Greetings. Here's another great guide dog related news story. Enjoy, and as always, please forgive any formatting errors.
Guide Dogs Help Deliver Mail With First-Ever Canadian
Braille Stamp
OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - April 21, 2008) -
Canada Post will issue its first ever Canadian Braille
stamp featuring Guide Dogs. The domestic-rate stamp
will have the denomination in both print and in
Braille. The stamp is being issued to coincide with
the 100th anniversary of the Montreal Association for
the Blind which is also being recognized with a
Commemorative Envelope.
"Canada Post is committed to providing Canadians with
innovative and interesting products," says Bob Waite,
Chairman of the Canadian Stamp Advisory Committee
and Senior vice-president, Corporate Social
Responsibility, Canada Post. "We provide vital
communication links to all Canadian households and to
offer
a Braille stamp reinforces our commitment to meet the
needs of all Canadians."
With thousands of soldiers returning from World War I
blinded by poison gas, a German doctor named Gerhard
Stalling explored the notion of training dogs
to guide the wounded men. His research in training
methods led to the opening of his first guide dog
school in Germany in 1916. The school prospered and
some 600 dogs were trained each year. Word spread and
soon trained dogs were assisting people with vision
loss in Britain, France, Spain, Italy, the USA,
Canada and Soviet Union.
The most common breeds of guide dogs are Labrador
Retrievers and Golden Retrievers; chosen for their
intelligence, size, and temperament. A calm
disposition,
a high level of initiation, and a strong desire to
please are all characteristics expected of guide dogs.
Six to eight week old puppies head off to foster
families for their training. The foster families
expose the puppies to as many environments as possible
while testing their response to distractions. The
puppies will then spend four weeks with their future
partner, and then undergo final testing before
receiving
their certification. Guide Dogs often retire at age
ten.
Designers Stephen Boake and Andrew Perro of Toronto's
Designwerke sought to keep the stamp's design simple
and give prominence to the dog in order to reinforce
the intimate connection to the human partner. The
yellow Labrador Retriever on the stamp is a Canine
Vision Dog Guide from Lions Foundation of Canada Dog
Guides. The addition of Braille created various
printing challenges, as did the increase in font size
of the denomination, another incorporated element
to assist vision-impaired individuals. Additionally,
the text on the stamp booklet and Official First Day
cover were printed in a larger than usual typeface
in respect for the needs of individuals with varying
degrees of vision impairment.
The 52-cent stamp, available as of April 21, measures
38 mm x 27 mm (horizontal) with simulated
perforations. Lowe-Martin printed 3.5 million stamps,
to
be sold in booklets of ten. The self-adhesive stamp
will be printed using lithography in four colours on
Tullis Russel paper, with Braille embossing by
Montreal's Choquet Engraving Inc. They are general
tagged on all sides. The Official First Day Cover will
bear the cancel OTTAWA ON.
Additional information about Canadian stamps can be
found in the Newsroom section of Canada Post's
website, and photos of this new stamp is in the
Newsroom's
Photo Centre. Stamps and Official First Day Covers
will be available at participating post offices, or
can be ordered online by following the links at
Canada Post's website
www.canadapost.ca
or by mail order from the National Philatelic Centre.
From Canada and the USA, call toll-free: 1 800
565-4362, and from other countries, call: 902
863-6550.
THIS NEWS RELEASE IS ALSO AVAILABLE IN BRAILLE UPON
REQUEST.
For more information, please contact
Canada Post
Nicole Lemire
613-734-8888
nicole.lemire@canadapost.ca
©2008 Marketwire, Incorporated. All rights reserved.
Your newswire of choice for expert news release
distribution.
1-800-774-9473 (US) | 1-888-299-0338 (Canada) |
+44-20-7562-6550 (UK)
Sunday, April 27
In July, guide dogs allowed in China
Greetings. I received the following article from a guide dog related email list. Hopefully, this new era of guide dogs being allowed in China will help improve access to public places by the blind, as well as the welfare of the blind in general in China. Enjoy.
Guide dogs given all-clear for public venues
Chinadaily.com.cn sharing the Olympic spirit
Guide dogs given all-clear for public venues
By Zhu Zhe (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-04-25
Guide dogs for the blind will be allowed into public
places such as subway stations and buses starting
July, under a new law amendment passed Thursday.
Lawmakers said the change, in the amendment to the Law
on the Protection of Disabled Persons, aims to better
protect the rights and interests of the blind
in the run-up to the Beijing 2008 Paralympics in
September, during which many athletes will bring their
canine helpers to the capital.
Currently, ownership of large dogs in Beijing is
restricted and large dogs are barred from public
places. Since guide dogs are said to be a new
phenomenon
in the country, no exceptions were made.
This has caused inconvenience to a number of blind
people. Ping Yali, the country's first Paralympic
champion, complained to the media last year that her
guide dog "Lucky", a golden retriever, was always
barred from public places.
Explaining the law amendment to the Standing Committee
of the National People's Congress (NPC), Minister of
Civil Affairs Li Xueju said it was necessary
to make a change to allow the guide dogs into public
places as many other countries do.
"In bidding for the hosting of the 2008 Olympic Games,
our country has also made a commitment to foreign
athletes for them to bring guide dogs to China,"
he said.
However, although the law amendment grants the blind
the right to take guide dogs to public places,
detailed rules are needed to facilitate its
implementation,
Ma Yu'e, deputy director of the legal department of
the China Disabled Persons' Federation, said.
Ma said that the federation is now working with public
security departments in Beijing and "it's very likely
that a detailed rule on guide dogs will be
made before the Paralympics".
Ma said such a change marks great progress in
safeguarding the rights and interests of the blind.
"The misunderstanding that guide dogs are pets must be
corrected," she said. "They are working dogs just as
police dogs are. And guide dogs are intelligent
and friendly. They won't cause any safety issues."
Official figures show about 12.3 million people in the
country suffer from visual impairments and there is an
increasing demand for guide dogs.
Apart from the rule that allows guide dogs into public
places, the law amendment also takes a closer look at
the rights and interests of the disabled in
regards to education, employment and medical care. It
also stipulates that disabled people who run private
businesses can enjoy favorable tax policies
and be exempted from administrative charges.
Similarly, the amendment has a special chapter on
promoting a barrier-free environment for the disabled.
Sun Shujun, a disabled NPC deputy from Liaoning
province who was invited to the NPC Standing Committee
session yesterday, said: "Not only should the
environment
be barrier-free. People's mindsets and attitudes
towards us disabled people should be barrier-free as
well ... Equal and fair treatment is what we want
most."
Copyright By chinadaily.com.cn. All rights reserved
Guide dogs given all-clear for public venues
Chinadaily.com.cn sharing the Olympic spirit
Guide dogs given all-clear for public venues
By Zhu Zhe (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-04-25
Guide dogs for the blind will be allowed into public
places such as subway stations and buses starting
July, under a new law amendment passed Thursday.
Lawmakers said the change, in the amendment to the Law
on the Protection of Disabled Persons, aims to better
protect the rights and interests of the blind
in the run-up to the Beijing 2008 Paralympics in
September, during which many athletes will bring their
canine helpers to the capital.
Currently, ownership of large dogs in Beijing is
restricted and large dogs are barred from public
places. Since guide dogs are said to be a new
phenomenon
in the country, no exceptions were made.
This has caused inconvenience to a number of blind
people. Ping Yali, the country's first Paralympic
champion, complained to the media last year that her
guide dog "Lucky", a golden retriever, was always
barred from public places.
Explaining the law amendment to the Standing Committee
of the National People's Congress (NPC), Minister of
Civil Affairs Li Xueju said it was necessary
to make a change to allow the guide dogs into public
places as many other countries do.
"In bidding for the hosting of the 2008 Olympic Games,
our country has also made a commitment to foreign
athletes for them to bring guide dogs to China,"
he said.
However, although the law amendment grants the blind
the right to take guide dogs to public places,
detailed rules are needed to facilitate its
implementation,
Ma Yu'e, deputy director of the legal department of
the China Disabled Persons' Federation, said.
Ma said that the federation is now working with public
security departments in Beijing and "it's very likely
that a detailed rule on guide dogs will be
made before the Paralympics".
Ma said such a change marks great progress in
safeguarding the rights and interests of the blind.
"The misunderstanding that guide dogs are pets must be
corrected," she said. "They are working dogs just as
police dogs are. And guide dogs are intelligent
and friendly. They won't cause any safety issues."
Official figures show about 12.3 million people in the
country suffer from visual impairments and there is an
increasing demand for guide dogs.
Apart from the rule that allows guide dogs into public
places, the law amendment also takes a closer look at
the rights and interests of the disabled in
regards to education, employment and medical care. It
also stipulates that disabled people who run private
businesses can enjoy favorable tax policies
and be exempted from administrative charges.
Similarly, the amendment has a special chapter on
promoting a barrier-free environment for the disabled.
Sun Shujun, a disabled NPC deputy from Liaoning
province who was invited to the NPC Standing Committee
session yesterday, said: "Not only should the
environment
be barrier-free. People's mindsets and attitudes
towards us disabled people should be barrier-free as
well ... Equal and fair treatment is what we want
most."
Copyright By chinadaily.com.cn. All rights reserved
Wednesday, April 16
Cap Metro appears to be listening
Greetings. Here's an article from News 8 Austin, one of the TV sstations in Austin, about the Capitol Metro saga called, Capital Metro addresses paratransit customer concerns. It looks like they're listening and headed in the right direction. However, based on their behavior in the last few weeks and months, I'm a little hesitant to jump on their wagon until they actually make the requested improvements that the public (their riders) have advocated for and stop trying to "fix" the service.
Tuesday, April 15
Free tech support for the blind
Greetings. I received the below information from an email list. For those that are blind or low vision and who need technical support but may not want to call the computer company for fear of getting someone who doesn't understand how you can use a computer if you're blind, consider the following service from the Chicago Lighthouse for the Blind. Incidentally, I applied for and had an interview for this job. Though I didn't get it, it did hold the position of being the longest phone interview I've ever had, at the time and since, topping out at around 90 minutes. However, my job path led me in a different direction, which I can now say that I'm grateful for. I wouldn't have it any other way. Anyway, this is a great service and definitely one to make note of. You never know when you might need it. Enjoy, and as always, please excuse any formatting errors.
Follow up: From the Access Ability blog (linked below in the blogs to watch section), we learn that the toll free number for this tech support service is (888) 825-0080. Apologies for not including this in the original post.
***
I want to just remind everyone our Adaptive Technology Help Desk is still operating and we eagerly await your calls. The telephone number given is for voice and relay calls; we do not have a direct TTY for the help desk.
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Dominic Calabrese 312/997-3662
dominic.calabrese@chicagolighthouse.org
Chicago Lighthouse Assistive Technology Computer HelpDesk Hopes to Expand Service
CHICAGO - In an ongoing effort to accommodate people across the country who are visually impaired and in need of technical support, The Chicago Lighthouse hopes to expand its toll-free telephone assistive technology support line.
Since it was developed in 2006, the service has accommodated over 1,500 requests for assistance from individuals in 48 states, Canada, China and South Africa. Servicing the calls is Ray Campbell, a former engineer with Lucent Technologies who now works in the Lighthouse's Adaptive Technology program.
"I've taken requests from Delta Junction, Alaska to Pilots Knob, Missouri; from Bird Island, Minnesota to Sasketoon, Saskatchewan, Canada; and from Lanzhou, Cansu, China to Somerset West, South Africa," Campbell notes.
"Our intent is to offer a one stop place where people who are blind or visually impaired can get the assistance that they need," he says. Campbell points out that he is able to listen to what JAWS or WindowEyes is saying and walk the caller him right through their problem.
"I've assisted people with everything from installing Antivirus software to helping someone navigate the eharmony.com site using JAWS to assisting organizations with designing an accessible website to showing someone how to find Game Day Audio on the Major League Baseball website, www.mlb.com to assisting someone in accessing his credit card statement on-line," he continues.
Campbell's assistance has been well received across the country.
"I've got one gentleman in South Carolina that calls me two to four times a week to ask for my help," he says. One lady Campbell assisted in San Francisco wrote a letter thanking the Lighthouse for offering the HelpDesk service and praising Campbell for his assistance. "People contact me as they value my opinions on what technology they should buy, and while that's a bit scary it also feels very good," he smiles.
Campbell adds that if he can't resolve the issue over the phone or through e-mail, he will schedule an on-site visit as long as the customer resides in the Chicago metropolitan area. The program was made possible when the Lighthouse successfully matched a $41,000 grant from The Boeing Company.
"We're tremendously grateful to Boeing for their support and we intend to use the support line in strengthening our level of customer service and showcasing the Lighthouse as a national leader in adaptive technology," says William Bielawski, program manager for adaptive technology and office skills training at the Lighthouse.
Bielawski notes that any blind or visually impaired person could contact the support line regardless of what product they're using. "It can be any hardware or software relating to assistive technology as long as the customer is visually impaired," he says. Bielawski encourages calls from employers, counselors, teachers and other individuals who work with people who are visually impaired. "We're excited to have an opportunity to make it easier for people with visual impairments to take advantage of the many technological advancements that are now more readily available."
The Chicago Lighthouse is one of the nation's most comprehensive social service agencies. Housed under its roof are the nation's oldest low vision clinic; one of the few remaining clock manufacturing facilities in the U.S.; a nationally acclaimed school for children who are blind with multi-disabilities; a VA program serving veterans in all 50 states; and a radio station. The agency provided education, referral and direct services to more than 70,000 people in fiscal year 2007.
Follow up: From the Access Ability blog (linked below in the blogs to watch section), we learn that the toll free number for this tech support service is (888) 825-0080. Apologies for not including this in the original post.
***
I want to just remind everyone our Adaptive Technology Help Desk is still operating and we eagerly await your calls. The telephone number given is for voice and relay calls; we do not have a direct TTY for the help desk.
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Dominic Calabrese 312/997-3662
dominic.calabrese@chicagolighthouse.org
Chicago Lighthouse Assistive Technology Computer HelpDesk Hopes to Expand Service
CHICAGO - In an ongoing effort to accommodate people across the country who are visually impaired and in need of technical support, The Chicago Lighthouse hopes to expand its toll-free telephone assistive technology support line.
Since it was developed in 2006, the service has accommodated over 1,500 requests for assistance from individuals in 48 states, Canada, China and South Africa. Servicing the calls is Ray Campbell, a former engineer with Lucent Technologies who now works in the Lighthouse's Adaptive Technology program.
"I've taken requests from Delta Junction, Alaska to Pilots Knob, Missouri; from Bird Island, Minnesota to Sasketoon, Saskatchewan, Canada; and from Lanzhou, Cansu, China to Somerset West, South Africa," Campbell notes.
"Our intent is to offer a one stop place where people who are blind or visually impaired can get the assistance that they need," he says. Campbell points out that he is able to listen to what JAWS or WindowEyes is saying and walk the caller him right through their problem.
"I've assisted people with everything from installing Antivirus software to helping someone navigate the eharmony.com site using JAWS to assisting organizations with designing an accessible website to showing someone how to find Game Day Audio on the Major League Baseball website, www.mlb.com to assisting someone in accessing his credit card statement on-line," he continues.
Campbell's assistance has been well received across the country.
"I've got one gentleman in South Carolina that calls me two to four times a week to ask for my help," he says. One lady Campbell assisted in San Francisco wrote a letter thanking the Lighthouse for offering the HelpDesk service and praising Campbell for his assistance. "People contact me as they value my opinions on what technology they should buy, and while that's a bit scary it also feels very good," he smiles.
Campbell adds that if he can't resolve the issue over the phone or through e-mail, he will schedule an on-site visit as long as the customer resides in the Chicago metropolitan area. The program was made possible when the Lighthouse successfully matched a $41,000 grant from The Boeing Company.
"We're tremendously grateful to Boeing for their support and we intend to use the support line in strengthening our level of customer service and showcasing the Lighthouse as a national leader in adaptive technology," says William Bielawski, program manager for adaptive technology and office skills training at the Lighthouse.
Bielawski notes that any blind or visually impaired person could contact the support line regardless of what product they're using. "It can be any hardware or software relating to assistive technology as long as the customer is visually impaired," he says. Bielawski encourages calls from employers, counselors, teachers and other individuals who work with people who are visually impaired. "We're excited to have an opportunity to make it easier for people with visual impairments to take advantage of the many technological advancements that are now more readily available."
The Chicago Lighthouse is one of the nation's most comprehensive social service agencies. Housed under its roof are the nation's oldest low vision clinic; one of the few remaining clock manufacturing facilities in the U.S.; a nationally acclaimed school for children who are blind with multi-disabilities; a VA program serving veterans in all 50 states; and a radio station. The agency provided education, referral and direct services to more than 70,000 people in fiscal year 2007.
Sunday, April 13
Responsible pet owners
Greetings. I received the following material from a German Shepherd guide dog email list. Though "pet" could apply to any pet, considering this came from a guide dog list, I prefer to think of this as to dogs. Enjoy.
Ten Commandments for a Responsible Pet Owner - as dictated by the pet.
1. My life is likely to last 10-15 years. Any separation from you is likely to be painful.
2. Give me time to understand what you want of me.
3. Place your trust in me. It is crucial for my well-being.
4. Don't be angry with me for long and don't lock me up as punishment. You have your work, your friends, your entertainments but I have only you.
5. Talk to me. Even if I don't understand your words I do understand your voice when speaking to me.
6. Be aware that however you treat me I will never forget it.
7. Before you hit me, before you strike me, remember that I have teeth that could easily crush the bones in your hand and yet I choose not to bite you.
8. Before you scold me for being lazy or uncooperative ask yourself if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I'm not getting the right food, I have been in the sun too long or my heart might be getting old or weak.
9. Please take care of me when I grow old. You too will grow old.
10. On the difficult journey, on the ultimate difficult journey, go with me please. Never say you can't bear to watch. Don't make me face this alone. Everything is easier for me if you are there because I love you so.
Take a moment today to thank God for your companions. Enjoy and take good care of them. Life would be a much duller, less joyful thing without God's critters.
Ten Commandments for a Responsible Pet Owner - as dictated by the pet.
1. My life is likely to last 10-15 years. Any separation from you is likely to be painful.
2. Give me time to understand what you want of me.
3. Place your trust in me. It is crucial for my well-being.
4. Don't be angry with me for long and don't lock me up as punishment. You have your work, your friends, your entertainments but I have only you.
5. Talk to me. Even if I don't understand your words I do understand your voice when speaking to me.
6. Be aware that however you treat me I will never forget it.
7. Before you hit me, before you strike me, remember that I have teeth that could easily crush the bones in your hand and yet I choose not to bite you.
8. Before you scold me for being lazy or uncooperative ask yourself if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I'm not getting the right food, I have been in the sun too long or my heart might be getting old or weak.
9. Please take care of me when I grow old. You too will grow old.
10. On the difficult journey, on the ultimate difficult journey, go with me please. Never say you can't bear to watch. Don't make me face this alone. Everything is easier for me if you are there because I love you so.
Take a moment today to thank God for your companions. Enjoy and take good care of them. Life would be a much duller, less joyful thing without God's critters.
Home interview
Greetings. I wrote the following email to a list made up of graduates, trainers, puppy raisers, and other people affiliated in some way with The Seeing Eye. The home interview and the evaluation/assessment I speak of are one in the same. Basically, a trainer comes to your house or business to talk with you about what you want in a dog, why you want a dog, and so forth, and then takes you out on a "juno" walk, where the trainer plays the role of the guide dog. Enjoy.
Well, Jonathan (the trainer) came out Thursday morning and it went very well. After talking for a little while, I asked him if I could give him my preferences, and his response was, "Ok, how many pages am I going to need?" When I was finished, he said, "Is that all? I've got a full 2 inches of space left."
The juno walk went well. It was weird for me to walk smoothly around obstacles that I usually hit or trip over with my cane. I spent much of the first part of the walk anticipating and wondering about upcoming potholes or cracks in the sidewalk, but then I accepted the fact that I'm going to have to trust the dog, and relaxed. Truthfully, this is something that I struggled with when using my first dog. My walking pace has slowed down a little since my early twenties. It also took some reminding by Jonathan to let him pull me, instead of me trying to catch up with him. It was nice though, and by the time we turned around to come back down one of the sidewalks near my complex, I was thinking to myself, "Is it over? No, let's do more juno stuff." Though its been some years, my leash correction is still as good as it was back in the day. My first attempt failed miserably, but then the second and third ones made up for that.
He said that my walking speed is perhaps a little below average and my pull about the same. Over all, it was a good visit. I feel pretty good about it, and I'm also getting excited. This is the last step for me in the process. He said that the usual time given is 4 weeks for contact by the school, but he also said that it would probably be around two weeks. So, perhaps by the end of April I'll know something.
Well, Jonathan (the trainer) came out Thursday morning and it went very well. After talking for a little while, I asked him if I could give him my preferences, and his response was, "Ok, how many pages am I going to need?" When I was finished, he said, "Is that all? I've got a full 2 inches of space left."
The juno walk went well. It was weird for me to walk smoothly around obstacles that I usually hit or trip over with my cane. I spent much of the first part of the walk anticipating and wondering about upcoming potholes or cracks in the sidewalk, but then I accepted the fact that I'm going to have to trust the dog, and relaxed. Truthfully, this is something that I struggled with when using my first dog. My walking pace has slowed down a little since my early twenties. It also took some reminding by Jonathan to let him pull me, instead of me trying to catch up with him. It was nice though, and by the time we turned around to come back down one of the sidewalks near my complex, I was thinking to myself, "Is it over? No, let's do more juno stuff." Though its been some years, my leash correction is still as good as it was back in the day. My first attempt failed miserably, but then the second and third ones made up for that.
He said that my walking speed is perhaps a little below average and my pull about the same. Over all, it was a good visit. I feel pretty good about it, and I'm also getting excited. This is the last step for me in the process. He said that the usual time given is 4 weeks for contact by the school, but he also said that it would probably be around two weeks. So, perhaps by the end of April I'll know something.
Another hybrid article
Greetings. Below is another article on hybrid cars, this time from Phoenix, AZ. Enjoy, and as always, please excuse any formatting errors. Also, you might participate in the pole link toward the end of this article.
Lawmaker calls quiet hybrids peril to the blind
By Daniel Scarpinato
Arizona daily star, Feb. 25, 2008
PHOENIX - If you live near a busy street, you probably like the sound of
cars getting quieter. But one state lawmaker, alarmed that hybrid cars
are
getting too quiet, is seeking to actually make them noisier.
The concern is centered on the danger quiet hybrids could pose to the
blind
- with their technology so good at muting sound that they have become
unnoticeable to the ear.
"Hybrid cars are amazing, and I think one of the unintended consequences
of
this new technology is that it is so effective in reducing noise on the
streets, the fear is that our blind citizens are in danger crossing the
road," says
state Rep. Ed Ableser, D-Tempe, who is pushing a bill in the Legislature
to
require hybrids to make more noise. "If you drive a hybrid, you're not
going
to want someone who is listening to cars stepping out into the road in
front
of your hybrid."
Ableser's bill, which has been cleared by a House committee, requires
the
Arizona Department of Transportation to adopt a "minimum sound standard"
for
vehicles sold and registered in the state.
Common hybrids run 15 to 25 decibels more quietly than traditional
internal
combustion engines, so Ableser's bill would require the hybrids to emit
an
artificial sound similar to a traditional engine. It also would be
retroactive - applying to those who already own the vehicles.
The technology doesn't yet exist because no manufacturer has implemented
the
standards, but the National Federation of the Blind is also pushing the
legislation in Virginia, Maryland and Hawaii. The organization says it
doesn't know if anyone blind has been hit by a hybrid for this reason,
but
it is a looming concern.
"We know that there have been a lot of close calls," said spokesman
Chris
Danielsen. "We would like action to be taken before there's actually an
injury, or heaven forbid, a death from this."
But with the state having spent $250 million on rubberized roadways to
make
traffic quieter, some see the move as counterintuitive and unnecessary.
"I can't imagine a blind person thinking I don't hear anything so I am
going
to just step out in the middle of the freeway," said state Rep. Mark
Anderson, R-Mesa. "It's a big gamble just to step out there."
But Danielsen, himself blind, says that argument is "based on ignorance"
and
assumes blind people should just stay at home and not leave the house.
Advocates also have argued that the bill could protect children and
cyclists.
Dan Taylor, a local cyclist, says he can see both sides, but he doesn't
see
noisier cars as making things any safer for him and his friends.
"If you're in harm's way of a car, you're probably doing something
wrong,"
said Taylor, a licensed acupuncturist. "Once you hear a car coming, it's
usually too close anyway."
There also are concerns from the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers
that
the bill could deter people from purchasing hybrids - particularly if
each
state had individual laws. Ableser said the hybrids industry will
flourish
either way.
"What this is doing is trying to encourage the automotive industry to
implement this mechanism," Ableser said. "I can't see anyone purchasing
a
regular car because all of a sudden hybrids now make a slight noise.
"People buy hybrids because they want to contribute to the conservation
of
our environment," he said.
On StarNet: Should the state legislature pass the law requiring hybrid cars to emit more noise? Participate in a poll at
http://go.azstarnet.com/hybrid
● Contact reporter Daniel Scarpinato at 307-4339 or
dscarpinato@azstarnet.com
Lawmaker calls quiet hybrids peril to the blind
By Daniel Scarpinato
Arizona daily star, Feb. 25, 2008
PHOENIX - If you live near a busy street, you probably like the sound of
cars getting quieter. But one state lawmaker, alarmed that hybrid cars
are
getting too quiet, is seeking to actually make them noisier.
The concern is centered on the danger quiet hybrids could pose to the
blind
- with their technology so good at muting sound that they have become
unnoticeable to the ear.
"Hybrid cars are amazing, and I think one of the unintended consequences
of
this new technology is that it is so effective in reducing noise on the
streets, the fear is that our blind citizens are in danger crossing the
road," says
state Rep. Ed Ableser, D-Tempe, who is pushing a bill in the Legislature
to
require hybrids to make more noise. "If you drive a hybrid, you're not
going
to want someone who is listening to cars stepping out into the road in
front
of your hybrid."
Ableser's bill, which has been cleared by a House committee, requires
the
Arizona Department of Transportation to adopt a "minimum sound standard"
for
vehicles sold and registered in the state.
Common hybrids run 15 to 25 decibels more quietly than traditional
internal
combustion engines, so Ableser's bill would require the hybrids to emit
an
artificial sound similar to a traditional engine. It also would be
retroactive - applying to those who already own the vehicles.
The technology doesn't yet exist because no manufacturer has implemented
the
standards, but the National Federation of the Blind is also pushing the
legislation in Virginia, Maryland and Hawaii. The organization says it
doesn't know if anyone blind has been hit by a hybrid for this reason,
but
it is a looming concern.
"We know that there have been a lot of close calls," said spokesman
Chris
Danielsen. "We would like action to be taken before there's actually an
injury, or heaven forbid, a death from this."
But with the state having spent $250 million on rubberized roadways to
make
traffic quieter, some see the move as counterintuitive and unnecessary.
"I can't imagine a blind person thinking I don't hear anything so I am
going
to just step out in the middle of the freeway," said state Rep. Mark
Anderson, R-Mesa. "It's a big gamble just to step out there."
But Danielsen, himself blind, says that argument is "based on ignorance"
and
assumes blind people should just stay at home and not leave the house.
Advocates also have argued that the bill could protect children and
cyclists.
Dan Taylor, a local cyclist, says he can see both sides, but he doesn't
see
noisier cars as making things any safer for him and his friends.
"If you're in harm's way of a car, you're probably doing something
wrong,"
said Taylor, a licensed acupuncturist. "Once you hear a car coming, it's
usually too close anyway."
There also are concerns from the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers
that
the bill could deter people from purchasing hybrids - particularly if
each
state had individual laws. Ableser said the hybrids industry will
flourish
either way.
"What this is doing is trying to encourage the automotive industry to
implement this mechanism," Ableser said. "I can't see anyone purchasing
a
regular car because all of a sudden hybrids now make a slight noise.
"People buy hybrids because they want to contribute to the conservation
of
our environment," he said.
On StarNet: Should the state legislature pass the law requiring hybrid cars to emit more noise? Participate in a poll at
http://go.azstarnet.com/hybrid
● Contact reporter Daniel Scarpinato at 307-4339 or
dscarpinato@azstarnet.com
Saturday, April 12
Hybrid legislation introduced in the House of Representatives
Greetings. I received the following message from several different email lists run by the National Federation of the Blind concerning legislation on hybrid cars. I'm posting this here for those interested and politely ask you to contact your representatives to get them to co-sponsor this legislation, or if their name is listed below, to thank them. If we can get this legislation, or some similar, to pass, then it can start the process of making people, auto makers, and others more aware of hybrid cars and the possible danger they pose from someone (blind or otherwise) not hearing them.
***
Fellow Federationists:
It pleases me to write to you announcing that our silent car
legislation has been introduced in the House of Representatives. Ed
Towns, Democrat of New York, and Cliff Stearns, Republican of Florida,
has introduced H.R. 5734, the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act of 2008.
Therefore, your help is needed to gain cosponsors of this important
legislation.
This legislation assures that blind and other pedestrians
will receive the information needed to make proper judgments regarding
the presence of vehicles, in order that we can travel safely. It does
so by:
a.. Requiring the Department of Transportation to convene a study
within ninety days of its enactment;
b.. Requiring the study to determine whether a minimum sound standard
or some other approach will provide blind and other pedestrians the most
accurate information regarding speed, location, and direction of travel
for the vehicles;
c.. Requiring that, when making this consideration, the study must
evaluate the cost of each method examined, including the cost of
providing all pedestrians any technology they must possess under each
approach; and
d.. Requiring that the study consider which approach permits the
greatest amount of independent spontaneous travel for blind and other
pedestrians.
Once the study reaches its conclusions, the Department of
Transportation must report its findings to Congress, and within ninety
days of the study's end, the Department of Transportation must establish
a vehicle safety standard that implements the results of the study.
Finally, two years after the safety standard is implemented, all new
cars sold in the United States must comply.
This legislation is under jurisdiction of the House
Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection of the House
Committee on Energy and Commerce. This subcommittee and its full
committee are the most important members for this bill, though we want
all the members that we can get to cosponsor this legislation. Both of
our original sponsors are members of the subcommittee, and Stearns was
its chair when republicans controlled the House of Representatives.
Now that the bill has been introduced, we need cosponsors.
This is so because the attention gained will push Committee and House
leadership to conduct hearings that will help us get out the message
that, if solutions are not promptly found and implemented, silent cars
will place the independence of blind Americans in real peril. To help
with this task, it is critical that you get your representatives to sign
on to H.R. 5734. Recall that you can reach the Capitol switchboard by
calling (202) 225-3121. I am providing lists of the subcommittee and
full committee members, but you are urged to get all members of the
House to join as cosponsors. Thank you for all you do. Let us now make
a difference in assuring that we can hear cars now and in the future.
Most cordially,
James McCarthy
Government Programs Specialist
National Federation of the Blind
FULL COMMITTEE on Energy and Commerce
John D. Dingell (MI), Chairman
(Ratio: 31-26)
Henry A. Waxman, CA
Joe Barton, TX, Ranking Member
Edward J. Markey, MA
Ralph M. Hall, TX
Rick Boucher, VA
Fred Upton, MI
Edolphus Towns, NY
Cliff Stearns, FL
Frank Pallone, Jr., NJ
Nathan Deal, GA
Bart Gordon, TN
Ed Whitfield, KY
Bobby L. Rush, IL
Barbara Cubin, WY
Anna G. Eshoo, CA
John Shimkus, IL
Bart Stupak, MI
Heather Wilson, NM
Eliot L. Engel, NY
John Shadegg, AZ
Gene Green, TX
Charles W. "Chip" Pickering, MS
Diana DeGette, CO, Vice Chair
Vito Fossella, NY
Lois Capps, CA
Roy Blunt, MO
Mike Doyle, PA
Steve Buyer, IN
Jane Harman, CA
George Radanovich, CA
Tom Allen, ME
Joseph R. Pitts, PA
Jan Schakowsky, IL
Mary Bono Mack, CA
Hilda L. Solis, CA
Greg Walden, OR
Charles A. Gonzalez, TX
Lee Terry, NE
Jay Inslee, WA
Mike Ferguson, NJ
Tammy Baldwin, WI
Mike Rogers, MI
Mike Ross, AR
Sue Wilkins Myrick, NC
Darlene Hooley, OR
John Sullivan, OK
Anthony D. Weiner, NY
Tim Murphy, PA
Jim Matheson, UT
Michael C. Burgess, TX
G. K. Butterfield, NC
Marsha Blackburn, TN
Charlie Melancon, LA
John Barrow, GA
Baron P. Hill, IN
Vacancy
SUBCOMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, TRADE, AND CONSUMER PROTECTION
(Ratio: 16-13)
Bobby L. Rush (IL), Chairman
Jan Schakowsky, IL, Vice Chair
Ed Whitfield, KY, Ranking Member
G. K. Butterfield, NC
Cliff Stearns, FL
John Barrow, GA
Charles W. "Chip" Pickering, MS
Baron P. Hill, IN
Vito Fossella, NY
Edward J. Markey, MA
George Radanovich, CA
Rick Boucher, VA
Joseph R. Pitts, PA
Edolphus Towns, NY
Mary Bono Mack, CA
Diana DeGette, CO
Lee Terry, NE
Charles A. Gonzalez, TX
Sue Wilkins Myrick, NC
Mike Ross, AR
John Sullivan, OK
Darlene Hooley, OR
Michael C. Burgess, TX
Anthony D. Weiner, NY
Marsha Blackburn, TN
Jim Matheson, UT
Joe Barton, TX (Ex Officio)
Charlie Melancon, LA
John D. Dingell (Ex Officio)
***
Fellow Federationists:
It pleases me to write to you announcing that our silent car
legislation has been introduced in the House of Representatives. Ed
Towns, Democrat of New York, and Cliff Stearns, Republican of Florida,
has introduced H.R. 5734, the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act of 2008.
Therefore, your help is needed to gain cosponsors of this important
legislation.
This legislation assures that blind and other pedestrians
will receive the information needed to make proper judgments regarding
the presence of vehicles, in order that we can travel safely. It does
so by:
a.. Requiring the Department of Transportation to convene a study
within ninety days of its enactment;
b.. Requiring the study to determine whether a minimum sound standard
or some other approach will provide blind and other pedestrians the most
accurate information regarding speed, location, and direction of travel
for the vehicles;
c.. Requiring that, when making this consideration, the study must
evaluate the cost of each method examined, including the cost of
providing all pedestrians any technology they must possess under each
approach; and
d.. Requiring that the study consider which approach permits the
greatest amount of independent spontaneous travel for blind and other
pedestrians.
Once the study reaches its conclusions, the Department of
Transportation must report its findings to Congress, and within ninety
days of the study's end, the Department of Transportation must establish
a vehicle safety standard that implements the results of the study.
Finally, two years after the safety standard is implemented, all new
cars sold in the United States must comply.
This legislation is under jurisdiction of the House
Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection of the House
Committee on Energy and Commerce. This subcommittee and its full
committee are the most important members for this bill, though we want
all the members that we can get to cosponsor this legislation. Both of
our original sponsors are members of the subcommittee, and Stearns was
its chair when republicans controlled the House of Representatives.
Now that the bill has been introduced, we need cosponsors.
This is so because the attention gained will push Committee and House
leadership to conduct hearings that will help us get out the message
that, if solutions are not promptly found and implemented, silent cars
will place the independence of blind Americans in real peril. To help
with this task, it is critical that you get your representatives to sign
on to H.R. 5734. Recall that you can reach the Capitol switchboard by
calling (202) 225-3121. I am providing lists of the subcommittee and
full committee members, but you are urged to get all members of the
House to join as cosponsors. Thank you for all you do. Let us now make
a difference in assuring that we can hear cars now and in the future.
Most cordially,
James McCarthy
Government Programs Specialist
National Federation of the Blind
FULL COMMITTEE on Energy and Commerce
John D. Dingell (MI), Chairman
(Ratio: 31-26)
Henry A. Waxman, CA
Joe Barton, TX, Ranking Member
Edward J. Markey, MA
Ralph M. Hall, TX
Rick Boucher, VA
Fred Upton, MI
Edolphus Towns, NY
Cliff Stearns, FL
Frank Pallone, Jr., NJ
Nathan Deal, GA
Bart Gordon, TN
Ed Whitfield, KY
Bobby L. Rush, IL
Barbara Cubin, WY
Anna G. Eshoo, CA
John Shimkus, IL
Bart Stupak, MI
Heather Wilson, NM
Eliot L. Engel, NY
John Shadegg, AZ
Gene Green, TX
Charles W. "Chip" Pickering, MS
Diana DeGette, CO, Vice Chair
Vito Fossella, NY
Lois Capps, CA
Roy Blunt, MO
Mike Doyle, PA
Steve Buyer, IN
Jane Harman, CA
George Radanovich, CA
Tom Allen, ME
Joseph R. Pitts, PA
Jan Schakowsky, IL
Mary Bono Mack, CA
Hilda L. Solis, CA
Greg Walden, OR
Charles A. Gonzalez, TX
Lee Terry, NE
Jay Inslee, WA
Mike Ferguson, NJ
Tammy Baldwin, WI
Mike Rogers, MI
Mike Ross, AR
Sue Wilkins Myrick, NC
Darlene Hooley, OR
John Sullivan, OK
Anthony D. Weiner, NY
Tim Murphy, PA
Jim Matheson, UT
Michael C. Burgess, TX
G. K. Butterfield, NC
Marsha Blackburn, TN
Charlie Melancon, LA
John Barrow, GA
Baron P. Hill, IN
Vacancy
SUBCOMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, TRADE, AND CONSUMER PROTECTION
(Ratio: 16-13)
Bobby L. Rush (IL), Chairman
Jan Schakowsky, IL, Vice Chair
Ed Whitfield, KY, Ranking Member
G. K. Butterfield, NC
Cliff Stearns, FL
John Barrow, GA
Charles W. "Chip" Pickering, MS
Baron P. Hill, IN
Vito Fossella, NY
Edward J. Markey, MA
George Radanovich, CA
Rick Boucher, VA
Joseph R. Pitts, PA
Edolphus Towns, NY
Mary Bono Mack, CA
Diana DeGette, CO
Lee Terry, NE
Charles A. Gonzalez, TX
Sue Wilkins Myrick, NC
Mike Ross, AR
John Sullivan, OK
Darlene Hooley, OR
Michael C. Burgess, TX
Anthony D. Weiner, NY
Marsha Blackburn, TN
Jim Matheson, UT
Joe Barton, TX (Ex Officio)
Charlie Melancon, LA
John D. Dingell (Ex Officio)
Saturday, April 5
Journey for the new dog
Greetings again. Well, this is what happens when I go awhile without posting. This time though I have an announcement to you, the faithful blog reader, or perhaps to myself if I read this in the future. I'm going back to The Seeing Eye for my second guide dog. I had a dog guide before in 1995 and used him for 4 years before retiring him. Retirement wasn't because of anything the dog did or didn't do, but rather from the fact that at that time, I didn't want to deal with the daily responsibilities of using a dog guide. Now though, I've got a steady lifestyle, I know what I'm getting into, and what a dog will and won't do for me. Before, I was in college and had no idea what to expect. Now, I know what to expect and how a dog could fit my personality and lifestyle. Plus, its been over a year and a half since Tony died. Its been long enough; its time and I feel like I'm ready.
I haven't used a dog in 9 years so there's a fair amount of apprehension and wonderment of if I can make this work and if I can remember everything I'm supposed to do. I've given it his a lot of thought and have come up with the following reasons for getting a dog, in no particular order: enhanced mobility, safety when traveling and crossing streets, hoping the dog will pick up on the cars and things that I miss due to a slight hearing loss, and companionship. I'd like a dog that's reserved and is content to lay under a desk for awhile. Since I'm a teacher, there may be times when the dog does just this while I go to a classroom down the hall to teach. However, I also know that a dog needs activity and stimulation, so I've been thinking of places I can go while at work to keep the dog's interest; routes I can take through the training center.
With this in mind, I've asked for a German Shepherd. I love the idea of a Shepherd being a one person dog, reserved around people, and focused while working. Tony was a yellow Lab, and though there were times that he was focused, there were also times of distraction. I realize all dogs are prone to distraction and that any guiding breed will have a variety of traits in any dog. However, it seems, according to research I've done and people I've talked with, that Shepherds are more focused workers and aren't distracted by people or other dogs. If I do receive a Lab, then I'd like it not to be yellow, since Tony was a yellow Lab. A good friend of mine has already said that there will be times when I'll compare "new dog": to Tony. I can see how this would happen, and in some sense, its already started with a preference for a black or brown, rather than a yellow, Lab.
Anyway, these are things I've initially thought of. I've sent in my application and had the medical forms filled out by my doctor. The next step will be a personal visit by one of The Seeing Eye trainers. Since there's quite a gap since I last used a dog, they're sending a trainer to meet with me. I talked with him this morning, and the meeting is set for thursday morning of next week. He'll talk with me about my lifestyle and we'll go on a "Juno" walk, where he simulates the role of the dog. This will give him an opportunity to evaluate my orientation and mobility skills as well as my walking speed. I think I've slowed down a little since I walked with Tony 10+ years ago, :)
So there it is; a new chapter in my life. Actually, its probably more accurate to say that its a continuation of a chapter. Back in September of 2006 when Tony died, I didn't know if I wanted another dog. I even gave nearly all of Tony's things away, keeping only his leash and collar. Now though, after time to think about and greave over Tony, and to think about what a guide dog means and how one can enhance your life, I've come full circle. I'm not going to say that a guide dog is 100 percent better than a cane, or vice versa about the cane verses the dog. I view this as a personal preference. I know plenty of people that sware by dogs and would never even touch canes, and others who sware by the cane. Personally, they're all tools, the canes and dogs that is. Each has their place, and there are times when the dog would be better than the cane, and likewise with the cane. Truth be told, just because I'll have a dog doesn't mean that I'm going to toss my canes in the trash. Rather, I'll likely have one at work and one at home. Anyway, that's my story. I'll update you on the progress of this journey as time goes on. You might have noticed that I've created a new label, called Seeing Eye, which I can use to categorize all these steps in the journey. Lord willing, it would be great to update this blog when at The Seeing Eye in class. But, that remains to be seen, not because I can't. But because so much happens when in class on a daily basis. I'll do my best though.
I haven't used a dog in 9 years so there's a fair amount of apprehension and wonderment of if I can make this work and if I can remember everything I'm supposed to do. I've given it his a lot of thought and have come up with the following reasons for getting a dog, in no particular order: enhanced mobility, safety when traveling and crossing streets, hoping the dog will pick up on the cars and things that I miss due to a slight hearing loss, and companionship. I'd like a dog that's reserved and is content to lay under a desk for awhile. Since I'm a teacher, there may be times when the dog does just this while I go to a classroom down the hall to teach. However, I also know that a dog needs activity and stimulation, so I've been thinking of places I can go while at work to keep the dog's interest; routes I can take through the training center.
With this in mind, I've asked for a German Shepherd. I love the idea of a Shepherd being a one person dog, reserved around people, and focused while working. Tony was a yellow Lab, and though there were times that he was focused, there were also times of distraction. I realize all dogs are prone to distraction and that any guiding breed will have a variety of traits in any dog. However, it seems, according to research I've done and people I've talked with, that Shepherds are more focused workers and aren't distracted by people or other dogs. If I do receive a Lab, then I'd like it not to be yellow, since Tony was a yellow Lab. A good friend of mine has already said that there will be times when I'll compare "new dog": to Tony. I can see how this would happen, and in some sense, its already started with a preference for a black or brown, rather than a yellow, Lab.
Anyway, these are things I've initially thought of. I've sent in my application and had the medical forms filled out by my doctor. The next step will be a personal visit by one of The Seeing Eye trainers. Since there's quite a gap since I last used a dog, they're sending a trainer to meet with me. I talked with him this morning, and the meeting is set for thursday morning of next week. He'll talk with me about my lifestyle and we'll go on a "Juno" walk, where he simulates the role of the dog. This will give him an opportunity to evaluate my orientation and mobility skills as well as my walking speed. I think I've slowed down a little since I walked with Tony 10+ years ago, :)
So there it is; a new chapter in my life. Actually, its probably more accurate to say that its a continuation of a chapter. Back in September of 2006 when Tony died, I didn't know if I wanted another dog. I even gave nearly all of Tony's things away, keeping only his leash and collar. Now though, after time to think about and greave over Tony, and to think about what a guide dog means and how one can enhance your life, I've come full circle. I'm not going to say that a guide dog is 100 percent better than a cane, or vice versa about the cane verses the dog. I view this as a personal preference. I know plenty of people that sware by dogs and would never even touch canes, and others who sware by the cane. Personally, they're all tools, the canes and dogs that is. Each has their place, and there are times when the dog would be better than the cane, and likewise with the cane. Truth be told, just because I'll have a dog doesn't mean that I'm going to toss my canes in the trash. Rather, I'll likely have one at work and one at home. Anyway, that's my story. I'll update you on the progress of this journey as time goes on. You might have noticed that I've created a new label, called Seeing Eye, which I can use to categorize all these steps in the journey. Lord willing, it would be great to update this blog when at The Seeing Eye in class. But, that remains to be seen, not because I can't. But because so much happens when in class on a daily basis. I'll do my best though.
Press release on hybrid cars
Greetings. Following is a press release on hybrid cars I received yesterday through email. Please excuse any formatting errors and enjoy.
University of California, Riverside Press Release:
Hybrid Cars Are Harder to Hear
Quiet vehicles may pose greater risks to pedestrians, UCR psychologist finds.
RIVERSIDE, Calif. - Hybrid cars are so quiet
when operating only with their electric
motors that they may pose a risk to the blind
and some other pedestrians, research by a
University of California, Riverside psychologist suggests.
Preliminary results of the on-going research
project show that hybrid cars operating at
very slow speeds must be 40 percent closer to
pedestrians than combustion-engine
vehicles before their location can be audibly
detected, said Lawrence Rosenblum,
professor of psychology. Those findings have
implications for pedestrians who are blind,
runners, cyclists, small children, and others, he said.
"There is a real difference between the
audibility of hybrid vehicles and those with
traditional internal combustion engines that
could have effects on the safety of
pedestrians which need to be studied," Rosenblum
said. "Our preliminary findings could
mean that there is an added danger with hybrid
cars, particularly at intersections and in
parking lots."
In a research project funded by the National
Federation of the Blind, Rosenblum made
audio recordings of hybrid and combustion-engine
cars in a quiet parking lot. The
vehicles moved no faster than 5 miles per hour
to assure that the hybrid car operated only
with its electric motor. Subjects in a lab
listened to the recordings and indicated when
they could hear from which direction the car
approached. Subjects could make these
judgments sooner when listening to the
combustion-engine car than when listening to the
hybrid car.
At speeds above 20 to 25 miles per hour hybrid
cars likely generate enough tire and
aerodynamic noise to make them sufficiently audible, Rosenblum said.
"This research provides evidence that hybrid
cars, when operating in silent mode, pose a
substantial risk to blind people and other
pedestrians. We hope that regulators and car
manufacturers will take notice of these results
and take steps to eliminate this risk," said
Dr. Marc Maurer, president of the National
Federation of the Blind, a 50,000-member
advocacy organization for people who are blind or have low vision.
Rosenblum, who is an adviser to the Society of
Automotive Engineers and sits on
committees that make recommendations to the auto
industry, has spent many years
researching perception of approaching cars and
whether there are similarities between
visual and auditory perception of approach.
"I really do feel this is an issue for more than
those who are blind," he said. "We're also
talking about bike riders, runners and others.
Walking around with my kids in a parking
lot makes it very clear that I'm using hearing
and vision to determine where things are."
Rosenblum is continuing the study with greater levels of background noise and
eventually will test people who are blind in
parking lots to determine the level of risk. In
April he will meet with Stanford University
researchers who are developing different
sounds that would enhance the ability of
pedestrians to hear approaching hybrid and
electric cars.
"Everyone's aware of the issue," he said.
However, Rosenblum said, "We are not talking
about major changes to the way automobiles are
designed, but about slightly increasing
their audibility when they are traveling slowly.
Only a subtle sound enhancement should
be required."
University of California, Riverside Press Release:
Hybrid Cars Are Harder to Hear
Quiet vehicles may pose greater risks to pedestrians, UCR psychologist finds.
RIVERSIDE, Calif. - Hybrid cars are so quiet
when operating only with their electric
motors that they may pose a risk to the blind
and some other pedestrians, research by a
University of California, Riverside psychologist suggests.
Preliminary results of the on-going research
project show that hybrid cars operating at
very slow speeds must be 40 percent closer to
pedestrians than combustion-engine
vehicles before their location can be audibly
detected, said Lawrence Rosenblum,
professor of psychology. Those findings have
implications for pedestrians who are blind,
runners, cyclists, small children, and others, he said.
"There is a real difference between the
audibility of hybrid vehicles and those with
traditional internal combustion engines that
could have effects on the safety of
pedestrians which need to be studied," Rosenblum
said. "Our preliminary findings could
mean that there is an added danger with hybrid
cars, particularly at intersections and in
parking lots."
In a research project funded by the National
Federation of the Blind, Rosenblum made
audio recordings of hybrid and combustion-engine
cars in a quiet parking lot. The
vehicles moved no faster than 5 miles per hour
to assure that the hybrid car operated only
with its electric motor. Subjects in a lab
listened to the recordings and indicated when
they could hear from which direction the car
approached. Subjects could make these
judgments sooner when listening to the
combustion-engine car than when listening to the
hybrid car.
At speeds above 20 to 25 miles per hour hybrid
cars likely generate enough tire and
aerodynamic noise to make them sufficiently audible, Rosenblum said.
"This research provides evidence that hybrid
cars, when operating in silent mode, pose a
substantial risk to blind people and other
pedestrians. We hope that regulators and car
manufacturers will take notice of these results
and take steps to eliminate this risk," said
Dr. Marc Maurer, president of the National
Federation of the Blind, a 50,000-member
advocacy organization for people who are blind or have low vision.
Rosenblum, who is an adviser to the Society of
Automotive Engineers and sits on
committees that make recommendations to the auto
industry, has spent many years
researching perception of approaching cars and
whether there are similarities between
visual and auditory perception of approach.
"I really do feel this is an issue for more than
those who are blind," he said. "We're also
talking about bike riders, runners and others.
Walking around with my kids in a parking
lot makes it very clear that I'm using hearing
and vision to determine where things are."
Rosenblum is continuing the study with greater levels of background noise and
eventually will test people who are blind in
parking lots to determine the level of risk. In
April he will meet with Stanford University
researchers who are developing different
sounds that would enhance the ability of
pedestrians to hear approaching hybrid and
electric cars.
"Everyone's aware of the issue," he said.
However, Rosenblum said, "We are not talking
about major changes to the way automobiles are
designed, but about slightly increasing
their audibility when they are traveling slowly.
Only a subtle sound enhancement should
be required."
Article: email addresses and job applications
This summary is not available. Please
click here to view the post.
Rolling Rebellion
Greetings. Here's another article on the Capitol Metro saga I received this morning in my email. Enjoy.
Rolling Rebellion at Capital Metro
BY JUSTIN WARD
Critics of Capital Metro's proposed transit cuts to services for the disabled questioned why the agency would spend millions on a spiffy new railcar system.
Photo by John Anderson
The Capital Metro boardroom became the site of a peculiar rebellion Monday. Some of the insurgents rolled in on wheelchairs. Others were led in by dogs.
Instead of pitchforks and torches, they were brandishing canes and walkers.
Filing out of Special Transit Service buses and taxicabs, they packed into Cap Metro's lobby, where they waited to be escorted in groups of four, via the
agency's only elevator, to its second-floor boardroom. Some folks in wheelchairs had trouble making it through the front door after the button that opens
it malfunctioned at a most inopportune time. Those who arrived early had the good fortune of picking up one of the few agendas printed in braille. Those
who didn't had to borrow one. Despite the logistical challenges of getting to the meeting (both to the building and the room itself), the boardroom was
soon filled wall to wall with wheelchairs - underneath every other chair was a Seeing Eye dog curling up inconspicuously.
The motivation behind the uprising? Many with disabilities are outraged over Cap Metro's planned cuts to STS, also known as paratransit services. Under
the Americans With Disabilities Act, Cap Metro must provide service to riders with disabilities that is "parallel" to regular service. This means that
Cap Metro must supplement its fleet with special cars and vans, which provide curb-to-curb service to those who cannot ride a fixed-route bus because of
their disabilities.
Cap Metro contends that changes are necessary to rein in STS spending, which has risen by more than 80% in six years. During the 2006-2007 fiscal year,
Cap Metro spent $26.9 million - about 19% of the operating budget - on paratransit, which serves 2% of its ridership. To reduce costs, Cap Metro argues
that it must streamline paratransit - by cutting regular taxi vouchers, increasing penalties for no-shows, minimizing the number of riders who are eligible,
and cutting the hours when live operators will be in the STS call center.
Opponents at the meeting say the cuts will make a system already fraught with problems even worse. They most fiercely opposed the proposed elimination
of subscription taxi vouchers. Currently, those who qualify can receive daily vouchers for regular taxi rides to work, doctors' appointments, or dialysis
treatment. Under the proposed changes, taxi vouchers will only be used to handle overflow from standard STS vehicles.
Cap Metro officials say the vouchers are wasteful, unnecessary, and vulnerable to fraud, citing past instances where more than $100,000 was reportedly
paid to a single cabbie in one year. Hannah Riddering, a Yellow Cab operator who often carries passengers with disabilities, said fraud in the program
is exaggerated by Cap Metro and the media. "Capital Metro staff uses 'cabdriver fraud' as a bludgeon," she said. Voucher fraud was limited to a few bad
apples, who were fired more than two years ago, Riddering said, and she blames Cap Metro's lax oversight. Yellow Cab, not Cap Metro, first discovered the
abuse, she said.
Pat Bartel, who is blind and frequently uses vouchers, told the board that despite what Cap Metro is claiming, vouchers are actually cheaper than rides
in STS vehicles. According to the 2006-2007 budget, taxi vouchers accounted for $3.2 million, or 11.8% of the total paratransit budget. The maximum taxi
voucher allowed per ride is $14, while the average cost-per-ride for all STS services, including taxis and STS vehicles, is $46.50, the bulk of which goes
to maintaining its fleet and paying drivers. Others noted that STS buses often waste resources because Cap Metro will sometimes use an entire bus to transport
one person.
Cap Metro originally planned to eliminate vouchers in March and did so, briefly, until a successful lawsuit brought by the Texas Civil Rights Project forced
the agency to reinstate them. When Cap Metro abruptly stopped issuing vouchers without warning, it severely impacted those who had depended on them, including
Cheryl Fszol, who says she lost her job as a result. Fszol suffers from seizures brought on by stress and also paralyzing migraines from a brain tumor.
The STS vans dropped her off an hour before work each day. Her boss wouldn't allow her to go into the building until someone else showed up, so she would
sit outside in the dark, often having seizures in the parking lot from the stress. She was fired from her job, she said, because the company did not want
to be liable if she were injured from her seizures.
Cap Metro originally planned to implement the changes without a public hearing, despite Federal Transit Administration regulations that require public
participation whenever there are changes to paratransit policy. The changes were billed as "procedural" rather than changes in policy, so it was deemed
unnecessary to hold a hearing. Cap Metro Access Advisory Committee members took turns blasting STS Director Inez Evans for failing to consult directly
with the committee or with the disabled community at-large. "All of these changes were just rammed through," said Malcolm Graham, who is blind and a member
of the access committee. "They presented [them] as if it were a done deal."
Evans opted to bypass the access committee altogether and hired a consulting firm called Texas Citizen Fund. The firm was paid $27,000 to conduct six focus
groups, which had a total of 174 participants. The firm apparently told Cap Metro exactly what it wanted to hear: that everyone approved, with the exception
of a few minor complaints that required tinkering.
Many opponents say Evans is the driving force behind the proposed changes, though she insists that these events were set into motion long before she took
the position. She cited a report from two years ago, which made many of the same recommendations. Bartel said that what Evans is doing in Austin is consistent
with her history in the transit industry. Evans worked for a company called MV Transportation, which is the paratransit equivalent of an efficiency expert,
Bartel said, with a pattern of reducing services to the minimum required by ADA.
When MV took over paratransit service in Washington, D.C., Evans was put in charge. The Washington Post reported in 2006: "In the first three weeks under
the new contractor [MV], Metro received record numbers of complaints from riders, thousands of whom said they were stranded, picked up late or mistreated
by drivers or reservationists. MV executives have blamed poor data from [the former contractor], the learning curve of new drivers and reservationists,
and telephone problems." Evans resigned from MV after six months on the job. She insists that it was purely a personal decision to take a better job in
California.
Evans plans to bring in an outside contractor to do what is called a "functional assessment" of STS riders, to determine if they are physically capable
of riding a fixed-route bus, with the intent of bumping riders from STS rolls. But wheelchair-bound riders are concerned that an influx of wheelchairs
on buses will be problematic, since all buses only have two wheelchair spots. If both spots are taken, then riders will have to wait as long as an hour
for the next bus. Also, the examinations would require riders to turn over personal medical information to Cap Metro, which they consider an invasion of
privacy.
Some at the meeting urged Cap Metro to get its priorities straight. Several speakers said it is appalling that the agency can cough up $100 million to
build a commuter train, yet it has to cut services for the disabled in the name of saving money. "Many of the comments in the media make it seem like we
were riding in limousines," said Richard Villa, who is blind. "I think most of us - if we had a choice - wouldn't use the system, at all."
Rolling Rebellion at Capital Metro
BY JUSTIN WARD
Critics of Capital Metro's proposed transit cuts to services for the disabled questioned why the agency would spend millions on a spiffy new railcar system.
Photo by John Anderson
The Capital Metro boardroom became the site of a peculiar rebellion Monday. Some of the insurgents rolled in on wheelchairs. Others were led in by dogs.
Instead of pitchforks and torches, they were brandishing canes and walkers.
Filing out of Special Transit Service buses and taxicabs, they packed into Cap Metro's lobby, where they waited to be escorted in groups of four, via the
agency's only elevator, to its second-floor boardroom. Some folks in wheelchairs had trouble making it through the front door after the button that opens
it malfunctioned at a most inopportune time. Those who arrived early had the good fortune of picking up one of the few agendas printed in braille. Those
who didn't had to borrow one. Despite the logistical challenges of getting to the meeting (both to the building and the room itself), the boardroom was
soon filled wall to wall with wheelchairs - underneath every other chair was a Seeing Eye dog curling up inconspicuously.
The motivation behind the uprising? Many with disabilities are outraged over Cap Metro's planned cuts to STS, also known as paratransit services. Under
the Americans With Disabilities Act, Cap Metro must provide service to riders with disabilities that is "parallel" to regular service. This means that
Cap Metro must supplement its fleet with special cars and vans, which provide curb-to-curb service to those who cannot ride a fixed-route bus because of
their disabilities.
Cap Metro contends that changes are necessary to rein in STS spending, which has risen by more than 80% in six years. During the 2006-2007 fiscal year,
Cap Metro spent $26.9 million - about 19% of the operating budget - on paratransit, which serves 2% of its ridership. To reduce costs, Cap Metro argues
that it must streamline paratransit - by cutting regular taxi vouchers, increasing penalties for no-shows, minimizing the number of riders who are eligible,
and cutting the hours when live operators will be in the STS call center.
Opponents at the meeting say the cuts will make a system already fraught with problems even worse. They most fiercely opposed the proposed elimination
of subscription taxi vouchers. Currently, those who qualify can receive daily vouchers for regular taxi rides to work, doctors' appointments, or dialysis
treatment. Under the proposed changes, taxi vouchers will only be used to handle overflow from standard STS vehicles.
Cap Metro officials say the vouchers are wasteful, unnecessary, and vulnerable to fraud, citing past instances where more than $100,000 was reportedly
paid to a single cabbie in one year. Hannah Riddering, a Yellow Cab operator who often carries passengers with disabilities, said fraud in the program
is exaggerated by Cap Metro and the media. "Capital Metro staff uses 'cabdriver fraud' as a bludgeon," she said. Voucher fraud was limited to a few bad
apples, who were fired more than two years ago, Riddering said, and she blames Cap Metro's lax oversight. Yellow Cab, not Cap Metro, first discovered the
abuse, she said.
Pat Bartel, who is blind and frequently uses vouchers, told the board that despite what Cap Metro is claiming, vouchers are actually cheaper than rides
in STS vehicles. According to the 2006-2007 budget, taxi vouchers accounted for $3.2 million, or 11.8% of the total paratransit budget. The maximum taxi
voucher allowed per ride is $14, while the average cost-per-ride for all STS services, including taxis and STS vehicles, is $46.50, the bulk of which goes
to maintaining its fleet and paying drivers. Others noted that STS buses often waste resources because Cap Metro will sometimes use an entire bus to transport
one person.
Cap Metro originally planned to eliminate vouchers in March and did so, briefly, until a successful lawsuit brought by the Texas Civil Rights Project forced
the agency to reinstate them. When Cap Metro abruptly stopped issuing vouchers without warning, it severely impacted those who had depended on them, including
Cheryl Fszol, who says she lost her job as a result. Fszol suffers from seizures brought on by stress and also paralyzing migraines from a brain tumor.
The STS vans dropped her off an hour before work each day. Her boss wouldn't allow her to go into the building until someone else showed up, so she would
sit outside in the dark, often having seizures in the parking lot from the stress. She was fired from her job, she said, because the company did not want
to be liable if she were injured from her seizures.
Cap Metro originally planned to implement the changes without a public hearing, despite Federal Transit Administration regulations that require public
participation whenever there are changes to paratransit policy. The changes were billed as "procedural" rather than changes in policy, so it was deemed
unnecessary to hold a hearing. Cap Metro Access Advisory Committee members took turns blasting STS Director Inez Evans for failing to consult directly
with the committee or with the disabled community at-large. "All of these changes were just rammed through," said Malcolm Graham, who is blind and a member
of the access committee. "They presented [them] as if it were a done deal."
Evans opted to bypass the access committee altogether and hired a consulting firm called Texas Citizen Fund. The firm was paid $27,000 to conduct six focus
groups, which had a total of 174 participants. The firm apparently told Cap Metro exactly what it wanted to hear: that everyone approved, with the exception
of a few minor complaints that required tinkering.
Many opponents say Evans is the driving force behind the proposed changes, though she insists that these events were set into motion long before she took
the position. She cited a report from two years ago, which made many of the same recommendations. Bartel said that what Evans is doing in Austin is consistent
with her history in the transit industry. Evans worked for a company called MV Transportation, which is the paratransit equivalent of an efficiency expert,
Bartel said, with a pattern of reducing services to the minimum required by ADA.
When MV took over paratransit service in Washington, D.C., Evans was put in charge. The Washington Post reported in 2006: "In the first three weeks under
the new contractor [MV], Metro received record numbers of complaints from riders, thousands of whom said they were stranded, picked up late or mistreated
by drivers or reservationists. MV executives have blamed poor data from [the former contractor], the learning curve of new drivers and reservationists,
and telephone problems." Evans resigned from MV after six months on the job. She insists that it was purely a personal decision to take a better job in
California.
Evans plans to bring in an outside contractor to do what is called a "functional assessment" of STS riders, to determine if they are physically capable
of riding a fixed-route bus, with the intent of bumping riders from STS rolls. But wheelchair-bound riders are concerned that an influx of wheelchairs
on buses will be problematic, since all buses only have two wheelchair spots. If both spots are taken, then riders will have to wait as long as an hour
for the next bus. Also, the examinations would require riders to turn over personal medical information to Cap Metro, which they consider an invasion of
privacy.
Some at the meeting urged Cap Metro to get its priorities straight. Several speakers said it is appalling that the agency can cough up $100 million to
build a commuter train, yet it has to cut services for the disabled in the name of saving money. "Many of the comments in the media make it seem like we
were riding in limousines," said Richard Villa, who is blind. "I think most of us - if we had a choice - wouldn't use the system, at all."
Friday, April 4
Stream: Daniel voice released
Greetings. I received the following notification from HumanWare regarding the release of the Daniel U.K. voice for the Victor Reader Stream. If you're perfectly happy with the Tom or Samantha voices, then there's no reason to change to this one. If however you want to check out this new voice, then by all means install it on your Stream by following the instructions outlined below. As the email says, there's no feature changes between the different voices. And, you cannot have more than one voice on your Stream at any one time. Enjoy.
Dear Victor Reader Stream Customer:
An alternative Stream software with the English U.K. male (Daniel) TTS voice is now available for download at:
http://www.humanware.com/en-canada/support/victor_reader_stream
This alternative version 1.2 software has a male TTS English U.K. voice (Daniel) and can be downloaded to replace the software with the female Samantha voice currently shipped on all English Streams. The Daniel voice will be shipped with future U.K. Streams. If you wish to change back to Samantha female TTS voice you can download and re-install the alternative UPG from the same page.
The functionality of the software is the same for both downloads. Only the TTS voice differs. The complete list of new features for version 1.2 and the installation instructions can be found in the What's New document in the documentation list on the same above web page. This support page also has links to listen to all Vocalizer TTS voices.
To summarize the Stream software Installation:
- download the zip file with your choice of TTS voice
- Unzip the single UPG upgrade file. You do not require special unzip software with Windows XP or Vista. Simply press Enter on the downloaded zip file and the UPG file will be shown. You can then copy the UPG file to the clipboard and paste it into the root of the Stream SD card.
- Insert the card into the Stream, connect the Stream to AC power, and turn it on.
- The Stream will recognize the special UPG file and initiate the upgrade process. Audio messages will inform you of the start and end of the update process.
- Remove the UPG file from your SD card after updating.
Thank you.
The HumanWare Support Team
Dear Victor Reader Stream Customer:
An alternative Stream software with the English U.K. male (Daniel) TTS voice is now available for download at:
http://www.humanware.com/en-canada/support/victor_reader_stream
This alternative version 1.2 software has a male TTS English U.K. voice (Daniel) and can be downloaded to replace the software with the female Samantha voice currently shipped on all English Streams. The Daniel voice will be shipped with future U.K. Streams. If you wish to change back to Samantha female TTS voice you can download and re-install the alternative UPG from the same page.
The functionality of the software is the same for both downloads. Only the TTS voice differs. The complete list of new features for version 1.2 and the installation instructions can be found in the What's New document in the documentation list on the same above web page. This support page also has links to listen to all Vocalizer TTS voices.
To summarize the Stream software Installation:
- download the zip file with your choice of TTS voice
- Unzip the single UPG upgrade file. You do not require special unzip software with Windows XP or Vista. Simply press Enter on the downloaded zip file and the UPG file will be shown. You can then copy the UPG file to the clipboard and paste it into the root of the Stream SD card.
- Insert the card into the Stream, connect the Stream to AC power, and turn it on.
- The Stream will recognize the special UPG file and initiate the upgrade process. Audio messages will inform you of the start and end of the update process.
- Remove the UPG file from your SD card after updating.
Thank you.
The HumanWare Support Team
Personal update
Greetings. Well, its been awhile since I've put up an update on what's been happening with me, and a lot has happened in the past few weeks.
First off, and perhaps most notable, when I came back from the Easter weekend with my family up in Dallas, I also brought back a throat infection. I went to the doctor and they took a culture, which turned up negative for strep throat, but the infection has kept me from work since before the Easter break. The last day that I was at work was on Good Friday. When I came back from Dallas, I had no voice.
Its not been all bad though. The week of Good Friday, I took the plunge and bought a new Windows Vista Home Premium computer. I've neded a new machine anyway since my current one had been going for 5 years. It could have probably done another few years, but I wanted to upgrade to newer equipment and software. So, during the time that I've been at home recooporating, I've spent some of that time on the new computer. I don't know all the technical stuff, but suffice it to say that this new system is powerful. I'm of the opinion that if you can, when you buy a computer, try and get more power than you actually need so you don't fall too far behind in power later. This new system doesn't disappoint either having 3 gigs of RAM and a 500 GB hard drive, plus a TV tuner, built in card reader, CD/DVD reader/burner, one of the new HD Blue Ray DVD Reader/burner drives, and other things. Anyway, its a great system. For the record, its a Gateway DX441X, which I would highly recommend. When i got it, it came with a free 19" wide screen monitor, which I was told was a $219 value. Over all, I'm impressed by this computer and have had fun, for the most part, in getting to know Vista. I'll write in a different post on my thoughts of Vista so far. I say "for the most part" because last Monday, I had an interesting thing come up.
I was tinkering around in my system's settings, trying to fix my speaker's audio orientation, when I accidentally muted the speaker. I'm still not totally sure how that happened. Well, what's a blind guy to do when the sound card's been muted? There's no sound from JAWS, and even if you plug in the headphones, there's still no sound. Nothing from Narrator, Microsoft's minor solution for a screen reader. Might as well call someone over, which I did. When one of my neighbors arrived and saw my computer, after commenting that it was a nice system, she said, "Your monitor's not working." Here's an interesting and ironic thing, a monitor that doesn't work for a blind guy. As a quick side note, I got a monitor in the first place precisely because there may be times like this when I need someone to read the screen so I know what's happening. It just so happens that this method didn't work out too well for me this particular time. Well, we spent the next couple of hours trying to figure out what the problem was, even calling Gateway tech support. At one point, I turned to my neighbor and jokingly said, "Well, aren't we in a fix: neither of us can use the computer since its not talking to me and not showing anything to you." We both got a good laugh out of that. Usually one of those is the case for me, but not both at the same time. Anyway, at one point, God bless her, the Gateway support representative asked me why I had just now noticed the monitor wasn't working. To which I explained, calmly, that since I was blind, and since I had no reason to use my monitor, this was the first person who I had over and has commented that my monitor wasn't working. Otherwise, I would have been clueless to the whole thing. Well, long story short, after testing the new monitor with my old computer, we finally determined that a crucial adapter wasn't included with my system in order for the monitor to work properly. Gateway sent me the adapter via FedEx and I received it today. When I called another friend earlier this evening to come over and check things to make sure it was working, the monitor was working fine. We were prompted to perform a system restore, which we did, and all was working great again, even the sound had come back. I had experienced one other issue with Internet Explorer, but I called Gateway again earlier this evening and the helpful representative and I were able to get that one fixed as well. So, as of now and for the moment, all appears to be working fine. So much for not getting too technical in this post, :)
I've filed my taxes for another year. That always feels good, to independently file your taxes and have the tax man say, when shaking your hand, "See you next year." This time I took a cab to and from, since I had scheduled the appointment for during the day since I was home anyway. And, I'll be getting another refund again this year, not as much as last year, but a refund all the same. I also qualify for the rebate checks that will be sent out in May or June. So, I suppose between the refund and the rebate check, I'm getting more than I usually get, which is good. All in all, I'm pleased with how things went.
That's about all for now. I'm off to tinker, though not like I did last Monday, play with and enjoy my new system some more. Have a good weekend.
First off, and perhaps most notable, when I came back from the Easter weekend with my family up in Dallas, I also brought back a throat infection. I went to the doctor and they took a culture, which turned up negative for strep throat, but the infection has kept me from work since before the Easter break. The last day that I was at work was on Good Friday. When I came back from Dallas, I had no voice.
Its not been all bad though. The week of Good Friday, I took the plunge and bought a new Windows Vista Home Premium computer. I've neded a new machine anyway since my current one had been going for 5 years. It could have probably done another few years, but I wanted to upgrade to newer equipment and software. So, during the time that I've been at home recooporating, I've spent some of that time on the new computer. I don't know all the technical stuff, but suffice it to say that this new system is powerful. I'm of the opinion that if you can, when you buy a computer, try and get more power than you actually need so you don't fall too far behind in power later. This new system doesn't disappoint either having 3 gigs of RAM and a 500 GB hard drive, plus a TV tuner, built in card reader, CD/DVD reader/burner, one of the new HD Blue Ray DVD Reader/burner drives, and other things. Anyway, its a great system. For the record, its a Gateway DX441X, which I would highly recommend. When i got it, it came with a free 19" wide screen monitor, which I was told was a $219 value. Over all, I'm impressed by this computer and have had fun, for the most part, in getting to know Vista. I'll write in a different post on my thoughts of Vista so far. I say "for the most part" because last Monday, I had an interesting thing come up.
I was tinkering around in my system's settings, trying to fix my speaker's audio orientation, when I accidentally muted the speaker. I'm still not totally sure how that happened. Well, what's a blind guy to do when the sound card's been muted? There's no sound from JAWS, and even if you plug in the headphones, there's still no sound. Nothing from Narrator, Microsoft's minor solution for a screen reader. Might as well call someone over, which I did. When one of my neighbors arrived and saw my computer, after commenting that it was a nice system, she said, "Your monitor's not working." Here's an interesting and ironic thing, a monitor that doesn't work for a blind guy. As a quick side note, I got a monitor in the first place precisely because there may be times like this when I need someone to read the screen so I know what's happening. It just so happens that this method didn't work out too well for me this particular time. Well, we spent the next couple of hours trying to figure out what the problem was, even calling Gateway tech support. At one point, I turned to my neighbor and jokingly said, "Well, aren't we in a fix: neither of us can use the computer since its not talking to me and not showing anything to you." We both got a good laugh out of that. Usually one of those is the case for me, but not both at the same time. Anyway, at one point, God bless her, the Gateway support representative asked me why I had just now noticed the monitor wasn't working. To which I explained, calmly, that since I was blind, and since I had no reason to use my monitor, this was the first person who I had over and has commented that my monitor wasn't working. Otherwise, I would have been clueless to the whole thing. Well, long story short, after testing the new monitor with my old computer, we finally determined that a crucial adapter wasn't included with my system in order for the monitor to work properly. Gateway sent me the adapter via FedEx and I received it today. When I called another friend earlier this evening to come over and check things to make sure it was working, the monitor was working fine. We were prompted to perform a system restore, which we did, and all was working great again, even the sound had come back. I had experienced one other issue with Internet Explorer, but I called Gateway again earlier this evening and the helpful representative and I were able to get that one fixed as well. So, as of now and for the moment, all appears to be working fine. So much for not getting too technical in this post, :)
I've filed my taxes for another year. That always feels good, to independently file your taxes and have the tax man say, when shaking your hand, "See you next year." This time I took a cab to and from, since I had scheduled the appointment for during the day since I was home anyway. And, I'll be getting another refund again this year, not as much as last year, but a refund all the same. I also qualify for the rebate checks that will be sent out in May or June. So, I suppose between the refund and the rebate check, I'm getting more than I usually get, which is good. All in all, I'm pleased with how things went.
That's about all for now. I'm off to tinker, though not like I did last Monday, play with and enjoy my new system some more. Have a good weekend.
Monday, March 31
Pedestrians and quiet cars
Greetings. Below is an important article about quiet cars. This could be a growing problem for the blind or anyone that crosses streets by walking. I recognize that quiet cars means less noise in the environment. However, I also know that if I can't hear a car at an intersection, then that could pose problems for me as a blind pedestrian, or anyone who may not see the hazard, for whatever reason. Perhaps its a jogger enjoying their iPod too much, a mother with several kids, someone pulling or pushing a cart of some sort, etc.
The article references that Guide Dogs for the Blind in California has acquired a hybrid car to use in their training. A coworker recently told me that The Seeing Eye, a similar guide dog school in New Jersey, has also added a quiet car to their training of dogs and students. For those that may not be aware, these are the two largest and most well known, and two of the best, guide dog schools in the U.S. Having them add quiet cars to their training activities will hopefully be the beginning step in preparing the blind, the sighted, and other guide dog schools, in the awareness of quiet cars. Enjoy.
From the Los Angeles Times
Blind pedestrians may not hear hybrid cars
Cars that are quiet while in electric mode may provide
no warning to pedestrians.
By Martin Zimmerman
Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
March 29, 2008
Are hybrid cars too quiet for their own good?
Jana Littrell certainly thinks so. Littrell, who is
blind, was walking through a bank parking lot in the
East Bay town of Albany a year ago when her foot
was run over by a Toyota Prius backing out of a
parking space. She wasn't injured and the driver
apologized effusively, she recalled. But the
experience
shook her up.
"It has definitely put me more on my guard," said
Littrell, who teaches Braille to newly blind adults.
"But I don't know how much good that's going to do
me if I can't hear the car coming."
Concerns are growing that quiet-running hybrids such
as the Prius pose a hazard to pedestrians, especially
the 1.3 million Americans who are legally blind.
The problem occurs when the cars are running at very
low speeds on electric power, making about as much
noise as a golf cart.
"There's this silent-but-deadly zone where we cannot
hear these cars," said Bryan Bashin, a Sacramento
management consultant. "We're not just worried about
blind people. It's a hazard to pets, joggers, young
children, cyclists, people who have their back turned.
. . ."
Federal traffic safety regulators report that no
deaths or serious injuries have been attributed to
quiet-running hybrids. But an ongoing study at UC
Riverside
has produced some of the first scientific evidence
that hybrids may pose a hazard to pedestrians,
according to preliminary results to be released today.
Meanwhile, the issue is drawing attention from the
auto industry, state lawmakers and federal regulators.
It even spawned at least one Silicon Valley start-up
that's trying to develop an audible pedestrian warning
system for hybrids.
Bashin, who is sightless, is working with the National
Federation of the Blind to push legislation that could
eventually require installation of "noise
emitting" devices on hybrids and other vehicles that
run at least part of the time on electric power.
That prospect doesn't sit well with some car owners.
The message board at
greenhybrid.com,
a website for hybrid enthusiasts, has seen lively
debates over the issue. In one recent post, a Toyota
Camry hybrid owner wrote that "the world around us
is getting louder and along come hybrids and WHAM!
They get blasted by a group claiming they are too
quiet."
The debate comes as hybrids are becoming increasingly
common. More than 350,000 were sold in the U.S. last
year, according to marketing information firm
J.D. Power and Associates.
Prius owner Sarah Forth of Silver Lake knows the issue
from both sides.
"I noticed the cars creeping up on me when I was
walking around," Forth recalled. "After I got one, I
put two and two together and realized, 'I'm a road
hazard in this car.' "
The vehicles are powered by a combination of gasoline
and electricity and are prized for their fuel economy.
They're particularly popular in California,
which buys almost half the hybrids sold in the U.S. by
Toyota Motor Corp., the leading hybrid maker.
And coming soon: cars powered only by electricity that
produce very little engine noise at any speed
(although, as with hybrids, air flow and tire noise
would become noticeable above 20 or 25 miles per
hour).
Currently, most of the concern is directed at the
top-selling Prius and vehicles such as the Camry that
use similar gasoline-electric engines. The Honda
Civic, the No. 4-selling hybrid in America, is noisier
because it employs a system that almost never switches
into electric-only mode.
The UC Riverside study has found that test subjects
had to be 40% closer to silent-running hybrids than to
cars with traditional gasoline engines before
they could hear them.
"Our preliminary findings could mean that there is an
added danger with hybrid cars, particularly at
intersections and parking lots," said Lawrence
Rosenblum,
a psychology professor doing the study.
Toyota engineers are looking for a solution, but have
yet to come up with one.
"Vehicle safety and pedestrian safety are at the top
of our list," spokesman Bill Kwong said. "At this
point, we're trying to balance the needs of
sight-impaired
people with other sociological concerns such as noise
pollution."
One problem has been in isolating exactly what sounds
most people associate with an approaching vehicle,
such as the engine revving, the fan belt, tire
noise or other sounds. Artificial warning cues "like
chirping or chimes are not identified by test subjects
as a vehicle at all," the automaker said.
Interim solutions include training guide dogs for the
blind to detect cars by sight as well as sound.
Training schools such as Guide Dogs for the Blind
in San Rafael and Guide Dogs of the Desert near Palm
Springs have added Priuses to their training regimens
partly in response to concerns about hybrid
cars.
Longer term, the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration has promised to launch a wide-ranging
investigation into the issue and several states are
considering legislation. A bill soon to be headed to
the governor of Maryland would create a task force to
conduct a study and recommend solutions.
A group of Stanford University students has formed a
company -- Santa Clara-based Enhanced Vehicle
Acoustics -- that is developing an after-market
product
for Toyota hybrids that goes beyond simply making a
noise to alert nearby pedestrians. For example, by
linking to the vehicle's computer, the system would
be able to direct its sounds to the right or left to
warn pedestrians that the car is about to make a turn.
Bashin and other advocates for the blind are
sympathetic to complaints from hybrid fans. But, he
asked, "what am I supposed to do, stay home?"
Copyright 2008 Los Angeles Times
The article references that Guide Dogs for the Blind in California has acquired a hybrid car to use in their training. A coworker recently told me that The Seeing Eye, a similar guide dog school in New Jersey, has also added a quiet car to their training of dogs and students. For those that may not be aware, these are the two largest and most well known, and two of the best, guide dog schools in the U.S. Having them add quiet cars to their training activities will hopefully be the beginning step in preparing the blind, the sighted, and other guide dog schools, in the awareness of quiet cars. Enjoy.
From the Los Angeles Times
Blind pedestrians may not hear hybrid cars
Cars that are quiet while in electric mode may provide
no warning to pedestrians.
By Martin Zimmerman
Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
March 29, 2008
Are hybrid cars too quiet for their own good?
Jana Littrell certainly thinks so. Littrell, who is
blind, was walking through a bank parking lot in the
East Bay town of Albany a year ago when her foot
was run over by a Toyota Prius backing out of a
parking space. She wasn't injured and the driver
apologized effusively, she recalled. But the
experience
shook her up.
"It has definitely put me more on my guard," said
Littrell, who teaches Braille to newly blind adults.
"But I don't know how much good that's going to do
me if I can't hear the car coming."
Concerns are growing that quiet-running hybrids such
as the Prius pose a hazard to pedestrians, especially
the 1.3 million Americans who are legally blind.
The problem occurs when the cars are running at very
low speeds on electric power, making about as much
noise as a golf cart.
"There's this silent-but-deadly zone where we cannot
hear these cars," said Bryan Bashin, a Sacramento
management consultant. "We're not just worried about
blind people. It's a hazard to pets, joggers, young
children, cyclists, people who have their back turned.
. . ."
Federal traffic safety regulators report that no
deaths or serious injuries have been attributed to
quiet-running hybrids. But an ongoing study at UC
Riverside
has produced some of the first scientific evidence
that hybrids may pose a hazard to pedestrians,
according to preliminary results to be released today.
Meanwhile, the issue is drawing attention from the
auto industry, state lawmakers and federal regulators.
It even spawned at least one Silicon Valley start-up
that's trying to develop an audible pedestrian warning
system for hybrids.
Bashin, who is sightless, is working with the National
Federation of the Blind to push legislation that could
eventually require installation of "noise
emitting" devices on hybrids and other vehicles that
run at least part of the time on electric power.
That prospect doesn't sit well with some car owners.
The message board at
greenhybrid.com,
a website for hybrid enthusiasts, has seen lively
debates over the issue. In one recent post, a Toyota
Camry hybrid owner wrote that "the world around us
is getting louder and along come hybrids and WHAM!
They get blasted by a group claiming they are too
quiet."
The debate comes as hybrids are becoming increasingly
common. More than 350,000 were sold in the U.S. last
year, according to marketing information firm
J.D. Power and Associates.
Prius owner Sarah Forth of Silver Lake knows the issue
from both sides.
"I noticed the cars creeping up on me when I was
walking around," Forth recalled. "After I got one, I
put two and two together and realized, 'I'm a road
hazard in this car.' "
The vehicles are powered by a combination of gasoline
and electricity and are prized for their fuel economy.
They're particularly popular in California,
which buys almost half the hybrids sold in the U.S. by
Toyota Motor Corp., the leading hybrid maker.
And coming soon: cars powered only by electricity that
produce very little engine noise at any speed
(although, as with hybrids, air flow and tire noise
would become noticeable above 20 or 25 miles per
hour).
Currently, most of the concern is directed at the
top-selling Prius and vehicles such as the Camry that
use similar gasoline-electric engines. The Honda
Civic, the No. 4-selling hybrid in America, is noisier
because it employs a system that almost never switches
into electric-only mode.
The UC Riverside study has found that test subjects
had to be 40% closer to silent-running hybrids than to
cars with traditional gasoline engines before
they could hear them.
"Our preliminary findings could mean that there is an
added danger with hybrid cars, particularly at
intersections and parking lots," said Lawrence
Rosenblum,
a psychology professor doing the study.
Toyota engineers are looking for a solution, but have
yet to come up with one.
"Vehicle safety and pedestrian safety are at the top
of our list," spokesman Bill Kwong said. "At this
point, we're trying to balance the needs of
sight-impaired
people with other sociological concerns such as noise
pollution."
One problem has been in isolating exactly what sounds
most people associate with an approaching vehicle,
such as the engine revving, the fan belt, tire
noise or other sounds. Artificial warning cues "like
chirping or chimes are not identified by test subjects
as a vehicle at all," the automaker said.
Interim solutions include training guide dogs for the
blind to detect cars by sight as well as sound.
Training schools such as Guide Dogs for the Blind
in San Rafael and Guide Dogs of the Desert near Palm
Springs have added Priuses to their training regimens
partly in response to concerns about hybrid
cars.
Longer term, the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration has promised to launch a wide-ranging
investigation into the issue and several states are
considering legislation. A bill soon to be headed to
the governor of Maryland would create a task force to
conduct a study and recommend solutions.
A group of Stanford University students has formed a
company -- Santa Clara-based Enhanced Vehicle
Acoustics -- that is developing an after-market
product
for Toyota hybrids that goes beyond simply making a
noise to alert nearby pedestrians. For example, by
linking to the vehicle's computer, the system would
be able to direct its sounds to the right or left to
warn pedestrians that the car is about to make a turn.
Bashin and other advocates for the blind are
sympathetic to complaints from hybrid fans. But, he
asked, "what am I supposed to do, stay home?"
Copyright 2008 Los Angeles Times
Wednesday, March 19
Seeing Eye grants a wish
Greetings. I received the following article and news regarding The Seeing Eye dog guide school in Morristown, New Jersey. Enjoy.
St. Patrick's Day was a very special day here at The Seeing Eye. The newspaper article pasted below tells the story of how a little girl named Maggie Deely
visited our school on Monday, thanks to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Any day now, the "M" litter of Seeing Eye pups is due to be born, and one of those
Labrador puppies will be named "Maggie" in honor of our special visitor.
Ailing girl's dream: To provide comfort to others
by Robert E. Williams III, the Newark Star Ledger, Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Maggie Deely raised her arm slightly in the air at the Seeing Eye kennels in Morris Township, as she commanded a black Labrador retriever named Homer to
sit.
After the dog followed the 9-year-old's first command, the Centreville, Va., resident pointed her finger to the ground and commanded the dog to lay.
Homer obliged.
"Hey, I think we got a trainer," said specialized dog instructor Kris Sutton to Maggie and her family during their tour of the Seeing Eye in Morris Township,
a nonprofit organization that trains dogs to assist blind people.
Maggie's visit to the facility was part of a trip coordinated by the Make-A-Wish Foundation, an organization that coordinates the wishes of children with
life-threatening illnesses.
Maggie arrived at the facility Monday dressed for St. Patrick's Day -- dressed all in green with green Mardi Gras beads around her neck, a crown decorated
with green and silver tinsel on her head, and a green shirt that read, "Everybody loves an Irish girl."
It was shortly before St. Patrick's Day last year when Maggie was diagnosed with craniopharyngioma, an illness causing a brain tumor that affects the pituitary
gland and its functions.
Maggie was treated at Children's Hospital Boston, where pediatric neurosurgeon Michael Scott in April removed a portion of the tumor that was as big as
two thumbs laid side by side.
After the surgery, her doctor used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to monitor the growth of the remaining portion of the tumor. Maggie also meets with
an endocrinologist to manage the impact of the tumor on her pituitary gland, which influences her growth and hormonal development.
Maggie told the foundation about her wish to explore a career working with animals after she observed her third-grade class president with a companion
dog named Mercer, a black Labrador retriever.
"I thought it would be lots of fun, and it was," said Maggie, who wore a Make-A-Wish Foundation button on her shirt.
The foundation has become well-known for arranging high-profile experiences for children. Some wishes involved meeting a celebrity, going to a hard-to-access
sporting event or undergoing an experience related to a child's interest.
Teresa Davenport, a spokeswoman for the Seeing Eye, said visits to the facility as part of a wish are rare.
"Instead of going to Disneyland, she wanted to do this," said her father, Tim Deely, who accompanied his daughter and rest of his family along South Street
during Maggie's training yesterday. "She surprises us all the time."
Maggie and her family -- including her mother Cathy, her sister, 13-year-old Brigid, and brothers Brian, 12, and Kevin, 11 -- took a train from their home
in Virginia on Sunday. They ate lunch at the Seeing Eye and toured the kennels where German shepherds and retrievers played with trainers as the family
looked on.
The family was later escorted by van to the statue of Seeing Eye dog founder Morris Frank and a Seeing Eye dog at the Green across the street from the
Century 21 department store, where they met with trainer Jim Kessler and his dog, Vixen.
After some instruction, Maggie grabbed the reins of the yellow Labrador retriever and worked with Kessler, teaching the dog to signal when it was okay
to move forward.
Maggie may be young, but she's no rookie when it comes to training dogs. This summer, she began training a mixed Labrador puppy named Gillian for Canine
Companions for Independence, a Long Island-based organization that trains dogs to assist people with disabilities.
"I like it because some day it will pay off and she will do a really good job, and make someone happy," said Maggie of her experience training Gillian.
St. Patrick's Day was a very special day here at The Seeing Eye. The newspaper article pasted below tells the story of how a little girl named Maggie Deely
visited our school on Monday, thanks to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Any day now, the "M" litter of Seeing Eye pups is due to be born, and one of those
Labrador puppies will be named "Maggie" in honor of our special visitor.
Ailing girl's dream: To provide comfort to others
by Robert E. Williams III, the Newark Star Ledger, Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Maggie Deely raised her arm slightly in the air at the Seeing Eye kennels in Morris Township, as she commanded a black Labrador retriever named Homer to
sit.
After the dog followed the 9-year-old's first command, the Centreville, Va., resident pointed her finger to the ground and commanded the dog to lay.
Homer obliged.
"Hey, I think we got a trainer," said specialized dog instructor Kris Sutton to Maggie and her family during their tour of the Seeing Eye in Morris Township,
a nonprofit organization that trains dogs to assist blind people.
Maggie's visit to the facility was part of a trip coordinated by the Make-A-Wish Foundation, an organization that coordinates the wishes of children with
life-threatening illnesses.
Maggie arrived at the facility Monday dressed for St. Patrick's Day -- dressed all in green with green Mardi Gras beads around her neck, a crown decorated
with green and silver tinsel on her head, and a green shirt that read, "Everybody loves an Irish girl."
It was shortly before St. Patrick's Day last year when Maggie was diagnosed with craniopharyngioma, an illness causing a brain tumor that affects the pituitary
gland and its functions.
Maggie was treated at Children's Hospital Boston, where pediatric neurosurgeon Michael Scott in April removed a portion of the tumor that was as big as
two thumbs laid side by side.
After the surgery, her doctor used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to monitor the growth of the remaining portion of the tumor. Maggie also meets with
an endocrinologist to manage the impact of the tumor on her pituitary gland, which influences her growth and hormonal development.
Maggie told the foundation about her wish to explore a career working with animals after she observed her third-grade class president with a companion
dog named Mercer, a black Labrador retriever.
"I thought it would be lots of fun, and it was," said Maggie, who wore a Make-A-Wish Foundation button on her shirt.
The foundation has become well-known for arranging high-profile experiences for children. Some wishes involved meeting a celebrity, going to a hard-to-access
sporting event or undergoing an experience related to a child's interest.
Teresa Davenport, a spokeswoman for the Seeing Eye, said visits to the facility as part of a wish are rare.
"Instead of going to Disneyland, she wanted to do this," said her father, Tim Deely, who accompanied his daughter and rest of his family along South Street
during Maggie's training yesterday. "She surprises us all the time."
Maggie and her family -- including her mother Cathy, her sister, 13-year-old Brigid, and brothers Brian, 12, and Kevin, 11 -- took a train from their home
in Virginia on Sunday. They ate lunch at the Seeing Eye and toured the kennels where German shepherds and retrievers played with trainers as the family
looked on.
The family was later escorted by van to the statue of Seeing Eye dog founder Morris Frank and a Seeing Eye dog at the Green across the street from the
Century 21 department store, where they met with trainer Jim Kessler and his dog, Vixen.
After some instruction, Maggie grabbed the reins of the yellow Labrador retriever and worked with Kessler, teaching the dog to signal when it was okay
to move forward.
Maggie may be young, but she's no rookie when it comes to training dogs. This summer, she began training a mixed Labrador puppy named Gillian for Canine
Companions for Independence, a Long Island-based organization that trains dogs to assist people with disabilities.
"I like it because some day it will pay off and she will do a really good job, and make someone happy," said Maggie of her experience training Gillian.
Stream news: Tom voice released
Greetings. I received the following announcement from HumanWare regarding the Tom voice for the Victor Reader Stream. many people, including me, have been anxiously awaiting this voice. Enjoy.
Dear Victor Reader Stream Customer:
The alternative Stream software with the English U.S. male (Tom) TTS voice is now available for download at:
http://www.humanware.com/en-canada/support/victor_reader_stream
This English alternative version 1.2 software has a male TTS voice (Tom) and can be downloaded to replace the default software with the female Samantha
voice currently shipped on all English Streams. The Tom voice is an alternative download zip file that contains a single version 1.2 UPG upgrade file that
you install on the Stream. If you wish to change back to Samantha female TTS voice you can download and re-install the alternative UPG from the same page.
The functionality of the software is the same for both downloads. Only the TTS voice differs. The complete list of new features for version 1.2 and the
installation instructions can be found in the What's New document in the documentation list that follows the software links. After this documentation list
there are links to samples of both the Samantha and Tom TTS voices that you can listen to.
We are currently working on a third English version 1.2 with the UK male voice named Daniel which we expect to release soon. Again, this will be a single
UPG file with the single UK Daniel TTS voice. The link to listen to the sample Daniel voice is on the page now.
To summarize the Stream software Installation:
- download the zip file with your choice of Samantha or Tom TTS voice
- Unzip the single UPG upgrade file. You do not require special unzip software with Windows XP or Vista.
- Copy the UPG file to the root of your Stream SD card
- Insert the card into the Stream, connect the Stream to AC power, and turn it on.
- The Stream will recognize the special UPG file and initiate the upgrade process. Audio messages will inform you of the start and end of the update process.
Thank you.
The HumanWare Support Team
Dear Victor Reader Stream Customer:
The alternative Stream software with the English U.S. male (Tom) TTS voice is now available for download at:
http://www.humanware.com/en-canada/support/victor_reader_stream
This English alternative version 1.2 software has a male TTS voice (Tom) and can be downloaded to replace the default software with the female Samantha
voice currently shipped on all English Streams. The Tom voice is an alternative download zip file that contains a single version 1.2 UPG upgrade file that
you install on the Stream. If you wish to change back to Samantha female TTS voice you can download and re-install the alternative UPG from the same page.
The functionality of the software is the same for both downloads. Only the TTS voice differs. The complete list of new features for version 1.2 and the
installation instructions can be found in the What's New document in the documentation list that follows the software links. After this documentation list
there are links to samples of both the Samantha and Tom TTS voices that you can listen to.
We are currently working on a third English version 1.2 with the UK male voice named Daniel which we expect to release soon. Again, this will be a single
UPG file with the single UK Daniel TTS voice. The link to listen to the sample Daniel voice is on the page now.
To summarize the Stream software Installation:
- download the zip file with your choice of Samantha or Tom TTS voice
- Unzip the single UPG upgrade file. You do not require special unzip software with Windows XP or Vista.
- Copy the UPG file to the root of your Stream SD card
- Insert the card into the Stream, connect the Stream to AC power, and turn it on.
- The Stream will recognize the special UPG file and initiate the upgrade process. Audio messages will inform you of the start and end of the update process.
Thank you.
The HumanWare Support Team
Saturday, March 15
More Capitol Metro news
Greetings. There's more news on the proposed changes over at Capitol Metro according to the Austin American Statesman article called, Cap Metro Plans Meeting on Changes. After the order by the judge last week, it looks like Cap Metro is willing to listen to the people they serve. Its unfortunate that it took a judge to force them to accept public input though. I will continue to post stories on this saga as I come across them.
Apple and accessibility
Greetings. The following news was originally posted on the Gui-Talk email distribution list. Please forgive any formatting errors. In addition to the points discussed below, I read recently where Apple now includes support for refreshable Braille displays in the latest version of the Mac software. They are becoming more of a player in the accessibility world, and I hope the trend continues. Enjoy.
The following exert was taken from the web site
http://www.lioncourt.com
Apple Presents at CSUN Conference
14 March, 2008 @ 4:08 pm by Lioncourt
Apple made its presence felt at the CSUN Technology and Persons with
Disabilities Conference 2008. On Wednesday, Apple gave two
presentations to a full room equipped with dozens of 20- and 24-inch
iMacs at the Los Angeles International Airport Marriott Hotel.
The sessions, presented by Mike Shebanek, Apple’s Senior Product
Manager for Worldwide Product Marketing, in charge of Mac OS X and
VoiceOver, focussed on general use of VoiceOver with the Macintosh
operating system, and use of VoiceOver with the iTunes media
management and playback software. Mary-Beth James, whose name will
be familiar to many Voiceover users, was also present to assist
during the sessions.
Both sessions were geared toward users who were unfamiliar with
VoiceOver, and were very informative for many of those in
attendance. Mr. Shebanek stressed Apple’s ongoing commitment to
accessibility, noting particularly the extensive tools available to
third-party developers to make their applications accessible with
VoiceOver, and the positive results of their efforts.
During the afternoon session on iTunes, Mr. Shebanek also mentioned
that Apple is aware of and working on the features of the iTunes
store that are still inaccessible. These include the ability to
purchase albums in their entirety, view one’s account, etc. He
mentioned that accessibility for Apple’s line of iPod music players
is also being worked out, and asked those in attendance whether
APple should continue to release accessibility improvements as they
become available, or waiting until they are fully realized in
products. Overwhelmingly, it seemed, the attendees were in favor of
Apple releasing incremental updates that improve accessibility over
time.
We here at Lioncourt.com would like to point out that Apple has
received criticism from some when they’ve taken the approach of
incremental accessibility enhancements, and would like to encourage
those of you who would like to see the improvements as they become
available to contact Apple Accessibility and let them know.
Specifically, Mr. Shebanek asked if partial access to iPod menus
would be something users would like while problems with deeper menu
levels were being ironed out.
Overall, the number of Mac users seems to have increased at the
annual conference, and Apple’s presence was felt beyond the
presentations put on by the company. For example, MacSpeech Dictate
was being demonstrated, and developers for OpenOffice.org also
discussed their efforts to provide accessibility in their open
source office suite with VoiceOver on the Mac platform.
Apple has once again demonstrated a commitment to accessibility that
extends far beyond that of rival companies, and we thank them for
their efforts.
The following exert was taken from the web site
http://www.lioncourt.com
Apple Presents at CSUN Conference
14 March, 2008 @ 4:08 pm by Lioncourt
Apple made its presence felt at the CSUN Technology and Persons with
Disabilities Conference 2008. On Wednesday, Apple gave two
presentations to a full room equipped with dozens of 20- and 24-inch
iMacs at the Los Angeles International Airport Marriott Hotel.
The sessions, presented by Mike Shebanek, Apple’s Senior Product
Manager for Worldwide Product Marketing, in charge of Mac OS X and
VoiceOver, focussed on general use of VoiceOver with the Macintosh
operating system, and use of VoiceOver with the iTunes media
management and playback software. Mary-Beth James, whose name will
be familiar to many Voiceover users, was also present to assist
during the sessions.
Both sessions were geared toward users who were unfamiliar with
VoiceOver, and were very informative for many of those in
attendance. Mr. Shebanek stressed Apple’s ongoing commitment to
accessibility, noting particularly the extensive tools available to
third-party developers to make their applications accessible with
VoiceOver, and the positive results of their efforts.
During the afternoon session on iTunes, Mr. Shebanek also mentioned
that Apple is aware of and working on the features of the iTunes
store that are still inaccessible. These include the ability to
purchase albums in their entirety, view one’s account, etc. He
mentioned that accessibility for Apple’s line of iPod music players
is also being worked out, and asked those in attendance whether
APple should continue to release accessibility improvements as they
become available, or waiting until they are fully realized in
products. Overwhelmingly, it seemed, the attendees were in favor of
Apple releasing incremental updates that improve accessibility over
time.
We here at Lioncourt.com would like to point out that Apple has
received criticism from some when they’ve taken the approach of
incremental accessibility enhancements, and would like to encourage
those of you who would like to see the improvements as they become
available to contact Apple Accessibility and let them know.
Specifically, Mr. Shebanek asked if partial access to iPod menus
would be something users would like while problems with deeper menu
levels were being ironed out.
Overall, the number of Mac users seems to have increased at the
annual conference, and Apple’s presence was felt beyond the
presentations put on by the company. For example, MacSpeech Dictate
was being demonstrated, and developers for OpenOffice.org also
discussed their efforts to provide accessibility in their open
source office suite with VoiceOver on the Mac platform.
Apple has once again demonstrated a commitment to accessibility that
extends far beyond that of rival companies, and we thank them for
their efforts.
Monday, March 10
VR Stream version 1.2 released!
Greetings. I received the following email notofication from HumanWare regarding version 1.2 for the Stream. Note that when you go through the update process, if you normally use a 16 GB SDHC card, perform the update using a card either 8 GB or less. I found out the hard way that the Stream doesn't currently recognize the larger cards. Nothing happened, aside from my own anxiety before I realized what the issue was. Anyway, enjoy and happy Stream-ing!
Dear Victor Reader Stream Customer:
HumanWare has released the latest Stream software version 1.2.18. This is a free software upgrade that can be downloaded and installed on your Stream.
To download the software visit:
http://www.humanware.com/en-canada/support/victor_reader_stream
Select the link to download the new software version 1.2.18. On the same page, you will also find a What's New document describing installation procedures
and listing all the features of the new version. Among the new features you will find the following:
- Support of NIMAS text books in United States
- Support of System Access Mobile from Serotek Corporation (
www.serotek.com)
- Go To Time feature for non-structured audio books and recorded audio notes
- Faster data transfer rate when the Stream is connected to the computer with the USB cable
- Increased volume on the built-in speaker
- Bass and treble control for music
- Control over announcement of music folder and file names
- An optional built-in SD formatting utility should your SD card ever require reformatting
Please refer to the What's New document on the Stream page for a complete description of all new features and improvements. An updated FAQ document (frequently
asked questions) can also be found on the web page. It provides answers to frequently asked questions about Audible, battery, Bookshare.org, CNIB, NLS,
Recording, RFB&D, SD cards, and Serotek.
With this announcement, version 1.2 is available in English and Norwegian. As other version 1.2 languages become available they will be posted on the same
download page. Currently, the previous version 1.1.15 software is available in Dutch, German, French, and Swedish.
We are also working on a second English U.S. male voice (Tom) and a U.K. male voice (Daniel). These will be posted as alternate version 1.2 software downloads
as soon as possible. We will announce their availability on this News Wire.
The next Stream software release project will start soon and is intended to provide support for WMA and BRF. We are also planning an update to the Stream
Companion software.
HumanWare values your continued support of the Victor Reader Stream. We remain committed to existing and future customers to make the Stream the most powerful,
flexible, and enjoyable product used for listening to books, computer files, and music.
Thank you,
The HumanWare Team
Dear Victor Reader Stream Customer:
HumanWare has released the latest Stream software version 1.2.18. This is a free software upgrade that can be downloaded and installed on your Stream.
To download the software visit:
http://www.humanware.com/en-canada/support/victor_reader_stream
Select the link to download the new software version 1.2.18. On the same page, you will also find a What's New document describing installation procedures
and listing all the features of the new version. Among the new features you will find the following:
- Support of NIMAS text books in United States
- Support of System Access Mobile from Serotek Corporation (
www.serotek.com)
- Go To Time feature for non-structured audio books and recorded audio notes
- Faster data transfer rate when the Stream is connected to the computer with the USB cable
- Increased volume on the built-in speaker
- Bass and treble control for music
- Control over announcement of music folder and file names
- An optional built-in SD formatting utility should your SD card ever require reformatting
Please refer to the What's New document on the Stream page for a complete description of all new features and improvements. An updated FAQ document (frequently
asked questions) can also be found on the web page. It provides answers to frequently asked questions about Audible, battery, Bookshare.org, CNIB, NLS,
Recording, RFB&D, SD cards, and Serotek.
With this announcement, version 1.2 is available in English and Norwegian. As other version 1.2 languages become available they will be posted on the same
download page. Currently, the previous version 1.1.15 software is available in Dutch, German, French, and Swedish.
We are also working on a second English U.S. male voice (Tom) and a U.K. male voice (Daniel). These will be posted as alternate version 1.2 software downloads
as soon as possible. We will announce their availability on this News Wire.
The next Stream software release project will start soon and is intended to provide support for WMA and BRF. We are also planning an update to the Stream
Companion software.
HumanWare values your continued support of the Victor Reader Stream. We remain committed to existing and future customers to make the Stream the most powerful,
flexible, and enjoyable product used for listening to books, computer files, and music.
Thank you,
The HumanWare Team
Saturday, March 8
Disturbing changes to Special Transit Service
Greetings. Though I no longer use the Special Transit Service (some call it Para-Transit), or a service designed for those disabled people who cannot, for whatever reason, use regular busses to get around; I can identify with the outrage and annoyance that many in the blind community feel regarding the proposed changes that Capitol Metro is trying to make. Read the article below for more information. What's probably most outragious is that Capitol Metro has tried to sneak these changes by the very community they serve. They say that they have held "public hearings" on this issue, but from what I understand, those hearings were 2 years ago. I saw an email on a list where an invitation was sent out to the various Austin disability groups/organizations to attend a special meeting to discuss these changes, however the 4 main groups in the Austin area, 2 of which are the American Council of the Blind and the National Federation of the Blind, were not invited. If this was supposed to be a genuine effort to get input from the people they serve, then why weren't these groups invited? Anyway, the Austin American Statesman has an article on this disturbing situation, along with a list of the proposed changes. There will be a local TV news story on this issue on Channel 7, Fox, this Monday night at 9. I normally say enjoy at the end of my summaries, but I'm not sure that this issue can be enjoyed at its current state.
CAPITAL METRO
Ruling puts Cap Metro plan to curb taxi service to people with disabilities on hold
Agency cites need to control costs on burgeoning door-to-door service for those unable to use regular bus system.
By Ben Wear
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Saturday, March 08, 2008
An attempt by Capital Metro, with minimal notice to riders and no action by the transit agency's board, to severely curtail use of taxis by people with
disabilities starting next week was halted Friday by a Travis County judge.
State District Judge Jeanne Meurer, responding to a complaint by the Texas Civil Rights Project, hit the transit agency with a temporary restraining order,
forcing it to continue letting riders with certain disabilities use cabs for regular trips. A hearing this month will determine whether to extend the order.
However, the agency still intends to make a number of other significant changes in its "special transit services," modifications generally opposed by leaders
on the committee that monitors the agency's policies for what is known in the industry as paratransit.
But it is the proposed taxi cutback has sparked the most consternation among some of the 9,000 people eligible for Capital Metro's door-to-door pickup services.
It also sparked the legal move by the Texas Civil Rights Project, which had argued in a letter Thursday to Capital Metro that the taxi change would violate
the Americans with Disabilities Act. The agency should suspend the taxi voucher shift, the letter said, and hold a public hearing so the disabled community
can weigh in on the subject.
The other half-dozen or so changes will take effect in the coming months and include a 700 percent increase in the penalty for excessive last-minute cancellations
of scheduled rides and a more stringent eligibility screening process.
Agency officials said Capital Metro is spending about 19 percent of its budget to provide 650,000 rides a year, just 2 percent of its overall total ridership,
and that it must control paratransit costs as it deals with an aging baby boom generation likely to increasingly need such services. The 2,000 or so rides
provided each day include 1,100 "subscription" rides, which are lifts to and from jobs, regular doctor appointments or dialysis and other recurring demands.
The agency says it has requests for about 700 more rides each day than it can provide with its fleet of about 100 vans and sedans, using taxis for the overflow.
Requests for rides, agency officials say, increased 9 percent last quarter.
"If we don't make some adjustments, we're not going to be able to keep up with the demand," said Inez Evans, the agency's director of paratransit services.
But some people who use the paratransit services, which are available only to those whose infirmities make it impossible for them to use regular bus service,
say this is just another in a series of efforts by the agency to make budgetary room as the agency builds a $100 million-plus commuter rail line and takes
on $10 million or more in yearly costs to operate it.
"They want to spend money in other areas, and they want to cut somewhere," said Judy Watford, who is blind and chairs the agency's Access Advisory Committee.
"So if they can cut this, they will. ... We're the stepchild, basically."
Capital Metro's use of taxis to supplement its fleet of paratransit vehicles is unusual. The San Antonio and Dallas transit agencies, for instance, do not
use taxis. San Antonio's VIA spends 17.3 percent of its budget on paratransit. Dallas Area Rapid Transit spends about 9 percent on paratransit, but the
comparison is inexact because DART's operating costs include tens of millions of dollars to run the agency's light rail system. Neither Austin or San Antonio
have passenger rail service currently.
Capital Metro covers most of the cost for paratransit taxi rides up to six miles; the customer pays the taxi driver just 60 cents, and the transit agency
pays them on a sliding scale of up to $14.30 for four to six miles. For longer rides, the rider pays the difference.
Capital Metro, like all transit agencies, is required under federal law to provide special services for people with disabilities. The federal government,
so as to offer comparable transit service to everyone, also requires the agency to provide the door-to-door rides — which Watford prefers to call "curb-to-curb"
— for anyone who lives within three-quarters of a mile of one of the agency's regular bus routes.
State law, meanwhile, requires the agency to provide rides to people with qualifying disabilities in the four cities that at one time were in the agency's
service area but pulled out: Cedar Park, Pflugerville, West Lake Hills and Rollingwood.
That amounted to about 12,600 rides last year. Capital Metro had to cover half that $227,000 cost the cities had to cover the other half — but will now
be able to bill the cities for all of it under a 2007 change in state law.
In 2006, the agency estimated it cost $45 for each ride for a West Lake or Rollingwood customer, about three times its maximum taxi cost.
Evans said the agency has had a particular problem with customers who cancel rides late — within one hour of the pickup time — or don't come out to the
agency's van when it comes to get them. She said that late cancellations or no-shows occur on 7 percent to 10 percent of reservations and that the industry
average is 2.9 percent.
Thus, the increase in the penalty for doing so repetitively from $1.20 to $10.
"Our goal is to effectuate change in behavior," Evans said.
Watford and Diane Bomar, the access committee vice chairwoman, say that whatever the goal is, the people most affected were not consulted.
"They're forcing this down our throats," Bomar said.
So how much have Capital Metro's paratransit costs increased in recent years?
Capital Metro says costs rose about 80 percent in six years, from $14.9 million in 2001-02 to $26.9 million in 2006-07. That would be a faster growth rate
than the 66.2 percent increase in the agency's overall operating budget during the same time.
But the actual 2007-08 budget paints a more modest picture. It says the agency will spend $11.8 million on paratransit in the current fiscal year, an increase
of about $6,000 from the previous year. Over two years, the increase is 5.3 percent, as opposed to the 23.9 percent hike in the overall operating budget
during that time.
Why the differing budget numbers?
Agency spokesman Adam Shaivitz said the $26.9 million figure includes costs allocated from other departments that contribute to the paratransit operation,
such as maintenance and administration. The figure includes a $6.6 million "general administration allocation" and about $3.2 million for "purchased transportation"
— that is, taxis.
Hannah Riddering, a taxi driver with seven regular paratransit customers and others who call her from time to time for rides, said all the focus on numbers
is misplaced. She has a seemingly inexhaustible set of stories about indignities visited on people with disabilities using Capital Metro's service, most
involving people left out in inclement weather for hours.
The changes the agency has in mind, Riddering said, could force some people with disabilities to quit their jobs or spend exorbitantly on taxis to approximate
the freedom of movement people with disabilities enjoy.
"Capital Metro says they're looking at numbers, and I don't even think they're realistically looking at that," Riddering said. "But we're out here looking
at people. And disabled people don't need or deserve to have to get up each morning and deal with this."
Proposed 'paratransit' changes
Was to take effect Monday; now on hold
Taxi vouchers:Most people who have been using taxi vouchers on a regular basis for fixed work schedules, regular doctor visits or other recurring needs
would instead use the Capital Metro fleet. Some paratransit customers, however, would still use taxis when the Capital Metro fleet of vans and sedans does
not have capacity to pick them up.
Starting in May
Cancellations/no-shows:Currently, a customer incurs a $1.20 penalty starting with the fifth late cancellation or no-show within a month. This penalty will
increase to $10 starting with the fourth late cancellation or no-show in a month, and those who don't pay this penalty within 30 days could see their paratransit
service suspended.
Advance reservations:Instead of being able to make reservations between eight days in advance and 24 hours in advance, the reservation window will be between
three days and 24 hours.
Call center hours:The call center that takes ride reservations will now be open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week, with reservations available outside
that slot only via a voice-recognition system that users say often mishandles calls. Before, it was open to 9 p.m. on weekdays and 7 p.m. on weekends.
Pickup 'window':The time frame during which Capital Metro can show up for a ride will go from 15 minutes (after the scheduled pickup time) to 30 minutes
(15 minutes before and after the scheduled pickup time).
Starting in August
Open returns: Riders will have less flexibility on return trips;they'll now have to schedule specific times to be picked up by agency vansfor return trips.
Starting in November
Eligibility: Customers must be recertified as qualified for paratransit services every two years, as is currently the case but will now have to be vetted
in-person by a contractor hired by Capital Metro. Those capable of riding regular buses, but incapable of getting to the stops, will now get paratransit
service only from home (or their destination) to the bus stop. Before, they were getting paratransit rides door-to-door.
bwear@statesman.com, 445-3698
Or by accessing the article at
http://www.statesman.com/search/content/news/stories/local/03/08/0308capmetro.html
CAPITAL METRO
Ruling puts Cap Metro plan to curb taxi service to people with disabilities on hold
Agency cites need to control costs on burgeoning door-to-door service for those unable to use regular bus system.
By Ben Wear
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Saturday, March 08, 2008
An attempt by Capital Metro, with minimal notice to riders and no action by the transit agency's board, to severely curtail use of taxis by people with
disabilities starting next week was halted Friday by a Travis County judge.
State District Judge Jeanne Meurer, responding to a complaint by the Texas Civil Rights Project, hit the transit agency with a temporary restraining order,
forcing it to continue letting riders with certain disabilities use cabs for regular trips. A hearing this month will determine whether to extend the order.
However, the agency still intends to make a number of other significant changes in its "special transit services," modifications generally opposed by leaders
on the committee that monitors the agency's policies for what is known in the industry as paratransit.
But it is the proposed taxi cutback has sparked the most consternation among some of the 9,000 people eligible for Capital Metro's door-to-door pickup services.
It also sparked the legal move by the Texas Civil Rights Project, which had argued in a letter Thursday to Capital Metro that the taxi change would violate
the Americans with Disabilities Act. The agency should suspend the taxi voucher shift, the letter said, and hold a public hearing so the disabled community
can weigh in on the subject.
The other half-dozen or so changes will take effect in the coming months and include a 700 percent increase in the penalty for excessive last-minute cancellations
of scheduled rides and a more stringent eligibility screening process.
Agency officials said Capital Metro is spending about 19 percent of its budget to provide 650,000 rides a year, just 2 percent of its overall total ridership,
and that it must control paratransit costs as it deals with an aging baby boom generation likely to increasingly need such services. The 2,000 or so rides
provided each day include 1,100 "subscription" rides, which are lifts to and from jobs, regular doctor appointments or dialysis and other recurring demands.
The agency says it has requests for about 700 more rides each day than it can provide with its fleet of about 100 vans and sedans, using taxis for the overflow.
Requests for rides, agency officials say, increased 9 percent last quarter.
"If we don't make some adjustments, we're not going to be able to keep up with the demand," said Inez Evans, the agency's director of paratransit services.
But some people who use the paratransit services, which are available only to those whose infirmities make it impossible for them to use regular bus service,
say this is just another in a series of efforts by the agency to make budgetary room as the agency builds a $100 million-plus commuter rail line and takes
on $10 million or more in yearly costs to operate it.
"They want to spend money in other areas, and they want to cut somewhere," said Judy Watford, who is blind and chairs the agency's Access Advisory Committee.
"So if they can cut this, they will. ... We're the stepchild, basically."
Capital Metro's use of taxis to supplement its fleet of paratransit vehicles is unusual. The San Antonio and Dallas transit agencies, for instance, do not
use taxis. San Antonio's VIA spends 17.3 percent of its budget on paratransit. Dallas Area Rapid Transit spends about 9 percent on paratransit, but the
comparison is inexact because DART's operating costs include tens of millions of dollars to run the agency's light rail system. Neither Austin or San Antonio
have passenger rail service currently.
Capital Metro covers most of the cost for paratransit taxi rides up to six miles; the customer pays the taxi driver just 60 cents, and the transit agency
pays them on a sliding scale of up to $14.30 for four to six miles. For longer rides, the rider pays the difference.
Capital Metro, like all transit agencies, is required under federal law to provide special services for people with disabilities. The federal government,
so as to offer comparable transit service to everyone, also requires the agency to provide the door-to-door rides — which Watford prefers to call "curb-to-curb"
— for anyone who lives within three-quarters of a mile of one of the agency's regular bus routes.
State law, meanwhile, requires the agency to provide rides to people with qualifying disabilities in the four cities that at one time were in the agency's
service area but pulled out: Cedar Park, Pflugerville, West Lake Hills and Rollingwood.
That amounted to about 12,600 rides last year. Capital Metro had to cover half that $227,000 cost the cities had to cover the other half — but will now
be able to bill the cities for all of it under a 2007 change in state law.
In 2006, the agency estimated it cost $45 for each ride for a West Lake or Rollingwood customer, about three times its maximum taxi cost.
Evans said the agency has had a particular problem with customers who cancel rides late — within one hour of the pickup time — or don't come out to the
agency's van when it comes to get them. She said that late cancellations or no-shows occur on 7 percent to 10 percent of reservations and that the industry
average is 2.9 percent.
Thus, the increase in the penalty for doing so repetitively from $1.20 to $10.
"Our goal is to effectuate change in behavior," Evans said.
Watford and Diane Bomar, the access committee vice chairwoman, say that whatever the goal is, the people most affected were not consulted.
"They're forcing this down our throats," Bomar said.
So how much have Capital Metro's paratransit costs increased in recent years?
Capital Metro says costs rose about 80 percent in six years, from $14.9 million in 2001-02 to $26.9 million in 2006-07. That would be a faster growth rate
than the 66.2 percent increase in the agency's overall operating budget during the same time.
But the actual 2007-08 budget paints a more modest picture. It says the agency will spend $11.8 million on paratransit in the current fiscal year, an increase
of about $6,000 from the previous year. Over two years, the increase is 5.3 percent, as opposed to the 23.9 percent hike in the overall operating budget
during that time.
Why the differing budget numbers?
Agency spokesman Adam Shaivitz said the $26.9 million figure includes costs allocated from other departments that contribute to the paratransit operation,
such as maintenance and administration. The figure includes a $6.6 million "general administration allocation" and about $3.2 million for "purchased transportation"
— that is, taxis.
Hannah Riddering, a taxi driver with seven regular paratransit customers and others who call her from time to time for rides, said all the focus on numbers
is misplaced. She has a seemingly inexhaustible set of stories about indignities visited on people with disabilities using Capital Metro's service, most
involving people left out in inclement weather for hours.
The changes the agency has in mind, Riddering said, could force some people with disabilities to quit their jobs or spend exorbitantly on taxis to approximate
the freedom of movement people with disabilities enjoy.
"Capital Metro says they're looking at numbers, and I don't even think they're realistically looking at that," Riddering said. "But we're out here looking
at people. And disabled people don't need or deserve to have to get up each morning and deal with this."
Proposed 'paratransit' changes
Was to take effect Monday; now on hold
Taxi vouchers:Most people who have been using taxi vouchers on a regular basis for fixed work schedules, regular doctor visits or other recurring needs
would instead use the Capital Metro fleet. Some paratransit customers, however, would still use taxis when the Capital Metro fleet of vans and sedans does
not have capacity to pick them up.
Starting in May
Cancellations/no-shows:Currently, a customer incurs a $1.20 penalty starting with the fifth late cancellation or no-show within a month. This penalty will
increase to $10 starting with the fourth late cancellation or no-show in a month, and those who don't pay this penalty within 30 days could see their paratransit
service suspended.
Advance reservations:Instead of being able to make reservations between eight days in advance and 24 hours in advance, the reservation window will be between
three days and 24 hours.
Call center hours:The call center that takes ride reservations will now be open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week, with reservations available outside
that slot only via a voice-recognition system that users say often mishandles calls. Before, it was open to 9 p.m. on weekdays and 7 p.m. on weekends.
Pickup 'window':The time frame during which Capital Metro can show up for a ride will go from 15 minutes (after the scheduled pickup time) to 30 minutes
(15 minutes before and after the scheduled pickup time).
Starting in August
Open returns: Riders will have less flexibility on return trips;they'll now have to schedule specific times to be picked up by agency vansfor return trips.
Starting in November
Eligibility: Customers must be recertified as qualified for paratransit services every two years, as is currently the case but will now have to be vetted
in-person by a contractor hired by Capital Metro. Those capable of riding regular buses, but incapable of getting to the stops, will now get paratransit
service only from home (or their destination) to the bus stop. Before, they were getting paratransit rides door-to-door.
bwear@statesman.com, 445-3698
Or by accessing the article at
http://www.statesman.com/search/content/news/stories/local/03/08/0308capmetro.html
More things to put on your Stream
Greetings. To those that have been checking this blog, looking for a new post, my apologies for not writing lately. I suppose that I've just had nothing to say, :) It seems that I'm always thinking about new posts, but then there's that part about actually sitting down to write them.
This post is concerned with more audio content you can put on the Victor Reader Stream. I've recently discovered that some of the blindness related magazines and newsletters I regular read, have been made available in audio form. On the National Federation of the Blind's site, they've begun producing MP3 files for many of their regular publications, such as the Voice of the Diabetic and the Braille Monitor. Each article, starting with the Summer 2007 issue of The Voice and with the February 2007 issue of the Braille Monitor, has a link to listen to the article as an audio (MP3) file. The Voice even gives you the option of downloading the file to your computer. The main reason for doing this is to cut down on mailing costs for sending out the hundreds, perhaps thousands, of copies on tape, in Braille, or in print. Ok, for the record, materials in alternative formats can be sent via Free Matter for the Blind, but I'm sure the NFB would rather, provided the person has access to the Web and knows how to get around, them download/listen to the audio versions of the articles, rather than adding one more item to be mailed out. At any rate, it also gives those who may not be receiving the publication a chance to "sample" and see how they like it. For me though, it allows me to download any part or all of a publication, put it on my Stream, and then listen at my leisure. The advantage of this is that I'm listening to the same professional recording that is made on tape, instead of having JAWS read it to me. This is a great alternative to the tradditional magazines on tape, and I hope other entities switch from tape to digital formats, such as, well, Reader's Digest. As far as I know, the American Printing House is still sending out RD on tape. That magazine is loved by many, including me, and I can't wait until it comes out in a digital form, with appropriate mark-up made so I can jump from one article to the next. The difference between that sort of form and the NFB publications, is that the ones from the NFB are in individual files. In theory, you could choose how much, or how little, of the publication you wanted to hear. Having your entire magazine or publication in a readable DAISY format would mean downloading only 1 file, and being able to navigate from article to article or section within it. At any rate, if you're a fan of the two publications listed above, then welcome to the digital age!
Incidentally, the NFB has also started distributing their monthly Presidential Releases in digital form, as of December 2006, and it wouldn't surprise me to see their other publications offered as downloadable audio files. Enjoy, and happy Stream-ing.
This post is concerned with more audio content you can put on the Victor Reader Stream. I've recently discovered that some of the blindness related magazines and newsletters I regular read, have been made available in audio form. On the National Federation of the Blind's site, they've begun producing MP3 files for many of their regular publications, such as the Voice of the Diabetic and the Braille Monitor. Each article, starting with the Summer 2007 issue of The Voice and with the February 2007 issue of the Braille Monitor, has a link to listen to the article as an audio (MP3) file. The Voice even gives you the option of downloading the file to your computer. The main reason for doing this is to cut down on mailing costs for sending out the hundreds, perhaps thousands, of copies on tape, in Braille, or in print. Ok, for the record, materials in alternative formats can be sent via Free Matter for the Blind, but I'm sure the NFB would rather, provided the person has access to the Web and knows how to get around, them download/listen to the audio versions of the articles, rather than adding one more item to be mailed out. At any rate, it also gives those who may not be receiving the publication a chance to "sample" and see how they like it. For me though, it allows me to download any part or all of a publication, put it on my Stream, and then listen at my leisure. The advantage of this is that I'm listening to the same professional recording that is made on tape, instead of having JAWS read it to me. This is a great alternative to the tradditional magazines on tape, and I hope other entities switch from tape to digital formats, such as, well, Reader's Digest. As far as I know, the American Printing House is still sending out RD on tape. That magazine is loved by many, including me, and I can't wait until it comes out in a digital form, with appropriate mark-up made so I can jump from one article to the next. The difference between that sort of form and the NFB publications, is that the ones from the NFB are in individual files. In theory, you could choose how much, or how little, of the publication you wanted to hear. Having your entire magazine or publication in a readable DAISY format would mean downloading only 1 file, and being able to navigate from article to article or section within it. At any rate, if you're a fan of the two publications listed above, then welcome to the digital age!
Incidentally, the NFB has also started distributing their monthly Presidential Releases in digital form, as of December 2006, and it wouldn't surprise me to see their other publications offered as downloadable audio files. Enjoy, and happy Stream-ing.
Sunday, February 3
A Giant Super Bowl
Greetings. Minutes after the end of Super Bowl 42 I'd like to extend congradulations to the New York Giants for doing what many people didn't think you could or would do. Even on the pregame show, Giants' players were saying that no one was expecting them to win, but that they were going to win. Well, they did! And to Eli Manning for getting another Super Bowl win and M.V.P. trophy for the family. The Patriots don't have anything to be ashamed of either. Even though they didn't "go undefeated," having an 18 and 1 record is still something that no one else has done before. Congradulations also to Aaron Ross, for getting his first Super Bowl ring in his first year as a NFL player. Who said that a former Longhorn can't get a world champion ring? This was one for the books, thrilling right down to the wire. Awesome game everyone. Of course we'll see if the Giants can maintain their championship ways next year. For now though, enjoy the victory and great job!
Friday, February 1
Happy anniversary!
Greetings. Well, here we are. I’ve made it to the 2 year point. I’m referring to the fact that as of today, I’ve been at my current job as a tech teacher
at a state agency for 2 years. Yippy! In some ways, the time has gone by slow, and in other ways its gone by fast. It seems weird to think that I’ve been
here for 2 years; 2 whole years. That’s a long time. Yet, in another few years, Lord willing, 5 years or 10 years will seem like a long time as well.
I’ve been thinking of this day for the past few months, wondering what I would be thinking or feeling throughout the day. Much of it has been like any other
day, but there have been moments of reflection. Such as walking down the hall this morning and opening the technology office door with my key, and reflecting.
Later in my team/group meeting with other students and staff, hearing several DBS staff that have been students for the past month, reflect on their time
here at the Center, since it was their last day today. They are finishing up the immersion training. If you don’t know what that is, then go back and read
the immersion journal that I wrote back in February-March of 2006 in the archives. Hearing one of them in particular this morning put it all together and
getting the point of the immersion training, and then relating it to her own job and life as a counselor for transition (teens and young adults) students
was especially neat. To hear her talk about the connection between teens and kids getting good support and instruction and how that carries over to the
person that comes as an adult to the training center was cool. And still later in the day, hearing one of my coworkers talk to a former student about how
I’ve grown and improved in skills compared to when I started.
As a side note, immersion gives people the opportunity to experience life as a blind person, and more so as a blind student in training. The main goal is
to experience what students go through so that the person can better understand their student/consumer. If the staff person has an open mind and is willing
to experience new things, there’s no limit to what they can gain from the 4-6 weeks of immersion. Its not unusual for people to enter immersion training reluctantly,
and not wanting to leave by the time they finish.
I don’t really like those questions that go something like, “Where do you see yourself in the next 5, 10, 15 years,” since I’m not quite sure how to answer.
I don’t see myself going anywhere any time soon and am content where I am. If I’m here 5 years from now, then great; if I’m here 15 years from now, even
better. I enjoy what I do. I enjoy showing people how they can independently do things on the computer, retrieve information from the Web, communicate
by email, and write in Word. I enjoy helping people adjust to their blindness. And, I’m enjoying getting to know my coworkers and bonding with them and
students. I don’t have all the answers, but then again, I never claimed to. Its going to be exciting and neat to see what happens this year and what I’ll
have to reflect on a year from now. For the moment, I’m simply celebrating my 2 year anniversary! Yay for me!
at a state agency for 2 years. Yippy! In some ways, the time has gone by slow, and in other ways its gone by fast. It seems weird to think that I’ve been
here for 2 years; 2 whole years. That’s a long time. Yet, in another few years, Lord willing, 5 years or 10 years will seem like a long time as well.
I’ve been thinking of this day for the past few months, wondering what I would be thinking or feeling throughout the day. Much of it has been like any other
day, but there have been moments of reflection. Such as walking down the hall this morning and opening the technology office door with my key, and reflecting.
Later in my team/group meeting with other students and staff, hearing several DBS staff that have been students for the past month, reflect on their time
here at the Center, since it was their last day today. They are finishing up the immersion training. If you don’t know what that is, then go back and read
the immersion journal that I wrote back in February-March of 2006 in the archives. Hearing one of them in particular this morning put it all together and
getting the point of the immersion training, and then relating it to her own job and life as a counselor for transition (teens and young adults) students
was especially neat. To hear her talk about the connection between teens and kids getting good support and instruction and how that carries over to the
person that comes as an adult to the training center was cool. And still later in the day, hearing one of my coworkers talk to a former student about how
I’ve grown and improved in skills compared to when I started.
As a side note, immersion gives people the opportunity to experience life as a blind person, and more so as a blind student in training. The main goal is
to experience what students go through so that the person can better understand their student/consumer. If the staff person has an open mind and is willing
to experience new things, there’s no limit to what they can gain from the 4-6 weeks of immersion. Its not unusual for people to enter immersion training reluctantly,
and not wanting to leave by the time they finish.
I don’t really like those questions that go something like, “Where do you see yourself in the next 5, 10, 15 years,” since I’m not quite sure how to answer.
I don’t see myself going anywhere any time soon and am content where I am. If I’m here 5 years from now, then great; if I’m here 15 years from now, even
better. I enjoy what I do. I enjoy showing people how they can independently do things on the computer, retrieve information from the Web, communicate
by email, and write in Word. I enjoy helping people adjust to their blindness. And, I’m enjoying getting to know my coworkers and bonding with them and
students. I don’t have all the answers, but then again, I never claimed to. Its going to be exciting and neat to see what happens this year and what I’ll
have to reflect on a year from now. For the moment, I’m simply celebrating my 2 year anniversary! Yay for me!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)