SeroTalk Tech Chat 80 – This Month in Access Technology: November 2010

Michael Lauf speaks with Brad Hodges and Michael Barber about the latest happenings in access tech as of December 1ST 2010.
View Tech Chat 80: This Month in Access Tech for November 2010, December 2ND at 9PM Eastern Via Accessible Event

 

 

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SeroTalk Tech Chat 79: A Must Listen for Owners and Lovers of dogs

If you think one person can’t make a difference, think again!

Meet Deanne Chapman: Dog Rescuer, Advocate, and Dogs Best Friend!

Deanne’s passion for dogs is infectious, will warm your heart, and her stories of the abuses of dogs will leave you both angry and saddened.

please listen and learn from this 47 minute interview recorded on Friday, November 19, 2010. Just some of the things we discussed include:

How Facebook helps dog rescuers save the lives of thousands of dogs, why we have so many unwanted dogs in the USA, and what we can do to reduce these numbers
things people should keep in mind when choosing a pet
terrible things put in popular dog foods, the best dog foods, and healthy people food for dogs
people who say it’s just a dog, raise money for neglected children,
rescuing a dog from a shelter, and then getting it to a good home,
horiffic ways dogs are killed with heart sticks and gas chambers,
some of the most severe forms of dog abuses,
some potential diseases or other problems you can have when adopting from a local shelter,
why you should adopt instead of buying from a breeder,

tips for obedience, and to help anew dog adjust to your home,
What we should do to protect ourselves when encountering a potentially hostile dog,
tips for poddy training dogs,
valuable things learned by watching the dog whisperer,
how much money should one set aside to properly take possession of, and care for a new dog,
helping those with more than one pet to have all animals get along,
removing all dead hair and general grooming techniques,
looking for, and determineing potential problems with skin, bones and muscles,
protecting your dogs from being lost or stolen,
deciding when it’s time a dog must be euthinized for health-related issues
what to keep in mind if never owning a dog before,

plus other important information you won’t want to miss.

Out of the 135 podcasts I have put together in the last two years, interviewing Deanne has been my favorite thus far. And while some think she’s just a little bit crazy, I think she is awesome, and I am proud to call her my good friend/!

Michael lauf

Listen to Dog Rescues, Abuses, Diet, Obedience, Grooming and More with Deanne Chapman – 47 Minutes

 

 

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Give the Gift of Accessibility Anywhere this Holiday Season With Serotek Gift Cards

Serotek Corporation is excited to announce the availability of gift cards!  Now you can buy your friends, family and even yourself a card to be used in purchasing all available Serotek products and services.  And this Cyber Monday only, through midnight, buy a gift card for any amount, and receive that same amount in bonus dollars.  Your bonus dollars may be used for Serotek software and services only, but the original amount of your gift card may be used for any Serotek product or service, including hardware.
Here’s how it works.
Visit
http://www.serotek.com/giftcards

to initiate your purchase of a gift card.  Follow the steps in entering the gift card amount, and then you’ll be taken to PayPal to enter your payment information and complete the purchase.  Once your gift card has been purchased, we’ll send an email to you and your gift card recipient with a coupon code and instructions for using it.

To use the gift card, the recipient can visit
https://secure.samobile.net/login.html?next_url=/signup/order_start

if he or she already has a Serotek account.  If not, the recipient can visit
https://secure.samobile.net/signup/account_info.html

and create an account.  When prompted for a coupon code during the ordering process, simply enter your gift card code and it will be applied toward your purchase.  If the gift card is not used in its entirety for the first purchase, it may be used as many times as necessary to spend all available funds on the card.  You may check the amount on your gift card at any time by visiting
http://www.samobile.net/giftcards/check_balance.html

and ent ering your gift card code.
Purchased gift cards may be used toward any Serotek product or service, such as DocuScan Plus for scanning printed documents and PDF’s at home or on the go.  Purchase Serotek’s award-winning System Access screen reader for use on your desktop, netbook, or from any computer anywhere using a U3 thumb drive.  Become a member of the SAMNet community and get access to email, news, thousands of audio-described movies, users’ forums, voice chat, and much more.  Find out about these and other products and services by visiting
http://www.serotek.com

or call us at (612) 246-4818, or toll free at (866) 202-0520.

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SeroTalk Podcast 55 – DocuScan Plus, Fully Accessible Apple TV, Tech News and Spiel for Android

In SeroTalk Podcast 55, Michael Lauf, Ricky Enger and Mike Calvo discuss:

Serotek DocuScan Plus: Great OCR, Convert PDF Files, Create Braille, Large Print, MP3 Audio and DAISY Books

Serotek Press Release Announcing Release of DocuScan Plus

Apple TV now accessible! adding VoiceOver and AirPrint support

Apple makes Find My iPhone service free for iOS devices

VoiceOver in iOS4.2.1 new features and changes

Install IOS 4.1 on the Apple TV to get Voice over support

iOS apps can be installed on Apple TV, they just can’t be launched

We kick Mikey to the curb for talking too much, and ricky and Michael continue:

How to Request a Refund on any iPhone App

Apple Complaint Form

Consumer Reports declares Apple’s new MacBook Air top of class

Apple adopts more thorough iPod water damage review policy

Apple releases Mac OS X 10.6.5 with graphics fixes, no AirPrint: more stable VoiceOver

Making The TV Guide Mobile App Work With VoiceOver

Pairing the Apple wireless keyboard with an IPhone

Apple obtained exclusive rights to Beatles over Google and Amazon

Apple approves official Google Voice application for iPhone

Humanware Releases Version 3.3 for the Victor Stream

Google Docs editing finally comes to iPhone, iPad and Android

Get text-only directions from Google Maps

Free Alternatives to the Departed GOOG-411

Spiel screen reader released to Android Market

Approval of Comcast-NBC deal could require content deals with Apple and Netflix

Hulu Plus price dropped to $7.99 per month

Service Animal Puppy raisers You Tube series

YouTube.com/User Guide Dog Maniac

Dark Light: The Art of Blind Photographers

A P H Planning to Add DOCX, Protected WMA, Internet Radio Support to Book Port Plus

Hims Launches Product Mailing Lists

The Future of Hims in the U.S.

Dan Weirich Says GW Micro Still has a Future in Hardware

Orca for Linux v2.32.1 Released

NFB files complaint against Penn State due to numerous accessibility problems

Tired of anoying inaccessible flash auto-installers? Check out UpdateFlash.org

Government Wants to Update ADA for Cyberspace by 2012

Resource for accessible WordPress plugins

Some Veterans Return from Iraq and Afghanastan With ‘Hidden’ Vision Problems

Blog Post: Is “bionic sight” about to become a reality?

Sign the Stop the Internet Blacklist petition!

Blind Bargains Classifieds for $5 per item

Five Ways Stores Use Science to Trick You Into Buying Crap

Accessible Toys for the Young and Young at Heart with Vision Loss

November issue of “AFB AccessWorld” Provides Gift Ideas for Everyone on Your List

Other Segments:

We play 3 minutes of a presenttation

Mike Calvo Speaks to ACB Mid-Atlantic conference, November 6, 2010

Michael Lauf gives an audio overview of the New DocuScan Plus, and Joe Steinkamp demos the new Spiel Screen Reader for the Android Operating System.

Listen to SeroTalk Podcast 55: DocuScan Plus Released, Apple TV Now Accessible, Tech News and Spiel Screen Reader for android

 

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Serotek Corporation Announces the Release of DocuScan Plus

For Immediate Release 

Minneapolis, Minnesota, November 24, 2010

 Serotek Corporation, the leading provider of accessible multi platform and cloud-based solutions which can be accessed from anywhere, is proud to announce the release of DocuScan Plus. This innovative software allows persons to scan and read documents from any computer with an attached Twain-compliant scanner,  sound card and internet connection.

 Serotek’s DocuScan Plus offers high-quality optical character recognition, (OCR), to convert the printed page in to text.  This self-voicing application can read both printed pages from a Twain-compliant scanner, as well as many types of PDF files, including those containing text and those containing only images.  The software also supports scanners with duplex and ADF (automatic document feeder) capabilities.    DocuScan Plus can convert scanned documents in to MP3 audio files for playback on many portable devices, and the software can even convert scanned materials in to the popular DAISY format.  For Low Vision users, DocuScan Plus also offers a full Screen Magnifier for the reading of scanned text. This magnification option, when combined with the self voicing features of DocuScan Plus, allows documents to be comfortably read from the screen as well as via text-to-speech.  Materials can also be saved in Large Print. In this way, documents can be scanned, printed, and shared with friends or viewed offline under a Video magnifier.

“We wanted to create an affordable application that really took in to account the way we access the printed word in the 21st century.”, said Mike Calvo, CEO. “We don’t spend all our time on one computer, or even one device anymore, so why should we  be using software based on that model?  When we make a product like this, with a feature set that’s useful to people with a wide variety of disabilities,and it’s just as easy to use from the classroom computer as it is from home, we believe it has the potential to open a lot of doors that have remained closed until now.” 

 The DocuScan Plus software can be used as an installed program from your personal computer, or it can be accessed from any computer simply by visiting http://www.DocuScanPlus.com.  The program may be purchased for only $299, or less than one third of the cost of other scanning solutions.

 Other features included are:

 Braille Conversion: DocuScan Plus contains Braille translation options, allowing you to convert your scanned pages and PDF files into a variety of different braille formats based on the specific translation table you choose. 

Save To Kindle: Wirelessly Transfer scanned documents to the Amazon Kindle for reading on the go using the Kindle’s built in text to speech function.

Export Scanned Text: Save documents and materials to a computer or portable DAISY player for offline reading.

Encrypted Online Storage: Save documents securely to the cloud and retrieve them from anywhere.

Additional Synthesizer Support: Choose from a variety of synthesizers for use with this self-voicing application.

Additional Support For Mobile Platforms: DocuScan Plus will support some external camera and mobile phone platforms. This functionality will come free with DocuScan Plus and it is currently scheduled for release in the first quarter of 2011.

DocuScan Plus may be used independently of any other Serotek software. The application  can allow persons to read the printed page with any Windows-based computer, regardless of whether any access technology has been installed or is currently running. 

 For more information, please call Serotek Corporation at (612) 246-4818, or email us at sales@serotek.com.

Visit the official DocuScan Plus web site at http://www.DocuScanplus.com

 Serotek Corporation is a leading technology company that develops software and manufactures accessibility solutions under the System Access brand. Committed to the mission of providing accessibility anywhere, Serotek began with the launch of the first online community specifically designed to meet the needs of people with visual impairment. Since then, Serotek has introduced several powerful, affordable solutions that require minimal training and investment. For more information, visit www.serotek.com.

Media Contact:
pr@serotek.com

612.246.4818, Ext. 104

Technical Contact: info@serotek.com

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SeroTalk Tech chat 78 – Holiday Shopping and online Resources

In Tech Chat 78, holiday shopping and online resources. Topics included economical gifts, coupon codes, favorite web sites, returns and exchanges, damanged and defective merchandise, using a credit card to protect yourself, and much more.
View SeroTalk Tech Chat 78, Holiday Shopping and Online Resources Via Accessible Event

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Lack of Sight Doesn’t Mean Lack of Vision

On November 6, Mike Calvo gave a very moving presentation as the keynote speaker for the ACB Mid-Atlantic convention.

Listen to Lack Of Sight Doesn’t Mean Lack Of Vision – ACB Mid Atlantic Keynote by Mike Calvo – November 6, 2010

 

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Tech Chat 77 – Resources, Services, and Training for Blind and Low Vision Veterans

SeroTalk Tech Chat 77 covered Resources, Services, Technologies and Training for blind and Low Vision Veterans, focusing on services from San antonio Texas and Baltimore Maryland.
View Tech Chat 77 – Resources for blind and Low Vision Veterans Via Accessible Event

Listen to Tech Chat 77 – Resources, Services, Technologies and Training for Blind and Low Vision Veterans

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SeroTalk Podcast 54 – Speeding Up Screen Readers with Antivirus Software and system Access on a U3 Drive

Michael Lauf and Ricky enger cover the latest assistive technology news:

5 Top Access Technology Podcasts

Tech Chat 76: Peter bossley and Richard Wells share tips for optimal computer security and performance November 4

Tech Chat 75: Jim Fruchterman, Curtis Chong, Mike Calvo Cover October 2010 in Access Tech

All With My iPhone Podcast by Cory Ballard: Audio Tours of Apps for Your iOS Devices

Darrell Shandrow and others demonstrate iPhone apps on Blind Access Journal

iOS4.2 VoiceOver new, fixed, and change list by Kevin Chao

Page offering Accessible Cell Phone options for Blind and Low Vision to help make choices, Some Outdated!

Ten Tips To Improve The State Of Assistive Technology

NASA has internship opportunities for blind and disabled students. Apply now through the end of February 2011

Eye implant Will allows Some with RP to see again

The Financial Cost of Owning a Guide Dog by Alena Roberts

FCC wants help with accessible technologies site

Open Source Equals Open Doors: Android kernel riddled with 88 high-risk security flaws

Lawsuit claims Apple turned iPhone 3Gs into “iBricks” to boost iPhone 4:

iPhone 5 Will Enable Ambitious Remote Computing Program

Get VLC Media Player from iTunes Store Before Its Removed

Apple’s next-gen iPhone rumored with RFID-enabled ‘remote computing

Apple maybe considering payments via iPhone

GNOME project gets grant from Mozilla for accessibility work

NVDA 2010.2 released

Listen to SeroTalk Podcast 54 – Speeding Up Screen Readers with Antivirus Software and Using System access on a U3 Drive

 

 

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Tech chat 76 – Computer Security

Covering computer security, tech chat 76 discusses free and commercial antivirus and spyware software, phishing web sites, unsafe email attachments, optimization programs, online resources and more.

View Tech Chat 76 on Computer Security, November 4, 2010 Via Accessible Event

Listen to MP3 of Tech Chat 76 on Computer Security, November 4, 2010

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