‘Education’ Archives

Today, Apple Inc. held an event in New York to announce new education initiatives from the Cupertino, Ca.-based company. Apple has released iBooks version 2.0, which includes support for interactive textbooks. In an effort to improve the learning experience, Apple is providing textbooks through its iBooks platform. To start with, there will be a focus [...]

In "Crossroads: Rekindling the Accessible Ebook Discussion", we offer some thoughts on the choices visually impaired users will need to make regarding the ways in which they obtain printed materials in accessible formats over the coming years. While things cannot, and should not, change over night, changes will come, and with them, perhaps, a shift [...]

The last significant hold out from Apple’s iBooks store, Random House, has decided to shift to the agency model now used by Apple and others and make their titles available. This is a fantastic development for visually impaired book lovers, providing unparalleled access to published works to them at the same time as said works [...]

Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic (RFB&D) has released an iOS application. The RFB&D Audio app is available for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. It provides access to RFB&D’s downloadable DAISY formatted books. RFB&D members can explore RFB&D’s library of more than 64,000 audio books that are designed for people with print and learning disabilities. [...]

The Saline Reporter, a publication servicing Saline, Michigan and the surrounding area, posted a touching story about Taylor Parrish, a young autistic boy, whose life has been transformed by the introduction of the iPad into his daily school routine. The iPad has given him the ability to communicate effectively for the first time with those [...]

Inkling for iPad is a platform for interactive textbooks, built specifically for iPad. It turns paper-based textbooks into interactive learning experiences while staying compatible with printed textbooks for classroom use. Inkling is a completely new way to learn, and now it is accessible, too! In a recent blog post, the folks behind Inkling describe their [...]

We’ve recently been made aware of an assistive technology software company named Smarty-Ears LLC., which develops a range of iOS apps to assist children with language or communication difficulties. Smarty-Ears’ apps are designed to improve communication skills in fluency, articulation, language, and more. Smarty-Ears was founded by Barbara Fernandes, a practicing Speech and Language Pathologist. [...]

Assistiveware has released an update to its Proloquo2Go product for iOS devices, including the iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. Proloquo2Go assists persons with disabilities which impact their ability to communicate by offering an easy-to-use symbol-based interface to enter concepts and output speech. Improvements in version 1.4 include: Added vocabulary backup with iTunes’ File Sharing using [...]

No Tie, LLC has recently released AutoVerbal Talking Soundboard for the iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. The application provides a way for those who have difficulty communicating the ability to speak to others. From the description: 3 ways to speak: (1) 100′s of built-in phrases in over a dozen categories (2) Program several buttons to [...]

In addition to its other announcements, Apple unveiled the next version of its iBooks e-reader and book store application. THe next version, available later this month, will support the iPhone and iPod touch, and be able to sync bookmarks and notes across multiple devices, including the iPad. Users will be able to take notes within [...]

The Lighthouse of San Francisco is hosting a technology seminar entitled "Apple Products and Accessibility" on 11/June/2010 from 1:00PM – 3:00PM PDT. From the announcement: Join us to hear Apple discuss the latest universal access features on its iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch and OS X VoiceOver! Apple’s inclusion of assistive technology as an out-of-the-box feature [...]

The National Braille Press (NBP) have published a new book entitled “Using the Accessible iPod, iTunes 9 Edition”, by Ana Dresner. This book provides the latest information on the accessible iPods created by Apple – the fourth and fifth generation iPod Nanos and the third generation iPod Shuffle – and the latest version of iTunes. [...]