Technologies

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New ‘Affordable Access’ project promotes low cost accessible technology

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Media Access Australia (MAA), in conjunction with the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN), is pleased to announce the launch of a new website and supporting downloadable resources designed to make digital accessibility for those with a disability easier and more affordable.

Screen grab of the Affordable Access website showing 7 people using devices

Screen grab of the Affordable Access website showing 7 people using devices

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Handy PointFinder app now available for iOS users

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The PointFinder accessible navigation aid for blind and vision-impaired people was launched on the Android platform in 2014, after some advice and testing from Media Access Australia. Now this very useful app is available for iOS users too.

Image of PointFinder app logo

Image of PointFinder app logo

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New Microsoft accessibility tools are now working smarter

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The latest version of the Microsoft Office 365 suite will include some important new accessibility features, using cloud-enabled ‘intelligent services’ that help point users in the right direction when creating written content.

Accessibility symbol and button on a keyboard

Accessibility symbol and button on a keyboard

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New initiative to improve disability access in the workplace

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Access and inclusion in the workplace is a hot topic in Australia and Media Access Australia wholeheartedly applauds and supports initiatives that assist this through innovation. A good example is a new management tool launched by the Australian Network on Disability.

Logos of AND and AAII

Image: AND and AAII logos

The Australian Network on Disability (AND) has launched a new tool – the Access and Inclusion Index – with the aim of enabling people of all abilities to participate in all aspects of society.

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ABC seeks feedback on iview audio description trial

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This month marks the anniversary of the trial of audio description for the blind or vision impaired on iview, and the ABC has released a survey in which it asks viewers for their feedback on the service.

Woman smiles as she wears headphones while watching TV

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DIY 3D-printed tactile maps

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The expansion of affordable 3D printing into the mainstream has meant that people needing tactile versions of objects or printed material can access them more easily.

Man using a 3D printer connected to a laptop

Early adopters of the technology have been schools where diagrams, images and other visual information can be printed out for vision impaired students.

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Australian Network on Disability seeks participants for Banking Accessibility Survey 2016

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The Australian Network on Disability (AND) is conducting a new survey to extend its research into the accessibility of banking services, encouraging people living with disability to participate. The survey aims to gain a stronger understanding of user experience when paying for goods and services.

Person signing in to an online banking app on a tablet device

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New tech developments give a glimpse of the future

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Research into access technology has become quite advanced, with more sophisticated products that are attempting to help people with disabilities in real-life situations. Two projects from Microsoft show how image recognition is developing.

Blue pulses and lines representing the internet

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Twitter supports alternative text for images sent via app

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Twitter has announced that images tweeted from its iOS and Android apps can now include alternative text, ensuring that users of assistive technologies such as screen readers can understand the nature of the visual content.

Two screen shots of the composer for Twitter on iOS. The first showing the new "Add description" button overlayed on an image thumbnail in the composer, and the second showing the composition of alt text for an image. Image credit: Twitter


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