Month: July 2015

Windows 10 – Beware!

29th July 2015 is the official release date for Windows 10. For Windows 8.1 users this upgrade is currently free and will be made available in stages from this date. You will be notified that it’s available for your computer by a Windows icon in the system tray.

Win10

The update will not automatically install and we are advising that you do not choose to install it manually.

A number of assistive technology developers have warned that their software will not work with Windows 10.

Windows 8.1 will continue to run on your computer without the update.

 

If you have any questions or would like some more information please contact the Disability Service. Or check www.assistivetech.wordpress.stir.ac.uk for updates and reviews of the latest Windows 10 news and what it means for assistive technology at the University of Stirling.

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ZoomText v.10

The ZoomText Magnifier and Reader license available to staff and students on the network has been updated to version 10.

The new features are:

Web Finder has been expanded to allow you to search for words or phrases throughout an entire webpage to find topics of interest. When you’ve found a topic of interest you can have Web Finder start reading from that location. Web Finder can also find and execute links and controls allowing you to seamlessly navigate between web pages.

The new ZoomText Camera feature allows you to use a webcam to magnify printed items and other objects right on your computer screen.

The new Background Reader allows you to listen to documents, webpages, email or any text while you simultaneously perform other tasks.

The new ZoomText Recorder allows you to turn text from documents, webpages, email or other sources into audio recordings that you can listen to on your computer or transfer to your mobile device for listening to on the go.

The new “Read from Pointer” command lets you instantly start AppReader at the word under the mouse pointer.

ZoomText now provides smooth text magnification (xFont) and reading of web pages in IE9.

 

Let us know if you try any of the new features and what you think of them in the comments below.

Think the features might be helpful but don’t have the software? ZoomText is available for all staff and students on the network. Please contact the Disability Service for more information.

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Kurzweil 3000 taskbar

Need read back for an inaccessible PDF, webpage or document?

Try the Kurzweil 3000 taskbar. This handy tool allows you to drag and drop text quickly and easily to the toolbar for instant audible feedback.

To access right click on your toolbar, highlight Toolbars and select Kurzweil Taskbar.

Highlight the text to be read and drag to the edit box.

Give it a go and let us know what you think.

Kurzweil 3000 is available for everyone on the university’s network. Contact the Disability Service for more information.

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MindGenius v.6

MindGenius has been upgraded and version 6 is now available for staff and students.

Here’s what’s new:

  • An automatically created Word Cloud enables users to gauge the emerging themes.
  • Integration with a range of cloud storage providers allows users to save and open files in Dropbox, OneDrive and Google Drive directly from MindGenius,
  • The Map Explorer gets a new ‘Pan’ mode enabling users to scroll to any area of a large map.
  • In-place editing, replaces the ‘Add Branch’ dialog.
  • Total Cost and Quantity calculations can be added to selected branches within the map.

See the MindGenius website for more information.

Need help getting the new version? Please contact the Information Centre.

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Scottish voices

If you use read back software such as Kurzweil 3000 and TextHelp Read&Write on the university’s network you can now select Stuart or Heather for a Scottish accent.

In Kurzweil 3000:

Select from the Reading voice drop down menu.

OR

Select Tools, Options, Reading and Speaker drop down menu.

In TextHelp Read&Write:

Speech options, Select a voice drop down menu.

Not listed? Use the Search button and check the Stuart and Heather boxes.

 

Give them a go and let us know what you think in the comments below.

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