Accessible Test

Verbal View of Web Searches

(Continued)
Purpose

To teach blind and visually impaired computer users effective use of internet searching.

Project Staff

Larry Skutchan, Project Leader

Peter Duran, Project Consultant and Author

Keith Creasy, Programmer

John Hedges, Programmer

Rodger Smith, Programmer

Kathy Lewis, Technical Support Specialist

Steve Mullins, Special Projects Manager

Robert Conaghan, Studio Monitor
Background

A web browser lets the computer user reach the Web. A web search program, usually called a Search Engine, then lets her locate web pages.

This tutorial describes the most important online phenomenon of our time, the Google Search Engine. Google governs online life, information acquisition, and citizenship in the global community. Google influences people in every nation and in every language. Google makes folks of all races and of all educational and social backgrounds equal while online. Google dominates the Web in every aspect; it has no rivals!
Google's influence rivals that of television in its scope and its general acceptance. No online activity, except for e-mail, rivals Google in importance and popularity; 250 million visitors to the Web Google daily. Now the word Google is used as a noun and as a verb; you read and hear the phrase "Google it" as often as the phrase "watch TV.” This book explains why Google outshines its competitors, and how you will benefit when you also become a daily Googler!
This book discusses web searches primarily. Other kinds of online searches are also discussed because of their usefulness.
Google works well when you learn a few basics. It works magnificently when you learn a few more web search conventions and tricks. This book covers those mostly ignored web search options that can make you a power user and master over the Web. Familiarity with Google's mostly-ignored search options will make your online life more efficient and enjoyable. Besides, you can impress friends and colleagues with your Google skill―not to mention save time and perform better web searches.
Work during FY 2009

This project was made available for sale.

Work planned for FY 2010

Updates and enhancements will occur as the subject matter evolves.

Verbal View of Windows XP

(Continued)
Purpose

To create a tutorial that explains current versions of the Windows operating system in terms most useful to blind and visually impaired users.

Project Staff

Larry Skutchan, Project Leader

Peter Duran, Project Consultant and Author

Keith Creasy, Programmer

John Hedges, Programmer

Rodger Smith, Programmer

Steve Mullins, Special Projects Manager

Robert Conaghan, Studio Monitor

Background

For many years, APH and its advisors and customers have desired an in-depth tutorial that covered the latest version of Windows from the perspective of a blind or visually impaired computer user.

Staff identified a tutorial written by Peter Duran and approached him about licensing the rights to his work then distributing it as a Digital Talking Book.
The result of this collaboration, Verbal View of Windows is a comprehensive tutorial on using Windows XP from the view point of a blind or partially sighted student or professional. It covers nearly every aspect of Windows XP, and it presents this material from the keyboard user's perspective.
Delivered on CD, this tutorial comes in DAISY 3.0 format with its own presentation software. The CD also contains Microsoft Word, html, contracted braille, and text versions of the document, so one may send it to a portable device like the Book Port or other note taker with a refreshable braille display.
The software that comes with Verbal View of Windows XP is a special version of a DAISY reading program called Book Wizard Reader.
Work during FY 2009

Future revisions are anticipated as new features are added to Windows and as new versions of Windows get released.

Work planned for FY 2010

Updates and enhancements will occur as the subject matter evolves.

Verbal View of Word

(Continued)
Purpose

To create and distribute an in-depth tutorial that explains the basic functions and features of Microsoft Word in a format most useful to blind and visually impaired users.

Project Staff

Larry Skutchan, Project Leader

Peter Duran, Project Consultant and Author

Keith Creasy, Programmer

John Hedges, Programmer

Rodger Smith, Programmer

Steve Mullins, Special Projects Manager

Robert Conaghan, Studio Monitor

Background

Microsoft Word is the dominant word processor today. This powerful, fast, and fun software package has thousands of commands and multiple means of accomplishing a particular task. Verbal View of Word is a comprehensive tutorial designed to teach the blind or visually impaired user how to use the basic features of Microsoft Word. This tutorial is written with three groups of readers in mind: the writer who wants a complete and organized account of keyboard techniques; the writer who prefers the keyboard instead of the mouse; and the blind writer who must rely on voice or braille access technology.

The tutorial assumes the reader already possesses a basic knowledge of Microsoft Windows, has Microsoft Word 97, 2000, 2002, 2003, or later installed on the computer, and wishes to become an efficient writer using Word as a tool. If the reader is not already familiar with Windows operation and common usage, he may wish to consult Verbal View of Windows XP also available from APH.
Delivered on CD, this tutorial comes in DAISY 3.0 format with its own presentation software. The CD also contains Microsoft Word, html, contracted braille, and text versions of the document, so one may send the book to a portable device like the Braille+ or other note taker with a refreshable braille display.
The software that comes with Verbal View of Word is a special version of a DAISY reading program called Book Wizard Reader.
Work during FY 2009

This project is available for sale.

Work planned for FY 2010

Future modifications will be made to the material as new versions of Word are released. A tutorial for Word 2007 is planned.