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May 2005 Volume 4 Issue 3 - @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 6.10 IS RELEASEDMany exciting new features and enhancements can be found in JAWS for Windows 6.10, now available for download from the Freedom Scientific Web site. This is a free update to customers running 6.0, and many of the revolutionary features introduced in this version have been improved to provide greater functionality. JAWS 6.10 also contains over 300 bug fixes, making it the most stable and responsive version to date. Here is a list of some of the new features users will find in this version:
These are just a few of the new additions users can expect. Visit the JAWS 6.10 page on the Freedom Scientific Web site to download this free update and read more about improvements for using JAWS with Microsoft Internet Explorer, Word, and Outlook, as well as enhancements in braille and more. Return to Top from First Story
REMINDER: SPECIAL JAWS SOFTWARE MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT RENEWAL PRICING ENDS MAY 15The deadline for customers to take advantage of special JAWS Software Maintenance Agreement (SMA) renewal and FSReader pricing offered by Freedom Scientific is rapidly approaching. Those users wishing to renew a JAWS SMA and who also want to purchase FSReader at a discounted price must contact Freedom Scientific within the next couple of weeks to take advantage of this offer. A current SMA entitles you to receive the next two consecutive major upgrades of JAWS at no additional charge from the time of purchase. Until May 15, 2005, customers can renew a JAWS 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 purchase of FSReader. Any customer with an SMA that has not yet expired is also eligible for this offer. FSReader is an application that allows a user to access text and audio material produced in the Digital Accessible Information System (DAISY) format. A demo of FSReader is included with JAWS 6.10 and will read the JAWS Basic Training, which is included in DAISY format. To take advantage of the JAWS SMA renewal and FSReader discount offers, contact your local dealer or Freedom Scientific today at 1-800-444-4443 or 727-803-8000. Return to Top from Second Story
WELCOME TO JAWS HEADQUARTERSAnother exciting new online resource is now available on the Freedom Scientific Web site. At the end of January, Freedom Scientific launched PAC Mate Headquarters. Based on the success of PAC Mate Headquarters, the new JAWS Headquarters was launched in March. All of the JAWS related information found on the Freedom Scientific Web site has been brought together and is now accessible from one convenient location. It is designed to be the one-stop resource for the world's leading screen reader. Visitors interested in learning more about JAWS, and who may be considering a purchase, can read an overview of JAWS and how it works, read system requirements, access purchasing information, and download a demo of the latest version. JAWS users can access the Help files, JAWS Basic Training Lessons, the Basics of Scripting Manual, Internet License Manager (ILM) information, and a wealth of other documentation resources. Users can also download the current version of JAWS as well as previous versions, keep up to date on the latest JAWS news, and read testimonials provided by other JAWS users who want to share how JAWS has benefited them in their daily lives. Customers experiencing problems with their JAWS installation can quickly access our extensive knowledge base of Technical Support bulletins and frequently asked questions for troubleshooting advice. The JAWS Headquarters page also provides links to several user groups including the JAWSLite User Group, JAWSScripts User Group, United Kingdom JAWS User Group, JAWS User's Mailing List, and more. While none of these groups are directly affiliated with Freedom Scientific, they can be a good resource for users who want to share ideas and help each other with the various aspects of JAWS. JAWS Headquarters will continuously be updated, so check the Freedom Scientific Web site on a regular basis. Return to Top from Third Story
JOIN FREEDOM SCIENTIFIC AT THE NFB AND ACB CONVENTIONSFreedom Scientific will be at both the ACB and NFB national conventions. The ACB National Convention will be held July 2 through 9, in Las Vegas Nevada. The NFB National Convention takes place July 2 through 8, in Louisville Kentucky. If you are attending the NFB National Convention, make a point to arrive a day early to participate in two pre-conference sessions presented by Freedom Scientific. On Saturday morning, Eric Damery will discuss and demonstrate many of the exciting features in the latest version of JAWS including the latest in support for the Web, the Skim Read feature, PAC Mate Desktop, and remote access via Citrix and Remote Desktop. On Saturday afternoon, Brad Davis will discuss and demonstrate the latest features of the PAC Mate including PAC Mate Desktop, StreetTalk, FSReader, and more. Additional details on session times and locations will be announced shortly. For those who are attending either one of the conventions, remember to bring your PAC Mate and get scheduled for one of the Freedom Scientific PAC Mate training sessions. These sessions are available during exhibit hall hours and give you the opportunity to spend an hour working one-on-one with a trainer learning how to use the various productivity applications and how to get the most out of your PAC Mate. More details on the PAC Mate training sessions will be available shortly. Watch the Freedom Scientific Web site Events page for more information about Freedom Scientific presentations at both conventions. Return to Top from Fourth Story
FREEDOM SCIENTIFIC PROVIDES PRODUCT FOR TWO PRIME TIME TV SHOWSWhen the producers of two ABC TV series were in need of accessible technology products for the blind, they turned to Freedom Scientific. ABC's Extreme Makeover Home Edition - Broadcasts May 1, 7 to 9 PM EDTFreedom Scientific provided products for an upcoming broadcast of the highly-rated ABC series Extreme Makeover Home Edition. The show, which will air as a two-hour special on Sunday, May 1, features the rebuilding of an accessible home for Jamie Dolan, a St. Petersburg, Florida resident who was left blind after a November 2004 shooting. Among the contributions that Freedom Scientific made for the Dolan home were JAWS®, the SARA™ Scanning and Reading Appliance, a PAC Mate™ QX440, the StreetTalk™ accessible GPS solution, and the FSReader DAISY player for both PAC Mate and Desktop. The national broadcast will be preceded at 6 PM by a one-hour pre-show, aired only in the Tampa Bay area by the local ABC affiliate. The pre-show will include more focus on the volunteers and companies that contributed to the home. After the air date, clips from the series and product information will be on the Extreme Makeover Home Edition Web site. Right now, you can read an article about Freedom Scientific’s participation on the ABC Action News Tampa Bay Web site. On Monday, May 2, the Dolan home again will be seen on the one-hour ABC series, How’d They Do That? The broadcast will go behind the scenes to show more about the home’s accessible features. ABC's Blind Justice- Broadcasts Weekly, 10 PM EDTFreedom Scientific also provided products for ABC TV’s newest prime time drama, Blind Justice. The series, which premiered in March, features a cops-and-robbers theme with the added twist of a blind police detective. It is produced by Bochco Productions, who also was responsible for the very successful NYPD Blue series that the new ABC pilot replaced. The producers worked with Freedom Scientific and EVAS, a Rhode Island accessible technology business, to obtain a copy of JAWS screen reading software. Later in the filming for the 13-week pilot, Freedom Scientific added a Braille Blazer and a PAC Mate for use in the show. Return to Top from Fifth Story
TIPS FROM THE TRAINING DEPARTMENT: The Calendar Function in Microsoft Outlook 2003Customers have always wanted to have full access to the Microsoft Outlook Calendar. With JAWS 6.10, you have excellent access to this function. This information will show you how to use JAWS 6.10 effectively with the Microsoft Outlook 2003 Calendar. When you first start Microsoft Outlook 2003, the Calendar function may not be immediately available. To access the Calendar, press CTRL+2. The Calendar function appears, with the Administrative/Navigation pane on the left and the actual Calendar pane on the right. You may find this function more accessible if you close the Administration/Navigation pane. Press CTRL+F1 to close it. First, you need to configure the Calendar. Decide how many days you want to display. This is largely dependent on the number of appointments you are tracking. Your choices are:
Selecting any of these options reformats the window with the requested number of days. Note that the Outlook Calendar function uses the system date as the current date to start the calendar display. If your calendar begins with the incorrect date, change the system date. You can navigate to a specific day of the year by pressing CTRL+G to open the Go to Date dialog. Enter the date that you want to display and press ENTER. Outlook displays the full month in which the date falls if you are in monthly display format. In all formats, the arrow keys navigate from time unit to time unit. The TAB key navigates between scheduled events. You can move from day to day in monthly format by pressing the LEFT ARROW or RIGHT ARROW keys. Once you are within a day, press the TAB key to move to each of the scheduled items. In weekly format, press the UP ARROW or DOWN ARROW keys to move from day to day. You can also move to the previous week by pressing the UP ARROW when the first day is selected, or move to the next week by pressing the DOWN ARROW when the last day is selected. Press the TAB key to navigate between the scheduled items for that week. In daily format, press the UP ARROW or DOWN ARROW keys to move between the different hours in the day. Press the TAB key to move between the scheduled items for that day. To schedule an event, move to the day or time and press CTRL+N to open the Appointment dialog. Enter the event name in the Subject edit box. Press the TAB key to move to the Location edit box and enter the location. Specify the time allotted for the event. If it lasts all day, press ALT+Y to select the check box. Otherwise, press the TAB key three times to move to the Start Time edit box. Use the UP ARROW or DOWN ARROW keys to adjust the starting time of the event. Press the TAB key twice to move to the end time. Again, use the UP ARROW or DOWN ARROW keys to adjust the event’s ending time. Close the dialog using ALT+S. Outlook saves the event in the calendar. To edit a scheduled event, select the event and press ENTER. The Event dialog appears populated with the information you had previously entered. Change any information that you need to change and save using ALT+S. You may want to perform other actions with an event. You can do this using the choices available on the context menu. After you have selected the event, press the APPLICATION Key to open the context menu. You can print, forward, or delete the event. In addition, you can establish a personal label, create a business category, or manage the time shown for this event. Over all, JAWS 6.10 and Outlook 2003 give you full access to all of the many functions of the calendar. You can completely manage the events that are part of your life. Return to Top from Sixth Story
JAWS AND MAGIC DONATION IMPROVES EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS IN SOUTH AFRICA
Thanks to a donation by Freedom Scientific and Sensory
Solutions (Pty) Ltd, more blind and partially-sighted South African students are being given the opportunity for a better education and career training.
In February, a total
of 90 JAWS for Windows licenses were added to the joint inventories
of the Pioneer School for the Visually Impaired and the Department
for Career Development in South Africa. The licenses were combined
with a donation of MAGic screen magnification software to provide
a total solution for blind and partially sighted students. “We are very proud to be in the position where we can significantly help the Pioneer School for the Visually Impaired in the education of their learners,” said Anthony Dodds, Managing Director of Sensory Solutions, which provides adaptive technology solutions to the blind and visually impaired of South Africa. The Pioneer School will use JAWS and MAGic in its daily primary and high
school curriculum, as well as in setting up Call Centre Training and simulations
for visually impaired learners. “We are very thankful for the dedication of Freedom Scientific to our
unique South African situation and to Sensory Solutions for helping us put
all this together,” said Jackie Heyns of the Department for Career Development. “It
has long been accepted that JAWS has set the industry standard for screen reading
software. When the employers in South Africa demand this level of education
from blind candidates, we must be committed to preparing our students as best
we can.” Return to Top from Seventh Story
CLOSING THE GAP ARTICLE FEATURES WYNN LITERACY SOFTWAREThe Freedom Scientific Learning Systems Group (LSG) recently contributed to an article which featured WYNN™ software. This article, entitled "Virtual Ramps for Invisible Disabilities: One District’s Approach to Assistive Technology for Students with Learning Disabilities," appears in the April/May 2005 issue of Closing the Gap, Vol. 24, Issue 1. WYNN is a powerful 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 article describes how the Boulder Valley School District Assistive Technology Team implemented a program to provide assistive technology to students with learning disabilities by using WYNN and Summary Street®. Summary Street, a Web-based application under development at the University of Colorado, provides instant feedback on the content of students’ written summaries. Visit the Freedom Scientific LSG News page to access the article and read more about this innovative project. Return to Top from Eighth Story
GET A FREE TRIAL MEMBERSHIP TO AUDIBLE.COMEnjoy daily audio subscriptions to national newspapers, weekly business and science magazines, and more than 6,000 audio books with a trial membership to Audible.com®. Users of Freedom Scientific’s industry-leading assistive technology products, including JAWS® for Windows® and the PAC Mate™, are eligible for a free trial membership to sample from 34,000 hours of valuable spoken word audio. To learn more, go to our Audible.com information page.
Freedom Scientific's mission is to develop, manufacture and market innovative technology-based products and services that those with vision impairments and learning disabilities use to change their world. @Freedom Scientific is published by Those having hardware or software technical support queries can address them to Support at FreedomScientific.com
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