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Hi Everybody...
Thank you to all of you who joined us at our Inclusive Learning Technologies Summer School on the Gold Coast earlier this month. The conference had a great vibe, with everyone so willing to share their own ideas and experiences, and making all of our presenters feel very welcome. The whole Spectronics team had a great time too - letting their hair down after all the hard work beforehand!!
We have considered all your feedback, and particularly noted your requests to provide separate sessions for a "beginners/overview" stream and an "advanced/in depth" stream. We have also noted the frequent requests for a hands-on lab, with help on hand, to allow you to go and "play" with software programs or other technologies immediately after a motivating session. All good suggestions. We were really chuffed to receive feedback from many of our attendees (and some presenters), saying it was the best conference they had attended ever ... bar none! High praise indeed!
So, looks like we are going to go again, but not for another 18 months. Turns out our November dates are not great for busy end-of-school and Uni year staff, so we are planning an Inclusive Learning Technologies "Winter School" next time. On the Gold Coast again - from 23rd to 25th May 2006. We would love to have you join us.
I also want to say "hi" to all of our new emailed update subscribers from Singapore. Thank you all for your hospitality during our visit to your special part of the world last month. We hope you find our Spectronics newsletter useful and welcome any feedback. We look forward to meeting up with you all again in April 2005 when we return to Singapore to take part in the Assistive Technology Festival planned by the Society for the Physically Disabled. If you wish us to visit you while we are there, just let me know on barbara@spectronicsinoz.com and we will try to meet up with as many of you as possible.
Cheers til next time |
Barbara Landsberg
Marketing Manager
SPECTRONICSPS Don"t forget to mark off 23rd to 25th May 2006 to join us for our next Inclusive Learning Technologies Winter School!
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The Neo - Newest Portable Word Processor from AlphaSmart! |
The Neo is the latest portable word processor from the AlphaSmart company. Like the AlphaSmart 3000, it offers a full size keyboard and extraordinary battery life of 500 to 700 hours on just 3 AA batteries - enough to last a whole school term! Students can upload their writing to a computer for further editing, or send directly to a printer via an optional printer cable.
It offers the same basic word processing features as the AlphaSmart 3000 - including cut, copy, paste, word find and UK spell checker - but it offers much more too! These additional features include ...- 50% larger screen display area
- Ability to customise font size to display from 2 to 6 lines of text - whereas the AlphaSmart 3000 is only able to display 4 lines of text of a fixed font size
- Stores hundreds of pages of single-spaced text - whereas the AlphaSmart will only store up to 100 pages of text
- Same one touch access via the keyboard to 8 separate files for organising of text, but the Neo offers additional options for naming and storing other text files
- Word processing functions enhanced over those offered on the AlphaSmart - including a UK thesaurus, customisable UK dictionary and word count function
- Two-way transfer of files to and from a computer - without need for additional Get Utility software
- Ability to install multiple SmartApplets - whereas it is only possible to install one SmartApplet at a time on the AlphaSmart 3000. (Unfortunately, however, the Co:Writer SmartApplet, which offers word prediction support for struggling students on the AlphaSmart is not yet available for the Neo. A "coming sometime in 2005" feature we believe!)
Click here to read a glowing review by a professional writer infatuated with her new Neo!
How much does it cost?- The Neo (without accessories) is available for $499.00 plus GST of $49.90
- The Neo "All-You-Need" Kit (which includes one Neo, a USB Cable, a USB Infrared Pod and a Carry Case) is available for $599.00 plus $59.90 GST
Please visit www.spectronicsinoz.com/browse.asp?cat=17693 for more details or contact Spectronics on mail@spectronicsinoz.com to request a printed AlphaSmart catalogue.Back to Top |
News-2-You® Subscriptions for 2005 Now Available |
The Australian version of the News-2-You® symbol newspaper is coming to you every week in 2005 - starting the first week of February! Subscribe now to ensure that you don't miss out on any editions - and to take advantage of the special pricing for all orders received by Spectronics before Christmas!
What is News-2-You®?
It is a weekly newspaper service for symbol users providing 25 to 30 pages each week related to a current event. Jokes, recipes and other activities built around the weekly news are also included. Everyone needs ready access to sources of "new information" as it's the content that makes our conversations interesting and meaningful. All individuals have a right to this information, not just those of us who are able to decipher the information-intensive formats favoured by newspapers, radio and television.
News-2-You® gives the AAC user and students with intellectual disabilities timely access to the topical vocab they need to engage and interest their peers! Great for busy therapists and teachers too - as subscribers have current and up-to-date content, supported by PCS symbols, delivered each week to their computers, ready for printing and use in the classroom.
Spectronics is now producing an Australian version of this service. As we have told you in earlier newsletters, our plan is to offer a FREE monthly newsletter up until the end of December 2004 - giving you the chance to evaluate whether the materials are useful for your students. Then from the start of the school year in 2005, we will launch our full weekly newsletter subscription service!
Visit www.news-2-you.com.au to download the free Australian sample papers already available.- September 2004: The Olympic Games
- October 2004: AFL Champions
- November 2004: Australian Idol
Click here to download a printable News-2-You® Subscription Form for 2005!
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Half-price Offer on textHELP Read&Write for Students |
Has your school or Uni/TAFE purchased an Unlimited Site Licence for textHELP Read&Write Version 7 or textHELP Read&Write Version 7 GOLD? In conjunction with the visit to our Summer School by Paul Thompson from textHELP Systems in Ireland, we are pleased to announce a special offer - valid only until 1st March 2005.
Any student attending a school, TAFE or University which has purchased an Unlimited Site Licence of textHELP Read&Write Version 7, is able to purchase the program at 50% of standard retail price - for all orders placed on or before 1st March 2005. This will bring the price down to only $175!
Any student attending a school, TAFE or University which has purchased an Unlimited Site Licence of textHELP Read&Write Version 7 GOLD, is able to purchase the program at 50% of standard retail price - for all orders placed on or before 1st March 2005. This will bring the price down to $380.
When the student places their order, they need to state which School/Uni/TAFE they are attending, and which version of Read&Write is owned by their educational institution. Please encourage any of your students who would benefit from having access to the software off-site to take advantage of this one-time generous offer from the textHELP company and Spectronics - as we cannot extend this offer beyond 1st March 2005!
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New Switch and Mouse Skills Training Software from NZ |
If you are frustrated with your results in training switch use skills for some of your students, you might be interested in the Astech range of switch software developed in New Zealand by Paediatric Occupational Therapist, Lorraine Grundy. Lorraine has worked for years adapting computer technology and assistive devices to meet the needs of children with significant physical and learning disabilities.
Frustrated with the available software and the lack of an integrated teaching approach, Lorraine and the team at Astech have developed "The Astech Approach" - a training system that progressively teaches the skills needed to access computers and assistive technology. They created their software based on this "Astech Approach" for their clients. It was such a success and the improvement in clients" skills was so marked, that they have now decided to commercially produce the software so others can benefit.
They are particularly keen to ensure that it remains "affordable", with each program module costing only $75.
Visit Spectronics website at www.spectronicsinoz.com/browse.asp?cat=16755 for more details, or look in on the Astech site in New Zealand too at www.astechnz.com/Pages/software.htm
More details in our next newsletter - along with a link to a detailed product review for the full Astech software range.
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Free Learning Difficulties Sampler Software CD-ROM |
Jane Barrett, Regional Disability Liaison Officer based at the University of Tasmania, has recently completed a project to produce a CD-ROM featuring a range of assistive technology programs that may assist students with reading, writing or organising their work. It features demos, video presentations/tours and written information about several programs currently being used by students. It also directly links users to suppliers" websites enabling access to current information about latest product versions, costs, system requirements etc. The resource is titled "Will This Help?".
Jane writes, "It was produced to meet a growing need for information about what assistive technology is available to assist students with LD or learning difficulties. Quite often I, or DLO colleagues here in Tasmania, would refer students, parents, and teachers to websites or suppliers only to discover that people were finding the process too confusing or the downloads too large for their home computers to cope with. Also, some DLOs indicated a need for time efficient access to information about the products. With help from Spectronics, I subsequently sought permission from a range of suppliers to reproduce their demos or promotional information onto one composite disk.
This resource is the result of that process. "Will This Help?" provides a taste of what's on offer, it does not contain information on the full range of products available. It is designed to show people the main features of the software and prompt them to seek further information. It's not perfect but it's the best we could do given the technical issues involved in a project of this nature."
If you are interested in receiving one of these free CDs, please contact us at Spectronics on mail@spectronicsinoz.com and we will send one out to you.
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Banana Keyboard - Free Training Offer until Christmas |
Thinking of ordering a Banana Keyboard?? As an incentive to encourage you to place your order before Christmas this year, SoundHouse and Spectronics are offering one day's hands-on training at SoundHouse by the creators of the Special Access Kit (which incorporates the Banana Keyboard). This offer includes airfares and overnight accommodation in the city nearest to you which has a SoundHouse Centre available for training.
Choose from:- SoundHouse in Melbourne
- Powerhouse SoundHouse in Sydney
- SciTech SoundHouse in Perth
If you live in Melbourne, Sydney or Perth, in addition to one day of training, we will give you a free copy of Acid Music Studio Software - a professional home music-creation program valued at $250!
Your Purchase Order must reach Spectronics by 24th December 2004 (but payment may be made from your 2005 school budget). Training will be arranged at a time which suits you in 2005.
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New Symbol Set ... For Free! |
Tech/Syms are a new collection of symbols developed by AMDi (the company in the USA that makes the Tech/Series communication devices). Tech/Syms are free to all who register to receive them on the AMDi website.
The Tech/Syms Series I CD is available now and contains 500 symbols in Windows Metafile format - ideal for use with programs such as Boardmaker or Overlay Maker 3 (more about this new program next newsletter!). Series II, III and IV Tech/Syms will follow soon. If you register to receive Series I, you will automatically receive each Series CD as it is released by AMDi. Each will contain over 500 symbols for different feelings, expressions, actions, people, foods, places, animals and more.
Want more info about the Tech/Syms free symbol collection? Visit Spectronics" website at www.spectronicsinoz.com/product.asp?product=18466
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