Author: AccessAbility Smyles

Some interesting keyboards available from this company in the UK

http://www.keyboardco.com/category.asp?path=Assistive%20and%20Educational

With so much controversy over copyright of media these days  it is easy to put yourself in a bit of a  ethical pickle! The saying ” if it’s too good to be true it probably is” comes to mind. On Android there are non-play store apps that provide media streaming such as Mobdro which gives access to streaming channels some of which I am not sure of the legal position. So I won’t be using this app . But less controversal and more useful is anothe non-play store sanctioned app – TubeMate which copies anything from Youtube. Of course some content is not favourable but for an Android device this is really useful. How is it useful? Instead of live streaming having a favourite video on your device when you are not in a wifi zone could be really handy. One word of warning some Android devices have small internal memory but have a microSD card slot so memory can be expanded. This is a tip worth knowing has it saves money and expands the memory and usefulness of the device. Unlike apple where you have to subscribe to cloud memory to expand the device’s storage capacity. Here on Android you have a physical piece of memory you can have your data on.

Android devices don’t always get the press they deserve being the smaller brother to the mighty Apple iOS when it comes to education. But I have to take my hat off to this useful tool as it helps to protect your child from internet nasties and for those with special needs puts a “walled garden” around the device that is helpful to concerned parents about their child’s use of the device.

Kids Play is free on the Play Store and provides a PIN lock to changing or introducing content once the app is run. The home key can be disabled so the child stays within the walled garden. You can manage apps, images and video through Plugs in’s Kids Pics and Kids Video. Along with other features contained in Settings for the app makes it a pretty useful tool for parents to have if you want to protect your child. Also, the paid version as tools for remote monitoring what your child is looking and and which apps they use. Anyway worth having – at least the free version!

Free Assistive technology of the Week – OviiChat

OviiChat (iOS) 
Real time communication for those with hearing loss
Oviichat is a remarkable app for iPhone, iPad and iPOD touch. It provides real time text communication between two devices without the need for an internet connection.
Unlike texting or instant messaging, it uses real-time, letter by letter conversation with each letter appearing on the second screen as it is typed. The app automatically connects to any other device with OviiChat open and features adjustable font sizes & styles. You can use the app to chat with up to 8 devices both by typing or using voice dictation to transfer into real-time text with full emoji and custom keyboard support.

OviiChat is available from the app store at

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/ovii-chat-real-time-communiction/id1071931133?mt=8
and you can get more details at

http://oviisoft.com/oviichat.html

Want to change how you receive these emails?

You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list
Also you can subscribe to our free weekly newsletter and roundup of all that is happening in the world of Access and Inclusion through Technology at
http://paper.li/e-1452749534  
 

For those who didn’t know or haven’t checked for updates there was an update release for iOS10. If you would like to see the main features I found this article useful:-

https://www.macstories.net/news/ios-10-our-complete-overview/

The upload is large 1.1 Gb and does take a long time to do. On my devices it took nearly an hour to complete. So give yourself plenty of time to do the upgrade ( not like me that thought he could do it in half-an-hour and missed an appointment!).

At the Inclusive event today Bob the builder made an entrance and gave a cheque to the Manchester Children’s hospital of £80,000 as proceeds from the Bob the Builder switch accessible software.

A truly remarkable speech by Martin Littler where he literally named every one  in the room with some event or activity we had done with him over the past 20 years! Nice touch Martin

Inclusive were presented with the Queen’s award – a glass bowl seen here

Lastly this is a photo of the first toy made to be used with a switch . Awwww!

And the future look rosy with Insight eye gaze tracking software that will collect data for analysis that will be fed back to the teachers giving them a window into the mind of eye gaze users. This is launching this month watch this space!

Today I am sharing in the celebration of Inclusive Technology receiving their Queen’s Award for Industry at the Museum of Science and Technology here in Manchester. Huge respect for Inclusive’s acheivement ! Well done !

I am sending this out through my blog as I think it’s a fascinating aspect of special needs – to consider the spaces we live in and move through. As a student at Art College I studied interior design and learnt key design principles which had been proved in my work life as I firmly believe that good design raises well being and acheivement . I have see this for myself as pupils with complex autism raised their Behaviour in an environment designed for them. Should be an interesting conference:-

Hi
Apologies if you already know, but incase you don’t, I’m organising a Schumacher Institute “Designing Environments as if People Matter?” conference in London on the 15th November.   
Perhaps you, your colleagues and contacts will be interested?
Designing 
Environments as if People 
Matter? 

15 November 2016, 
Coin Street Conference Centre,
London SE1 9NH
#PeopleMatterConf   

The Schumacher Institute for Sustainable Systems and MEM are delighted to have teamed up to launch a London-based conference series under the banner of “People Matter.”
There are many pressing challenges facing society today – health, housing, work styles, economy, climate change and resource depletion to name but a few. Consequently, policy makers and professionals are poised to instigate major infrastructure investments and urban/settlement expansion in order to alleviate the challenges that we all face during coming years. However, there is a significant risk that mistakes of the past will be repeated if a collaborative and robust people-focused approach is not taken. 
How can we avoid these mistakes? We are actively bringing together a variety speakers at this conference to cover topics such as health, housing and work. Cross-cutting themes will include resilient communities; engagement and inclusion; and sustainable social, economic and environmental ecosystems. 
Full details are on our website, but in brief our programme includes: 
People Matter – Keynote Presentation

– Paul Morrell
The Fourth Industrial Revolution

– Paul Fletcher, through…
Inclusive Design Education and Training – Do you have the skills, knowledge and confidence to deliver inclusion in all your projects?

– Julie Fleck, OBE MRTPI
Designing communities for an ageing society

– Tony Watts, Hartley Watts Communications
Rethinking Parks

– Lydia Ragoonanan, Innovation Lab
Engagement and Involvement

– Michael Kohn, Stickyworld
Sustainable Quality of Life in Social Housing

– Paull Robothan, Aequus Developments
The day will be chaired by Michael Clinton and Steve Maslin of The Schumacher Institute
Who should attend? 

Professionals involved in architecture and planning, social housing, workplace design and management, health and education estates, environmental health, the health service, equality and access, sustainability, energy and transport. 
Early Bird Registration is open now at the rate of £185 + VAT. To view full details of this event and to reserve your place please click here.
We hope to see you there!
Kind regards
Steve
Steve Maslin RIBA NRAC FSI
K

BATA (British Assistive Technology Association) have discussion groups that you can join which gives colleagues and non- members of BATA a chance to discuss Assistive Technology issues relating to education. BATA members comprise of suppliers, consultants, professionals from a wide range of special needs. This forum offers chances to look at current issues relating to:-

• new innovative technologies
• policy changes ( as we represent and lobby for  AT interests)
• teaching and learning using AT – Webinairs and Video Conference meetings

if you are interested in joining then please send an email to myles@accessability123.onmicrosoft.com  with the subject heading ” Count me in BATA!”