|
|
|
Hi
We hope you enjoy this update. We have
included an exciting announcement about the long awaited new
Australian version of Boardmaker which gives you access to more
symbols which actually mean something to us in Australia! We can
also now offer you a great new "hands-free" mouse which, unlike
others on the market, does not cost a fortune! People who
can't use their hands to control a mouse can now truly control all
functions of their computer by simply moving their head, or hand, or
any other movement which works best for them.
For our newsletter readers particularly interested in support
for readers with learning difficulties, it is great news that the
AlphaSmart 3000 will soon be able to offer UK based word prediction
- based on the Co:Writer program. The popular AlphaSmart note-taker
has just become even more useful!
Oh ... if you have trouble reading this new formatted style
of our newsletter in your email program, just reply to this email
and let us know. We will make sure you only receive the plain text
versions in future.
We hope to catch up with some of you in the next few weeks at
the Spectronics Office Open Evenings on September 11th and October
9th; the Education Queensland Therapists' Professional Development
Day, and the ARATA
(Australian Rehabilitation and Assistive Technology Association)
Conference - all coming up in Brisbane.
|
|
Cheers till next time
Barbara Landsberg
Marketing Manager
SPECTRONICS
|
|
|
BOARDMAKER GOES AUSTRALIAN - AND YOU CAN
DOWNLOAD IT FOR FREE! |
|
At last
... Australian users of Boardmaker now have access to more
appropriate symbols for our unique needs in Australia!! This long
awaited new upgrade to the Australian version of Boardmaker is
available as a FREE download from the Mayer-Johnson company website
at:
http://www.mayer-johnson.com/downloads/index.html
Staff
at Spectronics, Jane Farrall (Speech Pathologist), and other members
of Australia's AAC community have worked hard over the past 18
months with the talented Mayer-Johnson graphics team to build this
collection of Australian PCS symbols - and it is really exciting for
us all to see the final results!
How
will you make your copy of Boardmaker better by downloading the
Australian symbols?
- Over
200 brand new symbols are built into the program including the
most-asked-for symbols like Australian currency notes and coins;
Vegemite; Milo; lamingtons; Coles; K-Mart; the Hart Walker; and
the Australian Sign Language signs for "finish", "more" and "thank
you".
- Hundreds of changes to the names of symbols have been made.
For example, cookie has been changed to biscuit, peppermint candy
changed to peppermints etc.
- Small changes also have been made to many of the existing
symbols. For example, the American flag has been removed from the
symbol for school, and labels with American spelling have been
removed - for example on the images for yoghurt and soda.
- All
of these changes will save you LOTS of time. You will no
longer have to make the many small adjustments necessary for some
PCS symbols to be "less American" and more relevant to Australian
users!
For
more information just visit the Spectronics website at http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/whats_new.asp?article=8000
Back to
top
|
|
CONTROL YOUR COMPUTER COMPLETELY HANDS FREE - WITHOUT PAYING
A FORTUNE! |
|
Simply
turn your head or aim your finger and the cursor follows along in
real time.
The trackIR
AT cursor control system is a powerful new tool that will
redefine the way people with disabilities use computers. As
intuitive as a mouse, the trackIR AT gives you control of your
computer by tracking a reflective dot attached to your forehead or
finger. People familiar with the Madentec Tracker 2000 and Origin
HeadMouse will find that the trackIR AT is an equally functional and
far more affordable solution. At only $399, this alternative
will be a great asset in schools and therapy settings across
Australia.
Use it
for work and play!
It is great even for playing computer games.
Use it in combination with the Game Commander Voice controller (not
included) for popular games and simulators like Quake and Counter
Strike. The Game Commander gives users voice control of tasks such
as switching weapons, throwing grenades, buying supplies, and using
radio commands - all the commands which need to happen quickly to
survive in the game and can't wait for a dwell click to work! At
last ... people with disabilities can join in the fast paced, fun
world of computer gaming with their able-bodied peers!
Use the
trackIR in combination with Dragon Naturally Speaking for truly
efficient hands-free control of all computer functions and text
entry!
See
more details on our website at http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/browse.asp?cat=8021.
Back to
top
|
|
HELP YOUR STUDENTS WITH LEARNING DIFFICULTIES FIND THE RIGHT
WORDS ON THE ALPHASMART 3000 |
| Coming soon - Co:Writer UK version word prediction on the
AlphaSmart 3000. How will this help your students? The AlphaSmart is
a very durable and affordable alternative to a laptop computer for
students wishing to take notes and prepare written work in class. On
average it will run for a whole school term on 2 AA batteries! Until
now, AlphaSmart users have not had access to the powerful word
prediction assistance offered by Co:Writer. The new Co:Writer
SmartApplet for the AlphaSmart 3000 has solved this problem.
They can access help with finding the right word right there on the
AlphaSmart 3000 they are carrying with them from class to class. See
our website for more details at http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/product.asp?product=7512
And …
in response to repeated requests from our customers, we also are
happy to sell the AlphaSmart
3000 now too. Seemed a bit silly to be offering you the
Co:Writer SmartApplet without anything to run it on!
Back
to top
|
|
MORE FUN MUSICAL SOFTWARE FOR USE WITH A MOUSE OR A
SWITCH |
|
Drumkit is the latest
noisy, music making software program on offer through Spectronics.
It has a bright appealing interface, and comes with equally
colourful matching overlays if you want to use it with your
IntelliKeys too. We have had fun playing with this program - adding
in drumbeats and colourful patterns which appear on screen. The
program offers a choice of a young or older users interface too - so
older students can have a play too! This is another flexible,
inclusive tool as users can play using a mouse, a switch or their
IntelliKeys. Great for bringing groups of students with different
levels of ability together.
Interested in reading more? See http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/product.asp?product=6407
.
Back
to top
|
|
WE
ARE HELPING YOU OUT A LITTLE MORE WHEN YOU ORDER ON-LINE AT
SPECTRONICS WEBSITE |
| We have been
amazed at how popular the on-line ordering service has been at
Spectronics in the past few months! Any orders placed on-line are
delivered freight free within Australia - so that probably explains
some of the appeal of this service. I guess the convenience of
placing your order by simply typing in a few details is pretty
appealing too! You send your order over the Internet and you don't
have to do anything more.
However, some of you are having problems with following the
steps in the ordering process. So we have tried to make it a little
easier for you and have posted up an outline of the steps you need
to follow in placing an on-line order with Spectronics. This is
available on our website now at http://www.spectronicsinoz.com/info_ordering_online.asp
If this
is still confusing, please just speak with Maria on our reception
desk. She is happy to step you through the on-line ordering process
- and also to help you with printing out your own quotes from our
website - as we know many of you need to submit an estimate of costs
for consideration by your funding bodies.
Back
to top
|
| |
|
You have received this newsletter because you told us at Spectronics
that you would like us to keep you up to date with technology
changes. If you no longer wish to receive this newsletter,
please visit our website
and use the unsubscribe button on our homepage there.
| |
