http://magnifiers.org/thenews/magnifiers.orghome.rss This RSS feed was generated out of the newsdatabase of Magnifiers.org Home website. http://magnifiers.org/news.php?action=fullnews&id=425 We already know for years that accessibility layers do not work and that accessibility must be build in the core of the operating system to be effective. http://magnifiers.org/news.php?action=fullnews&id=424 Research In Motion (RIM) has launched BlackBerry Screen Reader, a software application that enables customers who are blind or visually impaired operate their BlackBerry smartphone. http://magnifiers.org/news.php?action=fullnews&id=423 Ai Squared today announced that ZoomText, the Screen Magnification/Reading software, has achieved certified integration with SAP® applications. After a rigorous testing process, ZoomText 10.00.0.344 has been proven to integrate with the SAP NetWeaver® technology platform. http://magnifiers.org/news.php?action=fullnews&id=422 Windows 8 will see some improvements in its accessibility features, making it easier for people who are visually impaired or face other disabilities. The Magnifier will now help you pinpoint your spot on the screen. http://magnifiers.org/news.php?action=fullnews&id=421 Finally, there is a device that will allow the visually impaired to walk without sticks. Three Indians in collaboration with the University of Pennsylvania have developed a belt that senses obstructions and helps the visually impaired walk freely. http://magnifiers.org/news.php?action=fullnews&id=420 DimLit can amplify available light, magnify and increase contrast of the live video stream from your iPhone or iPod touch camera. http://magnifiers.org/news.php?action=fullnews&id=419 We are about to see the release of the new Samsung Galaxy Nexus, the first mobile phone to come with the Ice Cream Sandwich version of the Android operating system installed. There are some well documented improvements offered by this new system such as unified applications for both mobile phones and tablet devices. There are however some features that are less well known and one of them is the support offered to visually impaired users. http://magnifiers.org/news.php?action=fullnews&id=418 ZoomText is the leading screen magnifier with optional speech support for the Windows platform. Version 10 include some new features, but most of them have nothing to do with basic screen magnification. http://magnifiers.org/news.php?action=fullnews&id=417 The version 12.06 update is available via SuperNova's internet updater for Arabic, Australian English, Belgian Dutch, Belgian French, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Hindi, Icelandic, Italian, Lithuanian, Norwegian, Polish, Slovak, Spanish, Swedish, UK English, US English and Welsh product users. http://magnifiers.org/news.php?action=fullnews&id=416 The most popular screen magnifier for Windows, ZoomText from AI Squared, will get release 10 soon. They promote this release by publishing videos with new features on Youtube. Today the Enhanced WebFinder allowing you to search webpages for specific words or phrases, or skim through pages to find items of interest. http://magnifiers.org/news.php?action=fullnews&id=415 With the new ZoomText recorder, you can turn text from documents, webpages, emails or other sources into audio recordings that you can transfer to your mobile device and listen to at your convenience. http://magnifiers.org/news.php?action=fullnews&id=414 ZoomText 10 screen magnifier / screen reader for the Windows platform, will be release soon and AI Squared started a promotion campaign with publishing YouTube videos showing the new features. This time a feature called backgroud reader. Sounds not very new to me, but see it for your slef. http://magnifiers.org/news.php?action=fullnews&id=413 ZoomText is the most popular professional screen magnifier for the Windows platform since years. It is long ago since AI Squared releases a major new version, but countdown has been started for the release of ZoomText 10. http://magnifiers.org/news.php?action=fullnews&id=412 Socializing could be a bit easier for the visually impaired with the BlindSpot, a concept by a Singaporean university graduate. http://magnifiers.org/news.php?action=fullnews&id=411 Zoom Plus makes text easier to read by zooming in and changing colours. Zoom Plus is a video magnifier, making text easier to read by zooming in. It also lets you change the colors and contrast of the text and background, which can help with dyslexia, low vision and color blindness. http://magnifiers.org/news.php?action=fullnews&id=410 Nokia has announced a screen reader this week at Nokia World 2011, in addition to a number of accessibility apps. These new products matter because they will make it easier for people with disabilities to use Nokia devices. The software supplier for the Nokia Screen Reader is Code Factory, based in Spain. The CEO Eduard Sánchez describes the situation: http://magnifiers.org/news.php?action=fullnews&id=409 JAWS® for Windows version 13, including Convenient OCR, a feature that performs Optical Character Recognition on text that is displayed as an image, thereby enabling blind computer users to read items that were previously inaccessible. Examples of such screens include a PDF file, the setup screen of an application, or the menu of selections on a DVD. JAWS now provides an opportunity to read and interact with these screens, including locating and clicking on text which may be required to activate a control. http://magnifiers.org/news.php?action=fullnews&id=408 MoreA University study on iPads has shown a promising lead in the treatment of children living with cortical visual impairment, a disorder that severely affects the interpretation of visual information. Researchers at KU’s Life Span Institute have recorded high responsiveness in children living with CVI when using the Apple iPad. http://magnifiers.org/news.php?action=fullnews&id=407 In the August edition of AccessWorld you find a comparison of three low-cost hand-held videio magnifiers and two free screen readers. http://magnifiers.org/news.php?action=fullnews&id=406 Social media in general has major accessibility problems. Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook all certainly need improvement. Google latest attempt at social media, Google Plus, launched a short time ago. This time, Google says they considered accessibility of Google plus from day 1. But is that true? http://magnifiers.org/news.php?action=fullnews&id=405 Dolphin Computer Access today released a free SuperNova update for all version 12 users enabling people with low vision to access Internet Explorer 9. In a press release I received from Dophin, I read they are very proud with this release. Why is Dolphin so proud with this new release of SuperNova that never seems to get out of beta and what is the role of Microsoft? http://magnifiers.org/news.php?action=fullnews&id=404 We want to be able to enhance vision in those who have lost it or who have little left or almost none, explains Dr Stephen Hicks of the Department of Clinical Neurology at Oxford University. The glasses should allow people to be more independent, finding their own directions and signposts, and spotting warning signals, he says. http://magnifiers.org/news.php?action=fullnews&id=403 Apple is a leader in mainstream product accessibility for persons who are blind or visually impaired. They wowed us with built-in accessibility for the iPhone, iPod, and iPad. In theApril number of AccessWorld Joe Strechay reviewed Apple TV. http://magnifiers.org/news.php?action=fullnews&id=402 Eye Reader is a reading magnifier that utilizes the LED light of the iPhone 4, providing a solution to reading small print in dark areas like reading menus in restaurants. http://magnifiers.org/news.php?action=fullnews&id=401 In combination with your iPhone built-in camera, ZoomReader lets you magnify and read printed text by first taking a picture of an object like a book or menu, then converts the image into text using state-of-the-art Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology. http://magnifiers.org/news.php?action=fullnews&id=400 Mobile Accessibility is a screen-access application which allows people who are blind or have low vision to use an Android phone in an intuitive, easy and simple way. http://magnifiers.org/news.php?action=fullnews&id=399 AI Squared makers of the world leading screen magnifier fo Windows ZoomText, is going mobile with the app ZoomReader for the iPhone. http://magnifiers.org/news.php?action=fullnews&id=398 Three visually impaired women filed a class action complaint against two Walt Disney companies alleging that Disneys websites relating to its theme parks, hotels and restaurants are inaccessible to the visually impaired, in violation of the Americans With Disabilities Act. These allegations are brought along with broader allegations that Disney unlawfully discriminates against blind patrons who visit their theme parks, hotels and restaurants by refusing to reasonably accommodate their needs. http://magnifiers.org/news.php?action=fullnews&id=397 Garmin StreetPilot, a GPS navigation solution for iOS devices, has been updated to version 6.5.4. The developer notes that this version is now VoiceOver accessible. http://magnifiers.org/news.php?action=fullnews&id=396 A blind man has become the first person in America to legally drive a car around a race track in a test which could one day lead to all visually impaired people taking to the roads. http://magnifiers.org/news.php?action=fullnews&id=395 In the January edition of AccessWorld you can find a helpful review of the mid-range screen magnifier WinZoom and the free Windows 7 screen magnifier utility. http://magnifiers.org/news.php?action=fullnews&id=394 Serotek Corporation, a provider of accessible multi platform and cloud-based solutions accessible from anywhere, is proud to announce the release of DocuScan Plus™. This innovative software requires no drivers and allows anyone to scan and read documents in an accessible format from any computer. Serotek will be demonstrating DocuScan Plus at the 2011 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada, January 6 – 9. http://magnifiers.org/news.php?action=fullnews&id=393 The screen magnification market looks set for a significant shake up following the recent release of an updated screen access solution from one of the Worlds original accessibility experts - Dolphin Computer Access. As with previous releases, SuperNova version 12 boasts screen magnification, screen reading suitable for users with no useful sight, as well as Braille display support – all fully synchronised. Notably however, for low vision computer users, SuperNova now also delivers four new magnifier innovations that should re-ignite the whole magnifier debate. http://magnifiers.org/news.php?action=fullnews&id=392 Provider of assistive technologies for the visually impaired and blind, Optelec US, has announced the availability of its new PowerMag+ series of LED magnifiers. The PowerMag+ line allows effective and easy magnification reading by using advanced Schweizer-brand optics, durable materials and better illumination. PowerMag+ Line http://magnifiers.org/news.php?action=fullnews&id=391 Freedom Scientific today announced the release of JAWS® for Windows version 12, including JAWS BrailleIn™, a powerful new feature that enables users who prefer typing in Braille to use contracted Braille in common Microsoft applications such as Internet Explorer and Word. JAWS 12 includes a new Virtual Ribbon feature which provides a fast way to navigate the Ribbon Menus that Microsoft uses in Office 2007 and Windows 7. JAWS 12 also replaces the Configuration Manager with a new Settings Center. The Settings Center allows easy access to all JAWS settings and includes a search box to instantly locate and adjust the desired settings. http://magnifiers.org/news.php?action=fullnews&id=390 Google has launched two new Android apps for visually impaired users, although they could be useful to just about anybody looking for more information from their mobile navigation devices. http://magnifiers.org/news.php?action=fullnews&id=389 Freedom Scientific today announced the first true dual monitor support for computer users with low vision. MAGic Screen Magnification Software now works with Windows® 7 and Windows Vista® computers to simultaneously magnify two different applications displayed on two separate monitors. http://magnifiers.org/news.php?action=fullnews&id=388 All Android phones that have Android version 1.6 or later have built-in support for speech output and accessibility, completely free. http://magnifiers.org/news.php?action=fullnews&id=387 How accessible is the iPad for the visually impaired? Apple products like iPod, iPhone and Ipad are not only praised because of their design and new user-interface, but also because they are be made accessible for the visually impaired by default. http://magnifiers.org/news.php?action=fullnews&id=386 From 22 to 27 March 2010 The 25th Annual International Technology and Persons with Disabilities Conference was held in the Manchester Grand Hyatt Hotel in San Diego USA. On the CSUN webiste you can now download the submitted speakers materials.