Bright Future for Apple Accessibility with Lisa P. Jackson in the Lead

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRikDKO34Kpnlcv_YxMMr2bC4-eYe0c2Ow6wO0xm2f-L5asn3Sj3o9mzwfpveJDK4pslM4H2zuRnQ3NN3M5GSy-rrD5h7GR7zdEt2ApbqmRzxZpz5tWuKUmZ93WUOhNywKrJpiN5SElO4/s1600/lisa_hero-2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Headshot of Jackson wearing red shirt" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRikDKO34Kpnlcv_YxMMr2bC4-eYe0c2Ow6wO0xm2f-L5asn3Sj3o9mzwfpveJDK4pslM4H2zuRnQ3NN3M5GSy-rrD5h7GR7zdEt2ApbqmRzxZpz5tWuKUmZ93WUOhNywKrJpiN5SElO4/s320/lisa_hero-2.png" title="Lisa P. Jackson" width="309" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Apple recently updated the bio of Lisa P. Jackson to reflect her new role overseeing <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2015/03/apple-watch-accessibility-possibilities.html">accessibility</a> at Apple. This expands her previous responsibilities of overseeing environmental initiatives at Apple. Ms. Jackson's official title is now Vice President of Environment, Policy and Social Initiatives. Apple CEO Tim Cook has been vocal regarding his views of the importance of accessibility. This new management change, which puts a Vice President level executive in charge of accessibility for the first time, seemingly reaffirms Apple's long-standing commitment to <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2014/06/ios-8-more-accessible-than-ever.html">accessibility</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2014/09/apple-releases-ios-8-with-major.html">Apple</a> has been a leader in accessibility. Its products include superior accessibility features out of the box. Features such as <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2014/12/apples-new-app-return-policy-in-europe.html">VoiceOver</a>, Speak Selection, Zoom, <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2012/06/today-apple-announced-ios-6-new-update.html">AssistiveTouch</a>, and Switch Control give people with disabilities equal access to Apple products at no additional charge.From personal experience I can say that these features are truly life changing and positively impact many people.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Even considering Apple's past success there are areas for possible improvement. One example involves training sales people about the accessibility features. On recent trips to Apple Stores, I have had some experiences that are not consistent with Apple's commitment to accessibility. For example, the Apple Watch on display had its accessibility features disabled. While Apple likely wants to limit confusion for customers who do not use accessibility features, this does not promote equal access. Part of the magic of the Apple Store is being able to walk up to a shinny new product and try it out. With the accessibility features disabled, and the sales people unfamiliar with how to enable these features, users with disabilities don't have an opportunity to fully explore the product. Apple should be showing off these features, not hiding them. Apple would be doing a great service to its customers with disabilities to prepare its store employees to talk about accessibility features as well as they talk about other features.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Ms. Jackson has proven herself to be a very capable leader.  She has the ability to continue Apple's accessibility superiority and solve existing challenges. Her work on environmental initiatives has been very successful, propelling Apple towards the top of the technology industry in terms of sustainability. The future of Apple product accessibility seems bright, and I am excited to see what innovations come next.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">To read Lisa Jackson's full bio from Apple <a href="http://www.apple.com/pr/bios/lisa-jackson.html">click here</a>. Photo credit: Apple.</div>

Diposting oleh Abdullah Syafii

Voice Dream Writer: Word Processing Plus a Whole Lot More

<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/0EsplSgzwN8?rel=0" width="560"></iframe><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVtdxZFnCYM-aJ3_UaL-PwJeffzphLXqs1GlrmiYG5dXcQ5hu_OidlRB4eNR5q5NIDP6PmAWKKxCUBfi4tY01kmpmQHh9aY9wbpetKxrWTr6iyFQymmfKA0-GihVSw_MrnoFLKDDQGOMw/s1600/App+Icon+1024.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="75" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVtdxZFnCYM-aJ3_UaL-PwJeffzphLXqs1GlrmiYG5dXcQ5hu_OidlRB4eNR5q5NIDP6PmAWKKxCUBfi4tY01kmpmQHh9aY9wbpetKxrWTr6iyFQymmfKA0-GihVSw_MrnoFLKDDQGOMw/s1600/App+Icon+1024.png" width="75" /></a><br /><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2014/03/voice-dream-reader-updated-to-version.html"><span style="color: #0000e9;">Voice Dream</span></a> has become a well-known name in the assistive technology community because of Voice Dream Reader: a <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2014/09/new-in-ios-8-start-text-to-speech.html"><span style="color: #0000e9;">text-to-speech</span></a> reader available for i<a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2014/09/apple-releases-ios-8-with-major.html"><span style="color: #0000e9;">OS devices</span></a>. Now the developer has released a new app called Voice Dream Writer which aims to support writers with special needs. Voice Dream Writer has features that can benefit people with a wide range of needs including people with dyslexia and people who are blind or visually impaired. People without disabilities can also benefit from the app. For example, english language learners could benefit from spoken feedback and other features offered by Voice Dream Writer. </span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The text-to-speech feedback is designed to help writers find mistakes in their writing. The style of text-to-speech reading can even be changed to help writers focus either on spelling and grammar, or on content and organization. The app also offers easy access to an outline view that can help with organizing a document. Other features allow users to look up words phonetically or look up words by its meaning. </span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The text-to-speech feedback can be accessed as users type so they can verify that a word or sentence was entered as they intended. This helps writers identify words or phrases that looked correct, but upon hearing them read aloud sound incorrect. The app will also read back text that has been dictated to help users insure that their voice was transcribed correctly.</span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When it is time to review a document, Voice Dream Writer includes some very thoughtful features for editing. The app includes two customizable proof reading modes that use text-to-speech to help with the editing process. The first is designed to help writers edit the content of their document. In this mode words are read back using text-to-speech sound natural and smooth: as they would when reading a book with Voice Dream Reader. This allows writers to focus on the content and organization of their document. </span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The second mode reads text back in a </span>somewhat <span style="font-family: inherit;">choppy manner which allows users to focus their document at the micro level. This mode is ideal for editing spelling a grammar because the lack of flow with the text-to-speech voice makes it easier to focus on each word rather than the overall content of the text.</span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Each proofreading mode is customizable with options to announce misspelled words, spell homophones, and speak punctuation and capitalization.</span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Similar to <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2014/03/voice-dream-reader-updated-to-version.html"><span style="color: #0000e9;">Voice Dream Reader</span></a>, Voice Dream Writer includes the ability to change the visual style of the app. Font size, character and line spacing, margins, text color, and background color can all be changed. Additionally, users can change the text to speech voice and speaking rate to match their preferences. Text-to-speech voices purchased in Voice Dream Reader are available in the Writer without an additional purchase. The pronunciation dictionary also syncs between the Writer and the Reader if both are installed on the same device.</span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">Text files can be imported from iCloud Drive or supported third party services such as Google Drive or Dropbox. Unfortunately, users can only import text files and not Microsoft Word files. Documents can be exported as HTML, RTF, Microsoft Word, or Apple Pages format.</span></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Click read more below to continue to read the review of Voice Dream Writer. Some of the most innovative and helpful features will be described below.</span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div><a name="more"></a><br /><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Some of Voice Dream Writers most helpful features can be found in the right sidebar menu. First is a dictionary which can read back the definitions of a word (This feature is currently not available in Voice Dream Reader without using VoiceOver). The second tool allows users to enter a word spelled phonetically to find the correctly spelled option.  For example, if I typed "receat," it </span><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">might suggest the word "receipt," as an option. Unlike some other apps, these suggestions are not made based on the context of the s</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">urrounding text.</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"> Users can tap on each suggestion to hear the word spoken aloud. This feature is extremely helpful for poor spellers, especially when they are in a situation where using dictation would be inappropriate or unavailable. </span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The last feature on the right sidebar is the option to look up a word by meaning. For example, if I was writing about organizations which donate money to charities, but could not think of the word "philanthropic" I could search "donate money" and "philanthropic" would be one of the suggestions. This can help reduce instances of a word being at the tip of your tong, but you can quite think of the word.</span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In the left sidebar menu is an outline view. Users can select to view an outline of their document by heading, paragraph, or sentence. Users can then simply rearrange paragraphs or headings by dragging and dropping. This is helpful for the planning stages of writing as users can plan different paragraphs and fill in the content after they are finished planning.</span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">All formatting in Voice Dream Writer is done using markdown. This means that all editing is done in plain text, but symbols inserted before or after words cause the words to be formatted when the file is exported. For example, adding a # or * before a word will cause that word to be formatted as a heading or as italic font when exported. This system has some positives and some negatives over conventional formatting that is found in Microsoft Word and Apple's Pages. </span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">For blind users this system can be helpful because the special characters such as # and * will be spoken allowing them to quickly recognize when a portion of text is bold or italics. In other word processors italics and bold text may be read normally making it more difficult for blind users to determine how the document is formatted. However, for sighted users this system may be unfamiliar and therefore more difficult. It would be nice if Voice Dream Writer had both the option of using markdown and for editing in rich text and allowed the users to decide which option worked best for their needs.</span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Finally, Voice Dream Writer includes a new innovation which improves the text selection and cursor movement process for VoiceOver users. These tasks are normally difficult for <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2014/12/apples-new-app-return-policy-in-europe.html"><span style="color: #420178;">VoiceOver</span></a> users. VoiceOver is a built in screen reader available on iOS devices that allows blind and visually impaired users to use gestures in order to use their device. When VoiceOver is enabled, Voice Dream Writer automatically adds three buttons to the bottom left of the screen. The first button controls the cursor and accepts a combination of multi-figure taps and swipes to move the cursor forward and backwards through the document. The second button adjusts how much the cursor moves with each swipe of the first button. This button allows the cursor to move letter-by-letter, word-by-word, sentence-by-sentence or paragraph-by-paragraph. The third button allows users to easily select text and then copy or cut that text. This system of selecting text and moving the cursor with VoiceOver is much faster than the method used in other apps and is a major benefit of Voice Dream Writer for VoiceOver users.</span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/voice-dream-writer/id920583100?mt=8" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #420178;">Voice Dream Writer</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> is available for all iOS devices running </span><a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2014/09/apple-releases-ios-8-with-major.html" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #0000e9;">iOS 8</span></a><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> and higher. While iPhone support is certainly convenient when writing a quick email, the iPad's large screen seems best suited for longer writing. Users who want to use the app for writing long pieces will probably wish to use a Bluetooth keyboard for faster typing. People using Bluetooth keyboards will also enjoy the ability to use keyboard shortcuts with the app. More keyboard shortcuts will be added in future versions as well. For example, in the future users with Bluetooth keyboards will be able to enter a key </span>combination<span style="font-family: inherit;"> to quickly find all misspelled words.</span></span></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></div><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In all Voice Dream Writer has many superb features that can help writers with a wide variety of needs. Hopefully rich text editing and the ability to import Word documents will be added in a future version. Voice Dream Writer seems like it would also make a great Mac app and hopefully someday people will be able to use these features on their Macs. Even without rich text editing and Mac support, Voice Dream Writer seems amazingly polished and well thought through for a version 1.0 app. To purchase Voice Dream Writer for $10 on the App Store </span><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/voice-dream-writer/id920583100" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #420178;">click here</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">. The app will be on sale for $8 </span>until Sunday, February 1, 2015.<br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">If you’re still unsure about the apps features watch the video below in which Winston Chen, the developer of Voice Dream Reader and Voice Dream Writer, walks viewers through his latest app.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" mozallowfullscreen="" src="//player.vimeo.com/video/117216664" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe><br /></div>

Diposting oleh Abdullah Syafii

Apple's New App Return Policy in Europe is a Big Deal for VoiceOver Users

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilxdSaZAEBpRe-2pbs3AeEgzn5sIvVpk7jsVcAJh19FgfWrhtkaJ1bWd3EkRCsiJZFN1w4bto34QoexYfVMySb4BxIkK7cGV-ZgqcBqskRe26IKACpIDuZBcwQGsNKb1guyqp4QSAida0/s1600/VoiceOver.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilxdSaZAEBpRe-2pbs3AeEgzn5sIvVpk7jsVcAJh19FgfWrhtkaJ1bWd3EkRCsiJZFN1w4bto34QoexYfVMySb4BxIkK7cGV-ZgqcBqskRe26IKACpIDuZBcwQGsNKb1guyqp4QSAida0/s320/VoiceOver.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Recently, <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2014/09/apple-releases-ios-8-with-major.html">Apple</a> implemented a new 14 day no questions asked return policy in many European Union (EU) nations according to 9to5mac. The new policy allows customers to receive a full refund on <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2014/07/how-apple-could-improve-app-store-for.html">App Store</a> purchases within 14 days of receipt.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">While this new policy is an important safeguard for all consumers, it is a major development for App Store customers who rely on accessibility features, such as VoiceOver, in order to use their devices. <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2014/07/how-apple-could-improve-app-store-for.html">VoiceOver</a> is a built in screen reader that allows blind and visually impaired users to use iOS devices and <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2011/07/mac-os-x-lion-includes-new.html">Macs</a>. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">While browsing the App Store, it is extremely difficult for VoiceOver users to determine if the app they are interested in purchasing is accessible. This often leaves the customer playing a guessing game with their money. For example, without the return policy a <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2014/07/how-apple-could-improve-app-store-for.html">VoiceOver</a> user who wanted to purchase a $20 app would need to hope that the app was accessible with VoiceOver otherwise their $20 purchase would be useless. Even if the app is inaccessible and unusable refunds are typically not granted.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The new policy allows VoiceOver users to download apps that may or may not be accessible without the risk of wasting money on an app that is totally useless for them. If the user downloads an app that is not accessible, they can simply return the app within two weeks and receive a full refund. In effect, this allows for a two week trial period for apps which will allow users to see if the app fits their needs. For VoiceOver users within the EU this will take the guesswork out of purchasing apps.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Unfortunately, the new return policy is only available in certain EU countries and is not applicable to customers in other countries. Hopefully, Apple will extend the policy to all customers regardless of which country they are in. Until that time, users in other countries will have to hope that the apps they are downloading are accessible.</div>

Diposting oleh Abdullah Syafii

KNFB Reader App: Amazingly Fast and Accurate

<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/VLIbeObTFLo" width="560"></iframe><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://a700.phobos.apple.com/us/r30/Purple3/v4/4e/df/17/4edf1772-a7c5-96d2-6f9a-e2a5238ed507/mzl.uycknndr.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="75" src="http://a700.phobos.apple.com/us/r30/Purple3/v4/4e/df/17/4edf1772-a7c5-96d2-6f9a-e2a5238ed507/mzl.uycknndr.png" title="KNFB Reader app icon" width="75" /></a>The <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/knfbreader/id849732663?mt=8">KNFB Reader</a> is a text recognition app that is shockingly fast. Take a picture of a newspaper article or practically any printed text and within a couple of seconds the app will be reading the text back to you. A "couple of seconds" is no exaggeration, the KNFB Reader app is that fast. For people who are visually impaired or have difficulty reading, the KNFB Reader is perfect for accessing printed text.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Once a document is properly framed, only one more step is necessary to start reading the document. Simply press the take picture button and within seconds the app will recognize the text within the document using optical character recognition (<a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2011/12/textgrabber-fast-cheap-accurate-ocr-app.html">OCR</a>) and begin reading it with <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2014/09/new-in-ios-8-start-text-to-speech.html">text-to-speech</a>. No need to crop or adjust the image, once the picture is taken the app does all the work. All recognition is done locally on the device so personal data is never transmitted over the internet.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The KNFB Reader app has a number of features that help users capture images of text. For users who are blind and visually impaired the app offers a "field of view report" which offers spoken feedback to help frame the document in the view finder. This feature will let a users know how many corners of the document are within the field of view and if the document is tilted. In addition, the app offers automatic picture taking mode which will automatically snap a picture of a document when it is properly framed.  The app also includes the ability to capture multi-page documents with batch mode. The field of view feature worked well with loose paper documents, but I did not have success using the automatic capture feature with books.<br /><br />In addition to using the device's built in camera to capture images, users can also import image based PDF documents and JPG files to be recognized with the app. For example, using the "open in" feature of Google Drive will allow a user to import an image to be recognized and read with KNFB Reader.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Text is can be highlighted word-by-word or line-by-line as it is being read aloud by the <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2014/09/new-in-ios-8-start-text-to-speech.html">text-to-speech</a> voice. Users can adjust the layout and appearance of the text and change the speaking rate of the text-to-speech voice. Only the default iOS text-to-speech voice is available, so users hoping to use another voice will have to export the text to another app. The built-in text reader also lacks the ability to highlight or annotate the document, so once again users looking for this functionality will need to export the text to a different app.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">While the KNFB Reader app is faster and more accurate than competing products such as Prizmo, Prizmo does include some useful features that KNFB Reader does not. Prizmo, which is significantly less expensive, includes the ability to export PDF documents. This means a user can take a picture of a document, have the text recognized and any images on the page retained by Prizmo, so that it looks identical to the printed page. KNFB reader, by contrast strips away images, and only retains the printed text. If PDF export is an important feature to you, Prizmo may be a better option. <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2013/09/prizmo-3-adds-new-features-and-ios-7.html">Click here to learn more about Prizmo.</a> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">If you are looking for a text recognition app with great speed and accuracy, I think you will be quite pleased. If The KNFB reader fits your budget, you won't be disappointed. KNFB Reader costs $100, to download the app from the App Store <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/knfbreader/id849732663?mt=8">click here</a>. It is compatible with the iPhone 4S and newer and the iPod touch fifth generation. Click read more below to view screen shots of the app.<br /><a name="more"></a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a2.mzstatic.com/us/r30/Purple5/v4/da/cb/7d/dacb7da5-75d0-792f-6aad-517a5537196c/screen568x568.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://a2.mzstatic.com/us/r30/Purple5/v4/da/cb/7d/dacb7da5-75d0-792f-6aad-517a5537196c/screen568x568.jpeg" width="180" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a3.mzstatic.com/us/r30/Purple5/v4/f0/91/87/f09187b7-6c65-5c32-63a9-45236e3350c1/screen568x568.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://a3.mzstatic.com/us/r30/Purple5/v4/f0/91/87/f09187b7-6c65-5c32-63a9-45236e3350c1/screen568x568.jpeg" width="180" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a5.mzstatic.com/us/r30/Purple1/v4/4f/42/33/4f423356-d101-19e8-4a59-7fa2571ebdc1/screen568x568.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://a5.mzstatic.com/us/r30/Purple1/v4/4f/42/33/4f423356-d101-19e8-4a59-7fa2571ebdc1/screen568x568.jpeg" width="180" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a4.mzstatic.com/us/r30/Purple1/v4/6a/a1/81/6aa18160-1ec5-7def-2c87-89c5ed9a9aa8/screen568x568.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://a4.mzstatic.com/us/r30/Purple1/v4/6a/a1/81/6aa18160-1ec5-7def-2c87-89c5ed9a9aa8/screen568x568.jpeg" width="180" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a1.mzstatic.com/us/r30/Purple3/v4/d5/ff/e0/d5ffe067-e3b4-ab9c-aba0-1a5c5fae3a34/screen568x568.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://a1.mzstatic.com/us/r30/Purple3/v4/d5/ff/e0/d5ffe067-e3b4-ab9c-aba0-1a5c5fae3a34/screen568x568.jpeg" width="180" /></a></div></div></div>

Diposting oleh Abdullah Syafii

New in iOS 8: Built-in Braille Keyboard for Six-Dot Input

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2GARsANvqQNYwvPdnTODW5loDobQ99C6gzn1bCy5rldpKYRlYEGxg7c4-KhLrDgcCauooHPbCZlDjK1P7ix2u3cZtsMJxkLs-uHw8Rajv86ivJpBuUUF6UG4OCUYrtpFCvAoBhyeMXqs/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2GARsANvqQNYwvPdnTODW5loDobQ99C6gzn1bCy5rldpKYRlYEGxg7c4-KhLrDgcCauooHPbCZlDjK1P7ix2u3cZtsMJxkLs-uHw8Rajv86ivJpBuUUF6UG4OCUYrtpFCvAoBhyeMXqs/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" title="Braille Keyboard being used to enter text into Notes" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2014/06/ios-8-more-accessible-than-ever.html">iOS 8</a> includes enhancements to <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2014/06/happy-birthday-voiceover.html">VoiceOver</a>, the built-in gesture based screen reader for people with visual impairments. One of the improvements is a new built-in Braille Keyboard for Six-Dot input. The new feature is similar to the <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2013/02/brailletouch-app-allows-fast-braille.html">BrailleTouch</a> app released a few years ago with one major difference; the built-in option can be used to enter text into any app directly. The option can be enabled in the VoiceOver rotor. The Braille keyboard will offer <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2014/06/happy-birthday-voiceover.html">VoiceOver</a> users who are familiar with Braille an alternative, and possibly much faster text entry method. iOS 8 will also offers third-party keyboards such as <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2014/03/any-developer-can-now-integrate-fleksys.html">Fleksy</a> which could also offer significantly faster text input for VoiceOver users.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Once you turn the Braille keyboard on six positions will appear on screen representing the six Braille dots. When the device is held with the screen perpendicular to the floor it automatically enters screen away mode. When using this mode the user faces the screen away allowing three fingers from each hand to contact the screen. As the user begins to type the six virtual dots automatically reposition themselves to compensate for changes in your grip. The dots can also be recalibrated by holding down the three right hand fingers and then the three left hand fingers immediately after. This positions the dots directly under your fingers.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When the device is set on the table or another flat surface the Braille keyboard enters tabletop mode. This mode would seem to be ideal for an <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2014/04/ipad-mini-nexus-7-or-kindle-fire-hdx.html">iPad</a> can can also be used on smaller devices. It does take some care to ensure that the keyboard does not switch between tabletop and screen away mode accidentally. In both modes typing did seem difficult on the small screen, but some practice seemed to improve typing speed. This new option allows typing with contracted or uncontracted Braille. When typing a swipe right adds a space and a swipe left deletes the last character typed. This new method of typing is very sensitive a will likely require practice before mastering. If you use this feature frequently, it maybe helpful to purchase a case that boarders the screen to avoid trying to type on the bezel.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">To enable the Braille keyboard go to Settings > General > Accessibility > VoiceOver > Rotor > Braille Screen Input. Then, when <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2014/06/happy-birthday-voiceover.html">VoiceOver</a> is enabled, rotate the rotor until Braille screen input is selected. It exciting to see all the new third-party keyboard options for iOS 8, but for VoiceOver users, Apple's own Braille keyboard maybe the most exciting of all.</div><a name="more"></a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZqKkSy1EGkb7QPCqcHn5Jpy6xrL5pPjzXTe5P2kBGmLVAkiqnN3S_MrOyQ2ZNIVXxvZ3N6Y_R-nYi7Us7Mjse9KbuYitLHmeqkvDZwzUaE108tLDJqBA14D0wWjT_HURzWvWYYyCNeFk/s1600/IMG_2522.PNG" imageanchor="1"><img alt="" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZqKkSy1EGkb7QPCqcHn5Jpy6xrL5pPjzXTe5P2kBGmLVAkiqnN3S_MrOyQ2ZNIVXxvZ3N6Y_R-nYi7Us7Mjse9KbuYitLHmeqkvDZwzUaE108tLDJqBA14D0wWjT_HURzWvWYYyCNeFk/s1600/IMG_2522.PNG" title="Braille Screen Input Settings: Contracted or Uncontracted Braille" width="180" /></a></div>

Diposting oleh Abdullah Syafii

Apple Releases iOS 8 with Major Accessibility Improvements

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.maclife.com/files/imagecache/futureus_imagegallery_fullsize/gallery/ios_8_intro_2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://www.maclife.com/files/imagecache/futureus_imagegallery_fullsize/gallery/ios_8_intro_2.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Today, Apple released <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2014/06/ios-8-more-accessible-than-ever.html">iOS 8</a> the latest software update for <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2014/09/what-larger-screen-iphone-means-for.html">iPhone</a>, iPad, and iPod Touch. The new software, which is available for free, includes many new features and enhancements, including new accessibility features and tools that will allow developers to make the next generation of apps. Apple has not stood still in terms accessibility and as a result, iOS 8 is truly the most accessible and inclusive <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2014/06/ios-8-more-accessible-than-ever.html">iOS</a> version to date.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Some of the most exciting new accessibility features are included in iOS are ready to use right after updating. These features are developed by Apple, and most are found under Settings > General > Accessibility. </span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">Speak Screen is one of the new accessibility features that allows users to quickly and easily have content on the screen read with <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2013/11/claropdf-app-pdf-text-to-speech-and.html">text-to-speech</a> with a simple two finger swipe down gesture. Unlike older versions of iOS which required users to highlight sections that they wished to be spoken, Speak Screen does not require any highlighting. Users can even ask Siri to “speak the screen” to start text-to-speech. </span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">Apple’s highly acclaimed screen reader, <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2014/06/happy-birthday-voiceover.html">VoiceOver</a>, also received some substantial updates. Now, <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2014/06/happy-birthday-voiceover.html">VoiceOver</a> users can enter text using a system-wide virtual six-dot Braille keyboard. Zoom is also vastly improved with windowed magnification and filters. <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2012/09/what-is-guided-access.html">Guided Access</a> and <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2011/07/what-is-assistive-touch.html">AssistiveTouch</a> have seen smaller improvements. </span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">In addition, all accessibility features that use speech will now be able to use the Alex text-to-speech voice that many Mac users enjoy. All of these features are included with the iOS 8 update. Stay tuned for in depth information about the features discussed above in the coming days and weeks.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">With iOS 8, Apple has given developers tools to make the next generation of great apps. Hopefully, assistive app makers will be able to take advantage of these new features to help people with various needs. Developers can now make system wide keyboard apps. iOS keyboards will now be able to enter text into any app if the developer updates the app for <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2014/06/ios-8-more-accessible-than-ever.html">iOS 8</a>. For example, <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2013/02/eye-free-typing-app-fleksy-now-free.html">Fleksy</a> and SwiftKey are expect to receive an update shortly to enable text entry into any app. Developers can also add the ability to unlock their app using <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2013/09/the-touch-id-fingerprint-sensor-on-new.html">Touch ID</a>finger print recognition for devices with Touch ID. Lastly, developers can create extensions to allow their app to perform functions within other apps. For example, a translation extension could be used within Safari to eliminate the need to switch apps. </span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">These features open up a whole new world to app developers and it will be exciting to use some of the new apps that take advantage of these new developer features. While some apps have already been updated to take advantage of the new developer features in iOS, many have not been. Check back to read about some apps that are taking advantage of these new developer features in ways that can help people with disabilities.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2014/06/ios-8-more-accessible-than-ever.html">iOS 8</a> is a free update that you can download now. Stay tuned to the Assistive Technology Blog to learn more about the new included <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2014/05/apple-begins-hosting-free-accessibility.html">accessibility</a> features and about apps that take advantage of the new developer features.</span><o:p></o:p></div>

Diposting oleh Abdullah Syafii

How Apple Could Improve the App Store for VoiceOver Users

<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaBlCs8aCnmIgaBHRoognSXBR4CVcEvzlOQnDV7ECHmhefnD0zgwVEJ3wy_Ra3J5DyuU56fSGanBCOtTTkMu8PTq2vx_j78gewUvsUnilPetBnp_5r3ihGjHDuOGjum9r5DWqKNKAL4DU/s1600/App+VoiceOver.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaBlCs8aCnmIgaBHRoognSXBR4CVcEvzlOQnDV7ECHmhefnD0zgwVEJ3wy_Ra3J5DyuU56fSGanBCOtTTkMu8PTq2vx_j78gewUvsUnilPetBnp_5r3ihGjHDuOGjum9r5DWqKNKAL4DU/s1600/App+VoiceOver.png" title="mock-up App Store screenshot with added section reading Supports VoiceOver on app preview page" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Potential  Feature for App Store</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Would you buy a song that may or may not play, a car that may or may not fit in your garage, or a remote that could or could not work with your TV? Probably not, but a similar problem is facing <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2014/06/happy-birthday-voiceover.html">VoiceOver</a> users (and users of other built-in accessibility features) every time they look for a new app on the App Store. This user base is growing quickly due to high quality accessibility features that Apple builds into every iOS device. Currently, the App Store offers no way for users to know if the app will be accessible before hitting the buy button. For VoiceOver users, this means throwing away money if the app turns out to be inaccessible. While the issue of app accessibility has been getting a lot of buzz lately, hopefully Apple can implement some solutions to the problem before and until app accessibility is virtually ubiquitous.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One way to help users know if an app is accessible before hitting the buy button is to add an accessibility report to the apps App Store page. Just as App Store pages prominently displays if an app is compatible with Game Center. This report could be generated during Apple's app review process and consist of a simple rating scale to help users determine if the app is accessible for their needs. As Rene Ritchie of <a href="http://imore.com/">iMore.com</a> suggested, maybe Apple would decide not to recommend any apps that are not fully accessible.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There are other solutions such as allowing developers to create an app accessibility preview alongside the full blown app previews coming with <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2014/06/ios-8-more-accessible-than-ever.html">iOS 8</a>. Developers could walk users through how the app interacts with <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2014/06/happy-birthday-voiceover.html">VoiceOver</a> or other <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2014/04/apple-announces-wwdc-2014-will.html">accessibility</a> features directly in the App Store using audio and video.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Hopefully Apple and app developers continue to keep in mind when updating their products.</div>

Diposting oleh Abdullah Syafii

Happy Birthday VoiceOver

<div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ets.berkeley.edu/sites/default/files/images/accessibility.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="320" src="http://ets.berkeley.edu/sites/default/files/images/accessibility.jpg" title="Apple Accessibility icon" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Five years ago, <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2014/04/apple-announces-wwdc-2014-will.html">Apple</a> did what seemed impossible; making the smooth glass of the iPhone touch screen accessible to the blind. A seemingly impossible task made possible by one of Apple's greatest software innovations; at least in my mind and the minds of millions of others with disabilities. Apple's solution was <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2011/07/ios-voiceover-overview.html">VoiceOver</a>, a screen reader like no other before. <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2011/07/ios-voiceover-overview.html">VoiceOver</a>uses touch gestures instead of keyboard shortcuts and other more desktop friendly inputs that had been used before. Simply put, VoiceOver allowed millions of blind and visually impaired users to experience the magic that was iPhone. In some ways, <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2011/07/ios-voiceover-overview.html">VoiceOver</a> is to accessibility as the Model T was to transportation: both brought new opportunities to the masses.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">VoiceOver has come preinstalled on every iPhone, <a href="http://bdmtech.blogspot.com/2014/04/ipad-mini-nexus-7-or-kindle-fire-hdx.html">iPad</a>, and iPod touch for the past five years. Blind and visually impaired users can purchase a device off the shelf and have access almost immediately. Apple often says “built-in, not bolted on” when talking about accessibility which is </span>definitely accurate in respect to VoiceOver<span style="font-family: inherit;">. Thanks to VoiceOver blind and visually impaired users were as much a part of the smartphone revolution as any other user group. Over the past five years Apple has refined and updated VoiceOver and has added new accessibility features to help users with a wide variety of disabilities. Apple devices pushed the entire smartphone and tablet market to become more accessibile to more people.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The inclusion of VoiceOver and other built-in accessibility features has allowed the App Store to boom with assistive apps to help the needs of people with disabilities. Not only did VoiceOver show that accessibility was possible on a touch screen phone, it gave developers a foundation to build great accessible apps. Basically, VoiceOver created a customer base for apps that helped the blind, which drove demand and increased the supply of great accessible apps. Another app gold-rush of sorts, but this time with apps tailored to people with disabilities. These apps are opening up new possibilities for disabled iOS users.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">On this fifth birthday of VoiceOver, Apple continues improve its accessibility offerings. Apple Keynote events routinely focus on a person with a disability being aided by an Apple product; it is clear that Apple cares about accessibility. New accessibility features come with every release of iOS, allowing users with different needs to get the most out of their device. However, no software is bug free and users are encouraged to email <a href="mailto:accessibility@apple.com">accessibility@apple.com</a> with suggestions or comments. And a many developers still do not support accessibility features in their apps. It can go a long way for users to tweet or email a developer asking for enhanced accessibility features. With Apple releasing “new product categories” within the year as CEO Tim Cook is often heard saying, hopefully accessibility remains at the forefront. VoiceOver has opened doors for millions of blind and low vision users, what other five-year-old can say that?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Happy birthday VoiceOver!</span><o:p></o:p></div>

Diposting oleh Abdullah Syafii