----- Original Message ----- From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "AFB Subscriber" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> This looks neat.Sent: Saturday, January 08, 2005 10:46 AM Subject: January AccessWorld is Online
The January 2005 issue of AccessWorld, the American Foundation for the Blind's technology magazine, is now available on our web site. Be sure to sign up to receive AccessWorld Extra, the e-mail newsletter produced by AccessWorld staff in each of the six months when AccessWorld is not published. When you sign up for AccessWorld Extra, you are also added to the list of people who receive e-mail announcements when a new issue of AccessWorld is posted. The January issue, which you can read at http://www.afb.org/accessworld features: The Next Generation: A Review of Personal Digital Assistants, Part 1 Jim Denham, Jay Leventhal, and Heather McComas We review the BrailleNote PK from Pulse Data and the Braille Hansone from HIMS Company, two adapted personal digital assistants (PDAs). These products contain, in small packages, sophisticated word processors, appointment calendars, address books, e-mail capabilities, web browsers, media players, and multiple ways to connect with a computer and other devices. We evaluate how well each product performs and how easy they are to learn and use. In March, we will evaluate the PAC Mate from Freedom Scientific. A Packed Day with My PAC Mate Kolby Garrison AccessWorld articles usually focus on new products and how new features can help people who are blind or visually impaired do their jobs. For a change of pace, a high school student from North Carolina takes us through her busy day, and explains how she uses her PAC Mate PDA both at school and at home. Science Is Golden: Interviews with Four Scientists Who Are Visually Impaired Janet Ingber A physicist, an oceanographer, a chemist, and an astrophysicist discuss their experiences training to enter their fields, how they accomplish their jobs, and how they relate to their sighted colleagues. Discover how these role models use technology and ingenuity to perform their fascinating jobs. More Than a Perkins Brailler: A Review of the Mountbatten Brailler, Part 1 Frances Mary D'Andrea We evaluate the Mountbatten Brailler, an electronic braillewriter/printer packed with additional features. D'Andrea covers what the Mountbatten does now and its place in the classroom for beginners. Part 2, which will appear in the March edition of AccessWorld, will focus on the device's more advanced features. Diabetes Management and Visual Impairment: Are People Aware of Accessible Home Blood Pressure Monitors? Taine Duncan and Darren Burton In previous articles, AccessWorld has documented the fact that only one currently available blood glucose monitor uses modern technology and is accessible, but it comes at a price 10 times more than the inaccessible monitors. There are only two home blood pressure monitors for sale that have speech output. This article discusses an informal survey of diabetes educators and highlights their lack of knowledge on how to instruct patients who are blind or visually impaired to independently monitor and manage their health. On The Move with MuVo Deborah Kendrick We review the MuVo, an extremely small device that plays files in MP3, WMA, or the proprietary format produced by Audible.com. Learn more about this tiny, accessible off-the-shelf player. The Assistive Technology Act of 2004 Joy Relton The Assistive Technology Act of 2004 was Signed into law in October 2004. the act reauthorizes funding for Assistive Technology Act Programs (ATAPs) created under the law in 56 U.S. states and territories. These ATAPs, sometimes part of the state agency for the blind, provide demonstrations of and low-cost loans for the purchase of assistive technology, as well as information and referral. Learn about and use a major source of financing assistive technology. Contact us at [EMAIL PROTECTED] and let us know what you think of the January issue of AccessWorld. Jay Leventhal Editor in Chief You can unsubscribe at any time. To remove your name from this mailing list, or to find out what other newsletters are available from AFB, visit http://www.afb.org/myAFBNewsletter.asp.
