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December - January 2006 - Volume 5 Issue 1 - @Freedom Scientific Newsletter @Freedom Scientific is a free newsletter packed with the latest information about Freedom Scientific technology. Please feel free to send us your feedback.
TOPAZ Desktop Video Magnifiers Herald Renewed Low Vision EmphasisFreedom Scientific’s new TOPAZ™ Desktop Video Magnifiers generated great excitement at the recent American Optometric Association’s Annual Conference in San Diego, California. The debut followed on the heels of an announcement of Freedom Scientific’s renewed emphasis on creating the industry’s most complete low vision product line. The addition of the TOPAZ builds on last year’s very successful release of the SARA™ scanning and reading appliance. Like the SARA, the innovative TOPAZ offers one of the widest ranges of standard features on the market– and at a very competitive price. The ergonomic design of the TOPAZ mounts the camera almost 9 inches above the table, so there is plenty of room to read, write, and pursue craft projects and hobbies. Magnification, color mode, Auto Focus, and other selections are easy to reach and use, with large, colorful front-mounted buttons. Any object that fits on the large Glide Table can be magnified from 2X up to 70X, when viewed on a 19-inch flat panel LCD monitor. The Glide Table also features extra wide movement for large documents and projects. A forward-mounted camera positioned above the Glide Table provides a large illuminated area, making it easier to read a wide variety of printed materials – from newspapers to medicine bottles and labels on cans. There is a large working area for pleasurable activities and hobbies like craft painting, working crossword puzzles, scrapbooking, hand-sewing and knitting, and assembling models and collectibles. A Position Locator beam assists in precise document placement, and the Focus Lock feature keeps the focus clear on the document – instead of your hand – while writing. The TOPAZ comes in five models: A model without a monitor; with a 15-inch or 17-inch CRT monitor; or with a 17” or 19” flat panel LCD monitor. The LCD models feature adjustable screen height and tilt. Prices range from $1,945 to $2,995, depending on the model. You’ll find more information about the TOPAZ and Freedom Scientific’s other low vision products as well as valuable low vision facts on our new Low Vision Solutions Web site. To arrange for a personal demonstration of the TOPAZ or the SARA, please call Sales at 1-800-444-4443, within the US, or 1-727-803-8000 worldwide. Return to Top from the First Story
Exciting New Products Unveiled at the 2006 ATIA ConferenceThose who attend the 2006 Assistive Technology Industry Association (ATIA) Conference will have a great opportunity to see Freedom Scientifics’ popular hardware and software products in action - including some exciting new products. If you’re attending the conference taking place January 18 to 21 at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida, please come by Booth #613 and try out Freedom Scientific’s Blind/Low Vision Group (BLV) products. Take time to check out what’s new and upcoming in JAWS® for Windows screen reading software, MAGic® screen magnification, and OpenBook™ scanning and reading software, and see how they form a total accessibility solution when used together. Experience all the powerful features available in the PAC Mate™ accessible Pocket PC, including the ability to wirelessly control a computer running JAWS. See the many applications created for use with the PAC Mate:
Test drive the SARA (Scanning and Reading Appliance) and our Focus 40 and Focus 80 refreshable braille displays. Individuals with low vision will get a special treat: a first-time experience with our exciting new line of video magnification products, including the TOPAZ™ Desktop Video Magnifiers. Educators of students with learning disabilities will want to stop by Booth #701 to visit with the Freedom Scientific Learning Systems Group and check out the latest features in WYNN™ and TestTalker™. In addition, Freedom Scientific will conduct sessions on several Freedom Scientific products over the course of the conference. Here is a complete list of Freedom Scientific sessions: Thursday: Topic: My MAGic. My Preference Friday: Topic: Let’s Collaborate!
A Forum about WYNN and TestTalker Topic: Deaf/Blind, Classroom,
and Orientation Solutions with the PAC Mate Topic: What’s New in OpenBook,
and What Will It Do for Me? Topic: Test Smarter with TestTalker Topic: JAWS for Windows 7.0:
The Latest Features and Access to the PC via PAC Mate For more information about the conference, schedule updates, and the organization in general, visit the ATIA Conference Web site. Return to Top from the Second Story
PAC Mate Performs at NASASince the launch of our PAC Mate Headquarters and JAWS Headquarters Web pages earlier this year, we have collected and posted many excellent testimonials from product users who have discussed their experiences and how their lives have been changed by using JAWS and the PAC Mate. Recently, Denna Lambert, a NASA contract specialist from Greenbelt, Maryland, shared her experience with using the PAC Mate. “The PAC Mate has given me a technological competitive edge in the workplace,” Denna says. “As a contract specialist for NASA, I interact with a wide range of professionals: accountants, program managers, supervisors, and private industry employees. My job requires that my adaptive technology be robust, versatile, and incorporated seamlessly into the technology used by my sighted colleagues. The PAC Mate meets every single one of those requirements. Everyday, I am able to check my calendar in one keystroke, modify my schedule on the fly, and synchronize my files." “A few weeks ago, I was able to see the freedom and flexibility the PAC Mate gave me in a meeting with top level NASA officials. I was able to send, receive, and modify documents and spreadsheets that were beamed to me by other members in this meeting. For me, this notetaker surpassed my expectations of what I thought a notetaker could do." “With the addition of StreetTalk, I am no longer a passive passenger in a car. In a totally new environment, I am able to navigate knowledgeably in tandem with the maps, my guide dog, and my O and M (orientation and mobility) skills." “For me, the PAC Mate is a complete all-in-one package,” Denna concludes. ******** If you have a success story using the PAC Mate or JAWS, we want to hear from you. Whether your use of these products has benefited you in your job, the classroom, or at home, send us your comments, so we can share them on our Web site with visitors who want to read about actual experiences from real people. To submit a PAC Mate testimonial, please visit the PAC Mate Comments page and complete the online form. Similarly, you can submit a JAWS testimonial by visiting the JAWS Comments page. Return to Top from the Third Story
A Jolly Holiday Greeting from the SARA!How can the SARA scanning and reading appliance put you in the mood for the holidays? How about by reading a classic holiday poem! Visit the new SARA Poetry Reading Page on the Freedom Scientific Web site for the SARA’s rendition of the classic holiday poem, Twas the Night before Christmas. The SARA features human-like speech in a variety of voices and many languages – perfect for the blind or low vision individual who loves to read. Sit back and listen as Tom, one of the SARA’s American English voices, reads the Clement Clarke Moore classic – and keep watching for more poems on this fun page that demonstrates the SARA’s reading abilities. Return to Top from the Fourth Story
Start the New Year with a Renewed SMAThis is a reminder that time is running short for JAWS users to take advantage of discounted pricing for renewing a JAWS Software Maintenance Agreement (SMA). An SMA entitles you to receive the next two consecutive major JAWS upgrades at no additional charge from the time of purchase. If your SMA expired with the release of JAWS 7.0, contact Freedom Scientific by December 31st, and renew your SMA for the special price of $120 for JAWS Standard or $200 for JAWS Professional. At the beginning of the new year, the SMA renewal price will increase to $180 for JAWS Standard or $260 for JAWS Professional, so act quickly! To renew your SMA, please contact Freedom Scientific Sales at 800-444-4443 or 727-803-8000. Return to Top from the Fifth Story
From the Training Department: New Training Headquarters Web PagesRecently, the Freedom Scientific Training Web pages were completely revised and updated. The new Training Headquarters is designed to give you quicker access to free training materials Freedom Scientific has designed for you. We encourage teachers or individual users to download our material and use it to improve their understanding of the many powerful features available in our products. We have organized the training materials to help you quickly find what you need. The categories are:
Check the training Web pages often for new DAISY materials and topics such as Web accessibility or creating accessible documents. The information is constantly being updated! Return to Top from the Sixth Story
New WYNN Presentation CD and Updated Training Module CD now AvailableWYNN™ users will want to take advantage of some new and updated training materials available from the Freedom Scientific Learning Systems Group (LSG). For those who are unfamiliar with WYNN or are considering a purchase, a free WYNN Presentation CD is now available. The CD features a three-minute overview of the benefits that WYNN brings to individuals who struggle with reading and writing, as well as a 10-minute demonstration of how to use the exciting new features in WYNN 4.0. For more information or to receive your free copy, please e-mail WYNN@FreedomScientific.com or call 1-888-223-3344, ext. 119. The WYNN Training Module CD, released earlier this year, has also been updated with information on the features found in WYNN 4.0. This multimedia training program is a self-guided training tool that enables users to successfully use WYNN. The WYNN training module can be used to introduce new users to WYNN or as a refresher for more experienced WYNN users. It is designed with tabbed toolbar sections, making it easy to learn about or review specific features on each of WYNN’s toolbars. The individual toolbar training modules can be accessed by selecting a toolbar tab within the training module CD. To get the WYNN Training Module CD for $25 plus shipping, please contact Kathe Mauldin at 888-223-3344 x119 or Kathleen Wallace at 1-800-444-4443 x1089. Return to Top from the Seventh Story
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