News from the cutting edge of assistive technology
Software updates are typically released because bugs in the software have been repaired, security issue has been identified and patched, and new features have been added. In all cases, these updates are typically bundled together and provided as automatic, recommended, or required updates. In the world of assistive technology, updating your assistive technology software is …
Read More Why keep your Assistive Technology up to date?The April updates of JAWS, ZoomText, and Fusion are here! No matter which product you use, you will benefit from our new features and enhancements. This post offers several examples. Change the Wake Word for Voice Assistant By default, Voice Assistant listens for the wake word “Sharky” for JAWS and “Zoomy” for ZoomText and Fusion …
Read More What’s New in the April 2021 Software Updates?Did you know you can use speech and sound schemes so JAWS will alert you to changes on the screen, such as using a deeper voice for bold text? If you have a creative scheme and want to share it with fellow JAWS users, consider taking part in the Freedom Scientific Speech and Sound Schemes …
Read More Freedom Scientific JAWS Speech and Sound Schemes ContestThe Freedom Scientific Student of the Month Program features K-12 students living in the U.S. who are blind or visually impaired and use Freedom Scientific technology to achieve educational goals. The Student of the Month for March 2021 is Kai, a second grader from California. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Kai was not familiar with …
Read More March 2021, Freedom Scientific Student of the MonthDo you use Gmail at home, work, or school? Want access to all its features plus direct access to other Google Workspace applications? Join us Thursday, March 18 at noon Eastern Time for a webinar, “Using JAWS with Gmail in Standard View.” What Is Standard View? Many screen reader users are familiar with the Gmail …
Read More Join Us for Using JAWS with Gmail in Standard ViewThe seventh module in our JAWS Training for Teachers and AT Instructors is available on our Teaching Resources page. Each module in the series builds upon the last, and contains lessons, videos, and a quiz. What’s in Module 7? Module 7, Using Surf’s Up as a Teaching Tool provides a review of surfing the internet …
Read More Module 7 of JAWS Training for Teachers and AT InstructorsThe Freedom Scientific Student of the Month Program features K-12 students living in the U.S. who are blind or visually impaired and use Freedom Scientific technology to achieve educational goals. The Student of the Month for February 2021 is Campbell, a high school student from Tennessee. As a home schooled student, Campbell has employed numerous …
Read More February 2021, Freedom Scientific Student of the MonthFSOpenLine, Freedom Scientific’s global call-in show, will take place Thursday, February 25 at 3 P.M. Eastern Time. Do you have questions about our products or an idea you’d like to share? Join us and have your voice heard by key members of Freedom Scientific’s product management and engineering teams. During the November FSOpenLine, we discussed: …
Read More Join Us for FSOpenLineThe sixth module in our JAWS Training for Teachers and AT Instructors is available on our Teaching Resources page. Each module in the series builds upon the last, and contains lessons, videos, and a quiz. What’s in Module 6? Module 6, Popular Tools with JAWS covers applications commonly used in the classroom and for remote …
Read More Module 6 of JAWS Training for Teachers and AT InstructorsBraille Viewer provides onscreen textual representation of the output received on a refreshable braille display. This JAWS and Fusion feature is a helpful tool for sighted teachers, parents, script writers, and testers who do not read braille or who have limited to no access to a braille display. Braille Viewer also enables teachers to help …
Read More Use Braille Viewer to Encourage Braille Literacy