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Delaware Assistive Technology Initiative

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AT Messenger Logo - Bringing Technology to You

Volume 13, No. 3, Summer 2005

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I Want ThAT!

Dan Fendler, AT Specialist Sussex County ATRC

It has been a while since I have been to a large AT trade show, so when I attended California State University Northridge's Annual International Conference, Technology and Persons with Disabilities, earlier this year, I have to admit I was overwhelmed. There was so much new stuff! It was truly a daunting task to explore a show that spanned two hotels and over a dozen separate halls in a few short days. I will try and give you a taste of some of the exciting new offerings I discovered.

Cell Phones

People often complain about cell phones. I hear it all the time-can't make them loud enough, screens are too small, no voice output. In order to understand what options are available for those with visual impairment, you will need to understand a little about cell phone technology. The terms GSM and CDMA represent standards of communication protocols that the various different cell phone companies use to handle their digital calling networks. There are additional protocols, but I will limit my discussion to these two, since it appears that GSM and CDMA are the dominant protocols. From what I have read, it appears that GSM, or some combination of GSM and CDMA, will become the global wireless standard. A standard should ease the compatibility issues between carriers and may ultimately result in lower development costs (which should translate into lower prices and potentially more features). GSM is the technology that carriers like Cingular and Sun ComT use on their mobile phone networks. CDMA is the technology that carriers like SprintT and Verizon use on theirs. The two are incompatible with each other. The operating system (the graphical user interface that you use when you use your phone) known as Symbian is found only on GSM phones. At this point in time, the greatest number of accessibility options exists for GSM phones running the Symbian operating system. Here is what is available for the two different technologies:

CDMA

Verizon LG VX4500CDMA cell phones have built-in voice recognition and voice output. This is the approach taken by the CDMA carriers like Sprint, Alltell, and Verizon. Verizon markets phones such as the LG VX4500 and LG VX4700. Alltel sells the LG AX4750. These phones offer some basic options including voice dialing, audio Caller ID, and audio phone status. Entering contacts into the phone book is also accessible. The phones offer inexpensive solutions without email or text messaging. US Cellular markets a similar LG phone, the LX5550, but it cannot be upgraded to the VX4500 standard. It lacks a phone status which provides the audible battery and signal strength indicator. Sprint sells the Toshiba VM4050, which has voice dialing and voice guidance. Voice guidance provides talking Caller ID and phone status. Sprint also markets the SamsungT VI660 and MM-A700 with VoiceSignal®. VoiceSignal allows voice dialing, voice commands, and phone status. The main advantage is that it is free, but do not expect accessible email and text messaging.

GSM

The Symbian operating system allows third party software to be developed and installed on phones that run it. A Spanish company, Code Factory, has developed several applications that make compatible GSM phones very accessible for users with visual impairment. Mobile Speak LogoMobile Speak is a screen reader for mobile phones. It provides speech feedback that can help you navigate through the phone's functions. It also includes bundled software, such as Code Factory's accessible calculator, an accessible sound recorder, a game, an MP3 player, and FExplorer, a file-system browser. Mobile Speak allows a free trial license so you can test the software with no restrictions for one month.

Symbian OS cell phones are typically made by Nokia and are GSM, so the major carriers include Cingular and T-Mobile. The accessible software designed for those who are blind and visually impaired includes Cingular TALKS and Code Factory's Mobile Magnifier, Mobile Accessibility, and Mobile Speak, which are compatible with the Nokia 3650, 3660, 6600, 6620, 6670, 7610, and N-Gage QD. Symbian offers the most flexibility to enable use of almost all of the phone's features. It allows the user to text message and email. The disadvantage is the cost. You have to pay extra for the accessible software. If you have one of the phones listed above, check out Code Factory's website at www.codefactory.es. You can download a 30 day trial version of the Mobile Speak software.

If you are looking for a phone and need more information, check out Ray
Gonzales's website at www.etoengineering.com. It is a great resource for
information on cell phones designed for people with special needs.

Personal Digital Assistants

Personal Digital Assistants, also known as PDAs, or handheld computers, have become powerful enough to provide voice output. This is an extremely important development for users who are blind or have very limited vision. This opens up access to many mainstream applications, because the new devices rely on added software, not expensive hardware, to give access.

Optelec's EasyLinkOptelec has developed the EasyLink, a PDA solution that combines an HP iPAQ Pocket PC and a Bluetooth Braille keyboard. The iPAQ is equipped with Dec-Talk speech that can be used for the reading of data through its internal speakers or through headphones.

The EasyLink can also be used with full-size Bluetooth wireless keyboards. For pricing information, call Optelec at (800) 828-1056.

MP3 Players and Text-to-Speech Files

While not new, those ubiquitous MP3 players have now morphed into important tools for those who have reading difficulties.

Now, anyone with an MP3 player and access to text-to-speech software can create audio files out of any digitized text. Think of the potential of this powerful technology. Any text that is in a digital form can be turned into voice files-files that you can listen to anywhere you go. It's all available at an extremely affordable price. If you do not have access to text-to-speech software, NaturalReader is available free of cost. It will allow you to make voice files of any digitized text you have. NaturalReader is available at www.naturalreaders.com.

As always, if you have any questions about these promising new technologies, please give your local ATRC a call.

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