 |
Products & Services | Purchase | Downloads | Support |
News | Distributors | Corporate Info | Contact Us | Search |
|
 
|
|
March 2005 Volume 4 Issue 2 - @Freedom Scientific Newsletter @Freedom Scientific is a free newsletter packed with the latest information about deploying and maintaining Freedom Scientific technology. Please feel free to send us your feedback.
JAWS 6.0 AND OTHER NEW FREEDOM SCIENTIFIC PRODUCTS FEATURED AT THE 20TH ANNUAL CSUN CONFERENCESee all the exciting new products and updates from Freedom Scientific at CSUN’S 20th Annual International Conference, “Technology and Persons with Disabilities.” The California State University Northridge’s Center on Disabilities hosts this annual convention, the largest of its kind, where technology meets education. The conference will be held in Los Angeles, California, on March 16-19 at the Los Angeles Airport Marriott and Hilton Hotels. Stop by Freedom Scientific booths 250, 266, and 267 to learn about and see demonstrations of all of our hardware and software products. Check out JAWS 6.0, with all new braille functionality, remote access, and new customization tools. The latest versions of MAGic® and OpenBook™ will also be demonstrated. The newest hardware products will be on display, including the SARA™ Scanning and Reading Appliance, and the new Focus 40 and 80 Braille Displays, featuring new seamless braille cells that give the braille a paper-like feel. Freedom Scientific also will demonstrate new PAC Mate™ applications. These include StreetTalk™, a Global Positioning System (GPS) application for the PAC Mate, and FSReader for accessing books produced in the DAISY format on the PAC Mate or a desktop computer. You can also learn about and see demonstrations of the latest versions of WYNN™ and TestTalker® at Freedom Scientific Learning Systems Group booths 262 and 263. Freedom Scientific also has a content-rich array of sessions planned. The information on each session is below. Wednesday, March 16 JAWS 6.0 Release: Exciting New Features and Enhancements! Thursday, March 17Using WYNN and the SQ3R Method to Support the Older Struggling Student Friday, March 18Literacy Support for Struggling Students: One District's Collaborative Project Makes a Difference Saturday, March 19Working with MAGic! Utilizing the Many Features of MAGic Screen
Magnification In addition, Freedom Scientific has learned that two independent presentations featuring the PAC Mate will be conducted. These are: Wednesday, March 16Using The PAC Mate to Produce Math Expressions in PrintPresenters: Gaylen Kapperman and Jodi Sticken, Northern Illinois University Time: Noon - 12:30 p.m. Room: Denver - Marriott Saturday, March 19BrailleNote or PAC Mate: a Side by Side ComparisonPresenter: James Westmoreland, PacifiCorp Time: 10:40 - 11:40 a.m. Room: Atlanta - Marriott For more conference details, visit the CSUN Conference Web Site. Return to Top from First Story
FREEDOM SCIENTIFIC PRODUCTS MAKE A BANG AT UPCOMING TECHNOLOGY EXPLOSION III CONFERENCELearn how Freedom Scientific products can improve independence and employment options for people with disabilities at the Technology Explosion III Conference. Sponsored by Universal Low Vision Aids of Columbus, Ohio, and co-sponsored by the Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission and the Ohio Rehabilitation Technology Association, this highly anticipated conference takes place May 18-19 at the Radisson Hotel Columbus-Worthington in Worthington, Ohio. The conference will feature 30 informative workshops and 24 highly-rated trainers from all around Ohio and the nation. Many workshops will feature Freedom Scientific products, including JAWS 6.0, MAGic, OpenBook, the PAC Mate, Focus Braille Displays, the SARA Scanning and Reading Appliance, SAL Speech Assisted Learning, and WYNN. Eric Damery, Vice President of Product Management Software, will be the keynote speaker. Below is the list of workshops featuring Freedom Scientific products: Thursday, May 19, 20058:00 - 9:15 a.m.Bishop Chase Room John Snow Room Alexander Morrison Room 9:30 - 10:45 a.m. Bishop Chase Room Bishop Chase Room McGregor Room Alexander Morrison Room Potter Wright Room McGregor Room Alexander Morrison Room Bishop Chase Room McGregor Room Potter Wright Room Space is limited, so reservations should be made as soon as possible. To make reservations, contact Universal Low Vision Aids by e-mail at Customer Service, or call 800-369-0347 or 614-224-6465. Return to Top from Second Story
WELCOME TO PAC MATE HEADQUARTERSFreedom Scientific has launched an exciting new online resource for PAC Mate users. PAC Mate Headquarters is your one-stop resource for the PAC Mate. All PAC Mate information and downloads on the Freedom Scientific Web site have been brought together and are now easily accessible in one convenient location. PAC Mate users can download software updates and Pocket PC programs developed by Freedom Scientific. Other areas let the visitor access documentation and audio tutorials, learn about accessories that can be used with the PAC Mate, and keep up to date with the latest PAC Mate news. PAC Mate Headquarters also is a great resource for people who are interested in learning more about this revolutionary device and who may be considering a purchase. Those interested in learning more can read a description of what the PAC Mate is, access technical specifications, and read testimonials from people who use their PAC Mates in a variety of settings. Current PAC Mate users can submit their positive experiences with the PAC Mate, and Freedom Scientific may include these comments on the Web site. Sighted visitors can also access an extensive photo gallery. This area contains photos of all PAC Mate models with the PAC Mate Braille Display attached and detached, as well as photos of PAC Mate Braille Displays by themselves. PAC Mate Headquarters will continuously be updated, so users should check the Freedom Scientific Web site on a regular basis. Freedom Scientific wants this to be a valuable resource for anyone currently using a PAC Mate and for those wishing to learn more about the world’s first accessible Pocket PC. Return to Top from Third Story
NEW: TEACHER GUIDE TO THE PAC MATETeachers with students who are beginning PAC Mate users will want to check out the Teacher Guide to the PAC Mate, a new feature of the PAC Mate Headquarters on the Freedom Scientific Web site. The PAC Mate is a valuable tool for students of any age, and this guide demonstrates how it can improve a student’s classroom performance. Containing separate tutorials for the BX and QX, this comprehensive guide examines the features of the PAC Mate, gives step-by-step instructions from initial setup to working with the included applications, and concludes with practice exercises after each section. Students begin by learning the layout of the PAC Mate and exploring the Pocket PC interface, setting the time and date, and configuring settings. They then move on to more advanced functions like synchronizing data with ActiveSync, using FSEdit, and sending and receiving e-mail. While following the instructions, students can listen to audio examples of what they will hear on the PAC Mate. Although this guide was designed for teachers to use with students new to the PAC Mate, it is an excellent resource for any PAC Mate user. Visit our Teacher Guide to the PAC Mate to get started, and watch for the release of this valuable resource on CD. Return to Top from Fourth Story
IS IT TIME TO RENEW YOUR SOFTWARE MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT?Want to ensure that you can always use the full version of JAWS when the next major upgrade is released? Then make sure your SMA (Software Maintenance Agreement) is up to date. With a current SMA, you are entitled to receive two consecutive major software upgrades at no extra charge from the time of your SMA purchase. The SMA applies to major upgrades. Minor updates between releases are free to users with a current major version of JAWS. Typically, major upgrades are released once a year. An SMA ensures that your software is up to date for a full two years, and you don’t have to worry about paying for each upgrade. With the release of JAWS 6.0, many users will need to renew their SMA's. From now until May 15, 2005, you can renew your SMA for the special price of $120.00 for JAWS Standard or $200.00 for JAWS Professional. After May 15, the price will increase to $180.00 for JAWS Standard and $260.00 for JAWS Professional. Also until May 15, customers who purchase an SMA for a new single-user license of JAWS, or single-user license customers who renew an SMA that expired with the release of JAWS 6.0, will receive $25.00 off the full version of FSReader. Any customer with an SMA that has not yet expired is eligible for this offer. FSReader is an application that allows you to access text and audio material produced in the Digital Accessible Information System (DAISY) format. A demo of FSReader is included with JAWS 6.0 and will read the JAWS "What’s New" and Basic Training. The full version will read any DAISY-formatted book. While you’re reviewing your JAWS SMA, why not check your other SMA's and PMA's (Product Maintenance Agreements) to make sure they are up to date – or purchase a new SMA or PMA? To take advantage of the JAWS SMA renewal offer or to update or purchase an SMA or PMA, contact Freedom Scientific today at 1-800-444-4443 or 727-803-8000. Make sure you never miss an update. Return to Top from Fifth Story
WYNN TRAINING MODULE CD ANNOUNCEDWYNN users can take advantage of a new WYNN Training Module CD available from the Freedom Scientific Learning Systems Group. The multimedia training program is a self-guided training tool that assists users in successfully using WYNN. The WYNN training module can be used to introduce new users to WYNN or as a refresher for more experienced WYNN users. WYNN is an innovative literacy tool for students and other individuals with reading and writing disabilities. The software simultaneously highlights text as it is spoken, transforming the printed word into information that users can understand. The WYNN Training Module CD is designed so that users can go into tabbed toolbar sections to learn about or review specific features on each of the toolbars. The individual toolbar training modules can be accessed by selecting a toolbar tab within the training module CD. The WYNN Training Module CD is available for $25.00 plus shipping. Please contact Kathe Mauldin at 888-223-3344 x119 or Kathleen Wallace at 800-444-4443 x1089 to order your WYNN Training Module CD Kit today! Return to Top from Sixth Story
FREE BOOKSHARE UNPACK UTILITY FOR PAC MATE NOW AVAILABLE
Book lovers now can
download books to their BX and QX PAC Mates faster with the
much anticipated Bookshare Unpack Utility. PAC Mate users are enjoying
the new freedom this free download gives them.
With the Unpack Utility
that has been available since January, PAC Mate users no longer
need to download a book to a PC, unpack the book, and then
transfer the unpacked book to the PAC Mate. They simply download
the book through Pocket Internet Explorer or insert a CompactFlash
card or thumb drive that contains the book, then locate the
book
through
File Explorer. By selecting the book and pressing ENTER,
the Unpack Utility automatically launches. Additionally, with
books downloaded through Pocket Internet Explorer, the Unpack
Utility launches as soon as the download is complete. Bookshare.org books can be downloaded in either formatted braille or DAISY format. Formatted braille books can be read using the PAC Mate's powerful built-in word processor, FSEdit. DAISY books will soon be accessible on the PAC Mate using FSReader. Visit the Bookshare
Web site to sign up for an account that will give you access to thousands of copyrighted books in braille and DAISY formats. Visit the Freedom Scientific Bookshare
Unpack Utility page to download this free program. Return to Top from Seventh Story
FREEDOM SCIENTIFIC REMEMBERS SALLY MANGOLDFreedom Scientific expresses our sadness over the passing of Sally Mangold on Saturday January 29, 2005. Among Sally’s many contributions was her direct involvement with Freedom Scientific in the development of the SAL (Speech Assisted Learning) system. This device has been a revolutionary and invaluable tool for helping students and adults learn braille. The blindness industry has lost a valuable contributor to the field of braille instruction. Sally definitely will be missed. Return to Top from Eighth Story
TECHNOLOGY OPENS A WHOLE NEW WORLD OF WORK FOR THE BLINDBorn totally blind in 1955, the only assistive technology used extensively by twins John and Larry Gassman for the first 41 years of their lives was a Perkins Braille Writer. Then they were introduced to JAWS for Windows. Today John and Larry are successful in the business world and making a difference by opening doors for other blind people who want to work. They credit JAWS with giving them their start. Even with today’s assistive technologies, 70% of working age blind people are unemployed, according to Braille Institute of America statistics. It doesn’t need to be that way, say the brothers. In 1996, John and Larry began attending the Braille Institute in Anaheim, California, where they were introduced to a wide range of programs and services. Three years later, they both purchased computers for home use. A whole new world opened up for them. “We now enjoy the independence of accessing nearly anything a sighted computer user takes for granted.” John says. Five years ago in August, Larry was hired as a sales reservation agent in Marriott International’s Santa Ana call center. Two years later, because of his experience with JAWS, Larry was named the JAWS coordinator, in addition to booking reservations for Marriott properties. Since his promotion, he has worked to ensure that JAWS performs properly with Marriott software nationwide. He is part of the private JAWS beta team responsible for testing new versions of JAWS prior to release by Freedom Scientific. Larry is also an invaluable JAWS resource for blind agents around the world. Meanwhile, John went to work for the Braille Institute as a front desk receptionist. Later, he was promoted to braille instructor for the Orange County center. In May 2003, John accepted a position as a sales reservation agent for the Walt Disney Travel Company. He was the first totally blind person to be hired by the Disneyland resort. Currently, John books reservations for the three Disneyland resort hotels in Anaheim. In September of 2004, John and Larry gave the keynote address at the Braille Institute’s Annual Board of Directors and Volunteer luncheon. They spoke of how they would never have been able to perform their jobs without the exceptional inroads JAWS has helped bring to the work place. “As long as we have JAWS and companies willing to hire blind people, we can be productive and earn a good living,” says John. “The jobs and technologies are available if people are willing to work. We just need companies to give us a chance. Thank God for the Braille Institute and companies like Disney, Marriott, and Freedom Scientific!” Return to Top from Ninth Story
TIPS
FROM THE TRAINING DEPARTMENT
|
