@Freedom Scientific Newsletter
The New SARA CE – Smaller, Faster Scanning and Reading
Freedom Scientific is now shipping the SARA™ CE (Scanning and Reading Appliance Camera Edition), the next-generation self-contained scanning and reading appliance for the blind and those with low vision.
The SARA CE is simple to use. Just place a printed page under the camera, and the SARA CE instantly starts reading with the human-sounding RealSpeak® Solo Direct speech. No computer experience is needed. You don’t even need to push a button to read almost any printed material – books, magazines, mail, and more. The camera automatically senses when a new page is presented.
|
A built-in keypad with brightly colored tactile keys provides access to a wealth of additional features. Pause reading, move forward and backward, or hear a word spelled out. Change the reading speed and volume. Select a different voice. Scan and read in one of 18 languages. Change the scanning mode to capture bound books, and save them on the hard drive or a USB thumb drive. Read one of the 222 classic novels that come already installed. The SARA CE talks you through each step with audible menus. There is even built-in help and an audible onboard user manual in DAISY format. |
|
Connect a monitor to access the customizable low vision features, and you can increase the text size, change text and background colors, add more space between letters, and highlight words as they are spoken.
Braille readers can connect a Freedom Scientific Braille display for instant transcription from print to Braille.
The new SARA CE is priced at $2,395, with a two-year warranty. Freedom Scientific is accepting orders now through March 31, 2011, at the special introductory price of $1,895.
For a discussion about the many features found in SARA CE, and to hear an audio demonstration, be sure to listen to the November FSCast.
Updates to JAWS 11 and 12 Posted
If you have yet to upgrade to the many benefits of being a JAWS® 12 user, we have released an update to JAWS 11 that includes some improvements and enhancements to existing functionality. You can choose the Check for Updates item on the Help Menu to download and install the latest version. You can also go to our Web site to read about What’s New in the latest JAWS 11 update and download the full install if you prefer.
Our first update for JAWS 12, is now also available. By default, JAWS 12 will notify you about these updates automatically, making the process even simpler. You can also click on Check for Updates in the JAWS Help Menu. To read all about what’s new, and download the full build, visit the JAWS 12 What’s New page.
Join Freedom Scientific at ATIA Orlando
The Assistive Technology Industry Association will hold its 2011 Orlando conference from January 26-29 at the Caribe Royale Resort. Freedom Scientific will be showing our latest technology at the exhibit hall, as well as offering informative presentations at the conference.
Topics and Times of Freedom Scientific Sessions
- Thursday, January 27, 8:00 - 9:00 AM
Literacy Support: A Winning Combination of New Features and Solutions – Introducing WYNN™ 6 and PEARL®
Presenters: Roberta Brosnahan and Beth Thomlinson
Location: Boca II - Thursday, January 27, 9:20 - 10:20 AM
Accessibility and the AT-IT Interoperability Opportunities and Challenges
Presenters: Eric Damery, Richard Schwerdtfeger, David Reich
Location: Bonaire 5/6 - Thursday, January 27, 4:00 - 5:00 PM
What's New in JAWS 12
Presenter: Eric Damery
Location: Antigua 1/2 - Friday, January 28, 1:15 - 2:15 PM
Low Vision Solutions for the Classroom
Presenter: Brad Davis
Location: Antigua 1/2 - Friday, January 28, 4:00 - 5:00 PM
Increasing Test Scores for Both Special and General Education Students
Presenter: Michael Wood
Location: Boca 1
- Friday, January 28, 4:00 - 5:00 PM
Power in the Workplace: MAGic®, OpenBook®, and PEARL
Presenter: Dusty Voorhees
Location: Antigua 1/2
Mention Us and Save
Attendees can save $30 by entering the Freedom Scientific code NEPJ5648 on the registration page.
New Training Webinars and Workshops Posted for the First Part of 2011
New Webinars and workshops for the first part of 2011 have been posted online by the Freedom Scientific Training Department. New items include:
Free Webinars
- Webinar Training Room Orientation, January 6, 2011
- Virtual Ribbon Menus Feature - New in JAWS 12, January 11, 2011
- Getting Help with JAWS and MAGic, January 18, 2011
- Voice Profiles with JAWS and MAGic, January 25, 2011
- JAWS and MAGic Reading Commands and Cursors Used by JAWS, February 1, 2011
- Skype with JAWS and MAGic, February 8, 2011
- PAC Mate Omni - FSEdit Basics, February 15, 2011
- PDF Document Reading and Strategies with JAWS and MAGic, February 22, 2011
- OpenBook, an Introduction, March 1, 2011
- Facebook with JAWS and MAGic, March 8, 2011
- Virtual Ribbon Menus Feature - New in JAWS 12, March 10, 2011
- Leveraging the Freedom Scientific Web Site, March 22, 2011
- PAC Mate Omni™ - A Settings Overview, March 29, 2011
- Surf's Up! Surfing the Internet with JAWS and MAGic! April 5 - 21, 2011
Visit the free Webinars section on the e-Learning page for more information or to register for the Webinars listed above.
Paid Webinars
- Using JAWS to Test Web Page and Document Accessibility, January 11 - 20, 2011
- JAWS Training for Teachers and AT Trainers, February 1 - 24, 2011
- Writing Scripts for Web Pages with JAWS and MAGic, an Introduction - Part 1, March 24, 2011
- Writing Scripts for Web Pages with JAWS and MAGic, an Introduction - Part 2, March 31, 2011
Visit the paid Webinars section on the e-Learning page for more information or to register for the Webinars listed above.
Hands-on Workshops
- Basics of Scripting with JAWS and MAGic, May 9 - 13, 2011
- Script Development with JAWS and MAGic, May 16 - 20, 2011
- Office 2010 and Windows 7 with JAWS and MAGic, NEW, June 13 - 17, 2011
Visit the Training Workshops page for more information or to register for the hands-on workshops listed above.
Training Tip: Press INSERT+B when in a dialog box to have JAWS read the entire text of the dialog from top to bottom.
WYNN and Universal Design for Learning
Today Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is an important aspect of the educational discussion. UDL is a framework for applying universal design principles to instructional materials, curricula, and educational activities so that they are achievable and challenging for students with a wide range of abilities and needs.
When discussing universal design, educators frequently refer to:
- Multiple means of representation, to give learners various ways of acquiring information and knowledge (how information is presented)
- Multiple means of action and expression, to provide learners alternatives for demonstrating what they know (how understanding is expressed)
- Multiple means of engagement, to tap into learners' interests, offer appropriate challenges, and increase motivation (how students engage in learning)
WYNN has long been recognized as a tool that supports the above tenets. In keeping with this important aspect of bringing accessible UDL material to all students, LSG is working with many forward-thinking schools to provide site, district, public, private, and charter school licenses to meet this need. Here is a non-exhaustive list of institutions that have chosen WYNN as their UDL solution.
The Deron School, NJ
Woodlynde School, PA
Sharpe Health School, DC
Lumberton Public School, NJ
Guerin Prep, IL
Vermont Technical College, VT
Brookfield High School, CT
Whisconier Middle School, CT
Moore Norman Tech Center, OK
St. Mary Parish, LA
South Conway County, AR
Cocke County, TN
Bellevue School District, WA
Kent School District, WA
Snohomish School District, WA
Peoria Unified School District, AZ
Presentation High School, CA
Blue Oak High School, CA
Blue Oak Elementary School, CA
Sahuarita High School, AZ
Acadia University, Canada
Holy Cross Catholic School, Canada
Rundle Academy, Canada
Port Macquarie Public School, Australia
St. Agnes Public School, Australia
St. Joseph's Public School, Australia
St. Peter's Public School, Australia
One of our users sums up the UDL concept succinctly: "We believe that everyone can benefit from Universal Design for Learning, and this is best provided with assistive technology. Therefore, we do not target any one population at our school for this type of help. Our goal is to help everyone to learn." (Dorothy Barrett, Writing & Communication Center Tutor at Vermont Technical College)
FSCast Demonstrates SARA CE, Discusses Localization
The The November edition of FSCast features a demonstration of our new SARA CE portable scanning and reading appliance. Hear how quickly it takes a picture of a printed page and starts speaking it in clear, human-like speech.
Did you know that Freedom Scientific products are used all over the world, in a wide range of languages? We introduce you to Dominic Burdick, our Director of Localization.
In October, Jonathan Mosen spoke with Joe Monks, a totally blind film director. We learn about how he does what he does, and how JAWS helps him on the job.
You won’t want to miss any of these interviews, and you won’t if you subscribe to FSCast. The subscription is free, and delivers notification right to your computer when new FSCasts are released. If you did miss a previous FSCast, catch up by visiting the FSCast archives to download FSCast episodes in MP3.
A reminder that with JAWS now providing excellent support for iTunes, you can subscribe to FSCast through the iTunes Store.
Happy Holidays
All of us at Freedom Scientific wish you a safe and happy holiday season, and look forward to serving you with more innovations in 2011.
Freedom Scientific's Mission
To develop, manufacture, and market technology-based products that provide equal access to information and computing for those with vision impairments or learning disabilities.
