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March – April 2008 – Volume 7 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.

  1. JAWS® and the Renaissance Man
  2. Larger Monitors Make a Big Difference
  3. Check Out Freedom Scientific’s New Accessibility-Enhanced Web Site!
  4. The Newest Versions of OpenBook™ and MAGic® -- Now Available for Windows Vista™
  5. A Very Special Offer: Get a Free Promotional Trial Version of MAGic 11.0
  6. Handshaking with JAWS & MAGic
  7. WYNN™ Translates Into Successful Results for Students and Teachers
  8. Braille Study Mode is Now Available in JAWS
  9. Missed Us at CSUN? Tune into FSCast

JAWS and the Renaissance Man

By any measure, it’s a sincere compliment to be described as a Renaissance man or woman. At a very young age, Dr. Dennis Shulman and his parents decided that his guiding principal would be to excel at whatever he undertook. The fact that he was rapidly losing his sight would not be a deterrent — or an excuse.

Now, at the age of 57 — and completely blind since before he entered college in 1968 — Dennis has, in fact, been described by many as a modern day Renaissance man. He is an internationally-recognized clinical psychologist, a psychoanalyst, an author, an educator, a media consultant, and an ordained rabbi. He is the founding director of a prestigious training institute that attracts students from around the world, he maintains an active psychology practice, and he is now in the midst of a campaign to become a congressman from New Jersey. Along the way he has received numerous awards for his volunteer work and humanitarian efforts including a Special White House Commendation.

“Growing up in the 1950s and 1960s, it was a very different world,” said Dennis. “Not only didn’t we have computers or the Internet, there was very little in the way of accommodation for people with disabilities or physical limitations. Obviously, there was braille, and eventually cassette recorders and the like, but not much else. As a blind student, you had to be a problem solver in order to succeed.”

His problem-solving skills led to many successes. Relying heavily on sighted readers, tape recorders, and a slate and stylus, Dennis graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Brandeis University in Massachusetts in 1972. He was then accepted to Harvard University where he received a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology before winning a Training Fellowship from the National Institute for Mental Health.

“I spent a lot of money paying sighted readers during those years,” said Dennis, “but effective alternatives were very limited. While the first computers were in the early stages of development, computers themselves did little to help a blind person. That is, of course, until JAWS came along. I can state, unequivocally, that JAWS changed my life in ways I could not imagine. I am, to this very day, still shocked at the things I can do thanks to JAWS.

“One of my greatest thrills was the first time I realized that with JAWS, a PC, and the Internet, I could actually read a newspaper in a timely fashion. No more waiting five or six days for a braille paper or other periodical to arrive. Now the entire New York Times, or Washington Post, or any other paper in the world is immediately accessible to me. It is such an incredible and empowering thing.

“If not for JAWS, I’d never have pursued writing my own book — The Genius of Genesis. I’d never have pursued becoming a rabbi. Given the hundreds and hundreds of hours of reading and research involved in these pursuits, I do not believe I would have tried it, and, therefore, I’d never have grown into the person I am now. With JAWS, the possibilities for continuing personal and professional growth are limitless — and that’s so very, very powerful.

“With JAWS on my laptop, I can manage my hectic schedule very effectively. It has radically changed the way I do my work, the way I access information, the way I communicate, the ways I bank and shop, everything really.”

If elected to Congress in November 2008, he would be the first congressman to enter Congress as a blind person since 1925. The goal of ensuring that technology and its advances are made accessible to the visually and physically impaired will be a major issue for him. As he stated while giving the keynote address at the recent American Council of the Blind’s (ACB) National Legislative Seminar, “For blind people, accessibility is more than a matter of convenience, it is, in fact, a human right.”

“I really appreciate that some people would throw around phrases like Renaissance man when looking at my life and accomplishments. Let me just say, however, I never would have come close to being the man I am, or the man I hope to become, without JAWS. From my perspective, in terms of enabling accessibility for the blind, Freedom Scientific’s development and ongoing enhancement of JAWS is monumental. If there were a Hall of Fame for such achievements, JAWS would have to be the charter member and the gold standard by which all other products would be measured.”

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Larger Monitors Make a Big Difference

Check out the newest TOPAZ™

The best just keeps getting better…and bigger. Freedom Scientific’s TOPAZ desktop video magnifier is now available with a 22-inch widescreen flat panel LCD monitor that provides users with exact, clear magnification from 3x to 82x. The new 22-inch widescreen model replaces the 21-inch model in the TOPAZ product line that also includes 17-inch and 19-inch models. Each of the TOPAZ models features adjustable height and tilt for optimal viewing comfort.

“The powerful, flexible TOPAZ video magnifier, now combined with a 22-inch widescreen monitor, produces bright, clear images that users can tailor to their specific needs and preferences,” said Brad Davis, Vice President with Freedom Scientific. “With its large reading table and ample room under the camera, the TOPAZ makes reading, writing, work tasks, arts and crafts, and so much more possible and enjoyable again for people with low vision.”

As with all the TOPAZ models, the new 22-inch model features large, accessible, and easy-to-use controls which can be used to adjust the magnification level, color mode, and contrast. The TOPAZ also features a generously-sized reading table that maneuvers effortlessly, as well as a unique Position Locator Beam that makes document placement a snap.

To learn about the many features of the TOPAZ and to access an online demonstration, go to TOPAZ Desktop Video Magnifier.

Now There is a Larger ONYX™ Deskset as Well

Further responding to the requests of low vision users, Freedom Scientific introduces a new complement to the innovative ONYX Deskset 17 which was unveiled last summer. The newest model of the ONYX multiple-view magnification camera is the ONYX Deskset 19, featuring the powerful ONYX camera mounted to a 19-inch flat panel monitor to provide enhanced magnification of up to 95 times the original size.

“The ONYX Deskset 17 has proven to be a favorite among on-the-go users and an ideal solution for students and teachers in classroom environments,” said Davis. “This new configuration pairs the versatile camera with a larger screen while retaining the same compact footprint.”

Both ONYX Deskset models are extremely portable with fast and easy set up and breakdown features. They come complete with a sturdy, lightweight carrying case that includes a telescoping handle enabling users to carry or wheel their ONYX anywhere they need it to go. Get the details at ONYX Multiple-View Cameras.

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Check Out Freedom Scientific’s New Accessibility-Enhanced Web Site!

If you haven’t toured the Freedom Scientific Web site — www.FreedomScientific.com — recently, you are in for a whole new experience when you do. The Web site has been dramatically updated, redesigned, and reorganized with our users and visitors in mind.

In addition to a whole new look and feel, the new site features improved navigation and accessibility, including a feature requested by low vision visitors for an intuitive mechanism to change text size and color contrast combinations. In order to make information easier to locate, the home page now features direct links to training, product documentation, public betas, event information, and product activations.

Also included right up front in the new design are images and recordings of actual product users sharing their experiences with their Freedom Scientific products. We’ve also made it easier than ever for you, too, to share your feedback with us via a link on the new Web site. User feedback is always welcome and encouraged.

Please take time to give the new Freedom Scientific Web site a test drive. Use the Web Site Comments link, located on the bottom of every page, to tell us your impressions, just like JAWS user Zaheer Sheikh did the very first day the new site went public. “I really like the new layout! It looks very impressive, and it works perfectly with JAWS. The order of the links is ideal. Keep up the good work.”

Leonie Watson, an accessibility advisor, forwarded these comments and observations: “Across the site, headings have been used very well. Graphics have good alternative text and the general layout is very intuitive. Text is clear and easy to read, and the site appears to be simple to navigate. Users’ goals should be supported well within this Web site, making it easy for them to find the information they need.”

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The Newest Versions of OpenBook and MAGic — Now Available for Windows Vista

OpenBook Makes Text Accessible to the Visually Impaired

OpenBook 8.0 is now available. OpenBook converts printed documents or graphic-based text into an electronic text format on a PC using the latest in accurate optical character recognition (OCR) and quality synthesized speech.

OpenBook 8.0 provides the flexibility to easily switch between either of two powerful OCR engines and either of two leading text-to-speech software synthesizers. In addition, this latest generation of OpenBook features improved access to online books, common keyboarding with JAWS screen reading software and MAGic screen magnification software, built-in braille support, new low vision features, new reference features, and more. OpenBook 8.0 supports Windows Vista, Windows XP, and Windows 2000 operating systems.

“OpenBook 8.0 was developed with ease of use and ultra-efficient document management as the principal objectives,” said Dusty Voorhees, Senior Product Manager at Freedom Scientific. “The many new enhancements enable users to quickly and easily customize the appearance of information on the screen to best meet their needs. The features it provides to highlight text, add comments, share documents, fax documents, make copies, and import documents from other applications help users to maximize their productivity at work, at school, and at home.”

For details on all the new enhancements in OpenBook 8.0 go to Enhanced Scanning and Reading Software.

MAGic is New and Improved, Too

The latest version of MAGic screen magnification software became available at the end of February. MAGic 11.0 is a Software Maintenance Agreement (SMA) upgrade that provides support for the Windows Vista 32-bit operating system and Microsoft Office 2007, as well as a wide array of new features and enhancements. It also works seamlessly with JAWS, the world’s most popular screen reader, enabling users to combine the powerful features of MAGic and JAWS.

With MAGic 11.0 users have the flexibility to use either of two included text-to-speech software synthesizers: RealSpeak™ Solo and Eloquence. MAGic provides a variety of speech settings, allowing users to control the amount of speech they hear and the properties of the voices.

MAGic 11.0 features 45 magnification levels, allowing users to magnify a computer screen from 1 to 36 times its actual size, and a host of color enhancement options that can be applied individually or in combination to precisely tailor the screen’s appearance. MAGic also has unique tracking enhancement features that enable users to readily follow the movement of the mouse, the cursor, and the application focus on the screen.

For details on all the new features and functionality in the latest edition of Freedom Scientific’s MAGic screen magnification software go to MAGic 11.0 Information.

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A Very Special Offer: Get a Free Promotional Trial Version of MAGic 11.0

MAGic 11.0 is now available in a free Promotional Trial Version. This trial version will run on computers until August 2008. To download this free, fully-functional version of MAGic 11.0 screen magnification software, go to MAGic 11 Promotional Trial Version.

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Handshaking with JAWS & MAGic

Freedom Scientific’s JAWS 9.0 and MAGic 11.0 are not only the newest feature-packed versions of these products, but the combination of enhancements made in each of them now enables them to work together very efficiently and effectively to create a dynamic and powerful vision solution.

“MAGic now features more JAWS screen reading functionality,” said Eric Damery, Vice President for Software Product Management. “As a result, when running the two programs together, the MAGic highlighting option is in sync as JAWS reads Web pages. Providing this visual cue means low vision users will always know exactly where they are on the computer screen as JAWS is reading.”

The addition of Navigation Quick Keys in MAGic is another improvement that accentuates the use of the two products together. These keystrokes can be used with both products running together and MAGic highlights each item you advance to as you read by heading, list item, paragraph, and so on. Also, when viewing a Web page with either or both programs running you can use Windows keyboard commands to select text and items. As you do, MAGic, JAWS, or the combination of both, visually shows you the items selected. Copied text can be pasted into an HTML e-mail or any rich text document and maintains its links and original formatting.

For more information on using MAGic and JAWS together, go to What’s New in MAGic 11.

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WYNN Translates Into Successful Results for Students and Teachers

Learning a second language, under any circumstances, can be a daunting endeavor. Imagine attempting it with a learning impairment.

Elaine Huot, a training consultant with Freedom Scientific’s Learning Systems Group, conducted a special training session for educators who teach English as a second language to students who have special needs.

Many teachers agree that the key to learning a second language is the ability to build vocabulary. WYNN, Freedom Scientific’s literacy software, enables students with special needs to access information from school-approved sites in their native language — in the case of this recent training session — Spanish. Moreover, the students can hear the text being read to them in their particular dialect of Spanish, making things even more understandable.

Using WYNN, students start by having information presented to them in their primary language — as opposed to the traditional approach of having instructors read a passage in English and supplying Spanish translations. As a result of this approach, the process of adapting to a second language is streamlined for students with special needs.

When students attempt translation into English, they can use the WYNN Word Prediction tool to help guide them. The tool predicts what words the students may be attempting to type and reads them a menu of choices they can use to select the correct word. If a student is still uncertain about the correct choice, they can use the WYNN Dictionary tool to check for the most accurate word. These two features greatly enhance the building of vocabulary, thereby accelerating the process of learning a new language.

“The process of learning a second language is very tiring, and it drains students’ mental energy,” said Huot. “A student with the secondary challenge of a learning disability faces additional difficulties. WYNN helps these students sustain a focus on building vocabulary, making the skill of translating thoughts and ideas much easier for them.”

To get the complete story on how WYNN is making a real impact in the success of teaching English as a second language go to the WYNNing Word.

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Braille Study Mode is Now Available in JAWS

The Braille Study Mode is a learning tool designed to assist in the teaching and learning of braille by announcing a braille character at the cursor position on a braille display, while speaking and spelling the word aloud. When the Braille Study Mode is activated, JAWS announces the current braille character in a display cell when the cursor routing button located immediately above that cell is pressed. A second button press causes JAWS to speak and spell the word in question. Until now, Braille Study Mode was only available in the PAC Mate, Freedom Scientific’s accessible Pocket PC. Now JAWS supports the same functionality when used with either a Focus or PAC Mate Braille Display.

For people who are in the process of learning braille, the Braille Study Mode provides immediate help whenever they encounter a symbol they are unsure of. The feature works with any document or Web page, so students can practice with whatever content is of interest to them. Teachers can quickly produce study material customized to a student’s skill level with just a Word or text document. This function works to help people just learning braille, as well as people who want a quick reference tool as they study a second language using a Freedom Scientific braille display.

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Missed Us at CSUN? Tune into FSCast

The March edition of FSCast features excerpts of Freedom Scientific presentations given at CSUN.

Go to March 2008 FSCast to get the information you may have missed.

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GET A FREE TRIAL MEMBERSHIP TO AUDIBLE.COM

Freedom Scientific assistive technology product users – including those who use JAWS for Windows® and the PAC Mate – can get a free trial membership to Audible.com®, allowing them to sample from 34,000 hours of valuable spoken word audio. Audible.com subscribers enjoy daily audio subscriptions to national newspapers, weekly business and science magazines, and more than 6,000 audio books. To learn more, go to the Audible.com information page.

Freedom Scientific's mission

To develop, manufacture, and market technology-based products that provide equal access to information and computing for those with vision impairments or learning disabilities.

@Freedom Scientific is published by
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