The above blog focuses primarily on assistive technologies found in the apple operating system iOS found in iPads and iPhones. The accessibility of smart phones is profound. Most people have one with them so finding ways to use this technology in an assistive way will continue to be important. Here are a few examples from this blog.
- Indoor Navigation System Will Soon Guide Blind Passengers at SFO. This is exciting because it goes beyond the smart phone alone. “San Francisco International Airport (SFO) will soon implement a system to help guide blind and visually impaired travelers from curb to gate. Starting with Terminal 2 this fall, the airport will install some 500 iBeacons for a trial.”. This kind of integration will have so many applications in the years to come.
- Apple Watch Accessibility: Possibilities, Challenges, and Unknowns. Having an Apple watch my self I am fascinated by all the ways doctors have begun to use the biometric data collection capabilities of the devise. This blog post will become even more interesting as a comparison between expectations and implementation.
- The most recent post on this blog refers to the new magnifier in iOS 10. This is a new addition to the accessibility options in the iPhone. “The feature uses the device's built-in camera to enlarge objects placed in front of the camera. This can be helpful for people with visual disabilities who need to read small print.”. This is far more efficient than having to take pictures and enlarge them later as this is in real time. The feature can even change color saturations, although the bold does not mention it, this would be a huge help for the color blind.
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Join us as classmates give our review and had a roundtable discussion of assistive technology that you can use with your Android or iOS devise today.
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Assistive technology in the classroom
Watch the below video the see one of the many creative ways teachers are using technology to level the playing field for their students.
From the Gleam in the Eye of an Engineer to a Dream Classroom: How Assistive Technology Products Move from Research and Development into the Hands of Children
In this article, the author describes the beginning stage for a new product or technology, when it is just a gleam in the eye of an engineer. The author also discusses the process of moving a product from the research and development phase into the home or classroom.
de St. Aubin, S. (2010). From the Gleam in the Eye of an Engineer to a Dream Classroom: How Assistive Technology Products Move from Research and Development into the Hands of Children. Exceptional Parent, 40(7), 30,.
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Dick Lunenborg began his career teaching in primary education. Observing the under-utilization of technology in the classroom, he developed an interest in technology and its different applications in enhancing education. Dick is assistive technology specialist at Bartimeus, that aims to improve the quality of life for the blind and visually impaired.