accessible phones that might be just used to make phone calls. Some suggestions were offered, and people exchanged business cards in order to follow up after the meeting.

A question was asked about the use of free magnification on Apple and PC computers. Suggestions were offered, and people connected for ongoing support and strategies.

One participant asked whether he should make the move to the computer, or if he can find satisfaction with the DAISY player he currently owns. Albert will follow up to guide him in the exploration of his current device and ascertain his needs as they relate to his existing technology.

The high cost of assistive technology was also raised from the perspective of limited incomes with which to purchase/upgrade in order to keep up with ongoing improvements.

Due to the large number of Victoria residents currently battling the flu people were asked during this meeting to limit the amount of physical contact, however it seems that a couple of people came away with flues/colds regardless. Thanks to all who were so diligent in this regard.

The meeting ended at about 3:30 with several staying around to network and exchange contact info.

Respectfully Submitted on January 15, 2015

Albert A. Ruel, GTT Coordinator

Blaze EZ Dec 17 Demo Summary Notes:

The National GTT Conference Call Group were very appreciative to have Steve Barclay, COO of Aroga Technologies on December 17, 2014 lead us in the presentation of the “Direct to Player” audio book downloading, Podcast/Internet Radio Streaming, text to speech and OCR capabilities of the portable Blaze EZ DAISY player.

Steve started the presentation with a detailed explanation of the physical layout of the device and the workings of each button and feature. He then demonstrated the easy with which all aspects of the device can be used, as well as the two voices available in the English model.

The initial demonstration was followed by many questions about the cost, it’s availability through the Ontario ADP, and its size, weight and battery life. For further detailed information on the Blaze EZ please call Aroga at 1-800-561-6222, or info@Aroga.com.
http://www.aroga.com/blaze-ez-daisy-player/

The device appears to function as we’ve come to expect of talking book, OCR and text to speech devices, at a size and weight comparable to the other similar portable devices on the current market. I may have noticed that to scroll across the list of books/Podcasts on the Books Shelves one used the up and down arrow buttons, whereas other devices use left and right arrows. As well, the user accesses alphanumeric characters in a way similar to the Apple TV, which is to use the four arrow buttons to locate the desired character and the Enter Key to select it. The camera for the OCR function is a 5Megapixle unit like many other smart phones on the market. The device ships with a Quick-Start Guide in print and Braille, and it has 12 GB of internal storage.

Steve also indicated that it is being put forward to the Ministry for inclusion as an OCR device through the Ontario ADP, however that it’ll likely be 6 months or more before anything is known about those prospects. In the meantime, it might be possible to acquire the Blaze with the $450 credit allowed for talking book devices under the Ontario ADP.

If those of you who attended this meeting have other recollections, thoughts or ideas to convey regarding this device/presentation please do so in the comments section of this blog.

Respectfully submitted:
Albert A. Ruel
albertruel@gmail.com

It has been quite the year for GTT.
I am amazed sometimes when I think about it.
I am enjoying coordinating GTT so very much.
My thanks to all who have collaborated and contributed to GTT.
For those who volunteer their time to teach others about technology, assist with tea and coffee, help people find the right place, drive ETC, thanks to you all.
For those who participate and bring their great ideas, thank you!
to those who have provided grants, including the community foundation of Ottawa and the crabtree foundation, thanks.
For those who have partnered with GTT, thank you.
This includes: CKCU radio, CNIB front line staff, CCB who is taking the lead in funding and supporting GTT.
Thanks to you all for your dedication and enthusiasm and may 2015 be the best GTT year ever!
Posted by Kim Kilpatrick
Coordinator GTT Program

On Dec 6 about 10 Nanaimo GTT members attended with three new people checking us out for the first time. Lori made her way down from Comox, and both Helen and Helena from Nanaimo also joined us. Thanks to all who brought food and coffee, which meant we were blessed with enough Christmas goodies for twice that number. It’s all stuck to the middle of my body now, and likely to remain there into the New Year.

Speaking of the New Year, on behalf of the Canadian Council of the Blind I’d like to extend to each of you a very Merry Christmas, and a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year.

The gathered group started out discussing non-technology games that can be played by blind and low vision players along with their sighted friends and family. Sadly, no one was able to determine whether or not playing cards can be purchased that contain both large print and braille. Most seemed to be of the opinion that cards are sold with one or the other of those access formats. Any additional info in this regard will be appreciated. There seemed to be consciences that the British Braille format is preferred over the American style however.

Games like Bean Bags, Horseshoes and Ladder Golf were talked about, as were many of the standard board games like Monopoly, Clue and Scrabble that are available with both print and braille. Othello, Backgammon and raised-dot dice were also mentioned. We also discussed a variety of accessible games that use some sort of bell or beeper placed inside the ball, like Goal Ball, Beep ball, Showdown etc.

Albert demonstrated his favourite iPhone card game called Cribbage Pro. It’s a free game if you only want to play against the device, and a more advanced version can be purchased so that one can play against online players throughout the world.

Aedan talked about some computer dependent games that can be found at, RSGames.org which are a series of games that can only be played online, either against the computer or another player. There is another series of games that can be downloaded called Kitchen Sink, however these ones are installed to the computer and can be played even if your computer isn’t online. Aedan also discussed an accessible Dart Board that was of interest to many in attendance. Stay tuned for more info on this one.

Donna showed us and discussed some of the games she likes to play on her iPhone called, Where’s My Ducky, Zany Touch and a running/exercise game called Zombie Run. She indicated that some of these games are good for the beginner iPhone user as they help to teach how to use the gestures needed in order to operate touch screen technology.

Donna and Aedan also mentioned that the Apple VIS web site is a great place to learn about some of the blind accessible games for Mac computers and iDevices, as well as all manner of productivity and learning applications.

The next GTT Nanaimo Meeting will be moved to Saturday, January 10, 2015 so that we don’t get in the way of people’s time off during the Christmas Holidays. The theme of that meeting will be to explore and assist with any of the new gadgets that people will have received from Santa and her helpers. I’ll be showing off my spanking new sky blue long cane that is being requested in my Santa letter. That is provided I’m able to remain reasonably good between now and then. The question is, if I use a sky blue cane will I still be able to refer to it as a “white cane”?

If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact Donna or me as indicated below:

Albert Ruel
250-240-2343
albertruel@gmail.com

Donna Hudon
250-618-0010
iamdonnahudon@gmail.com

This is an informative podcast on accessible smart phones.

http://mosen.org/index.php/feed/ Continue reading “Touching the future” →

On December 3, 2014 the Canadian Council of the Blind (CCB) hosted its first Get Together with Technology (GTT) meeting in the Victoria BC area.  The facility rented for this activity was a Lounge within the Presbyterian Church on Richmond Road.  It proved to be a perfect room for groups up to 25 or so participants, however we had to expand into the larger auditorium as a result of the 34+ who attended this inaugural event.  Thank you goes out to Ken Sudhues, Tom Dekker and others for helping to set-up and tear-down the room, and to all who made the effort to bring your questions, ideas and talents to this new and exciting initiative, as well as for the goodies supplied for us to nibble on during the mid-meeting break.

To start the meeting Albert Ruel, who travelled to the meeting from Parksville, gave a brief outline of the host organization, as well as the GTT initiative and why it was launched by the CCB National Office some 3 years ago.  The goal of encouraging participants to function as a peer group to support each other’s exploration and selection of technology that will enhance their lives, as well as to operate as a means for people to train each other in the use of their selected devices and software was also outlined and discussed.

Many attended from some of the local Mac Degeneration and Low Vision Groups, the original Vision Impaired Computer Users Group that Ken Perry and Mark Nicol have facilitated, as well as a large contingent from the Pacific Training Center for/of the Blind.  We wish to thank everyone who attended and promoted this event.

The topic of the day was to be “Games People Play”, and some of that was briefly discussed during the first hour.  As it was Victoria’s first time meeting under the GTT Program banner many other questions and ideas were raised and discussed.  Chief among them was the expectations of the individual members for such an ongoing event, and their reasons for wanting to be involved.

Most participants expressed a desire to seek higher levels of competency with the technology they already own, and many are seeking guided assistance in the exploration of the many devices and software/applications that might allow them to increase their participation in the community, their families and in the work place.  A few people came to the event expecting to experience a technology display, so left when the format of the GTT meeting was realized.  Although technology displays and presentations will also make up some of the monthly GTT meetings, this event was to establish the Victoria group and to determine the local participants who will champion and lead this gathering.

The second hour saw the attendees breaking off into two groups so that basic Library and Newspaper access could be discussed by some, and more advanced iDevice discussion in the larger group.  Some smaller groups also gathered in other areas of the room for more specific discussions.

The next meeting of the GTT Victoria Group will be on January 7, 2015 at the same time and place, with the theme of Audio, Braille and large print access to reading material.  Discussion will center around how local Libraries can support our needs, and the various off-the-shelf and blindness specific devices that can be employed to access our favourite readings.  More details will be circulated as they develop.

And finally, you are encouraged to sign-up for the GTT Program blog below so that you can receive all notifications of meetings no matter where you live in Canada.  Signing up is quick and easy, and if you prefer to have Kim Kilpatrick or I do so for you please contact us with that request and we’ll be pleased to do so on your behalf.  We can be reached at:

Albert Ruel

250-240-2343

albertruel@gmail.com

Kim Kilpatrick

1-877-304-0968

gttprogram@rogers.com

To stay in touch with all GTT Program news and events, subscribe to the GTT blog at: https://gttprogram.wordpress.com/

1. Once on the above web site you may use your screen reader commands to find the first Form Field to be filled in by pressing the letter “F” until you locate the edit field where you will type in your email address.  It will be found near the bottom of the web page.
2. Tab once to the Submit Button and press the Space Bar and you’re done.
3. Well, not quite done, as you will receive an email message asking you to confirm. Just press the Enter Key on the Confirmation link in the email message and you will be done!