How to embed a Youtube Video in your Blog
How to embed a Flickr Badge in your Blog
Monday, June 7, 2010
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Tutorial Seven: Assistive Technology
Definition of Assistive Technology
Assistive technology (AT) is a generic term that includes assistive, adaptive, and rehabilitative devices for people with disabilities and includes the process used in selecting, locating, and using them (Wikipedia. 2010).
Assistive technology allows people with disabilities to perform tasks that they may not have been able to perform in the past. Increasingly manufacturers are designing products consider people with disabilities.
Assistive Equipment
The Personal Computer (PC) is a piece of adaptive technology that has many useful functions for people with disabilities. The PC can run literacy software for the cognitively impaired, or illiterate. Online programs can provide opportunities to socialise and work. Along with software the hardware has many choices of interface for people who may have difficulty with a standard mouse and keyboard. Some adaptive equipment;
Wii as a Rehabilitation Tool
Assistive technology (AT) is a generic term that includes assistive, adaptive, and rehabilitative devices for people with disabilities and includes the process used in selecting, locating, and using them (Wikipedia. 2010).
Assistive technology allows people with disabilities to perform tasks that they may not have been able to perform in the past. Increasingly manufacturers are designing products consider people with disabilities.
Assistive Equipment
The Personal Computer (PC) is a piece of adaptive technology that has many useful functions for people with disabilities. The PC can run literacy software for the cognitively impaired, or illiterate. Online programs can provide opportunities to socialise and work. Along with software the hardware has many choices of interface for people who may have difficulty with a standard mouse and keyboard. Some adaptive equipment;
SiPuff Voice Control USB Headset (requires switches)$49.95) SiPuff USB Gaming Headset for PS2/PS3/Wii (requires switches) $49.95 | |
| Light Touch 2g Switch $59.95 Fist/Foot/Wheelchair Bump Switch $39.95 Bite Switch $99.95 Remote Control Switch $119.95 Wireless Button $119.95 Wireless Ability Switch Package $249.95 | |
| Roughneck Quad Pushbutton Switches $229.95 Light Touch $199.95 Large 5 Switch Joystick $149.95 Medium 5 Switch Joystick $149.95 Small 5 Switch Joystick $149.95 Wireless X10 Button & 5 Switch Digital Joystick    |
Dual Bite Switches retrieved June 5, 2010 from http://www.broadenedhorizons.com/switches.htm
With increasing awareness of the needs of people with limited function companies such as Apple have created PC's with some standard features for people with limited functions. Apples IMac has a commitment to accessibility for people with disabilities they have a number of standard features in their major products. The features are included at know extra cost "For example, iPhone, iPod, and Mac OS X include screen magnification and VoiceOver, a screen-access technology, for the blind and visually impaired. To assist those with cognitive and learning disabilities, every Mac includes an alternative, simplified user interface that rewards exploration and learning. And, for those who find it difficult to use a mouse, every Mac computer includes Mouse Keys, Slow Keys, and Sticky Keys that adapt the computer to the user’s needs and capabilities (June 5, 2010 retrieved from: http://www.apple.com/accessibility/)"
The cost of the Apple IMac can be $1200 to $2400 depending on the features you require.
Apple also have a dedicated website where disability users can access assistive technology for apple and mac users called www.atmac.org/. Their website features adaptive technology they have designed to interface with their standard products, and uses for their standard.
Wii as a Rehabilitation Tool
Another company making huge leaps in the area of adaptive technology for people with disabilities in Nintendo Wii. There is a recognition that the Wii sport can help with physiotherapy and rehabilitation. The following websitewww.my-wiihabilitation.co.uk. The Wii is being used to increase dexterity, co-ordination, balance, memory and muscle strength.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Tutorial Six: Internet and Online Communities
My Online Community: Facebook
http://www.facebook.com
What is the focus of this community
Social Networking site. Users make friends and keep in contact with friends. It is used for online chatting and posting of photo's. The objective being to keep up with what is happening over the computer instead of picking up the phone or in person. People can contact friends from all over the country and the world.
What services are provided? How interactive is this site? How can people contribute?
The website is a free website where users can:
Create profiles
List interests
Communicate with friends
Join interest groups
Used for advertising
Market research
Facebook has privacy settings for users
Games and quizzes.
Why people choose to contribute to this community. What is it they are seeking?
Considering the statistics on how many houses have PC's, it is realistic to expect that people now spend a lot of their spare time on the computer. You are dubbed out of touch if you are not a member of a social networking site like facebook. People from all age groups are getting on line to keep in touch with their family in the ever widening landscape of our communities. We are able to be kept up to date and in touch with minimal effort and only need to interact with the good stuff we want to know about someone. Personally I can spend hours on facebook skipping from profile to profile, commenting on what interests me, viewing photos and catch phrases of what people are up too. People are seeking a connection with other people in this fast passed super technological world. O hail the home PC...
My excerpt from Facebook
Potential ethical issues that may arise in this community
Potential ethical issues are new users not understanding how the site works and the issues around privacy and the rights of the site to use posted information such as photos.
When I first signed up for facebook I had know idea about some of the games and quizzes you get sent. As a result I kept get sent txts fom one of the quizzes I answered: it ended up costing me money. Who knew! I thought everything was free! Ethically are we really being informed about the potential dangers and costs of facebook. All the same rules apply on line as they do in real life, read the fine print! Because it is a virtual world I don't think people really understand this.
The benefits this community holds over traditional notions of community
The facebook community breaks down the geographical barriers for people. Because it is a free site unlike the telephone, we can communicate more often and have a continual feed of information on what is happening in our friends and families lives.
What this community lacks or can not provide which traditional communities can
For some people there is nothing like the benefits of having a person right there to talk too. Getting a hug or having a laugh together. I like to express my feelings so I use the emoticons A LOT. The lack of intimacy in these sights is a hinderance, but watch the space I am sure technology will get around that somehow SOON.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Tutorial Four & Five:Film Tutorial
Film Tutorial
Youtube offers a number of services including:
* Video embedding in accounts like facebook and twitter
* Users can broadcast thier video's privately or share them with friends
* Users can keep track of their favourite Utubers
* People with webcams can instantly record videos instead of uploading already recorded video's
* Being part of a video community
* You tube is free
* Be a part of Youtube engineers testing sight
Here is where I talk about the planning of my Youtube film Overcoming Adversity. As a group we decided on a theme of a person in a wheelchair overcoming obstacles on campus. Through storyboarding we planned a script. Storyboards are traditionally a hand drawn frame by frame picture of what the film director expects. The individual pictures will consider; camera angles, facial expressions, lighting, mood, special effects, soundtrack, background and frame titles. Because the film is short we planned out a beggining, middle and end of the film. If we had more time we would have designed a better plot for the film during our storyboard process.
Storyboarding provided our group with a series of pictures that illustrated what each person in the group would be doing during the short film. It demonstrated the script of the movie we were about to make in a pictorial sequence. It added the group to understand visually from start to finish where each of us were expected to stand act and respond to the camera. The story board also helped the camera person to understand what angle they were expected to take each shot from. What was to be included in the frame and at what point in time.
The storyboard provided us all with a plan of the steps that were going to take place within the acting and directing of the film. Because we already had a plan we were able to quickly film the movie and then move onto editing.
http://Storyboarding provided our group with a series of pictures that illustrated what each person in the group would be doing during the short film. It demonstrated the script of the movie we were about to make in a pictorial sequence. It added the group to understand visually from start to finish where each of us were expected to stand act and respond to the camera. The story board also helped the camera person to understand what angle they were expected to take each shot from. What was to be included in the frame and at what point in time.
The storyboard provided us all with a plan of the steps that were going to take place within the acting and directing of the film. Because we already had a plan we were able to quickly film the movie and then move onto editing.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Tutorial Three: Get Blogging
Here I have to summarize what Blogger offers. From what I can see it offers you the opportunity to create an on line journal. The site offers you a number of standard templates to start your blog (mine is an example of one). You can also add gadgets to your blog, as you can probably see on the right hand side I have gone gadget mad!!! Listen to the music it is great. Blogger can offer you links to Flickr to download your photo albums. I have been able to upload photo's from my computer, to titivate might blog with. You can connect to UTube and accounts like twitter and Facebook. People can comment on your blog if you want them too, and there are a number of set headings like profile and title to help you get on your way. So you will continue to catch me blogging, I have spent some time setting this up. Don't let that put you off, I think I am just not as up with the play as some of our younger bloggers.
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