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EduApps User Manual

1. gt Itis so portable discreet and readily accessible The AccessApps solution requires atleasta 4GB or 8GB memory thumb drive or memory Stick It is strongly recommended that a 4GB drive is purchased or acquired as users will want to add more portable apps as well as store and save their documents videos and photos The extra capacity as compared to basic 2GB drive will be important over time Users can opt to install and use any of the EduApps initiatives on an external USB drive but the files MUST be copied to the root directory of the drive Specific areas are provided in the pop up AccessApps menu for storing files and documents in handy easy to find and access sub folders These include folders for storing files as per music videos and pictures EduApps AccessApps TeachApps LearnApps MyApps MyStudyBar MyVisBar Page 11 EduApps User Manual NDCO Project 2010 Benefits to Learners and End Users Some of the advantages in using any three of the EduApps initiatives include Low cost solution approximately 10 50 for a 4GB or 8GB USB2 flash pen thumb drive No need for technical support at a school or workplace for installation or setup No permission required for installing assistive technologies onto a local computer or server Independent use independent tools anywhere anytime Independent set up configuration and preferences in each App for each user is automatically saved Ability to add more portable apps to
2. Opions EduApps AccessApps TeachApps LearnApps MyApps MyStudyBar MyVisBar Page 32 EduApps User Manual NDCO Project 2010 Multimedia Tools ArtWeaver http www artweaver de index php artweaver en ArtWeaver is a freeware raster graphics editor for MS Windows mainly oriented to professional and amateur artists who are familiar with commercial programs such as Adobe Photoshop and especially Corel Painter As with the latter ArtWeaver is capable of simulating a wide range of tools and features to create natural looking artistic Images It also offers other advanced features like transparency and layers support effect filters including sharpen blur emboss and mosaic support for the most common file formats standard image editing tools including gradient crop fill and selection tools Gimp htto www gimp org The GNU Image Manipulation Program or GIMP is a raster graphics editor used to process digital graphics and photographs Typical uses include creating graphics and logos resizing and cropping photos altering colours combining multiple images removing unwanted image features and converting between different image formats GIMP can also be used to create basic animated images in GIF Graphic Image Format file format The GIMP program is quite complex and has hundreds of functions and features UnFREEz htto www whits oftdev com untreez UnFREEz is a high speed MS Windows application that will handle any num
3. folders and webpage for quick access It is designed to work with Ss TheSage dictionary amp thesaurus removable storage media like USB drives hard drives iPods etc T TypeF aster typing tutor ASuite is an application launcher to manage an unlimited number of files Since ASuite uses relatives path it is perfectly suited for use with T TypeF aster Accessible typing tutor portable applications as VuBar read text one line at a time 5 Visual Support _ http www salvadorsoftware com Students teachers and support staff can use these portable applications on any computing resource at school TAFE University workplace or at home now fully recommend a 4GB or higher capacity USB drive though as users can add more portable apps as well as their documents videos and photos Ensuring that naive users and younger students backup their files is mandatory and must be encouraged if not made very clear USB drives as with all technologies can be easily compromised by being lost stolen and misplaced broken misused incorrectly mounted or dismounted from a USB port on the computer stood on or damaged EduApps AccessApps TeachApps LearnApps MyApps MyStudyBar MyVisBar Page 10 EduApps User Manual NDCO Project 2010 Folders are provided for files and documents in handy easy to find and access folders The advantages of having AccessApps and now TeachApps and LearnApps include Yy No need for technical sup
4. oix File Edit View Favorites Category Tools Help EEE Goe amp o end IP OSS gt 159 54151150323 Ctrl F Converber htto www xyntec com converber htm atomic unit of length au a atomic unit of time atto a attojoule aJ Australian Dollars AUD Azerbaijan Manat AZM Converber is a unit converter Itis a powerful software utility that will help make easy conversions between 1208 various units of measure in 32 categories Converber converts everything from length and force to flow and temperature Ideal in maths and sciences classes it can also convert currencies and other units in millimeter of mercury mmHa millimeter of water mmH20 millipascal mPa newton square centimeter newton square meter newton square millimeter pascal Pa a E Cc P a o gt o g a 1E Q amp g S gt y i most curriculum areas It is small efficient and easy to en amet barrel bbl dry ton square inch tsi U S e i barrel bl petroleum tonne square centimeter barrel bl UK tonne square meter barrel fl bl US x torr Torr x Category Pressure Tip Number formatting is completely configurable from the Options dialog h Sumatra PDF http blog kowalczyk info software sumatrapdf Sumatra PDF is a free open source PDF viewer for MS Windows It provides a minimalist design and therefore functionality Simplicity has a higher priority than f
5. EF Accessible Browsers ri Video 5 Keyboard Mouse Alternatives P Multimedia Tools Be Explore 4 Presentation Tools 4a Utilities Search a Games 5i 2 Installable Software f About ASuite JISC 5 Hott Notes 4 sticky notes Regional RSC UK Sunbird calendar T TypeFaster typing tutor JISC G Sumatra PDF read PDF documents Tech Dis m TopOCR convert images to text EduApps AccessApps TeachApps LearnApps MyApps MyStudyBar MyVisBar Choose a genre Is listed on the left hand side one click only Choose a program from the list of programs that appear within a genre Most programs will launch with a small icon appearing to the left of the Right click on the particular program icon and explore the functions and Locate the Save Settings function or similar to set the new default 4A Guides ASuite E Open Office 2 a Planning amp Organisation or Options 4A Reading amp Writing Support E A Documents a Accessible Browsers a Keyboard Mouse Alternatives A Music E Multimedia Tools Pict Presentation Tools RS F utilities r EAA l EE Games a Installable Software 8 Gene m Q Search ra About ASuite JISC X Hott Notes 4 sticky notes Regionai S RS Sunbird calendar ig T TypeFaster typing tutor JISC f Sumatra PDF read PDF documents 4 1a TopOcrR convert images to text Tech D IS Show Magnifying Glass Lens width in
6. MyStudyBar MyVisBar Page 41 EduApps User Manual NDCO Project 2010 Problem Solving Further information about using AccessApps can be found on the Help Page http www rsc ne scotland ac uk eduapps help php Students parents and educators can access Help files and directions about all of this material as well There are video guides and tutorials to help from selection of the suites download through to installation and later to the use of the applications It is extremely comprehensive and a great way to invite students to learn how to install the three EduApps themselves Videos include Watch Downloading a pre packaged version of AccessApps Watch Downloading a P ick n Mix version of AccessApps Watch Extracting installation files for AccessApps Watch Starting AccessApps for the first time A FAQ page lists htto www rsc ne scotland ac uk eduapps helpfag php includes such questions as 1 Is it possible to install other applications to AccessApps 2 Does AccessApps work with J AWS 3 When extract AccessApps my anti virus software detects a virus Is AccessApps infected 4 Does the AccessApps work on a Mac computer 5 get an error message when trying to use BBC Radio and BBC Listen Again Is there a way of fixing it 6 get the error message Cannot find specified application There are Step by step introductory guides in alternative formats that you ca
7. www closingthegap com solutions The Inner Melbourne VET Cluster site has a link to Assistive or Adaptive Technologies www imvc com au broadenhorizons A useful database of Adaptive Technology exists at htto adaptech dawsoncollege qc ca fandi_ e php An excellent resource site for free software is located at htto www oatsoft org OATSoft is dedicated to improving Assistive Technology and computer accessibility through the power of Open Source development techniques Users and developers meet at OATSoft to create better software Open Source Software Is free and the source code that makes the software Is freely available International communities operating on line develop the software programs The University of Newcastle site on Adaptive Technologies is probably one of the most comprehensive lists of resources in Australia htto www newcastle edu au service ndco links html AssistiveT echnology Kay Dean has been instrumental in documenting and recording the various agencies and service providers over the years This site is extremely useful in locating information about ICT and disability in general It lists a very handy A Z of Disabilities and Relevant Peak Bodies A number of leading Inclusive technology companies offers extensive and comprehensive information about ICT and devices In Australia a number of companies actively include resources articles and information of a general and more specific nature including Spectronic
8. 6 3 Mb Mac 9 5 Mb word processor compatible with Microsoft word e PDF Viewers Foxit PDF Reader Win 1 8 Mb e Notepad feature rich Notepad replacement Portable Email Calendar To Do Programs e Mozilla ThunderBird Win 6 Mb Mac 20 5 Mb Cross Platform Win Mac very good email client built in address book import export tons of add ons Calendars Mozilla Sunbird Win 5 6mb Sunbird Mac 9 7mb Lightning Win 1 3mb ThunderBird add on Mail Mac requires locally installed Mail app iCal Mac requires locally installed iCal application Address Book Mac requires locally installed Address Book Quick Mailer Win 20kb tiny program for sending quick e mail messages gDisk Mac 1020kb handy program that turns your gmail account into a portable hard drive Portable Text and Voice Messengers e All in One Yahoo MSN ICQ etc Gaim Win 6 9 Mb Miranda IM Win 1 2 Mb Adium Mac 15 5 Mb Trillian Win e Chat Mac requires locally installed iChat e Newspeak Mac 1mb Newspeak Cocoa IRC client e Skype explains how to make Skype portable Portable Media Tools Audio Video EduApps AccessApps TeachApps LearnApps MyApps MyStudyBar MyVisBar Page 37 EduApps User Manual NDCO Project 2010 e iShout Mac 7mb record and listen to your favourite Internet radios e Cocoa T Mac 8 7mb stream live TV programs from major broadcast channels Portable Graphics Viewers a
9. MyStudyBar ss Ef S MyStudyBar puts a whole range of individual and essential a a n ae tools at your fingertips Together these have been designed to EI T Bar screen masking Support the complete study cycle from research planning and m structuring to getting across a written or spoken message MyStudyBar has 6 sections each has a drop down menu g RapidSet change colours SA Vu Bar soroen ruler offering personal choice flexibility and independent learning W ssOveriay screen tint particularly for those learners who require additional strategies PB Orato text reader to support their learning With over 15 apps to choose from MyStudyBar is the perfect study aid MyStudyBar is a comprehensive Set of portable open source and freeware applications to support learners with literacy difficulties MyStudyBar is similar to popular commercial programs that use a floating toolbar to support literacy The main difference is MyStudyBar is free The toolbar includes a range of tools to support inclusion such as mind mapping screen masking word prediction talking dictionary text to speech and save as MP3 and voice recognition Although MyStudyBar is designed to work with Windows Vista and Windows 7 mainly because of the improved SAPI 5 voice Anna and of course the excellent Windows Speech Recognition it will also run on Windows XP but the speech recognition will not be available However we will be delighted to customise MyStudby
10. Show application s Folder Ctrl X Ctrl C Ctri T TypeF aster typing tutor Navigate to the folder of the application you are adding l l T TypeFaster Accessible typing tutor and double click on the file used to launch that IZ VuBar read text one line at a time H 4 Visual Support application usually the exe file This should take you back to the Properties dialog Click on Retrieve which should populate the fields with the program information if not fill in the fields as appropriate then click OK to finish Note When users click on the AccessApps LearnApps or TeachApps icon in the system tray they will see the new application listed in the menu EduApps AccessApps TeachApps LearnApps MyApps MyStudyBar MyVisBar Page 20 EduApps User Manual NDCO Project 2010 Starting and Finishing a Session Using Apps SerescAppritG Faj This disk or device contains more than one type of AccessApps can be used on any computer thathas an MS Sopen Windows operating system including Windows XP Windows What do you want Windows to do Vista and Windows 7 versions Start usnng RS Access ARDS Using the wogram rovided on the device l l l l Play Media Files After inserting the USB thumb pen or external drive a user will using RealPlayer most likely have an option to launch AccessApps from the O Play automated window that will appear using Windows Media Player Play A using Musicmatch Jukebox If this window o
11. in Other Domains The inherent benefit in using any one of the EduApps initiatives is that the apps can be uSed in any domain The software is available on demand by simply inserting a USB drive with AccessApps or LearnApps TeachApps MyApps or MyStudyBar installed Users of all ages and abilities can work without being constrained with not having the appropriate tools They can function anywhere including home a friend s house or local library The only requirement is that the host computer has the MS Windows operating system installed This means that AccessApps is available for extra curricula study by students for homework or after school projects Students at University TAFE and further education can use the software in any location and not be restricted by a lack of resources or functions that have not been installed on one or more computers in their favourite study area Users who have Notebooks or NetBooks can have access to the apps that they require without having to purchase expensive commercial programs or wait until Someone has the time opportunity and administrator rights to configure their computer The apps can be used for a multiplicity of purposes study web research browsing web sites downloading e Texts and eBooks composing and editing music editing MP3 audio tracks brainstorming and planning timetabling and keeping diaries of events designing and laying out pages for Desktop Publishing tasks as well as for leisure o
12. left behind Be sure to encourage all users to BACK UP their files as USB drives can be gt VV VV V WV Lost Stolen Misplaced Left behind in a room or left in a host computer by mistake Erased due to strong magnetic fields Stood on or smashed cheaper models are not very robust Accidentally compromised left on a parcel shelf in a car or left in clothes and washed NDCO Project 2010 aes il ome The Portable App s can be re installed but users files must be periodically duplicated and backup up onto gt gt gt A home computer hard drive A user s Notebook or Netbook Ultralight or Laptop computer Another external hard drive e g 250GB 320GB or Terabyte model gt Aschool University TAFE College Polytechnic Academy Work Place computer or server EduApps AccessApps TeachApps LearnApps MyApps MyStudyBar MyVisBar Page 40 EduApps User Manual NDCO Project 2010 Selection and Maintenance of a USB Drive Other criteria when purchasing or acquiring a new USB drive Choose a model that is easy to use Itneeds to be USB 2 technology It should be able to swivel or retract i e the ones with removable heads get lost too easily The minimum capacity should be 4GB in storage size A key ring or lanyard is strongly recommended VV VV V WV Some users may prefer a unique colour or look and feel so itis easy to recognise EduApps AccessApps TeachApps LearnApps MyApps
13. right click Then locate the Exit or Quit option and left click To correctly exit the AccessApps program first exit ALL programs that have been launched from the AccessApps menu Peres Be sure to save any documents that have been opened or saved on the USB drive ISC RSC Then left click once on AccessApps Regional Support Centres UK menu Left click on the X at the bottom right hand side of the menu Then use the Safely Remove Hardware icon to Virtual Magnifying Glass TechDis officially stop the drive so that it can be EA Hott Notes 4 sticky notes removed Sodje ME Mee ors EduApps AccessApps TeachApps LearnApps MyApps MyStudyBar MyVisBar Page 21 Sunbird calendar sonar cursor ring TE YuBar read text one line at a time JISC EduApps User Manual NDCO Project 2010 Using AccessApps software ce HE File Edit View Favorites Tools Help 3r A Together ak F P Search Folders C Itis simply a matter of choosing the programs that T Barner GA C ramens accommodate the user given a particular task The B lt REIRIO RP D need of the user will determine the app or apps that A pe fe a RF AccessApps G will be required at any given time B G condPad ag i gt A user who has poor vision might enjoy using the Sonar cursor ring together with the Virtual Magnifying glass to aid in locating and reading text and images Another person having difficulty with text mi
14. the time There is less strain on parents and x assist Index assistive technology confident empower SOFTWARE FOR LANGUAGE EDUCATION AND RESEARC schools and organisations can distribute the apps in a very cost effective manner empower Students who cannot afford the latest Office Verb Suite can gainfully use Open Office Org and Derived empowerment use it at their place of learning as well as at ada daii asa re apaia a a Wa home or later in the workplace The consistent e uel cei look and feel and skills learnt apply in all 1 Give or delegate power or authority to domains This consistency will provide MM 2 Give qualities or abilities to increased capacity to work diligently and without having to learn and unlearn EduApps AccessApps TeachApps LearnApps MyApps MyStudyBar MyVisBar Page 25 EduApps User Manual NDCO Project 2010 List and Descriptions of AccessApps Programs Open Office Org P i OpenOffice org ae Writer is a powerful and industry standard word processor similar in look and feel to Microsoft Word It offers a comparable range of functions and tools It also includes the ability to export Portable Document F ormat P DF files with no additional software and can also function as a WYSIWYG editor for creating and editing web pages Writer htto www openoftfice org Math htto www openoffice org Mathis is a very handy tool for creating and editing mathematical formulae similar
15. 4 46 47 Page NDCO Project 2010 1 EduApps User Manual NDCO Project 2010 Purpose of the EduApps User Manual The EduApps User Manual was written to help guide and support new and existing users of the four EduApps initiatives particularly those wishing to promote and use AccessApps The NDCO network actively promoted the introduction and use of AccessApps in 2008 after it was released by the J ISC J oint Information Systems Committee Regional Support Centre Scotland North amp East The AccessApps initiative later evolved into EduApps in 2009 a more comprehensive and user targeted solution In 2009 numerous presentations training sessions hands on workshops and Conference papers were provided to Secondary schools and colleges Universities TAFE campuses adult training facilities and workplace representatives Sessions were conducted in various parts of Australia with Victoria being a very active state The NDCO cohort provided a range of professional learning opportunities in both city and regional centres Practitioners from a wide range of backgrounds participated predominantly educators including teachers School Support Officers teacher aides and assistants therapists trainers lecturers tutors and students Workplace training and placement officers also intended as well as other interested parties from industry Participants were keen to explore the many opportunities in education workplace and training
16. Bar with programs which are better suited to the needs of your students Tutorials are provided at step by step tutorials to help users become more familiar with the applications on MyS tudyBar Examples include Xmind for planning and organization T Bar for customising font and colour backgrounds Lingoes for when a user needs a talking dictionary LetMeT ype for help with text input and Balabolka for converting text to audio There s a speech to text app that allows users to talk to their computer It is elementary but provides experiences for first time users of Speech recognition Users can access and launch MyStudyBar straight from a USB drive at any location on any MS Windows computer or can install it directly to the desktop Technical staff in colleges or universities has the choice of installing it on the network for everyone to use MyStudyBar pops up on your screen as a floating toolbar To read a review of MyS tudyBar link to htto www adcet edu au View aspx id 118 EduApps AccessApps TeachApps LearnApps MyApps MyStudyBar MyVisBar Page 43 EduApps User Manual NDCO Project 2010 MyVisBar This initiative from the RSC team in Edinburgh Scotland caters to partially sighted computer users of MS Windows desktops and notebooks It was released in early May 2010 MyVisBar is similar in design and function to MyStudyBar www eduapps org and can be launched from external drives as well as from computers and servers Once downl
17. F duApps User Manual NDCO Project 2010 Incorporating AccessApps NDCO EduApps User Manual Table of Contents Section Title S pee et Se ee ee a e SS S ea WW N KF OD 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Purpose of the EduApps User Manual Introduction to Portable Applications Background to EduApps Portable Inclusive Solutions Open Source and Freeware Applications Assistive Technology Overview Overview of EduApps Applications AccessApps Teach Apps Learn Apps and MyApps Why Use AccessApps Benefits to Learners and End Users Benefits to Schools and Organisations Key Features of Portable Applications Downloading EduApps Initiatives Installing AccessApps to a USB External drive Configuring and Customising AccessApps Storage of Documents Files Music and Video files Adding Additional Apps Starting and Finishing a Session Using Apps Using AccessApps software a Together b With other MS Windows Programs c In Education and Training d AtHome and in Other Domains List and Descriptions of AccessApps programs Web Links and Resources for Other Portable Apps Backing Up Data Selection and Maintenance of a USB Drive Problem Solving Future Directions of Portable Apps a MyStudyBar V2 b MyVisBar Contact Information Credits EduApps AccessApps TeachApps LearnApps MyApps MyStudyBar MyVisBar Page No WO co o A A WW N 12 13 14 15 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 37 40 41 42 43 4
18. MB used to demonstrate how to download the zipped Size file a 123MB 116MB 116MB 8 a i SON an USB Stick 128MB 12BMB 128MB 1 Start your MS Windows computer 2 Start your preferred web browser e g Internet Explorer or Firefox 3 Download the AccessApps Full or Core file from http www rsc ne scotland ac uk eduapps download php 4 After clicking on Download AccessApps a new window will appear Type in a preferred email address EduApps Download Apps List Help FAQs Forum Resources Contact sae R KTALK RSC Initiatives sow merman Download Registration ct ence RSC Publications To download the latest version of the software please enter a valid email address Accessibility amp below Inclusion e Assessment Email address Terms and conditions 5 On the next screen read the directions and click on Download AccessApps EduApps Download Apps List Help FAQs Forum Resources Contact ion i moras A Installation instructions 1 Download AccessApps to your desktop by right clicking the link below and Accessibility amp choosing Save Target As or Save Link As Inclusion Download AccessApps Unzip the downloaded file by right clicking on the file and select Extract All to your desktop or a location of your choice Having problems watch screencast on extracting files Copy the extracted files to the root directory of your USB stick the root directory is the firs
19. Project Gutenberg in a book like manner EduApps AccessApps TeachApps LearnApps MyApps MyStudyBar MyVisBar Page 38 EduApps User Manual NDCO Project 2010 e Index Your Files Win 640kb provides an easy way to create index databases of specified folders and drives for quick file term search e RockXP win 768kb handy utility for retrieving Win XP s product key e WhoisThisDomain Win 42kb view owner and registration info for any domain name e Converter portable unit conversion utility All In One Packages e PortableApps Suite Win 89 5mb includes 7 programs for essential needs office email IM client etc plus a cool Startup manager and backup utility e FSuite Mac 668 3mb over 30 useful tools in one file Office Graphic Audio Video Internet Developer Tools and Games Portable Operating Systems How To Articles e MacOS Classic 7 e Portable Linux Knoppix Ubuntu e WinXP USB Thumb Drive Tips How to create a bootable USB key Never Forget your USB Stick QuickLaunch your USB workspace How To Make Skype a Portable App Other useful sites include Portablefreeware com Tinyapps org EduApps AccessApps TeachApps LearnApps MyApps MyStudyBar MyVisBar Page 39 EduApps User Manual Leading Practise Backing Up Data When using AccessApps all of a user s data and settings are stored on the thumb drive SO when a user unplugs the device from a host PC none of the personal data Is
20. WF files allowing them to be played on any computer with the Flash player installed It also includes the ability to create PDF files and the ability to read Microsoft PowerP oint s ppt format Impress suffers from a lack of ready made presentation designs However templates are readily available on the Internet or can be created as templates by the user Note A useful clipart collection and other add ons are available as well for more advanced users Link to htto extensions services openoffice org for templates galleries dictionaries Supporting many other languages thesaurus and spell check tools all freely available to use within Open Office Org applications EduApps AccessApps TeachApps LearnApps MyApps MyStudyBar MyVisBar Page 26 EduApps User Manual NDCO Project 2010 Planning and Organisation XMind http www xmind net Xmind is an open source program for creating mind maps XMind is easy to use with a range of features It provides opportunities to create webs or mind maps to assist in visual planning and representation of data Graphics drawings icons and symbols can be used to illustrate ideas relationships and connections It is a powerful tool to assist users who plan and think in a non linear manner Hott Notes htto www hottnotes com Hott Notes is a free sticky notes reminder 0410712010 program Users can place their notes on Aa S hO the active desktop reminding them of f
21. a a af af important events Hott Notes has a simple aa and easy to use interface Users can fs x choose any colour font or translucency J Conter Text level for their notes and create and use themes There are three types of notes for cutting and pasting or typing content for lists and for scribbling ideas and concepts Sunbird http www mozilla org projects calendar sunbird Mozilla Sunbird is a free open source cross platform calendar application developed by the Mozilla Foundation Sun Microsystems and many volunteers It works similarly to MS Outlook and users can add timetable content classes and appointments to do notes and then annotate entries Unlike computer based applications the calendar is portable and can be accessed anywhere Schedules and entries can be edited on any computer saved automatically and printed or exported e g to iCal and used on an iPhone or iPod Touch EduApps AccessApps TeachApps LearnApps MyApps MyStudyBar MyVisBar Page 27 EduApps User Manual NDCO Project 2010 Reading amp Writing Support Amis DAISY Reader http amis sourceforge net AMIS is a free open source DAISY book playback program DAISY books are fully accessible digital talking books although they are dependent on the original document s formatting and structure AMIS will read information which has been saved with the ncc or odf file extension DAISY is a format that formerly was used to accommodate v
22. a range of users and abilities It works in full screen mode so it removes all of the windows ousyness leaving the user with just what he or she requires the text It is easy to use and text can be copied to other programs MS Word MS PowerPoint or Open Office apps upon completion It even has a spell checker Read more background information and descriptions at htto www baara com q10 EduApps AccessApps TeachApps LearnApps MyApps MyStudyBar MyVisBar Page 44 EduApps User Manual NDCO Project 2010 ESE Ee Ee EERE EERE EOE EE EERE HORE EEE HEN Read T Bar is a colour maskKing program It allows the Colour Options Line Options Bar Options TORR EERE EEE EEEE EERE EERE EERE EEEEE ERE OD user to quickly change colour backgrounds and Offers a line view to make reading documents Ma email and web content easier to track Adjusting and using the T Bar app Is very easy to do The HE en Colour Options tab will allow selecting a colour a from the pre defined options atthe top with the option to adjust the Red Green and Blue content p RGB Adjustmen via the slider controls The level of colour Qo CeT T saturation can also be controlled from here to ACT rE create the optimum viewing levels The Line Soco MNE i Options tab allows the user to select 1 or 2 lines along with changing the height and position of these again by using slider controls Finally the Bar Options tab allows
23. and easy to use WYSIWYG web page editing KompoZer is designed to be extremely easy to use making it ideal for non technical computer users who want to create an attractive professional looking web site without needing to know HTML or web coding It is handy in schools and organisations where HTML files are required or in providing courses dealing with web page design or editing Scribus http www quate net newsnet read php id 31 Scribus is a desktop publishing DTP application It is designed for flexible layout and typesetting It has the ability to prepare files for professional quality image setting equipment It can also create animated and interactive PDF presentations and forms Potential uses include writing small newspapers brochures newsletters posters and books Scribus is ideal for organisations or students who do not possess MS Publisher or more expensive DTP programs Wink htto www debugmode com wink Wink is a Tutorial and Presentation creation Software primarily aimed at creating tutorials on how to use software e g as a tutor for MS Word E xcel Using Wink users can capture screenshots add explanations boxes buttons and titles Educators and trainers can generate a highly effective tutorial for students Students can create content in projects and assignments for assessment EduApps AccessApps TeachApps LearnApps MyApps MyStudyBar MyVisBar Page 34 EduApps User Manual NDCO Project 2010 Utilities
24. and work with developers to get the features that you wa Developers work with users and other projects to develop new features and shared re usable compon nn Source Software is free and the source code that makes the software is freely available It is de Assistive Technology Software allows people with disabilities to overcome some of the disabling effect Search for software Develop Assistive Technology software Find out more About OATS including the latest News and the most recent changes E fel So Discuss OATS on the Forums or Mailing list meet other Members or contribute content EduApps AccessApps TeachApps LearnApps MyApps MyStudyBar MyVisBar Page 9 EduApps User Manual NDCO Project 2010 Assistive Technology Overview 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 The Technology Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities Act of 1988 US Public Law 100 407 states that itis technology designed to be utilized in an assistive technology device or assistive technology service AT promotes greater independence by enabling people to perform tasks that they were formerly unable to accomplish or had great difficulty accomplishing by providing enhancements to or changed methods of interacting with the technology needed to ac
25. at the application does not write to the MS Windows registry or store its configuration files such as an INI file in the user s profile instead it stores its configuration files in the program s directory Another requirement is that file paths can change on changing computers at least drive letter is different for most systems this means that application should store file paths in relative format While some applications have options to support this behaviour many programs are not designed to do this A common technique for such programs Is the use of a launcher program to copy necessary settings and files to the host computer when the application starts and moves them back to the application s directory when it closes An alternative strategy for achieving application portability within MS Windows without requiring application source code changes is application virtualisation An application is sequenced or packaged against a runtime layer that transparently intercepts its file system and registry calls and then redirects these to other persistent storage without the application s Knowledge This approach leaves the application itself unchanged yet portable Source htto en wikipedia org wiki P ortable apps EduApps AccessApps TeachApps LearnApps MyApps MyStudyBar MyVisBar Page 3 EduApps User Manual NDCO Project 2010 Background to EduApps Portable Inclusive Solutions Link htto www rsc ne scotland ac uk eduapps T
26. ber of images saved as separate GIF files and create a single animated GIF from those images Users need only to drag and drop some GIF files from a folder or directory set a required time frame delay and hit the Make Animated GIF button UnFREEz will create the GIF including automatic interlacing and transparency detection Audacity http audacity sourceforge net Audacity is a free easy to use audio editor and recorder for MS Windows Users can record live audio convert tapes and records into digital recordings of music onto CDs or DVDs edit transform shorten lengthen and add sound effects to Ogg Vorbis MP3 WAV or AIFF sound files cut copy splice or mix sounds together change the speed or pitch of a recording Audacity can help create new music or mix tracks from multiple sources Files can be saved as MP3 and played on popular portable devices Podcasts can also be edited and remixed for school performances or lecture notes and recordings edited for study purposes Audiobook Cutter http audiobookcutter sourceforge net Users can remix and split MP3 audio books and Podcasts in a fast and user friendly way The split files can then be played back more easily and efficiently on mobile MP3 players because of their smaller compact size Their reduced duration allows smooth navigation through the book text or study notes The split points are determined automatically based on silence detection Because of this feature long audi
27. but were often overwhelmed by the complexity of the installation or requesting additional and ongoing support with the more skill based or esoteric applications This manual will attempt to clearly document Where EduApps portable applications was developed Why Eduapps and particularly AccessApps can be a powerful and enabling resource How The various applications can be deployed to maximise use and benefits to educations trainers and learners When The various applications can be used individually and with other apps to support and assist users of all abilities What is EduApps gt AccessApps provides a range of solutions to support writing reading and planning as well as sensory cognitive and physical difficulties gt TeachApps is a collection of software specifically designed for teachers or lecturers gt LearnApps as Its name implies is specifically designed for learners All learners or students can benefit from LearnApps gt MyStudyBar is the latest initiative as of April 2010 providing a suite of apps to support literacy EduApps AccessApps TeachApps LearnApps MyApps MyStudyBar MyVisBar Page 2 EduApps User Manual NDCO Project 2010 0 Introduction to Portable Applications 10 20 A portable application portable app is a computer software program that Is able to 30 run independently without the need to install files to the system itis run upon i Portable Applications run from external devices most common
28. cater to individual interests or needs Ability to customise some applications to cater to specific access or learning needs Provides increased independence and autonomy The technology caters to all age groups and is socially acceptable The devices are discrete and can be mounted on a lanyard key chain or wristband The applications are portable and therefore available when and where the user requires them USB drive technology is accepted and used universally in most settings Ability to add and save MP3 Podcasts graphics photos and other documents on the drive Ideal for use with older MS Windows based PCs Net PCs NetBooks and ultra portable computers that have minimal or restricted hard disk space It is time and cost effective as the software once downloaded and installed onto a thumb drive is immediately useful There is no time lag for technical support testing permissions installation and configuration fe B SiG a 5 As long as schools colleges and Todi Doy Ses See om ate Lalendars vents in the 7 v contain workplaces have the proper virus protection ee 1 rot Calendar Name and mechanisms in place to avoid malicious Ba Home Maths Methods Room 207 Wednesday 7 April 2010 12 30 AM Woodwork Room 501 Mir Dale Wednesday 7 April 2010 2 30 AM files from entering their intranets servers and IT systems then USB drives and therefore EduApps should be allowed and permitted by users The applicati
29. ce or many times This may take some time depending on the processor speed of the computer being used It is strongly advised to use a computer that Is not running other software programs and Is a relatively new or powerful desktop or Notebook computer Locate and use the fastest computer at your school organisation or workplace The five items that are extracted from the AccessAppsF ull zip file need to be copied EXACTLY to an external drive This drive may be any portable drive with speed being a factor later when programs are being used on an MS Windows computer These devices include Storage Device Purpose and Outcome USB thumb or pen drives purchase a new USB 2 drive This is the most suitable and practical portable drive type that has a swivel or retractable design and is strongly recommended for most users Memory cards or sticks e g SD XD Compact Flash and Sony Memory sticks etc External hard drives i e drives that are 250Bm or more in The files have to be copied to the rootor starting directory storage capacity so this is advised only for competent or advanced users On a Netbook computer It can be copied to the root This again is advised for advanced or competent computer directory most likely C drive exactly as designed users A server Only for advanced users or technicians not advised for the majority of users Backing Up the AccessApps Zipped file Note Once copied successfully to a preferred portab
30. complish such tasks Likewise disability advocates point out that technology is often created without regard to people with disabilities creating unnecessary barriers to hundreds of millions of people Source Wikipedia http en wikipedia org wiki Assistive technology Essentially Assistive Technology Software allows people with disabilities to overcome some of the disabling effects of society and technology including computer and web accessibility As new tools and functions are rapidly being developed refined made smaller in size with functionality increasing and conversely prices decreasing it is critical that Students with disabilities be supplied with accommodations that are universal in design and appeal Various web sites cater to educators in accommodating students with disabilities These web sites are developed by computer companies dealers agencies self help and advocacy groups as well as individuals to support teachers and trainers in identifying and locating useful utilities programs fact sheets and guides Many are Blogs and Wiki sites set up and coordinated by one or more interested parties who have discovered some solutions and wish to share them A very comprehensive list of links to Assistive Technologies and online resources is located at the following website htto ca geocities com janethopkinsbc resources html The Closing the Gap site contains information pertaining to a number of issues dealing with AT htto
31. ctices and inform consumers as to what is available in their region or country One of the most useful of these includes Abledata www abledata com Special Education resource sites exist throughout the world One exists in Ontario Canada that provides local and global links to resources htto snow utoronto ca index php option com content amp task viewWid 249 amp ltemid 146 Free resource sites such as Innovative Technology Treatment Solutions www ittsquides com techsupport html include materials for educators including the Technology Supports for Writing This 51 page cutting edge video eBook is a rich resource for information about various software and hardware tools to improve the writing process It includes one video describing how to take advantage of this new just in time type of multi media interactive learning tool and 11 integrated videos showing readers examples of how to use supports built in to some of the highlighted products The freely downloadable Flash movies and PowerPoint files cater to learning as well as access needs The Tar Heel Reader site also boasts over 8 500 files to read online or to download as MS PowerPoint Open Office Impress or Flash format Link to www tarheelreaders org The J ournal of Technology Learning and Assessment J TLA is a peer reviewed scholarly on line journal addressing the intersection of computer based technology learning and assessment htto escholarship bc edu jtla Once y
32. d to IT networks and systems then AccessApps should be allowed The portable applications run completely from the external thumb drive and will not compromise the integrity of the system s used Added viruses can attach themselves to a USB memory drive The virus protection software at home or at school or University will alert the user and thus it can be captured and controlled Some secondary schools have added extra documents i e saved them in the Documents folder in AccessApps and recorded information in the Sunbird Calendar e g whole school yearly timetable as well as customised some apps before duplicating hundreds or some cases thousands of USB drives and allocated them to all staff and students In this instance the USB drives are part of the school culture Everyday use Is encouraged Parents and students are provided with relevant information at the start of the school year e g Sports and excursion days are listed school expectations tuck shop prices uniform rules and price lists etc is available to everyone It saves printing and any updates can be added to the drives in homeroom classes or downloaded from the school s Intranet or server EduApps AccessApps TeachApps LearnApps MyApps MyStudyBar MyVisBar Page 13 EduApps User Manual NDCO Project 2010 Key Features of Portable Applications Essentially a Portable App or program is a piece of software that can be accessed from a portable USB device USB thumb or pen
33. d with mainstream and commercial programs they provide additional support and functionality that may have precluded access or use without them Each app will assista user to overcome a disability or impairment or to reduce stress or frustration Some apps are a means to an end whilst others are designed to accomplish specific tasks Some apps will cater to younger students with most appealing to upper primary aged users through to adults amp 08 Jane Doe Gep EBS Fie Edit View Project Generate Effect Analyze Help I gt L L ESA 4d j gt T j R R Pik 0 wy 48 42 36 30 24 18 12 6 0 PZ 48 42 36 30 24 18 12 6 0 powe ea le aee 2 30 2 45 3 00 3 15 3 30 ae wl Lia Mute Solo lh 4 gt Click and drag to select audio Project rate 44100 Cursor 0 00 000000 min sec Snap To Off EduApps AccessApps TeachApps LearnApps MyApps MyStudyBar MyVisBar Page 23 EduApps User Manual NDCO Project 2010 C In Education and Training do Ca The apps each perform functions that will be useful in education and training Some are specifically designed for inclusion These assistive programs provide a means to accomplish a task that would otherwise be difficult or impossible for a user e g using DSpeech to voice back text to a user who is vision impaired or who cannot read English text Educators and trainers can use the apps in a variety of ways The features consistently regarded as important by educato
34. drive PDA iPod or external hard disk and used on any computer It could be an email program a browser a system recovery tool or a program to achieve a set task reading writing music editing artand design magnification text to speech OCR or to provide more efficient or equitable access e g Click n Type onscreen keyboard A The majority of programs are free Freeware or Open Source Increasingly more software designers and developers are creating portable versions of their software There are hundreds of programs that are available Portable Apps are relatively new Apps DO NOT NEED to be installed on the host computer No Tech support is required on campus No permission is required in order to have the software made available to them Students can work anywhere as long as they have access to a computer Portable Apps do not require installation as per conventional software programs They run from external devices and most run completely independently using the MS Windows operating system resources Some will access resources from the host computer e g electronic voices in text to speech programs This refers to the programs that require some additional resources to add value or extra functionality and choice i e better quality and range of voices All of a user s data and settings are always stored on the thumb drive so when a user unplugs the device none of the personal data is left behind It
35. eatures in Sumatra PDF It is small and launches and opens files very quickly This program is very fast and handy for accessing PDF files in instances where Adobe PDF Reader has not been installed Accessible PDF htto www webbie org uk Accessible PDF converts PDF files into HTML Users can open PDF files and read them as plain text in the screen reader It is useful for users who use other programs such as Thunder or DSpeech for text to speech 7 Zip http www 7 zip org 7 Zip is an open source file archiver It operates primarily with the 7z archive format as well as being able to read several other archive formats Zip or Rar i e compressed files It is useful when a host computer does not have an archiving or decompression program or one that cannot handle a file that has been acquired or downloaded KeePass htto keepass info KeePass Password Safe is a free open source and easy to use password manager for MS Windows Users can store passwords in a highly encrypted database which is locked with one master password or key file ClamWin htto www clamwin com ClamWin is a free antivirus program for MS Windows It provides a graphical user interface to the Clam AntiVirus engine It features high detection rates for viruses and spyware and regular virus database updates The ClamAV team regularly updates virus databases to include a new virus variant immediately after it appears When used on computers with Internet access i
36. ection of portable open source and free software There is some duplication between the three but it includes specialised applications that are required for equitable access to computers As with all software the original intention and purpose may morph into other quite unrelated solutions for other users It iS usually the innovative and timely deployment of software that makes its use practical Each person brings their own abilities needs and skills and applies them as they deem fit Some of my sessions have witnessed laughter exclamations of joy some bewilderment and proclamations that this is what needed two months ago or I want everything Mostly participants are delighted and can identify with the program s features its functions and especially see the potential outcomes for themselves and for their students All of these programs and more are stored carried and extracted from portable applications on a USB drive that Is Carried on your person around your neck on a lanyard in your bag or on your key ring Or in your pocket a AccessApps AS u ite List Search Version 1 5 2 Beta H F Guides w gt Open Office Planning amp Organisation 1 s fete a Freemind mind mapping E Hott Notes 4 sticky notes Sunbird calendar E Reading amp Writing Support g AMIS DAISY reader 8 DSpeech text to speech PowerReader dyslexia reading support 2 RapidS et change font background
37. essible Browsers NDCO Project 2010 A ASuite ra PK Options L Documents a Keyboard Mouse Alternatives A Music Em Multimedia Tools E Presentation Tools F Utilities 5 Games a Installable Software Pictures B ideo EN Explore Search F About ASuite On the right hand side of the menu are icons for storage of files and documents including gt Documents Productivity files including MS Word Writer PowerPoint spreadsheets PDFs gt Music MP3 tunes and tracks sound effects and MP3 audio talking books and projects gt Pictures Photographs drawing animated clip art cartoons maps gt Video Video files movies flash files In these folders users can elect to store and save their work It makes sense to have individual folders for music pictures and video files All other documents can be kept in the Documents folder Sub folders can then be created so that files are easily located and logically arranged for ease of access The Explore option brings up the entire USB drive window e g G drive for quick access and scrutiny The Search option generates a new window Users can type in a word or words and the Search function will explore the USB drive and locate the required item s a AccessApps Sela audio Search Name Category A Audacity recordjedit audio Multimedia Tools Sa Audiobook Cutter split mp3 files Multimedia Tools This is handy when new
38. ftware that offers and provides a limited number of days or trials The software functions partially or fully for a set time period or number of sessions before purchase Commercial Software that is purchased with legal limitations as per use on one or more computers devices with either unlimited ongoing use or subscription for a set time frame i e usually 12 months from date of purchase Free software can be acquired in a number of ways gt Downloaded from the developer s web site Y gt Downloaded from a mirror a server somewhere locally or in another country or region gt Obtained from CDs and DVDs most commonly computer magazines and other publications gt Obtained from software resellers particularly trial or demonstration versions OATS oats File Edit View History Bookmarks Window Help Downloaded from a Freeware or Open Source site e g www tucows com htto www oatsoft orq Caulfield South Nathan Gr Saved Tabs Apple Yahoo Google Maps YouTube Wikipedia News S9 Popular v OATS oats O ATS open source assistive technology software home search develop about oats OATSoft is dedicated to improving Assistive Technology and computer accessibility through the power of Assistive Technology Software OATS easy to find Users and developers meet at OATSoft to create bette users find useful free software and discuss
39. ght use RapidS et to adjust contrast with foreground and background colours Dspeech may be used for reading text back to the user The apps would be launched one ata time so that the user has the one or more apps to work with within a productivity suite e g MS Office or Open Office Org The apps will work within their own windowed environments Windows can be minimized enlarged or reduced and repositioned on the display so thatthe task at hand can be accessed easily Apps can be called up when and where required and the tools and functions employed to assist with gt Access Physical access using an onscreen keyboard Click N Type or mouse with via Dasher or Mouser gt Vision Virtual Magnifying Glass Sonar gt Reading and Editing Text Open Office Org Scribus Audiobook Cutter Dspeech Amis or PowerR eader gt Organisation and Planning Xmind Hott Notes Freemind or Sunbird gt Music and Sound Editing Audacity or VLC Media Player gt Artand Design Artweaver or the GIMP gt Presentation Tools Scribus Wink Camtasia or FastStone Capture All of these apps or programs have been written for MS Windows and were available before becoming portable apps Some are very complex in design and offer a number of functions Scribus is a fully fledged desktop publishing program that can be used together with one of the smaller apps to allow for vision or physical access e g Click N Type TypeF aster is a standalone typing tutor It wi
40. he free to download EduApps is an initiative developed by the J ISC Regional Support Centre Scotland North amp East and expands on the previous Initial version of the popular AccessApps project EduApps extends the AccessApps philosophy of free portable software to include bundles of applications specifically designed for teachers trainers and educators i e TeachApps and learners i e LearnApps Currently the RSC site hosts over 90 open source and freeware software applications which can launch from a USB pen thumb or stick on an MS Windows operating system based computer Each of the three EduApps initiatives including AccessApps and custom selected suites will run without needing to install any software or utility application on a host computer A wide range of e learning solutions that support writing reading organisation and planning multimedia players screen Capture and recording apps as well as visual mouse and Keyboard supports are provided Most importantly users can add additional portable applications to AccessApps TeachApps or LearnApps at any time after installation onto their preferred USB drive device if and when required The number of these empowering and useful free applications is growing steadily They cater to a diverse and wide range of software genres and types including education based tools and productivity Suites games Operating System utilities artand design programs music creation and editing autho
41. hows what is already out there can be completely free Even when you find the software that suits your requirements you can t be sure that it will be available when you need it AccessApps overcomes this by storing all of the applications on a portable USB stick now you ll be able to use the programs you want wherever you are Everything runs directly from the USB stick there s no need to worry about installing software onto locked down computers There is nothing curriculum specific about AccessApps The applications provided are potentially invaluable to individuals in colleges as well as universities and even in schools Some of the applications are generic tools such as the word processing spreadsheet and presentation alternatives to the Microsoft Office suite Others cater for specific needs such as a need to view larger font sizes or different screen colours or to control a computer without using a mouse Taken from AccessApps_ Guide The Virtual Magnifying Glass provides access to small items on the screen e g menu items program icons etc or could be used to scan across textso as to more easily read it The VU Bar assists dyslexic users as it acts as a ruler to target and isolate text The Sunbird Calendar assists in planning organisation remembering times classes and appointments helping with timetabling and scheduling Hottnotes 4 is a handy sticky note app that can be used in a variety of ways The popula
42. il When users start Virtual Magnifying Glass it shows a magnifying glass and itadds an Icon to the system clock area of the desktop The glass can be changed to inverse video and resized vertically and or horizontally Once a user has set itup to meet his or her needs the configuration can be saved so that when launching it on the next occasion itis set appropriately sation and feel thet il is a useful tool please consider returning here and meking donation no matter how T Bar htto www fxc btinternet co uk T Bar is similar to Vu Bar with additional features such as a Shaded area to help focus on reading and colour contrast ssOverlay htto www fxc btinternet co uk ssOverlay is a Screen masking program that helps to reduce screen glare It can be useful for individuals with scotopic light sensitivity The graduated colour and transparency aids in reading and lessening visual fatigue The screen masking can also assist users when working in different light conditions e g outdoors in natural light or in rooms with fluorescent globes or dim lighting conditions Spr Ot htto www fxc btinternet co uk Spr Ot aids when tracking information on spreadsheets or in columns or tables in other applications The Spr Ot bars can be flipped horizontally or vertically resized with colour options changed NVDA hito www nvda projectorg NVDA Is a free screen reading program It will read MS Word documents Spreadsheets informati
43. ing oid Ee incremental find live a marking an integrated download manager and an integrated search system that uses the user s desired search engine The developers of Firefox produced a browser that just surfs the web and delivers the best possible browsing experience to the widest possible set of people There are hundreds of add ons and plugins that cater to users who require additional supports e g text to speech dictionaries magnification YouTube amp Flash downloads Podcatcher hito www webbie org uk Users can quickly and easily listen to Podcasts Podcasts are free audio recordings available over the Internet This allows users of all ages to listen to the Podcasts and download them They are audio files that users can listen to live over the Internet or later on a local computer or audio player e g a an iPod or other portable PDA mobile phone or MP3 player Radio Tuner htto www webbie org uk Provides access to any one of dozens of free live radio stations from all over the world RSS News Reader hito www webbie org uk Read RSS feeds This is an accessible method to obtain news and information from favourite web sites This accessible reader is particularly practical and empowering for blind and vision impaired users Web Directory htto www webbie org uk Accessible Web Directory is a way to access the Open Directory Project or ODP through a screen reader friendly interface WebblE htto
44. ions This setting can be saved so that each time a user launches it it is ready for immediate use Other programs including Click n Type has a number of different options whereas RapidSet Vu Bar have simple colour setting choices Text to speech programs including Dspeech can be configured to track words have highlight colours and voices with variable qualities It is in exploring each application and identifying the options that a user requires that will become the default or most typical manner in which the App will be used in the majority of cases This will take time but will reward the user as if will eventually save time and effort and lessen frustration The apps will perform more efficiently and match the user s needs more accurately To reconfigure or customise or change the default of an app follow this procedure gt Click on the blue icon of AccessApps to launch the suite of programs gt Click on the right hand side blue 7 Apr 2010 09 3 aA icon that appears on the bottom right hand side of the MS Windows taskbar one click only aA icon in the taskbar options Vv Vv V VW settings if available E Guides A ASuite a Open Office gi l a Planning amp Organisation a Options A Reading amp Writing Support a Visual Support A Documents jo IE Appearance Editor customise IE cs QuickRes change resolution Music a Pictures nar cursor ring Virtual Magnifying Glass
45. ision impaired or blind users Users who have difficulty with text are increasingly accessing It AMIS has numerous features to locate and bookmark any text as well as voice the content D Speech http dimio altervista org eng VOICE This Microsc Mie s OSpeech the new TTS stand alone program by Drno OICE Susan DSpeech is a text to speech program with the pamass noren snos ascosi option of saving the outputas a WAV or MP3 antan file i e text to audio This feature can be gainfully employed in creating audio books from any source of text It also supports An The dynamically changing the features of the ses Ran omame voices eg inserting pauses emphasizing c wee specific words spelling words out etc using eee tags Itaccesses both SAPI 4 and 5 voices and E has elementary voice recognition Voice annotations comments and instructions can also be added to the textand used in a variety of ways to support struggling students Text can be typed directly into the program or copied cut from any program web site e g newspaper Blog Wiki Ning etc email document and CD or DVD resource Full colour and font support is available with the capacity for words being voiced to be highlighted as they are spoken back to the user Power Reader htto www projectoossibility org viewP roject php id 1 Power Reader is a text reader learning tool that caters to users with dyslexia Itis a graphical interactive text
46. it and cater to their individual training or classroom needs AccessApps LearnApps TeachApps A range of e learning solutions to support reading A range of applications with Includes applications specifically for developing ee aming m mna slin and etn ai physical difficulties Full Version Download AccessApps Download LearnApps Download TeachApps Download Size 817MB 567MB 794MB Extracted Size 1 24GB 1 13GB 1 46GB USB Stick 2GB 2GB t 2GB t Core Version Download AccessApps Core Download LearnApps Core Download TeachApps Core Download Size 61MB 80MB 59MB Extracted Size 123MB 116MB 116MB USB Stick 128MB 128MB 128MB The download time and cost must be considered AccessApps is a very large zipped file The 817 Megabyte file can be disrupted at times whilst in the process of downloading from the host site to the user s computer In this instance a new download would need to be negotiated Depending on the speed of the Internet connection this may take anything from 40 minutes to a few hours Once successfully achieved the files need to be unzipped This again takes time and the process cannot be interrupted once commenced Using a fast computer i e one with a fast processor is strongly advised Customising MyApps If users can t find a package to suit their needs then they can create their own MyApps bundle This is achieved by selecting from the range of available applications currently over 90 Apps before downl
47. le device backup the AccessAppstfull zip file about 817MB or AccessAppsCore zip onto an appropriate computer server or device including e Moving into the My Documents folder on the home school University TAFE or workplace desktop or Notebook computer named something indicative such as AccessApps Master zip file e Copying or moving to a server into a suitable place for others to use e Burning onto a CD or DVD as a backup e Coping or moving onto an external hard drive or USB thumb or pen drive 4 AccessApps D File Edit View Favorites Tools Help Launching AccessApps ear A i Locate the StartAccessApps blue icon in the e gt gt ee folder Ld Cd s gt Asmall blue Aa icon will appear in the AccessApps Applications Documents Autorun inf task bar bottom hand right side of the screen display gt Click on itonce g My Computer gt A vertical menu will appear gt Click once on an item to open it EduApps AccessApps TeachApps LearnApps MyApps MyStudyBar MyVisBar Page 17 EduApps User Manual Configuring and Customising AccessApps NDCO Project 2010 The programs that are packaged with the AccessApps menu are sourced from different companies and software developers Each app has its own options and design features Some programs can be customised and set up to meet individual access workflow or learning needs The Virtual Magnifying glass can be resized and configured with a number of opt
48. le is 817MB in PE Ria ens size My Computer lt File name AccessAppsFull im My Network Save as type WinRAR ZIP archive M 8 Unzip the downloaded file by right clicking on the file and select Extract All to your desktop or a location of your choice e g My Documents Note 4 AccessApps D This extraction or unzipping process will also Sis a ee nee ee take time There are thousands of files to be een extracted It may take anything from 30 to 60 Address 0 minutes depending upon the processor speed z a of your host computer Therefore choose a new or fast computer AccessApps Applications Documents 9 Then copy all of the extracted files to the l root directory of your USB stick or memory 5 objects 1 My Computer stick i e the root directory is the first or top most directory in a hierarchy Do NOT copy them into a folder on a memory stick or USB thumb drive pen as the AccessApps exe file will not work Do NOT rename any folder or file The drive should look like the above image The drive letter may be anything from Drive E to Z this depends on the host computer being used and the drive letters used by other devices and servers EduApps AccessApps TeachApps LearnApps MyApps MyStudyBar MyVisBar Page 10 EduApps User Manual NDCO Project 2010 Installing AccessApps to a USB external drive To copy the full or core version of AccessApps onto a USB drive or external drive may be performed on
49. ll provide opportunities for users to hone typing skills and practise keyboard technique Anyone of any age can learn to type more quickly and more accurately The programs used in concert will provide a number of opportunities for users who cannot afford commercial programs or who are remote users The fact that all of these apps can be used anywhere is the key as only the host computer is required All of the custom settings are saved to the USB device Each person can determine which of the apps is most useful and used in different situations and combinations will afford varying degrees of independence and success EduApps AccessApps TeachApps LearnApps MyApps MyStudyBar MyVisBar Page 22 EduApps User Manual NDCO Project 2010 Using AccessApps software CamStudio B With other MS Windows Programs Consistent with using the Apps with each other the same applies to using them with standard Windows programs and software This includes email web browsers and social web sites E CamStudio Any program that launches from a disk or web page will be able to be used OPENSOURCE with an app with the exception of programs that run in full screen mode Some of these programs do notrun in a window and so the AccessApps may not be accessible Many of these programs are resources e g CD or DV based software or games Record video from the screen The apps have been chosen so that users of all abilities can be included Use
50. ly USB thumb flash pen or stick drives 50 60 They are commonly used on a removable storage device such as a USB flash 7 drive flash card or floppy disk Portable apps should not be confused with software s0 portability where software allows its source code to be compiled for different computing platforms n 100 mm Portable applications can be run on any computer system with which they are compatible but typically require a specific operating system such as MS Windows XP or above certain versions of a Linux distribution code or on MAC OS These can be desktop laptop notebook or netbook style computing devices Portable software is typically designed to be able to store its configuration information and data on the storage media containing its program files i e the device upon which the program is stored most commonly being a USB drive of some description The main advantage is that the required software that a user needs is always available and does not need to be pre installed The software application can be used anywhere and at anytime on host computers running the required operating system Some commercial Portable Apps of assistive technologies are available for purchase as commercially available solutions with many other freeware and open source programs available at no cost to the user How a Portable App Works A portable application does not leave its files or settings on the host computer Typically this means th
51. n Win 229kb handy program for recovering deleted or formatted files YamiPod Win powerful iPod manager copy mp3 AAC files to and from your iPod import export play lists search for songs remove duplicates More iPod tools Drive Manager Win 1191 kb quick summary for each local and removable drive PStart lets you organize and create menu like list for quicker access to your portable programs SyncP Appx script that syncs preferences between portable and local applications RQ Money handy utility to manage your credits and debts SIW a system analysis tool that tells you almost everything you need to know about a computer i e hardware configuration settings etc WinAudit one more analysis tool Convert Win 155 kb fast metric unit conversion tool distance temperature volume time speed mass UK Calender Win 321kb straightforward calendar with to do and reminders CPU Z Win provides detailed info about your processor and other components Country Codes Win 1358 kb a small database of country codes and additional information for all countries TreeP ad Lite Win 866kb personal database program lets you store all your notes emails bookmarks etc into one well structured file e StartupList Win 158 kb displays all items that are in any way related to your computer startup and are executed without any user interactions e elextReader Win 279kb read plain text files provided by
52. n download These include MS Word format Open Writer i e Open Office Org word processor Adobe PDF format in large print in MP3 format and in DTB format The alternate formats cater to users who require the information in their preferred file types A handy wall of description for 90 software packages Is available at www rsc ne scotland ac uk eduapps compare php EduApps AccessApps TeachApps LearnApps MyApps MyStudyBar MyVisBar Page 42 EduApps User Manual NDCO Project 2010 Future Directions of EduApps MyStudyBar MyStudyBar Planning Reading Writing Vision MyStudyBar Version 2 was launched in April 2010 It will also run from any external memory device as well as running from a server or computer MyStudyBar Is a tool that helps overcome problems that students commonly experience with studying reading and writing The tool consists of a set of portable open source and freeware applications assembled into one convenient package Easy to install simple to use handy and effective MyStudyBar provides comprehensive learning support at the desktop where it is needed MyStudyBar is completely free to download and free to use MyStudyBar has been produced by the same RSC NE team that created the award winning AccessApps software suite Although MyStudyBar is designed to support learners with literacy related difficulties such as dyslexia the toolbar can offer potential benefits to all learners Features of MyStudyBar
53. nd Image Editors e IrfanView Win 1013kb fast graphic viewer with basic image editing features e XNView Win Mac Linux image viewer and converter Supports more then 400 image formats e Inkscape Mac 24 6mb scalable vector graphics editor Portable Browsers and Internet Tools FTP Feedreaders Torrent Clients e Firefox Win 5 8 Mb Mac 21 9mb Cross platform Win Mac e Other browsers Camino Mac 16 2mb Opera Win Safari Mac requires installed safari e FTP Clients Filezilla Win 2 3 Mb FireFTP Win 0 1mb CyberDuck Mac 9 9mb e TrayURL Win bookmark manager e uTorrent Win popular torrent downloader Portable Security Software e Omziff Win 0 5mb lets you encrypt decrypta file using secure encryption algorithms Also includes a password generator file shredder file splitter and some more tools e LockNote Win simple text file that lets you store sensitive info with 256bit password encryption e RoboF or2Go Win secure password manager and form filler Portable Games Bricks2000 popular Tetris clone Logix something similar to minesweeper GeneRally 2D racing game Nagaskaki chess game NarkoMania cool minesweeper clone NeverBall part puzzle part action game Other Portable Utilities 7Zip Win 1 1 Mb file archiver and compressor supports 7z ZIP GZIP BZIP2 TAR RAR and more Registry Tweaker Win 1 52mb registry tweaking tool Restoratio
54. nd writer of the EduApps User Manual Mr Gerry Kennedy Gerry Kennedy IT Consultancy Specmelb bignond net au Melbourne Australia As at une 2010 EduApps AccessApps TeachApps LearnApps MyApps MyStudyBar MyVisBar Page 4
55. o book recordings can be cut into manageable albums with just a few clicks VLC http www videolan org vic VLC media player is a free portable multimedia player encoder and streamer supporting many audio and video codecs and file formats as well as DVDs VCDs and various streaming protocols It is able to stream over networks and to transcode multimedia files and save them into various different formats It will handle most popular media formats and is an alternative to Windows Media Player As itis portable it will play and stream media content on a computer that will not play certain file types EduApps AccessApps TeachApps LearnApps MyApps MyStudyBar MyVisBar Page 33 EduApps User Manual NDCO Project 2010 Presentation Tools CamStudio http camstudio org CamStudio is a screencasting program for MS Windows released as free software The software renders videos in an AVI Audio Video Interleave format Itcan also convert these AVIs into Flash Video format embedded in SWF files Users can record all screen action and create a video of whatever transpired during recording Used with a microphone all comments narration or sound effects will also be recorded It is ideal for creating tutorials user guides and presentations for people who prefer moving images and video content rather than typed notes or FAQs KompoZer hitto kompozer net KompoZer is a complete web authoring system that combines web file management
56. oaded and unzipped the MvVisB Original file is 23 8MB the user extracts or yY Soar unzips it to a size of approximately 46MB It unpacks to eight 8 items all neatly arranged in a new folder titled MyVisBar This folder can then be duplicated and copied or moved to any storage device of the user s choosing As with the EduApps suite of portable apps it is totally free and the RSC team has selected either Freeware or Open Source applications that can be used anywhere at anytime As stated on the e Inclusion blog Atthe RSC here in Edinburgh we re keen to develop innovative and useful technology resources to support e inclusion particularly resources which are portable and free Our latest resource Is MyVisBar designed specifically to support learners with a visual impairment Source htto www rsc ne scotland org uk e inclusion p 1356 It certainly fits the bill Itis visually significant as it has been cleverly designed with the genres of software labelled in a large yellow font contrasting very clearly and boldly on a black background This floating toolbar can be located anywhere on screen Some users might place it consistently in one area of the screen So as to confidently and consistently locate the various tools every time e g just to the left of the top right hand corner The tools or portable applications generously provided in this toolbar include Magnify DesktopZoom has been selected as it provides a u
57. oading them in a single installation file The programs selected will then decompress unpack or be unzipped into a folder with the entire complement of folders files and MyApps menu If Users find this arduous confusing or difficult they can opt to watch a screencast video on the topic Pick n Mix watch screencast on Pick n Mix EduApps AccessApps TeachApps LearnApps MyApps MyStudyBar MyVisBar Page 9 EduApps User Manual NDCO Project 2010 Why Use EduApps Students trainees teachers tutors trainers and support staff can use R S portable applications on any MS Windows OS based computing resource Regional Support Centre at school TAFE University workplace or at home Scotland North amp East JISC Users have the opportunity to access a number of useful Inclusive or Assistive Technologies anywhere anytime LearnApps is targeted primarily to students LearnApps includes many free software tools and a few games that cater to student learning access and study needs For teachers lecturers or instructors trainers school support staff and others in educational settings there is TeachApps A few things that were carefully considered for teachers such as portable versions of Virtual Learning Environments were included It predominantly caters to people involved in accommodating students not to say that some parents may enjoy this suite as well AccessApps Is the original and now acclaimed and award winning coll
58. ograms vary in function design and complexity Some are very small and perform a few functions e g VU Bar whilst others are extensive and quite complex programs with hundreds of features e g The Gimp Some programs cater directly to users who have impairments and disabilities e g Click n Type This does not mean that they cannot be used effectively in the mainstream The Sonar Cursor Ring aids users who have vision impairment or who cannot readily locate the cursor I beam or pointer Teachers and lecturers can show where they are moving the mouse or pointer so that their audience can easily visually track the cursor AccessApps provides a range of solutions to support writing reading and planning as well as sensory cognitive and physical difficulties With respect to technology in education AccessApps attempts to reduce the digital divide between the haves and the have nots One factor which comes to mind when thinking about the digital divide is cost However less obviously but just as importantly it s clear that some learners are discouraged from using technology in their studies because It isn t compatible with their additional or special needs In many cases just small changes to the way in which technology is used can make a big difference to the way in which a student can access it Much of the time problems can be solved just through Knowing a little more about what is already out there And as AccessApps s
59. on on the web as well as the desktop It caters directly to users who are vision impaired or blind Some users may already have programs such as jaws NVDA is a good entry level program for some people or it may prove to be a total solution for others EduApps AccessApps TeachApps LearnApps MyApps MyStudyBar MyVisBar Page 30 EduApps User Manual NDCO Project 2010 Accessible Browsers BBC Listen Again amp iPlayer htto www webbie org uk Listen to and enjoy all the programs broadcast by the BBC in the last week Users can also obtain and access all of the BBC programs available through iPlayer with just a few button presses BBC Radio htto www webbie org uk This is a simple program designed to listen to BBC radio programs via the BBC website Gutenberg htto www webbie org uk Users of all ages and abilities can browse download and read thousands of books completely free Gutenberg provides access to the free public domain books proved by Project Gutenberg in an easy and accessible format Users can also use it to read long documents The text can be voiced using other apps such as Dspeech or PowerReader or talking books created by using the text to audio capabilities in Dspeech Firefox htto www mozilla europe org en firefox Mozilla Firefox is an opensource E web browser and is the second en nr most popular browser in current use worldwide after Internet ST Eu const Ei I PW on Explorer Features include tabbed brows
60. ons themselves run completely from the external thumb drive and will not compromise the integrity of the system s used This is not to say that malware viruses Trojans and worms cannot infect the device being used by the users Care must be taken by all parties to ensure that the integrity of the Eduapps drive and host computer s is maintained atall times 12s End users must also ensure that their ee 5 as n i o Pathways pre 4 computer systems have up to date virus E ana Tikes protection software installed and running Checking drives periodically is highly Wednesday 7 April 2010 Sunbird File Edit Yiew Go Tools Help Gym practise 1 hour Wednesday 7 April 2010 4 30 4M 12 00 AM Maths Methods Room 207 1 00 AM C Hide Completed Tasks 5 00 AM recommended EduApps AccessApps TeachApps LearnApps MyApps MyStudyBar MyVisBar Page 12 EduApps User Manual NDCO Project 2010 Benefits to Schools and Organisations EduApps includes a range of necessary functions and feature in free tools that are more specifically required for learners with different learning needs learning styles disabilities and impairments Students engage almost immediately Many of the programs are generic in design and appeal to all users of all abilities The capacity for inclusion is made possible as everyone can find solutions for themselves without being labelled or described a
61. org uk newsfeed or to the RSC NE Scotland e inclusion blog at htto www rsc ne scotland org uk NDCO http www ndcovictoria net au Home P age aspx lt DCO Contact Person Z National Disability Coordination Officer Program Margie Sinclair P 03 9925 3531 Email margie sinclair rmit edu au For more information about how EduApps and the initiatives Is being used and deployed in Australia Gerry Kennedy Gerry Kennedy IT Consultancy Inclusive Technology Consultant in Education and Rehabilitation Laburnum Victoria 3130 P 03 9894 4826 M 0411 569 840 E mail specmelb bigpond net au EduApps AccessApps TeachApps LearnApps MyApps MyStudyBar MyVisBar Page 46 EduApps User Manual NDCO Project 2010 Credits 1 JISC and RSC Scotland Contact Page htto www rsc ne scotland ac uk eduapps contact php Additional Resources http www rsc ne scotland ac uk eduapps resources php 2 NDCO Project Leaders The Australian Government s NDCO Program targets the barriers that people with disability face in successfully accessing and completing post school education and training and subsequent employment A national network of NDCOs works within 31 specific regions across Australia to improve the coordination and delivery of support services to help make it easier to enrol or participate in post school education training and employment htto www deewr gov au S kills P rograms NDCO P ages default as px NDCO Research a
62. ose or poems Lesson progress indicator Multiple language and keyboard layout support TypeF aster Accessible htto www typefastertypingtutor com accversion htm The accessible version of TypeF aster is for vision impaired or blind users It uses the excellent free text to speech engine Flite to provide continuous voice support Currently only the US English keyboard layout is Supported with text to speech capabilities Vu Bar htto www fxc btinternet co uk Vu Bar provides an on screen slotted colour ruler It supports users with dyslexia It is used when the user Skips lines or drops from one line to the next As a visual support it can be moved about the screen or text as required using mouse trackball or pointer e g on an interactive Whiteboard This version allows the user to select the bar width to 25 50 75 or 100 of screen width and set the slot height to the required font size i e up to an inch tall or 72 point Thunder htto www screenreader net Thunder Screenreader is a software tool that makes the computer speak Without needing to see the screen display users can write letters and documents hear what they have typed letter by letter or word by word as well as change the speed and the male or female voice Text can be repeated and all icons and images that are tagged will be voiced Itis especially useful for vision impaired users or for those that have a text disability EduApps AccessApps TeachApp
63. ou start investigating Assistive or Inclusive technologies you will quickly discover links that lead you off at every tangent possible It is exciting as you discover that parents and educators around the world are all looking for answers Inclusive ICT resources exist and the number quality and efficacy vary They may lead you to a key that unlocks the door of potential for your child or one that you are supporting It s worth the time exploring for 10 15 minutes a day It s amazing what you can discover Broad categories of Assistive Technology may include Y Alternative Keyboards Alternative Mouse Systems Communication Systems Optical Character Recognition Personal Data Assistants Refreshable Braille Displays Screen Magnifiers Screen Readers Text to Speech Devices and Software Textto Audio systems and software Voice Recognition Systems Word Prediction Closed circuit TV and monitors VV VV VV VV VV V WV EduApps AccessApps TeachApps LearnApps MyApps MyStudyBar MyVisBar Page 7 EduApps User Manual NDCO Project 2010 Overview of EduApps Applications The applications selected by the team atRSC NE Scotland were ones deemed to be applicable and relevant to students conducting research writing reading brainstorming organising designing and creating electronic text music and images The main criteria were the no cost portable aspect of the applications they had to be able to run without installation The pr
64. pixels gt Lens height in pixels gt Magnification Graphics Tools v Graphical Border Invert Colors Anti Aliasing Configurations Dialog Translations b Save current settings as default Use Plugin Usually Dynamic Mode Close Plugin visit the Magnifying Glass homepage About Virtual Magnifying Glass Help Cancel Exit EduApps User Manual Storage of Documents Files Music and Video files Most users purchase USB storage devices as they are small discrete and portable Burning documents to CDs and DVDs is ideal for archiving or for long term storage but day to day access and storage requires something more practical EduApps with AccessApps programs alters that scenario to a degree Not only are documents and files stored on the USB drive but the programs and Apps that a user requires for productivity design or learning are stored on the device as well The team atRSC NE Scotland realised that Students and other users would want to carry the 4Gb or 8GB drive with their software apps and documents They would also most likely wish to continue to store the documents that they have gt Created and written gt Acquired gt Edited at school University or workplace gt Downloaded from the web gt Copied from another source fan Guides fe Open Office 5 Planning amp Organisation a Reading amp Writing Support an Visual Support fe Acc
65. port or installation of assistive software ata school or workplace No permission required for installing assistive technologies onto a local computer or server No time lag for the permission or installation or technical glitches No confusion as to what is available on computers about a campus or even In one room Independent use independent tools anywhere anytime The applications are portable and will prompt the user with alarms and data e g Sunbird calendar Independent set up configuration and preferences in each App for each user Ability to add more portable apps to cater to individual interests or needs Low cost solution approximately 20 25 for a 4GB USB2 memory thumb drive Provides increased independence and ability to be in control of technology VV VV V VV VV WV Provides educators with ready made solutions for instruction particularly the very powerful and cool Virtual Learning Environments USB drive technology is accepted and used universally by students Most users now are very familiar with USB based drives and technologies Practically all computers since about 2005 have atleast two USB ports or you can use 4 or 8 port hubs The ability to add and save MP3 files Podcasts graphics photos and other documents on the drive VV VV WV Ideal for older PCs and Eee PC style and ultra portable computers that have minimal or restricted hard disk space V It is mainstream technology and not made for the disabled
66. prehensive and professional software package 7 that integrates a complete dictionary and multifaceted thesaurus of the English language into a single language reference system It accommodates older more capable users of English and has many features and functions Itcan be customised to meet individual needs e g increase font size TypeF aster Typing Tutor http www typefastertypingtutor com This free open source typing tutor assists users in acquiring and practising skills in touch typing TypeF aster s on screen display lets users keep their eyes on the monitor and off the keyboard as they work their way through the lessons Pre programmed lessons are available in the software They increase in skill complexity The font size can be increased to accommodate younger users or those with visual impairments or visual acuity needs A game Is also available where 100 words are drilled These can be edited removed and appended Various keyboard types Dvorak etc are Supported Other features include A clear indication of which fingers to use A 3D typing game Typing statistics and the option of practising the least accurate slowest custom keys Keyboard is nota fixed size i e itis not resolution independent Multi user Support Teacher support view student statistics Interface for editing lesson files and game settings Is available Backspace support Right to left text support Variable text size Lesson files can be pr
67. provides a way of accessing and using relevant software anywhere anytime Factsheets user guides and support are available on the web or are accessible from within the Help File in most of the various applications Users often write their own their own notes and user hints many of which are published on Wikis and in Blogs EduApps AccessApps TeachApps LearnApps MyApps MyStudyBar MyVisBar Page 14 EduApps User Manual NDCO Project 2010 Downloading EduApps Initiatives It is highly recommended to choose a fast computer and connect to the Internet with the fastest connection speed available to you at home or at work school Before you click to download note that there s a help page at htto www eduapps org a contact page a FAQ section and a users forum as well as this EduApps User Manual Select the bundle of applications that best suits the individual class or work needs e LearnApps ee a j TeachApps or Download e AccessApps Leamapps d e MyStudyB ar aise ownload yyy RERNE noe EEEE To read and study a full list of applications and size 2 O aii aaa comparison of bundles on offer link to USB Stick 0 2GBE ai E FGBF u htto www rsc ne eh rr ce ree eects scotland ac uk eduapps compare php s com are h i c y Download Download Download oe Tels AccessApps Core LearnApps Core TeachApps Core In this insta nce and exa mple AccessApps will he n hia A a EE A AA AACA EEA z 3 61MB 80MB SO
68. ptions in playing games Issues of equity are resolved to a degree because all workers and students can access the software that they require in order to compete fairly with more privileged users MyStudyBar a relatively new initiative provides a set of literacy tools that will assist struggling readers and writers These literacy supports will enable them to access text and complete tasks with better outcomes and results Tools to assist in spell checking thesaurus and dictionary searches text to audio as well as text to speech will provide a means to more confidently approach and complete school based tasks and projects Commercial equivalents to MyStudyBar are in the hundreds of dollars This is a large commitment for students and workers who are unsure of what these programs offer They can trial and experiment with the apps in MyS tudyBar or AccessApps and then become more discerning and educated to what these genres offer By using the free alternatives they can more accurately describe how they assist and where other tools may be more advantageous The apps may Support a user 100 or may incrementally aid a user over time As there is no financial commitment users can pa i i TheSage s English Dicti d Th K x explore the options and decide for themselves S TheSage s English Dictionary and Thesaurus CEN MER whether these assistive software programs are E1 xe10 X 0 gt zit 18 E OOO Se E necessary in part or are required most of
69. r Open Office Org applications Ms Word Excel Access and PowerPoint equivalents are met with surprise and acclamations of this can t be free it s too good Desktop Publishing with Scribus music and MP3 editing with Audacity the list goes on Even brainstorming and mind mapping with Xmind and Freemind can be performed The apps are diverse in their application and appeal Users need to explore and experiment with each program to ascertain whether it meets one or more of their access learning design or research needs Used in concert with other utilities and programs they might overcome difficulties and impairments or solve a dilemma Time is required for continued exposure and practise Each app has an associated web site that will provide additional information and background Fact sheets and FAQs will also be available online from a number of forums Wikis and Blogs The only way to fully realise the potential of a program for an individual or group of users is to persevere and keep using it until it shows a clear benefit After mastering one or more functions it may solve one or more problems The software will then be accepted and continually used for that purpose or explored further to solve other Issues EduApps AccessApps TeachApps LearnApps MyApps MyStudyBar MyVisBar Page 8 EduApps User Manual NDCO Project 2010 AccessApps Teach Apps Learn Apps and MyApps Users can select the bundle of applications that best su
70. r option does not appear as the feature has Ei Play Music o been turned off where you work or study then locate and using Media Player Classic double click on My Computer then double click on the LA Print the pictures appropriate drive e g F or G drive vy My Computer acD Seles Note A quick way to see all available drives Is to Fie Edt Viw Favorites Tools Heb w press the Windows Key left of the Spacebar and Bis age e i the E key i e Win E together 3 P oe Gan y J S My Documents q aA i E E a PRESARIO RP D Ce DYD CD RW Drive E Se GKICT Home C QS Using either method the user will quickly see the There ie f i i f eee eae wee 4 DVD RW Drive F AccessApps G blue icon of AccessApps with the associated drive E G DVD RW Drive F Fal MA accessApps G E G Control Panel Shared Documents 3 lt P gt Hewlett Packard ScanJet 5200C Shared Documents lt gt Double click on the AccessApps drive A new window will appear Double click on AccessApps exe file A new blue aA icon will appear in the taskbar on the right hand side at the bottom of the screen display Click on itonce and the AccessApps menu will appear Apr 2010 09 3 Note This will be the same for LearnApps TeachApps and MyApps as well Use the apps and exit them after being used To exit most of the programs locate the app icon in the taskbar to the left of the blue AccessApps icon and
71. reader integrated with computer text to speech capabilities The level of focus complexity and detail is adjustable according to the user s needs The quality of the voice output may not accommodate all users Changing colours and contrasts may assist and support users who require different supports to enable them to more confidently and independently access text RapidSet htto www fxc btinternet co uk RapidS et provides quick customisation of the background and font colours The changes are global and are reflected in all application windows It avoids the process of having to go through Windows Screen Rapidset Properties dialogues Some technicians also Current Default Colours e block this feature so users can alter the screen These are the colours These are the choices display without recourse to tech support or currently applied to all you have made Click acquiring administrator permissio ns applications in Windows the Apply button to set them as the defaults The colours do not print to hard copy they are only available whilst the computer is running and Select Background Colour Select Font Colour need to be activated each time a user logs on a and launches AccessApps and then runs RapidSet EduApps AccessApps TeachApps LearnApps MyApps MyStudyBar MyVisBar Page 28 EduApps User Manual NDCO Project 2010 TheSage htto www sequencepublishing com thesage htm The Sage is a powerful com
72. ring simulation and modeling presentation recording and mastering tools NOTE Notonly can users avail themselves of Apps from the RSC Scotland site but from numerous other web sites as well See Portable Apps Sites C RSEs Stimulating and Supporting Innovation in Learning Regional Support Centre Scotland North amp East JISC EduApps Download Apps List Help FAQs Forum Resources Contact Menu sessssesssssssesessssssossssesseoesesesessosessesosessssesessssssesssssssessssssssesesssesseesesesessssessesesesssesssesesssesssssssssossssssesesssssseesesesessessssssessssssssssssosssssossssssessssssosesseosssesesessessssssssesessessssssessesesessesssssseseseesssessssosessessssesesss Cr Click to Show Rec Initiatives EduA pps Text Reader Latest news EduApps AccessApps TeachApps LearnApps MyApps MyStudyBar MyVisBar Page 4 EduApps User Manual Open Source and Freeware Applications Free software programs may include NDCO Project 2010 Freeware software with unlimited use and can be freely used and copied Open Source software with unlimited use can be freely copied and reengineered and distributed Beta Versions Software or devices that are still in the engineering phase and are yet to be classified as finished fully working or tested products Shareware trial software that can be used for a limited time period or number of sessions before purchase Demonstration This is trial so
73. rs include V VV VV VV VV VV VV VV VV WV Provides opportunities for students to proceed at their own pace Varies instruction for individuals using different technologies large print text to speech or text to audio Increases enthusiasm for school in general Improves self concept Some programs provide immediate feedback Increases engaged time as well as time on task and increases attention span Helps compensate for communication disorders e g DS peech Improves academic performance for some students as they are actively engaged and on task Students are more able to participate in mainstream activities i e with these accommodations Provides socialisation opportunities i e discussion in small groups whilst working together Increases range of leisure activities i e the Games in AccessApps Promotes better self discipline to work with a number of apps in order to achieve an outcome Promotes increased concentration and participation Reduces negative behaviours Engagement of students in creative activities e g using Audacity The Gimp or Artweaver Some apps are an aid to develop cognitive skills such as planning organisation and remembering Assists students to learn life skills that support independent living Students often learn more effectively or quickly EduApps AccessApps TeachApps LearnApps MyApps MyStudyBar MyVisBar Page 24 EduApps User Manual NDCO Project 2010 Using AccessApps software d At Home and
74. ry feedback voicing the names of keys that have been pressed and word prediction that may assist some people The keyboard layout can be altered as well as dynamic resizing is available Macros can be recorded to replay sequences of Keystrokes to enable users to repeat complex or repetitive tasks Word abbreviation and expansion as well as keystroke minimisation functions are available Dasher http www inference phy cam ac uk dasher Dasher is an information efficient text entry interface driven by natural continuous pointing gestures Dasher is a competitive text entry system wherever a full size keyboard cannot be used It is quite esoteric in design and Is can be difficult to master for some users Dasher can be used to write efficiently in other languages Dasher is a zooming interface Users point where they want to go and the display zooms in wherever the user points The world into which the user is zooming Is painted with letters so that any point where a user zooms in on corresponds to a piece of text The more a user zooms in the longer the piece of text the user has written Users choose what they write by choosing where to zoom MouseTool htto www mousetool com index htm MouseTool clicks the mouse for you If users have difficulty clicking the Say a left and right buttons on a mouse or a trackball MouseTool will perform the mouse clicks for them It can be set to single or double click mode Jaos
75. s LearnApps MyApps MyStudyBar MyVisBar Page 29 EduApps User Manual NDCO Project 2010 Visual Support IE Appearance Editor htto www webbie org uk Users can easily select the best font colour scheme and appearance for their web pages using this simple tool This can be achieved in other ways but this portable tool provides flexibility and customised options on any computer being used at work school local library or friend s house QuickRes http www fxc btinternet co uk QuickRes allows users to quickly change resolution to low or medium and back to normal at the click of a button Some monitors may not respond if the resolution is locked into a set mode or unexpected results may occur ifa second monitor is being used e g a projector Primarily designed for individual users to access and alter the screen resolution as required Sonar http www fxc btinternet co uk This package provides an expanded ring around the mouse pointer for users who have difficulty locating the pointer Unlike the Windows XP version this package places a permanent ring around the pointer An option to vary the colour of the Sonar ring is available and It can be de activated by pressing the Alt S key on and off Virtual Magnifying Glass htto magnifier sourceforge net This is the fastest method to magnify parts of the screen display It is a one click customisable magnifying glass that will let users view every pixel of their screen in deta
76. s www spectronicsinoz com Novitatech htto www novitatech org au and East West Computers http www east west com au In other countries there exist many companies that develop and design solutions whether it be software or enabling devices These include leaders such as AbleNet htto www ablenetinc com Don J ohnson htto www donjohnston com IntelliTools htto www intellitools com Crick Software htto www cricksoft com uk default asp or Inclusive Technologies htto www inclusive co uk The Inclusive Technologies site also provides some very handy resources ideas and strategies for teaching and free downloads http www inclusive co uk downloads downloads shtml EduApps AccessApps TeachApps LearnApps MyApps MyStudyBar MyVisBar Page 6 EduApps User Manual NDCO Project 2010 Other educational software suppliers list products that cater to students with disabilities Edsoft www edsoft com au S oftwaretime http www softwaretime com au Dataworks http www dataworks com au and New Horizons in NSW htto www nh com au Some suppliers in other states provide AAC Augmentative and Alternate Communication equipment mounts and devices including Technability www technability com au index htm and Zyteq www zygoaustralia com au content aboutus html Yet other sites promote products for vision impairment htto www visionaustralia org au and for the deaf Agencies exist to promote leading pra
77. s having a specific difficulty There are only solutions It certainly caters to disadvantaged groups The little or no cost approach assists schools students and workplace settings The opportunity to use a range of programs without cost encourages users to experiment and explore immediately The opportunity to be exposed to assistive technologies over time creates an environment where discussion comparison and engagement educate the users to what can be achieved The potential is realised first hand It caters to schools and organisations gt On limited budgets That cannot afford commercial software That want to delve into Inclusive Technologies but do not want to necessarily commit That wish to experiment with a genre or type of software e g text to audio That need convincing that these technologies have merit That do not have the necessary or ongoing tech support That are remote or that have disadvantaged community members That are just starting to recognise the need for assistive technology tools VVVVVV V The only real downside is the issue of maintaining the integrity of the computing systems Schools colleges training institutes and workplaces must have up to date virus protection and software protection and protocols in place These standard best practise mechanisms must be in place so as to avoid malicious files from entering their intranets servers and IT systems If these are present and securely applie
78. seful desktop and fixed window magnification The recent upgrade version features basic font and screen smoothing Ithas numerous options Settings and featy res including text to speech ae Layout Info bar Autocorrection Quick text Misc T i Editor Info bar large pointers and cross hair mica iE ee Js E opuons Cl Bold C static ClBold C static i i i i EE Background color E Background color Speech Thunder is used in MyVisBar as it will voice and p B coi echo words and sentences that are typed in MS Word Itis possible and advised to use DesktopZoom and Thunder together It will also voices icons and other text in dialogue boxes and menus The TTS capabilities are superior to DesktopZoom so users have a choice As with all programs the user should decide when to employ the tools necessary to complete a task or learn to BE Alerts text color master them over time Practise does make perfect Write The very beguiling but extremely useful Q10 application is an easy to use text editor Q10 is very flexible and provides a way of typing text with high contrast and without unnecessary visual clutter By pressing the F1 key the user can control the program and select font style size colour and background Most of the keyboard equivalents more useful and practical for users with vision impairments are CTRL key or Function key based It Is surprisingly an efficient text editor and will cater to
79. sub grid may only contain one of each number EduApps AccessApps TeachApps LearnApps MyApps MyStudyBar MyVisBar Page 36 EduApps User Manual NDCO Project 2010 Web Links and Resources for other Portable Apps The EduApps site in Scotland www eduapps org leads the way in providing equitable elegant and sustainable solutions for students and educators trainers workplace providers in identifying sourcing testing and delivering the best solutions for students Then visit these other sites and build your own solutions Students with different abilities require robust and reliable technologies in order for them to function at their place of learning as well as in society With Portable Apps they can become more confident and independent users of IT and achieve the results that they aspire to EduApps is the leading solution but there are many other options to cater to students and users in the workplace who need different applications Portable Office Software Portable Email Calendar To Do Programs Portable Text and Voice Messengers Portable Media Tools Audio Video Portable Graphics Viewers and Image Editors Portable Browsers and Web Tools FTP Feedreaders Torrentclients Portable Security Software Portable Games 9 Other Portable Utilities 10 All In One Packages 11 Portable Operating Systems How To Articles 12 USB ThumbDrive Tips oo es ee a a Portable Office Software e Abiword Win
80. t can be updated automatically so that users can be assured that their USB or external drive is free from malware and viruses at no cost to the user EduApps AccessApps TeachApps LearnApps MyApps MyStudyBar MyVisBar Page 35 EduApps User Manual NDCO Project 2010 Games Anagramarama hitto www coralquest com anagramarama A free word game the aim is to find as many words as possible in the time available Get the longest word and advance to the next level J ooleem http jooleem sourceforge net Downloads J ooleem is a simple yet extremely addictive puzzle game There is only one rule click on four marbles of the same colour that form a rectangle Time is constantly running out but users earn time and points by forming rectangles The larger the rectangle the more time and points are won Othello http www cylog org games 3 asp This is an implementation of the classic Othello game where players pit their skills against the computer player Stranded Il htto www unrealsoftware de game_ stranded2 php In this game the player is stranded on a deserted island and has to use his or her wits to explore and survive Sudoku http www easysw com mike sudoku index html Sudoku is a simple number based puzzle game played on a 9 x 9 grid that IS divided into 3 x 3 sub grids The goal Is to enter a number from 1 to 9 in each cell so that each number appears only once in each column and row In addition each 3 x 3
81. t or top most directory in a hierarchy EduApps AccessApps TeachApps LearnApps MyApps MyStudyBar MyVisBar Page 15 EduApps User Manual NDCO Project 2010 6 When the option to Open with or Save File Opening AccessAppsFull zip appears check the radio button Save File i e as it appears here with the green circle inside the blue circle selected om AccessAppsFull zip which is a WinRAR ZIP archive From http download704 mediafire com You have chosen to open What should Firefox do with this file Open with WinZip Executable default C Do this automatically For files like this From now on 7 When requested where to save the file choose the Desktop Enter name of file to save to Save in 2 Desktop v 2 em Note A O My Documents 1 Z i It is easier to locate the zipped file E car as y Recen later It will then a ppear on the des ktop Documents 4 Useful Microsoft Word Tips amp Tricks You Should Know About_files of your computer after successfully q Q Edu pps Project Manual 2010 downloading 2 Multimedia Apps l Desktop New programs to check out To Do URGENT Allow anything trom 30 to 240 minutes 7 utility Programs depending on how fastthe Internet Ly ae aii connection is at the school University My Documente aa crignas TAFE organisation or workplace The Z nian 2009 ila DropBox GKICT full AccessApps zipped fi
82. the height and width of T Bar to be adjusted to suit individual needs All the above changes occur in real time so that the user can see what the final result is before they select Done It will assist people who have Irlen Syndrome Dyslexia is associated with a variety of reading and perceptual disorders Irlen Syndrome is a form of perceptual dyslexia Symptoms include poor Spelling writing inefficient reading sore eyes and headaches glare sensitivity and depth perception difficulties Resize A user can quickly change the screen resolution using the Quick Res Changer application e g 640 x 480 to the maximum resolution i e on my 23 monitor 1920 x 1280 pixels Although it is possible to Manually adjust the resolution ofthe BBS Quick Res Changer Lo e desktop screen in Windows XP Vista Quick Seer Res Changer makes it very easy to accomplish aos the same task but without having to locate and launch the Windows desktop settings Be Lb Low amp won AP Max aware though that the desktop shortcuts and icons will move and re arrange often with unexpected results Focus Sonar cursor ring is one of those little apps that make you smile as it is so clever and useful It generates a large coloured circle about the pointer It is an excellent visual aid Teachers instructors and trainers can use it to clearly show what they are doing with their pointing device in class lessons lectures and demonstrations Users can
83. to Microsoft Equation Editor Formulae can be embedded inside other OpenOffice org documents such as those created by Writer It Supports multiple fonts and can export to PDF Base http www openoffice org Base is database program similar to Microsoft Access Base allows the creation and manipulation of databases and the building of forms and reports to provide easy access to data for end users As with Access Base may be used as a front end to a number of different database systems including Access databases J ET ODBC data sources and MySQL PostgreSQL Calc htto www openoffice org Calc is a Spreadsheet similar to Microsoft Excel with an equivalent range of features Calc provides a number of features not present in Excel including a system that automatically defines series for graphing based on the layout of the user s data Calc is also capable of writing spreadsheets directly as a PDF file Draw htto www openoffice org Draw Is a vector graphics editor comparable in features to early versions of Core Draw It features versatile connectors between shapes which are available in a range of line styles and facilitate building drawings such as flowcharts It has similar features to Desktop publishing software such as Scribus included on AccessApps and Microsoft Publisher Impress http www openoffice org Impress is a presentation program similar to Microsoft PowerP oint It can export presentations to Adobe Flash S
84. use it in different light conditions e g outside in the bright sun or when competing with fluorescent lighting Small efficient and so practical it helps users focus and track the movements of their mouse trackball or joystick It might also help people using head pointing systems MyVisBar can be used by anyone but has been specifically created and designed to assist users who have a vision loss or impairment or short term acquired eye injury or trauma Other commercial products are consistently appearing on the market but this small wonderful new toolbar might just accommodate a student s needs at school or help someone in the workplace to accomplish computer tasks in reading writing research and study It is free and available for download at htto www mediafire com file yzdrqjidmyw MyVisBar zip Screencast tutorials can be viewed from http www rsc ne scotland ac uk eduapps help php EduApps AccessApps TeachApps LearnApps MyApps MyStudyBar MyVisBar Page 45 EduApps User Manual NDCO Project 2010 Contact Information For additional information on the current and future of EduApps initiatives and progress on MyStudyBar Version 2 link to htto www rsc ne scotland ac uk eduapps The main website at www eduapps org has all of the necessary links to FAQs a forum help and download sections with charts and tables listing all of the apps For news updates and additional support link to the RSC NewsFeed at http scottish rscs
85. users want to find or locate programs and files on their USB thumb or pen drive EduApps AccessApps TeachApps LearnApps MyApps MyStudyBar MyVisBar Page 19 EduApps User Manual NDCO Project 2010 Adding Additional Apps As long as the application has a portable MS Windows version and it performs the task s a user requires then the answer is a definite Yes Users can usually find these portable apps using a preferred search engine using the keyword portable followed by the application the users would like to add e g portable Irfanview These are the instructions for adding a student s own applications to the AccessApps menu 1 2 3 Download a portable version of the application you would like to add Install extract the downloaded file to the Applications folder of your USB stick Open the AccessApps menu by Acce clicking the AccessApps icon in the systems tray ca Guides Click on a button labeled ASuite 5 Open Office right hand side towards the top E Planning amp Organisation fan Reading amp Writing Support fn Visual Support menu structure of all the PO Arraccihla Renucave Note You should see the installed applications Se Sell Right click on the folder you would like to add your File Help application to and select Add software In the Properties dialog window which opens click on EF Guides Open Office Browse ae Run Run as
86. www webbie org uk WebblE is a custom designed web browser for blind and vision impaired people It especially caters to people using screen readers It is based on Microsoft s Internet Explorer to ensure that a maximum of sites work properly and accurately with it It allows users to access the vast majority of web pages available It attempts to present all the information simply and easily so that users can explore and fully use the web and maximise its potential It is also available in other languages including French Italian Polish and German EduApps AccessApps TeachApps LearnApps MyApps MyStudyBar MyVisBar Page 31 EduApps User Manual NDCO Project 2010 Keyboard Mouse Alternatives Click N Type htto www lakefolks org cnt Click N Type IS an On Screen virtual a Click N Type gt New Text Document txt Notepad keyboard designed for users with a Fie Ontlons Macros i Prediction 2 Hel disability or injury that prevents them from fe ee es fee Fe Fz Fe Fa F10 e ee pe typing on a physical computer keyboard zl 1 2 3 4 ar Ajaga odoli e E PgDn i ol wie a oop As long as the user can control a mouse al sfolri s x a an trackball touch screen or other pointing z x c vieln al EE Bufer ba Macio device this software keyboard allows Cn Al Space Del ins Del ins Ins them to send keystrokes to the majority of MS Windows applications that can run within a window Ithas sound effects and audito

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