To Mac or not to Mac, that is the question!

link to article

I know we were not supposed to link to anything this week but when I saw this article while looking for something for Richard, I had to link to it.  Last week I wrote about Visiovoice and how Mac had this great new program to help those with visual impairments.  With the new information this week, I think that a tool that might help Richard is Mac laptop!!  After all he misses reading and with the Mac laptop he could online new papers and articles and have them read to him.  Many books are also published in EBook form now too.  The newest Mac is super small and super light and would be perfect for him. 

The article gives an out line of the history of Mac and AT.  In the early 80's AT companies were designing operating systems to work only on Mac computer, probably because Macs were all there was.  In the 90's though, with the creation of Windows and all the easy to buy software that came with it, most schools switched to PC's and the AT companies followed.  Now that Mac is back with all the great new technology including the iPod and iPhone many companies are starting to design AT software for Macs again.  Macs have taken it a step further though by now including intel chips in their newest laptops which means that the computers can run windows operating system.  

The articles then goes not to inform the user how to either run windows by partitioning their hard drive or by running something called Parallels that is offered by another company.  While I will not bore you with the steps of how to do either, basically the first option means you can run either windows or leopard on the same computer while Parallels allows you to run windows in a window on your normal Mac running system.  The writer reports that vista runs just as well if not better on a Mac computer and I looking at buying vista and seeing how well it works.  (Look for later updates on this after I get my next paycheck!!)

So what's the big deal??  Well for those of us who love all kinds of new software this is exciting because now we can run any type of software on our Macs.  This is wonderful for me because currently I have been having to keep around my PC from undergrad, which by the way works so slow I have been known to start my computer up and leave it to run while I cooked dinner before returning to it.  Now I can get rid of that laptop and run all my windows programs on my Mac.  This also means that everyone who needs AT and finds their Macs more user friendly can use their AT on their Mac.

So how does this help Richard?  With the new leopard operating system, Richard could move any of his PC programs onto a Mac and with Parallels could run them in a window with visiovoice running on his Mac.  This seems like a perfect tool for him given his limited vision and might encourage him to do things like get on the internet and meet people that way.  By communicating online he does not have to worry about people seeing him or trying to see other's faces.  This way he could interact with others and not feel so self-conscious.  

The sum up is this article was well written and extremely clear and helpful.  This article would be useful to anyone who has a Mac...those who need AT and those who don't.  A definite worthwhile read.  This could really help Richard!

Amy

Assistive Technology for the Mac lover's with vision impairments.

Link to article

Ok, so I admit it.  I'm a Macophile.  I'm one of the growing number of individuals who is in love with her Mac computer.  I can't live without my iPod.  Period.  I currently am craving the new iPhone (unfortunately the only carrier who has the iPhone does not get service in my area so I would have to go to Timbuktu to make a phone call).  The only problem that those of us who enjoy Mac's have is the fact that a great deal of mainstream software that we need to use for work and home is not supported by the Mac operating system or is pricey add-on.  I was pleasantly surprised to see that the newest Macs have a great new software to help those with a visual impairment.  In the article "Access to Mac OS X for users with vision impairments: Multiple perspectives on Visiovoice" three different people present their opinions on how useful the new Visiovoice program is for individuals trying to use Mac computers for work and home.  I chose this article because some of the students I work with at the high school who are visually impaired have iPods and have some trouble using them due to the small screens.  This new product can be transfered onto the iPod and iPhone and so makes not only Mac computers more user friendly for those with visual impairment but also these other items.  From the reports in this article, it appears that the Visiovoice may be one of the best new technologies for people who need text read to them or expanded and I am ecstatic that this new product is being offered on the Macs as a part of the package and not a pricey add on.  Overall, I thought the article was well written and presented good information in an informal manner.  This article was also an interest to me due to what we were reading about in class.  When looking at assessing a child for AT, specifically computer oriented AT, I would always like to take into account which operating system they were more comfortable and familiar with.  Also, some counties-such as Greene County-have grants with Mac and only have Macintosh computers for use with their students.  Overall, this article presents useful information on a new product that will be of great benefit anyone who loves a Mac.

~Amy