Day off!

Posted on by AccessAbility Smyles

“Can’t remember the last time I actually took a day off? “

Is this you?

Certainly me!

When you are busy doing what you love most it is easy to get totally obsessed by it. Since working for myself which is now kn its 6th year before my retirement I have not got rich but enjoy every minute of it – well almost -except when doing the paperwork for the accountant! He tells them without exception I make a loss due to hidden costs such as property, energy and too many purchases made. I am controlled in spending but even so there has been the occassional hickup like booking a conference and then not being able to cancel in time to get a refund.

So I am doing what I want to do today! And as you can see I am writing to you – whoever and wherever you are. I am just reading a downloaded book on “How to build a career in tech.” By the Product Hunt team. I can recommend it so far as its full of good advice by people who have been there and done it. Go to“How to build a career in tech?”. You will not be disappointed.

My bit of advice. Money isn’t the be and end all of a job – feeling useful and relevant is a factor. As is enjoyment of doing lots of different things. I am involved in a wide range of products so when someone asks me “ what do you do” it takes 10 minutes to tell them. OK if you were to judge the success of AccessAbility Solutions it would not be great. But it all depends on the measure we use. Which is currently a big debate in our education system particular with OFSTED who say that schools are not teaching a broad enough curriculum and being obsessed with exams. Something many of us have been saying for years!

Well that’s my two penneth!

Despite my relaxing hotel environment being punctuated with a continuous stream of hammer bangs due to refurbishment.

2build a profile “new” app

Posted on by AccessAbility Smyles

2 build a profile has a new look go to :-

https://www.2simple.com/new-ios-app?dm_i=R2J,57MUY,CG58U4,K1X07,1 

To read more about it!

 

iOS11 is here and helpful article on the difference

Posted on by AccessAbility Smyles

IOS11 is here and now there is helpful visual guide from Apple explaining the main features some of which I am sure you haven’t heard or used https://www.apple.com/uk/ios/ios-11/?cid=CDM-EU-46491&cp=em-P0018238-388023&sr=em

 

AT-BASICS with Alex Barker (AbilityNet) and yours truly!

Posted on by AccessAbility Smyles

The other week I collaborated with Alex Barker, AbilityNet’s Advice and Information Officer  on a webinair about Adaptive Technologies. Here is the video which lasts just under and hour.  Enjoy. Sadly, my inflight video didn’t come out but you haven’t missed too much as Alex’s describes the device well. Enjoy

SENSwitcher is back

Posted on by AccessAbility Smyles

SENswitcher

Yes indeed. This is now available to run online. This seminal piece of software has been a mainstay of menu an special school ICT assessment tool. So it is great to see it back in it’s original form. It does not date. Well done, Ian Bean for making ti available again. I always found the download version tricky to do. But this method as long as you have internet access is great. And it works on all platforms including Chrome.

senswitcher menu

It’s simple interface makes it very easy for non-technical staff to use and you just switched on and off the activities listed by clicking on them. The “M” key takes you back to the list of activities within the level  and ALT & F4  ( ALTS & FN &F4 on some devices like a surface) takes you back to the list of levels. It works with the Switch Progression Roadmap which gives you a complete assessment and curriculum for developing switch use. And the beauty is that this software is age-appropriate. It was ahead of its time when released two decades ago. So if you have not heard of seen it give it a try at:-

http://www.senictsoftware.com/senswitcher/

Notes just got better in iOS11

Posted on by AccessAbility Smyles

One of the major changes in iOS11 is the addition of being able to scan documents into Notes. You could have used the camera to take photos but scanning is more accurate and contains more details . I discovered this by accident and only learnt about it when opening up Notes after the update.

What other gems have people found in iOS 11? Now there is a fix update 11.1 this morning. I had experienced some anomalies like screen freezes . And a few apps won’t work in iOS 11 which was a little frustrating when I was demonstrating yesterday

iPhone 8

Posted on by AccessAbility Smyles

Apple announced this week the iPhone 8 and the iPhone X which is an expensive phone which does away with the home key button. The iPhone 8 appeals to me as a photographer as the feature of studio lighting on the camera in live mode would be extremely useful and powerful. I currently use an iPhone 6 and I just love the camera feature and prefer ” the camera in my pocket” to the Nikon I carry around when taking photos. 12mg pixel doesn’t sound a lot but the retina HD makes up for that and hopefully will be a wonderful addition to the Apple Family.

Apple Watch series 3 also will be a useful tool. Apparently ( according to Apple that is!) the Apple Watch is the no1 selling watch in the states at the moment and stories of health and fitness success – and even saving lives dues to undetected medical conditions make it attractive. The series 3 is waterproof and packed with data features to extend its funcitonality including becoming cellular – which means it is a phone now!  In exercise you don’t want to be carrying your phone around so having something on your wrist would be liberating as well as being very useful.

iOS11 is just around the corner with a cleaner looking control panel and some other goodies can’t wait to see if any new accessibility features have been added. So roll on Apple! Kerching!

eSafety- the problem posed by “The Blue Whale Challenge”

Posted on by AccessAbility Smyles

A seemingly innocuous challenged called the Blue Whale Challenge is encouraging children to commits suicide in a a games format write Mobicip – a browser that protects children from the dark side of the internet.  Read the following article:-

The Blue Whale Challenge

Have you been pwned?

Posted on by AccessAbility Smyles

Data breaches caused by hackers are now a unfortunate feature of online life. Thanks to Colin Hill who told me about this site which tells you if your email address has been compromised or not. Just type in your address and see if you have been pwned!  Completely free to use . You can donate so its shareware.

Action to take is change your password!

https://haveibeenpwned.com/

AbilityNet – “AT-Basics” FREE webinair – 27th September

Posted on by AccessAbility Smyles

Hello

Hope you are all well.

Just wanted to let you know about a webinar that we are running in September. The webinar will be co-hosted by Alex Barker, Advice and Information Officer from AbilityNet and Myles Pilling, the Wiltshire county-coordinator for ITCanHelp. Myles also has a wealth of experience on adaptive technology.

We are going to be looking at the basics of adaptive technology. No prior experience is required. We’ll take you through available technology and give you some insight into what type of users might want to use this equipment.

Here’s how to log-on.

AT Basics
Wed, Sep 27, 2017 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM BST

Please join my meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/902804157

You can also dial in using your phone.
United Kingdom: +44 330 221 0088

Access Code: 902-804-157

We’ll be recording this so if you can’t make it you can view it later.

With best wishes

Thanks

Alex