Transcript Slide 1

A DIY Accessible Hardware Solution
for Students with Disabilities
Ryan Vernon
BC College and Institute Library Services (CILS)
7/20/2015
[email protected] | www.langara.bc.ca/cils
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Falling through the cracks?
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Raise the floor...
Raising the Floor: Enabling everyone, regardless of
extenuating circumstances, to obtain access...
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DIY: do it yourself
Recipe:
• Cheap hardware
• Free or cheep software
• Combine
7/20/2015
[email protected] | www.langara.bc.ca/cils
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Hardware
Desktop PC
•The computer you have now
•The library's computer
•Any old computer!
Netbook / Ultra-portable laptop
•Asus Eee PC (windows version)
•Acer Aspire One (windows
version)
•Other netbooks or
subnotebooks
•Any old notebook!
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Hardware
Things you might need
•Windows 2000 or newer
•Onboard sound
•Speakers
•Custom input device
•An Internet connection
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Software
•Thunder (screen reader)
•WebbIE (Accessible browser)
•Accessible RSS news reader
•Accessible podcatcher
•ReadPlease (text to speech engine)
•TextAloud (text to speech engine)
•AMIS (DAISY book player)
•WinAMP (media player) and the PaceMaker plugin
(which allows users to adjust playback speed)
•Iconico magnifier (screen magnifier)
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Software: Thunder
Screen reader: A screen reader is a software program that uses a
synthetic voice to read a computer screen out loud.*
From the Thunder website:
•"Free of charge to EVERYONE and any organization."
•"A quick and easy download on a modern computer."
•"For everyone who needs it."
7/20/2015
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Software: Webbie
An accessible browser
•When combined with Thunder users may listen to
and navigate webpages
•Keyboard controlable
•Plain text output
•Includes magnification function
•Free download
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WebbIE "webpage" view
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WebbIE "text" view
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WebbIE also includes...
...an accessible RSS reader
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WebbIE also includes...
...an accessible pod catcher
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WebbIE also includes...
...an accessible Project Gutenberg
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WebbIE also includes...
...an accessible Directory
(providing access to the ODP)
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ReadPlease
•Text-to-speech software: Converts computer
readable text into spoken language
•Free and paid versions
•Available to download
•Tutorial available at CILS
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ReadPlease
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TextAloud
•Text-to-speech software: Converts
computer readable text into
spoken language
•Free trial available
•~$30 to buy
•Available to download
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TextAloud
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DAISY
DAISY book format
•DAISY: Digital Audio Information System
•A highly navigable digital audiobook format: navigable by
chapter, section, heading or page number
•May be human voice or synthesized voice
•May have full-text or just heading information
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AMIS (Daisy Player)
•Open Source
•Freely available
•Available for download
•Tutorial available at CILS
7/20/2015
[email protected] | www.langara.bc.ca/cils
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AMIS (Daisy Player)
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AMIS (Daisy Player)
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WinAMP
•A media player, like Windows Media or VLC
•Freely available
•Allows plugins
•Tutorial available at CILS
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[email protected] | www.langara.bc.ca/cils
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WinAMP with PaceMaker
Pacemaker: a WinAMP plugin
•Freely available
•Changes tempo (play back
speed)
•Changes pitch
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WinAMP with PaceMaker
Allows you to speed up your MP3 without making it
sound like a chipmunk:
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Magnifier
•Enlarges a portion of a computer screen
•Freely available
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Conclusion
Don't be afraid...
...to get your hands dirty
...to try
...to ask
You can do it!
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Thank you
This presentation is available in multiple formats at
http://www.langara.bc.ca/cils/
Tel: 604-323-5685
Fax: 604-323-5577
E-Mail: [email protected]
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Questions?
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Photo Credits
All photos were generously made available by their creators
under a Creative Commons license:
•Stick Figure Loses Foot In Crack!
•Sunrise - Project City Center
•Computer Cooking
•Master in Computer Architecture, Network and Systems
•Lightening 16x9 03
•Chipmunk Checking Email
•Three magnified morons
•Don't Stop Questioning
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