Top Tech Tidbits for Thursday, May 24, 2007
You may notice that I seldom repeat items in Tidbits. That is one reason why the newsletter is so concise, and besides, I want to encourage people to retain and search old issues for information. The full-text archive, a large text file available in both plain-text and zip format, is updated as of today, so I hope you'll use it.
http:/topdotenterprises.com/tidbitsfull.txt
http:/topdotenterprises.com/tidbitsfull.zip
Also note that I'm going to return to using Eudora's html mode to send the newsletter. It should mean that most users will see links in e-mail messages. A few users may have trouble with Eudora's creation of html. If you're one of those, feel free to ask to be put onto the text-only list.
1) Google It! A Guide to the World's Most Popular Search Engine is a new book from National Braille Press, in downloadable or paper braille formats, for $12.00 US.
http://www.nbp.org/ic/nbp/GOOGLE.html
2) Talking Alarm Clock is a free program for setting flexible alarms and reminders; screen reader accessibility has been built in from the beginning. The program is at version 1.4.
http://www.cinnamonsoftware.com/alarm_clock.htm
3) There are several mailing lists and a few web pages where people can look to buy or sell used adaptive equipment. Here is one:
http://www.frontiercomputing.on.ca/swapshop.php
4) Blind Information Technology Specialists and For-The-People will be offering a chat concerning Mobile Speak and pocket applications, on GMT Sunday, 3 June at 01:00. Free registration with For-The-People is required.
http://www.for-the-people.com
4) One of many sources for adaptive technology training is Portal Tutoring; the owner publishes a quarterly newsletter.
http://www.portaltutoring.info
5) The American chemical Society is in the process of converting its high school chemistry textbook Chemistry in the Community, into a digital talking book. If you want to pilot test it, e-uail
chemcom@acs.org
6) From Fred's Head Companion, we learn about the Pc Guide web site, which contains buyers guides, system management, troubleshooting, and repair guides.
http://www.pcguide.com.
7) the same blog mentions Proxify, a program with both free and paid versions, which hides your identity as you surf the web.
http://proxify.com.
8) Tag it guide is a German product which uses RFID to label landmarks, museum items, or other points of interest, useful for guiding and e-learning.
http://www.dlinfo.de
9) The Accessible Devices E Mail list has been providing information about the accessibility of products for 4 Years now. It is an announce only low volume list. to subscribe, send a blank message to
AccessibleDevices-subscribe@googlegroups.com
10) Blind Confidential directs us to a very pertinent Information Week article discussing ways in which aggressive uses of patent law can ruin small companies, hold back innovation and stifle the creativity
that has fueled the high technology explosion; some players in the adaptive technology industry are engaging in such tactics.
http://www.informationweek.com/shared/printablearticle.jhtml?articleid=199602086
11) Christian also gives us a very interesting early look at Mobile Speak SmartPhone edition run ning under windows Mobile 6.
http://blindconfidential.blogspot.com/2007/05/first-look-mss-with-wm6.html
An individually-mailed text version of Tidbits is available to those who want it or have difficulty receiving the usual html version. Write to me to request it.
Visit the Tidbits page at www.topdotenterprises.com/tidbits.htm where you can subscribe to the rss feed and grab back issues. All that welcome information for future issues can come to me at dean@topdotenterprises.com.