Life Just Got Easier

Have you ever wondered how many minutes of your life have been wasted fumbling to try and get a projector to recognize your laptop or computer?  Mitsubishi has introduced the WD390U-ESTExtremeShort Throw Projector, a projector that will let us skip that step by connecting directly to the Cloud. 

David Nagel, executive producer for 1105 Media's online K-12 and higher education publications and electronic newsletters, tells us more in this article.

Survey on BYOD and AT: Call for Participation!

This information came through from our friends at Region 4 Education Service Center in Houston, TX.

Take a few minutes and participate.

Many schools are adopting or considering policy on Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) but don’t always take into account assistive technology tools. Issues involving loading educational software on personal devices, appropriate support – or if the specialized feature is needed to access educational content are just some of the topics being discussed.

Region 4 is running a survey to find out what policies are being put in place and/or opinions on what the policy should be! Please consider completing the survey and feel free to share the link with education, AT, and therapy staff.

www.surveymonkey.com/s/BYO-AT

After the initial few questions the survey gives you the option of answering what IS your BYOD-AT policy or if you don’t have a school policy yet (or don’t like the policy as written) – then what is your opinion about what should be included in the policy. The survey is anonymous and will be tabulated on (January 22^nd). Results will be posted, see below.

Bring your own device (BYOD) is a policy concerning bringing personally owned mobile devices to work (school) and using those devices to access (school) resources such as email, file servers, databases as well as (school) applications and data.

Bring Your Own Technology (BYOT) covers a broader phenomenon, which not only includes the hardware device(s), but also the software used on the device (e.g. web browser, media player, antivirus, word processor).

A results table will be posted after Feb. 2^nd, at: www.epsilen.com/tpeters1

Click on the BYOT & AT tab at left.

Improve Your Search Skills

I don’t know about you, but if I am not careful, I can lose large chunks of time searching online. I’ll type a quick something into the slot, 276,344 responses will pop up and I’ll be off. It’s not the most effective way to search, especially for someone easily sidetracked and susceptible to the parade of ads popping out all over the screen. The good news is, there is help for folks like me.

Google offers courses online to help searchers get the information they need quickly and efficiently. Daniel M. Russell, a Senior Research Specialist at Google, hosts a YouTube series on Power Searching that demonstrates how use the most efficient search terms, narrow a search and ensure credibility.

If you’re ready to take your search skills to the next level, Mr. Russell will be starting an Advanced Power Searching Course online on January 23, 2013. The class features 12 practice challenges, a couple of assignments and a certificate for those who complete the course.

Mark Your Calendars!

Advancing Opportunities’ Assistive Technology Services Department is pleased to announce it will be hosting the Assistive Technology Showcase at this year’s Abilities Expo in Edison!  Stop by for hands-on demonstrations of the latest devices or just come by and say hello to our team.

The Abilities Expo, an event dedicated to educating and improving the lives of people with disabilities and their families and caregivers, will be held from Friday, May 3^rd through Sunday, May 5^th at the New Jersey Convention Center in Edison, New Jersey.   Admission is free.  You can learn more and register here:  http://www.abilitiesexpo.com/newyork/index.html

This year’s Ambassadors include retired Air Force officer Ian James Brown, parent and advocate Dana Dago-Clark and international aid worker and missionary Amanda Sullivan. Learn more about their amazing stories here: http://www.abilitiesexpo.com/newyork/ambassador_program.html

Happy New Year! We are back.

Well we have taken a hiatus from our blog during the last half of 2012, but we are back in 2013.

We will continue some of our frequent posts, such as the TLC Spotlight, as well as sharing some other regular posts from new staff who have joined our ATS department. Stay tuned!

TLC Spotlight - Portable Fold Mini Bluetooth Wireless Keyboard

Portable Fold Mini Bluetooth Wireless Keyboard

Fold it and put it in your pocket!

Sleek and slim design, folding and ergonomic bluetooth design.  Built-in rechargeable li-ion battery. 
66 keys lay out.  Micro USB charging port and 2 LED indicator light.  Good touch feeling and quiet keystrokes.

This keyboard supports Apple iPad, iPad2, iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4 and any others android tablet with bluetooth connection.

What do you think? Do you want to TRY IT before you BUY IT? Then join our Technology Lending Center. Click here to join today! 

Quick AT Round-Up

Thanks to those of you who stopped by and said “Hello” at the recent New York Metro Abilities Expo. It was great to meet so many of you. We showed off lots of technology and expanded a few horizons, I’m sure. Here are a few articles we’ve seen recently that we thought you’d enjoy.

An article published recently in the New York Times outlines some new audio-enhancing strategies for people who are hard of hearing.

This Technology blog at the Atlantic Monthly details how Apple’s commitment to accessibility coupled with a few ingenious apps have made the iPhone a useful tool for people who are blind or visually impaired.

A couple of college kids in Toronto have designed MyVoice, an app for iProducts which allows users to tag different locations with specific words and phrases and then uses GPS technology to allow users to generate vocabulary based on location. Pretty cool. Here’s the article from the CBCNews site.