From the Keyboard to the Microphone: A More Natural Way of Computing

This is my article in <a href="http://www.blindskills.com/dialogue.html"Dialogue magazine It deals with migrating from using the keyboard to using speech-recognition.
The article also makes a special reference to screen readers and other bridging technology like J-Say
The article has been published in the November December Issue.

My live qik channel

This is my live qik channel. It shows whatever video I took last and may also show a live stream if you catch it when I am broadcasting.

One way to read letters using the vOICe

There have been several attempts to read printed letters using the vOICe. I have one way to do this. This is not the only way and I am still learning what letters look like. My reading has been limited to recognizing the shapes of letters using the vOICe. I had planned to use the windows magnifier to enlarge the size of the letters. I have used notepad as my wordprocessor of choice.

1. Set the font size to 72 or, if you want to try the magnifier, set the magnification level to 6.

2. Set the vOICe to follow the mouse pointer and activate negative video. Also, set the speed to quarter.

3. Hit windows+m to minimize everything.

4. Navigate to notepad.

5. If you are not using the magnifier, then set the font size to 72. If you are using the magnifier, do not bother doing this.

6. If using a screen reader, then get your mouse cursor to follow the insertion pointer.

7. Write the word CAT.

8. Navigate to the letter “C”.

9. Sit back and enjoy the soundscape.

10. You can activate the edge detection feature but there is no real need to do so.

Also, be careful with the letters “A” and “L”. They seem to run together. Other letters may also do this. It is possible to slowdown the vOICe even further. The settings like half speed and quarter speed are relative to the normal speed of sounding the soundscape. You change this normal speed and then slow things down. You change the speed via the Edit | Visual Sound Preferences | Visual sound
duration (s) per video frame dialogue box.
It will make reading words easier. Of course, with practice, you can increase your reading speed. To navigate from word to word, use the arrow keys.

A program to learn shapes using the vOICe

I have created a shape exerciser to compliment the exercise mode of the vOICe. The program lets you build your own shape library for exercising. The shape exerciser is a tool for practicing shape recognition. You can navigate to the following link for downloading the shape exerciser.
Shape Exerciser Zip Installer

With thanks to Jacob Kruger for the file hosting.

Checking battery charger status

See the below images relating to a battery charger that Jacob was using to charge the battery of his car.
battery charger turned off
battery charger turned off

Girl with half a brain retains full vision – health – 20 July 2009 – New Scientist

Girl with half a brain retains full vision – health – 20 July 2009 – New Scientist.

I do not have much to say except that this is further evidence of neuron plasticity.

Prototype – Kicking Reality Up a Notch – NYTimes.com

A fascinating article on augmented reality. The vOICe could be used to facilitate this process by helping the user point the camwra. The vOICe on the pc can handle OCR. It can also read shortcodes.

How to See Inside a Brain in Motion | Machine-Brain Connections | DISCOVER Magazine

How to See Inside a Brain in Motion | Machine-Brain Connections | DISCOVER Magazine.

This is handy not only when using the vOICe but also when you have one of them senior moments so that you can see what part of the brain is forgetting. It could be interesting to then stimulate memory using TMS or something. Talk about mind control!

TG Daily (c) – Anyone can use echolocation, say researchers

TG Daily (c) – Anyone can use echolocation, say researchers.

Nothing new but it is good to have research prove rthis.
I do not see how though active echolocation can distinguish between trees and so on. Passive echolocation is good and is better for gauging distance.

This is my experience of course.

The Hubble space telescope

A nice large image of the Hubble space telescope. I suspect the mirrors are in the foreground while their supports are in the background.
Telescope image thanks to the BBC
Hubble telescope soundscape