If you'd like to post an announcement here, please E-mail it to Amy Ruell, VIBUG President.
Fidelity Investments is conducting research to investigate ways to better design our Web sites for people who use assistive technologies to access the Web. We want to learn about the range of issues affecting the accessibility of various pages and components on Fidelity.com.
This study seeks participants who use JAWS, ZoomText, Magic, SystemAccess, or Windows accessibility features to access the Web. Beyond that, no technical or financial experience is required to participate. You do not need to be a Fidelity customer.
Each individual session will last 2 hours. During sessions, participants will be asked to perform a set of tasks on a Web site or prototype and provide feedback about what they liked and disliked.
Sessions will take place in downtown Boston at 245 Summer Street, which is easily accessible via T (our building is right next to the South Station MBTA stop). We can meet you at your train in south station or in front of the building if you come via car, if desired.
As thanks for their time, study participants will receive a $100 Gift Check. We can also reimburse you for up to $20 for transportation (i.e. cab).
We currently seek participants to come in between the hours of 9am and 5pm (9 to 11am, 12 to 2pm, 3 to 5pm) for the following dates:
If you use the Web and are interested in participating in a session, please contact us. One of us will call you to ask some background questions and make sure you fit the profile for this particular study. If you do, we will schedule you. If you do not, we will add your name to our list for future research studies. If you are interested in participating, or have further questions, please email or call us at the following:
Ann Chadwick-Dias: annmarie.chadwick-dias@fmr.com, 617-392-1904
Marguerite Bergel: marguerite.bergel@fmr.com, 617-392-2069
Please note, participation in this study is totally anonymous and no personal information will be shared anywhere - within Fidelity - or otherwise. This is not a sales pitch or marketing effort. Our research is aimed at understanding the concerns and requirements of all users. We are committed to making our company's sites accessible and usable for all.
Thanks very much,
Ann Chadwick-Dias & Marguerite Bergel
Fidelity Web Technology Group, User Insight
Fidelity Investments
Boston, MA 02109
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June, 2008
Michael Feir creates a free computer guide for blind people with a unique style and focus. He wants more to start using computers and the Internet for personal pursuits.
Many blind people have the mistaken impression that computers are strictly tools for work and education only. They needlessly miss out on opportunities for pleasure and personal growth which have made a profound difference in his life. After encountering countless blind people with expensive machines who only used them for basic reading and writing tasks, the creator of Audyssey Magazine began work on Personal Power. This free guide is the culmination of a two-year quest to rectify this situation. Written as more of a traveller's gazette than a manual, Personal Power offers a fun and easy entrance into digital life beyond education and work. Housed in a rich text file which can be opened on practically any modern computer, Personal Power makes for a small but informative portable partner in fun time. From the very basics of using Windows, Personal Power takes blind owners of accessible computers beyond their hard drives onto the information superhighway. Topics as diverse as online shopping, accessible computer games, computer defence and maintenance, blog's, email, instant messengers, and much more are discussed.
Comprising a total of around fifty thousand words, the guide strikes a
balance of providing enough information to inspire the confidence to
explore further without overloading newcomers to digital life with
excessive techno speak. The focus is on making people aware of the many
possibilities for leisure and personal growth through sharing many of my
own experiences. Why not get your digital feet wet? Go to:
www.blind-planet.com/content/personal-power
and pick up your free copy of Personal Power and the three fireside chat
lectures today. Become alive in the digital world. Use your personal
power!
Contact:
Michael Feir, author
michael.feir@gmail.com
7-128 Software has just released free resources for teachers who want to use accessible computer games in their classrooms.
The Accessible Learning through Entertainment and Recreation Tools (ALERT) project is a joint effort with the Game Developers Association. It addresses accommodations for students who are blind, visually impaired, color blind, deaf, motion impaired, or cognitively impaired.
The ALERT project provides:
The ALERT resources are totally free. No registration. No spam. No ads. They are available now at www.7128.com.
As mentioned at the January meeting, VIBUG has been asked to help document experiences in using Itunes. This has become increasingly important as many university professors have now put course content on something called Itunes U. If you are interested in helping to document your experience with and difficulty accessing Itunes content, contact:
Christine M. Netski
netski@srbc.com
Sugarman, Rogers, Barshak & Cohen, P.C.
101 Merrimac Street
Boston, MA 02114
tel: 617-227-3030
fax: 617-523-4001
www.srbc.com
This week on Main Menu we have part 1 of a review by Brian Hartgen about the Ipod Nano. Also, the third and final part of the Victor Reeder Stream's first "birthday party" -- a meeting recorded by Chrissie Cochrane.
So don't forget to tune into Main menu, this coming Wednesday at 1UTC, that's 9pm US Eastern and 6pm US pacific on Tuesday evening on ACB Radio Mainstream www.acbradio.org/mainstream.
You can also visit our website at www.mainmenu.acbradio.org and join our main menu friends list: mainmenu-friends-subscribe@acbradio.org.
Hope to see you there!
The John R. Mattioli Jr. Technical Innovation award recognizes individuals or companies whose contributions demonstrate innovation and excellence in the work of technology developed for, or provide clear benefit to, blind and visually impaired persons.
Through their developments in software and/or hardware, Award nominees have made significant contributions to the way we work and live. This award is given on an annual basis as warranted by the Blind Information Technology Specialists affiliate through its established award committee.
To be eligible for the John R. Mattioli Jr. Technical Innovation award, the individual or company must have created or introduced a technology product and/or service that has had a positive effect in the lives of visually impaired persons.
For more information, please visit the BITS Website at http://www.acb.org/bits/
Click here to find out how Internet Explorer 7 works with various screen readers and screen magnifiers.
For those who are willing to test ATMs for accessability in Cardtronics
locations, such as Walgreens, Tedeschi's, etc., Please contact ASAP:
Mehgan Sidhu Capek
Brown, Goldstein & Levy, LLP
120 East Baltimore Street, Suite 1700
Baltimore, Maryland 21202
410-962-1030 x1324
410-385-0869 (fax)
msc@browngold.com
Last updated: Sunday, November 9, 2008