Top Tech Tidbits for Thursday, September 10, 2015 - Volume 525
The Week's News in Access Technology

A Flying Blind, LLC Publication
http://www.flying-blind.com/

This Week's Featured Advertisement: One Gently Used Perkins Mini 16 Cell Braille Display for $1,150.00 USD - Flying Blind, LLC Online Store

This week Flying Blind, LLC is pleased to offer One Gently Used Perkins Mini 16 Cell Braille Display that has had very little use. Purchased in March of 2015 this unit still has plenty of time left on its original manufacturer's warranty. This portable 16 Cell Braille solution provides both USB and Bluetooth connectivity to all of today's major desktop and mobile screen readers. Coupled with a built-in notepad, book reader, calculator, and clock, this sleek, versatile Braille terminal makes a perfect companion for the mobile user who is on the go and needs to read and write Braille in a variety of settings. Our reduced price, offered here only, provides an over $400.00 USD savings on this unit for one lucky buyer. Price includes shipping within the Continental United States. This is a single unit that will be sold on a first come, first serve basis. To be the first to secure this unit please use the Buy Now link included below. For more information, or to purchase this product offline, email featured@flying-blind.com or call +1 (216) 381-8107 today!

Buy Now - One Gently Used Perkins Mini 16 Cell Braille Display for $1,150.00 USD - Flying Blind, LLC Online Store
https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=4RCVLQNJP57G6

Greetings,

1) This is a frank blog post from a person with reginitis pigmentosa detailing the process of his coming to terms with his sight loss:
http://relentlessromero.blogspot.ca/2015/09/coming-out-of-closet-i-am-legally-blind.html?m=1

2) This blog post about blindness is called "Pet-Peeves of a Blind Person, or: My Chance to Get Snarky About the Stuff that Makes me Want to Kick People in the Shins:"
https://adjunctinthedark.wordpress.com/2014/05/05/pet-peeves-of-a-blind-person-or-my-chance-to-get-snarky-about-the-stuff-that-makes-me-want-to-kick-people-in-the-shins/

3) Hear about the 3D Printer Project at Benetech on this week's episode #1537 of Eyes on Success:
http://eyesonsuccess.net

4) And while we're talking about podcasts, let's catch up on the last two esisodes of the Blind Bargains Cast:

A) Number 29:
http://www.blindbargains.com/b/13372

B) And number 30:
http://www.blindbargains.com/b/13396

5A) With the advent of mobile phones and apps for them that turn print into text, various reading stands have been created to allow the phone to be held securely in place at the proper height for scanning the document. Of these, the one that has garnered the most favorable reaction on blindness-related mailing lists has been the Fopydo:
http://www.fopydo.com/scanningstandfortheblind

5B) Now its creator has launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund production of a book-scanning add-on to that stand. Blind users who have seen the prototype have commented favorably on it. The basic stand costs about $12 and it is expected that the whole package with book-reading attachment will cost around $35. Here is the KickStarter page so you can learn more and contribute if you want:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/384725316/book-reading-aid

6) Hear about Computers for the Blind, their low-cost computers and lending library of described movies, on Tek Talk on GMT Tuesday, 15 September at 00:00:
http://conference321.com/masteradmin/room.asp?id=rsc9613dc89eb2

7) The acclaimed iOS reading app Voice Dream Reader is now available for Android:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=voicedream.reader

8) This article is called "I'm a Legally Blind Photographer. Here's How Modern Technology Makes That Possible:"
http://www.vox.com/2015/7/13/8928479/blind-photographer

9) Apparently the thorough schedule of described TV programs available in the States has not been updated for a while, but now it has for September:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/12HN-8UeDWGj1Y_NjHQxAsEwYjqNxq3sYHrgL5zrw3F8/pub

10) If you are a gaming enthusiast who does not mind tinkering with experimental software, and you know, or want to learn, what an FPS engine is, the creator of Chicken Nugget and QRead is working on such an engine, which will apparently expand the gaming horizon for the blind. Here is his post:
http://forum.audiogames.net/viewtopic.php?pid=231216#p231216

11) The site "Helping Students with Visual Impairments" contains information about best colleges, adaptive technology and scholarships:
http://www.accreditedschoolsonline.org/resources/helping-students-with-visual-impairments/

12) Techtalk is a friendly but high-traffic mailing list for seeking answers to your adaptive technology questions and difficulties. To subscribe, send a blank message to:
techtalk+subscribe@groups.io

13) And we close this week with a YouTube demo of the ChromeVox Screen Reader for the Blind:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVfLafNmWA0

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Flying Blind, LLC Classifieds Section:
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1.) One Gently Used Perkins Mini 16 Cell Braille Display
Price: $1,150.00 USD
Savings: Offered here at approximately $400.00 USD off of its suggested list price.
Contact: http://bit.ly/1QpDg5t.
Description: This portable 16 Cell Braille solution provides both USB and Bluetooth connectivity to all of today's major desktop and mobile screen readers. Coupled with a built ...

2.) One Gently Used Ruby XL HD Handheld Video Magnifier
Price: $795.00 USD
Savings: Offered here at approximately $200.00 USD off of its suggested list price.
Contact: http://bit.ly/1VceHLU.
Description: The Ruby HD sets new high definition standards for handheld magnification that other less portable alternatives simply cannot meet. The crystal clear images ...

3.) One Gently Used Optelec Clearview Plus HD with 22 Inch Monitor
Price: $2,195.00 USD
Savings: Offered here at approximately $1,100.00 USD off of its suggested list price.
Contact: http://bit.ly/1UUa5dq.
Description: Optelec's Clearview line of video magnifiers is Flying Blind, LLC's preferred desktop solution for the low-vision user seeking comfort, simplicity, ergonomics, and ...

4.) One Refurbished BrailleSense U2 32-Cell Notetaker with QWERTY Keyboard
Price: $3,295.00 USD
Savings: Offered here at approximately $2,300.00 USD off of its suggested list price.
Contact: http://bit.ly/1MQEUx9.
Description: The U2 provides unparalleled Braille access to PowerPoint and Excel files, connects you to the Cloud via Dropbox, and puts the wide world of social networking at your ...

5.) One Refurbished BrailleNote Apex 32 Cell Notetaker with Perkins Style Braille Keyboard
Price: $2,895.00 USD
Savings: Offered here at approximately $2,650.00 USD off of its suggested list price.
Contact: http://bit.ly/1TDzGGV.
Description: This unit is in pristine condition and is begging for a new home with a responsible user. The BrailleNote name has been synonymous with excellence and innovation ...

6) One Gently Used HandyTech Easy Braille Refreshable Braille Terminal
Price: $1,795.00 USD
Savings: Offered here at approximately $2,700.00 USD off of its suggested list price.
Contact: http://bit.ly/1wYTm0Z
Description: This display is in pristine condition, and offers the user both USB and Bluetooth connectivity to their favorite laptops, tablets, and Smartphones. It's ...

7.) Refurbished Classic Focus 40 Braille Terminals
Price: $995.00 USD Each
Contact: http://bit.ly/1GmbqF2
Description: This is a fantastic bargain for the desktop/laptop PC user looking for a 40-Cell USB Braille display for less than 1K! These units are in pristine condition ...

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