Right-Hear Announces US Launch of Orientation and Navigation System for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Right-Hear, a developer of advanced solutions for the blind and visually impaired, recently announced the US launch of its system, making public buildings more accessible to people with visual impairments.
Right-Hear addresses the accessibility, orientation, and navigation needs of blind and visually impaired people (as well as orientation-challenged individuals,) providing them with real-time voice cues through their own smartphone. Information is provided about a user's precise indoor location, and the app can also provide directions and describe surroundings. The voice notifications are based on information received from Bluetooth beacons (sensors) located in the building. The sensors are installed by the building staff by simply attaching them to the wall with a sticker. The sensors' location is determined in consultation with Right-Hear.
The system includes an administrator dashboard that allows the building staff to program and control the whole system optimally, according to the needs of blind and visually impaired visitors and employees.
The Right-Hear system is suitable for any type of public building, including complex buildings (interconnected buildings) such as malls, corporations, universities, municipalities, airports, museums, supermarkets, hotels, and restaurants.
The smartphone app alerts users whenever they are near a Right-Hear-enabled building, and picks up the signals automatically from the beacons. The user is notified when a new local Right-Hear-enabled accessible zone joins the Right-Hear network. The Right-Hear application on the user's smartphone can also instantly translate the text and read it aloud in the user's preferred language.
"Using Right-Hear, blind and visually impaired people have access and orientation in public buildings, giving them the ability to be independent," said Idan Meir, Right-Hear's CEO. "On the other hand, public venues and facilities will benefit from increased numbers of visitors, including blind and visually impaired people, that until now had difficulty visiting these places."
The Right-Hear system has already been deployed in hundreds of buildings and complexes, mainly in Israel.
Right-Hear is currently represented in the US by Deon Bradley in Florida (704-604 8244) and the system is distributed by?Woodlake Technologies in Chicago (312-733 9800). The solution can also be ordered by e-mail.
About Right-Hear
Founded in 2015, Right-Hear develops orientation and navigation solutions for the blind and visually impaired. The first system serves users for indoor navigation and orientation, and comprises Bluetooth beacons (sensors), smartphone application and administrator's dashboard. To date, the Right-Hear system has been installed in over 600 venues, mainly in Israel, including malls, corporations, universities, municipalities, airports, museums, supermarkets, hotels and restaurants. The Right-Hear smartphone app is available for free download on both Android and iOS, and can immediately connect with RightHear Bluetooth beacons. For more information visit the Right-Hear website
Freedom Scientific Updates Fusion and ZoomText; Access to Remote Desktop and Citrix Now Available Using Fusion
Freedom Scientific recently announced the August updates for Fusion 2018 and ZoomText 2018. ?For this release the spotlight is on the Fusion 2018 update, which introduces support for Citrix and Windows Remote Desktop Connection. Available as a Fusion license add-on, the new Remote Desktop Support allows users to access remote computers and applications with full magnification, screen reading and braille support. Rounding out the Fusion August update are tracking and highlighting improvements and general performance enhancements.
The August update for ZoomText 2018 delivers "under the hood" improvements to performance and stability, inter-op with JAWS, and remote desktop support when running ZoomText from a Fusion product installation.
These free updates can be downloaded and installed over top of previous Fusion 2018 and ZoomText 2018 installations. Users can also use the auto update feature, which will alert them to the update on the next restart of ZoomText or Fusion.
Older Versions of Sendero Map Data Will Be Removed From Servers
Sendero is currently storing all versions of GPS software and their associated maps on their servers. After so many years, the company has finally arrived at the point where the server can no longer support this massive data storage, so they will be deleting all older versions of software and maps on the server.?On October 1, the only software and maps that will be available for download from the Sendero server will be the current version Sendero GPS version 22 with 2018 maps. If you already have version 22, you do not have to do anything.
For all prior versions, please be sure to download a complete copy of your map and software files and store them locally on your computer by September 30, 2018.? They will no longer be available from GoSendero or any Sendero download website after that date.
If you have any questions about this transition, please e-mail Sendero.
The IAAP 2019 Call for Webinars is Now Open
IAAP invites you to submit your topics for IAAP's 2019 Professional Development Webinar Series. The deadline for submission is Sunday, September 30, 2018.
Sessions should focus on accessibility topics as they relate to software, websites, mobile applications, hardware, assistive technology implementation, proprietary applications, content or documents, law, policy, standards or regulations, and best practices.
Presentations focusing on the topics below will receive preference during the selection of webinar proposals. However, these topics do not guarantee your selection:
- React Accessibility
- Angular Accessibility
- Managing Up ? making the case for accessibility to upper management
- Building the Business Case for Accessibility
- EPUB/EPUB Readers/Ace
- Introductory PDF remediation
- Artificial Intelligence for the Web
- Topics outside the US/North America, particularly Asia
Target Audience
Topics in this series may be of interest to anyone whose job requires accessibility awareness or competence ? including but not limited to accessibility professionals, policy makers, developers, designers, testers and others involved in the creation or implementation of accessible technology, content, services, programs, and policies.
Webinars may be targeted to those new to accessibility or to those with more experience and who are looking to advance their skill level.
Webinar Format
Webinars are 90-minute long sessions that include a PowerPoint or HTML presentation and a Q&A between the attendees and speakers. They can also include desktop sharing of programs or resources, videos, and audience polling.
IAAP's webinar program provides an opportunity for you to showcase your expertise and help advance the knowledge of accessibility professionals. Plus, you will receive compensation for your efforts. If you're interested in submitting a topic for the 2019 webinar series, please fill out the IAAP Call for Webinars application form by Sunday, September 30, 2018. All submissions will be reviewed by the Individual Professional Development committee and you will be notified by mid-November regarding the status of your submission.
If you prefer a paper application or have any questions regarding the submission process, please contact Kevin Hower.
Wegmans First Grocery Chain to Offer Aira Service Free to Customers with Visual Impairments
Aira recently announced that Wegmans, a grocery chain located primarily in the northeast United States, will be providing access to the Aira service free of charge to all blind and visually impaired customers. A customer would first need to download the Aira app on the iOS App Store or the Google Play Store. After registering as an Aira Guest in the app, the customer would have access to Aira while in the Wegmans store. Though free Aira service has been implemented in locations such as the Houston Airport, this is the first instance when an entire store chain has provided Aira at all of its locations. Suman Kanuganti, the founder and CEO of Aira had this to say: "I'm excited to have Wegmans as our first partner in the Aira Supermarket Network. Their commitment to ensuring all customers have the same great Wegmans shopping experience is inspiring, and I'm proud to call them a partner."
Linda Lovejoy, who is the community relations manager for Wegmans, said, "At Wegmans, we are committed to providing incredible customer service to all our shoppers. Our partnership with Aira?helps us deliver on this commitment, giving our blind and low-vision customers access to this innovative service and the ability to navigate our stores easily and efficiently."
Aira provides assistance to people with visual impairments through the use of both artificial intelligence and trained human professionals, Agents, who can provide guidance to the user, Explorer, either through a smartphone camera or a pair of camera equipped smart glasses. To learn more about the Aira service, visit Aira on the web. AFB has also published three articles regarding the Aira service. The first two of these articles provided an introduction to the service. Part 1 can be found here and part 2 here. The third article was a review of the Aira Horizon smart glasses and can be found here.
Wegmans is a grocery store chain in the northeast United States, with stores in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. To learn more, you can visit Wegmans on the web.
Microsoft Soundscape Updated to Version 1.8, Custom Markers feature Introduced in Latest Version
Microsoft's Soundscape app for the iOS platform has recently been updated to version 1.8. This version brings several fixes and improvements but the most significant is the inclusion of the Marker feature, which will allow users to create their own custom landmarks. It is possible to mark existing points of interest, addresses, and your current location. The previous "Reference Points" menu option is now "Manage Markers'" which will allow you to place a marker. You can also place a marker on your current location from the new "Mark Current Location" button on the home screen, though this option is available in the Manage Markers menu as well.
The first time you place a marker, you will be taken through an interactive tutorial that will allow you to place a marker and set a beacon on that marker. If you choose not to take the tutorial, it is available in the "Help and Tutorials" menu along with help files regarding markers.
When you place a marker, Soundscape will attempt to help you name it. For example, if you place a marker on your current location Soundscape will create a name based on your nearest landmarks or other addresses. For example, the default name may be something such as "100 feet from Bob's Café" or "nearby 111 Main Street". You can always clear this information and change it to what you want; this is even true if you are marking a point of interest.
Once a marker is set, it acts just like any other point of interest. This means that it will be called out as you travel, announced when seeking information from Soundscape, and you will have the capability of placing a beacon on the location. There is also a "Nearby Markers" button at the bottom of the Home Screen, which will call out nearby markers only. Note that I found that markers were not being announced automatically during standard automatic call outs after updating the app. I found by disabling all callouts and reenabling them from the menu, this issue was fixed.
This update also allows users to operate Soundscape using the media controls on a set of headphones; a list of commands is available in the help menu. In addition to other general bug fixes and improvements, Soundscape has been updated so that it provides better location information when you are traveling in a vehicle.
If you are new to the Soundscape app, you can learn more from the Soundscape page at Microsoft, Find it on the App Store, and read the full review in the August 2018 issue of AccessWorld.
