Saturday, November 28, 2009
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Christmas Crime Prevention and Safety Event Belfast District Policing Partnership
Belfast District Policing Partnership has organised a Christmas Crime Prevention and Safety event on Wednesday, 2nd December from 10.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. in the Great Hall, City Hall.
The Belfast District Policing Partnership Chairman, Councillor David Browne explained, “the event has been designed to provide members of the public with practical advice, information and support on a range of crime prevention and safety issues, particularly related to this Christmas season. There will be a formal welcome at 10.00 a.m. and the rest of the morning will follow a marketplace format with a number of organisations providing information exhibits”.
“A number of the exhibitors, including the Police, Fire and Rescue Service, Belfast City Council and voluntary organisations, will have stands with specific crime prevention and safety messages and advice on car crime, domestic burglaries, bogus callers, fire prevention, food and consumer safety, the ‘Get Home Safe’ Campaign and drugs and alcohol advice.
Councillor D. Browne continued, “I would encourage members of the public to attend this event. Due to the events format the public will be able to attend City Hall and view the exhibitions from 10.00 a.m. onwards”.
There is no admittance fee and further information can be obtained by contacting the District Policing Partnership Office on telephone: 9027 0556 or email: dpp@belfastcity.gov.uk
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Here's a summary of Bristol's progress on 20s Plenty
Here's a summary of Bristol's progress to date. I hope this will
encourage efforts around the country.
It's November 2009 and Bristol has taken another step towards being a
20mph City. Earlier this year the City Council proposed two pilot
20mph areas comprising about 8% of the urban area. The initial proposals
excluded roads where the speed limit would really make a difference and
mainly included narrow residential streets where speeds are already low.
Campaigners made strong objections and now the plans that will go
forward to the formal consultation stage of traffic regulation orders
include most of the streets in the two areas, including most of the
streets that exceed 24mph average speed at present.
While arterial roads are still left at 30mph or higher, the proposals
represent a major success for campaigners and set an important precedent
for going beyond the DfT guideline of limiting the change to 20mph to
streets that already have recorded average speeds of 24mph or less.
Political circumstances have brought this about. The initial proposals
were the initiative of the then ruling Labour controlled council. Local
elections brought a change to Lib Dem control and a new executive with
another energetic executive councillor Dr Jon Rogers became the
executive member responsible for transport. Dr Rogers pushed the 20mph
agenda to new limits by supporting and pursuading highway officers to be
less tentative. The 20's Plenty campaign has had a vital role in
demonstrating public support for the move and making it clear we wanted
"Total Twenty".
Campaigning in Bristol does not stop here. The City Council has
expressed its willingness to look at other areas in Bristol for the
20mph treatment. Even before the first 20mph signs go up Campaigners
will have picked up the baton and be pressing for more of Bristol to be
20mph.
Steve Kinsella
20's Plenty for Bristol
AbilityNet News
AbilityNet Podcast no 9 now released
The latest Podcast from AbilityNet is released and ready for free download.
- Mike Williams discusses AbilityNet's AAC project
- Jo Greenwell's usual tips - this month DSpeech and adjusting the mouse double-click
- Greg Mumford discusses the best of the AbilityNet Youtube channel
- Joe Chidzik's regular web accessibility news roundup
- David Banes explains AbilityNet's involvement in the Telecentres Europe project
- Alex Barker's usual dates for our diaries
Available from http://www.abilitynet.org.uk/podcast/ and iTunes
New Web Access Courses Launched
AbilityNet up-coming winter courses – all in central London:
Understanding and Testing with WCAG2.0 - 11 Dec
Creating Accessible PDFs - 20 Jan
Accessible Flash - 17 Feb
For more information and to book your place today please go to
www.abilitynet.org.uk/webopencourses.
Access IT website updated with winners and best practice nominees
www.access-it-events.org has been fully updated with all the details from septembers awards and the best practice guide of 40+ initiatives on digital inclusion. The website will of course be the place to spot all the latest news in preparation for th 2010 awards.
Access News
IT Can Help are there to help disabled users
IT Can Help is a network of volunteers who are able to offer free local computer assistance to disabled people. We can diagnose and fix most computer related problems; Install and set up hardware, software, internet, email and accessibility settings;
You can contact us by ringing the AbilityNet freephone number (& textphone) – 0800 269545 or email us - enquiries@abilitynet.org.uk
Self-checkout now more accessible with IBM
Some people shop for pleasure and some for necessity only. But everyone shops. For individuals with disabilities shopping can be challenging, and retailers want to provide them with an easy, accessible shopping experience. IBM have been developing a more accessible self checkout system for retail
http://www-01.ibm.com/software/ucd/gallery/selfcheckout_systems.html
RJ Cooper launches accessible Guitar Hero !
With the popularity of Rock Band and Guitar Hero at an all-time high, RJ decided to allow persons with significant physical challenges to play also!
http://rjcooper.com/guitar-hero/
Best of YouTube
Automatic Captions in YouTube Videos
Not a YouTube Video buit the announcement from Google of automatic captioning for 13 You Tube Channels using Automated Speech recognition is wortha look
Announcement at
http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2009/11/automatic-captions-in-youtube.html
Communicator PC10 - Overview
Communicator PC10 - Windows based speech aid
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xgc87TprPc
Mind Control Device Demonstration - Tan Le
Tan Le, co-founder and president of Emotiv Systems, gives a live demo of a mind control device that uses a person's thoughts to input computer commands
http://www.youtube.com/user/abilitynet#p/f/17/40L3SGmcPDQ
Tech Closeup: Google TV Raman, Ken Harrenstien
Google engineers work to make technology accessible to all. TV Raman is developing cell phone software on Google's Android operating system and Ken Harrenstien is developing closed captioning for online videos.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3V64JarvXs
All of these, and all of our new playlists can be found on the AbilityNet YouTube channel www.youtube.com/abilitynet.
What’s Hot on Twitter @AbilityNet #Accessibility #a11y
A smart CAPTCHA. "What is ten minus eight minus two?" "nothing". OK for http://rebuildingtheweb.com...
A screen users guide. All PDF creators should read this - http://is.gd/4WP5t
Mobile Accessibility -- tweets and links http://bit.ly/3m9O3R
Great accessibility awareness video; tech & people with hearing & visual impairments http://tr.im/Fmk2
Special Offers
E-learning
1 year access to AbilityNet elearning – only £35 per user + VAT
New Courses on AAC added this week
Go to www.abilitynettraining.org for details
Stimulate your Team with ICT Innovation Days
Get your team to look ahead and think about how access technology is going to change during the next 5 years – how will access be happening and what will be the impact. These interactive and hands on days are extremely popular in helping with planning and diversity. Contact David Banes at david.banes@abilitynet.org.uk for further details
Request a free HiSoftware Compliance Sheriff™ accessibility scan
HiSoftware Compliance Sheriff™ is an enterprise accessibility validation solution that scans your Web site for over 172 separate issues and delivers the results in a powerful online report.
Request your free HiSoftware Compliance Sheriff™ accessibility check today.
Need an accessibility speaker for event or workshop ?
Let us know if you would like us to try to speak at your events – we can deliver onsite or remotely across video conferencing email david.banes@abilitynet.org.uk for further details
Courses
The Autumn Course programme is released
Accessibility in Microsoft Windows Vista and Office 2007
Investigating accessibility within the Operating system and Office Applications
More information and booking for Accessibility in Microsoft Windows Vista and Office 2007 course
Effective Assessment of Problems at Computer Workstations
Helping those involved in workstation assessments respond effectively
More information and booking for Effective Assessment of Problems at Computer Workstations course
Mobile Access Solutions
Exploring the key issues in selecting portable technology
More information and booking for Mobile Access Solutions course
Using ICT to Support People with Dyslexia
Use technology to help those who have reading and writing difficulties
More information and booking for Using ICT to Support People with Dyslexia course
Web 2.0
Demonstrating how to make the most of web 2.0 technologies
More information and booking for Web 2.0 course
Windows 7
Looking at the new accessibility features available in Windows 7
More information and booking for Windows 7 course
And there’s MORE
Stay in Touch with AbilityNet
Come find us at a number of events in the next few weeks...
Access IT 2009
Technology World 09
23rd and 24th Nov, 2009
Venue: Ricoh Arena, Coventry, UK
AbilityNet will be on stand 56 come and find us
Across the Web
Join our daily Twitter channel @abilitynet
Join our YouTube channel www.youtube.com/abilitynet
Read our regular Blog www.abilitynet.org.uk/blog
Join GATE The Global Assistive Technology Encyclopedia
Aavailable for free from www.abilitynet.org.uk/podcast or via iTunes
Same link will take you to the archive of our regular podcasts
Newsletter tested for mobile browsing
Dont wait for your AbilityNet newsletter - view it on your mobile - every week we test the Newsletter for mobile access - what more could you ask for ?
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Event in Dixon Playing Fields as part of National Tree Week.
From: Sean
Dear colleague
As part of our ongoing volunteering programme we have arranged with our partners in Belfast City Council and Conservation Volunteers NI to hold a tree planting event in Dixon Playing Fields as part of National Tree Week. The event will take place on 28 November 2009, from 10.30 am to 3.30 pm and follows on from last weekend’s bulb planting in Victoria Park which was both hugely successful and enjoyable with over 2,500 bluebell and snowdrop bulbs planted.
The event in Dixon Playing Fields will hopefully be as much fun and we would like to see as many people there as possible. It is suitable for all ages and abilities and CVNI will be there to provide expert guidance and assistance with planting a range of native trees. I have attached a poster advertising the event and would appreciate it if you could ensure that this poster reaches as wide an audience as possible.
Sean Brannigan
Sean Brannigan
Community Engagement Officer
Connswater Community Greenway Project
274 Newtownards Road
Belfast
Telephone 90467930
Monday, November 16, 2009
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Monday, November 9, 2009
AbilityNet Newsletter 09 28 "You Cant always get what you want"
"You Cant always get what you want" wailed Mick and the Boys, unless what you want is a regular zingy newsletter of all the latest news and information from the world of accessibility and assistive technology. In which case he should have sung "You can get exactly what you want just by subscribing to the weekly AbilityNet Newsletter ooooooh Yeah" Testify MIck, just testify
Newsletter tested for mobile browsing
Dont wait for your AbilityNet newsletter - view it on your mobile - every week we test the Newsletter for mobile access - what more could you ask for ?
Contents
AbilityNet News
AAC Resouces launched online
AbilityNet’s “Exploring AAC” Website Launched
Please take a look at our web resource and tell us what you think. Feel free to tell your colleagues and clients.
AbilityNet at Technology World 09
AbilityNet will be attending Technology World 09 at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry, UK. Technology world 09 is the UK's larest "Speed dating" event for companies with an interest in technology. If you are attending and would like to meet to discuss any aspect of accessible computing email us asap. Contact kareem.monem@abilitynet.org.uk to organise an appointment
YouTube Playlists Updated
Thanks for feedback on the YouTube playlists and how we could make them more useful
New playlists are being compiled as we speak on specific assistive technologies such as Screenreaders and Magnifiers - Find out more at www.youtube.com/abilitynet
History of AT Presentation on Slideshare
David Banes' take on the "History of AT" presentation from BCS InclusivITy day can be found uploaded at Slideshare at www.slideshare.net/abilitynet
Access News
Visually impaired gamer sues Sony
Hot off the presses of many major gaming and technical news outlets is a story about a visually impaired gamer who is suing Sony online entertainment for game ... accessibility as demanded by the Americans with disabilities act (ADA).
Interesting look at the beginnings of the HTML img tag
Why do we have the img element? An interesting glimpse from 1993 when it was first being discussed
Free browsers for vision impairment
Links to 8 browsers designed with vision impaired users in mind, following on from an article on Disaboom
Using NVDA to evaluate web accessibility
Testing web content with a screenreader is essential for highlighting issues that may not be uncovered as part of a standard WCAG2 review. This guide will help you use the open source screenreader, NVDA, to test your website
W3C Cheat sheet
Useful quick access to W3C accessibility tips
Best of YouTube
Google Wave Made Simple
Google has developed a new open source program called "Google Wave." http://wave.google.com Put simply, Google Wave is just like Google Docs for e-mail
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MS9AbePnE08
Using Dragon NaturallySpeaking as an assistive technology
Don Oliver has had multiple sclerosis for 40 years and is wheel chair bound. Dragon is a critical part of his every day life. What does he use Dragon for? "I use it for everything."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsZo1p_5-o4
Android Accessibility
This is just a quick video on where we are with accessibility for Android
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaLQt35H_10
All of these, and all of our new playlists can be found on the AbilityNet YouTube channel www.youtube.com/abilitynet.
What’s Hot on Twitter @AbilityNet #Accessibility #a11y
Microsoft says speech is the next touch: http://ow.ly/yY6o
Second Life and #Disability: Interview with University of South Australia's Denise Wood: http://ow.ly/yYaq
Living with Asperger's syndrome: http://bit.ly/1dP4L6
How to be a leader with assistive technology http://bit.ly/3kvMK4
Special Offers
E-learning
1 year access to AbilityNet elearning – only £35 per user + VAT
Go to www.abilitynettraining.org for details
Stimulate your Team with ICT Innovation Days
Get your team to look ahead and think about how access technology is going to change during the next 5 years – how will access be happening and what will be the impact. These interactive and hands on days are extremely popular in helping with planning and diversity. Contact David Banes at david.banes@abilitynet.org.uk for further details
Request a free HiSoftware Compliance Sheriff™ accessibility scan
HiSoftware Compliance Sheriff™ is an enterprise accessibility validation solution that scans your Web site for over 172 separate issues and delivers the results in a powerful online report.
Request your free HiSoftware Compliance Sheriff™ accessibility check today.
Need an accessibility speaker for event or workshop ?
Let us know if you would like us to try to speak at your events – we can deliver onsite or remotely across video conferencing email david.banes@abilitynet.org.uk for further details
Courses
The Autumn Course programme is released
Accessibility in Microsoft Windows Vista and Office 2007
Investigating accessibility within the Operating system and Office Applications
More information and booking for Accessibility in Microsoft Windows Vista and Office 2007 course
Effective Assessment of Problems at Computer Workstations
Helping those involved in workstation assessments respond effectively
More information and booking for Effective Assessment of Problems at Computer Workstations course
Mobile Access Solutions
Exploring the key issues in selecting portable technology
More information and booking for Mobile Access Solutions course
Using ICT to Support People with Dyslexia
Use technology to help those who have reading and writing difficulties
More information and booking for Using ICT to Support People with Dyslexia course
Web 2.0
Demonstrating how to make the most of web 2.0 technologies
More information and booking for Web 2.0 course
Windows 7
Looking at the new accessibility features available in Windows 7
More information and booking for Windows 7 course
And there’s MORE
Stay in Touch with AbilityNet
Come find us at a number of events in the next few weeks...
Access IT 2009
Technology World 09
23rd and 24th Nov, 2009
Venue: Ricoh Arena, Coventry, UK
AbilityNet will be on stand 56 come and find us
Across the Web
Join our daily Twitter channel @abilitynet
Join our YouTube channel www.youtube.com/abilitynet
Read our regular Blog www.abilitynet.org.uk/blog
Join GATE The Global Assistive Technology Encyclopedia
It will soon be available for free from www.abilitynet.org.uk/podcast or via iTunes
AbilityNet Newsletter 09 28 "You Cant always get what you want"
"You Cant always get what you want" wailed Mick and the Boys, unless what you want is a regular zingy newsletter of all the latest news and information from the world of accessibility and assistive technology. In which case he should have sung "You can get exactly what you want just by subscribing to the weekly AbilityNet Newsletter ooooooh Yeah" Testify MIck, just testify
Newsletter tested for mobile browsing
Dont wait for your AbilityNet newsletter - view it on your mobile - every week we test the Newsletter for mobile access - what more could you ask for ?
Contents
AbilityNet News
AAC Resouces launched online
AbilityNet’s “Exploring AAC” Website Launched
Please take a look at our web resource and tell us what you think. Feel free to tell your colleagues and clients.
AbilityNet at Technology World 09
AbilityNet will be attending Technology World 09 at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry, UK. Technology world 09 is the UK's larest "Speed dating" event for companies with an interest in technology. If you are attending and would like to meet to discuss any aspect of accessible computing email us asap. Contact kareem.monem@abilitynet.org.uk to organise an appointment
YouTube Playlists Updated
Thanks for feedback on the YouTube playlists and how we could make them more useful
New playlists are being compiled as we speak on specific assistive technologies such as Screenreaders and Magnifiers - Find out more at www.youtube.com/abilitynet
History of AT Presentation on Slideshare
David Banes' take on the "History of AT" presentation from BCS InclusivITy day can be found uploaded at Slideshare at www.slideshare.net/abilitynet
Access News
Visually impaired gamer sues Sony
Hot off the presses of many major gaming and technical news outlets is a story about a visually impaired gamer who is suing Sony online entertainment for game ... accessibility as demanded by the Americans with disabilities act (ADA).
Interesting look at the beginnings of the HTML img tag
Why do we have the img element? An interesting glimpse from 1993 when it was first being discussed
Free browsers for vision impairment
Links to 8 browsers designed with vision impaired users in mind, following on from an article on Disaboom
Using NVDA to evaluate web accessibility
Testing web content with a screenreader is essential for highlighting issues that may not be uncovered as part of a standard WCAG2 review. This guide will help you use the open source screenreader, NVDA, to test your website
W3C Cheat sheet
Useful quick access to W3C accessibility tips
Best of YouTube
Google Wave Made Simple
Google has developed a new open source program called "Google Wave." http://wave.google.com Put simply, Google Wave is just like Google Docs for e-mail
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MS9AbePnE08
Using Dragon NaturallySpeaking as an assistive technology
Don Oliver has had multiple sclerosis for 40 years and is wheel chair bound. Dragon is a critical part of his every day life. What does he use Dragon for? "I use it for everything."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsZo1p_5-o4
Android Accessibility
This is just a quick video on where we are with accessibility for Android
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaLQt35H_10
All of these, and all of our new playlists can be found on the AbilityNet YouTube channel www.youtube.com/abilitynet.
What’s Hot on Twitter @AbilityNet #Accessibility #a11y
Microsoft says speech is the next touch: http://ow.ly/yY6o
Second Life and #Disability: Interview with University of South Australia's Denise Wood: http://ow.ly/yYaq
Living with Asperger's syndrome: http://bit.ly/1dP4L6
How to be a leader with assistive technology http://bit.ly/3kvMK4
Special Offers
E-learning
1 year access to AbilityNet elearning – only £35 per user + VAT
Go to www.abilitynettraining.org for details
Stimulate your Team with ICT Innovation Days
Get your team to look ahead and think about how access technology is going to change during the next 5 years – how will access be happening and what will be the impact. These interactive and hands on days are extremely popular in helping with planning and diversity. Contact David Banes at david.banes@abilitynet.org.uk for further details
Request a free HiSoftware Compliance Sheriff™ accessibility scan
HiSoftware Compliance Sheriff™ is an enterprise accessibility validation solution that scans your Web site for over 172 separate issues and delivers the results in a powerful online report.
Request your free HiSoftware Compliance Sheriff™ accessibility check today.
Need an accessibility speaker for event or workshop ?
Let us know if you would like us to try to speak at your events – we can deliver onsite or remotely across video conferencing email david.banes@abilitynet.org.uk for further details
Courses
The Autumn Course programme is released
Accessibility in Microsoft Windows Vista and Office 2007
Investigating accessibility within the Operating system and Office Applications
More information and booking for Accessibility in Microsoft Windows Vista and Office 2007 course
Effective Assessment of Problems at Computer Workstations
Helping those involved in workstation assessments respond effectively
More information and booking for Effective Assessment of Problems at Computer Workstations course
Mobile Access Solutions
Exploring the key issues in selecting portable technology
More information and booking for Mobile Access Solutions course
Using ICT to Support People with Dyslexia
Use technology to help those who have reading and writing difficulties
More information and booking for Using ICT to Support People with Dyslexia course
Web 2.0
Demonstrating how to make the most of web 2.0 technologies
More information and booking for Web 2.0 course
Windows 7
Looking at the new accessibility features available in Windows 7
More information and booking for Windows 7 course
And there’s MORE
Stay in Touch with AbilityNet
Come find us at a number of events in the next few weeks...
Access IT 2009
Technology World 09
23rd and 24th Nov, 2009
Venue: Ricoh Arena, Coventry, UK
AbilityNet will be on stand 56 come and find us
Across the Web
Join our daily Twitter channel @abilitynet
Join our YouTube channel www.youtube.com/abilitynet
Read our regular Blog www.abilitynet.org.uk/blog
Join GATE The Global Assistive Technology Encyclopedia
It will soon be available for free from www.abilitynet.org.uk/podcast or via iTunes
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