Digital technology

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Narrator

Narrator is the free built-in screen reader available in recent versions of Windows.  While Narrator has very limited functionality in Windows XP, Vista and 7, it was significantly updated in Windows 8 to include the explore by touch feature on touch screen devices.

Note: If you are using an older version of Windows such as XP or 7, it is recommended you use a more developed screen reader such as NVDA. If you have an Apple Mac we recommend you use the inbuilt VoiceOver.

Features

Features of Narrator include:

Taxonomy: 
Digital technology
Digital media and technology: 
Screen readers
Assistive technology

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Getting online with Google: register today

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Google is running a workshop for older people and those with disabilities on how to get the most out of the internet.

As part of the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) and Telstra’s M-Enabling conference on 14-15 August, the workshop will introduce people to how computers, smartphones and tablets can be made easier to use with assistive technology. The workshop will also give tips on internet security and how to use Google applications such as Gmail, maps and Hangouts.

Taxonomy: 
General
Digital technology
Web
News
News alert taxonomy: 
Deaf/hearing impaired Digital Technology & Online Media news
Blind/vision impaired Digital Technology & Online Media news

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Mozilla’s Firefox OS: accessibility to be included

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The not-for-profit technology organisation Mozilla is releasing its first operating system for mobile devices, Firefox OS, and its accessibility features could soon rival those offered by Apple and Android.

Since announcement of Mozilla’s intention to develop its own operating system for smartphones and tablets, many have speculated on the access potential for people with disabilities. Mozilla is a not-for profit community and software company that works to develop products that use open-source web technologies. This means many different developers can contribute to and improve the accessibility of Mozilla’s software, which can be updated to work with different assistive technologies such a screen readers.

Taxonomy: 
General
Blind or vision impaired
Mobility
Digital technology
News
Digital media and technology: 
Mobile operating systems
News alert taxonomy: 
Deaf/hearing impaired Digital Technology & Online Media news
Blind/vision impaired Digital Technology & Online Media news

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Research to make white canes smarter

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A new device is being developed by Curtin University researchers which uses sensors to enhance the white canes used by people who are blind and vision impaired. The device creates a map of the immediate environment within a room and communicates this to the user’s smartphone.

Attached to the tip of a standard white cane, the device uses an accelerometer, three axis magnetic field meter, three axis gyroscope, camera, microphone and a barometer for floor level detection. The information gathered by each of these technologies will be used to calculate the position of an obstacle surrounding the white cane and navigate the user around it.

Taxonomy: 
General
Blind or vision impaired
Digital technology
News
News alert taxonomy: 
Blind/vision impaired Digital Technology & Online Media news

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