Author: Corrine Schoeb

Accessibility

What is a screen reader?

Corrine Schoeb

A screen reader is a piece of software which reads web pages and documents out loud. Originally developed for persons who were visually impaired, it is now often used for a multitude of other reasons. Many who may have learning challenges, concussion syndrome, or those who simply want to listen to their email or a web page while they do something else use screen readers. All Apple products have VoiceOver built in – from iPhones to Mac desktops. Some Android devices have TalkBack. Windows users often use tools like JAWS (available on our public machines), and NVDA. If you are … Continue reading What is a screen reader?

Accessibility, Mobile Devices, People

Navigation Apps for visually impaired

Corrine Schoeb

I struck up a conversation with a fellow conference attendee at the AHEAD 2016 conference who happened to be blind.  We had an interesting conversation about getting around when you are visually impaired and he shared three apps he uses to navigate inside and outside buildings: overTHERE which uses a infrared technology developed more than 30 years ago to help with safer street crossing and recently adapted for mapping BlindSquare which can work with beacons to provide mapping inside buildings AllAccess which can access menus, logos,  and QR codes Continue reading Navigation Apps for visually impaired

Email, Calendaring, & Collaboration Tools, Faculty/Staff, Google Apps, Students, Swatfiles

Swarthmore is Going Google!

Corrine Schoeb

Starting today and continuing over the next 11 months, we will be transitioning away from Swatfiles (our document repository) and Zimbra (our email application) to Google Apps. The Google Apps suite includes mail, calendar, docs, spreadsheet and presentation applications and allows us to better support collaboration within our community, provides a common platform and works in multiple operating environments (e.g. Apple, Windows, and mobile devices). Feel free to visit http://www.swarthmore.edu/going-google/google-apps-frequently-asked-questions to find out more. Continue reading Swarthmore is Going Google!