Author: AccessAbility Smyles

Digtal Focus Reading Card provides an overlay window that you can customise so that the learner can use the configuration that works for them. In order to evaluate this I would need to try with some pupils and get their reaction . It’s a very simple tool which is good as no pre-learning is required in using it.

• You can use it to guide reading
• You can change the overlay colour

I like the way you alter the way your window can be re-sized and made transparent to meet you specific needs. This makes it not get in the way with your way of working. Go to:-

• Use it on your usual software

http://www.teacherswithapps.com/research-based-literacy-tool-evolves-helpful-app-struggling-readers/

The authors have sent me this comment about tablets:-

“You may be interested to know that the innovative capabilities of the Reading Focus Cards application to “float on top” AND “stay on top” of nearly any underlying application cannot yet be supported by most mobile technologies (only portable laptops/notebooks at this time). However, we are monitoring hardware upgrades and potential capability (for iPads, iPhones, Android devices, etc.) for possible future versions.”

Take a look at our Google+ page. I will be putting some videos on there in the next week which may be of benefit to you!

AccessAbility Solutions Google+ page

I have long been an admirer of the potential of touchcast. This interactive video goes some way to proving how information can be communicated to us in the 21st century. Multi-level and meaningful context driven information!

Seaside Broadwalk in New Jersey

Have you seen Learning Labs? A cloud based training resource that may help your pupils who have recording needs. Sections are clearly labelled and information is presented in a multimedia way using printed, audio and video materials. It also, by its organisation, sets a prime list of suggested tools that can help pupils and students access information. Take a look now at:-

Learning Labs

Yesterday I upgraded two of machines:-

a) Surface Pro 3

b) Acer Aspire V5 Laptop

This is how it went!

a) Surface Pro 3 – the install was a dream! – clicked on the link provided by the desktop item and within minutes I was downloaded Windows 10. 20 mins later my machine was running Windows 10 and I explored all the new tools and features. Cortana wasn’t that impressive on first try but using the speech setup in settings helped to improve a little. Maybe the surface on board microphone is not that good!

b) Acer Aspire V5 Laptop – as I didn’t have the update loaded onto the taskbar I had to manual search and find a way. A useful PCWorld article led me to the Media Creation Tool whihc requires a USB drive with 4 Gb spare. This I started to do. The process was long – VERY long!  Not only did the stick have to download the ISO file but also wanted updates! Also, it then proceeded to take over 6 hours to install on my laptop. On first look a few things needed tweaking but I am pleased to say that all my programs work and the data I have is secure as well.

Conclusion

1. By far the easiest is to use the windows update icon rather than the Media Creation Tool. The only advantage is downloading when you want to. I need to say that the 6 hours was on a 150Gb broadband connection!

2. Surface Pro 3 can make more use of Windows 10 features but the Cortana isn’t as good as I thought it was at the moment. This may improve as I keep using it . Using Tablet Mode is going to be the most useful for this device as the look and feel are quite intuitive and easy to use I have to say.

3. Acer Aspire V5 Laptop – took an excessive amount of time and a few hairy moments to see if was going to work! Just having the % scale and not time does not give you any indication how long the download will take. On first impressions the results are good. The taskbar doesn’t store programs in the same way , instead their is a 3-square icon that shows a desktop view of what is running on the machine instead. Press the Windows Key and you will see the icons listed and although I couldn’t see the new browser ” The Edge” and “Cortana” they are listed in the Tiled view. Of course its great to have the Start menu back and to be able to access the laptop in that way.

4. On the whole its looking good but let’s see what comes down the road! – How many updates! How seamless they are or do we still have the waiting for updates shutdown problem we had in Windows 7. I will feed back on that one in due course!

Don’t get too excited this is more of an admin procedure as I have created a domain that can be used that “points ” to my blog site. This is the original site I have used for the past three years! At this stage it is slow but for commercial reasons I can now use the address so its more in line with me being a business and not an organisation.

As part of a give-away from those nice people at Inclusive Technology they are offering 14 days free trial of their software for eye-gaze. There are free downloads on the literature for eye-gaze in pdf format so if you don’t have an eye gaze system you will have wonderful information on development of skills for access using their systems – but the information can be easily adapted to suit other types of eye-gaze system.

click here for information

HelpKidzLearn are offering free activities to use with their app Chooseit Maker 3. If you don’t have a subscription then please consider this as its a great resource. I have written article about Choose it Maker 3 on LinkedIn. If you have a subscription then please download the activities on this link
http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?ca=ef31c4d0-67d1-4828-bad7-74bcabf5fffd&c=6b12ad30-9fc4-11e4-a8fe-d4ae527b77f8&ch=6bee4020-9fc4-11e4-a970-d4ae527b77f8