The Heart of the Technology-Training Conference

The Heart of the Technology-Training Conference

Braille Monitor

June

2004

(back)

(next) (contents)

The

Heart of the Technology-Training Conference

by Anne Taylor

From

the Editor: Anne Taylor is the NFB technology education manager. The primary

responsibility for planning this conference was hers. This is the way she describes

the hands-on sessions:

Anne

Taylor, NFB training leader for this event, took the opportunity to thank

participants for their enthusiastic engagement during the training sessions.

The

"Technology Training for Technology Trainers" seminar provided participants

a unique opportunity to take part in one of the most engaging and dynamic access

technology training seminars ever offered anywhere in the country. This event

provided an unprecedented venue for participants (all of whom work in the fields

of rehabilitation, education, or access technology) to receive training directly

from NFB technology experts as well as from experts associated with the leading

access technology suppliers. Further, the seminar was conducted in eight small-group,

interactive, hands-on sessions covering subjects important to the blindness

access technology field. The participants were divided into groups that rotated

through all eight sessions, each described briefly below.

"Portable

Braille Devices" was presented by Anne Taylor, NFB technology education

manager, with co-presenters from three companies in the access technology industry.

The portable Braille devices demonstrated in the session were Elba Braille Assistance

(demonstrated by Tommy Craig, Sighted Electronics), BrailleNote (demonstrated

by Mathew Janusaukas, Pulse Data Humanware), and PAC Mate (demonstrated by Mark

Reumann, Freedom Scientific).

In

the session participants learned how portable Braille devices benefit blind

people. They also learned what factors should be considered when purchasing

a portable Braille device. Participants had plenty of time to get a firsthand

look at each product represented, guided by the product suppliers.

According

to the participants the session was well structured. An enthusiastic trainee

commented, "Great format allowing us to see each product up close and personal.

Well done group presentation." Another participant exclaimed, "Excellent!

I really appreciated the detailed information as well as the opportunity to

work hands-on with the devices."

Participants

had ample time to discuss technology products with vendors in the

exhibit hall. Richard Fox of Dewitt and Associates talks with three

women in front of his display.

"Citrix

Metaframe and Windows Terminal Services: Increased Accessibility and New Job

Opportunities" was presented by Brad Hodges, NFB technology accessibility

manager, and co-presented by Gareth Collins of Dolphin Computer Access and Doug

Geoffray of GW Micro. The

purpose of the session was to address opportunities and challenges for providing

access to computer systems which operate over a Citrix Metaframe and a Windows

terminal service network. Participants also learned how two screen-access software

programs (Window-Eyes from GW Micro and Supernova from Dolphin Computer Access)

interface with these programs.

Even

though this topic is new and quite advanced, the session was a success because

of Brad Hodges and the co-presenters' knowledge and expertise. A trainee commented

on the session, "They made a very complex issue understandable. I had never

even heard of Citrix before today. This was informative and beneficial. Very

good introduction for me, this is a new area to me."

"EBooks," presented by Steven Booth, manager of the NFB's International

Braille and Technology Center for the Blind, and Dr. George Kerscher and Annemarie

Cooke from Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic (RFB&D). Under the instruction

of Steven Booth and Dr. Kerscher the participants gained knowledge of how to

use the various forms of electronic books (eBooks). Participants also had an

opportunity to see demonstrations of hardware and software eBook players and

discuss emerging issues relevant to the electronic books market.

Even though the topic was new to many people, the presenters were able to assist

everyone to understand how to take full advantage of under-used eBook resources.

A trainee, impressed with the instruction, commented, "Fantastic! This

program was worth the price of admission. My understanding of the topic

was less than zero. Now I have an excellent understanding of the process. This

was presented very well. The trainers know their information and were very enthusiastic

about the problems either solved or minimized by new technology."

Students

listen intently to their trainer explain optical character recognition

during one of the eight training sessions.

"Braille

Translation: What Technology Trainers Need to Know" was presented by Curtis

Chong, program administrator for field operations and access technology with

the Iowa Department for the Blind. Curtis is one of the leading access technology

experts in the nation and is president of the NFB in Computer Science. Curtis

is known for his captivating teaching style and his presentations always packed

with tangible tips. This Braille translation session was no different.

The goal of the session was to convey the generalities of Braille translation:

the technical process, the tools (hardware and software components of the Braille-production

process), and the role of Braille translation in access technology for the blind.

Curtis also spent some time discussing the strengths and weaknesses of the most

current and widely used commercially available and no-cost Braille translation

software.

Curtis's

advanced knowledge of Braille and Braille production and his concise presentation

style were welcomed by the trainees. One trainee commented, "I learned

more about what good Braille is in that brief period than in two years of working

on it. Mr. Chong is knowledgeable and very personable. Lots of great information

to pass on. Loved the material Mr. Chong provided in our manual, it is an excellent

resource."

Trainers

and participants alike enjoyed the opportunity for hands-on

assessment of the access technology products demonstrated.

"Optical Character Recognition (OCR)" was

presented by Mark Riccobono, the NFB's coordinator of educational programs,

along with representatives of

two optical character recognition software suppliers: Stephen Baum from Kurzweil

Educational Systems, Inc., and Dusty Vorhees from Freedom Scientific.

This lively and engaging hands-on session was designed to highlight the usefulness

of optical character recognition technology for the blind as well as to demonstrate

the capabilities of the technology in both the workplace and educational environment.

The training room was equipped with scanners as well as twelve computers, which

had both the OpenBook software and Kurzweil 1000 software installed on them.

The structure of the session allowed the trainees an opportunity to evaluate

the two OCR applications in a noncompetitive format so that the participants

could draw their own conclusions about the products' capabilities, make comparisons,

and determine their own preferences. One attendee commented, "Allowing

us to access and use the software was helpful. I liked being able to play with

the software firsthand. The vendors presented helpful information on commonalities

and differences as well as the strengths and weaknesses of their products."

"Screen-Access Technology: A Discussion about Informed Consumer Choice"

was presented by Brian Walker and Michael Barber, technology analysts for Project

ASSIST, Iowa Department for the Blind. Michael and Brian are top experts on

screen-access technology and are well known by professionals in the industry.

In this hands-on session Michael and Brian instructed the trainees how to identify

those for whom a screen-access software application should be recommended over

other access technology solutions. The trainees evaluated each of the three

most widely used screen-access programs, observed the strengths and weaknesses

of the products, and discussed when to choose a screen-access program over other

access technology solutions and vice versa.

One impressed trainee commented, "The information was very helpful to remind

me of the screen-access choices available today." Another participant was

pleased that the "subject matter was interesting and worthwhile."

"Tactile Graphics: A Touching Experience" was presented by Robert

Jaquiss, NFB access technology specialist and a top expert in the tactile graphics

arena, and by representatives of three companies specializing in tactile graphics

technology: David Skrivanek of Repro-Tronics, Steven Landau from Touch Graphics,

and Robert Sander from ViewPlus Technologies. Together they made this session

a success.

This session was designed to give attendees an overview of the need for tactile

graphics and the technology available for producing it. The technologies demonstrated

were those currently in use and the emerging tactile graphics production technologies

that will be available in the near future. One attendee commented, "very

impressive training material, very useful in many different areas, and very

up-to-date content." Another attendee added, "The presenters seemed

very knowledgeable, and their use of multimedia was good."

"Integrating Technology in the Work Place" was presented by Richard

Ring, rehabilitation technology specialist with the Iowa Department for the

Blind. Richard taught a very effective session that helped participants gain

necessary knowledge and insight into conducting a worksite assessment for their

clients. He suggested specific technical solutions to specific situations that

rehabilitation counselors may face when assisting their clients to gain meaningful

employment. A satisfied trainee commented, "Well done and very informative!

Mr. Ring's stories are good. It helped to know that even people like Mr. Ring

are challenged for proper access."

In summary, the NFB Jernigan Institute's first access technology training conference,

cosponsored with Mississippi State University, was a resounding success. Many

attendees asked about plans for conducting these conferences in the future.

Based on the very favorable participant evaluation feedback, it is clear that

this event met the needs of the access technology community and should be continued.

The NFB Jernigan Institute staff are currently working on a long-term

strategic plan for NFB-sponsored training activities. This plan will span the

range of consumer and professional needs. Follow-up on access technology training

will certainly form a central element of that plan for the future. However,

the challenge which we are eager to meet is to find creative ways to produce

these training events in the most affordable, high-quality, and participant-responsive

manner.

(back)

(next) (contents)