Telling Friends Where You Are (or Not)

Read this article email a comment on whether you think this kind of use of technology is a good or bad thing and under what circumstances.

Tricks to Keep Your Device’s Battery Going and Going

Send an email to john@nyise.org rating the usefulness of this article on a scale of one to ten (one = waste of time to ten = awesome)

Tuesday night PBS aired a one hour program about teenagers at the Texas School for the Blind. Review videos on this page and read some of the website on the program.
Leave a comment at their website in the Talkback section.

http://nyise141.edublogs.org/
Our Class Blog Site

This week we will be exploring phone technology.

The Mobilespeak Screenreader Software developed by Code Factory
( http://www.codefactory.es/). This company's innovative approach to providing access to hundreds of mobile solutions has changed the lives of thousands of us who are vision impaired, and their latest product offering, Mobilespeak 4, does not disappoint.
 
In EyePod Technocast 9A, the focus is on the enhanced text to speech capabilities present in Mobilespeak 4 and illustrates how MobileSpeak 4's forward thinking regarding these functionalities solidifies its position with competitors who use familiar, but dated, status quo software.
 
In EyePod Technocast 9B, we shift gears and compare Mobilespeak 4's newly implemented access to mobile handsets with touch screens, and the innovative approach that Apple has taken in providing access to the iPhone. We discuss both the accessibility and limitations of each approach.
  
You may click on, or forward, any of the following links to download these audio podcasts:
 
EyePod TechnoCast Volume 9A: An Exploration of the Enhanced Text to Speech capabilities present in Mobilespeak 4
 
MP3 Format:
http://www.flying-blind.com/ept/EyePodTechnoCast9A.mp3 (12.3 MB @ 96Kbps)
 
EyePod TechnoCast Volume 9B: Mobilespeak 4 vs The iPhone: Which Offers Greater Accessibility?
 
MP3 Format:
http://www.flying-blind.com/ept/EyePodTechnoCast9B.mp3 (15.8 MB @ 96Kbps)
 
You may also subscribe to the EyePod TechnoCast Feed using the following RSS link: http://www.flying-blind.com/feed.xml.

Assignment: listen to one or both podcasts and write a view from one of the audio programs. One page 18pt font. Due Friday Feb. 5th
 

Last year 2 graduates were received software from "Stevie Wonder's House Full of Toys" programs. The program gifts advanced electronics and software to students. Twelve companies donate to the program. Applications MUST be in by Friday. See John or Tina if you wish to be nominated. The application requires that YOU write in your own words a response to this:

For the student, in one page or less, tell us about the importance of giving. What have you done or are you doing to give to others? This could be a gift of your time or of the gift of an item. As a person who may potentially receive a gift, we would like to know what you are doing to give back to the community or a person. This must be in your words, no matter your age. The best stories will be shared with Stevie Wonder.

The following is a list of the available items (awards are limited and very competitive.

• Sendero GPS (requires mPower or PK). List Price $1,599 from Sendero Group,

• BrailleNote mPower 18. List Price $4,395 from HumanWare,

• Mobile Speak Adventure pack (Mobile Speak 4 Windows + Mobile Magnifier + Mobile Geo). List Price $1,040 from Code Factory

• Mobile Speak Gold pack (Mobile Speak 4 Symbian + Mobile Magnifier + Mobile DAISY Player + Color Reconizer + Games Pack). List Price $395 from Code Factory

• TALKS&ZOOMS. List Price $295 from Nuance

• Dragon Naturally Speaking. List Price $199 from Nuance

• Voice Sense with Sense Navigation GPS. List Price $3,944 from GW Micro and Sendero

• Icon Mobile Manager and docking station. List Price $1,995 from LevelStar

• KNFB Reader Software only (Requires Nokia N82 phone). List Price $995 from Kurzweil Tech

• Window Eyes. List Price $895 from GW Micro

• SenseView Portable Light Magnifier (low vision). List Price $595 from GW Micro

• VictorReader Stream with SD card. List Price $369 from HumanWare

• Customized Metrologic Bar Code Scanner. List Price $299 from A T Guys

• Max Embosser. List Price $5,995 from ViewPlus Technologies

• System Access Mobile Screen Reader. List Price $499 from Serotek Corporation

• GOODFEEL Standard. List Price $1,195 from Dancing Dots
  

If you are not participating in the contest, choose one of the technologies listed above that is unknown to you and complete an AT Description Form from the link below. Prepare a full page 18 point font description by Tuesday 2/2.
AT Evaluation Form - Word Document

5 Easy Steps to Stay Safe (and Private!) on Facebook

Read this article about Facebook. Prepare a reponse to its impact on your classmates. Due by Friday. Submit in person or email attachment to jhernandez@nyise.org

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Podcast

A 'podcast is a series of digital media files (either audio or video) that are released episodically and downloaded through web syndication. The mode of delivery differentiates podcasts from other ways of accessing media files over the Internet, such as simple download or streamed webcasts: special client software applications known as podcatchers (e.g., iTunes, Zune, Juice, and Winamp) are used to automatically identify and download new files in a series when they are released, by accessing a centrally-maintained web feed that lists all files associated with the series. New files are thus downloaded automatically and stored locally on the user's computer or other device for offline use, giving simpler access to episodic content.The most common audio file format used is MP3.

Read the article and be prepared for a lecture presentation on Thursday.

Policies Target Teacher-Student Cyber Talk

Teachers in Louisiana may soon think twice before sending a text message or e-mail to a student from a personal electronic device. A new state law requires all Louisiana districts to implement policies requiring documentation of every electronic interaction between teachers and students through a nonschool-issued device, such as a personal cellphone or e-mail account, by Nov.15. Parents also have the option of forbidding any communication between teachers and their child through personal electronic devices

Read the article and write at least a 200 word reaction to it.