Gadgets and Computers

E.A. Draffan

Speaker Notes:

This Gadget is everything I have ever wanted by . http://www.antennablog.com/

Text from the cartoon:

The telephone so that annoying callers can bother me at any time
Word processing software so that my unfinished work is always with me
Folding mechanism so that the device has a natural place to break in two
Tiny buttons so that I get repetitive strain injury
Headphones so that I can avoid contact with other human beings and annoy them with my tinny drumbeat
White earpieces so that I look like an idiot
Compact and stylish design which gives me a deep sense of inner well being!

Skills and Capabilities

Possibly

Motor
Cognitive
Visual
Auditory
ICT
Language
- Understanding of English that has been translated for a manual!

Speaker Notes:

Daily Telegraph - Wii bit of bother? Call the gadget doctor By Nicole Martin, Digital and Media Correspondent 29/12/2007

“Research shows that people will spend as long as five hours on Christmas Day trying to set up their gadgets before they give up and call for help”

Rick Maybury, The Daily Telegraph's digital doctor, said: "The real problem is that people aren't reading the instructions. It tends to be a macho thing. Men think they can do it themselves and then end up using the wrong batteries or putting plugs in the wrong positions."

Nintendo Wii

Nintendo Wii
- Exercises for improving movement & coordination
- Big Brain Academy - memory, analyse, compute, identify and visualise – also Nintendo DS.

Speaker Notes:

Nintendo DS Lite

Nintendo DS Brain Training – 10 minutes everyday! Geneve – LexDis Project

Speaker Notes:

ESCalate news, Date Published 23 October 2007 TechDis HEAT http://escalate.ac.uk/4058

Improving the basic numeracy of students returning to study after a prolonged break by using Nintendo DS Lites with ‘Dr Kawashima’s Brain Training Software’ in tutorial sessions (Pulman, Bournemouth University). http://www.techdis.ac.uk/getheatscheme

iPod, iPhone, smart phones/PDAs, MP3 players/recorders.

Play Flash and videos whilst on the move.
Video and Podcasts from lectures – Sarah LexDis project about Impatica.
Recording and speech recognition.

Speaker Notes:

ESCalate news, Date Published 23 October 2007 TechDis HEAT http://escalate.ac.uk/4058

· Adapting Flash-based animations for use with an iPod or Creative Zen MP3 player. Some students reported a benefit from the new mobility of the learning object, others found the lack of functionality of the animation frustrating compared to the original PC-based version (Gkatzidou, Pearson and Bailey, University of Teesside).

· Providing podcasts as a recording of lectures (Gresty, University of Plymouth), a reinforcement of issues students had previously struggled with (Hindley, Nottingham Trent University) or a means to apply current news items to theory introduced in lectures (Leng, Bath Spa University). http://www.techdis.ac.uk/getheatscheme

View Impatica used for lecturers. http://www.impatica.com/imp4ppt/

iPhone

“I can see dark or black spots on the screen when I'm watching videos.
Solution: Use iTunes to update your iPhone to the latest software. If you have the latest update, turn the device off and back on again. Press and hold the sleep/wake button for a few seconds until the red slider appears, then drag the slider. Then press and hold the sleep/wake button until the Apple logo appears. “(Daily Telegraph, Dec 26th 2007)

Speaker Notes:

Accessible mobiles

Nokia Sport 5500 - Hannah, LexDis project
- Speech recognition and text to speech
- Emporia Life – large fonts, screen, buttons and high volume, vibration and easy to use.
- Synch with computer – calendar, reminders, documents.

Speaker Notes:

Digital Cameras

Use mobile or digital cameras - Picture of text captured can be turned into PDF by or
CapturaTalk, uses a camera phone to translate text to speech - Iansyst.

Speaker Notes:

ESCalate news, Date Published 23 October 2007 TechDis HEAT http://escalate.ac.uk/4058

· Using video camera technology to allow students to record feedback and reflection from placements, enabling them to record their feelings more ‘freely’ than in text form, and providing a resource for next year’s placement students to prepare them for the experience (Hellawell and Priestley, University of Bradford). http://www.techdis.ac.uk/getheatscheme

Tablet PCs and Ultra Mobile PCs

Microsoft OneNote – use handwriting, diagrams, equations and audio.

Thanks to Abi James – Iansyst.

Asus EEE PC

Speaker Notes:

Asus EEE PC with 7 inch screen and Linux operating system. £220

Text to Speech

T3 Talking Tactile Tablet - Create tactile diagrams supported by audio files – Royal National College for the Blind
ClassMate Reader

Speaker Notes:

ESCalate news, Date Published 23 October 2007 TechDis HEAT http://escalate.ac.uk/4058

· Using a Talking Tactile Tablet to create tactile diagrams supported by audio files at key touch-points, thereby providing a rich alternative to an otherwise inherently visual concept (Chevins, Keele University). http://www.techdis.ac.uk/getheatscheme

More Text to Speech and Spell Checkers

Claro Software Accessibility Suite and Claro, Texthelp and Dolphin USB pens.
Franklin DMQ1490 – good screen, keys and mini subject dictionaries.
Franklin DMQ 1870 – Speech feedback and PDA features

Speaker Notes:

Thank You

LexDis Project
TechDis HEAT Scheme

“How Can Technology Be Used To Help Students With Dyscalculia And Dyslexia Overcome Their Difficulties” Dr Abi James

Database of technologies discussed available at

Speaker Notes: