Top Tech tidbits for Thursday, July 19, 2007
1)  those interested in up-to-date information about the performance of the most prominent screen readers will do well to read entries in the Blind Confidential blog by Christian for this week, 16-19 July.
http://blindconfidential.blogspot.com/

2)  More perspectives on the state of screen readers, particularly positive impressions of the Serotek line, and impressions of various portable and low-vision products, can be found in the Ranger Station entries for 19 July.
http://therangerstation.blogspot.com/

3)  Jamal Mazrui has embarked on a project to create a text editor that will work in multiple Windows platforms.  EdSharp is in early public beta phase.  Jamal is looking for testers using any windows operating system, but particularly those using windows Vista, Windows Mobile 5 or 6.  the editor might even work in Linux.
http://www.EmpowermentZone.com/edsetup.exe

4)  an article with the no-nonsense title: Window-Eyes is not picky about what graphic adapter you use has been added to the Gw Micro Knowledge Base.
http://www.gwmicro.com/Support/Knowledge_Base/?kbnumber=GWKB1076

5)  At present, if you can't read the screen visually and want to sign up with Yahoo for one of its services, you can't do it on your own because of CAPTCHA.  Yahoo promises that a representative will call to assist blind users with the sign-up process, and this might be acceptable to some, except the calls seldom really come, so we are locked out.  A petition is under way asking Yahoo to do the right thing and set up audio CAPTCHA.
http://www.petitiononline.com/yabvipma/petition.html

6)  George Kerscher has long been in the forefront of the work to make electronic books available to those of us who can't read print unaided.  He has written an article concerning Google's efforts in this area: First Step in Adding Accessibility to Google Books - Was It Enough?
http://www.daisy.org/news/default.asp#newsitem322.

7)  The US federal law known as Section 255 requires that mobile phones be accessible to people with disabilities, but to date this law has not been heeded by manufacturers, with the result that people with impaired vision usually can't go to the store and pick themselves up an accessible cell phone.  American Foundation for the Blind is starting a campaign called 255 Action to educate consumers and perhaps help them file complaints with the Federal Communications Commission.  For information, e-mail
255action@afb.net

8)  As the last Harry Potter book finally makes its appearance, many of us with print handicaps won't have to wait long to read it.  those from around the world who buy from National Braille Press will be able to download their copy on Saturday. That version will appear early next week as part of the Web Braille collection for US citizens; look for book number BR17210.  Finally, staff at Bookshare will be busily scanning the text throughout the night to make it available to members on Saturday.  From 03:00-10:00 GMT on Saturday, 21 July, there will be a virtual Harry Potter party in the Bookshare community room on the Accessible World site.
http://tinyurl.com/2avczp

9)  The Victor Reader Stream - Small in Size - Big in Features! will be the topic for the Tek Talk session on Tuesday, 24 July starting at 00:00 in the Tek Talk room.
http://www.accessibleworld.org

10)  Beginning in the fall, ATT Wireless will carry Mobile Speak and Mobile Magnifier from Code Factory in both windows and Symbian versions, a move which should make accessible cell phones easier to come by in the US.
http://tinyurl.com/yu3o9n

11)  Owners of the Braille Note product family will be able to benefit from Version 4 of Sendero GPS, featuring some 50 new features.
http://www.MySendero.com.

12)  Boise State University is seeking an AT Coordinator.
http://hrs.boisestate.edu/joblistings/professional/SA0061-67.shtml

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