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I plan to provide information on new devices for the article Assistive technology. This will provide the visual impaired and others awareness of updated devices to help them be successful in higher education and daily living.

Full-sized Braille slate and stylus used today in some places due to lack of exposure to technology.

History

Assistive Technology is defined for the visual impaired by the federal law which is called the Individual Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) of 1990 (Public Law 101-476). IDEA clarified the term to describe the features that will help the visual impaired individuals and was signed into law by President Gerald Ford. For instance, there is assistive technology devices, assistive services, and adaptive technology that conveys the meanings to the visual impaired individuals their accommodations for higher education and daily living skills. According to the Technology-Related Assistance for IDEA of 1998 (PL 100-407)] assistive technology devices and services is defined as any item, piece of equipment, or product system, whether acquired commercially off the shelf, modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities. The assistive technology devices provide visual impaired individuals with varies accommodations via apps for the iPhone and Android devices. For instance, there are different apps that help with banking, socialization, cooking, reading, math and science as well as other need. Assistive Technology is evolving rapidly to help the blind and visually impaired to be educated with provisions for higher education and the workforce.

Interaction Accessibility Programs

The interaction accessibility programs allows the visual impaired or blind to have access to computer programs. The programs are Job Access with Speech (JAWS) and ZoomText.

Job Access with Speech

Job Access with Speech (JAWS) is a screen reader program that helps the blind or visually impaired access to operate computers and varies software. The program was created because the digital age is evolving rapidly. It is the most popular screen reader used among the blind or visually impaired environment. The JAWS program provides a way for the blind or visually impaired individuals to interact with the computers like the people that have their vision. For instance, JAWS is compatible with Microsoft office Suite, operating system, and internet. The screen reader requires the blind or visually impaired individuals to be trained repetitively as the program evolves to keep up with the expanding technologies. JAWS have an option of remote access (RA) to provide additional support for remote desktop and terminal server. There are two types of licenses for JAWS, such as the JAWS Professional and JAWS Home Edition. The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) give the suggested cost for one license of JAWS Professional is $1100.00. In addition, the AFB website explains JAWS compatibility of operating systems, hardware requirements, manufacturer, distributor contact information, warranty, languages, and output devices. JAWS Home Edition is another version that is used for the blind or visually impaired and has the same compatibility as the JAWS Professional but the JAWS Home Edition is only the software. The JAWS Home Edition cost is $900.00 without taxes on the Freedom Scientific website. Freedom Scientific is a website that sells the license for the program.

JAWS for Windows (JFW) speaks the operational functions and the choices available in the control boxes and pull down menus to help the blind or visual impaired to interact with the computer. JFW will voice to the blind or visual impaired individual the icons on the interface or desktop until the user hear field search to search the database for information. For example, "in a field such as publication type in the database Academic Search Premier the voice will provide specific contextual information by announcing the varies possibilities." The blind or visual impaired individuals will use varies keyboard keys, such as the up and down arrow keys which allows the user to hear the "periodicals, newspaper, book, primary source document, and so on."

ZoomText

ZoomText is a program similar to JAWS but it magnifies the information for visual impaired individuals. For instance, ZoomText will magnify the information and speak the words of information simultaneously. Also, it will enlarge the graphics in the text. The user can operate the ZoomText program by using the computer keyboard directional keys to scroll the text to zoom in and zoom out the text for visual ability. The program is primarily recommended for users that have some vision but for the blind users Job Access with Speech (JAWS) is preferred. ZoomText program varies in cost from $100.00 and up depending on the version, and number of licenses needed for other devices.

Types of Devices

Refreshable Braille Reader

In addition, Refreshable Braille Reader is a device which allows the blind or visual impaired to braille notes, read the braille notes in braille, and listen to the braille notes as the users type. The device is entirely tactile with buttons to navigate menus and files, enter and edit text, and manage physical and wireless connections. The braille display are available in 40, 60, or 80 characters but the 40 is the sufficient display used for jobs. The 70 or 80 characters are used by computer programmer or customer service representative The Refreshable Braille Reader can connect to other devices using the Bluetooth, such as iPad or iPhone. Also, a SD card can be used to save information as a backup or to use in a computer to print the documents out that has been braille. While the Refreshable Braille Reader is connected to a iPhone, it can read email, articles, websites, Facebook, twitter, and other material. Notepad is a software which is use to create the notes. The cost of the Refreshable Braille Reader can be priced from $3,500 to $15,000 depending on the number of displayed characters. VarioUltra is the name of a Refreshable Braille Reader that has its own operating system alone with productivity apps, such as text reader, word processor, PDF viewer, spreadsheet viewer, calculator and can store files from notes to whole books. It is portable and lightweight. The VarioUltra comes in a 20 or 40 display that cost ranges from $2,395.00 to $3,995.00.

Different Apps for Smart Devices

Bookshare

Bookshare is an online library that is used by the blind, visual impaired or the individuals with their sight. The application (app) is called Read2Go that can be downloaded on Apple devices through the Apple app store. The app allows the blind and visually impaired easy accessibility to listen to ebooks along with connecting to a refreshable braille display. It has accessible digital print book versions for people who are blind, learning disability, or unable to read print. It contains more than a half of million books and is rapidly growing. It is economical and efficient which publishers send digital files or volunteers scan printed books and submit files. The cost of the app in the Apple app store is $19.99.

Look Tel Money Reader

Look Tel Money Readeris a smartphone application(app) that identifies money in real time. The money reader can recognize twenty-one currencies, such as the US Dollar, Australian Dollar, Bahraini Dinar, Brazilian Real, Belarusian Ruble, British Pound, Canadian Dollar, Euro, Hungarian Forint, Israeli Shekel, Indian Rupee, Japanese Yen, Kuwaiti Dinar, Mexican Peso, New Zealand Dollar, Polish Zloty, Russian Ruble, Saudi Arabian Riyal, Singapore Dollar, and United Arab Emirates Dirham. The app provides voice over in multiple languages including English, Spanish, French, Italian, German, Polish, Portugese, Russian, Finnish, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Japanese, Greek, Hungarian, and Mandarin. The Look Tel Money Reader is the first currency identifier for Mac. The app allows the users to count their money in their home via Mac laptop, or desktop and available in the iTunes App Store and Mac App Store. The Look Tel Money Reader app can run on iOS 4.0 and higher. The smartphone app can identifies object, for example, frozen package goods, soda cans, landmarks (signs and store fronts), bottled items, and CDs. The Look Tel Money Reader cost is $9.99 in the iTunes app store for users to download on their device and the compatibility for OS X 10.6.6 or later. The app does not have to used an internet connection for identifying the money or objects.

Seeing AI (Artificial Intelligence)

Seeing AI is a free application (app) which was created by Microsoft. The app was launched to help the blind or visually to describe the world around the users. For example, the Seeing AI app will provide audio description of a person's approximately age, emotional state, and facial features. Yes, it will detect people along with helping the users to take in a scene, have snippets of text read aloud, and identify products by barcodes. The app will help the users with paperwork, such as the users can take a picture of the document and it will become audible for the users to hear the information on the document. In addition, Microsoft will be update the app to provide identification for money by placing the bills in front of the camera. The Seeing AI can be use on various Apple devices, for instance, iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch. Microsoft has not yet released that the Seeing AI app can be used on Android devices.

Talking Scientific Calculator

Talking Scientific Calculator is a talking calculator device that is used by the blind or visual impaired to perform a Mathematics curriculum. The Texas Instruments (TI) created the Orion Texas Instrument-30XS Multiview calculator for the visually impaired students to provide the users with the same access like as their peers in Algebra, Statistics, and Chemistry. The calculator has a high quality, recorded voice that announces each key and answers on the display for the student and teacher.

Summary

Today, technology is evolving quickly in the society which is important that the some company are making sure that the blind and visual impaired users are equipped with the necessary equipment to advance in society and in their lives. The technology is being developed to make sure that the blind and visually impaired individuals are knowledgeable so they can further their education and have jobs with salaries to provide for their lives. The updated technology for the 20th Century is created for all users especially the various devices and apps for the blind and visually impaired individuals.