I have changed the subject line as I feel this is so important.
I have also been working on projects where the results have been incredibly
positive both for communication and etexts, but like you we have had
management issues.
Synching iPads in particular, keeping apps up to date, registration,
downloading apps appropriate to individuals and setting up profiles for
users.
Making choices about the right apps can be incredibly time consuming and it
is all very much trial and error at the moment with a good bit of scepticism
in that free does not always mean accessible or easy to use however tempting
the apps maybe!
We are evaluating some etext/ereader ones at the moment and will put the
results up on a blog as soon as we can.
Best wishes E.A.
Mrs E.A. Draffan
ECS, University of Southampton,
Tel +44 (0)23 8059 7246
http://access.ecs.soton.ac.uk
http://www.emptech.info
-----Original Message-----
From: A discussion list for Assistive Technology professionals.
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Paul Nisbet
Sent: 27 January 2012 14:11
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: kindle
We ran a course on Kindles and iPads and eBooks last week - some
observations:
1. Over half the teachers on the course owned a Kindle.
2. A teacher from a Primary unit for pupils with visual impairment has 6
Kindles and she says she's almost stopped using paper large print completely
- she emails the materials to the Kindles and the pupils use large font
sizes on the devices instead. It saves a lot of paper, printing and
therefore money, and the pupils prefer the Kindles to most (not all) of the
paper large print books (books with large colour diagrams might not be that
good on the Kindle screen). It's also a lot quicker - printing out 800 pages
of 36 pt text takes a long time, whereas emailing the file to the Kindles
takes seconds.
3. Another teacher on the course has a son who is dyslexic. He used to need
coloured overlays to read books and was never a great reader, but he can see
the Kindle screen display: she says he now spends hours reading books on the
Kindle whereas before he never read for pleasure.
4. Participants generally felt that the Kindle, iPad, iPod etc have a
considerable 'cool' factor, which is of course a big issue. And because they
are mainstream devices, you don't look that different if you use one to read
books.
5. The eBook formats and readers are definitely becoming more accessible -
bigger range of fonts, options to change colours and font sizes, better
access with text-to-speech software.
6. Some public libraries (Edinburgh, Dundee and South Ayrshire, at least)
are now offering eBooks on loan. You can borrow a book and read it on your
computer, iPod, iPad, Android device etc.
7. The most exciting thing, for me, is the huge increase in the availability
of books and materials - as well as Kindle, we have iBooks, WH Smith, Google
Book store. Although the commercial eBook formats and readers may not give
us everything we want in terms of accessibility (yet), they are getting
there, and we are already seeing how the technology can give print disabled
pupils access to learning materials in a way that is quicker, cheaper,
easier and more independent than what we had before.
However, there a re still a lot of management issues re registering to
accounts, buying content etc with both Kindles and iPods because they are
basically designed for individual use, not use in schools or colleges etc.
Paul
_______________________________________________
Paul D. Nisbet
Senior Research Fellow
Communication, Access, Literacy and Learning (CALL) Scotland Moray House
School of Education University of Edinburgh Paterson's Land, Holyrood Road
Edinburgh EH8 8AQ Tel. 0131 651 6236 Fax 0131 651 6234 email
[log in to unmask]
CALL Scotland: http://www.callscotland.org.uk SQA Digital Exam Papers:
http://www.AdaptedDigitalExams.org.uk
The Scottish Computer Voice: http://www.theScottishVoice.org.uk
Books for All: http://www.booksforall.org.uk WordTalk reader for Word:
http://www.wordtalk.org.uk
________________________________________________
--
The University of Edinburgh is a charitable body, registered in Scotland,
with registration number SC005336.
-----Original Message-----
From: A discussion list for Assistive Technology professionals.
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of E.A. Draffan
Sent: 27 January 2012 13:56
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: kindle
I agree with Sal about the need to investigate the mainstreaming of AT in
general, as there is such hype around in particular iPads and other tablets
and smart phones.
Plus there are lots of small projects going on that really need to be
brought together to see what evidence there is in relation to strategies
used, skills gained and communication improved etc.
It is exciting, but as David Banes tweeted from ATIA yesterday " Warning, a
little knowledge about consumer AT a dangerous thing"
Best wishes E.A.
Mrs E.A. Draffan
ECS, University of Southampton,
Tel +44 (0)23 8059 7246
http://access.ecs.soton.ac.uk
http://www.emptech.info
-----Original Message-----
From: A discussion list for Assistive Technology professionals.
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Sal Cooke
Sent: 27 January 2012 11:51
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: kindle
Interesting question - I would be interested in the debate (growing
stronger by the day) that Kindles and other such devices will now have to
be factored into the provision of AT.
All the best
Sal Cooke
-----Original Message-----
From: A discussion list for Assistive Technology professionals.
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Taylor, Barry
Sent: 27 January 2012 11:19
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: kindle
Dear all
Not strictly AT, but close.
As someone who has not made physical contact with a kindle, I can't find out
for certain whether all "Kindle Keyboards" have both wifi & 3g, or is 3g an
optional extra?
Kindle's user friendliness meant that on our recent pagebot setup, the
kindle latched on to the client's wifi without asking questions.
(Although it was actually set up registered to the purchasing authority, not
the user!)
I'm just a little uncomfortable when recommending which Kindle to buy.
Barry
Barry Taylor, Clinical Scientist
Medical Physics Service
Tulley Medical Physics Building, Hull Royal Infirmary Anlaby Road, Hull HU3
2JZ
Tel: 01482 608971, Fax: 01482 608951
Internal extension HRI 608971
[log in to unmask]
[log in to unmask]
Web page http://www.hey.nhs.uk/content/services/rehabEngineering.aspx
Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust Great Staff - Great Care - Great
Future Visit our website: http://www.hey.nhs.uk
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