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Home / Newsletters / Computer Monitor / Fall 2006

Computer Monitor

Fall 2006

See the PDF version of this newsletter.

You Are Invited To The STC Open House Saturday, November 4

PACER Center’s Simon Technology Center (STC) annual open house is Saturday, Nov. 4, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This popular event for parents, children, and professionals will have demonstrations of assistive technology and educational software, resources, and interactive literacy games for children.

The 2006 open house focuses on assistive technology that promotes literacy development for all ages and disabilities. A local children’s author will lead storytelling activities and the making of a pop-up book in the Creation Station at 10 a.m. and noon.

The open house offers many opportunities to sample and learn about assistive technology. In addition, the first 100 children to visit the open house will receive a free copy of the book, Reach For The Moon by Samantha Abeel. The event is free, but participants must pre-register by calling PACER Center at 952-838-9000 or visiting www.pacer.org.  

Speak Q: A Different Kind of Speech Recognition Program Opens Doors

By Annette Cerreta, Assistive Technology Specialist, OTL, ATP

For those who have tried speech recognition technology in the past and found the experience less than desirable, it might be time to take another look. In general, the latest speech recognition products offer significantly improved recognition accuracy, reduced training time, and more intuitive command and control features.

Still, for many people, conventional speech recognition technology falls short when it comes to usability. Standard speech recognition technology is designed for the average person and does not adapt well to the needs of people with varying abilities.

For example, people with learning disabilities often have difficulty reading the text required to train standard speech recognition programs. Even the “easier reading” training options are often too long or complex for individuals with limited reading abilities. People with speech impairments also find standard speech recognition programs difficult to use because usually they do not accommodate wide differences in speech styles and patterns.

In the end, many people give up on speech recognition because it doesn’t work for them. The good news is that a new speech recognition product, uniquely designed for special needs users, has entered the marketplace. SpeakQ, by Quillsoft, was developed specifically for people with learning and other disabilities.

The Advantages

SpeakQ offers a more flexible user interface and includes several features that most speech recognition programs do not.

Shorter, Customizable Training

SpeakQ features shorter, simpler training modules that can be customized to the user’s reading ability and vocabulary level. The training modules have speech prompting, in which the computer reads the training text aloud before the user needs to speak it. This can benefit individuals who have difficulty with reading.

"Speak and Select" Dictation

SpeakQ offers "speak and select" dictation that allows the user to speak one word at a time or in small phrases. Spoken words or phrases are then displayed as a list of prediction choices. The user selects the correct words or phrases from the list. The "speak and select" option may be easier for individuals with speech impairments to use since they can choose to dictate one word at a time or in small phrases. This feature also minimizes the need to go back and correct misrecognitions.

Automatic Speech Playback

Another helpful feature is the automatic speech playback. The program automatically reads back words or sentences immediately after they are dictated and inserted into the document. The instant auditory feedback helps the user quickly detect errors in the text.

No Voice Commands to Memorize

Users do not need to memorize voice commands to execute computer functions or text editing.

The Drawbacks

While SpeakQ offers many innovative design improvements for a more user-friendly experience, the Simon Technology Center staff noticed that it does have a few limitations.

No Hands-Free Options

Without voice commands, users must use the mouse or keyboard to navigate the program. The lack of voice control for navigation may prevent some individuals with physical impairments from using the program.

Requires Significant Training

Although the training modules are short, the user must still read "several" modules to bring the accuracy to a usable level.

Accuracy

Simon Technology Center staff found that the speech recognition performance was inconsistent on several trials. However, this could be due to user error.

The Cost

The cost is higher than the price of most speech recognition products because the user must purchase two separate programs—SpeakQ, and a partner program, WordQ—in order for SpeakQ to work. Each program costs $185, for a total of almost $400. In comparison, most speech recognition products range in price from $100 to 200.

The Final Word

SpeakQ is a vast improvement over traditional speech recognition because it offers additional support for users with different needs and abilities. Hopefully, some of SpeakQ’s shortcomings will be addressed in future versions, and it will fulfill its potential as a speech recognition program that everyone can use.

Assistive Technology Software Can Help Those With Central Auditory Processing Disorder

By Carolyn Fors and Katrina Weibel, Assistive Technology Specialists

Have you ever attended a party where the background noise was so loud that you struggled to hear and interpret what people were saying? If so, you can image what many situations are like for a child with central auditory processing disorder (CAPD).

Central auditory processing involves the brain recognizing and deciphering the sounds that surround an individual. The ear gathers the sounds and transforms them into electrical signals, which the brain interprets. CAPD exists when there is a problem in processing or translating these signals. Essentially, individuals can have adequate hearing capabilities, but the interpretation by the brain of the various sounds is disrupted. Children with CAPD often miss the subtle differences among sounds in words, even if the sounds themselves are loud and clear. An example would be difficulty in interpreting the difference between the words "couch" and "cow."

Simple Modifications and Accommodations

A variety of classroom modifications or accommodations can assist a learner with CAPD. These may include seating the child appropriately, writing instructions on the board or paper, providing a quiet study area for the child, etc. Assistive technology devices are also available to help people with CAPD focus on the speaker and reduce background noise. Auditory trainers are typically used in classrooms where the teacher transmits instructions through a microphone to the student with CAPD, who receives the sounds through a headset.

Assistive Technology Programs

If a child requires assistance beyond the above modifications and accommodations, there are also assistive technology software programs targeted for children with CAPD. Some programs include Earobics®, Fast ForWord®, Phonemic Awareness, The Listening Program®, and EASe CDs.

Earobics®, by Creative Concepts uses entertaining characters and encouraging feedback to teach phonics and listening abilities that are necessary for basic reading and spelling skills. It is geared to students, pre-K through adolescents and adults. The three available CDs offer several games, each with dozens of levels for practicing skills such as:

• determining whether two or more sounds are the same or different,
• remembering sounds and words in sequential order, and
• following increasingly complex directions with and without background noise.

The parent or teacher can adjust the beginning level for each lesson and then track the student’s progress. Creative Concepts™ claims that 15 to 20 minutes three times a week for 10 to 12 weeks will result in significant progress. Clinical and home versions of the software are available at www.earobics.com.

Fast ForWord®, by Scientific Learning®, is available through participating schools and clinics and offers students enjoyable, interactive computer exercises that target and develop the literacy skills children need for educational success. Fast ForWord® is for students in preschool through high school. It offers a number of exercises that build sound sequencing skills, pattern recognition, attention, and more. Fast ForWord® provides a built-in progress tracker for professionals. Scientific Learning® suggests 50 minutes of computer exercises a day for eight to 12 weeks for the program to prove beneficial. More information can be found at www.scilearn.com.

Phonemic Awareness, by Learning Fundamentals, Inc., offers seven games focusing on sound-to-symbol associations. Exercises include practicing sound segmentation by hearing a word, recognizing the number of syllables, and rearranging given syllables in the correct order. This program is designed for children and adults, and progress can be tracked for professionals. It is available for home and school use from www.learningfundamentals.com.

The Listening Program®, by Rocky Mountain Learning Systems, is designed to strengthen the ear’s ability to process sound. This process can enhance the multi-sensory pathways within the brain, thereby restoring the students’ ability to listen to and process sounds across the full auditory spectrum. The Listening Program® comes in eight CDs, each with four progressive 15-minute segments. Listening contents consists of re-arranged, engineered classical music and nature sounds, which cover the entire auditory spectrum, from 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz. Thirty minutes of listening for 8 to 10 weeks is recommended to help students in the following areas: attention span and focus, understanding spoken language, speech and motor control, and more. CDs are available to parents and professionals from www.rmlearning.com.

EASe CD, by Vision Audio, Inc., offers engineered, upbeat instrumental music. The music is modified to remove the upper frequencies for the majority of the listening time with occasional boosts to high frequencies. Vision Audio emphasizes that EASe CDs are not a cure, but rather aims to help desensitize a student to noise, which then allows other methods of intervention to be more effective. EASe CDs are available to parents and professionals at www.vision-audio.com.

The Lindamood Phonemic System Program (LiPS) by Lindamood-Bell® Learning Processes works directly to address the issues of students omitting, substituting, or reversing sounds and letters within words. Designed to enhance phonemic awareness, the program develops awareness of the actions of the mouth as speech sounds are produced. Such awareness allows the student to develop self-correcting skills in reading, speaking, and spelling. Although not a software program, LiPS provides step-by-step procedures designed to promote self-correction and scripted examples of question sequences to explore and determine phonemic concepts. For more information about Lindamood-Bell® Training Centers visit www.lblp.com.

Program Effectiveness

To find information on the effectiveness of these software programs, please visit each of the noted Web sites. Many of the vendors provide research results online.

STC Workshops and Events

Free Workshops for Parents and Professionals

Parents and professionals will find helpful information at these important workshops. All are presented at PACER Center (unless otherwise noted). Advance registration is required. To register for any of the following workshops, go online to www.pacer.org/workshops/, or call (952) 838-9000.

Free events for families and professionals

STC Literacy Open House
Nov. 4, 2006
PACER Center
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Free workshops for middle school girls

Technology for Girls: Forensic Science
Oct. 10, 2006
PACER Center
6 to 8 p.m.

Technology for Girls: Engineering
Jan. 9, 2007
PACER Center
6 to 8 p.m.

Technology for Girls: Famous Women
April 10, 2007
PACER Center
6 to 8 p.m.

Free workshops for parents and professionals

Beginning the Road to AT
Oct. 4, 2006
Winona
6:30 to 9 p.m.

Read and Write Gold Training
Oct. 17, 2006
PACER Center
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Microsoft Windows Vista™ Will Offer Improved Accessibility Features

By Stephanie Rosso, Assistive Technology Specialist

Microsoft’s long anticipated release of the next generation of Windows operating system, named Microsoft Windows Vista™, shows its commitment to making computers more accessible to people with disabilities. Backed by three years of research on the computer needs of individuals with physical and cognitive disabilities, the new operating system (set to release in 2007) promises to help users build computer skills and confidence by providing more flexibility in how they can interact with computers.

The current Microsoft operating system, Microsoft Windows XP, offers many helpful accessibility features. However, learning how to obtain access to them can be a challenge, leaving many people unaware of their benefits. Windows Vista™ attempts to tackle this issue by providing a centralized location, called the Ease of Access Center, where all settings can be adjusted and assistive technology products can be managed. The Ease of Access Center, located in the Control Panel of Windows, replaces the Accessibility Options, Accessibility Wizard and Utilities Manager found in previous versions of Windows.

Some of the things users can do from the Ease of Access Center are to switch to a high-contrast visual display, have access to Microsoft Narrator (text-to-speech), Magnifier to enlarge a portion of the screen, or turn on the built-in On-Screen Keyboard. Windows Vista™ also includes recommendations to help users decide which accessibility settings or programs to use. It asks several questions about the user’s ability to perform routine tasks, such as whether the user has difficulty seeing faces or text on TV, hearing normal conversations, or using a pen or pencil. It can then make personalized recommendations as to what settings and assistive technology products might help. The centralized location of the Ease of Access Center makes it easier to manage these settings, set up a computer for an individual user, and quickly change the settings for computers that have multiple users, such as those in a computer lab.

In addition to improving the management of settings with the Ease of Access Center, Microsoft has also made improvements to the actual features offered. Microsoft Narrator, which provides text-to-speech access, now includes the ability to read Narrator menus without leaving the active window. It also boasts a much more pleasant, natural-sounding voice. Magnifier offers better magnification quality, more magnification levels, and options such as visual tracking by mouse, keyboard, or text editing.

Probably the most anticipated new feature is the speech recognition system that will allow users to interact with their computer by voice. Users will be able to dictate documents and e-mails in mainstream applications, complete forms on the Web, and command applications and the operating system by saying what they see. Speech recognition is built into Windows Vista™. It guides users through an interactive training application that will familiarize them with the voice commands.

In addition to new and improved access features, Windows Vista™ will also offer Windows Family Safety settings that allow parents to better manage and monitor their children’s computer usage, improving both the computer and the child’s safety. They will be able to control which games their children play and monitor which games, applications, and Web sites they have visited according to information at http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/features/forhome/safety.mspx.

Microsoft has been working closely with assistive technology vendors to assure that many devices and programs will be compatible with the new operating system.

The facts stated in this article are for informational purposes only and may be subject to change prior to the release of the new operating system.

For information, visit Microsoft’s Accessibility Web site www.microsoft.com/enable
To subscribe to Microsoft’s Accessibility Update Free E-newsletter, visit www.microsoft.com/enable/news/subscribe

Meet the Staff: Meghan Kunz

Meghan Kunz is an assistive technology specialist in the Simon Technology Center at PACER. She has a speech-language pathology assistant degree and extensive background in serving people with disabilities.

Before joining PACER a year ago, she was the program coordinator for a nonprofit recreation-adult education center that serves people with disabilities of all ages, from toddlers to the elderly. She also coached various Special Olympic sports for six years.

At PACER she works with parents, families, and professionals during consultations, in-services, workshops, and PACER Center’s Creation Station. Meghan’s specialties include augmentative and alternative communication and hearing technology for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.

PACER's Creation Station

PACER’s Creation Station, a place for arts and crafts, welcomes children of all abilities. Below are up-coming events. For times, visit www.pacer.org/stc or call 952-838-9000.

September 16: Batik T-shirts with Emily Colburn
Guest artist Emily Colburn will visit and teach the ancient art of batik. The batik technique applies to t-shirts that you can bring home to show off your artistic talent to friends and family.

October 7: Get Crazy with Clay
Have an introduction to clay and all you can make with it. Colorful clay will make a variety of projects, including bracelets, necklaces, key chains, magnets, and sculptures.

November 4: Simon Technology Center Open House with Phyllis Root
Come to the annual Simon Technology Center open house to learn more about assistive technology that promotes literacy development. Phyllis Root, a local children’s author will lead storytelling activities and teach guests how to make pop-up storybooks.

December 2: Exploring the Art of Leather Making
Use stamps, leather, and hammers to create beautiful works of art in leather. Make a keychain, bracelet, and much more!

January 27: Hand-Colored Photos with Guest Artist Kelly Povo
Kelly Povo will lead a photography session and teach how to hand color black-and-white photos. Come with a smile; your photo will be taken. To complete the project, decorate a frame for your photo.