Transcript Slide 1

1.2
Experts in
Educational and
Assistive Technologies
www.bridges-canada.com
1-800-353-1107
About Us
–
–
–
–
–
–
Experts in Educational and
Assistive Technology
Professional team with
extensive experience in
the fields of Education,
AAC and Technology
Quality products
Professional development
founded on best practices
Service in both English and
French
Dedicated to the
principles of UDL and DI
www.bridges-canada.com
1-800-353-1107
Vision
• To provide a wide offering of
solutions to individuals with
special needs that will facilitate
their successful participation in
all areas of their lives.
• To promote awareness of
assistive technology and the
impact that it has on
individuals with special needs.
• To promote successful
implementation of assistive
technology through
professional development
programs (that increase
knowledge, skill and
application of assistive
technology).
www.bridges-canada.com
1-800-353-1107
Our Products
•WRITING, READING
•NUMERACY
•PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
•COMMUNICATION
•ACCESS
•ACCESSIBLE CURRICULUM
•TOOLS FOR LIVING AND PLAY
•SKILL BUILDING
•RESOURCE MATERIALS
www.bridges-canada.com
1-800-353-1107
Professional Development
• Conferences
• Workshops
• Bridges Learning Series
• Individual or Small
Group Training
• Coaching
• Implementation
www.bridges-canada.com
1-800-353-1107
Conference
National
Technology in
Education
Conference
May 2012
University of Toronto
Erindale Campus,
Mississauga, ON
www.bridges-canada.com
1-800-353-1107
Assistive Technology for Information
Technologists
www.bridges-canada.com
1-800-353-1107
Common Software
• Boardmaker, Boardmaker Plus
• Clicker
• Write OutLoud & Co:Writer (SOLO)
• Intellitools Classroom Suite 4
• Dragon Naturally Speaking
• WordQ, SpeakQ
• Kurzweil
• Writing with Symbols 2000
• Symwriter
www.bridges-canada.com
1-800-353-1107
Common Problems
• New upgrades
• Downloading readymade activities
• Sound Output
• Incompatible Hardware
• CD’s required to run the software
• Deep Freeze and other security
programs
www.bridges-canada.com
1-800-353-1107
Text to Speech
• There are a number of voices available to choose
from but not all are compatible with each piece of
software:
– Clicker
Heather, Ryan
– CS4
Kate, Paul
– Kurzweil
Kate, Paul,
– Kurzweil 12 VW Paul, VW Julie
– SOLO
Aaron, Laura
– SOLO 6
SAPI 5
– Boardmaker +
SAPI 4, SAPI 5
– SDPro
Realspeak, SAPI 4, SAPI 5
– Symwriter
SAPI 5
– WordQ
Heather
www.bridges-canada.com
1-800-353-1107
Hardware
• Most software will run on Windows XP/2000/7
• Alternate mice and keyboards may require
drivers
• Screen resolution is an issue for some
programs
• Desks are never big enough to hold the
equipment but are too big for the classroom
• 512 MB Ram meets the needs of most
programs but more is always better.
www.bridges-canada.com
1-800-353-1107
Kurzweil
• What is it?
– Scanning program to input text to
the computer to be read aloud to
the end user
– Powerful OCR software
• Who would use it?
– Struggling readers and writers
– Individuals that can not hold a
regular book
www.bridges-canada.com
1-800-353-1107
Kurzweil
• Currently shipping version 12 released in
Summer 2010
• Epson is the preferred brand of Scanner
• Older HP scanners generally do not work
unless there is a TWAIN driver available.
• Check Kurzweil web site for the most up to
date list of approved scanners
www.kurzweiledu.com
www.bridges-canada.com
1-800-353-1107
Kurzweil
• Common problems
– Speech engines
– KESI Virtual printer
– Scanning
Tech Support web site covers many
issues
http://helpspot.sopriswest.com/index.ph
p?pg=kb.book&id=43
www.bridges-canada.com
1-800-353-1107
Kurzweil
• The Kurzweil toolbar may not be
available to students if the taskbar is
locked out.
• Read the web (version 10 or lower) does
not work in Explorer 7 or Firefox version 3
www.bridges-canada.com
1-800-353-1107
Kurzweil
There are multiple types of Kurzweil
Standalone
Network
Web Licensed
USB Stick
Black & White or Colour
Windows or Macintosh
Professional and Learn Station
English or French
www.bridges-canada.com
1-800-353-1107
Kurzweil
•
Web site has new training videos
– Overview of Kurzweil 3000 Commands and Toolbars
– Reading in Kurzweil 3000 and Customized Reading Preferences
– Creating an Outline in Kurzweil 3000
– Study Skills Toolbars' Sticky and Text Note Creation
– Looking up Words in Kurzweil 3000
– Use of Highlighters in Studying
– Prepare a Multiple Choice Test Document
– Using Kurzweil 3000 to Answer Multiple Choice Tests
– Using Kurzweil 3000 to Answer Fill-in-the-Blanks Tests
– Learn How to Show or Hide Toolbars
www.bridges-canada.com
1-800-353-1107
Kurzweil
www.bridges-canada.com
1-800-353-1107
Clicker
• What is it?
– Word processor with pictures and speech
feedback
– Customizable onscreen keyboards
• Who would use it?
– Struggling students benefit from the
speech output for independent writing
– Struggling writers may benefit from the
whole word grids
www.bridges-canada.com
1-800-353-1107
Clicker
• There are free activities available from the
web site. www.learninggrids.com
• PCS metafiles must be purchased separately
you can not link to the Boardmaker library.
• Version 5 has higher quality voices that may
be incompatible with other speech output
programs.
• Switch access with the Crick switch interface
or an interface that can be programmed
with the F7 and F8 keys
www.bridges-canada.com
1-800-353-1107
Write Out:Loud
• What is it?
– Simple to use word processor
with speech feedback
– Easy to use on-line dictionary
• Who would use it?
– Struggling writers
www.bridges-canada.com
1-800-353-1107
Co:Writer
• What is it?
– Rate enhancement/word prediction
software
• Who would use it?
– Struggling writers benefit from the whole
words
– Individuals with physical challenges that
make typing slow
www.bridges-canada.com
1-800-353-1107
Don Johnston
• Co:Writer & Write OutLoud have a new
version of SOLO ver 6 Canadian Edition.
• The full version of SOLO includes
Draftbuilder, Read OutLoud, Co:Writer and
Write OutLoud.
www.bridges-canada.com
1-800-353-1107
Don Johnston
There is a monthly tech newsletter that is
available from DJ that addresses issues
that have come from the software.
http://www.donjohnston.com/support/te
ch_news/index.html
www.bridges-canada.com
1-800-353-1107
Boardmaker
• What is it?
– A collection of symbols for
communication
– Easy to use graphics program
• Who would use it?
– Teachers to create classroom material
for non-verbal individuals, visual
schedules, communication boards
www.bridges-canada.com
1-800-353-1107
Boardmaker
• The CD must be in the drive to run the program
therefore the license follows the CD. A burnt copy
of the disk does not work it must be the original.
• The only file format that is supported for importing
graphics is BMP in versions prior to 5.2.
• 5.3.5 or higher will support BMP, JPEG, GIF, EMF, WMF
• The addendum libraries that are purchased for
Boardmaker may be installed into Writing with
Symbols
• There are multiple languages the symbols can be
displayed with as well as changing the search
language.
www.bridges-canada.com
1-800-353-1107
Boardmaker Ver. 6
• Released Nov of 06
• You can not use a version 5 CD on 6
install or a version 6 CD on a 5 install
• You can not have both versions
installed on the same computer
• There is a patch to update 6.0 to ver
6.1.3 this will make it VISTA compatible.
• Current version is 6.14
www.bridges-canada.com
1-800-353-1107
Boardmaker Family
• Boardmaker
– Used to create print materials
– No Voices
• Boardmaker Plus
– Used to create print materials
– Used to create dynamic activities for student use
– Uses SAPI 4 or SAPI 5 voices
• Boardmaker with Speaking Dynamically Pro
– Used for a face to face communication
– Uses RealSpeak voices
• Boardmaker Studio
New application to create interactive activities
www.bridges-canada.com
1-800-353-1107
Boardmaker Studio
• Studio does not require the CD but is
limited to 2 installs
• The addendums need to be imported
into the program not installed from a disk
unless you are downloading the ThinLine
Addendums
• Uses a new speech engine or SAPI 5
voices
www.bridges-canada.com
1-800-353-1107
Writing with Symbols
• What is it?
– A word processor with pictures and
speech feedback
– A word processor with on screen grids
for writing
• Who would use it?
– Teachers to create classroom
materials
– Students to write journals, stories
www.bridges-canada.com
1-800-353-1107
Writing with Symbols 2000
• The CD must be in the drive to run the
program therefore the license follows the CD
• The WWS folder in the My Documents folder
must be available to all users.
• WWS is very picky about where files are
saved on the computer. You can not open
activities from any other location. They must
be in the appropriate folder in the WWS
folder in My Documents
www.bridges-canada.com
1-800-353-1107
Symwriter
• New Canadian Edition support both
English and French
• Auto update feature from the web
• Does not require the CD to run
• The default symbol set is WLS
• PCS addendum library can be
purchased separately
www.bridges-canada.com
1-800-353-1107
Speech Recognition
• Dragon Naturally Speaking
– Current version, 11
– Require 1 GIG Ram and high quality
microphone for successful use
– Requires 1 GIG hard drive space.
www.bridges-canada.com
1-800-353-1107
Speech Recognition
• WordQ 2, Speak Q
– Word Q is the word prediction program
– Speak Q is the speech recognition
program
– Speak Q is an add on to Word Q
– Min 512 Ram, 1 GIG preferred
– High quality microphone
www.bridges-canada.com
1-800-353-1107
Classroom Suite 4
• What is it?
– A multimedia authoring tool create
activities
– A word processor with multiple features
– A math manipulative program
• Who would use it?
– Teachers to create classroom materials
– Students to write, read stories, run
activities
www.bridges-canada.com
1-800-353-1107
Classroom Suite 4
• The demo for CS4 is for 30 days
• CS 4 works with Boardmaker 6
• Activities are available from the intellitools
activity exchange and SETBC
• The resolution needs to be set at 1024 X
768, to be able to view the navigation
screen
• New patch fixes a Quick time issue and
64 Bit computers
www.bridges-canada.com
1-800-353-1107
Intellitools Balanced Literacy
• The CD is required to run the program.
• This program is available with 2 alternate
access methods which may need to be
set up
• There have been some Quicktime issues,
the latest version comes on the Balanced
Literacy CD
• Additional activities are on a second CD
and need to be installed separately
www.bridges-canada.com
1-800-353-1107
Intellitools Math
• Number Concepts 1 & 2 require the CD to
be in the drive to run.
• Number Concepts will not run an a
machine that has more that 1 GB of RAM
• Math Pad & Math Pad Plus do not require
the CD to run
www.bridges-canada.com
1-800-353-1107
Network Versions
• The following have network versions
available to make it easier for tech
support
– Clicker
– Classroom Suite
– Kurzweil
– Writing with Symbols 2000
– SOLO
www.bridges-canada.com
1-800-353-1107
Web Based Web Managed
• There are a number of applications that
are web based and web managed.
Write OnLine Web Delivered
Classroom Suite License managed
Kurzweil
www.bridges-canada.com
1-800-353-1107
Intellikeys
• Classic, grey uses PS/2 connection
– Won’t work on XP
• USB, teal uses USB WIN 98 and above
requires separate driver
current driver is 3.1 and works with the
IntelliSwitch
New driver to support 64 bit computers is
avaialble
www.bridges-canada.com
1-800-353-1107
Intellitools Intellikeys
• The driver must be loaded before plugging in the
keyboard.
• The second half of the install will need to be
completed for each USB port that the keyboard
may be plugged into.
• USB Control Panel has a reset to factory default
www.bridges-canada.com
1-800-353-1107
Intellitools Overlay Maker
• This program is required for making custom
overlays for the Intellikeys
• Need to run updater if Boardmaker 6 is
installed
www.bridges-canada.com
1-800-353-1107
Word Processors
• Neo, DANA
– Co:Writer Smart Applet use the US install
NOT the UK
– Can connect to computer or limited
number of printers
– Students are rough on cables, USB lasts
longer and easy to replace
www.bridges-canada.com
1-800-353-1107
Word Processor Applications
• DANA
– Write OutLoud to Go
• Has a separate speech card, need to sync
to transfer files to a dedicated folder in the
users desktop
• Neo
– Co:Writer – word prediction software
– Additional topic dictionaries may be loaded
– KeyWiz – typing program
www.bridges-canada.com
1-800-353-1107
Alternate Mice
• Penny & Giles rollerballs and joysticks do not
require addition drivers
• Touch Windows USB Windows XP and above
may not need drivers, PS2 on WIN 98 may
require drivers that should come with the
hardware
• You can have more than 1 mouse attached
to a computer. This will allow for a regular
mouse and an adapted access method
www.bridges-canada.com
1-800-353-1107
Switch Interfaces
• DJ Switch Interface Pro
• 4 ports, not programmable
• Intelliswitch
• 5 ports, programmable
• CricK Switch Interface
• 4 ports programmable
• Joy Box
• 8 ports, programmable, 4 ports directional
• Joy Cable
• 2 ports, programmable
• Switch Adapted Mouse
• 1-2 ports, not programmable
www.bridges-canada.com
1-800-353-1107
VOCA/SGD
• Voice Output Communiaction Aid
• Speech Generating Device
– Used as a persons voice
– May be used as an access method to the
computer
– Digitized version (recorded voice)
– Synthesized version (computer voice)
– Laptops can be used
– Wide range of access methods
www.bridges-canada.com
1-800-353-1107
Macintosh Software
• ICS, OM3, Balanced Literacy,IKeys, all run in OS X,
all other Itools software needs to run in OS 9
• Kurzweil OS X both Mac OS 9 and Mac OS X,
specifically OS 9.2.2 and OS X 10.2.4 or higher.
However, the new Network edition’s
Administrator only supports OS X 10.2.4 or higher
and the Network Server must run on OS X 10.3 or
higher.
• SOLO requires OS 10.2
– Don Johston has a detailed list of their
software and requirements at
http://www.donjohnston.com/support/index.h
tm
www.bridges-canada.com
1-800-353-1107
Macintosh Software
• 10.5 issues
– SOLO needs a patch but not yet
available
– Clicker 5 not stable
– Kurzweil needs latest patch
– Boardmaker appears to be fine
– Classroom Suite 4 appears to be fine
www.bridges-canada.com
1-800-353-1107
Macintosh Software
• Boardmaker 6 has a OS X version,
• Clicker requires OS X, v10.3
• Clicker Paint OS X, v10.3
• Cloze Pro OS X, v10.1.5
• WWS and Symwriter do not have a Mac versions
www.bridges-canada.com
1-800-353-1107
Macintosh Hardware
• Touchwindows require ver 1.5 driver
• Intellikeys, Intelliswitch require ver 3.0
driver
www.bridges-canada.com
1-800-353-1107
Updates
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Classroom Suite ver 4.3
OverlayMaker 3 ver 3.1.1.1
Intellikeys ver 3.4
Kurzweil ver 12.01 Windows
Kurzweil ver 4.0 Macintosh
SOLO ver 6.01
Clicker 5.2
Boardmaker 6.1.4
Word Q 2.4, Speak Q 1.4
Dragon Naturally Speaking
www.bridges-canada.com
1-800-353-1107
Contact Information
•
•
•
•
•
www.bridges-canada.com
http://bridgesatforit.pbwiki.com
[email protected]
1-800-353-1107
Thanks
www.bridges-canada.com
The Bridges Team
1-800-353-1107