Blind Resources info
Friday, July 18, 2008
Automated teller machine voice guidance system and method
If you are like me, you have wondered why there is brail on the teller machines. I mean, you still can't read the text on the screen and you can't tell how much money you are actually getting. However, my cousin just sent me some great info because you can now bring a set of headphones to the teller machines and get voice prompts. Read below:
Automated teller machine voice guidance system and method
There is provided an automated teller machine (ATM) voice guidance system and method that enables a visually and/or hearing impaired individual
to conveniently and easily carry out financial transactions on an ATM to thereby conform to government regulations. The ATM voice guidance system provides
simultaneous and synchronized audio instructions via an audio port that correspond to visual instructions presented on an ATM display screen and comprises
creating voice guidance instructions and scripts, converting the instructions and scripts to audio files, loading the audio files to an ATM for subsequent
access and retrieval of the audio files for voice guidance, detecting use of the ATM, outputting the selected audio files to an audio port in synchronization
with said corresponding text instructions or scripts displayed on a display screen, and accepting user input to said outputted audio files.
PRODUCT OVERVIEW
This product assists seeing-impaired individuals at the ATM. A headset is plugged in and the cardholder is guided through the transaction.
The American Disabilities Act recommends that this feature be supported on ATMs.
This product is only applicable for English.
Related Articles
http://www.nfb.org/Images/nfb/Publications/bm/bm00/bm0012/bm001202.htm
http://www.america.gov/st/washfile-english/2007/June/20070628163713bcreklaw0.7135431.html
http://www.hreoc.gov.au/disability_rights/inquiries/ecom/atmpaperhtm
http://www.diebold.com/news/newsdisp.asp?id=2707
http://www.fujitsu.com/caribbean/news/pr/20020201.html
Lawsuit History NFB VS Diebold
http://www.nfb.org/Images/nfb/Publications/bm/bm00/bm0007/bm000701.htm
http://www.atmmarketplace.com/article.php?id=1688
Patent Information
Automated teller machine voice guidance system and method
http://www.freshpatents.com/Automated-teller-machine-voice-guidance-system-and-method-dt20070920ptan20070215686.php
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Sunday, July 13, 2008
accessible CD artwork
Just bought "Ultimate Prince" the double disc collection. It came with one of those annoying cardboard sleeves that slides over the jewel box. However, I found that the name "Prince" was raised or embossed on the front so that I can read the letters by feel. The really exciting part is that his symbol often talked about especailly in the days when he was called the artist "formerly known as Prince" is raised on the back of the same sleeve so I now know what his symbol looks like. Any of you who have ever wondered about this should check out the CD.
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new hope for blind users on the Mac platform!
For so long, few blind folk used Macs as they were even behind the ridiculous screen readers that MS provided. Now however, it sounds like Macs are trying to catch up and in a big way. According to the Mac World Podcast from April of 2008, the new screen reader for Mac is build right in to the OS making it much more user friendly and less likely to crash like our beloved JFW does so frequently.
For more info on the blind user and Mac check out:
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accessible media players for PC
Just recently, someone wrote me and asked about accessible media players for the blind. I guess I forgot that many people don't know about the latest and
greatest in that regard, so I have decided to list them here. This info is correct as of fall 2007. I haven't really researched any more since then as
I have what I need at this time.
1. Windows Media player is probably the best as far as functionality without any extra work, though it can't support FLAC and some other new and better
file types. Current version is WMA-11
2. Media Monkey has lots of file types supported and does make some provision for JFW.
3. I haven't used it personally, but, their many blind folk using Sound Taxi with great success. Their are even scripts for JFW at the link below:
www.hartgen.org/portable.html
4. Though it isn't on the market anymore, Win Amp was very JFW friendly and I believe that you can still find free downloads of it on the net.
5. for professional audio editing Sound Forge is the way to go. It works well out of the box with JFW, but, it can be made 90% accessible with scripts by
the Snow Man.
6. For CD burning, Nero, just about any version works well with JFW.
7. For CD ripping, you can get the amazing Spesoft Free CD Ripper. It works perfectly with JFW.
8. For your Ipods, the best thing to do is buy the kind of expensive scripts from T&T Consultancy Ltd . That will give you much better usability, Itunes
doesn't work at all with JFW out of the box.
9. For audiobooks, the audible player works just great with JFW with no special set up required.
10. For Mac users, with the leopard OS, there is a screen reader build right in to the OS that will give you access to email, internet, and word processing
along with iTunes perfectly. However, it doesn't work with any other professional sound applications as of April of this year, 2008.
11. By the way, JFW is the main screen reader on the market right now. It has many flaws but is the best at this time. JFW stands for JAWS for Windows and
JAWS is an acronym for Job Access With Speech.
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