Transcript Presentation

London and Southeast Group Meeting Workshop 24/11/12
Being accessible: you, your student
and free Assistive Technology
Jamie Crabb & Atif Choudhury
Today’s Goal:
Discuss and demonstrate FREE Assistive Technology
software (Freeware) similar to software that students
receive through the Disabled Students Allowance (DSA)
PC:
MAC:
• My Study Bar:
• Text-to-Speech (built in to
Operating system)
• Natural Reader (Text-toSpeech)
• Zotero
- X-Mind (Mindmapping)
- Orato & Balabolka (Text-toSpeech)
• Ginger Software (Contextual
Spell Checker / Proofreader)
• Zotero – Referencing and
Bibliographies
• Ginger – Google Chrome
Plug-in (MAC & PC)
Wifi
Logon to ‘Guest’ Wifi:
Account 1 (10 people)
Username = guest0519304
Password = uoqg8092
Account 2 (10 people)
Username = guest2905983
Password = dyvu6052
Word Document with Download Links:
http://tinyurl.com/adshefreeAT
My Study Bar
My study bar download (Windows only):
http://eduapps.org/?page_id=7
X-Mind
X-Mind can be used for:
• note-taking – mapping key ideas when
reading
• brainstorming ideas
• planning, structuring and writing
essays - keeping an eye on the ‘big
picture’ to avoid repetition
(example – mapping reading)
• Export to HTML & open with Word
X-Mind direct download (PC & MAC):
http://www.xmind.net
Orato/Balabolka
Orato/Balabolka* - can be used for:
• Reading - emails, internet articles, MS Word and
accessible PDF documents using a synthesised
voice
• Proof-reading** – visually scan and listen
(example – website/document)
*Free voices are available:
http://www.cereproc.com/post16institutions
**Hunspell spell checker plug-in: http://www.crossplus-a.com/hunspell_English.zip
MAC Text-to-Speech & Natural Reader
Natural Reader (MAC & PC):
http://www.naturalreaders.com/index.htm /
Accessible Scanning Software: OCR
• What is Optical Character Recognition, or OCR?
Most scanners can only create an image or a snapshot
of a document – it doesn’t recognise it as text…
Example
In order to create a scanned PDF document that is
accessible OCR software is necessary which can detect
letters and words from the original document...
Example
FreeOCR (PC Only) http://www.paperfile.net
Free OCR Online (PC & MAC)
http://www.free-ocr.com/
Referencing & Citation Manager
Build a personalised database of sources!
This is a FREE application!
3 main types of sources students cite:
•
•
•
Book Publications
Journals
Websites
(example of each &
creating in text citations &
bibliographies)
Zotero:
http://www.zotero.org/
& Word Plugins: http://www.zotero.org/support/word_processor_integration
-
Built into Firefox browser or standalone version that works with Safari and Google Chrome
“Being dyslexic Zotero was an extremely useful tool in helping me categorise and organise my
research. It made the complexity of referencing so much simpler, helped me in being more
efficient and meant I had more time to focus on my writing!”
MA Applied Theatre Student
Ginger Software
Free Contextual Spelling & Grammar Software
Ginger Software (PC Only):
http://www.gingersoftware.com/
Ginger Chrome / Safari Plugin (Mac & PC):
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/gramma
r-and-spell-checker/kdfieneakcjfaiglcfcgkidlkmlijjnh
Questions & Explore…