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UNSUBSCRIBE PAGE October-November 2005 Volume 4 Issue 6 - @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. JAWS 7.0 Delivers Great New Access Innovations Free PMViewer Brings a Better View of the PAC Mate to the Classroom JAWS and MAGic Go Portable Deaf-Blind Solutions Shine at Annual TEDPA Conference The Carroll Center to Host Upcoming JAWS 7.0 Workshop Tech Tip: Inputting Contracted Braille with the Focus JAWS 7.0 Delivers Great New Access Innovations JAWS® 7.0, featuring exciting innovations in screen access, is now available for download from the Freedom Scientific Web site. The update to Freedom Scientific’s popular screen reading software continues to go beyond accessibility, containing features designed to increase the usability of Windows applications. This new functionality makes screen reading simpler, yet adds even more flexibility for users at home, work, or in educational settings. JAWS 7.0 is extremely robust, with significant improvements for working in Microsoft Word and Excel, as well as navigating HTML and PDF documents, and more. Here is a brief look at some of the top features: New free training materials in DAISY format cover various features found in JAWS 7.0, including What’s New in JAWS 7.0, MSN Messenger, and Custom Labels in Excel. If you download JAWS 7.0 from the Web, you will need to download the training material separately from the Freedom Scientific Audio Demos page. The JAWS 7.0 Program CD includes this material. FSClipboard adds functionality to the standard Windows clipboard. You can now append selected blocks of text to the clipboard and not lose previously copied text. This allows you to select various sections of a document and paste them all into a new document. Navigation Quick Keys, now available in Microsoft Word, allow you to move to various document elements like tables, form controls, bookmarks, document sections, and more. With Document Presentation Mode for reading HTML and PDF tables, you can read tables by row in speech and braille, just like a sighted user views them on the screen. A new feature for creating custom summaries in Microsoft Excel allows you to build a summary of just the important cells in a spreadsheet that you need to quickly access. These can include monthly totals, grand totals, etc. With all new support for MSN Messenger 7.0 and 7.5, a number of keystrokes found in previous versions have been removed or changed. In addition, options such as automatic message reading, the typing sound, typing announcement, and how JAWS reports the status of contacts can now be configured through the JAWS Verbosity Dialogue. View the complete list of new features by visiting the JAWS 7.0 Web page. JAWS 7.0 is a major update, which means you must have a current Software Maintenance Agreement (SMA) to authorize this version. If you do not have a current SMA, you can still download a demo and try out all the great new features. To check the status of your SMA, visit www.FSActivate.com and enter your JAWS serial number. Current SMA holders can also expect to receive their JAWS 7.0 upgrade CD by the first week in November. For those with an SMA that expired with the release of JAWS 7.0, you can renew your SMA by December 31, 2005, for the discounted price of $120 for JAWS Standard and $200 for JAWS Professional. To purchase JAWS 7.0 or upgrade from a previous version after trying the demo, contact Freedom Scientific at 727-803-8000 or 800-444-4443. Return to Top from the First Story Free PMViewer Brings a Better View of the PAC Mate to the Classroom Now sighted teachers can observe the work on their students’ PAC Mates, thanks to the free PMViewer, a new utility available for download from the Freedom Scientific Web site. PMViewer brings powerful new support for the classroom, giving teachers an easy way to view the output of the PAC Mate on the teacher’s own computer monitor, through a guest or standard ActiveSync connection. PMViewer, which works in conjunction with Microsoft’s Remote Display Control program, installs in a snap and completes in a matter of seconds, with no additional configuration required. A PMViewer shortcut is automatically placed on your computer’s desktop. Once installed, all the teacher needs to do is connect the PAC Mate to the PC, select the PMViewer shortcut, and the PAC Mate screen will appear on the monitor. Parents and other sighted individuals who work with PAC Mate users also can benefit from PMViewer. The utility allows the sighted party to: Use a PC keyboard and mouse to navigate the PAC Mate menus and dialogues Open and read documents that a student has created on the PAC Mate Make corrections or insert comments in a document right from the PC The student can continue to use the PAC Mate while connected to PMViewer. This allows the teacher or parent to observe and provide feedback as the student is working. Corrections or changes that the student makes in a document using the PAC Mate keyboard display on the PC. To learn more and to download this free utility, visit the PMViewer Web page. Return to Top from the Second Story JAWS and MAGic Go Portable Now your personalized JAWS and MAGic settings can travel with you from computer-to-computer, with new thumb drive versions available for download on the Freedom Scientific Web site. This new option lets you install your preferred JAWS screen reading and MAGic magnification software settings onto a device that fits in your pocket or hangs from your keychain. To use, simply download the thumb drive versions of JAWS 7.0 or MAGic 9.5 and install them on any 128 MB or larger thumb drive. Once installed, you can connect your thumb drive to any Windows 2000 or XP computer that has the FS Video Intercept installed, and the program will automatically launch, depending on your Windows configuration. When you are running the thumb drive version, any settings you customized will save to the thumb drive. To install FS Video Intercept, you can download a free utility from the Freedom Scientific Web site. If JAWS 6.0 or later is installed on the computer, there is no need to use this utility. For more details on the thumb drive version of JAWS and MAGic and the free utility to install FS Video Intercept, visit the JAWS and MAGic for USB Thumb Drives - Questions and Answers page on the Freedom Scientific Web site. Return to Top from the Third Story Deaf-Blind Solutions Shine at Annual TEDPA Conference Freedom Scientific’s new family of deaf-blind solutions based on the PAC Mate generated enthusiastic response at the Telecommunications Equipment Distribution Program Association (TEDPA) conference in Tucson, Arizona in September. TEDPA is a national organization consisting of various state programs across the country that focus on obtaining and distributing telecommunications solutions to people with disabilities. During Freedom Scientific’s product demonstrations at the conference, attendees used three applications on the PAC Mate that provide key communication solutions for the deaf-blind. Many indicated their interest in adding these solutions to the list of available deaf-blind equipment in each state. . First, attendees used the PAC Mate and AOL Instant Messenger™ (AIM™) to place relay calls to any standard phone in the USA through Hamilton Internet Protocol (HIP) Relay™ services. Three relay service providers currently offer a text-based AIM Relay Service. The AIM screen name for MCI's IP Relay Service is MyIPRelay. The AIM Screen Name for Hamilton Relay Service is ThatsHamilton. The AIM screen name for Sorenson Relay is SipRelay. Deaf-blind PAC Mate users can just add the screen names to their Buddy List and then make TTY relay calls over the Internet. Links to compatible downloads of AIM can be found by visiting the PAC Mate Gear Web site. Support for AIM is available in the PAC Mate 3.0 update. Read more about this update and how to get it by visiting the PAC Mate 3.0 Web page. Next, attendees placed a TTY call by dialing directly over the telephone network from a PAC Mate to a standard TTY device using Freedom Scientific’s new FSTTY application. The FSTTY package works with a PAC Mate BX or QX with a 20-cell or 40-cell braille display and includes a CompactFlash™-to-serial adapter, a TTY modem, and the FSTTY application. The FSTTY package can be purchased separately for $1,200 or with a PAC Mate BX or QX and a 20-cell display for $4,995 or a PAC Mate BX or QX and a 40-cell display for $6,795. Additional details can be found on the Deaf-Blind Solutions and FSTTY Web page. Lastly, Freedom Scientific demonstrated their newest deaf-blind solution, FaceToFace. Attendees held conversations just as though they were on a TTY call -- but there was no phone line. With FaceToFace, the deaf-blind participant uses a PAC Mate with a braille display and the sighted participant uses an iPAQ. They communicate wirelessly and can be up to 30 feet apart – virtually anywhere in the same room. The deaf-blind person can also converse with another blind person running FaceToFace on a PAC Mate. This groundbreaking solution will be sold with an IPAQ, which can be handed to any sighted person to initiate a conversation. FaceToFace is scheduled to be released by the end of 2005 and will sell for $1400 for use with a PAC Mate BX or QX with a 20-cell or 40-cell braille display. Return to Top from the Fourth Story The Carroll Center to Host Upcoming JAWS 7.0 Workshop Join Eric Damery, Vice President of Software Product Management for Freedom Scientific, on Tuesday, November 15, at The Carroll Center for the Blind in Newton, Massachusetts, and learn all about the latest advances in the newly released JAWS 7.0. Designed for assistive technology/information technology professionals, teachers of the visually impaired, disability service providers, and special educators, this workshop covers a variety of JAWS topics including: Interfacing with desktop applications Navigating the Internet Communicating with offsite computers Improved braille support DAISY training material Participants can attend one of two sessions. The first session takes place from 9:30 AM to Noon. The second session will be held from 1:30 PM to 4:00 PM. Space is limited, so please RSVP to register for this event. In addition, please indicate which session, morning or afternoon, you plan to attend. To register: e-mail Eric Gasper at The Carroll Center or call 617-969-6200 x222; Gail Yarnall at Adaptive Technology Consulting or call 978-462-3817; or Bill Kilroy, Freedom Scientific Director/ Regional Manager or call 800-444-4443 x1188. Return to Top from the Fifth Story Tech Tip: Inputting Contracted Braille with the Focus Users of Freedom Scientific’s Focus Braille Displays will be excited to learn that there is now a way to create a document on the desktop PC using contracted braille and then print it as text. Since the release of JAWS 6.20, the Typing Mode feature has allowed users to type directly into a document on a computer, using the Perkins-style keyboard incorporated in the display. However, if you are writing in an application like Microsoft Word, while you can type in contracted braille and read it on the braille display, you cannot print out what you have typed unless you enter it in uncontracted braille, as the program does not translate contracted braille back to text. For those who prefer writing in contracted braille, but need to be able to generate a readable printout, WinPrint, a free utility that has been available from Freedom Scientific for several years, does the job. To write in contracted braille from the Focus Braille Display: Download WinPrint from the Freedom Scientific Notetaker Accessory downloads page, and extract the application to a folder on your hard drive. Launch the program, which will place you in an edit window. Open the settings menu with ALT+S, and choose Options. You will land on a series of radio buttons that control the back translator for printing. Select “On” and press ENTER. Turn off braille translation by pressing G+SPACEBAR and activate Typing Mode on your Focus by pressing LEFT SHIFT+SPACEBAR+RIGHT SHIFT, and begin typing contracted braille. When you are ready to print your document, the contracted braille you entered will be translated to text and printed correctly. Return to Top from the Sixth Story GET A FREE TRIAL MEMBERSHIP TO AUDIBLE.COM Enjoy 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 Freedom Scientific, Blind/Low Vision Group 11800 31st Court North St. Petersburg, Florida 33716-1805 800-444-4443 or 727-803-8000 www.FreedomScientific.com Those having hardware or software technical support queries can address them to Support at FreedomScientific.com