2JOUR Computer Coaching for Seniors Toronto
This is a great place to go if you have accessiblity issues. They have a lot of interesting information like tax benefits and getting financial assistance for home renovation to make your home more accessible. Please, check out the link below.
http://www.pwd-online.gc.ca/pwdh.4m.2@.jsp?lang=eng
Showing posts with label Accessibility. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Accessibility. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 02, 2009
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
YouTube: How to Videos
YouTube is everywhere. It is mentioned constantly, but what is it? Essentially, it is a place where anyone can transfer videos they have made or collected to this website called YouTube and you can watch these videos for free.
There are many "How To" videos that can help you. I have included some videos that help with accessibility
Saturday, January 10, 2009
2JOUR is now in Toronto
The hiatus is over. 2Jour has finally moved!! We are now in the big city of Toronto. Our blog will be updated every week with wonderful computer accessibility tips and resources. Next issue will focus on Wheel Trans and how to book your next trip online.
Coming soon.. The Accessible Life in Toronto. A blog about moving around the big city with a stroller and a walker.
Friday, January 11, 2008
Never Too Old for Computers!
Computer Coaching for Seniors Ottawa Canada
For anyone who has heard the negative voice, "I am too old to learn computers", I want you to shake your fist and shout out, NOOOOOO!!!!! If you have a desire to learn, then you are never too old. People in their nineties with no prior computer experience are e-mailing loved ones, using their computer to see pictures of their grandkids and children and surfing the web. If you find your children too impatient to show you, do not despair. You can find many other people willing to teach you; in the library, in the retirement homes, in community courses and even at 2Jour ;). Stop listening to the negative voice and empower yourself with the computer.
Dedicated to Marjorie
For anyone who has heard the negative voice, "I am too old to learn computers", I want you to shake your fist and shout out, NOOOOOO!!!!! If you have a desire to learn, then you are never too old. People in their nineties with no prior computer experience are e-mailing loved ones, using their computer to see pictures of their grandkids and children and surfing the web. If you find your children too impatient to show you, do not despair. You can find many other people willing to teach you; in the library, in the retirement homes, in community courses and even at 2Jour ;). Stop listening to the negative voice and empower yourself with the computer.
Dedicated to Marjorie
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Happy Holiday
Computer Coaching for Seniors Ottawa Canada
We, at 2Jour, want to wish you a happy holiday. Our next post will start again in January.
Here are the 2Jour posts for 2006
Finding a Doctor in Ontario Canada
Searching for Symptoms on the Web
Getting used to the Mouse
Finding a Web Browser for Blind/Low Vision
Finding Websites for Blind/Low Vision
E-mail: Is it on my Computer?
E-mail: Is this from my Bank?
E-mail: Does my E-mail have a virus?
Using a Joystick as a Mouse
We, at 2Jour, want to wish you a happy holiday. Our next post will start again in January.
Here are the 2Jour posts for 2006
Finding a Doctor in Ontario Canada
Searching for Symptoms on the Web
Getting used to the Mouse
Finding a Web Browser for Blind/Low Vision
Finding Websites for Blind/Low Vision
E-mail: Is it on my Computer?
E-mail: Is this from my Bank?
E-mail: Does my E-mail have a virus?
Using a Joystick as a Mouse
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
Accessibility: Blind / Low Vision Accessible Websites
Computer Coaching for Seniors Ottawa Canada
In the previous blog, we talked about how a lot of websites are designed for people with vision. These websites pose a challenge for people who use screen readers to help them navigate on their computer.
However, there are ways to find websites that are more accessible than others.
One trick is to go to PDAPortal. This is a great starting point because it lists all the PDA-Friendly websites. A PDA is a handheld computer which has a very small screen and limited navigation. It is easier for these devices to view webpages that are simple in structure and therefore a PDA-Friendly webpage is ideal for someone using a screen reader because it will not have excessive links and will most likely be one column.
Another place is Accessible Google. Google just came out with this tool about a week or two ago that ranks search results based on their accessibility. Because this is a relatively new tool, its hard to say how effective the ranking will be. However, it is still worth trying.
In the previous blog, we talked about how a lot of websites are designed for people with vision. These websites pose a challenge for people who use screen readers to help them navigate on their computer.
However, there are ways to find websites that are more accessible than others.
One trick is to go to PDAPortal. This is a great starting point because it lists all the PDA-Friendly websites. A PDA is a handheld computer which has a very small screen and limited navigation. It is easier for these devices to view webpages that are simple in structure and therefore a PDA-Friendly webpage is ideal for someone using a screen reader because it will not have excessive links and will most likely be one column.
Another place is Accessible Google. Google just came out with this tool about a week or two ago that ranks search results based on their accessibility. Because this is a relatively new tool, its hard to say how effective the ranking will be. However, it is still worth trying.
Thursday, July 27, 2006
Accessibility: Browser for Blind or Low Vision
Computer Coaching for Seniors Ottawa Canada
The problem with a lot of webpages is that they are designed for people who can see. A person who is sighted has no problem surfing the internet because he/she can easily click with their mouse or read the area on a page that is interesting to them.
Someone who is blind or has problems seeing may use a screen reader to tell them what is on the webpage. However, because webpages are not a simple structure there are many links and objects he/she needs to bypass or Tab before he/she can get to the part they are interested in. This can be very frustrating.
I found one interesting text browser called Webbie. It is a windows only application which works with the Internet Explorer Browser.
What's nice about this program is the navigation. You can skip links to get to the next content. You can move up or down the text page using arrow keys. You can list links from a webpage and you can crop a page so that only content is displayed.
You can download Webbie here.
The problem with a lot of webpages is that they are designed for people who can see. A person who is sighted has no problem surfing the internet because he/she can easily click with their mouse or read the area on a page that is interesting to them.
Someone who is blind or has problems seeing may use a screen reader to tell them what is on the webpage. However, because webpages are not a simple structure there are many links and objects he/she needs to bypass or Tab before he/she can get to the part they are interested in. This can be very frustrating.
I found one interesting text browser called Webbie. It is a windows only application which works with the Internet Explorer Browser.
What's nice about this program is the navigation. You can skip links to get to the next content. You can move up or down the text page using arrow keys. You can list links from a webpage and you can crop a page so that only content is displayed.
You can download Webbie here.
Saturday, June 03, 2006
I can't see this website!!!! The text is toooo small!!
Computer Coaching for Seniors Ottawa Canada
You stumble upon an interesting website but it is too hard to read because the text is too small. Luckily web browsers have the ability to make the text bigger and here is how.
Internet Explorer
You stumble upon an interesting website but it is too hard to read because the text is too small. Luckily web browsers have the ability to make the text bigger and here is how.
Internet Explorer
- Go to the menu bar select View. Then select TextSize from the submenu. The next submenu will give you a list of text sizes you can choose from.
- Another way is to hold the Ctrl key on your keyboard and at the same time move the Mouse Wheel (located between the left and right button of your mouse) up or down to change the text size.
- Hold down the Ctrl key on your keyboard and push + key (from your numeric keypad on your keyboard) repeatedly until the text is big enough to read. To make the text smaller hold down the Ctrl key on your keyboard and push - key repeatedly until the text is the right size for you.
- Go to the menu bar select View. Then select TextSize from the submenu. The next submenu will give you the option to increase or decrease the text size.
- Another way is to hold the Ctrl key on your keyboard and at the same time move the Mouse Wheel (located between the left and right button) up or down to change the text size.
- Push + key (from your numeric keypad on your keyboard) repeatedly until the text is big. To make the text smaller push - key repeatedly until the text is the right size
- Go to the menu bar select View. Then select Zoom from the submenu. The next submenu will give you the option of how much you want to zoom.
Monday, May 22, 2006
Accessibility on Windows, MAC and LINUX
Computer Coaching For Seniors Ottawa
Even though you have difficulty with vision, hearing or mobility the computer and internet are still open to you. Accessibility is an important issue that many of the operating systems are taking seriously like Windows, Mac OSx and even Linux. Here are some starting points where you can make your computer easier to use.
Windows XP:
Windows XP has 2 places where you can configure your computer for accessibility.
Linux: This is a great link that describes many free open source project for accessibility that are written for Linux, UNIX and Windows. Linux/Unix Accessibility Software
Even though you have difficulty with vision, hearing or mobility the computer and internet are still open to you. Accessibility is an important issue that many of the operating systems are taking seriously like Windows, Mac OSx and even Linux. Here are some starting points where you can make your computer easier to use.
Windows XP:
Windows XP has 2 places where you can configure your computer for accessibility.
- Start/All Programs/Accessories/Accessibility: Here you will find an accessibility wizard along with some interesting tools you can use like the magnifier and narrator.
- Start/Control Panel/Accessibility Options: You can configure your computer for such things as flashing the screen for alerts, displaying captions or using your keyboard as a mouse
- Window Key + u Magnifier and narrator
- System Preferences/Universal Access: In here you can configure your Mac computer to zoom to flash the screen for alerts, to use your keyboard (numeric pad) as a mouse and many other things.
- Apple + option + = Zooms In
- Apple + option + - Zooms Out
- Apple + option + 8 Turns Zoom On
Linux: This is a great link that describes many free open source project for accessibility that are written for Linux, UNIX and Windows. Linux/Unix Accessibility Software
Saturday, May 06, 2006
Accessibility: Joystick as a Mouse
Computer Coaching For Seniors Ottawa
The mouse is not the most accessible device for users. Double clicking or single clicking can cause strain on your fingers. It is also hard to move the mouse if your hand has problem with finer motor control.
One inexpensive alternative is to use a joystick. Using software, you can set the buttons on the joystick to match the button actions of the mouse.
You can try, http://download.cnet.com/Joystick-To-Mouse/3000-18541_4-10170790.html. I haven't use this software. The one I used, phatsoft, is not available now.
One trick is that after you connect the joystick to the computer you may need to add it in
Start/Control Panel/Game Controllers and then calibrate it.
The mouse is not the most accessible device for users. Double clicking or single clicking can cause strain on your fingers. It is also hard to move the mouse if your hand has problem with finer motor control.
One inexpensive alternative is to use a joystick. Using software, you can set the buttons on the joystick to match the button actions of the mouse.
You can try, http://download.cnet.com/Joystick-To-Mouse/3000-18541_4-10170790.html. I haven't use this software. The one I used, phatsoft, is not available now.
One trick is that after you connect the joystick to the computer you may need to add it in
Start/Control Panel/Game Controllers and then calibrate it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
