I finally take the time and download the iPad WordPress app. This is not bad but for sure a lite version. So what other apps would you like me to review?
If you are visually impaired and job hunting, you will have so many things to think about, it can drive someone insane.
First, you have to determine if the job market is in your current location. If not, then you will have to look in another town or city or state, and that complicates the matter further.
When you look in another location, you have to consider your transportation needs, housing, cost of living, and is there enough options for social activities.
I have decided I need to really start looking for my next venture in employment. Do I stay in Flagstaff, or Arizona, or what? If I move out of state, can I keep my drivers license or not? Will I know anyone within a days drive? What is the housing market like? Cost of living? The list goes on.
So if you know someone looking for help, please let me know. Thanks
I had an opportunity recently to test drive several eBook devices and I would like to provide you my personal review on them, and how they may affect a visually impaired person. I am only going to review 4 of the most popular devices in this article. More units are coming on the market every week.
Warning: Your needs and desires may be different, so please do the investigation to see what will be best for you before purchasing.
Barnes and Noble Nook and Nook Color
Barnes and Noble has come out with 2 units that are an eReader. As the description states one is a Color unit and the other is just a gray scale unit. The plain Nook has a small area that is used for navigation. On the other hand, the Nook Color uses the full screen for navigation. As far as the menus are concerned on both devices, you cannot adjust the font size for the menus. You can however adjust the font size in the eBooks. The screen size for the Nook is 6”, and Nook Color is 7”. Some units require a contract with a cellular carrier. Barnes and Noble does offer a Wi-Fi only model, which will still allow you to use this device wirelessly. You can listen to music and audio books on these devices, but only with a headphone, no external speakers. You are limited to only purchasing books from Barnes and Noble. Nook can be read in direct sun light, but cannot be read in the dark. Nook Color is the opposite, you cannot read it in direct sun light, however can be read in the dark. The Nook Color can also read magazines and newspapers. The Nook uses E-Ink technology, and Color Nook does not. Supported file formats are: PDF, ePub, JPEG, PNG, GIF, BMP, PDB and MP3. Does have an expandable memory slot. Price point varies from $150 – $250.
Amazon Kindle and Kindle DX
Amazon has come out with 2 units that are an eReader. The only major difference between these 2 is screen size. Kindle screen is 6” diagonally. Kindle DX is 9.7” diagonally. Both units have an external keyboard for navigation. The type on each letter is very tiny to see, memorization would be required to use them successfully. You can however adjust the font size in the eBooks. The screens are not touchscreen. Amazon, does have an experimental feature on some models that will actually read the book to you, however some publishers of books are opting out of that feature. These units do have an external speaker as well as a port for headphones. You are limited to only purchasing books from Amazon. Kindle and Kindle DX can be read in direct sun light, but cannot be read in the dark, due to E-Ink technology. They both have Wi-Fi, and some units require a contract with a cellular provider to access content. These units are just for eBooks and nothing more. Price point varies from $150 – $380.
Sony Pocket and Daily Edition eReader
Sony has come out with 2 units that are an eReader. The only major difference between these 2 is screen size. Pocket screen is 6” diagonally. Daily is 7” diagonally. Both units are completely touchscreen. You can adjust the font size in the eBooks. They both have expandable memory. They both have Wi-Fi, and some units require a contract with a cellular provider to access content. Sony units can be read in direct sun light, but cannot be read in the dark, due to E-Ink technology. These units are just for eBooks and nothing more. You can listen to music on both units through headphones. Supports ePub, PDF, BBeB Book, text, RTF, JPEG, PNG, GIF, BMP and MP3 formats. Price point varies from $180 – $300.
Apple iPad and iPad 2
Apple has come out with the iPad units that are more than just an eReader, they are tablets. The term tablet means that it is a multipurpose unit beyond an eReader but not a full functioning laptop. The iPad and iPad 2 are just slightly different. I will not go in to the differences here, because they do not affect the reading of eBooks. To make this easy, I will just say iPad in this article. iPad has a 9.7” screen. It is a full size touchscreen. Apple has an accessibility section that would need to be setup, to allow you to zoom from 1x to a 5x anywhere you may be on the device. This feature does require some practice, and the use of 3 fingers. In addition, it has text-to-speech feature. You can click an item and it will read it aloud for you. They do have an external speaker as well as a jack for headphones. The devices can be used for a multitude of things, such as watch movies, surf the web, write email, and the list goes on. You can set some fonts to a larger size, just depending on the application you are in. The nice feature of this is you can read books from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and any other source. They do not have expandable memory at this time. They both have Wi-Fi, and some units require a contract with a cellular provider to access content. iPad units cannot be read in direct sun light, but can be read in the dark. Price point varies from $500 – $830.
As you can tell from this review, options vary greatly. The 3 genuine eReaders listed here do use what is called E-Ink technology, which may be better on your eyes.
This is a personal decision, however if I want just an eReader, I would choose Kindle DX for the screen size. The larger the screen the more text you can have on the screen at one time, and so far seems the best for a visually impaired reader. On the other hand, if I had the money, I would choose the iPad, because it does allow you to zoom in farther then the largest font size available. In addition, it has so many other options and applications that it would be a great multipurpose device without carrying around heavy laptop.
I hope this helps you in making an informed decision.
I was out of town for a mini vacation recently. During this trip, I had to sign a variety of forms from the hotel check in and check out forms. Also visited my eye doctor and had to sign forms at that office.
This just reminds me of how much I sign and do not read due to the size of print on these forms.
I do read them later, but if you have any pull in the hotel industry or any other industry, please make sure you provide alternative formats for those of low vision. I did notice that I was over charged at one hotel by $10. I need to check my credit card statement to see if that was a typo or was a real overcharge.
Just as a disclaimer, the eye doctors’ office forms were nothing that required me to read at that moment. One was the form to keep my driver’s license active, and the second was for a credit card receipt.
So, PLEASE read your forms before you sign them, because it could cost you a lot more then $10.
Many of you that know me, know that I have had bad eyes all of my life. I had an opportunity last year to go to the National Eye Institute (NEI) in DC. I was hoping they could tell me of a new treatment or offer me an opportunity to try some new technology that no one has seen much of yet.
Well that did not happen, however they did offer me the opportunity to be part of the eyeGENE study to see if I match any of the genes that may cause optic nerve damage. I jumped at the chance.
So I am now enrolled, and they are testing me for the OPA1 gene to see if it matches mine. If not, they will test other genes to see if they may match. The down side to this is that it may take up to 6 months per gene to test.
I will keep you posted on what the outcome is. If you are interested in this, please see the following link.
As I look back over the years and wonder where I was going to be in 2011, I did not think I would be in Flagstaff, AZ and driving, that’s for sure.
Where do you think you would have been?
In 2005, my thought was just getting back in to computer work and living in Phoenix, never married, and still never being able to drive.
How has time changed. Let me know what your thoughts were from 2005, and did that happen?
I asked a friend that I have known since Junior High who is just about as much a Techie as I am, to give me what he would choose for a desktop from Dell. I took his pick and mine and placed them in a spreadsheet for comparison. I left off several things because they were they same.
This is just our opinion and nobody else. Let me know what your PC would be.
| Bill | Norman | |
| Model | Studio XPS 9100 | Inspiron 580s |
| Processor | Intel® Core™i7-930 processor(8MB L2 Cache, 2.80GHz) | |
| OS | Genuine Window s® 7 Home Premium, 64bit, | Genuine Window s® 7 Home Premium, 64bit, |
| Memory | 9GB Tri Channel DDR3 SDRAM at 1333MHz – 6 Dimms | |
| Monitor | ST2320L 23-inch Full HD Widescreen Monitor | ST2320L 23-inch Full HD Widescreen Monitor X2 |
| Video Card | ATI Radeon HD5670 1GB GDDR5 | |
| Hard Drive | 1.5TB – SATA-II, 3Gb/s, 7,200 RPM, 32MB Cache | |
| Optical Drives: | Blu-ray Combo Drive (8X BD-R, DVD+/-RW) w/ DVD+R double layer w rite capability | |
| Keyboard | Dell Consumer Multimedia Keyboard | Keys-U-See Keyboard |
| Mouse | Dell Laser Mouse | |
| Sound | THX® TruStudio PC™ | |
| Network Card | Optional USB 3.0 card | |
| $1,387.99 | $1,000 |
Have you used Netflix before?
I have and it is a great service. When I lived in Phoenix, I could have watched all of my movies, and had another set by the end of the week if not 2. Now that I do not live in a town that has a distribution center, it seems like I can only get 1 set of movies a week. If you are a person who loves watching movies, you will love the unlimited streaming of movies.
My only complaint is how long it takes to get new movies released for general consumption, or available for streaming online. They take anywhere from 28 days to 3 months.
The ease of the service cannot be better. As you watch movies, it learns from your preferences, especially if you rate the show you just watched, it will suggest more movies based on your preferences. It learns from you. Once you are done, place the movie back in the envelope it came in, and send it back. Once they receive it, they will send out the next item in your que. You can customize your que to what you are feeling like you want to watch.
Blackberry Storm 9530
If you ever need a phone that can adjust font size uniformly across the platform, consider the Blackberry Storm 9530.
I know I will be able to review many more phones to come, but this is the one I use today.
I can adjust the font size to the largest of 14pt font, and let me tell you that is a big help for me. I also love the virtual keyboard that I can use as landscape or portrait modes. The only complaint I have about the font sizes is not always modifiable in some apps. Everytime I try to use the browser, I do have to increase the magnification everytime. I do not use this to browse the web very often, but that may change as I try other phones.
If you have a phone you would like me to try, please let me know.
Did you notice back in November when Facebook decided to change the font size without asking or telling us?
About a month later, after all of the negative tweets and news about it, they changed it back.
Facebook, before you make any changes like that again, please ask us. I am visually impaired and yes I can adjust my font size on my browser, but be conscious of the accessibility of your site.
Thanks in advance!
