Google translator for unknown words

Posted on November 20, 2012 by E.A. Draffan

English is not my first language so I use Google translator to help me quickly find the translation for unknown words. It is not always right but you can use the dictionary and there is way of listening to the word. I sometimes put the word back into the left side to see what happens – Google can be set to automatically recognise the language you want and remembers your choice so when you return to the page it is very quick.

You can also add Google translate as a bookmark just for your language.

Web Science Student

Using C-pen 3.5 to collect journal notes

Posted on September 11, 2012 by E.A. Draffan

I have been using a C-pen 3.5 for collecting printed notes that can be stored for assignments. It works well with Bluetooth and a Windows computer – You can run the pen over the print quite quickly and it will appear in whatever document you are using.

I have found it works best on high contrast black print on white paper or vice versa. The smaller the font the slower you need to scan. If you use a ruler or hard edge against the side of the pen you get a more accurate result and can scan across the page at a faster rate.

Luke – ECS

Changing background colours and desktop settings.

Posted on September 10, 2012 by E.A. Draffan

“I have an HP laptop and I choose to use my own desktop background which is different from that supplied by the manufacturer. I prefer a background that is not too dark and not too light but gives good contrast.” Yusuf (Computer Science)

The desktop settings on a Windows computer can be changed via the Control Panel > Personalization and there you can choose themes or high contrast modes etc. The Ease of Access Center also offers more ways of changing the way things look on the screen.

Listening to a webcast and taking notes on DraftPad on the IPhone or iPad

Posted on August 23, 2012 by E.A. Draffan

“I can listen to a webcast and take notes. Previously, this required getting transportation to the presentation and lugging a Braille notetaker. Now I use my netbook for the webcast and my phone with external keyboard and the DraftPad app to take notes.”

DraftPad is free and offers a very accessible interface that can be used with VoiceOver or once the text has been copied, then select ‘Speak’. It allows you to send or share your notes via email, SMS and social networking sites as well as open them in other apps that may be on your device such as DocsToGo for more formatting, Evernote for linking with other notes, DropBox for sharing or backing up file. The app also links with text speaking apps such as SpeakText Free.

This strategy came thanks to Pat Pound on My Life Simplified via Accessible Web and Apps!

LiveScribe for note taking, planning and diagrams

Posted on July 24, 2012 by E.A. Draffan

livescribe

” I find if I use the LiveScribe with the ear buds just hanging loosely round my neck, then the microphone from the pen does not pick up the scratching when writing, but still records the lecture or meeting” (You need the digital pen with the special paper notepads and the software for transferring notes to the computer or tablet and it can be used with Evernote)

Ursula

Use different TTS voices and use Siri for sending text messages

Posted on July 11, 2012 by E.A. Draffan

“I use different voices for my text to speech and I use Siri to send notes to lecturers as an instant message (SMS). It is the flexibility of the iPhone that is so good – you can multitask using several tools at once.”

Karima – sent via the strategy form

However, there can be some problems when ‘Trying to Use Siri to Text Message‘ as this YouTube video illustrates!

Lexdis 2.0

Accessible technology for learning

Category Archives: Writing